Page 56 of Waiting for Devon
Devon’s stomach tightened when Reed’s mouth brushed lightly across it. He pulled open her legs and stroked her with his tongue. A sweet heat rose in her and burst into flames. She gasped aloud with the force of her orgasm and gripped the sheets beneath her.
“Oh, my God, Reed!”
His fingers replaced his tongue and teased her into a second explosion before he slid easily into her wet warmth. A groan escaped him. “Jesus, Devon.”
Reed drove her wild with his rhythmic thrusts. His mouth latched onto her nipples, and he sucked hard, grazing them with his teeth. He lifted her arms above her head, threaded his fingers through hers, and claimed her mouth in a hot kiss.
She writhed beneath him. “Please, Reed.Now!”
Her need for release matched his. With one final thrust, they reached the height of their passion, and both cried aloud. Reed collapsed on top of Devon, and she held him against her breasts flushed with color. A moment later, he rolled away from her and guided her head onto his broad chest.
Tears spilled onto his warm skin. “Don’t cry, sweetheart.”
“I can’t help it.” Her voice quivered. “I’ve never felt anything so earth-shattering. I’m in love with you, too. I fell in love with you the moment we met.”
Her admission fueled his desire, and he made love to her again, savoring the taste and feel of her. His murmured words of love and devotion tore her heart in two. She’d deceived him. When he learned the truth, he would never forgive her. So, she took tonight for herself. For him.
At one point he gave control of their lovemaking to her, and she brought him to multiple orgasms using her mouth, hands, and tongue. “Holy Mary, Mother of God,” he moaned. “You’re fantastic.”
“So are you.”
“Devon, there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you for a while now.” He leaned against the headboard and dragged her up his body so her head rested on his chest.
“What, my love?”
“The reason I was so hard on you when you first arrived in Dallas as Shane’s fiancée.”
She gazed into his eyes. “Tell me.”
“I fell in love with a barrel girl. Do you know what that is?”
“No.”
“A horsewoman who works the rodeo circuit riding around barrels. Penny was sweet, you know, the girl-next-door type. I trained her horse. She didn’t come from money, and I liked that about her. Dad didn’t like it, of course, but I didn’t care what he thought. Penny struggled to make a living playing rodeos and appeared to care less about money. Until it became obvious she only wanted mebecauseof my family fortune. She took advantage of me and turned me into God’s own fool. I swore I wouldn’t let something like that happen to Blair or Shane.”
Devon’s heart, already broken, shattered into a thousand jagged pieces. After tonight, she’d have to leave and never see Reed again. She couldn’t face his scorn or his disillusionment in being played a fool by her, of all people. Tears dripped onto his chest. “Oh, God, Reed, I’m so sorry.” She straddled him, arousing his ardor, and made tender love with him.
They slept briefly afterward, then Reed began the heated caresses that sparked the fiery passion that always existed between them. Throughout the long night they made love fast and furiously, slowly and thoroughly, and at times, playfully. Sated at last they fell into a deep sleep toward dawn.
Devon awoke with a heavy heart toward ten o’clock the next morning. When her eyes fell upon a delicate red rose Reed had placed on the pillow next to hers, she drew her knees up to her chin and burst into sobs. A note with the flower readI’m at the stable. You’re late, sleepyhead. Blair blames me for keeping you up all night. Last night was the best night of my entire life. I can’t wait to see you later. I love you. Reed.
Too late, she understood exactly what she was sacrificing for the truth.
Love.
Without further delay, she jumped into the shower, dressed, and headed to the main house.
Tears rolled unchecked down Devon’s cheeks as she packed all of her belongings. Funny how her life began and ended in one exquisite night. After she cleaned her room and made sure she wasn’t leaving anything behind, Devon removed the diamond ring Shane had given her and placed it on the dresser. She called the airport to arrange for a flight to San Francisco, and afterward, she asked Lincoln for assistance with her luggage. As she came downstairs, she found Mrs. Peters and O’Rourke waiting for her.
“Are you going somewhere?” Mrs. Peters asked.
“Yes,” Devon answered in a vague tone of voice. She hugged the housekeeper and shook the butler’s hand. “Thank you both so much for your generosity and hospitality.” Then she fled before they could question her any further.
“You don’t have to do this,” Lincoln told her as he loaded her luggage into her car.
“Yes, I do.” Her breath hitched. “It’s not what I want, but I don’t have a choice.”
“There are always choices. You can choose to stay and face whatever is causing you to run.”
