“Although I must tell you that all those photographs of you, your modeling career… I don’t think I’ve ever met or seen a real biker do things like that before,” Figueroa admitted and then laughed loudly again. Devin smiled and nodded. At least Figueroa was being honest with him; telling him what everyone else must have been thinking as well.
“You could blame Evangeline for that too,” Devin said, and Figueroa’s face darkened for a few moments, just at the drop of Evangeline’s name in their midst. But he straightened himself back up soon.
“I’m guessing you made a lot of money from it anyway?”
Devin nodded. “Just another business venture,” he said, and Figueroa smiled again.
“But no, I honestly have immense respect for you. And I’m very sorry that that damn bitch was able to manipulate me into kidnapping you and beating you up,” Figueroa told him, leaning forward now towards Devin.
Devin extended his hand towards Figueroa. “It’s all good. Shake on it?”
The two men shook hands, smiling at each other. Evangeline may have started a series of events that had put nearly all their lives in danger, but her lack of success had resulted in bringing the two gangs closer together.
Devin stood up from his chair, emptying the contents of the can into his mouth in one long gulp. He scrunched the can and flung it aside, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
“You have a girl to go back home to,” Figueroa said, looking up at Devin.
Devin straightened his leather jacket and ran his hands through his hair. “I sure do.”
Figueroa breathed in deeply. “Think about what I said. You can’t be good at what you do with a liability hanging around your neck,” Figueroa repeated, and Devin nodded in thought. Figueroa was right, and the events of the last few days had proven it. Camille didn’t deserve this life. She didn’t know what she was getting herself into.
Devin turned on his heels and walked down the steps of the porch towards Camille’s parked car.
“Oh, Figueroa!” Devin called out to the man who was still sitting alone in the dark with his can of beer. “Don’t ever threaten my dogs again!”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Camille
Shayna had made Camille some tea, and they were both huddled up on the couch together. Their faces were turned to the TV, but neither of them was really watching. Camille had come very close to losing her life a few hours ago. Devin had dropped her home, and Camille had immediately called Shayna to come over. It was pretty late now, in the wee hours of the morning, but they were both in shock, neither of them could really go to sleep.
“I should never have left you alone in the store,” Shayna said, staring blankly at the TV screen.
Camille looked at her friend and forced a weak smile. “You didn’t know what was going to happen. How could you have anticipated that?” Camille spoke quietly. Her throat still hurt from all the screaming and crying.
“But we were arguing. If something happened to you, I’d never be able to…” Shayna broke into tears and Camille threw an arm around her neck and pulled her close.
“Nothing happened to me. And we always fight and then we make up. And you were right about Evangeline all along,” Camille said while Shayna wiped the tears from her cheeks. They were both still shaken up, and Camille was glad that Shayna had been so quick to come over. She hadn’t wanted to be by herself that night, not yet.
“But I was wrong about Devin,” Shayna admitted, straightening herself up to look at Camille again.
Camille smiled and nodded her head. “He’s a mystery, but I trust him. I would trust him with my life.”
Shayna nodded. “No, you’re right. Devin is a good man, even though his life is so dangerous,” Shayna began, and Camille fell silent. She knew what Shayna was about to say, and even though she didn’t want to hear it she knew that it was true. “Look it’s your life, but you’ll never be safe as long as you’re with him.”
Camille nodded and pursed her lips. Shayna was right, but Camille didn’t want to think about giving Devin up, not after everything that had happened.
“I love him, Shayna,” she said, and Shayna licked her lips. She was clearly still frightened for Camille.
“I can see that you do. But he’s trouble. He probably loves you too, and he’ll try his hardest to keep you safe, but what if there comes a time when he can’t. You’ll never have a normal life with him, Camille.”
Camille sighed deeply and took a long sip of tea from the mug. “I’ve had a normal life, Shayna. And I can’t say that I like it. I know he leads a dangerous life, but I want to spend it with him. Or at least I think I do,” Camille said, not quite sure of herself. She was trying to convince herself that being with Devin was a good idea, but she was failing miserably at it.
“Look what being with him did to all your art, your life’s work,” Shayna said, and Camille fell silent. She had no comeback for that, no saving grace. It was what it was. Devin was irresistible - he made her feel good and safe, like she could achieve anything. Every time they were together, it was like her body was on fire; she wanted him inside her the moment he looked at her. But he was a bad idea. A life with him would only lead to disruption. And she may be bored with normal now, but normal was safe.
“I just think you should give it some thought. Devin will not be able to keep you out of harm’s way forever,” Shayna added.
They sat in silence together for a few moments longer until Shayna decided to change the subject. “I do have some good news, though. Charlene called, and she said that she wants to sign you up for five more shows.”
