Unbreakable Forever: A New Adult Romance Novel (7 page)

I looked up to give him the impression I was mulling it over, but inside I was melting. “Hmm. Let me think about it.”

“Please don’t take very long,” he said with a tone of desire.

I
felt his erection against my stomach while he pulled me into him. “On one condition.”

“Oh, no. I am in no position to negotiate. I am under duress. I don’
t think it’s legal to negotiate with someone under duress.”

“
You poor baby.” I dabbed his nose with my finger. “You promise never to deny me, either.”

“I won’t. I’
m in love you with, Erin. I’ve been in love with you since before we even kissed. I just didn’t know what it was.” He gave me a sweet, shy smile.

“You have no idea how happy that makes me.”
I kissed him long and hard, caressing his lips with mine and savoring his sweet taste with my lips and tongue moving with his.

D
evon pulled me close and kissed me hard, pushing his tongue into mine and exploring every crevice of my mouth. When he pulled away, he thought for a moment and looked at me with a playful smile. “Although, it is kind of erotic to skip the actual orgasm. Just think how much stamina we’re both building up.”

“Okay, then next time it’
s your turn to go without.” I tapped his chest and ran my finger down his torso.

“Let’s skip that idea
, then, for now.”

I shook my head and laughed at him.
“For now.” He kissed me again with a passion that set fire to every fiber of my being, and I was lost in the sweet eroticism of it all.

He pulled away and gasped.
“I suppose we should get back to work before we take this a step further.”

He lifted
me up by my hips and slapped my behind. “Just don’t torture me anymore with that sweet ass.”

I ran
my knuckles down his cheek. “Only if you’re good.”

He
kissed my hand. “Yes, my princess. I will be good.”

God, he could be so sweet sometimes.
I slapped him lightly. “I’ll believe it when I see it. You’re on the chair in ten minutes. You may want to take a moment before you stand up.” I smiled at him as I walked out of the office to make my morning rounds on the beach.

“You
’re not making it easy,” he added as I shuffled out the door.

Matt and Devon had made plans to visit the Stanford athletic facility and meet the coaching staff over the summer before making a final decision on where to enroll for college. Matt and Shannon arranged to meet Devon and Erin for lunch before they left for Stanford for a few days.

Both Devon and Erin were still on the Columbia waiting list, and Stanford’s offer was open for the next two years. They still had time to decide when and where to go to college, b
ut Stanford’s offer was enticing.

Later that day
, Matt stopped by to pick them up for lunch. Matt leaned his large frame over the counter on the half door. “Time for the big leagues, bro! Let’s hit the road.”

Shannon
peeked around Matt’s shoulder. “Hi, Devon!”

“Hey, Shannon. Nice to see you keeping this
animal in line.”

“Who’s
going to watch him at Stanford?” Shannon shifted around Matt and held his burly arm.

Matt turned to her and put his arm around her shoulders. “We have to see if I’m even goin
g there first.” Matt planted a kiss on her lips.

“
Erin and I have to figure this out too,” Devon added.

“Erin, I heard you were submitting a documentary film for the school of art
,” Shannon said.

“Yeah, it’s the only way I know to get in, aside from trying out for the fo
otball team and getting a
special
invitation.”

“Feisty! How do you deal with this girl, Devon?”
Matt roared.

Devon leaned back in his chair and placed his hands behind his head. “She promised to be good this week, so we’ll see.”

Erin squished his mouth into a fish face. “Devon, don’t press your luck.”

Devon grabbed her waist and sat her down on his lap. “I am lucky, and I know it.”

“Oh, please!” Matt scoffed.

“Awwh, t
hat is so cute. You two are so cute together.” Shannon watched Erin and Devon search each other’s eyes while her hands rested on Matt’s shoulders.

“Please, don’t encourage them. They
’re already making me lose my appetite.” Matt turned to Shannon, and she frowned at him.

“Al
l right, let’s go eat,” Devon said, lifting himself up.

Erin grabbed her bag and stepped into her shorts and sneakers.
She pulled a light green T-shirt over her swimsuit and bundled her thick blonde hair, which had dried into wild wavy curls from her morning swim, over her back. After she put her T-shirt on, she let her hair cascade down her shoulders and back.

Devon glanced at her and touched his lips to her cheek before moving to her ear. “So beautiful. Can I have my lunch now?”

Erin slapped his arm and smiled, and tied her hair back into a ponytail.

Shannon smiled at Matt. “They’re in love. Don’t mess with love.”

Matt squinted at her. “Let’s go.”

Devon called
in his backup from the beach to manage the office for the afternoon.

“Where are we going?” Shannon asked.

“Best fish tacos in town. Or bluefin tuna with a California salad. It’s a California menu,” Matt said with pride from doing his homework.

“Good thinking
, Matt,” Shannon said.

“Impressive
,” Erin added.

“Thanks, brat. You know that means nothing coming from you.”
Matt stared ahead.

Erin stuc
k out her tongue at him from behind his back. Shannon smiled at her and back up to Matt. “Don’t tell me what she did—I don’t care,” he said dryly.

“You guys are going to have to get along. Her film documentary is going to get
her into Stanford. You’ll see.” Devon moved closer to Erin and wrapped his arm around her.

Erin smiled up at him. “Thanks.”

“God forbid. We’ll deal with it if and when we all get there. Shannon plans on getting into the business school. Gives me something to think about, that’s for sure.”

Shannon
was planning to apply in the fall. It gave Matt another reason to think about sitting out for one season.

“You guys should not sit out a season for us. You have to take this offer
,” Shannon said. Erin gave her a slight nod of agreement.

“You don’t want to be two old men graduating from college.” Erin chuckled.

“Old man, huh,” Devon huffed as he pulled her closer.

