Page 73 of Ink Deep Devotion

“I don’t eat cookies, haven’t since my mom died.”

Shit. Why did I tell her that?

Her playful sass drops,“Shit.” She breathes out, eyes wide with an atonement. She reaches for the plate and quickly tosses the cookie into the trash.

“I thought you said you shouldn’t say shit in front of customers,” I reply, trying to lighten the air.

A small smile tugs at her lips.“Are you a customer, though?”

“I shouldn’t be,” I admit, as my eyes find hers, then sink lower to her lips.

She shifts her legs, pressing them together.

I want to kiss her, but I know I won’t be able to stop.“I should leave.” I force a gulp down.

She nods. She knows I’m dangerous and thinks I’m a bad boy, but she has no idea.

I stand slowly, my eyes glued to hers. I see her sadness when she notes I’m leaving.“On Wednesday, the bakery brings over blueberry or cinnamon muffins for us to sell. Do you eat muffins?” She blurts out.

You shouldn’t do that, tempt me.

I nod.

“Good to know,” she nods back. The air is filled with lust and cravings; it’s hard to walk away with all the blood rushing to my cock again.

“I’ll see you some other time, perhaps on a Wednesday.”

“Next year?” She raises a brow.

“No, sooner.”Don’t say that!If my dad knew I was here, he’d use her against me. It’s only a matter of time before he bids me to marry someone of his choosing, like Dash’s dad did him.

I walk to the door and push it open; the ring of the bell almost drowns out what she shouts.“Isabella.”

Isabella.

She gave me her name!

I turn with what feels like my first happy smile ever.

She’s biting her bottom lip to hide her glee.“Don’t make me regret telling you my name.”

You will.

I dip my chin, eyes lingering on her face and then mouth before I leave. Once I’m in my car, I rest my head against the steering wheel. I need to call Titan and Dash. Instead, I call Anders.

“Where the fuck have you been?” He shouts hello.

I swallow. Anders shared a secret with me, one I haven’t told my brothers.

Anders can understand my need to see Isabella. Titan would warn me against it until we get rid of our fathers, Dash wouldn’t comment, Cillian would kill me, Leo would just shrug, and Dante would start to strategize and weigh all sides, but Anders would know better than to stop me. That would only make me want her more.

“Hello?” Anders snaps,“Are you dying? What happened?”

“I fucked up!” I let out.

“Are you fucking hurt?”

“No,” I lean back, pressing the phone to my ear.“My dad told me nothing. We got into it, but I’m fine.”

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