Devlin UnLeashed(66)

“All right. Give me an hour.”

“Great, see you then.”

I peeled off the old shirt that had belonged to Devlin. The shirt was a guilty pleasure. It was the most comfortable piece of clothing I had, or that was my excuse, anyway. It had been my only link to Devlin for the last two years, and despite what happened days before, I still wore it like a shield.

I took a shower and fixed my hair. Two days locked in my place were more than enough, and I was glad Evan convinced me to come out as I walked down the street. I needed the fresh air and to be around people to help me stop sulking.

Evan waited for me right outside the little Italian restaurant where we liked to meet. He led me inside, and we knew the menu so well, we ordered immediately.

As the waiter filled our wine glasses, my phone vibrated. I opened the text from an unknown number and regretted it immediately.

Who is he?

I glanced out the window, but I knew Devlin would never let me see him unless he wanted me to see him.

Taking up stalking again?

“Are you sure you’re okay? You look flushed.”

I nodded. It became an awkward kind of quiet as I got wrapped up in Devlin being near and what he was possibly planning now.

We ate, and I listened to Evan talk about our sold out show the upcoming weekend. My phone buzzed, and I jolted. Shit, my nerves were frayed.

Evan stared at me oddly, but I smiled and continued eating. I glanced at the message under the table, and my stomach tightened.

Meet me outside.

I shouldn’t.

I did.

I excused myself from the table and crept out of the restaurant instead of going to the restroom. Devlin waited for me, leaning against the brick of the building with his arms crossed over his dark T-shirt.

“Why are you here?” I walked over to him, and he straightened up.

“Don’t pretend he even has a chance.”

“Maybe he does.”

He smirked. “So you’re going to settle for some musician in a boring house on the boundary of the city.”

“Better than living in a penthouse with a psychotic maniac.”

He smiled, grabbed me by the back of the neck, and pulled me in close. I thought he would kiss me, but he didn’t. He just stared into my eyes and said, “Crazy fucking excites you. Don’t pretend your pussy isn’t throbbing for me right now.”

“Devlin…” I turned my head. I leaned as far back as possible.

“I fucked you two nights ago, and now you’re having dinner with this guy, pretending you can’t still feel me between your legs. If you thought I was crazy before, you don’t want to know what would happen if you let him near my pussy.”

I pushed against his chest, but he barely budged. “Devlin, you don’t get to do this. You don’t own me or my body.” I pushed my face into his, getting too far into his space. My attempt to be intimidating turned into something different as he gripped my hip in his left hand.

“The minute you told me you loved me, you handed everything over to me, and I couldn’t give it back if I wanted to.”

I shook my head and fought to push back the tears that threatened. “I can’t do this—”

“Juliana?” Evan’s voice interrupted us.

We broke apart. Well, more me backing away from him and him still holding on to me.

“Evan, hey.” I reached up and pried away Devlin’s fingers which had dug deeper into my flesh.

“This is Devlin Ward.”

“Oh… Ward Enterprises?” Evan lifted an eyebrow.

“You know him?” Evan didn’t come across as a person interested in the business world.

“My brother works closely with Tyler Prescott. They served together.”

Small fucking world.

Devlin smirked, his face lighting up. He was pleased the competition knew who he was. Maybe he thought it gave him a leg up or made him superior because of his pseudo fame, but in my book, none of that mattered. The only thing that counted was Evan was a safe, secure bet. We got along, talked endlessly, and never plunged over the crazy ledge into a Devlin-like hell. Maybe I should put forth more effort to be more than friends.

They shook hands, Evan appearing to be amazed yet intimidated, which suited Devlin just fine if I judged the cocky look on his face accurately.

“It’s great to meet you,” Evan said.

“Devlin and I were friends back in Seattle.”

“Friends? Come on, Juliana.”

An awkward silence fell over us.

I gave Devlin a warning glance. “Uh… I saw Devlin leaving the restaurant and decided to follow him out and say hello, but it was nice seeing you again, Devlin.”

He wasn’t pleased with the way I dismissed him, and I was worried he’d say something inappropriate, which was the norm for Devlin, but he withheld. He nodded and gave me a look that spoke volumes.