A Lover's Lament

“Let’s get out of here, Katie.” His green eyes are swirling with so much love that it’s nearly impossible to miss. “I want this more than anything, but not here, not in front of all these people.”

A grin pulls at the corner of my mouth and his hand fists my shirt at the small of my back. “You can’t look at me like that, Kit Kat. I’m barely hanging on by a fucking thread just being this close to you. My body feels like it’s gonna explode, but I want to do this right. Just me and you.”

Well shit. How the hell am I supposed to say no to that? It’s unfair, really, that he can be so damn convincing.

“Where are you staying?”

His brows furrow and then he sighs. “I forgot to book a room. But come on, we’ll find somewhere to go.”

He grabs his bag off the floor, and it’s funny, because I don’t even remember him having a bag. Lacing his fingers with mine, he leads me toward the suitcases that are being shuffled in circles, waiting for their owners to claim them.

“By the way, I have a room at the Hilton. There’s only one bed, but you’re more than welcome to share it with me if you want,” I say, laughing when his steps falter, nearly sending him face-first to the floor.

“I feel so much better.” Devin walks out of the bathroom, a towel hung low on his hips and knotted in the front. Droplets of water are scattered across his chest, and when one slides down his abs, disappearing in the thick white cotton covering his happy trail, I bite my bottom lip.

It should be illegal for someone to look as good as he does. All straight lines and chiseled muscles. He’s a hazard to women’s health, really. In fact, he should have a flashing sign hanging from his head that warns—

Devin snaps, securing my attention. “Eyes up here.” When I look up, he has a smile plastered to his face. Busted! I wait for him to say something, to make some sort of embarrassing comment about me not being able to take my eyes off of him, but he doesn’t. The expression on his face shifts, his lips purse, brows dip low … he looks uncertain.

Devin clears his throat. “Do you want to take a shower?”

Not at all what I was expecting him to say, but okay, I’ll bite. “Yes,” I say with a nod. “I definitely do, but I don’t think I can move.” Flopping back on the bed, I close my eyes, roll to my side, and curl my body around a pillow. “I could probably sleep for days if you’d let me.”

I don’t hear him approach, but I can smell him. I’d know that smell anywhere. It’s spicy and sweet, all rolled into one, and I would give anything to bottle it up just so I could pull it out whenever I’m not with him. A warm hand glides down the side of my face.

“I’m so sorry, Katie,” he whispers, catching me completely off-guard.

My eyes fly open, my heart suddenly hammering inside of my chest. “For what?” I ask, wondering if he’s going to give me the words I’ve been dying to here in person for the last ten years.

He’s crouched on the floor next to the bed, his face only inches away from mine, but the deep lines of tension on his face are unmistakable. “Everything,” he says, his voice full of regret.

“Don’t,” I whisper, cupping my hand to the back of his neck. I will not let these few precious days be tainted with something that I’m already past. Yes, I still want answers, but they can wait. He opens his mouth, but I swallow his words with a kiss before pulling back. “You don’t have to apologize—”

“I do.”

“No.” I shake my head. “Not right now.” His mouth drops open, a look of astonishment gracing his beautiful face.

“Is this real?” he whispers, climbing into bed next to me. “Are you really here with me?” His voice is full of disbelief as his fingers trace along my hip and over my belly. My stomach twitches as his fingers find their way to my collarbone.

“It’s real, and I am.”

He smiles as though he didn’t actually expect to me to answer. Those magical fingers feather across the skin of my neck before his thumb finds my bottom lip. My body is humming with sexual energy, and without thinking, I suck his thumb into my mouth, nipping playfully at the pad.

Devin’s eyes widen, flashing with what I can only describe as pure desire. Releasing his thumb, I place my lips on his. “We should talk … shouldn’t we?” he asks, sounding completely uncertain.

Reaching for the towel, I pull at the knot, feeling the soft cotton drop open. It takes every ounce of strength I have not to look down, but my hand doesn’t have the same amount of self-control as my eyes. Circling my fingers around his cock, I slowly begin to work him.

Devin hisses, sucking in a sharp breath, and his eyes drift shut. I love that I can make him do that, and I wonder what other noises I can get him to make.

“Katie, if we start this, I won’t be able to stop.”

“I don’t want you to stop.” His heavy lids open and he watches me from under a hooded gaze. “I don’t want to talk, and I’m tired of thinking. I just want to feel,” I say, looking down. The sight of my hand on him is erotic and a surge of moisture goes straight to my core. “I want to feel you.”

Finally, his hands move to my shirt, sliding under the material and slowly lifting it over my head. I sit up, just enough to let him tug it off of me. Devin flicks the clasp of my bra and the lacy material loosens around my body. In a slow and calculated move, he slips a finger under the strap and pulls it off.

“Where do you want me, Katie?”

He kisses the swell of my breast before sucking my nipple into his mouth. “Oh, God.” Dropping my head back, I close my eyes, taking it all in. He releases me with a wet pop, and my eyes open to find him nose to nose with me … watching me. “Keep doing that,” I pant, wanting his mouth back on me.