“Shut up now, or I break another finger.”
He grunts, his exhales heavy, chest rattling.
“Now you listen, because I won’t give you another warning. If you hurt her in any way again, I’ll cut off your entire hand. Stay away from her, and don’t you dare come around her again. Understand me, arsehole?”
He drops Mason’s hand, and he immediately jumps to his feet, a wide-eyed glare bouncing between us.
“I’m gonna have your head for this, you fucking Irish bastard!” He holds on to his finger like it’s made of glass. “You’re gonna find out how powerful the Reynolds name is when I’m through with you.”
“That’s all very exciting,” Devlin taunts with a low, dry chuckle. “Let me know how I can get tickets to that pretend show of yours.”
The more he laughs, the redder Mason’s face gets.
With a frustrated growl, he rushes out of the restaurant, still grasping his hand.
Devlin immediately turns to me, concern fitted in the furrow of his brows. “Are you okay, love?”
He cups my cheek in his large, masculine hand, his eyes full of affection and worry.
Would he care if he were to find out that I let another man touch me? Do things I’ve wanted him to do to me?
He slides in next to me, still holding my face, his other hand now grasping my fingers, like he doesn’t wanna let me go.
Moisture builds behind my eyes as I shake my head. “I’m never going to be okay married to him. I have to talk to my father. I have to make him see reason. Mason told me he wants to move up the wedding!”
“Feckin’ bloody bastard.” A thunderous expression washes over his face. “I tried to speak to your father.”
“What?” His thumb draws circles to the corner of my mouth and I shiver.
“I tried to tell your father Mason wasn’t the right fit for you the night you met him, but he wouldn’t listen.”
“Of course he wouldn’t.” For my father to see reason, I need something bigger on Mason.
But losing my virginity is the easier solution. If Mason backs out of the wedding himself, that will alleviate all of my worries.
The waitress brings the food over and sheepishly places two plates down before disappearing. I can’t even look at food right now. The thought of eating the chicken panini I ordered makes me sick.
Devlin picks up a knife and fork and starts to cut into it. Good. I’m glad he’ll get to enjoy the food I won’t eat.
The back of my hand glides down my cheek where his touch was, and my heart clenches.
“Open up for me.” He nears the fork to my mouth.
“What are you doing?”
The instant our gazes meet and the blue within his eyes shimmers with that affection, I almost forget why I’m upset in the first place.
“I’m feedin’ you, you brat.” His slight smirk makes my heart flutter. “Now open up. You’ve gotta eat.”
He places the small bite of food past my lips. As he does, his attention falls to my mouth and he watches me through hooded eyes.
My body instantly prickles. It’s like his hands are there, brushing over my skin, tempting me with his body and his heart.
Does he feel it between us? This indescribable connection?
He continues to feed me until all the food’s gone, but all I’ve been focused on is him.
“How was it?” His deep, sultry voice settles in my gut, coiling down my body until I’m warm and wanton.