Scorched(29)
“A-always use the home field advantage if you can get it,” Nick rasped as Grant fanned him with a menu.
Snapping his fingers, Devil grinned and nodded. “That’s right. You’re gonna take on those two idiots that claim to be your parents with the family you’ve made surrounding you, supporting you. You’re gonna tell ‘em that you’re a young, successful gay man in love with the man of your dreams and you’re gonna marry him with or without their fuckin’ approval. Stand up to them, Nick, and let Armando watch you do it. Believe me, he might not wanna listen to you now, but he’ll for damn sure listen to THAT.”
“Besides, if those assholes you’re unfortunately related to continue to make a fuss, we’re gonna turn Samantha and my Nana loose on their sorry asses. Those women have crapped bigger nuisances than your parents,” Devil noted with a careless shrug. “Face it, Nick. You’ve got people in your life now that love you. Unconditionally. You just have to let us do it.”
Wiping his sweating forehead with the back of his hand, Nick lifted his pale face to look at Devil. “I don’t want their poison infecting the people in my life that matter. You’ve met them, Dev. They’re bullies. They’ll bulldoze right over…”
Holding up a hand, Nick shook his head. “You know how you stop a bully, Nick?” Seeing the other man shake his head, Devil grinned. “You find a bigger bully to take them on.” Crossing his arms over his chest, Dev leaned back in his chair. “Lucky for you, you’ve got one in your corner that happens to be severely pissed. Seriously, I will kill these people before I let them ruin this wedding. Do you know how much the flowers alone cost?” he asked with a shudder. “It’s obscene. But, it’s what Molly wants to give you. And I always try to give my Molly what she wants when she wants it. Happy wife, happy life and all that crap. These idiots are not gonna rob my wife – who has put her heart and soul into this ceremony - of your perfect day.”
Grant chuckled as Nick merely nodded solemnly.
Still laughing Grant shook his head. “Awww, Devil, if people only knew what a big ole softie you were….”
“….I’d have to hire a hit man to get rid of them,” Devil growled, glaring at the two men sitting at the table. “Now,” he said, peeling his credit card from his wallet and waving it in the air for the waitress to collect, “we’re gonna pay the tab and take you back to my place to see your intended, Nick. I’ve got six days to restore peace, love and harmony to my universe and by all I hold holy, I’m gonna do it if it’s the last thing I ever accomplish!”
Chapter Seven
Molly
“Oh, my sweet Lord in Heaven! WHAT have you done, Devil Delancy?”
Standing in the open doorway to their en suite master bathroom, Molly gaped at her half naked husband. Swallowing hard as she watched round droplets of water slowly slide down his chiseled chest, she tried her best to ignore the way her core tightened every time he moved. He’d said he was going to take a shower while she put the baby down for the night, but it had been a long time since she’d returned from the nursery quickly enough to see him all damp and mouthwateringly fresh from the shower. Thank God their little angel had given up easily tonight and simply gone to sleep without complaint. She supposed she had Devil to thank for that, too. He’d played their little girl out for her.
Watching him slowly pad across the carpeted floor, the soft grey towel he wore slung low…so very delectably low on his hips, she struggled to remember what she wanted to yell at him about. Oh yes, she recalled… his asinine plan. She tried not to get even angrier when he barely looked her way, instead grabbing another towel and patting it against his damp dark hair as he stood in front of the long his and hers vanity. Meeting his eyes in the reflection of the mirror when he finally looked up, she narrowed her gaze.
“Your hearing is just fine, babe. I know you heard me earlier. You already know what I’ve done,” Devil returned with a lazy grin.
You cannot scratch your husband’s eyes out. You cannot rip your husband’s dick off, she kept reminding herself as she met his eyes when he turned to face her. You love his eyes. You adore his dick, she reminded herself as her fingers curled into fists at her side.
“Devil, I’m tryin’ real hard not to lunge across this room and cause you irreparable harm, honey, but it’s gettin’ harder and harder.”
“So’s my dick, but you don’t seem to care about that at the moment,” he muttered aloud as he hung the towel he’d been using on his hair around his neck and held on to either end of it with a white knuckled grip.