Every Glance (Every Life #3) (30 page)

“What’s going on in your head right now?” Devyn asks, her soft voice breaks through the fog filling my mind. “You were really tense, but I think every muscle in your body just went slack. Are you tired?”

“Not right now.” I swallow hard and lock my gaze onto hers. “I just…I just realized that I don’t think I’m falling in love with you…I
am
in love with you.” I hold my hand up. “Don’t say anything. I don’t expect you to say it back, and I’m fully aware that it’s way too early for me to say this, but I do…I love you.”

Her face remains blank for a few seconds, and I start internally questioning whether or not I should’ve ever said anything. But suddenly she jumps up and straddles my lap, throwing her arms around my neck. “Thank God you said it first because I thought I was going to explode, thinking I couldn’t wait much longer to tell you. To hell with it being too soon. I love you, too.”

I feel my cheeks spread my mouth into a wide grin. “You love me.” It’s not a question. Just an affirmation to myself that what I felt was real.

She smiles back and leans in, pressing her lips to mine. With that innocent contact, a searing heat blooms just beneath the surface of my skin, and I feel the air around me shift into a nearly palpable electricity. It tickles my skin and buzzes along my nerve paths, kicking every cell in my body into supercharged frenzy.

And it must be contagious because Devyn’s breath hitches in her throat and she dives into the kiss deeper, tangling her tongue with mine. Her cool fingers feel like ice against my flushed skin as she slips her hands up my sleeves to knead them into my back.

Taking her lead, I find my way beneath the bottom hem of her sweater, my hands immediately finding the smooth skin of her low back and exploring further up in search of her warm softness. My fingers graze over the clasp of her bra and up between her shoulder blades, effectively pressing the entire length of my forearms against her bare skin. I love the way she feels.

Devyn’s abdomen shakes with laughter, and she pulls back from the kiss.

“What?” My voice sounds gravelly and drunk.

“I don’t think we were meant to ever get any further than this.” She pulls her arms from my sleeves and crawls off of my lap to sit beside me. “Your phone is ringing again.”

I guess I was far too lost in her to even notice or care. After slipping my phone from my pocket, I see the clinic’s number glowing on the screen.

“Hello?” I answer, trying to sound a lot more together than I feel and attempting to ignore the feeling of a two-ton boulder in my lap.

“Dalton,” Ella begins, “I just heard about William. I’m so sorry.”

“Thanks, Ella. I appreciate you calling.”

“What can I do for Sawyer? Oh, the timing is awful. Tomorrow is supposed to be a happy day for them. What about you? Stan and I thought about coming by your house when the clinic closes for lunch, so we can bring you whatever you need.”

I look over at Devyn straightening her sweater and smoothing her disheveled hair. “I’m good. No need to come by. And I’ll let you know if Sawyer needs anything. He’s supposed to be calling me after he goes to the funeral home later.”

Ella huffs. “Nonsense. I know what that man meant to you, Dalton. You shouldn’t have to sit at home alone. We’ll bring some lunch over for you. What do you want to eat?”

“El,” I say with a little more authority in my voice. “I’m okay. And I’m not alone.”

Come on…take the hint.

“Oh?” I can practically hear the smile in her voice. “Reading you loud and clear. But we would at least like to come over later this afternoon, okay? We’re closing the office a little early today, so let me come over and coddle you like a good pseudo-mom should.
And
we need to meet her, so make sure she sticks around.”

“She won’t be going anywhere if I can help it. Thanks, El. Call me when you’re on your way.”

She snickers. “Oh, it’s like that, huh? Okay then…I’ll give you a ten minute warning.”

Devyn rests her head on my shoulder and laces her fingers in my free hand. I like the way my dark skin contrasts against the smooth cream of hers. “Appreciated. See you later.”

“Dalton, you know we love you, right?” Ella’s voice cracks slightly. She and Stan have both told me that before, but I’ve never said it back, even though I feel the same.

“I know.” Maybe it’s William’s passing that’s put me in a sappy mood, but apparently I’m on a roll with expressing my feelings today. “And I love you, too.”

After choking out a goodbye, Ella hangs up, and I cram my phone back into my pocket, immediately placing a soft kiss on the top of Devyn’s head.