Camille’s eyes widened, and she finally smiled a genuine smile. “Five more shows? That’ll take me two years to arrange!” Camille exclaimed, and Shayna nodded in excitement.
“We’ll have a steady source of income for two years, and it only means that it’ll open us up for more opportunities after that.” Shayna clapped her hands, but Camille was frowning again.
“What about Evangeline? I thought she owned the gallery. There is no way I’m working with her, and she’s probably going to be in prison no, for many years,” Camille said, but Shayna was still smiling.
“Charlene informed me that Evangeline was only on the board of directors for the gallery. She never actually owned it, and now she’ll have to give up her position,” Shayna explained, and Camille was smiling again. This was great news. Her career as an artist was finally kicking off.
There was a sudden knock on the door and both the girls exchanged quick, nervous looks. It was two in the morning, and after the recent events, neither of them were happy about someone knocking on their door at this hour.
“It’s me, Camille!” Devin’s voice floated through the door, and Camille jumped up off the couch and ran towards the door.
She flung it open and found him standing on the other side. He looked exhausted, his hair was disheveled, and he had a late night shadow on his chin. Camille didn’t wait for him to say anything, but simply threw her arms around his neck in relief. He was fine, things had obviously gone well, and he had taken care of everything. All the reservations and doubts she had about him only a few minutes ago were all gone. Now that he was standing in front of her, she couldn’t care less about anything else.
“Hello, Shayna,” Devin said while holding Camille close to him.
***
“So you now have five exhibitions to prepare for? You need to start working right away!” Devin was sitting on the couch with Camille beside him. Shayna was in an armchair facing them, with her legs folded under her thighs. It was three in the morning, and Camille wished that Shayna would take the hint and leave, but she was still seemingly waiting around.
Camille smiled at Devin when he grabbed her hand in his and gave it a tight squeeze.
“It’s all very exciting, and it’s all because of you,” she said and kissed him lightly on his cheek.
“So what really happened with the other club? What did you say to them?
Is all that solved now?” Shayna had a number of questions, and when Camille looked at Devin, he didn’t seem like he was prepared to answer any of them.
He smiled at Shayna and raised an eyebrow in her direction. “The less I tell you, the safer you’ll be,” he said in all seriousness, and Shayna shot a nervous look at Camille who only smiled at her.
“Oh, Shayna! He’s only messing with you,” she said, but Shayna still looked like she was going to completely freak out.
“It’s getting late, isn’t it?” Devin said, and Shayna turned to him again, with a sour look on her face. Camille realized that as much as Shayna knew that Devin could be trusted, and as much as she knew how Camille and Devin felt about each other, it seemed like Shayna still couldn’t bring herself to like him.
“Well, you’re still here aren’t you?” Shayna threw at him, and Camille stood up before any of it got any worse.
“Break it up you two. Like seriously. We all need to learn to get along.” She crossed her arms over her chest. She could see that Devin and Shayna were glaring at each other, even though he seemed to have a humorous smile on his face. He was only pretending. Neither of them had replied to Camille.
“Can we shake hands and call it even now?” she urged them, and they continued to glare.
“Sure, what the hell,” Devin said suddenly and stuck out his hand towards Shayna. Shayna looked up at Camille and then back down towards Devin. She sighed loudly before extending her own hand and shaking Devin’s.
“I am very grateful for all the opportunities with our work that you are bringing to us,” Shayna said, slowly standing up from the armchair. Camille smiled, slightly relieved. She couldn’t do without either of them, and they both knew that as well as she did.
“But you should remember that you started all this in the first place,” Shayna said with her brows crossed.
“Shayna!” Camille exclaimed and used her hands to start pushing her towards the door.
“I’m just telling the truth. He should be aware of it. He can’t just think he can swoop in here and be the hero when he started all this in the first place.” Shayna was still talking loudly while Camille pushed her in the direction of the door.
“He’s quite aware of that Shayna, just go home now, will you?” Camille had reached the door and pulled it open. Shayna was still exchanging mock-threatening looks with Devin while he laughed in the background. Just a few more days of hanging out together and Camille knew that Shayna would warm to him. She was always weary of everyone at first, and of course, Devin had given her enough reason to be as well.
“Bye. I’ll call you tomorrow!” Camille shouted as she shut the door on Shayna, and then she turned around to look at Devin.
They were both smiling at each other silently, neither of them had anything they could possibly say. All the events of the day had overwhelmed them.
Devin stood up from the couch and rushed towards her. He grabbed Camille by the waist and pulled her close to him, kissing her lips tenderly at first and then with a growing hunger. She had tilted her head back to kiss him and felt his hands in her hair as he held her there.
When they parted for breath, they were both panting.
“I love you, Camille,” he said, for the first time and didn’t wait for her response. It seemed like he didn’t care what her response was; he just wanted to tell her the truth.
