“It wasn’t a favor, Evangeline. It’s a business deal. I’ll pay you for the booking, of course.” He crossed his arms over his chest and noticed Evangeline’s eyes drop to his muscular arms. Her face softened. He could always tell when a woman wanted him; when he was making her wet. Not Camille though, she was always hard to read.
“So why aren’t you going to any other art galleries in Miami?” she asked, and Devin tried to smile.
“Because yours is the best. One show at your gallery will make sure that my friend’s art is officially launched and appreciated,” Devin said, shifting in his seat. Evangeline smiled back at him, nodded, and took a few more sips of her juice.
“That is true.” walked towards him. Devin clenched his jaw, following her movement with his eyes. “But like I said, I want something in return,” Evangeline continued, now stopping right in front of him so that he had to look up at her.
Devin sighed. “What do you want?”
“For us to give it another shot.” Evangeline was quick to respond. Devin pushed his chair back and stood up, taking quick steps away from her.
“It’s over, Evangeline. It’s been over for nearly a year now. You can’t manipulate me into getting back with you,” Devin thundered, walking to the other end of the kitchen, putting as much distance between them as he could. Evangeline followed him slowly. Her face had changed from casual and seductive to desperate, and even a little bit angered.
“How can you say that? We had something real for two years. Hell, we nearly got married!” Evangeline screamed, and Devin had to do everything he could to not scream back at her.
“And then you overdosed and nearly died!” he growled, trying to keep his voice low. They had screamed and yelled at each other enough a year ago, he didn’t want to have to go through that again.
He watched as Evangeline took in a deep breath, released it, and tried to smile again.
“That phase of my life is over now, Devin. I’ve been clean for six months. It’s in the past. Give me a chance to prove it.” Her voice had changed. She wasn’t the one with the upper hand anymore, she wasn’t the seductive hostess from her art gallery parties anymore. She was begging Devin to take her back, but after everything she had done?!
“Evangeline… I’m happy for you. That you’re past now.” Devin ran his hands through his hair and shook his head. “But I can’t. I don’t want to give our relationship another shot. Not after everything that happened.”
Evangeline sucked in a mouthful of air, and he could see that her lips were quivering. The last thing he wanted was for her to cry. She had always been good at drama, at producing crocodile tears on cue. He didn’t trust her at all, this was all for show.
“Why not Devin? You loved me once. And I don’t believe you can’t love me again. I still love you.” She came up closer to him, and he pressed his back against the wall. A few weeks ago, he might have fallen for this. For her perfect porcelain skin, her wide mouth, her slender body, and her seductiveness. But now there was Camille. Only she mattered, and nobody else.
“No, Evangeline. I don’t, and I can’t love you again,” Devin said, slipping away from her before she had the chance to come any closer. He took long strides to the other end of the room and started clearing up his plates from breakfast. He wasn’t looking at her anymore.
“I don’t believe it. I don’t believe that you don’t have any feelings for me anymore. That’s a lie. I’ve seen the way you look at me.” Her voice had changed again. She wasn’t begging anymore, she was angry, screaming again. This is how it had always been with her; she could manipulate her mood and her tone of voice depending on the situation. Now Devin was convinced that none of her emotions were real. He should never have gotten into a relationship with her in the first place.
“Evangeline, I think it’s time for you to move on as well. You should get out there, date again,” Devin said, depositing the plates in the sink and then dusting his hands. When he turned around, he found that she was standing with her hands on her hips and with a sly smile on her face.
“Please, darling, you think I’m that pathetic? That I’ll stay away from men just because you broke up with me? I’m not that broken hearted.”
Devin raised his eyebrows and tried smiling too. “Well, that’s good. I’m glad you’re keeping yourself busy.” He folded his arms again. Evangeline continued to smile and raised her chin proudly.
“In fact, I’m dating someone seriously now,” she told him, and Devin tilted his head, the smile still pasted on his face. In reality, he wasn’t even curious to know. But he played along.
“That’s good news. Is it somebody I know?” he asked, and Evangeline suddenly threw back her head and laughed.
“Indeed it is. Somebody you know very well in fact.” She licked her lips, watching Devin intently with a steady gaze. He crossed his brows and waited for her answer.
“I’m dating Jimmy,” she said flatly, and Devin dropped his smile.
“Figueroa? Jimmy Figueroa? The leader of The Choppers?” Devin growled and took a few steps towards her. Evangeline licked her lips and dropped her arms to her side.
“Yes, the one and only. He’s an animal in bed,” she added, clearly aware that Devin was losing his mind. He clenched his jaw and gritted his teeth and then swung his face away from her. He tried to remind himself that he shouldn’t care anymore. She wasn’t his girlfriend. In fact, they were barely even friends.
