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“Devin, I’m sorry,” she said as she caught up with me in the parking lot. Without thinking, I turned and wrapped my arms around her, pressing her to me. “For what?” I took her lips without giving her a chance to answer. I kissed her long, hard, and thoroughly. I hadn’t lied. I’d thought about her every minute of every day. When I pulled away, her lips parted as I licked mine, savoring our kiss. Suddenly her features darkened as she forgot my hold on her, her voice low with shame.
“You were just trying to help me. God, I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life.” She buried her head in her hands, and I pulled them away.
“Stop it,” I snapped as she stood, stunned. “Those fucking people aren’t worth your worry. Most of them have never done a selfless act in their life. You don’t need to compare yourself to them.”
“So easy for you. Tell me, Devin, why are you surrounded by them? Aren’t these your partners? Your friends?” she huffed, still reeling from my kiss.
“They are my bread and butter, Nina. They are necessary for me. I don’t have a choice, but you do.”
“I’m just trying to fit in,” she said in a soft voice.
“You don’t belong here. Not with them. I’m sure there are plenty of nice wealthy people out there, but…” I pointed to the hotel we had just exited. “Those people I know, those people I do business with, and they are not those nice people.”
“What would you have me do, Devin?” Trembling beneath her red gown, she confronted me head-on, a storm brewing in her gray eyes. I gripped her hand and pulled her into my Audi. She didn’t resist as I turned the ignition and took a deep breath. She stared straight ahead as I looked over at her.
“Nina.” Grabbing her hand, I held it in mine. Trembling beneath my hand was hers, soft and small. I held it tighter, completely unsure of what to do. I felt somehow responsible for her. I’d only fucked her once, but somehow I knew it had nothing to do with it.
“I’m completely alone, Devin.” She looked at me then with unshed tears in her eyes, and I felt my entire body go weak in visceral reaction. I pulled her to me in a soft kiss, exploring her perfect mouth as she moaned, her tears falling down her cheeks and onto my hands as they cradled her face.
“Nina, alone is exactly what you will be with a crowd like that. Come on, let’s salvage our night.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“To the water,” I answered as I buckled her belt then mine.
“I love the water,” she said softly.
“I know.” I grinned at her with a wink. She winked back and returned my smile, wiping her tears away.
I drove to the Isle of Palms, and we removed our shoes as we walked along the beach. I grabbed her hand as she stayed silent, still upset, but with each passing minute, I could feel the water working its magic, calming her. She’d told me a long time ago she grew up a water baby. All of her favorite memories were held at the beach. I understood the allure. I felt the weight of the world shift slightly as the water traced the shore. It was becoming warmer.
She laughed out of nowhere as she turned to me. “How did you know what it was, the rubbing board?”
“History major,” I said, chuckling with her. “Though that wasn’t in any of the books. I can’t believe that was up for auction.” I smirked, turning to her. “Planning on using it?”
“Absolutely not,” she said with a childlike giggle. “I wouldn’t even begin to pretend to know how. I should demand full disclosure. It looked like some sort of, I don’t know. It’s made of brass and wood, how would they even begin to…” I gestured with my fingers how the women would impale themselves on the board, facing each other as Nina’s large eyes rounded and her mouth formed an “Oh” of understanding.
We walked a bit longer, and I felt her hand relax in mine.
“Feel better?” I asked as she turned on me at the same time with a question.
“Why didn’t you call?”
“I can’t give you more than sex and friendship.” She didn’t hide her disappointment, and I didn’t offer her more. “A friend would call,” she said, stepping toward me.
“I was planning on it.”
“I was holding my breath,” she mouthed as she eyed me carefully. Her dress outlined her body as the excess material flew in the wind, and I felt the pull, as I always did, to have her beneath me.
“What are you thinking?” She smiled as I let my eyes appreciate her.
“I’ve never let a woman so damn beautiful have this much effect on me.”
“Well, what are you going to do about it?” She put her hands on her hips, an awkward gesture for the dress she was in, but that was Nina, a square peg trying desperately to cram into the round hole.
“I’m going to eat your perfect ass.” She took a step back and burst out laughing.
“You won’t be laughing while I’m doing it.” Catching the lust clear in my eyes, she stopped her laugh abruptly, her eyes wide.
