by Joanna Blake
He was just smart enough to know he was different. Being sensitive wasn’t a gift when you were different like he was. That was the hardest part of all to watch.
"Johnny was always talking about this pretty girl who gave him an extra scoop of ice cream at Mae's. The kid loved going to that place. He even got a second job so he could afford to go in twice a week."
Kaylie nodded, her huge eyes soft with the memory.
"He was a sweet boy. All I did was talk to him."
"It meant a lot to him, Kaylie. So after he died I went in there to have his favorite. In his honor."
She smiled sadly.
"Banana split with extra nuts."
"Right. And then this stunningly beautiful girl walks over and takes my order. I couldn't believe there was an angel like you in this town. I fell for you right there on the spot.”
“You did?”
He nodded solemnly.
“I did. Unfortunately, you were a little too young for me. So I had to wait."
"I still don't understand. You knew him well? Did he come around the clubhouse or something?"
"Yeah, he hung out there a lot. Johnny was my brother."
Her eyes got wide and she covered his gorgeous lips with her hand.
”I’m so sorry, Devlin. I didn't know. We were all so sad about what happened to him. Oh God-"
She stared at him. He could see she was finally putting the pieces together. Johnny and his mother had died in a car accident. He knew the instant she understood who he was and what he had lost that day.
"You lost your mother too… Oh God, I'm so sorry."
Chapter 11
Kaylie
He smiled at her softly, as if he really appreciated the words. As if they meant something. The big, strong man in front of her was much deeper than she had thought.
He had a big heart. She knew it without a doubt. Up to that moment, he’d been someone exciting and strange. In the space between a few heartbeats, she fell for him too.
"Thank you."
She inhaled trying to regain her equilibrium.
"So that's why you came in every week?"
“Yes.”
He gave her a dark look that was full of meaning. It sent a thrill right through her. He was being more honest with her than anyone ever had before, other than her mother.
"I had to check up on you and see how you were doing.”
“Oh.”
His smiled widened and he leaned in closer.
“I kept hoping you'd give me an extra scoop of ice cream but you never did."
He looked so sad for a minute that she laughed. He gave her a funny look.
"You've been waiting this whole time? That was almost two years ago!"
“Waiting?”
She blushed.
“For me?”
Chapter 12
Devlin
“I couldn’t exactly ask you out when you were fifteen could I?”
She giggled and he felt a shot of lust go straight to his gut. Her laugh was so sweet and innocent… but not shrill or exaggerated like so many girls.
It was just… perfect. Everything about her was natural and sweet and real. He stroked the soft skin of her arm as he waited for her to answer him.
“I guess not.”
He knew what she was asking and he wasn't going to lie to her. She didn't need to know how many girls he'd had, or how many offers he'd turned down, including a couple of girls who'd wanted to fool around last night at the clubhouse after he'd dropped her off.
If they had been together, or even talked, he would not have touched another woman. But she’d been out of reach and he’d partaken of the easy pickings at the club now and then.
"I'm not a monk, Kaylie. But I will be true to you."
"Okay. I will be true too."
He laughed and she slapped his shoulder.
"What's so funny?"
“I know you’ll be true to me.”
“You do?”
“Yes. I trust you but that’s not why.”
“Why then?”
"Nobody would try it, sweetheart, no matter how much they wanted to."
She blushed, clearly understanding what he was saying to her. Nobody messed with Devlin or his riders.
"Come on, let's get something more to eat."
Chapter 13
Kaylie
Kaylie licked the hot sauce off her fingers and leaned back on the blanket that had magically appeared for them. So far she’d had two full plates of food and two cold beers. Everything was brought to her, just because she was with him.
She was already getting used to that. All the little things the people in the club did for Devlin. It wasn't just the club members, it was the prospects, the girlfriends, the hanger ons. Even the older generations were represented and went out of their way for Devlin.
It was funny, but it really was a family picnic. Just a family picnic with a lot of leather and tats. And the tough looking guys and their wives and children, every single one of them looked up to him.
The tough but tender, incredibly handsome man beside her.
Devlin was stretched out next to her, nursing his beer. His thigh brushed hers and he managed to touch her casually from time to time without it seeming like a big deal. Everything felt natural with him, which was strange considering she’d never even come close to having a boyfriend before.
It was crazy to think of him that way, but she knew he’d meant was he said.
He was playing for keeps.
Devlin had been sipping the same bottle for at least an hour. She knew it was for her benefit. He wouldn't drink and drive with her on the back of his bike.
Things were definitely going better since their talk. She didn’t feel self conscious anymore. Kaylie was finally relaxing and just enjoying herself. He was making it easy.
She hadn't seen the blond girl she’d been worried about anywhere either. Maybe she had been imagining the girl's animosity. She was probably just a hanger on after all.
