When Darkness Falls(17)
Circling the main room, Haley looked for signs Devon might have had an episode with his heart, though she couldn’t think what those signs might be. His regular doctor hadn’t seemed concerned about another attack. In fact, he’d half-laughed at Devon and said tachycardia was an “old man’s problem.” He’d run a few more tests and told Devon he’d be fine.
Haley searched for the number to Northwestern Hospital’s emergency room. But it wasn’t that late, and Devon hadn’t been expecting her until tomorrow. Just like Brian hadn’t been expecting her the night she’d come home to find him in bed with the mandolin player who sometimes sat in with them on sets.
Devon’s not Brian.
She unpacked, washed her face, and brushed her teeth. Too restless to sleep, she curled up on the sofa and opened Wuthering Heights. Devon loved it, and she’d never read it, so she’d started it on the train. So far, it hadn’t drawn her in. Nothing about the characters spoke to her.
By the time Devon came through the door, Haley had drifted to sleep. She blinked and stretched. Devon’s black leather jacket was unzipped and his top jeans button undone. His hair was mussed. Though the corner floor lamp was on, he didn’t seem to see Haley. He was halfway across the room before she stood and said, “Devon.”
He paused at the base of the steps to the bedroom. She walked up behind him.
“Devon.”
He swung around, body tense. Haley had an impression he was barely holding himself in check. His body trembled. She stumbled back.
“Devon?”
He grabbed her arm and yanked her close to him. “What are you doing here?” His breath was hot and rich with an earthy undertone. He wound one hand into her hair and pulled her head back. His lips were a centimeter from hers. “When did you get here?”
“I—I came home early. Where were you?”
He stared down at her, fingernails digging into her bare arm. “Nowhere.” He kissed her, tongue filling her mouth, as if he wanted to devour her. He took one of her breasts in his hand, squeezed her nipple through her soft cotton T-shirt. “You shouldn’t have surprised me like that.” His voice sounded deeper than usual, and rougher, as if he’d just awakened.
His mouth, wet and hot, fastened on her neck, teeth grazing her skin, sending electric currents down her body. Then he was at the hollow of her throat, moving his lips and tongue. His other hand went to the small of her back, and he yanked her body against his. For a moment, his lips left her neck. He tore the T-shirt off over her head and took off his own after his jacket. His skin burned. His eyes glittered and by some trick of light looked black, as if Devon had no irises anymore, only pupils.
“Devon—”
His arms tightened. Her heart raced. For the last two days she’d longed for him, but now he seemed almost like a stranger.
“What?” He kissed her again and slid his hands down the outsides of her thighs. “What do you want?”
His whole body pressed against her. The wall behind her felt hard and cold against her shoulder blades. He yanked her zipper down, pushed the jeans off her hips. “What do you want?”
She took his face in her hands. “You.”
He lifted her and carried her upstairs to the bedroom, where he threw her onto the bed and yanked her jeans the rest of the way off.
Everything was driven out of Haley’s mind by the sensations of her body. It had nothing to do with love, nothing to do with Devon, but everything to do with him. He flipped her onto her stomach, and she grabbed the bars of the brass bed frame. When he clamped his hand over her mouth, the taste of his skin excited her more.
“Welcome home,” he said afterward, sounding like himself again. He kissed the back of her neck and shifted so he lay next to her, his leg still thrown over her.
“Thanks. I guess you missed me.”
“I did,” he said. But he fell asleep an instant later, his breathing heavy. Haley lay on her back, staring into the dark, her arm against Devon’s side. In spite of her exhaustion and the physical release of sex, her thoughts spun.
Devon’s passion always made her feel desirable, especially after years of Brian’s lack of interest in sex, at least in sex with her. But tonight, Devon had seemed out of control. It had been exciting, and she felt sure he would have stopped if she’d wanted him to. But she wished he’d have wanted to talk with her first. Or after. One or the other.
She brought her knees to her chest and pulled the quilt over her shoulders. She hadn’t known Devon that long. In some ways he was a stranger, and that was probably what these feelings reflected. The newness of the relationship, combined with her trip not being quite what she’d hoped.
Devon turned again in his sleep, curling around her. She relaxed into his warmth. His lips brushed her neck, and she rolled over and kissed him. She ran her hands over his body, so smooth and hard at the same time. He awoke slowly and, this time, made love to her slowly.
After, her thoughts were quiet, and sleep came.
? ? ?
Devon buttoned his jeans as he walked into the dining room, towel draped over his shoulders. Haley sat at the table, trying again with Wuthering Heights. She wound a few strands of her long, dark hair around her index finger. The kitchen smelled of brewing coffee.
“Thanks,” he said. “You look great.”
She wore a blue knit sleeveless dress that was cut high at the neck, but hugged her body. Devon kissed her. He tasted like toothpaste.