“No, I’m sorry. I appointed myself as the security personnel watching over you. I felt like you’d be more comfortable with me, but I’ve been burning it at both ends. I should’ve left Joe here last night.” Cash started to rise, and Dev reached out, cupping the man’s calf, stopping him from doing anything more than taking notice of Dev and his intention. Cash dropped back on the seat, eyeing Dev.
“Not what I meant,” Dev started and the position he’d kept them in finally registered. He was on his knees between Cash’s parted legs. Everything right in Dev’s body had him zeroing in on the stretched fabric between Cash’s lower stomach to his ass. The air between them sizzled to life. Cash’s dick hardened under his appraisal, his nipples tightened into small pebbles.
Dev’s boldness had him reaching out without even considering the action. He cupped the growing cock. Cash let him, not moving a single muscle. His gaze tracked every one of Dev’s movements. Those light green eyes transformed from confused to darkening with lust in seconds.
Now Dev understood exactly why he’d made the decisions he had. Why he had desperately wanted Cash to be in his life long term. How he hadn’t even questioned such a fine man’s sudden existence in his life, or why that man was so willing to spend time with a guy like him.
Dev squeezed his fingers around Cash’s thick cock, committing the size and length to memory. Sex was going to happen between them again. He promised himself that. But not while his new, confused feelings were still so raw. Once he was able to put Cash in the same category as everyone else he’d ever fucked, then he’d fuck the shit out of the guy at every given opportunity.
And that wasn’t today.
Even with those thoughts crashing around inside him, his hand refused to let go. His palm gently pressed then coasted up Cash’s length. Only then could he manage to remove his trembling hand, fisting his fingers as he pushed to his feet and finished his apology. “I should’ve realized the video was being seen by everyone and I didn’t. I’m… My bad.”
As Dev started to turn away, Cash reached for his wrist, halting him. Those eyes that spoke to his soul, penetrated, keeping him in place. “It’s not just you. I’ve crossed lines I’ve never crossed with anyone else, but I did it willingly. I wanted to. I still want to, Dev.”
The tone Cash used drove his truth home. Dev’s entire body did an inner shudder that he was relatively sure he’d kept hidden. At least he hoped he had. The tactical chess game they were now playing didn’t allow for any give, only taking. At least where Dev was concerned.
He had to fight to keep himself from caving, moving forward, taking what was so clearly being offered. He wanted Cash’s body so bad it hurt, but instead, he twisted his wrist out of the hold.
“Coffee?” Even though everything inside him absorbed his pretty boy’s words, letting them heal some of the residual pain of being badly used, he wasn’t ready. “My girls have already texted to tell me to get on my way. We should probably hit the road soon.”
“What time is it?” Cash asked again, still sitting exactly in the same position. Dev shouldn’t like the easy comfort between them, but he did.
“Eight thirty.”
Cash’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head. He rolled to his feet.
“What time did you get in last night?”
“I guess I got to your place about two this morning. Where’s my phone…” Cash searched the sofa, pushing his hands between the cushions until he found the cell and started working the screen. “Shit. I missed a meeting check-in.”
“It’s a holiday,” he said, dropping a pod inside the coffee maker.
“Not for the bad guys,” Cash replied, his attention focused on his phone. Dev couldn’t help how his gaze traveled to Cash’s cock. Work, time, and cell phones had destroyed the hard-on. Dev shook his head in disappointment.
“I’m a pretty bad dude and I took the day off,” he murmured, pushing a coffee cup under the drip.
“You aren’t that bad, Dev,” Cash said.
He let Cash’s assessment go as the memory of calling the club Prez in San Diego to do that slimeball in… He snapped his fingers as it hit him. That was what Parker’s call had meant. He’d taken care of Stink. All the dots connected inside his head in a moment of rushed clarity.
“What?” Cash asked.
“Nothin’. If you’re ridin’ with me, I’m headin’ out in about thirty minutes. It’s a haul from here,” he explained, wishing he had the details of how Parker had handled the end of Stink’s life. Dammit, all the surveillance ruined a good story.
“Don’t leave without me,” Cash said as he left Dev’s apartment. He hadn’t needed the sounds of Cash’s solid tread or the door opening and closing. Dev felt the loss the farther Cash went.
Chapter 31
Whatever Cash expected, it wasn’t this. He surveyed the room where he sat. Dev’s mother’s dining room reflected the overall house in that it was both spacious and yet somehow homey. It was a beautifully decorated room full of chic, modern furnishings, sprinkled with photographs and mementos, showing the love and history between her and her children.
A complete spread of holiday themed food, probably enough to feed the entire bike club, was both artfully arranged on the table and overflowing in the kitchen.
Including Dev’s two children and himself, six people were at the table. One spot left open, not at the head of the table, for Dev’s father who hadn’t yet arrived. Fox wasn’t necessarily late. They started Thanksgiving dinner early, without him. The food was ready. That simple.
The weirdest part for Cash wasn’t the absence of the bikers he had hoped to begin indoctrinating himself with, but instead the inclusion of children. He had never really been around kids. He had no brothers or sisters, and as a child, he hadn’t attracted those sorts of friendships. He’d been homeschooled since his accident. His church family consisted of the stragglers his parents connected with. His work in law enforcement required a cloak of secrecy.
Having a five-year-old girl plastered to his side required him to think differently. To concentrate on her constant engagement. To listen to her words and try to understand the speak of a small child. Yes, she was adorable. Sweet and overly attentive. A very pretty little girl who had the makings of being a beauty when she grew up. Petite compared to her equally impressive older sister.