There were a lot of sexy looking girls hanging around who didn't seem to be attached to anyone. A few were oiling themselves up and laying out in the sun, but it was obviously just a ploy to get one of the guys to notice them. It probably worked with most of the guys. They were putting on quite a display with their arched backs and high heeled sandals.
Devlin never looked once though. He had eyes only for Kaylie. He was a gentleman underneath all that leather.
She giggled a little, feeling a bit of a buzz.
A gentleman in leather. Yep, that was him.
Kaylie smiled to herself and slid her eyes to the biker sprawled out beside her. She couldn’t help wondering how Devlin would react to seeing her in her bikini.
She’d been worried about wearing it just a few hours before. It was a little small on her. After all, the last time she'd had need of a bikini she'd been 15 years old, not 18.
But the lake looked inviting and it would be interesting to see if Devlin liked what he saw… The beer must have been making her brazen because she lost all her qualms about being undressed in public. Maybe it was different because Devlin was here with her…
Come on, girl, have some fun! It’s now or never. Might as well go for it before she lost her nerve. She pulled her top off over her head in a fluid motion and stood.
"What are you-"
Devlin was staring at her with alarm. He looked shocked as he tried to meet her eyes. She could tell he wanted to look elsewhere.
She cocked her head at him, putting her hand on her hip.
"Swimming, silly. Don't you want to come?"
She shimmied her cut off shorts down her legs and smiled over her shoulder at him. The poor man looked thunderstruck as he took in her curves. His beer was tilted sideways as he stared at her long, tanned legs.
Kaylie laughed and ran towards the water. She'd never seen him looking anything but self assured. She doubted anyone ever had. He was the heir to the throne after all. He'd been born and bred
to lead. He'd been the President since coming of age five years ago. Everyone knew that.
She ran into the water and dove in, ignoring the hooting and hollering all around her. The attention made her blush a bit, but it was all good natured and fun. No one said anything crass, they just cheered her on as she jumped into the lake.
She came up gasping for air from the sudden chill. The water was way colder than she'd expected it to be! All the sudden she felt arms close around her and turned, sputtering with indignation.
Devlin smiled down at her, his wet hair curling over his forehead.
“What are you-”
"You didn't think I was going to let you go in by yourself looking like that did you?"
She smiled at him.
"A lot of the girls are wearing bathing suits."
He smiled and lifted her up before tossing her into the water a few feet away. She grabbed his ankle playfully under the water until he yanked her up into his arms again.
"Yeah, but not one of them looks even half as good as you do. Jesus, woman! Do you want to start a riot?”
She smiled at him playfully, poking his heavily tattooed chest.
"You are the one who told me to wear a bikini."
"I'm a genius."
"Well, you are smarter than you look…"
He growled at her as she pushed off and swam deeper from the shore. They took turns splashing each other. Devlin lifted her into his arms and kissed her before dragging her under again.
They didn't notice the eyes watching them from across the lake.
Chapter 14
Devlin
Devlin was letting himself be led around the State Fair like a dog on a leash, but he didn't care. Kaylie's enthusiasm for the carnival was contagious. He realized he'd been smiling non stop while his woman dragged him onto various rides and fed him little bits of cotton candy.
His woman.
He stole a quick kiss, as he’d been doing all day. Damn if she didn’t taste like sunshine and cotton candy. He wondered what she’d taste like elsewhere. Probably just as sweet.
Dev spent the day daydreaming about the future like a girl. Except his daydreams had less to do with white dresses than with seeing what was underneath. And all the fun things he could do with that amazing equipment.
Though he thought about the white dress too.
Yeah, it was pretty much the best day of his life.
He was grinning like a fool as Kaylie tugged his hand, pulling him this way and that. Until he'd noticed her. The girl with long blond hair was following them.
Dammit, Dani.
A couple of years ago he'd had a thing with Dani. Nothing serious, just fooled around a couple of times. She was a good looking girl but her attitude was always out of control. She had always acted like she ran the club herself. Not to mention that her mood swings made her not a lot of fun to be around.
She was the younger sister of one of the club's old lady's so he couldn't just ignore her until she went away when he was done with her. That’s what he usually did with the sweetbutts, and they always got the message. Not Dani.
He'd had to sit down and have a talk with her about why it wasn't going to work out.
Hell, they'd just been kids. It was never going to 'work out' for them anyway. There was no white picket fences in their future. Not like what he saw with Kaylie. There was no comparison, and never had been.
But Dani hadn't taken it well. And she hadn't given up hope. Maybe that was his fault. He'd never had a girlfriend in all the time since. Lots of girls had helped him pass the time but never for more than a night or two.
Then again, Dani hadn't much liked any of those girls either.
Usually he just ignored her and went about his busuness, But this was different. Kaylie had already noticed Dani, and he didn’t want the psychotic blond upsetting her.
He wouldn't let Dani intimidate his woman, or ruin even a second of her celebration today. Kaylie had already mentioned a blond girl staring at her. It would not make her happy if she found out Dani was his ex, or that she'd been trailing them all night.
