Page 58 of Fighting Conviction
She squealed but Dev gripped her waist and pulled her high and off of him as he stood up the rest of the way, before depositing her safely to the ground. As soon as her feet hit, her knees buckled, and Dev hooked an arm around her waist to pull her close.
He kissed her, hard against her lips, and she tasted herself as his tongue slid over hers once before pulling away.
“Careful, there, angel.” Dev’s soft smile glistened with her arousal and sent her core fluttering, the empty feeling not so profound now that her inner muscles were spent. The man hardly ever gifted anyone with a smile, so when he did, Ellie felt a sense of pride. But goodLord, the one he had on now made her feel deliciously sinful.
Dev settled her to the ground but didn’t let go until she stood on her own. Once steady, she lifted her head to thank him but paused mid-word as she watched him use his thumb to swipe the moisture left on his lips before licking it off his fingers.
“Most satisfying meal I’ve ever had.” Ellie’s jaw dropped and his smile grew wider. “I love that you blush even after I’ve just had my head between your thighs.”
She groaned and rolled her eyes. “Keep talking to me like that and I’ll make you go back for seconds.”
His forest green eyes darkened. “Don’t tempt me, baby.” He moved to grip her waist again but she backed up and held him off at arm’s length.
“No, stop.” His hands leaped off of her like she was on fire, but she shook her head to relieve his concerned frown. “No, you’re fine, it’s just… what about…” She trailed off, not entirely sure how to ask him.
“‘What about’ what?”
She inhaled and decided to go for it. “What about you? Don’t you, um, get a turn?”
Heat flashed across his eyes and he bent to give her a scorching kiss that left her breathless. He pulled away and twirled a strand of her loose blonde hair.
“As much as I want you to put that ponytail back up so you can suck my cock, I’m gonna have to take a rain check since you kneed me in the fucking balls less than…” He checked his watch. “…Twenty minutes ago.”
Oops. Forgot about that.
Wait.
“Twenty minutes?” Her pitch went up and she grabbed his wrist to check the time for herself. “Oh, crap. I’ve got class in like fifteen minutes! I can’t believe I forgot!”
“Don’t worry, El.” He chuckled and waved her off. “I’ll drive you. Get your things and we’ll go.”
Ellie nodded and met him at the door. As he unlocked it, her hand acted on its own volition and drifted to his, holding it before she registered what she was doing. As if it was the most natural thing in the world. It even felt like it was until she noticed Dev looking down at their connection like he’d grown another appendage.
“Oh, um… sorry.” She loosened her grip and tried to pull away, but Dev’s hand tightened around hers.
“No, don’t.” His whisper was soft. Vulnerable? She couldn’t quite place it, but it made her heart ache. “It’s nice.” He pursed his lips and studied her with a serious look for long enough she began to fidget under the attention. “I want to take you out on a date.”
Ellie perked up. “For real? Like adatedate? Like a real dinner and a movie kinda thing?”
Dev laughed and opened the door. “If that’s what you want, then sure. I just want to spend time with you.”
“What? Does all this time beating each other up not count all of a sudden?” Her smile was so wide she was sure she looked like a loon, but heck, she was so excited she didn’t care.
“Ha ha.” He rolled his eyes. “Joke all you want, but I’m taking you out. Friday work?”
Ellie’s smile became brittle at the edges. She tried to keep her lips firmly curved up and forced her lingering happiness to bleed over the wounds that were still too fresh. “That’s my birthday, actually. I-I was planning on staying in—”
“Excellent. It’s settled. I’ll take you on a date for your birthday. We have to celebrate another year. Not everyone gets those, you know.”
Unspoken grief settled over his words like a shroud, and she wondered if he was remembering his friend like she was remembering Sasha. They’d both lost so much already in their lives and she knew he was right. She should try her best to celebrate life when she could. But it was going to be tough celebrating on the anniversary of the day Sasha was… But she didn’t expect him to remember. She wished she didn’t have to.
He squeezed her hand again and she returned it automatically, trying to live in the moment and get out of her head as he led them down the hallway to the garage. They were at Dev’s truck before she knew it and he opened the door for her, pausing to brush his lips over her forehead before helping her up inside. He closed the door and Ellie’s fingertips ghosted over the spot he’d left, sparking a hazy memory of the first time he ever kissed her. She brought her hand to her heart, trying to calm it to keep from shouting what she felt for the whole world to hear.
What if he didn’t feel the same? Sometimes his cold exterior was so invulnerable even Ellie forgot the warmth he hid inside. She didn’t believe for a second he was incapable of love… But what if he’d convinced himself she wasn’t worth the risk?
“There’s only one way to find out.”
Ellie nodded at her friend’s advice. She’d tell Dev how she felt someday, but not yet. Then she’d find out if putting her heart into this giant’s hands would set her soaring or crush her spirit. She wasn’t sure she was ready for the answer.
