Cash pressed the end call option and lowered his phone, looking back at Dev.
=♥=
Dev rarely understood when he got something so completely wrong but, after hours of alone time, he figured out that he had taken shit too far last night. Cash had been riding the line with his sanity for days. Lack of sleep coupled with a great amount of worry had Cash’s usually rock steady self-confidence slipping.
Another revelation that he was pretty damn proud of was that he had made it all worse by being flippant, which was the exact opposite of what he wanted to do. He was still convinced he’d bought them some time, but he’d hurt the one man who held the weight of the world, meaning Dev’s world, on his shoulders.
Now as he stood there, staring down at the thick head of chestnut hair, a color heavy on the auburn spectrum, he knew they were in one of those pivotal relationship moments when he needed to stand down and let Cash have a win.
Ta-da. A personal growth moment, for sure.
He felt good about his realization. Cash had jumped into his heart in the same way as his mom, Abi, and Mae had. Their happiness and sense of comfort meant more to him than his own.
“Your parents still bein’ into each other after all these years is pretty cool. They’re satisfied with each other, right?”
Cash didn’t respond. He rarely did when Dev spoke of their past, or Cash’s parents, so he didn’t get discouraged.
“They’re safe. I know who they are. I’ll protect ’em,” Dev added. Where he tried for soothing, Cash’s back went ramrod stiff. “When I saved your life as a kid…”
Cash barked out a harsh oomph and pushed off the bench, out from under Dev’s touch. “The gratitude for your efforts when you were a boy have been paid back in full, several times over…” Cash clipped out.
Dev didn’t bite at Cash’s attempt at drawing him into a fight. He did crowd Cash like he was prone to do, especially when he wanted the bullshit between them to end. Cash took a step backward. Dev followed. “You’ve been in here for hours. If you’re tryin’ to freeze me out, it’s workin’. Come upstairs. Hang out with me. The ice is meltin’ but it’s still cold outside. Let’s take the day together, cuddle up to stay warm.”
Cash shook his head and sidestepped Dev. “Impossible. The property owner’s a slum lord. Heard of insulation?”
Dev’s hand caught Cash’s wrist. “They set church for tomorrow mornin’ at ten o’clock. Have you heard? Church is usually called at night to fuck up my evenin’.”
“I’ve heard.” Cash twisted his wrist from Dev’s hold. That didn’t stop him from reaching out, trying to circle an arm around Cash’s waist. The agent dodged that move too.
“Why’re you still makin’ me pay? That’s not like you.”
Cash kept distance between them but didn’t move when he reached a hand out to lay on Cash’s hip. Encouraged, he continued with the plans he’d had when he’d come downstairs. Cash snapped his two fingers in Dev’s face, drawing his attention and a smile at the scolding. “Focus. Is the meeting about the DA?”
“Most likely. Why’re you makin’ me beg? That’s not who you are. I’m sorry…”
“Maybe it needs to be who I am…” Cash shot out, his chest bowing.
Dev laughed at his agent but continued with the apology. “I did what I did to protect you. I can’t let ’em suspect you of anything. You won’t survive. They’ll come at you with a vengeance.”
“Dev, I have the complete power of the United States government at my back. If I go missing, I’ll be found. It’s yo—”
Dev tugged Cash forward, pressing his mouth against the man’s lips who consistently undervalued his opinion. His brothers were a bunch of reprobates who drank too much, cursed too loudly, and looked like they were a step or two away from being homeless. Many weren’t smart men, but they were loyal to their core. It didn’t matter the reason. If any one of them suspected Cash of anything, he’d be made to pay with his life.
Since Cash refused to give them credit, Dev had to be Cash’s shield. There was no other way.
What he’d come down here for, he let happen instead of continuing the fight that had torn them apart for hours now. He opened his lips, dragging his tongue over the seam of Cash’s mouth. Cash reared back, but Dev followed, his hand coming to the back of Cash’s head to keep him in place.
When Cash opened to say something, most likely the reason why they needed to focus—a broken record by Dev’s best estimation—he drove his tongue forward while adding enough pressure to the back of Cash’s head to seal them together.
It took a few long seconds, Dev loving the slide of his tongue over Cash’s, before finally getting a kiss back. A marginal amount of resistance continued even as Dev’s tongue moved in the familiar dance he had grown to crave.
If he could have Cash just like this for the rest of his life, he’d be happy and content.
When Cash’s strong hand came to his hip, bringing their rigid cocks together, Dev leaned away. Not far. Never far. Only inches from Cash’s face. He palmed Cash’s jaw in a caressing move designed to make Cash listen to what he had to say.
“Punish me in the way we both like, then let it fuckin’ go. I got the lube in my back pocket, and I’m showered.” His thumb went to rest on Cash’s lips to keep him from saying something to ruin the moment. “Eat my ass like you like to do. Stay back there as long as you want and don’t let me come no matter how much I beg.”
Chapter 7
