Claimed By The Devil (Devil's Riders 8)

Well, for a minute, anyway.

“I heard about your mom,” he said against my hair, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I am so sorry, Melissa. I was worried.”

“I didn’t mean to make you worry,” I said, and the storm of tears came again, soaking the leather of his jacket. I hadn’t known what to say to him. Part of me had still been in denial of what was happening. Telling him would have meant admitting that this was it. That this was the end. “I’m sorry.”

He squeezed me.

“Don’t be silly.”

I fought my tears, wiping my face and looking up at him sheepishly.

“I need to finish this and get back. I promise I’m taking good care of Hendrix.”

“I know you are,” he said, taking the bag of feed I was about to lift. “You should hire someone to do this for you.”

I shook my head. I wasn’t going to tell him we were barely holding on. We couldn’t afford to hire anyone. Not even some high school kids to help out as an after-school job. But I also didn’t want him to think I was an idiot. We should hire someone. Multiple someones. But we couldn’t.

“Can’t. I’m almost done, anyway.”

“That’s enough for the day.”

“But,” I protested as he guided me to a stack of hay. “I have to—”

“Sit. Down.”

I stared at Nick. His voice was firm but not harsh. Authoritative. He meant business. I’d never heard a voice like that from him before.

I sat.

"Listen very closely, Melissa. You are going to rest for a few minutes while I finish up. Then we’re going inside and you’re going to take a shower while I make you something to eat. And then you’re going to lie down for a few hours."

"I can't leave my mom alone for that long," I said guiltily. A hot shower and a nap sounded wonderful. The truth was, I felt like I could sleep for a week.

"Someone will be at the hospital. Sally and Kaylie are taking the first watch. They’ll sit with Meg until later.”

“They’ll do that for me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“You’re with me. You’re one of us now.” He leaned over me to brush the hair away from my face. “You’ll never have to face anything like this alone again.”

And then he kissed me. Soft, sweet, and far too quick. I felt immediate shame for the wonderful feelings being around Nick was giving me. Not just the kissing. His words. He said we were together now. How could I feel so loved and protected on the same day I was losing everything?

Not everything. Her. I was losing my mom. The most important person in my life. But maybe . . . there could be other important people too. Not just a boyfriend, either.

Though having Nick as my boyfriend sounded too good to believe.

According to him, I had another family ready and willing to take care of me. That was a lot to take in, but for the first time all week, I didn’t feel so alone. Maybe, just maybe, I really wasn’t alone anymore.

I leaned back against the rough wood wall and waited as he finished feeding the horses.

Chapter Seventeen

Nick

“I told you to rest,” I said, eyeing Melissa. She was not behaving herself. But I didn’t have the heart to scold her.

Melissa had followed me outside where I was opening up the paddocks and letting the horses roam for a few hours. I gave her a look but she shook her head. She looked exhausted but just as beautiful as ever. I knew it might just be me. I was too infatuated to notice the dark circles under her eyes. But I was pretty sure she was perfect, all the same.

“Let me help you put them out. I like watching them. They look like children when they first get out,” she said sweetly. Well, fuck. How could I refuse her that?

I nodded my agreement, and we walked the horses out, one by one, until they were all roaming. Then we shut the gate to keep them safely corralled. Melissa made sure there was fresh water in the big trough. We leaned against the old wood fence and watched them. She was right. The horses were like children at recess. Running. Playing. I watched as Hendrix nipped the flank of a younger mare. She tossed her head at him and trotted away. But the look she gave him was pure ‘come hither’.

I laughed.

“Does Hendrix have a girlfriend?”

“He’s a bit of a playboy, honestly. But I think Heather is his favorite.”

“Good to know.”

I looked to the side just in time to see her eyes gently close. The girl was falling asleep standing up. Enough was enough. I scooped her up and she let out a surprised squeak.

“Playtime is over,” I said gruffly. As much as I wanted to play with her, I had to take care of her now. She needed me. She needed food. She needed to rest.