“Well, good for him. I hope you both are very happy together,” Devin said, trying to smile again. Evangeline wasn’t fooled by his words, she knew exactly the effect this news had on him, and she was relishing in it. She laughed again and walked towards him. They were now standing only a few feet away from each other.
“But Devin, you’re still the one. Jimmy is an excellent lover, but you’re still the best,” she said, and Devin smirked. He didn’t know what else to say to her.
“You can call me anytime. Day or night.” She slowly walked towards him and touched him gently on his arm before walking past him and picking up her clutch from the counter. Devin didn’t turn to follow her.
“It’s settled then, darling. Your friend can have her art show at my gallery for free,” Evangeline said, and Devin finally turned.
“For free? No, I said I want to pay for it.”
Evangeline walked over to him quickly and placed a kiss on his cheek and then started walking away again. Her hips swayed in her tight dress as she walked, but Devin wasn’t paying attention to that anymore.
“Don’t be silly, my love. You know I’d do anything for you. I’ll text you an available date.” She waved at him and then left the kitchen.
Devin remained standing where he was until he heard the front door open and then close gently. He made a mental note to change the locks right away.
Chapter Eighteen
Camille
“So these are all the old ones, then?” Shayna asked as she and Camille stood beside each other with their hands on their hips. They had collected all their old artwork in the back storeroom of the bookstore and now stood staring at it. They exchanged looks and smiled.
“I can’t believe this is actually happening, Camille!” Shayna clapped her hands, and they both laughed in excitement.
“But we have to make new ones as well, these can’t be the only ones we use,” Camille said, pulling out her phone from her pocket which had started ringing. It was Devin.
“Hi,” she said, walking out of the storeroom and leaving Shayna by herself.
“Hello, gorgeous,” she heard him say, and she blushed, even though he was nowhere in sight.
“I was just checking in to see how things are coming along,” Devin said, and Camille stood leaning against a bookshelf, twirling one of her curls around her little finger.
“They’re going well, we’ve collected all our old ones in one place and have to decide on the new ones I want to draw,” she told him, picturing Devin in front of her now - what he might be wearing, hi
s chocolate brown eyes, his wide shoulders, and how much taller than her he was.
“That’s good. Has Evangeline been behaving herself?” he asked, and Camille suddenly felt lost in his voice for a few moments, before she regained her composure and nodded.
“Yes, she’s been very helpful, thanks. She calls me every few days to coordinate and has given me lots of useful tips,” Camille said, realizing at that moment that her happiness knew no bounds. For the first time in her life, everything was going well. She had her first art show coming up, in the best and biggest gallery in the city. She had Devin, who even though she didn’t share a defined relationship with, she was just happy knowing that he was in her life. Camille couldn’t stop smiling.
“Very good. Looks like Evangeline has finally grown up.”
“Yeah, she said that she’s deciding on a price and that we can price them quite high. She’s confident that they will all sell.” Camille was unable to contain her excitement, and Devin laughed when he heard her sound so happy.
“I miss you, Camille, we should get together again, soon,” Devin said, and she felt like her heart was about to melt.
“When do you want to meet? I’m free all this week.” Camille bit down on her lip. She didn’t want to sound this excited, but she couldn’t help herself; Devin’s voice was irresistible.
“I’m not sure when we can meet. I have a big project this week so it might not happen. But you should know that I’m constantly thinking about you. I have to go now. Good luck with your art,” he said and then hung up.
Camille listened to the white disconnected noise at the other end of the line and continued chewing on her lip. This was Devin’s appeal: he left her hot and cold, pulled her in and then pushed her back. And for some strange reason, she liked it. He was unpredictable, and she felt like it was dangerous for her to place her heart in his hands. But she wouldn’t have it any other way; she couldn’t even think of a life without Devin now, even though she barely knew him.
“Are you done? I have a few ideas I want to run by you.” Shayna appeared, and Camille nodded. She could think about Devin all day, but there was work to do.
“So you know how you said you want to make Cammy the central theme? Make each artwork a symbol for feminism?” Shayna said, walking back towards the storeroom. Camille followed her, but her brain was still filled with thoughts of Devin.
“Well, I was thinking that we could use colors to symbolize a different kind of evil in each drawing. You know, like red for spilled blood. A dark navy blue for men in uniform who take up positions of power against women.” Shayna was talking fast, as she always did when she had a big idea. Camille was barely paying attention, but she nodded anyway.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” she said, giving a wide genuine smile.
“Great, I’ll go and start working on a narrative then,” Shayna replied, turning around to give Camille a tight hug before walking out of the storeroom.
Camille was the one left alone with her old paintings now. She stared at them, blankly and silently. Most of the artwork was of Cammy, the superhero from her comic book. Some others were of landscapes, torn down buildings, and roughed up small towns. They were all a reflection of where she had grown up; the unrest and evil she had witnessed as a child.
