Chapter Twenty-Three
Brody
With Dev hanging out on the edge of the dance floor, watching everyone celebrate, I had a burst of clarity. He was being true to himself and our marriage, while I continued to play the game we’d been forced to for a decade. Connie stood by my side expectantly, but my focus wasn’t on her. It was on Dev who, as if sensing me, raised his gaze to meet mine. God, I wished I could stride right to him and plant a kiss on his lips.
Attuned to me as always, Dev shook his head, turned, and walked to the bar.
“Wanna dance?” Connie cooed.
“Sorry, sweetheart, but I’m crashing right now. Been a helluva day. I’ll have to pass.” I left her and made a beeline for the one person I wanted to be with.
At the bar, Dev stepped aside and made room for me. That wicked grin kicked up his lips, and I knew he was planning something.
“What’s goin’ on in that evil mind of yours?”
He widened his eyes at me. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m innocent.” He smirked, and I snickered.
“You’re many things, but innocent has never been one of them.”
He sipped his club soda—his doctor had forbidden drinking alcohol. “I’m wounded.”
But I knew my husband, and I didn’t have long to wait for him to make his move.
Leaning on the bar, I felt Dev’s hand slide over my ass and into the back pocket of my jeans. Mother of God, he was going to kill me. But what a way to go. He kneaded the cheek, and I desperately needed to be alone with him.
“Gonna hit the head.” Hoping he got the hint, I walked away into the dark recesses of the club to find the men’s room. A minute later, Dev followed me and locked the door behind him.
“Dev.” I sighed, uncaring that someone might want to come in and they’d find us.
He didn’t answer me, just held my face and crushed our lips together. My greedy hunger for him exploded, unable to be quashed. He couldn’t keep his hands off me, and I reveled in it.
“Fuck, baby, I just needed to touch you so bad. It’s been hell being away from you all these weeks.”
Knowing our time was brief, I grabbed him again and covered his mouth with mine. We sucked each other’s tongues until I broke away and unlocked the door. “Can’t take the chance. But we’re gonna be together tonight. Later. Gotta figure out how.”
Panting and wild-eyed, Dev traced my lips with his thumb. “Kelsie’s parents have a place near here, and they’re away visiting her sister in California. She’s been here all week for the pregame stuff, but she’s gonna stay with her friends tonight and gave me the key. I’m gonna leave in a few, blame it on a headache. Stay a while, then follow. I’ll text you the address.”
“Perfect. Fuck, I can’t wait.” The need for him clamored in my blood. I’d been able to bank it for weeks with the playoffs to concentrate on, but now all that tension was released and I needed to let go. With Dev.
“Go first. I gotta make myself look pathetic.” A sudden thought hit me and my stomach dive-bombed.
“You don’t really have a headache, do you? You promised you’d let me know if you did.”
“Absolutely not. I swear.” Dev kissed his fingers and held them in the air.
“All right. But I plan on going to bed early.”
Dev’s eyes twinkled. “Exactly what I had in mind.”
I left Dev in the bathroom and returned to the bar. Connie reappeared and linked her arm through mine.
“You sure you don’t wanna get out of here and go somewhere more private?”
“Sorry.” Luckily, I spotted Luke, Kendell, and Marlon by the bar. “But why don’t you let me personally introduce you to some of my friends. You know Luke Fontaine, the MVP? And Kendell Watson and Marlon Lane. Guys, this gorgeous lady is Connie, and she needs some friends to dance with. I gotta go see my momma.”
“You all were amazing ,” Connie gushed. She didn’t seem to miss me as much anymore.
Kendell grinned. “Thanks. Can I buy you a drink?”
I made sure to lean in and whisper to him, “Keep it wrapped up. You don’t need a baby mama this young.” He gave me a face filled with surprise but nodded.
“Thanks.”
I said good-bye to a bunch of the others and passed through the club. I laughed watching Zeke dance with a woman whose dress barely covered her ass and boobs.
I checked my texts. Dev had sent me the address, and I called for a car, my anticipation rising. It had been weeks since I’d touched my husband, and I couldn’t wait.
**
Dev pulled me into the house and yanked the shirt over my head. He tweaked my aching nipples and bit them. A moan ripped from me, and I fell into the door. Dev popped the button fly and yanked my jeans and briefs, so they fell to the floor. My dick, already hard and aching, thrust out, and Dev wasted no time. Those full wet lips slid down my erection, and I cried out.
“Fuck. Dev, oh God, I missed you.”
Dev’s tongue danced the length of my dick as he cupped my balls. He sucked and swirled the crown, and my nails dug into the wood of the door as my hips rolled. Dev played along my throbbing shaft, and his fingers slid up my crack to play with my hole.
“Dev, Dev, please.”
The tip of his finger slid past my rim, and I came, seeing stars as I exploded. He clutched me hard, digging into my thigh, and swallowed me completely.
From beneath half-lowered lids, I watched him sit on his heels and wipe his face with the back of his hand. “You’re amazing. My Super Bowl protein shake.”
