Devour

by E. K. Blair

  He leans into me, teasing me with his musky scent and his hot breath. “I could tell her my woman’s getting mad and is gonna kick her ass,” he whispers, running his hands down my arms until he links his fingers with mine. I gulp, not ready to forgive him just because he talks purty and lights up my whole body.

  “You just want to see a cat fight, you hornball.

  You’re as bad as Sawyer.”

  “Mmmmm,” he hums as his lips and nose graze my neck, “I could watch you do anything. If that happens to be a cat fight, so be it.” He chuckles slightly into my skin, earning my forgiveness with the fire it shoots through me.

  “Come on,” I roll my eyes and pull him to the room.

  The tension fizzles and I know everyone is grateful. The night turns out very fun with lots of laughter. I almost forget all about the Whitley thing...almost.

  Even after our little spat about Whitley, or the teeny tiff over the night I promised to call him after talking to Evan and forgot, or less-than-happy texts due to having almost no time for him this week because of late practices...Dane has still been wonderful, greeting me with dinner and a massage every night, no matter the time.

  By Thursday, fatigue is about to completely take over. He shows up at my room around eight, and after we say our goodbyes to Bennett and Tate, who are on their way to some new movie Bennett’s been raving about, he settles beside me on my bed, stroking my hair gently. “What time do you have class tomorrow?” he asks softly.

  “Only one class tomorrow at three then ball at five- thirty,” I reply through a yawn.

  “So nothing until three? Why don’t you come home with me tonight, baby? I can pamper you all night and most of tomorrow.”

  It sounds wonderful and new life springs into me at the thought of it, but I haven’t met his parents yet; will they be there? Thinking about it, I talk about my dad all the time. Hell, I’ve even told him bits and pieces about my mom, who might be a Buddhist hiding in the mountains for all I know, and he’s never said anything about his own parents.

  “What about your parents? I don’t want them to meet me as the floozy creeping in after dark.”

  He shakes his head. “They won’t be there, baby, just us. Well, that’s not entirely true. Helen, the housekeeper, will be there for a bit in the morning.” He gives me a slow, lingering kiss. “But I’m hoping you sleep through her visit.”

  Even I, fog girl, know what he’s insinuating. Am I ready?

  “No, Laney, you just need your rest.”

  My damn telling face! He knew exactly what I was thinking and answered before I’d even answered myself.

  “Um, okay, sounds good.” I prop up on one elbow and kiss his cheek. “Sounds wonderful, actually. Why are you so good to me?”

  He really is. He’s barely gotten past first base and has no real commitment from me, Evan calls every day and he knows it and yet he continues to pamper me every chance he gets. What do I possibly give back to him to deserve all this?

  “Laney, I’ve told you a dozen times, making you happy, doing things for you...it makes me feel whole, like nothing ever has before.”

  I roll on my side and scoot as close to him as possible, burying my face in his chest. He smells so good. I found out a while ago that he wears Fierce by A&F; I love it.

  “You do make me happy,” I mumble into his chest. “Very happy.”

  “Ditto, baby, now let’s go before I have to carry you out asleep.” He stands, putting his hand out to help me up.

  “Let me pack some stuff real quick.” “No need.” He shrugs, smiling at me.

  “Yes need, I haven’t showered and I’m not wearing this,” I motion to my sports tank and Sofe shorts, “tomorrow.”

  “Okay, grab an outfit for tomorrow, but I’ve got your jammies and girly bathroom stuff covered.” He winks at me with a devilish smirk.

  “Oh, do tell.” I start to rummage through my clothes for something to wear. “This I’m dying to hear.”

  “Toothbrush, check. Lady razors, check. New pajamas, check. Makeup, check. Your kind of shampoo, check. Did I forget anything?”

  Every weirdo warning in my brain should be firing on all cylinders right about now, so why is my whole body flushed? “Okay...do I want to know how you know all that stuff? Am I gonna look like a clown with non-conditioned hair?” I actually don’t care if I do; his effort is undeniably adorable to me.

  “If it’s all right, then I get the credit. If it’s all wrong then blame Helen and Bennett,” he laughs.

