Page 29 of Wicked Devotions: Part 2

“Well, we didn’t do a whole lot of talking.” My face heats with embarrassment, so I nuzzle closer to hide.

“What happened if you didn’t talk?”

Before I can answer, I feel Cyrus wrap his arm around my waist. “They fucked.”

A nervous laugh escapes me. “Just like you guys did.”

“Yeah, but we’re not fighting.” Emerson kisses my forehead. “You and Declan need to learn how to talk to each other without fighting or fucking.”

“That’s no fun,” Cyrus mumbles into my hair. “But next time let me watch, yeah?”

“Why do I even try?” Emerson’s breath ruffles my hair with his exasperated words. “Seriously, though, I know you are capable of rational conversation.”

“Declan isn’t.” I can hear the smile in Cyrus’s voice. “Ouch. What was that for?” he asks, popping his head off the pillow to look at Emerson over me.

“You’re not helping.”

“He’s just so intense,” I say, breaking into their spat.

“Are you afraid of him?” Cyrus asks, turning serious.

“No, not at all actually.” The fact of the matter is that I’ve never been afraid of him, I don’t think I’m even intimidated by him. “I know that he’s only like this because he cares.”

“He cares so much. Much more than you even realize.” Emerson tucks a wayward strand of hair behind my ear. “He always has.”

“Really?” I can’t hide the disbelief in my voice. “I find that hard to believe when he was constantly pulling my hair and stealing my ribbons as kids.”

“Go check the bottom drawer of the bureau in his closet and come tell me he hasn’t been obsessed with you since you were kids.”

“Dinner’s here,” Declan yells from downstairs. “Get your asses up before I eat everything.”

Emerson tosses the covers off and stands up, reaching for his clothes. I avert my eyes by watching Cyrus watch him. Lust pools in their dark depths before he turns his attention to me.

“I could just eat you instead of dinner,” he says before attacking my neck with noisy kisses.

“I don’t think you want to do that when I’m—” My face turns beet red.

“Full of Declan’s cum?” He waggles his eyebrows. “What’s a few fluids between friends?”

“Gross. Don’t say it like that.” I roll out of his arms and off the bed before gathering my hair back up in a messy bun. “Let’s go have dinner before they do eat everything.”

Chapter

Eleven

BANKS

Harper comes flying down the steps from the front porch as soon as I step out of my car. The ribbon she’s tied in her half up ponytail flies behind her, a perfect match to her oversize mustard yellow sweater and pleated black skirt. She leaps into my arms with an excited squeal. Nothing feels as good as holding her again.

When she showed up at my dorm fully in shock, I was beside myself. Never in all my life have I been so terrified. The thought of something happening to her is unfathomable. I would cease to exist because there’s no world in which I want to live without her.

Several of the few people I’ve come out to, including my roommate, think that she just isn’t right for me and that’s why I’m not interested in sex. I know, without a doubt, thatis categorically false. Which is why I want to have a hard but honest conversation with everyone this weekend.

“How was your drive?” She kisses my cheek and clings to me.

“Long. I can’t believe you drove it on a motorcycle.”

She drops her feet to the ground and releases my neck. “I know. Declan is still pissed about it, so don’t bring it up.”

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