He would do anything to protect Kaylie, even if he had to flat out tell Dani to back off and risk offending TJ and his old lady Janine. Enough was enough. He was the club president and this shit needed to end.
Now.
Dani’s behavior didn't make a lick of sense though. Dani had to have known about Kaylie for a while now, everyone in the club did. Dev hadn’t been shy about his plans for Kaylie, even forgoing women for the past six months.
Hell, it was closer to a year.
And not just his surprisingly monk like behavior either. He'd been having the guys look after Kaylie for so long now, it was hardly a secret. So acting surprised and jealous seemed even crazier than the usual ‘Dani’s a nutjob’ bullshit.
But there Dani was all the same, stalking them like a jealous ex girlfriend. Which she hadn't been. Not really. He frowned as he followed Kaylie into the fun house, catching a flash of blond hair behind them.
Damn it.
Thankfully Jack and Donahue were with them at the moment, making sure no one hassled them. They were there for Kaylie’s security. Not that Dev couldn’t protect his woman with his life. He could and he would.
But the guys were providing extra eyes so Dev could relax and not be in bulldog mode. It had been working, up to that moment. He jerked his head backwards and whispered.
"Get rid of her."
Jack was gone in an instant, leaving Donahue to trail them through the fun house. Kaylie was laughing as a clown jumped out at them. He slipped his arm around her and used the scare as an opportunity to kiss her neck.
Hmmmm… she smelled so good. He wanted to toss her over his shoulder and have his way with her. Not just once either.
He wanted her every which way, over and over.
Fifty times would barely start to scratch that particular itch.
Dev knew he was going to have a hard time waiting to get Kaylie in his bed. It was the hardest damn thing he’d done yet. He’d waited so long for her already. He’d wanted her since he first laid eyes on her, back when she was jailbait.
Hell, even if he knew he'd have her in his bed within the hour, it would be a painful wait.
But he had promised himself (and her mother in less explicit terms) that he wouldn't get her in bed for a week. He would take the time to let Kaylie get to know him. She deserved that.
Dev knew she was a complete innocent. He had to make sure she was ready before he convinced her to lay down with him. That part would be easy. He wasn’t worried about turning her on. Getting his body to hold off for release was something else entirely.
This week was going to be sweet torture, but he could hardly wait.
He could ease into it though, take things a bit farther every night. He grinned at the thought, planning explicitly what he would do each night, and where. Only five more nights to go.
The night he’d driven her home counted as a full day, right? He shook his head at his own thoughts. Sure it did. Who was there to tell him any different?
Not a damn soul.
His eyes lit up as he watched her cute little ass climb the stairs that tilted this way and that. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on it. That ass was his.
Chapter 15
Kaylie
“You feel so nice, sweetheart…”
Kaylie inhaled as Devlin's hand closed over her breast. His touch was gentle, but it was the first time anyone had touched her that way. It was strange and exciting.
They were on the swing in the playground across the street from her house, hidden from view. They'd been kissing for a half hour at least when he started sliding his hands over her body, getting more and more intimate with each pass.
She was surprisingly relaxed about kissing Devlin. She liked it a lot. So much it almost scared her.
He still made her head spin, but she wasn't terrified of doing it wrong anymore. Not like she had been the first few times. He’
d made it very clear she was good at kissing, or at least he thought she was.
She swirled her tongue against his playfully, eliciting a low growl from his throat. She was already starting to get used to his sounds. He made the sexiest little noises when he was kissing her. And now that his hand was wandering his breathing was getting raspy.
The heat of his palm disappeared and a finger replaced it, tracing the outline of her nipple lightly. She arched her back and sighed. Her nipple was poking through her bikini and thin cotton top.
Her sweater must have fallen off… or he had pushed it off to get better access to her body. Her breathing was starting to get as raspy as his. A strange feeling was coursing through her body, centering in between her legs.
He growled and pulled her off the swing, pressing her against the steel pole support system. She felt the heat coming off his body as he kissed her deeply. This was more intense than the other times they had kissed.
He wasn't being playful now. He was serious.
She gasped as he pinched her nipple lightly. He laughed throatily, resting his forehead on hers.
"Oh, so you like that do you?"
She didn't trust herself to speak while he traced the collar of her blouse with his calloused fingertips. She could hardly breathe, let alone think or speak. The way he touched her… well, it made her head spin.
He dipped his finger inside to pull on her bikini strap. His other hand reached around her and pulled her tightly against him. Against the burning heat of his erection.
Oh God...
He pulled her top down and to the side, then pushed the triangle of her bikini top covering her breast aside. Suddenly she felt the cool night air on her breast. Just like that, she was completely bare to him. She knew no one could see her in the dark, and that she was covered from the sides and back.
But Devlin could see her. His eyes flared and darkened in the dim light. If it had been brighter, he would have seen her flush.