Matt
arrived at his car and reached into his pocket for his car keys.

“Not so fast, Matt. I think we have some unfinished business.” Pelton approached him with his hand in his jacket.

“It’s a bit warm out here for a jacket, isn’t it, Pelton?” Matt glared at him like an angry bear ready to pounce.

Nath
an and Robbie appeared with baseball bats from a nearby car. “Hey, boys, nice to see you again,” Nathan scoffed.

Jarrett Weaver played shortstop and was Steve’s best friend. He was next to approach them with a bat.

Devon moved Erin partially behind him. “Shouldn’t you faggots be wearing masks to hide your faces? Now we know who you are, though I suspected this much. I see you brought one more asshole. It won’t help. Not one of you are leaving this parking lot unscathed.”

“Is that a threat, bitch?” Pelton sneered.

“It’s going to take a lot more than a baseball bat this time, Pelton. Devon and I are going to beat the crap out of all of you,” Matt growled. “This is going to be fun.”

“You’re right, Matt. It’s going to take more than baseball bats this time. Those are just for
cleanup. This is for the main show.”

Pelton reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a
Beretta. He pointed it directly at Matt. “Nobody takes a baseball bat to my head, Matt. Nobody.”

“Holy shit, Pelton. What are you doing? This matter was done between us. I didn’t tell anyone about this, and I held my end of the bargain.” Devon raised his arm over Erin.

“Your boy Matt fucked that up. You take a bat to my head and think there won’t be any consequences? That’s not the deal. This is the deal. Kiss Stanford goodbye, pricks.”

Pelton
raised the gun toward Matt.

Matt
put his hands out. “Steve, this isn’t worth it, man. You think you’re going to get away with this? It’s not going to happen. Give me the gun.”

“Do what he says, Steve. We had a deal
,” Devon said.

“
What are you protecting over there, Coury? Hey! Erin! Nice to see you again, sweetheart. Get over here!” Steve said with a deranged grin.

“Oh, no
, you don’t!” Devon said.

“Shut up! Get over here, bitch, or I’m going to put a hole in your boyfriend.”

Erin moved away from Devon’s side, but Devon grabbed her and pulled her toward him. Erin turned to Devon. “You can’t protect me from him forever, Devon.” She looked into Devon’s eyes and shook her head slightly, and with a determined look, wrenched her arm way from him and approached Steve. “None of this needs to happen, Steve. Please put the gun down.”

“Oh, look at you. You still look as
good as the night of our date. What, are you too good for me? You run away from me like I’m some kind of disease?” he snarled. His eyes roamed over her, and his face tightened with a mix of pain and rage before putting his attention on Devon. “You get the girl, you get into Stanford. Well done,” he said with venom in his tone. “And this bitch,” he added, waving the gun at Erin, “thinks she’s too good for me.”

Devon’s musc
les strained against his skin, and his heart pounded in his ears. The thought of Steve harming Erin was too much to stomach. Devon knew he was fast enough to take him down, but just needed the right opportunity.

“Steve, I can’t do this. I can’t be an ac
cessory to this. Matt’s right. I can’t do it. We’re going to get busted sooner or later.” Robbie tossed the bat on the ground. “I’m sorry, man. This isn’t my battle.” Robbie walked toward the parking lot.

Pelton turned to Robbie and raised the gun at him. “You get your ass back here
, or this bullet is for you!”

Devon spotted his moment. He knew his speed was better than anyone’s there, and
blasted toward Pelton. Pelton turned the gun toward Devon to fire. Devon barreled into him with his full six-foot, two-inch frame, taking him down hard on the ground just like he had done so many times to receivers and runners in football. Pelton’s head slammed onto the dirt, and the gun spilled onto the ground a few feet away.

“Devon!” Erin’s eyes were wide with shock as she ran after him.
“Devon!” She reached for the gun, which had tumbled onto the ground, and picked it up.

Nathan and Jarrett froze in place as Erin pointed the gun at them.

Devon’s eyes were wide with rage as thoughts of Steve touching Erin flashed through his mind. Devon raised his arm and pounded his fist into Steve. He lifted his fist again, landing two powerful blows, bloodying Steve’s nose and mouth. The threat of him hurting Erin was too much. The rage came gushing out in one unrestrained blow after another, his fists pounding into Steve’s face and jaw until he lay on the ground bloodied and writhing in pain.

Matt ran after him and stopped him from throwing another punch. “
That’s enough!” he said, clutching his arms. “Stop it! That’s enough, Devon.” Matt calmed his friend down, but Devon’s expression was cold as he looked down at Steve.

Steve
was crumpled on the ground from the powerful blows. Jarrett approached them with the bat. “Don’t even think about it,” Matt growled. Devon watched Jarrett step toward him. He lifted himself up and drove toward him in a mad state of fury. He lifted Jarrett off the ground and drove him into the ground, straddling him with his legs and pounding his fists into his face. Devon’s blows made Jarrett release the bat. It rolled down a slight decline, and Devon reached for the bat and stood up over him.

“Devon, stop it!” Erin was crying
, still holding the gun. “I’m okay. Devon! Please stop!”

Devon raised his head toward Erin
. Her eyes were moist, and a tear streamed down her face. Devon took a deep breath as he gave Jarrett a cold stare and tightened his grip on the bat.

“C’mon
, man, give me the bat. Erin’s right. These guys aren’t worth it,” Matt said to his friend. “Don’t do it, man. Give me the bat.”

Devon
stared at Jarrett for a moment with the bat raised over him. He took a deep breath, lowered the bat, and handed it to Matt. Matt pressed the fat end of the bat into Jarrett’s chest with a steely stare. Jarret returned his stare in defiance. Matt pushed the bat harder into his chest until Jarrett’s face showed pain. “Are we done?”