“That’s it, mushroom. I’m coming in.”
“No, wait!” In a move so fast I nearly break my back, not in the fun way, I whip Mr. Wiggles out and toss him into the nightstand drawer, slam the drawer shut, and yank the covers up to my chin, bolting upright and plastering on a smile just as the bedroom door swings opens.
Devlin, disheveled and wild-eyed and sexy as sin, shirtless, black silk pajama pants hanging low on his hips, those v-muscles begging for athoroughtonguing…
“You’re panting,” he announces. “I thought perhaps you’d… hurt… something.”
“It was just…” I blink up at him, still smiling, dazed and—yes, brilliant observation—still panting.
It’s like when the Devil card showed up that first night between the sheets, only this is so much worse, because the candles are lit (an obvious sign) and I just came—twice—and I’ve got Self-Care Sex Hair (yes, it’s a thing), and the literal Devil is standing at the foot of my bed, taking in the whole scene with wide, all-knowing eyes that have seen it all before and can’t wait to see it all again.
And I can’t stop wishing he’d drop the pretense, climb in here, and bring me right back to the edge for round three with his hot, demanding, filthy mouth—
“Just a bad dream,” I say firmly. Then laugh. And snort.Oh, goddess, kill me now. “So, um, why are you here, exactly?”
“You called out for me. Twice. The first time I couldn’t be certain, but then… I thought something happened.”
Oh, shit. I said that out loud?
“Well, as you can see, all is well!” I pull the blankets even higher and snuggle in deep, faking a yawn. “Sotired. Phew! Anyway, goodnight, and thanks for stopping, but I’m totally good. Great. Fab—”
Bzzz.
Devlin’s eyes narrow. “Do you hear that?”
Bzzzzzzz bzzzzz.
“Nothing!” I nearly shout. “I mean, no, I don’t hear a thing. Anyway, thanks again for—”
Bzzzzzzzzzzz.
“Shh.” Devlin cocks an ear. “There it is again. A buzzing of sorts. Sounds like it’s coming from the nightstand.”
“That? That’s my phone. Notifications just blowing up, as the kids say. Pow!” I make a starburst with my fingers. “Someone needs to learn how to leave a message and let it go, am I right?”
“Thisphone?” He picks up myactualphone from the dresser by the door—right where I left it—and glances at the screen. “No missed texts or calls. In fact, I think the battery has drained. You really should keep it charged.”
Bzzz bzzz bzzzz.
Devlin crosses the room. Right over to me. Leans directly over the buzzing nightstand for the outlet behind the lamp where my charger is currently plugged in, and hooks up my phone.
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!says Mr. Wiggles, just going for the gold in there, and Devlin’s somehow keeping a straight face.
He starts to walk away—thank the universe for small favors—but does an about-face at the last second, then marches right back to me and sits. On the edge of my bed. Just outside the covers, beneath which I’m naked from the waist down—andverywet.
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” he says softly, straight face intact but humor dancing in his eyes, bare chest gleaming in the candlelight like full-on romance-novel crack. Or porno crack. There’s a fine line, and I’m not sure which side this moment falls on, to be honest. “Lots of people enjoy sex alone. In fact—”
“I’m notashamed, Devlin!” I pull the blankets up over my head and pray to whatever monsters may be listening,please just open up a pit in the ground and swallow me whole! “I’m just… not having this conversation with you right now. Or ever. Okay?”
“But you—”
Bzzzzz…
“Oh my goddess, go away! Both of you!”
“Fine. If you’ll just answer me one question—honestly and without hesitation—I’ll kindly leave you to it.”
I peek out from beneath the blanket, knowing I’m going to regret it but unable to stop myself. “What’s so important that you need the answer right this very instant?”
