Page 71 of Manors & Mischief

“I’m beginning to realize that.”

25

EMBER

Mounds of black fabric surround me, and the now familiar sound of the sewing machine tangles in my brain like an earworm. I swear, even when I take a break, the needle’s jackhammer sound still stays there like it’s etched permanently into my psyche.

The sewing is easy though. The blackout curtains only need six inches of fabric folded around and sewn to itself so we can stretch it across the PVC pipe for hallways and rooms. The first hallway and room is already up, curtains attached, and it looks fantastic. It’s exactly what I envisioned.

Devon is working on the next set of rooms, to which he’s already given me the dimensions. Everything is at high speed as we try to get it done. Mrs. Lachey has already approved the plans and Rose, Mark, and the cider mill are on board so we can make it a town-wide event that opens in a week, and I still have to decorate the haunted house and plan the end-of-week parties.

Somehow, though, instead of planning the parties while I’m mindlessly sewing, my brain always flicks toward Devon. Have you ever been truly fucked? Not the cutesy boyfriend sex… I’m talking about a total takeover of your body, Ember.

It felt that way that day, and it felt the same today. Like every time he comes near me, I become his to do with what he wants. Kiss me in public. Touch me intimately. He’s now spent the night several times, everyone in town knows we’re an item, and we’re still the focus of everyone’s attention when we go out together.

The last time my mother video chatted me, she even got to meet him. Yet, she still messages me every day with news from home like I’m going to drop everything and go back.

First, there’s no way financially I could do that in the first place. I’ve sunk nearly everything into the manor. The spare funds I have left have to be enough to live off of, and even then, I still owe the town money for the fines. Devon’s mom pulled me aside the other night when we went over for a roast dinner and told me she found some more grant money for me. That means, when I pay the fines, I’ll get the funds right back. I don’t know how she pulled it off, but I’m extremely grateful.

A pair of hands land on my shoulders, kneading and massaging deep into the sore muscles there. Who knew sewing could be such hard work? I lean back into Devon and peer up at him. “Unsanctioned break?”

“You are the worst boss.”

“Mmm. You didn’t say that last night.”

He smirks. “Because I was the boss last night.”

A warmth seeps up from my toes, fills my belly, and flushes my cheeks. Devon’s always pointing out how quickly he can make me blush. I didn’t know I’d enjoy the type of man Devon is. Dominant. Explicit. I suppose I should’ve known since my ex didn’t do it for me. Devon never has a hard time making me climax.

Firstly, Devon is a giver. He makes sure I’m satisfied before we move onto anything else, and we haven’t done much of that, to be honest. He’s definitely been taking it slow for me. My lashes lower, and Devon makes a low hum of approval as he strokes my throat. He moves his hands down to the valley between my breasts, then back up, tracing his thumb until he hits my chin and back down.

“I’ve been dreaming about something.”

“Yeah?”

He spins my chair around, the wood scraping against the hardwood of the beautiful dining room until I’m facing him.

My heart jumps in my throat. “Does it have any reason to do with why you’re taking an unscheduled break?”

“You try working completely distracted with thoughts of you.”

He reaches down, pulling at the hem of my shirt, but waiting for me to give him approval. When I nod, he pulls my shirt over my head until I’m sitting before him in just my bra.

With Devon, I never know what he’s going to do. It makes everything exciting. New.

Devon lifts his shirt until a swath of hard muscle appears, but he quickly covers it with his hand, teasing the waistband of his jeans.

I think I know where this is going, and it’s something we haven’t tried yet. I reach out to work his zipper down, but Devon stops me. “Let me tell you what I want to feel first.”

I sit back, watching him reach inside his jeans and give himself a long stroke. My core heats up in no time.

“I’ve been dreaming about your lips around me, my cock filling your mouth.” He cups my cheek. “Your eyes staring up at me through those lashes while I pump inside you.”

“I keep saying your mouth should be illegal.”

“I think yours will be. I can’t promise I won’t come quickly with those sweet lips pressed around me.” He swipes his thumb across my mouth, teasing. “Do you think you could do that for me?”

I peer at him, the shadows in his eyes giving evidence of dark cravings. I thought I would just find a nice home to live in here. A place that would be as welcoming as I wanted it to be. I never imagined I would find someone like Devon. “I might not be good at it,” I tell him honestly.