  I continue grilling him on the way to his car, my arm looped through his. I can’t wait to see what he’s gathered...there’s no way he had her get Moroccan Oil shampoo and conditioner, my fave. Through more interrogation, I discover Dane is quite the smooth operator. He’s actually blushing as he admits to sending Helen to the stores with lists Bennett made him for the makeup and toiletries...oh and a picture off the internet for the pajamas he’d picked. Good Lord.

  We laugh the whole drive as he describes Helen’s fiasco of putting a clerk on the phone with him to list off all the scents of bubble bath and candles since he hadn’t specified on those items. Bennett and I don’t burn candles in our room, so that’d been all him. Adorable. It’s then and there that I decide one day soon I am devising a tampon run where Dane simply has to go in for me; can’t wait to see what he does with that!

  When things calm, he reaches for my hand, lacing our fingers. He lifts my hand to his mouth for a kiss. A pang of familiarity shoots through me, but I give him a small smile. He sees it in my eyes, he clears his throat and lowers our hands, but leaves them connected. “About your trip home this weekend...”

  “Yeah?”

  “I was thinking I’d take you.” He glances out of the corner of his eye at me. I’m not sure I’m ready for him to meet my dad, or if Evan’s going home this weekend; we haven’t talked about that at all this past week.

  “I’m going all weekend, Dane. How will I get back? You don’t want to stay that long, I’m sure. I’m not even sure my dad would let you sleep there, quite honestly.” I bite my lip; I can’t imagine how Daddy would react. I can imagine exactly how Evan would react, even scarier, but the thought of having Dane there with me is enticing.

  “I’ll stay there all weekend, too, as long as you want. And whatever your dad wants, I can get a hotel for the nights. Please, Laney, let me in.” His thumb traces quick circles into my palm and the longing for acceptance in his voice is palpable.

  I don’t like ultimatums, I really don’t, but I also don’t like putting myself “out there” without feeling secure in reciprocation, which is why I ask faintly, “Will you do the same?”

  He exhales loudly. “I’m trying, Laney, I really am. I’m just not ready for you to leave and I’m afraid you might.” He looks over at me, his chocolate eyes darker than usual. I decide to lighten things up a bit. Much like me, Dane likes little games of give and take...

  “Let’s make a deal.” I wiggle my eyebrows up and down at him. “For every fact I take from you, I’ll give you something.”

  His hand tightens on the steering wheel, the other flexing its grip on mine. “Go on,” he rumbles deeply. We’ve pulled into the garage now; he turns off the car and turns in his seat to me, awaiting my answer.

  “When’s your birthday?” I’ll start slow with easy questions.

  “February 6th.”

  I lean over and kiss him chastely. Pulling back, I wait for his eyes, a twinkle in mine. “How old are you, Dane?”

  “Twenty-one.”

  I lean forward and kiss him again, this time deeply, running my tongue along his bottom lip until he opens fully to me. It’s the most seductive kiss I’ve ever given; I moan, I bite softly, I suck his tongue. When I pull back, he grabs me around the neck, pulling me back for more.

  “Uh, uh, uh,” I taunt, retreating against him. “Where do you work?”

  “For myself; corporation, investments, spoiled rich kid making it last.” Although vague, I’ll take
it. I really don’t want a full portfolio right now, boring.

  I reach over and pull his shirt up, running my hands along his stomach and chest. His body is magnificent, tanned and toned; hard and hot to the touch. “See, was that so hard?”

  “Baby, it’s so hard it hurts.” He lunges for me but I squeal and jump out of the car. I beat him to the interior door but stop short of opening it, still mindful enough to not just barge into his house. He moves in behind me, pressing his body into the back of mine while moving my hair to the side. He bends his head down and breathes heat on my neck. “I love it when you’re playful...so fucking sexy.” He swats my butt and I yelp. Running his hands down my sides, he finds mine and pulls them up, guiding them to the wall in front of me. Pushing into the back of me harder, he pushes my hands flat against the wall. “Your choice, bubble bath or hot tub?” He nibbles along my shoulder. “Just to help you relax, I swear.”

