Page 29 of Dev

“Dev, don’t do anything stupi–”

“Relax, I’m just gonna make sure she’s okay.” I turn my head to Eden. “You’ve drunk nearly half a bottle of vodka.” I look back to Millie, feeling frustration burning a hole in me. I shouldn’t be reacting this way. I shouldn’t be reacting at all. Millie’s not my problem.

“I’m fine, you just go back to whatever it was you were doing,” she sniggers, trying to act as if she’s not bothered by it, but I saw the way she watched.

“Millie, pretty soon the effects of what you’ve drunk are gonna kick in,” I warn.

“I don’t care, I’m not going home,” she slurs back at me, and balances her palm on the table when she wobbles on her feet. “Might as well go back to getting your dick sucked. Wouldn’t want you to stop on my account.”

“I’m not takin’ ya home.” I grab both her elbows to steady her. “I’m gonna take you across the yard and getcha a room. Okay?”

“I can run her home,” Alicia offers.

“What do you think her parents are gonna say when they see the state she’s in?” I point out, and Alicia looks at Millie apologetically as she agrees.

“Room 7 is all made up. I helped Polly get some rooms ready this morning,” Lettie tells me.

I nod at her gratefully as she makes her way toward the bar to get me the key, and I start slowly guiding Millie toward the door.

“My legs aren’t working.” She snorts a laugh at me, and when Lettie rushes back toward me to hand over the key, I place it between my teeth, bend my knees, and lift Millie off her feet. She squeals in shock, before wrapping her arms around my neck and smiling at me dreamily.

“You know, you’re really sexy when you're mad,” she whispers in my ear, and I ignore her as I make my way out the door, crossing the yard to the motel.

“Are you mad at me?” Millie laughs some more when I drop her on the mattress and head for the mini fridge. “Come on, you can’t be mad at me. Everyone else was getting drunk,” she tells me as I unscrew the lid and pass her the bottle.

“Finish it,” I order, pacing the floor in front of her and dragging my hands through my hair.

“You think I’m pathetic, don’t you?” she asks between sips. “You think I’m just some stupid kid who doesn’t know the difference between a crush and real feelings.”

“What did I fuckin’ tell you ‘bout mentioning that, again?” I act on impulse, racing back toward her and slamming my palms on the mattress either side of her legs. Suddenly, I realize I’ve gotten us far too close, our lips are almost touching, and that sweet vanilla scent from her hair is making my dick so fuckin’ hard, it’s straining against my jeans.

“Fuck!” I yell, tearing myself away from her before I do something stupid. I buried my brother today, all my fuckin’ thoughts should be with him. I shouldn’t be getting all tangled up in this…mess.

“Why would you wanna hurt me like that?” she asks, her eyes filling with tears that look so fuckin’ pretty, I wanna tear out my soul.

“Hurt you? Hurt you? Millie, are you fuckin’ crazy? I’m tryin’ toprotectyou.” This girl has me feeling like I'm losing my damn mind.

“You know what I mean. Having that whore take you in her mouth right in front of me wasn’t about protecting me, it was a test. Did I pass?” She wipes her eyes as she stands up and starts coming toward me. “Can I hang out at your club if I’m a big,brave girl and pretend that watching you get sucked off doesn’t bother me?” She puts on a condescending voice that claws under my skin.

“No. Do you not see that it’s not safe here? Corey is dead because of the club; he wouldn’t want you here any more than I do.”

“Why do you even care? I’m nothing to you, just a girl who your brother dated. I’m not your responsibility.” She laughs bitterly, and I hate that her words are getting to me.

“He didn’t just date you. He was in love with you.” I breathe through my nostrils, trying to sustain my rage.

“If that's true, then why is he dead? Why did he go to that shipyard? I gave him the ultimatum you wanted me to, and he chose the club,” she reminds me.

“Don’t think like that, that's not how it was. Corey was smart; he would have had something planned out.” I think back to what Ruckus said, and he’s right. Corey would have had something figured out. “He worshipped the fuckin’ ground you walked on.”

“Stop it, stop saying that.” She covers her face with her hands as if the words hurt too much for her to hear.

“No, I won’t fuckin’ stop until you understand. This place ain’t for you.Iain’t for you. You werehisgirl, Millie!” I yell at her. “And even if you weren’t, I’m too old and too fuckin’ damaged for someone like you.” I take both her wrists and pull her hands away from her face. “Let me save you. I couldn’t do it for him, but–”

“Kiss me.” She looks up at me with eyes magnified from tears.

“What?Did you not listen to a damn word I just said? I–”

“Kiss me and I will never come back here again. I’ll stay away from you and the club. Just one kiss. I didn’t ask to feel this way, and I need to know that I wasn’t wrong about it, because it’s killing me.” Seeing her look so broken makes me hurt in a way Ishouldn’t. I’ve never had feelings for a female before. I’ve never even contemplated the idea of having one in my life. Caring about one ain’t something I’m used to.

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