Bluffing the Devil(4)

The crisp, yet super soft, baby pink 1,000 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets could have helped, too. I had a thing for comfy beds; sheets, comforters, and pillows were always my biggest splurge. I didn't like to spend money on much else besides books, food, and comfortable bed gear, so I knew nice sheets when I saw them. These bedrooms were the main selling point for me choosing this hotel when I found out about the tournament.

I had done nothing in the room except for shower and head directly to the bed. No lights were on, no music or television, nothing but the hum of the air conditioning and then complete silence and pure comfort. The perfect setting for my mind to prepare for whatever exquisite torture awaited me the next time I could see him. Slipping under the fluffy down-filled comforter and across the amazingly soft sheets, I exhaled my way deeper into the pillow until I was nearly lost in the too-good-to-be-true bed.

I glanced at the clock. 5:28. Awesome, I have time for a few hours nap and then off to my game. "Please God, let me see him tonight…" was my last thought before immediately drifting off.

Chapter 4



The air conditioning tickled across my skin causing me to stir from my slumber. Wait, whoa! That wasn't cool air, and I was not in my cushy hotel room anymore. I was with him. His breath was what I felt. Warm and… on my stomach? Oh sweet Lord, what was he doing to me!? Why can't I ever see him! Can a girl get a light switch, a lamp, cell phone glow, or something around here? At least in my dreams there are no horrible neon signs shining into my make believe love-nest to throw a dirty glow on a beautiful moment.

"Mmm, well good evening, babydoll. Did you miss me?" he practically purred into every pore on my body.

Thank you, God for listening to my begging. I'll be a good girl all day, I swear! "Good evening, perhaps. Did you miss me?"

His soft chuckle against my belly made my entire body tense. "Of course, buttercup" he hummed, as he dropped feather-light kisses across my belly.

Whoa, always just tossed right in the middle of dream world and right to the yumminess. Ok, I suppose I can live with this intensely awesome feeling. Now that I was here with Dream Man, I was at a loss for words, and wasn't sure what to say or do next. I just knew being next to him, was where I had been wanting to be, all day.

Suddenly I remembered that I had been praying to be in bed with, and next to this man that I don't even know. I didn't know his name, or even what he looked like! How shameful! My mother would definitely have something to say about that. Perhaps now would be as good a time as any to ask some questions.

"What is your name? Why can't I ever see you? Are you real? Where are we? Why me?" The interrogational barrage flowed from my mouth so quickly, even I was not ready for it.

"Devin. It's dark. Yes. Here. Because." He answered deviously as he crawled up the bed and lay flush against my side and placed his hand on my belly, rubbing over the memory of the kisses left there.

Infuriating male! How dare he answer my questions with minimal detail so I have to ask more questions, and then touch me to make me almost forget I had a point? Well, wasn't that just convenient and just like a damned man!?

"Wow, thank you for that gloriously unspecific response." I fought out while trying to maintain control of myself. "Do you practice that, or is it a gift to be such a smart ass?"

"Ooh, have I displeased you, cherub? I'm certain I can do much better next round. Try again?" Devin's words drifted across my neck and cheek. I wanted to see his face. Devin. That name reminded me of something, but I just couldn't put my finger on it. Sexy name, it reminded me of sin and chocolate. Where did that thought come from?

"Ok, so now I know your name is Devin. I suppose I should introduce myself, I am Alexia. Alexia Riley. Even though you didn't give your last name. Your vagueness was truly astounding. Thanks so much for that. I truly should admit that I feel like such a skank right now. I have dreamed of you so many times and every time I do, we are in bed together. We never talk, I don't know what your face looks like, though I know what all of you feels like," and immediately face flamed with embarrassment as I continued, "I know what your kisses taste like and how you smell, but do not know the color of your eyes, hair or anything else, that would fulfill my curious minds need for visual confirmation that you are real. Though I do realize this is a dream and not at all "real" in the typical sense, but I'm sure you know what I mean. This is definitely backwards from how most people find and maintain an attraction or bond, don't you think?"

