Chapter 5
Suri
I thought I knew what Devon romancing me would be like.
But I’m not prepared for the reality.
I’m woken up by him knocking on my door. He hands me a hot chocolate and a breakfast burrito before I can even say hello.
“Thanks,” I rasp, my voice rough with sleep.
“You look like an angel,” he says, grabbing my hips and kicking the door shut as he backs me up against the entryway wall. His hands leave my hips to rest against the wall on either side of my head, caging me in with his body.
“What are you doing?” I squeak, staring up at him wide-eyed.
“Telling my girl good morning. Properly.”
“I—”
Devon cuts me off, his lips claiming mine before I can get another word out.
The kiss steals every thought from my head. I gasp, and he takes advantage of it immediately, pulling me closer until no space remains between us. The breakfast burrito nearly slips from my fingers as his hand slides around my waist, anchoring me against him.
For a second, I can only stand there in shock.
This is Devon. This is the boy I’ve spent years watching from afar, the man I wrote hundreds of letters to, the man I dreamed about more times than I can count.
And he’s kissing me.
His mouth moves against mine with a hunger that makes my knees weaken. It’s as if he’s been waiting for this. Like he’s wanted this as badly as I have.
A soft sound escapes me. Devon groans, as if the sound unravels whatever restraint he has left.
His hand tightens on my hip while the other slides into my hair, tipping my head back so he can deepen the kiss. Heat rushes through me, spreading from my chest all the way to my fingertips.
My heart pounds so hard that I’m sure he can feel it.
The hot chocolate sloshes on the floor, and I gasp, jerking against his hard body. Devon pulls back to catch his breath. His forehead rests against mine, his eyes dark and intense as they search my face.
“I’ve been thinking about doing that since yesterday,” he murmurs.
The admission sends another rush of warmth through me. I can only stare at him.
Devon smiles slowly. “Morning, Suri,” he says huskily.
My nipples tighten into stiff points against the fabric of my tank top. “Morning.”
“You go eat and get dressed. I’ll clean this up,” he says, nodding at the spilled hot chocolate.
“I can get it,” I protest.
He shakes his head. “I’m cleaning it up.” His eyes rove over my body. “Any other messes my girl needs me to take care of?”
My thighs tremble, and I press them together.
“No, I’m good,” I snap, turning and stalking into my kitchen.
My apartment isn’t very big, and it only takes a moment for Devon to crowd my space again.
“How did you sleep?” he asks as he grabs paper towels and wets them.
“Good,” I mumble, unwrapping the breakfast burrito and taking a big bite. I moan as the melted cheese and bacon hit my taste buds.
Devon stiffens, and his eyes are heated as he watches me.
A thrill shoots down my spine. “Thanks for breakfast,” I say, taking another bite.
“Anything for you, Suri.”
He tosses the paper towels and steps into my space again.
I take another bite, and Devon’s eyes lock on my lips as I chew.
I smirk, and he looks up at me. When I move to take another bite, he grabs my hand, his fingers wrapping around mine as he guides the burrito to his lips.
His eyes stay locked on mine as he takes a bite, licking his lips.
“It’s good,” he says, his hands wrapping around my waist. “But you taste better.”
I finish off the burrito and toss the wrapper in the trash. Half the hot chocolate was spilled, but I drink the rest and throw the cup away. Then I wonder what to do with myself.
“Are you working today?” he asks.
“Yeah. I should get going.”
“Have dinner with me tonight.”
I shake my head. “I can’t.”
“Did you reschedule your date for tonight?” he growls.
I debate whether to tell him the truth. “Um…”
Devon shakes his head. “I’ll stop asking and just do it.”
I frown. “Do what?”
He smiles and leans down to kiss me softly. “Get dressed and have a good day at work, baby. I’ll see you later.”
I wonder what he means as he turns and leaves, giving me one last heated look before the door closes behind him.
My breath comes out in a whoosh, and I stare blankly into space, trying to process what the hell just happened. I’m pulled from my daze by my alarm clock going off in my bedroom, and I rush to turn it off, get dressed, and head to work.
Vera is leaving the house when I pull up. I wave at her as I hop out and jog to catch up with her.
“Morning! Are you okay?” she asks when she sees my face.
I let out a deep breath and fall into step with her. “Yeah, I had an… interesting morning.”
“What happened?” Vera asks as we greet the pack.
I smile as I see the wolves playing together in the field. “I talked to Devon last night. He took me out for a burger, and we, uh, kind of got into it.”
“In a hot way?”
“No, in a messy, emotional way.”
“Boo,” she sighs.
I smack her arm. “I told him about having a crush on him when we were kids and how I was hurt that he never noticed me. We talked, and he promised to woo me.”
“Sounds promising.”
“Yeah, he showed up this morning with breakfast. He kissed me,” I whisper.
Vera grins. “How was that?”
“Hot,” I admit.
She claps her hands excitedly. “Then what?”
“He asked me out, and I said no. He mumbled something to himself, then he kissed me again. Then he left. He said he’d see me later.”
“Well, that all sounds promising.”
“Yeah,” I agree.
“How are you feeling after your talk?” she asks as we survey the wolves, looking for injuries or signs of distress.
“Better. It’s like I’ve suddenly got everything I ever wanted. I mean, I’ve always wanted him to notice me, to want me… and now he does.”
“That’s great, Suri.”
“Yeah.”
“So why do you look sad?”
“Is it too good to be true?”
Vera shrugs. “A man putting in so much effort to get with a girl? I don’t think so. I mean, most guys are lazy by nature, and there are easier ways to get laid than dealing with a bunch of emotional scars.”
“That’s true,” I sigh, mulling over her words.
The wolves become restless, so Vera and I split up and get to work. I do a perimeter check, making sure that the fence is intact, while Vera feeds the wolves and administers medicine and supplements to those who need it.
By the time I return to the front of the property, it’s lunchtime. That’s when I realize I forgot to pack my lunch bag in my rush this morning.
I check my phone, debating if I have enough time to run into town to grab something and make it back before my lunch break is over.
A police car pulls up, parking next to mine out front, and I know before the door opens who it is.
Devon climbs out, smirking at me as he closes the door and heads my way.
“I brought you lunch,” he says, holding up a brown paper bag.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Vera whispers.
I nod, watching her go inside.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I tell him, taking the bag.
“I wanted to. I like doing things for you, Suri.”
I blush, ducking my head so he can’t see how much I like his words and his attention.
His radio crackles, and I look up to see him frown in annoyance as he listens to the dispatcher.
“Copy that,” he replies to whatever the heck the guy says. “Sorry, baby, but I’ve got to get back to work. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Tonight?”
He reaches for me, his fingers brushing my jaw before settling beneath my chin. My breath catches.
“Tonight,” he repeats quietly.
Then he leans down and kisses me.
This kiss is different from the one this morning. Less desperate, more deliberate, like he’s taking his time and wants me to feel every second of it.
His lips brush mine once, twice, a teasing, lingering touch that makes anticipation coil low in my stomach.
The world seems to disappear around us. No wolves, no work, no police cruiser waiting behind him. Just Devon.
His thumb strokes gently along my jaw as he kisses me again, and I melt a little more.
When he finally pulls away, he doesn’t go far. His forehead bumps lightly against mine, and a smile tugs at his mouth.
“You’re making it real hard for me to leave,” he groans.
Heat floods my cheeks, and his smile widens.
“Tonight,” he whispers, pressing one last kiss to my lips before stepping back.
I nod distractedly as I watch him climb into his cruiser and drive off.
What does he have in store for me after work?