  “Hot tub,” I moan.

  “I’ll get the wine and meet you there. I bought a new suit for you, it’s on the bed in the pool house; wear it. Don’t keep me waiting.” He releases his lock on one of my wrists, reaching around me to turn the knob.

  I quickly scamper through the kitchen to the patio doors; I feel better already. Oh how I wish all things in life could be this easily solved.

  Much later, after I’ve had ample time to soak and relax, he meets me in the water, carefully balancing a bottle of wine and two glasses. I rise out of the liquid heat to help him and hear the hiss through his teeth. I look up to see what’s wrong, but I can’t meet his eyes because they’re moving down my body, now housed in the black string bikini he’d laid out for me. Usually way too skimpy for me, I feel sexy as hell in it since I know it’s for his eyes only.

  “Turn around,” he growls. I turn slowly. I’m 100% sure that Dane is 100% an ass man, which works out perfectly since I’m packing a badonk. “Your ass is like a work of art, baby.” He sets everything down and pulls me into him, my back to his front. He rubs himself against me and I fall slightly forward, my knees suddenly weak. His arms glide around me, his hands spreading out across my stomach and hips, triggering tingles throughout my body.

  “Your body drives me crazy, Laney. It’s so hard to keep my hands to myself with you.” He leans in to kiss along the side of my neck, my ear, my shoulder. I feel his hands move lower very slowly. “You’re the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. I could get lost in you.”

  I turn around and gaze up at him, looking for the sign, the one that tells me this is alright.

  Surrounded by steam, droplets of water skating down our half-naked bodies, moonlight, and soft music in the background—how am I possibly supposed to resist? I push on his chest slightly, guiding him to sit on the ledge under the hot water.

  “What do you do all day when I’m in school?” I give him a seductive look so he’s clear that I’m not just asking; we’re back to the reward for an answer game.

  “Work, deal with my businesses, work out.” His eyes devour me, his tongue licking slowly along his bottom lip.

  I acknowledge his answer by sitting down on him, straddling his lap and pushing down on him suggestively. “When’s the last time you brought a girl to this house?”

  “Never, only you.”

  I run my tongue up his neck, tasting every inch. “Why do you have a collection of bikinis?”

  “I have no idea,” he strains out. “I think Helen thought I’d make friends.”

  I snicker at his answer and reach around and untie the bottom off my bikini top and feel him tense beneath me. “How much did you chip in on my birthday stuff?” I’ve suspected for a while; Bennett and Zach couldn’t afford all that.

  “What do you mean?”

  I move to re-tie my suit, but he stops my arm.

  “Not a lot, they all did the spa stuff.” He sighs in relief as I bring my arms back down.

  “And the club? Who paid to rent out a whole club?” “No one,” he spurts out.

  I click my tongue at him and shake my head, wrong answer, moving once again to tie up and get off his lap simultaneously.

  “No baby, come back.” He pulls me back down on him. “I own The Kickback, Laney. No one had to pay, it’s mine.”

  What? I wasn’t expecting that, but a deal’s a deal...I reach behind myself and free the knot around my neck, my top falling into the water. I don’t move to cover myself, looking deeply into his eyes to gauge his reaction. His eyes enlarge and his teeth bite his bottom lip.

  He hisses out, “exquisite, baby...fucking unreal.”

  He gradually slides a hand up my slick torso and flicks his stare to my eyes, asking for permission, which I give by arching my back and pushing my bare chest forward into his hands.

  “Oh, Laney,” he purrs as he surrounds my breasts with his strong hands, rubbing and kneading.

  A guttural sound escapes me, my nipples hardening to his touch. Instinctively, I run my hands into his hair, pulling his face into me; I want to feel his warm, wet mouth on me. His teeth catch my nipple first, biting and teasing before he widens and sucks in as much as he can. I clench between my legs, feeling the gush of moisture despite being in the water. His mouth, his tongue, his hands are so intoxicating I can’t stop my hips from rocking into him, hard and downward, seeking a cure to the nagging in my core.

  His wicked mouth breaks suction. “God, you’re gorgeous, Laney. You like my mouth on you?”