"Pleasure is all mine, Alexia-dear," he muttered. "If you needed or wanted to see me, all you had to do was ask."

That simple, hm? I was skeptical, but managed to squeak out "Please?"

He didn't even twitch a single muscle, but suddenly the room was engulfed in flames. I nearly began to panic and jump from the bed to safety, but then realized that the flames weren't hurting or burning anything. Oh, of course! We are in my dreams, Duh! I remembered. The red-orange glow was dancing around the room as if the room was a giant fire-retardant material with candles covering every corner. A completely amazing sight like Aurora Borealis only more romantic, or deadly looking. The sight was breathtaking.

The beauty of the room almost made me not able to notice the beauty of the man huddled next to me. The most clear crystal blue eyes I've ever seen, besides my own, stared down at me. His blue was more boy-next-door, all-American blue while mine was freak-of-nature aqua. Combating the boyish essence of his seemingly innocent eyes, was his low-cut black hair. Again, we matched in features but that is where the similarities ended. His hair was so short, almost as if he had recently shaved his head and it was just now growing back, but instead of spiky or hard, his hair was soft and perfect. His face was scruffy, the beard coming in at the same rate as the hair on his head. I knew his face was scruffy before I saw it because I could feel it but the rest, oh the rest needed serious attention.

Suddenly, my eyes went to his lips. Oh what fantastic lips! I had felt them so many times all over my body and kissed them until I was nearly dizzy, but to see that perfect bow and the plumpness of his lips reminded me of Goddess lips. How you would envision perfection of a celestial being, but then some trickster God put them on this beautiful specimen of man! Just looking at them made me feel weak. Good thing I was laying down or we could have had a problem on our hands!

As I inspected my dream man, he seemed to suddenly be amused and smiled the most heartbreakingly beautiful smile I've ever seen. I had always had a crush on the famous wrestler, the Rock, for his gorgeous smile but Devin's smile put his to shame. It was like an angel was smiling at me. Completely gorgeous.

This was the man that had crept into my dreams, giving my darkest desires to me, and wanted nothing in return? This dark angel of glorious deliciousness? Truly I was not that lucky or imaginative of a person! Man! If I can dream him up, imagine what else I was capable of! I should write a book.

I had to take a mental snapshot then of this scene for myself, for later. There is no way anyone was ever going to believe it! The dream was so vivid and stunning that I wanted to keep it with me forever. Just as I was starting to have enough brain-function to speak again to ask Devin more questions, he looked to the left and nodded his head as if he was communicating with someone I could not see. He looked back into my eyes appearing suddenly saddened, let out a slow, exaggerated breath. Then leaned down and kissed me so urgently that he nearly fed on my lips for almost a full minute. My body immediately tingled and came to life to sink into the bed further. Bliss.

"I'm sorry, honey-pie, but it's time for you to go now. Your five minutes are up."

As I was about to protest, my body went limp and I suddenly woke up in my cushy hotel bed again. The angry red numbers on the bedside table screamed 5:33. Are you kidding me? Ask and you shall receive? Damn my luck! Of course I would ask for" five minutes" and get just that.

Well, you know what they say, "Be careful what you wish for."

Chapter 5



Shaking my mini-adventure was nearly impossible. I felt happy, sad, crazy, scared, and so many emotions all at once that I started to realize that I was probably psychotic. Who has dreams vivid enough that when they wake up, their lips are swollen and tender and their skin is warm to the touch as if fire and hot-piece-of-man-meat was pressed against them like a second skin? I mean, really? I should really look into therapy when I get home. This is ridiculous.

I shook my head and attempted to loosen the weirdness going on in my head and failed miserably. I stayed in my cozy hotel bed for as long as my mind would allow me to, which totaled about eleven minutes. More than double the time I had with Devin. Devin. Oh, now I had a name and a face to put to the emotional, and physical response I was having. Nice! That, however, was not a comfort when I was already missing him. So strange. I had truly sworn off men since Jamison's passing and had no real interest anymore in even wanting to look at men, much less roll around nearly (or completely!) naked with a total stranger!