Page 111 of Cuffed By Love

“I love the things you come out with, Tinks.” Devin chuckles, taking a sip of his diet coke. I smile sheepishly and shrug while I chew blissfully on my pizza.

“Seriously, it’s so good. I’ve never had this kind of cheese before. Taste it.” I hold out the slice to his lips, and he takes a bite and chews, his eyes widening with surprise.

“Oh, my God. That is so much better than mine.” He pouts and pulls my hand holding the slice, and takes another bite.

“Hey! I said, a taste, not inhale it, you freak. Get off my pizza.” I snicker, trying to pull my hand back, but he keeps taking more bites. “Devin!” Devin cackles when I flick him with water till he lets go of my hand. “You’re like a fat kid on chocolate. That was the last slice.” I pout huffily, looking at the crust between my thumb and forefinger. Devin grins and squeezes my cheek affectionately.

“You shouldn’t have offered me a taste then because when I get a taste of something, and I like it, I will indulge insatiably with no remorse until my appetite is satisfied.” Devin declares and drops a little peck on the corner of my mouth. “And I’ve got an enormous appetite.” He adds with a breathy groan. God, this man is something else. Everything he says just oozes sex and sounds so incredibly erotic. I want to straddle him on that chair and kiss him until my lungs cave in.

“I do like a man with an insatiable appetite,” I affirm, placing my elbow on the table and resting my chin in my hand while I gaze at him lecherously.

Devin mimics my action and gazes deeply into my eyes, “Tell me what else you like in a man.”

“Mm, I like…” I trail off while he watches me interestedly, his brows rising a little while he waits for me to continue. “A man that doesn’t wolf down my food when I offer him a taste.” I finish dryly, and he chuckles.

“Have my last slice.” He offers, pushing his plate to me, and I grimace and shake my head.

“You know I don’t like pepperoni. However, you are buying me gelato to make up for your insolence, buttmunch.”

Devin cocks his head to the side and grins widely. “I’ll buy you the entire gelato shop, Tinks.” I watch him place his arms on the table and rest his chin on his arm when they clear the dirty plates. He would do that in school all the time.

I smile when he lifts his eyes to look at me. Eyes all large and expressive, like an adorable puppy. I raise my hand and brush my fingers through his hair. “I’ve always been so jealous of how easy you tan.” I express, running my fingers over his tan line on his shoulders.

Devin smiles warmly, “It’s my Italian genes.”

“Your back is boiling. Does it hurt?” He shakes his head, taking my free hand into his and kissing my fingers.

“No, but keep touching me.” He mumbles, closing his eyes. “Never stop touching me.” We sat there for a while just talking, murmuring to one another. My hand laced with his while I play with his hair with the other.

Devin kept his promise and bought me Gelato, which we ate as the sun set while we strolled hand in hand through Giardino degli Aranci—or Orange’s Garden. The infamous park that grows the bitter oranges. While we walk, I hear music and pull Devin along, following the music until we come to a fountain and a lady singing a beautiful Italian song with her guitar. Her voice was so beautiful and the song so emotional that you feel it in your bones even if you didn’t understand. That’s the beauty of music. You don’t have to understand it; just feel it. Something about her words spoke to me. It tugged at my heartstrings.

“Bella par me.” She says, gesturing to the couples around her and smiles at Devin and me. I look around and up at Devin.

“What did she say?”

Devin looks down into my eyes. “Dance for me.” He translates and holds his hand out to me. I take his hand, and he spins me around and pulls me up against him. I push up on my toes and circle my arms around his neck. We sway together while the sun slowly sets around us. I’ll never forget the way Devin is looking into my eyes, so deep and full of meaning as if he was trying to see into my soul.

After the song ended, I asked the singer what the song meant. She said it’s titled “I know it will end”, Devin and I look at one another, and my heart drops. It was a sign, and we both knew it. A photographer took a picture of us while we were dancing and gifted it to us. Dev offered to pay him, but he shook his head and explained we were looking at one another so beautifully it would have been a shame not to capture it.

After the park, Devin took me to the Trevi Fountain. We both made wishes and threw our coins into the fountain. Devin bought me a rose from a man sitting by the fountain. He came to stand behind me and held the rose in front of me. “I know you prefer orchids, but the man is trying to make a living, so I couldn’t resist.” I smile and thank him. He presses his lips to the base of my neck. “What did you wish for?” He murmurs in my ear.

I wished for you.

“I can’t tell you that; it won’t come true.”

Devin smiles and tightens his arms around me. “Fair enough.” After the fountain, we found a cute restaurant with tables and chairs outside and had dinner. We sat there for ages, drinking wine and talking.

“Can I ask you something?” Devin nods, watching me closely while I circle my index finger around the rim of my wineglass. “When you came back, did you go looking to see if I got your letter?”

Devin frowns, “No, I didn’t. It didn’t even occur to me to go check. I always assumed that you read the letter but never responded. Why do you ask?”

I sigh, biting my lip. “I went to see if it was still there after you told me about it. I had to know what you said.”

“Was it not there?”

“No, that’s the thing, it was there, but it was torn up,” I tell him. Devin’s brows furrow and he leans a little closer. “The bag you put it in. The envelope was fine, but the letter inside was shredded to confetti.”

“Who would tear it up? No one but the two of us knew about that spot, right?” Devin questions, bewildered.

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