  “Mmmmm,” is all I can respond. I’m so close, gyrating into him harder and faster. He’s so hard beneath me, his swim trunks a flimsy barrier. I can feel every inch of him twitching for me. I’m not sure how I’m even aware, but I register “Collide” beginning to play in the background and that does it. Perfect song, perfect moment...the allure mentally pushes me right to where I need to be to continue this and I moan loudly as the tingles inside me grow stronger, using one hand to push his head into me harder. He’s feasting on my chest, his hands exploring all over my body.

  He kisses on my breasts, between them, then up my throat. “You are radiant,” he moans against my skin.

  I lean down to kiss him madly. I could so easily climb to complete ecstasy right now. I want to do something for him too, but feel hesitant. I’m not very experienced, and I don’t know his history. What if he’s disappointed with my amateur attempts?

  “Dane, I—”

  He covers my lips with his finger, silencing me. Just like clockwork, he speaks my deepest thoughts out loud. “Baby, what all have you done?”

  I go with what I know and alleviate awkward with humor. “That sounds like a personal question. Be prepared to reward me.” I raise an eyebrow and grin.

  “Anything you want, just answer me,” he growls. What to say? I mean, does he want a play by play?

  “Um...”

  “Did he suck these?” He runs the backs of his fingers over my breasts and I nod. “Use his fingers on you?” I nod again, looking anywhere but at him. “In you?”

  I shake my head back and forth this time. He’d never had to, I exploded at the newness of his mere touching, amateur and loaded to fire. Why would Dane want me replaying things with Evan in my head right now?

  “Did he put his mouth on you?” His fingers slink under the water and brush along my sex through my suit.

  I gasp at the contact and my mouth drops open as I realize what he means. I shake my head no.

  “And that’s all, just him? Just that little bit?”

  “Yes, why?” This very intrusive line of questioning will never backfire on him. I may one day want to know how many girls he’s been with, and how long ago, but I will never want a detailed replay of his excursions to plague my thoughts.

  He pulls me back deeper into his lap and runs his fingers through my hair, pulling it back away from my face and neck. I love it when he bares my neck, it means his mouth is on its way and I crave it as much as he seems to.

  “Because I want to know everything about you. I want to know exactly what only I give to you.” />
  “Oh,” I whisper. It’s possessive and territorial—and strangely hot as hell.

  “I can’t tell you how happy it makes me.” He moves against me, igniting another firestorm within me. “How little you gave him...all that will be just mine.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  ALL IN

  Dane

  “Dane,” she whispers in a shaky voice, avoiding looking at me, lowering herself into the water, no longer sharing my lap or her naked chest to my view. “I have to tell you something.”

  My stomach clenches instantly. What is she about to say and why does it scare me so much? I’ve been with many girls, but never have I felt that my whole world balanced on the next words out of their mouths. What has Laney done to me?

  Rocked my damn world—that’s what.

  She’s got me bringing her to my house, buying jewelry, taking trips...and now she’s seducing personal information out of me that only a select few are privy to. I couldn’t be happier about it. I’ll give her the combo to my safe inside if she shows me anything else. She’s mystical. Without even trying, she makes me want to invest myself completely. So captivating, gorgeous, kind, and driven; I simply can’t get enough of her.

  Knowing she’s so untouched, a virgin to almost every sexual act, makes me crazy. Makes me want to lock her away in a tower forever—my own personal flower to devour. Shit, that’s a little weird. She’d run scared if she could read my thoughts right now. But damn! I’ve never been with a genuine girl, never stopped to have a real conversation aside from how much I could spend on them. There’s never been a girl I actually cared about, let alone one who burrowed their way into my soul like Laney.

  As much as I can’t stand the thought of Evan, I do respect and feel for the guy. He, too, had taken his time with sweet Laney, a poor sap not unlike me, just basking in any time spent with her. Now he’s suffering the effects of not having her near him at all. I can’t imagine the misery. Heartbreak was evident in his voice when he’d called. I saw how he looked at her that night. I don’t envy him in many ways, but in so many other ways I do.