Page 46 of Cuffed By Love

"Small price to pay for my sanity." I gripe back while rubbing my temple. "Devin, I have a mountain of emails I need to get through, and we have back to back meetings all day today. Can we please just put a pin in this ridiculous feud between us and focus so we can get these handcuffs off." I add pleadingly and notice Devin’s gaze softens, and he sighs.

"I can't make any promises that I'll manage to go the whole day without heckling you, but I will try Tinks."

I close my eyes and sigh in content, "Great, I'll take it. After you." I gesture for him to go forth, and he gives me a wicked smile before he turns and climbs up the stairs.

"Look at you being all chivalrous." Devin teases, looking back at me over his shoulder. "Admit it, you're only letting me go first so your eyes can feast on my sexy bum." He croons, caressing his bum gingerly. "Not that I blame you, of course."

I smile, shaking my head while I follow him closely up the steps. My God, he's still such a goofball. There are moments when I'm around him that I feel like I've gone back in time to when we were kids, and he would goof around. I like that he never lost that side to him. As bothersome as it was back then—or still is now—it's comforting to know that my Dev, the boy I adored is still in there. "Oh, darn it! You caught me. Here's me thinking I'm slick in getting you right where I want you so I can stare at your bubble butt as much as I want the whole way up to the top."

Devin cackles. "Look to your little heart's content, darlin'. It's a true blessing to appreciate beautiful things." I shake my head with a grin and push him up the stairs.

"You're such a tit. I can bet my life that that's what you tell yourself every morning while looking in the mirror."

Devin cracks up with laughter as we continue to climb up the stairs toward the fifth floor, "Ain't nothing wrong with a healthy dose of self-love and appreciation every now and then. I'd definitely recommend it Tinks, it will do you a world of good."

"I prefer to stay humble, thanks," I utter with a sugary smile. "I don't think this office is large nor equipt enough to handle two egomaniacs. You take up enough space with your own as it is." We recommence bickering as we climb up. By the time we reach the tenth floor, Devin is complaining and sweating profusely. He sat on the step on the fifteenth floor and refused to get up for a good five minutes to rest his 'aching thighs and burning lungs', we eventually make it to the eighteenth floor, and I notice Devin is starting to look a little green.

"This isn't so bad right, only two more floors to go." I chirp encouragingly in an attempt to urge him on. He responds with a side glare, his chest rising and falling quickly with every deep breath he inhales. His eyes glaze over, and he blinks a couple times. "Devin?" By the time his name even left my lips, I see him, as if time had slowed, hit the floor, taking me down with him. I gasp and fall to my knees alongside him. I look down into his flushed face.

"Oh my God! Dev?!"

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