The Lies Between Us (The Devil's Dust #4)(63)

***

I wake from my sleep and feel heaviness on my waist, something rubbing against my clit. I moan and slowly open an eye. The weight across me is Lip’s arm. He’s lying in bed with me. I shift my ass, rubbing my clit along whatever is causing me so much pleasure in my sleepy haze.

A moan escapes Lip’s mouth in my ear. I lower my hand and grab onto whatever is gliding along my panty-clad *. The unmistakable barbell in Lip’s dick greets my palm.

“Fuck, I love you, Cherry,” Lip groans into my neck. My eyes widen, my fog of sleep lifting at once. I turn on my side and see Lip waking up at the same time. His hooded eyes find mine and we just stare at each other. He must have slept in the bed beside me, and our bodies found each other in the midst of sleeping. He pulls the sheet up and looks under the blanket, I assume at his dick. He shrugs in an apologetic way and grabs a spare pillow, shoving it between us. I shake my head and laugh, and he laughs with me.

“You’re in my bed,” I mutter, my mind playing back and forth if I really heard him say he loved me or if I dreamed it. Lip tilts his head to the side and a sly smirk crosses his face.

“Technically, you’re in my bed,” he counters.

“Technically, you’re on my side of the bed,” I smart.

He chuckles and pats the pillow. “I’ll stay on my side. Promise.”

Silence falls between us, and he brushes the hair from my face before cupping my cheek.

“Before my mom left, she told Tyler and I that ‘dishonesty condemns you, sinning betrays you’,” I whisper.

Lip shrugs. “What the f*ck does that mean?”

“It means dishonesty often looks like the simplest route, getting you out of the path of trouble. However, that simplicity is a fa?ade, ‘cause it eventually comes back to bite you in the ass, making you tell lies to cover yourself. Before you know it, your sins have not only betrayed you but condemned you.” I look at Lip. “I never knew how true those words were ‘til recently.” I think my mother spoke those words from personal experience.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry, Cherry. I’m sorry for everything.” His apology strikes me right in the chest. “I coaxed you into caring for me, into loving me. As much as I regret hurting you, I don’t regret having your love. Not one bit.” Emotions spill from the wound, and an uncontrolled sob escapes my lips.

“Come here,” he whispers, pulling me into his arms. I clench my eyes shut, my heart and mind playing a battle of what is right and wrong. I don’t want to be next to him. I don’t want to give into him this easily, but a piece of me is exhausted from being pissed off at him.

Tears stream down my cheeks, but the hurt isn’t nearly as bad as it was yesterday. There’s something about being in his arms that takes the pain away. Even though he caused the pain. The day I stole Lip’s wallet, he stole my heart.





CHAPTER TEN


LIP


My hands choke my coffee cup. Zane and Addie are already up and screaming their f*cking heads off. My head feels clouded. Seeing her in that damn dress and the way the guys were eyeballing her, I went mad. The look on Cherry’s face yesterday when I went head-to-head with Stunt f*cked with me above all else, seeing her care for me even after everything that’s happened. I know I have some feelings for her; the orders have been lifted and the cloud of what was business and what I honestly feel for her are displayed out before me. Do I tell her how I feel exactly and risk her rejecting us? I close my eyes, f*cking confused. I don’t know what I want.

“Give it to me, brat!” Addie screams, running past me. I wince and take a small sip of my coffee. Seconds later, a Barbie flies past me, a small pink shoe falling into my cup.

“Dude, you f*cking cheated!” Tom Cat yells at Kane over a game of cards.

I sigh and push up from the stool.

“Fuck. This,” I grit. I’ve been stuck in this f*cking club too long. Shadow is taking his f*cking time, I tell you. I need out of here. I stomp down the hall and into my room. Cherry is on the bed, her foot tapping as she listens to music. God, she’s beautiful. Her reddish-orange hair is down and fans out along her freckled shoulders. I love it when she wears red; it makes every freckle on her body stand out. Her head slowly trails from the window to me, and my stomach feels like it’s been f*cking punched.

“Wanna get out of here?” I ask. She pulls an ear bud from her ear.

“Huh?”

“You wanna get out of here?” I repeat.

Her eyes give this weird look, and her brows furrow.

“Um, I thought we couldn’t leave. We’re on lockdown,” she responds.

“I gotta get out of here, I’m going to go nuts,” I state. She laughs and looks down at the iPod.

“I don’t know,” she mutters.

“Come on, come with me,” I insist.

Her eyes peer up from under her lashes, a small smile curling the corner of her lips.

“Okay, just one ride.”

***

Cherry’s arms are tight around my waist, the smell of her wafting around me is making my dick press against my jeans. I miss the smell of her. I miss everything about her.

I don’t know where the f*ck I’m going; I just drive. Sometimes, just driving without a destination is what the soul really needs. No boundaries, no limitations—just freedom.