Even in my drowsy state, Dev made me laugh.
Dev rose, and I stepped out of my sneakers, pants, and briefs and left them by the door. Leading me with a hand at my waist, we walked through the dark house to the bedroom, where I found myself pushed onto the bed. With avid, hungry eyes, I watched Dev strip off his clothes and fondle his erection. I licked my lips.
“Put it in me. Please.” My breaths came in short, harsh gasps.
“Baby, I don’t want to rush this.” He kissed each globe of my ass and ran his tongue along the cleft. “I’ve missed you so much.”
We were used to being apart during the season, but this time, with Dev injured, the separation had been worse. Maybe I’d been hesitant to push him, fearing a setback, but tonight he was completely in control, and I was happy to let him be that dominant alpha man.
On all fours, I gave him my ass, and over my shoulder I watched him pour lube on his dick. He worked his fingers in me for a bit, and my pulse spiked as I pushed hard against his hand.
“Dev, do it,” I growled.
He pressed his hand at the base of my spine, lined up the head of his cock at my rim, and pushed. I grabbed hold of the headboard and moaned as Dev split me in two, stuffing me full until I couldn’t move.
“Oh, yeah. I’ve missed this.” Dev bit my shoulder, then kissed the sting as he dragged that hot length out of my passage before thrusting in again. And again. He grasped my hips and pounded into me, his nails scoring into my skin. Despite the air conditioning, we were a sweating, slippery mess, and I keened as my cock filled and I began to jack myself off. Dev’s grunts added to the creaking of the bed and my own groans.
“Oh God, oh fuck.” Dev drove deep, and that brush to my prostate blew me apart, and I came, squeezing the rock-hard dick in my ass.
Hot come filled me as Dev trembled and shook. We collapsed on the bed, and Dev curled around me and kissed my neck.
“I love you so fucking much.”
“I love you too, Dev. Forever.”
He withdrew, and though he still held me, I already missed him.
“No one compares to you. No one ever has.”
I rolled to face him. “I can’t believe how lucky we are to have each other. I couldn’t wait to leave the bar and come to you. There were a hundred people there, but without you I’m alone.”
“I’ll never leave you.” Dev kissed me. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted. Smart, sexy, the kindest, sweetest person. Somehow you overlooked all my faults and loved me anyway. And I’ll never let you regret it.”
“The only regret I could ever have is if I hadn’t kissed you back all those years ago.”
He nuzzled into my neck. “Let’s shower and get some sleep. I know you must be tired as hell. You made some awesome catches but took some hits too.” His mouth moved lower. “Tell me where it hurts, and I’ll make it better.”
“ Mmm , it might take all night.”
We showered and returned to bed. My head barely hit the pillow and I was out.
My eyes opened to pale light filtering in through the curtains. Dev lay next to me, still sleeping. I got up to use the bathroom and, worried that Momma might call my room to go get breakfast and I wouldn’t be there, found my pants in the living room and checked my messages.
Momma hadn’t texted me, but Zeke had.
I know you and Dev are together. I saw you come out of the bathroom, then him.
A cold sweat popped up over my body, and I practically ran to the bedroom. “Dev, wake up. We’ve got a problem.”
His eyelids fluttered open, and he yawned. “What’s the matter?”
“Fucking Zeke, that’s what. Look.” I handed him the phone. His face tightened in anger, but instead of fear, I saw determination.
“Don’t you worry. I’ll have him taken care of.”
Dev gave me my phone and reached for his on the nightstand. “Ezra?… Yeah. I’m here with Brody, I’m putting you on speaker. Sorry, I know it’s early, but there’s an issue.” He relayed what happened in the bar and what Zeke had texted this morning. “I know for a fact that Zeke isn’t paying child support and that he’s been physically abusive with those women. He can’t prove anything with Brody and me, but I’m sure the team wouldn’t like to hear that one of their players is a deadbeat dad and an abuser. What do you think?”
Ezra blew out a long-drawn breath. “It’s risky. The last thing you want with someone like that is to get into a pissing match. My advice is to leave it alone. Don’t answer that text and ignore him.”
“Thanks. Talk soon.” After ending the call, Dev got out of bed. “You can leave first and go to the hotel. I’ll join you later. I’ve gotta clean up here and get my shit together.”
Catching a familiar twinkle in his eye, I asked, “What are you up to?”
“I’m gonna call Kelsie and have her meet me for breakfast at the hotel. We’re going to look very cozy together.”
Despite the seriousness of this situation, I couldn’t help laughing.
Dev pulled me close. “One day, we’re not gonna give a shit and just be free to be ourselves.” He kissed me, and I held on to him as the only stable thing in a world spinning out of control.
“I’ll see you later.” I got dressed and called for a car. When I was halfway to the hotel, I called Momma.
“Wanna have breakfast?”
“Sure, honey. I’ll be down in a little while.”
“Meet you there.”
I was ready for the Dev show.