“Hmm…”

Devyn sits up straight and turns to me. “What?”

I smile and shrug. “I’ve said ‘I love you’ twice in one day, and I didn’t die.”

Her lips curl up at the sides and expose her perfectly straight teeth. “Well, now, you don’t want to push it. Better take it easy.”

I lean over and use the back of the couch to gain enough leverage to stand on my knees. Crawling over her, I push my body against hers until she lying across the cushions and I’m balanced only inches above her. “I rather enjoy living on the edge.” I allow my head to fall just enough so that my mouth can leave only a whisper of a kiss upon hers. “I love…love…
love
the idea of taking a shower right now.”

She cackles and reaches up to grab the couch pillow above her head, and she smacks me with it. “Actually,” she giggles, “I wouldn’t mind one myself. Think you could take me to get my car, so I can go home and get cleaned up?”

“If I let you go home to shower, then I wouldn’t be able to sit here and enjoy the thought of you in mine. Throw your clothes in my washing machine and raid my closet for something to wear until they’re dry.” I lower myself onto her, biting down on the groan that threatens to escape when my body presses into her soft curves.

Being the vixen she is, she picks up one leg and wraps it around mine, hooking it around my thigh. “Would take way too long for my bra and sweater to air dry. But you can come to my house with me and imagine me in
my
shower.”

I shake my head. “Not the same, but I have a good compromise. You just stay topless.”

Laughter explodes from her throat. “You’re such a man.”

“Yep. Can’t fault me for trying.” I waggle my eyebrows at her. “But you could just wear one of my sweatshirts, and I can take you home to get some clothes before Simon comes home.”

She looks around, obviously contemplating.

“Come on…”

Devyn chuckles. “Fine. But I get to go first.”

“Deal.”

I help her to her feet, and I immediately miss her warmth against me. Taking her hand, I walk her through my bedroom and into my closet. She picks out a bright blue hooded sweatshirt while I search through my pajama pants for a pair with a drawstring that she can tie up. The only one I can find that will work for her is the pair of soft heather gray pants I wear most often. And I’m totally okay with that.

Then, I lead her into my bathroom to show her where everything is. Sure, I could’ve let her shower in the guest bath, but what fun would that be for me?

“Towels are here. Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash are on that shelf.” I can’t wait to smell my soap on her skin. “There’s even a brand new toothbrush in that drawer over there. And of course, if you need any assistance, I’m your guy.”

She snorts. “Please. You do
not
want to see any of…this.” She waves her hands up and down, pointing at her body. “Having Simon didn’t do my body any good at all, believe me. There’s never been a man in the shower with me, and it’s definitely not starting today. Not unless you lose your sense of sight or something.”

I grab her waving hands. “You’re the one that’s blind. Hell, Devyn, you’re gorgeous. And I know you’ve talked about how Carter never really gave you the time of day, but even in the beginning, I can’t believe he never took the opportunity to shower with you. I mean…he
is
a man, right? There’s not much better in this world than standing under scalding water with a woman’s slick, wet skin against you.”

“That would’ve required a half ounce of romance, and man or not, he was severely lacking in that department. And honestly, I wouldn’t have let him. No way.”

“Well,” I begin, taking a step toward her and sliding my hands up her arms, “would you ever let me?”

Her throat works hard on a single swallow. “Y-yes, I think so. But I’d make you swear to keep your eyes closed the whole time.”

Reaching over turn the water on in the shower, I chuckle and shake my head. “I don’t think I could ever make a promise that I know I couldn’t keep. But answer a couple of questions for me. Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

Well, that’s good. She didn’t hesitate.

“And do you think I’d ever treat you like that jackass, Carter?”

“Of course not.” She doesn’t even blink.

Without breaking her gaze, I nudge the bathroom door closed with my foot. “Good.”

I reach over to the top drawer to pull out a small box of matches and shakily slip one out between two fingers. Suddenly my nerves are getting the best of me, but I do my best to hide it as I swipe the slim wooden stick across the side of the box and hold the delicate flame to the wick of a tiny vanilla candle on the counter. I never believed her before, but Ella insisted that having candles in the house was a necessity and she gave me a ton of them when I moved in here. I’ll have to give her credit for this one.