She was a long way away from all that now, Camille thought, the smile disappearing from her face. She was lucky to have found a friend like Shayna, a man like Devin, and the kind of opportunity he and Evangeline were giving her. She wondered if she had misjudged Evangeline too quickly at the exhibition. Evangeline seemed like a completely different person now. She was warm, friendly, cooperative and most of all, she seemed like she genuinely cared about Camille’s artistic success.
She forgave Evangeline for her cold and unfriendly behavior the other night. She smiled because she understood her - it couldn’t have been easy to let go of Devin, get over him, and then watch him attend her party with someone else.
Camille stared at her phone in her hand again; she missed him already. But there was work to be done, and new art to be drawn. Her destiny was waiting for her, and Camille was ready now, more than ever, to grab it by the horns.
***
Camille threw her keys on the couch and switched on the electric kettle. She had already had dinner with Shayna earlier at a restaurant, but she was craving some hot milky tea now. Her apartment was a mess; she hadn’t bothered to clean up much in the past few days. Her attention had been entirely on Devin and the upcoming art show. The rest of her life, the bookstore… everything had taken a backseat for the time being.
She made herself a cup of tea and sat down on the couch, resting her feet on the low coffee table in front of her. She could see her own reflection in the window on the opposite wall. She was in a short denim skirt, a cotton top, her hair was in its usual unmanageable curly state, and she hadn’t bothered with makeup that day. What did Devin see in her?
Devin. She reached for her phone and stared at the screen blankly. She missed him; she craved to hear his voice. But he seemed so far away. Before she could stop herself, she was dialing his number.
“Hi, gorgeous.” He answered the call within the first few rings.
“Hi. Just wondering what you’re up to?” Camille smiled, snuggling into the couch, and pulled the soft throw over her legs.
Devin laughed and then sighed. “I just came back home. I had a long day at work, but I couldn’t stop thinking of you.” He sounded sexy and irresistible.
Camille placed her mug of tea on the table and leaned back into the couch. She could perfectly imagine his chiseled face, his wide smile, and his tattooed back.
“And what are you going to do now?” she asked huskily. Even though they were on the phone, Camille felt like she was alone with him. Just the two of them.
Devin sighed again and took his time to respond. “Maybe lie here on my couch, dreaming of you and your perfect breasts,” he said, surprising her with his directness.
Camille couldn’t stop herself from giggling, and then she bit down on her lip and sighed. “I wish you were here with me. Then you wouldn’t have to dream of my breasts,” she replied, and Devin drew in a deep breath.
“No, then I’d be ripping your clothes off you. I’d want those breasts in my mouth.”
Camille found her hand traveling down her belly to where she was beginning to grow wet. She hadn’t done something like this since she was a teenager! How was he able to turn her on with just his voice?
“Touch them, Camille. For me,” she heard him say, and she did as she was told. She grabbed her breast, the left one, and squeezed. She moaned and closed her eyes, and heard him take in a sharp breath.
“Now flick your nipples, squeeze them… you know how I do it.”
She did that too. She hadn’t touched herself like this in a long time, and for some reason, it felt natural. Her nipples were pert and raw, and she winced when she squeezed them, enjoying the sharp pleasurable sensation. She licked her lips as she imagined Devin’s hands on her body, his large warm hands on her skin and playing with her nipples.
“What are you doing?” She asked him breathily.
“I’m touching myself, stroking my dick,” he said, and she could hear him beginning to breathe heavily.
“I want to touch it too. Suck it, wrap my tongue around it.” Camille was shocking herself by the words she was using. Devin took in a sharp breath of air, he must have been surprised as well, but at least it turned him on.
“I want to be inside you, Camille. I want to rip off your panties with my tongue and stick my fingers inside you.”
Camille moaned again. She had started stroking herself as well, making herself wetter with each passing second. She could picture Devin naked in front of her. His tattoos, his ripping muscles, the ease with which he carried her around, and how small she felt with him over her. Camille shut her eyes tightly and started stroking more vigorously.
“I want to make you cum, Camille. I want to see those bre
asts swing,” he said, and she threw her head back. She had forgotten that she was pleasuring herself; her fingers stroking herself were Devin’s fingers. She pushed her underwear aside and slipped in two of her fingers, and heard herself moan loudly.
“I’m going to ravage that body when I see you next, Camille. I’m going to lick every inch of you. Pump into you until you tell me to stop.” Devin’s voice had become heavy, and he was breathing raspy. She could sense that he was pushing himself over the edge. He was stroking himself thinking of her, and they were both losing control.
Camille had never managed to pleasure herself this way. She had never bothered to, and she had never felt this good either. Now her fingers were inside her, sliding in and out, her juices were seeping out, her fingers were sticky and wet, and she was touching herself there, where Devin had managed to touch her. She was close to her orgasm, and she screamed his name.
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