AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You can’t blame yourself for what’s happening. You didn’t hurt Tish. The man who attacked her did that. Even if you still lived with them, you might not have been home when he broke in. And if you had been home, he could’ve hurt both of you. Then, who would’ve searched for Meredith.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “Poor Tish. How terrifying it must have been. And Meredith... We have no idea what’s happening to her.” A sob rose in her throat as tears spilled from her eyes.
“Oh, babe, don’t,” Dev said, brushing away the tears with his thumbs. “I can take a beating any day, but tears...they destroy me.” He kissed one eye, then the other.
The tears slowed to a stop as Kiana’s breath caught and held.
When his kisses moved to her lips, she melted into him, grateful for his solid strength and compassion—and so much more.
He made her forget that there were bastards out there like her ex-fiancé who had no moral compass. Dev made her believe that maybe, just maybe, love was real, not just some stupid fairytale existing only in books.
Even if it wasn’t love that she was feeling, she didn’t want it to stop. Not yet. At that moment, what she felt was the only thing keeping her afloat in a sea of sadness and despair.
For a fraction of time, she chose to forget the heavy burden of uncertainty and bask in the certainty of the heat burning through her body, warming her from her core to the very tips of her being.
When Dev raised his head, Kiana moaned.
“If I don’t stop here,” he whispered against her ear, “we’re headed down a path you didn’t want.”
“Don’t,” she said past the breath lodged in her throat. “Don’t stop. I need your arms around me, your body against mine.” She clasped his face in her hands. “I need to feel everything that reminds me I’m alive.” She kissed him hard, thrusting her tongue past his teeth to feel his warmth and taste his essence.
He thrust back, taking as well as giving, claiming her mouth as his.
Again, his lips left hers, and she almost cried out as if in pain.
Dev bent, scooped her up into his arms, and carried her through the beautiful living room. He didn’t stop until he crossed the threshold into the master bedroom. When he lowered her legs to the floor, she leaned into him, pressing her breasts to his chest while wishing they were already naked.
Her hands rose to grab the hem of his shirt, dragging it up his torso, over his chest and head. Once she’d freed him of his shirt, she tossed it aside and went to work on the button securing the waistband of his jeans.
When her fingers fumbled, he brushed her hands aside, slipped the button loose, dragged down his zipper and let his cock spring free.
Kiana grasped him in her hands, amazed and completely turned on by how long, thick and hard he was.
He tipped her chin up and stared down into her eyes. “You have to tell me what you want, or this stops here.”
His cock twitched in her palm. She licked dry lips and swallowed. Then she released her hold on his shaft, gripped the hem of her shirt and pulled it up over her head, tossing it to the side. “I want you. Inside me. Now.”
He tipped his head slightly. “Are you sure?”
She reached behind her back and unhooked her bra, letting the straps slide from her shoulders. With a wicked grin, she stood in front of him, naked from the waist up. “Positive.”
“No regrets?” he persisted.
“My only regret is that you’re stalling.” Her eyes narrowed. “If you don’t want this...” Her eyes widened. “Wow...I just assumed.”
He chuckled and gripped her arms. “I want this more than I want to breathe. I just want you to be sure it’s what you want. You’re hurting and upset. You might not be thinking straight. If all you need is someone to hold you, I can do that.” He let out a tight breath. “It’ll be hard, but I’ll hold you, and we don’t have to go any further than that.”
She pressed a finger to his lips. “Shut up.”
“You said you didn’t want me to hit on you.”
“Shh.” Kiana shook her head, remembering the words she'd spoken when they’d been on Maui. “All of that stands. I don’t want a relationship. I’m not good at those. All I want is tonight. You haven’t hit on me. I believe we find each other mutually attractive, and there’s nothing wrong with exploring that chemistry. As long as we both agree there are no strings attached.” She met his gaze, arching an eyebrow.
He hesitated, his lips pressing together.
For a long moment, Kiana thought he’d decline her offer.
“Okay,” he finally said. “No strings. One night and no promises.”