As soon as the flame takes hold, I blow out the match and pull my phone out of my pocket, starting some soft music and slipping it into the dock. As soon as music floods the small room, I turn back to Devyn to notice that she’s completely frozen, despite the steam rising behind her, and looking almost panic-stricken.

“Don’t be scared of me,” I say softly, flicking off the light and approaching her carefully.

“I’m not. I just don’t know what to do right now.” She nervously runs a quaking hand through her hair, and I catch it as it falls again, dragging her over against me.

Dipping my head low, I plant a gentle chaste kiss on her lips. “Whatever you want to do,” I whisper. I kiss her again, deeper and with more determination of making her feel at ease with me, while my own heart is pumping blood through my body so fast that I’m getting lightheaded. Well, that or it has all traveled south.

I’d love nothing more than to strip her down, get her under the steamy spray, and kiss every square inch of her wet skin. But I don’t want to push her out of her comfort zone. She’s definitely worth me taking my time for.

I feel her body melt against me as she finally relaxes, so I tangle my fingers in her hair and tug gently until her head falls back and her neck is exposed. Dying to taste her skin, I dive in to kiss the tender flesh just under her jaw, and I kiss a trail all the way down to her collarbone. Just as I nip at the skin covering that narrow bone, her hands slip beneath my shirt and all the way up my chest, so I straighten and reach around behind my neck to tug my collar until it slides over my head. I drop it in the floor and watch the golden flame flicker in her eyes as she takes me in. Gingerly, her fingertips skim along my bare shoulders, down my chest, and along the sprinkling of hair leading down into my jeans.

Leaning forward only slightly, Devyn drags her heated, moist lips from the curve of my shoulder and down to the center of my chest, detouring for only a moment to run her tongue up the side of my neck, effectively sending a chill straight through my spine.

Devyn holds up an index finger and swirls it around in a circle, so I turn around as ordered. Starting low on my back, her hands trail up either side of my spine to the base of my neck. Then, with her fingers splayed across my shoulder blades, she traces the outline of my tattoo, following along the edge of each wing spanning the width of my back.

“Don’t move,” she whispers as her hands fall away.

I’m confused for only a moment until her sweater whooshes into the floor and her bra quickly follows, taking every discernable ounce of willpower I have not to turn around to devour her. Especially once she presses her superheated skin against my back.

“Mmm,” I groan. “You’re killing me.”

“Good,” she giggles a little too hard. I’m obviously not the only one whose nerves are in full force. “Don’t move.”

Her heat leaves me, but I forget all about it when I hear the nearly imperceptive whisk of the zipper on her jeans and the rustling of the thick fabric. They quickly join the growing pile of clothing in the floor, and I don’t know why it’s such a thing of beauty to see our clothes thrown together in my bathroom.

Oh, hell. That’s her panties.

“Can I turn around now? This is like not being invited to my own surprise party.”

She blows out a breath. “Okay.”

Before she can fully get the word out, I’ve spun around, and she scrambles to pull me against her, so I can’t see anything. Or so she thinks.

She’s seemed to have forgotten the fact that the mirror is directly behind her, so while I’m thoroughly enjoying the feeling of her warm breasts being pressed against my chest, I’m also enjoying the remarkable view. Her hair glows with a copper tint from the candle flame, and its perfect waves cascade down to the middle of her back, just where her waist begins to narrow. But almost immediately, her gentle curves fill out again, lending the shape to her flawlessly round behind.

“Damn. That’s the only word I can come up with right now.”

She turns to follow my gaze and shrieks when she sees the mirror, jumping to the side out of its view. Which, of course, just allows me the full frontal view.

The generous swell of her breasts. The almost imperceptible increase of flesh low on her belly, scarred by a few faint stretch marks left behind from her pregnancy. The flawless curvature of her hips. I’ve never seen anything more stunning.

I realize now that I’ve only dated girls. But standing here in front of me now is a woman. She thinks she has imperfections that take away from her beauty, but those perceived flaws tell her story. They make her who she is, who she has become. And to me, that only makes her more perfect than I already thought she was.