When Darkness Falls(70)

Devon pulled away, shook his head. “There was blood on my hands.”

“Maybe you only thought it was there,” Haley said.

“But if it really was there? If I really did those things?”

“I don’t believe for a second you did.” Devon needed more than that, though, Haley could tell. And she needed to admit the truth that she could be wrong about Devon. He’d moved across the room faster than any normal human could, he’d spoken seriously about killing Lydia. She didn’t believe in vampires, but he believed it. Lydia could have given him drugs or found some other way to influence his mental state, to take advantage of his psychiatric issues. “But if you did, we’ll deal with it. I’ll be there for you.”

“You know that means I’d go to prison. Or be committed. Forever, probably.”

“Let’s take it one step at a time. I will still love you. I know if you did do something like that, something terrible, it would only be because there was something very wrong with you.” Haley’s voice shook.

Devon took her face in his hands, rubbed his thumb over her cheek. “I don’t want to believe I did those things. If I did them, I want to be sure I don’t do anything like that again.”

“So you’ll come home with me?” Haley said.

“Yes.”

“And you’ll see a psychiatrist? It doesn’t need to be Richardson, but someone.”

“I’ll start with her.”

Haley pulled Devon closer. Over his shoulder, she saw a thin line of light at the base of the window, beneath the blinds. Her safety net. She let her body relax against his.

“I’ve missed you,” Devon said.

“I’ve missed you, too.”

“I’m sorry.” Devon kissed her. “Sorry I stayed away so long. Sorry for everything.”

Devon’s hands moved over her back, her shoulders, her sides. He stood and pulled her to her feet and against him.

“It seemed like forever,” Haley said, “that you were gone.”

“I love you,” Devon said, his mouth so close to hers their breath mingled.

He kissed her, opening her mouth with his, thrusting his tongue over hers. Haley knew she ought to be cautious, ought to feel frightened given everything Devon had told her and that she’d seen, but she kissed him and ran her fingers down his chest, longing winning out over fear. She could never get enough of Devon. She needed his hands everywhere on her body, needed him inside her. She pressed against him, closed her eyes as his lips traveled down her neck to the place where her blouse buttoned. His fingers grazed the rosary beads.

“What’s this? Insurance? Protection?”

“Maybe,” Haley said.

Devon smiled, lifted the rosary over her head, and dropped it on the floor. The fact that he could touch it reassured Haley. If he truly believed Lydia’s tales, he wouldn’t be able to do that. At least he wasn’t that far gone, yet. She put aside the thought that holy water hadn’t bothered Lydia.

? ? ?

Devon felt pressure building inside as he undid each button. His mouth and tongue moved along Haley’s skin below the edge of her camisole. At the same time, he slid his hands down the outsides of her thighs. It had been so long. He pressed hard against her and bit into the soft flesh above her nipple.

She gasped.

“Did I hurt you?” Devon knew he ought to pull back, ought to stop himself. But the feel of her skin, the taste of it, the sound of her breath….

“It felt good,” Haley said.

Devon knew she meant it, but also that he’d hurt her. Excitement surged through his body. He pulled down the camisole and broke the straps. His mouth was at her breasts. He pushed her blouse off her shoulders and down her arms. The fabric was rose colored. It cast a shadow over his hands, so that for a moment they appeared crimson.

Devon froze, shut his eyes. He needed to tell Haley to leave.

But her lips were at his throat, and her body felt warm and firm beneath his hands. He gripped her harder. Her tongue played at the base of his neck, her fingers traced the outline of his nipples beneath his T-shirt. She pulled it over his head and pressed her mouth to his shoulders, his chest, his neck.

He pushed her down, and her mouth traveled across his stomach. An image hovered on the edge of his mind from the night before, of Lydia and Eric, but he pushed it away. This was Haley, her perfume musky, the scent of her hair like the outdoors, her lips so soft, her hair like silk. She was his, she would do anything for him, she was unzipping his jeans and he felt safe, this was safe, because if she did this for him, he would be satisfied long enough to let her go.





Chapter Thirty-Five


Devon’s passion fed her own, and Haley grabbed his hands and pulled him to the floor with her. She eyed the pull cord on the blinds as they both shed the rest of their clothes. She wanted him, needed him, and the edge of fear made her heart race faster and her body thrum with excitement.

Naked, they pressed together. Haley closed her eyes, wanting to shut out everything except the feel of his skin, his body, against her.

Devon grabbed Haley’s hips and slammed into her. He bit above her collarbone. She wrapped her legs around him.

Their eyes locked onto one another’s. Haley had never felt so entwined with anyone before, so open to anything he wanted, anything he needed. Nothing mattered except that this go on forever.