“I love you, Devin,” she said when he tilted her head back so he could kiss her neck.
She bit down on her lip as she felt his tongue slide down her neck and towards her breasts. She had waited for this moment all day, ever since she saw him at the store kissing Evangeline. And now here he was in her arms again.
She let her hands slip in under his shirt, and she felt for the curves of his muscles. She knew where his tattoos were and she traced them out with her fingers while he kissed her neck and her shoulders.
“Camille,” he breathed her name, and she heard a certain panic in his voice. She searched for his eyes and he looked like he was about to break into a smile.
“Will you marry me?” he asked, and suddenly, the world felt like it had cracked open, and she was falling through. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard. She didn’t know if it was even true. Was she dreaming? She must have been! Until she felt Devin’s hot breath fall on her face and she was snapped back to reality again. She was actually in his arms, he was actually kissing her, and he had also truly asked her to marry him.
Camille was in shock, but she knew what her answer was going to be.
“Yes, of course, I will,” Camille replied breathily while they both stared into each other’s eyes with smiles on their faces.
“I didn’t think you would say yes,” Devin said and then reached for her face so he could kiss her. Camille giggled as their lips met and then she pulled away from him. She was too excited to stay still.
“I don’t have a ring yet. I hadn’t planned on this.” Devin looked apologetic, but Camille smiled and grabbed his hand, pulling him towards the couch.
“Why wouldn’t I say yes, Devin?” she asked quietly as she indicated for him to sit down. He did, and she followed him, throwing her legs over his and straddling him.
Their faces were level now, and she held on to him by his shoulders while he kept his hands on her waist gently.
“After everything that happened… I wasn’t sure if you even wanted to see me again.”
Camille licked her lips and smiled. “There is nowhere I would rather be than with you. No matter how dangerous your life is, I want to be in it.” She knocked her forehead against his, and they kissed again.
“I didn’t think I wanted a relationship, Camille. Not one like this, not one that would lead to a married life, especially not with you. Because I didn’t think a life with me would be safe for you,” Devin told her gruffly while Camille traced the side of his jaw with her tongue. His skin was salty, and his stubble prickled her tongue, but she couldn’t have been happier. All her fears and suspicions about him had disappeared. This was the Devin she knew and loved, and this was the man she wanted to marry. No matter who in the world thought it was a bad idea.
“I don’t need as much protecting as you think I do. I can take care of myself,” Camille said, pulling herself away so she could look at him again.
“I can see that. You’re much braver than I gave you credit for,” Devin replied, and Camille laughed again.
“I’m going to be your wife, Devin!” She laid her head on his chest. That was her favorite thing to do because she could hear his heart beating fast. His body was warm, and she could mold herself to his shape while he played with her curls, twirling them around on his forefinger.
“And I’m going to be your husband,” he said, and she could feel the vibrations in his body when he laughed. Camille sighed a sigh of relief and contentment. She could be here forever, straddling Devin Rock, with her head on his chest and their bodies intertwined.
“Will it be bad if I started working on a new comic book series?” she asked after they had been like that for a few moments.
“Of course not. You don’t want to work on Country Crowns anymore? I love Cammy. I want to read more of her.”
Camille straightened her back to look at him directly. “No maybe not a new series, but just write in a new character. Cammy meets her match and falls in love with this biker man who also works as an underwear model,” Camille said, and they both started laughing.
“That character doesn’t sound appealing in the least,” Devin said, still snorting through his nose. Camille reached for his cheek and ran her finger over his stubble, feeling his skin under her fingertips.
“Cammy needs a partner. Nobody can do it alone. And this new character is appealing, very appealing indeed.” She leaned in towards him to playfully bite his lower lip. Devin smiled and stroked her back.
“You’re the artist and author. You know what is best. You’ve done a brilliant job so far.”
Camille smiled widely.
She had never felt so encouraged and so powerful before as she did in this man’s presence. He had completely changed her life, given her confidence, and now a new purpose. She was more grateful to Devin than he even knew.
She leaned in again to kiss him and allowed her hand to trace his chest and then his abdomen. She pushed her tongue into his mouth while her hand explored his body like it was new to her. Every time she touched Devin, it was a new experience for her. When she felt his dick through his jeans, she could feel that it was throbbing with desire. It had grown, and she unzipped his pants.
Devin gasped while kissing her as she slid her hand in and grabbed his dick gently.
“Camille,” he breathed her name by pulling away from her mouth and knocking his head backward. She watched as Devin shut his eyes tightly. He was enjoying it; he was like clay in her hands. She stroked him gently at first, and then hard until she could feel his body shaking violently. She wanted to push him just that bit to the edge and then pull him back.
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