Page 12 of Inseparable
He leans in and kisses me. It’s quick, no more than a fleeting brush of his lips against mine, but, gosh, it’s everything. My lips are on fire, and it’s spreading, heating every single part of me. I don’t know what it means. If it means anything at all. Devin doles out kisses as freely as God doles out forgiveness.
“Shush, Ange.” He brushes his thumb over my lower lip, and I dread to think what emotions are showing on my face right now. “No reaction, remember.” I can only nod, fighting another blush. “You’re the most important person in my world. For all time. Even when you think you aren’t, know that you are. Even when I can’t show you or say all I want to say, know that you are. Even if I leave, I’m still with you, in here.” He places his hand on top of my chest, where my heart is beating so erratically it threatens to escape my ribcage. “Like you’re in here.” He pats my hand, the one still being held protectively against his chest. “You’ll always be in here,” he whispers.
“Why are you saying this?” I whisper back, startled to find tears welling in my eyes. This feels too much like a goodbye. “Are you… going somewhere?”
He stares deep into my eyes. “I don’t know. Things are fucked up right now. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
He averts his eyes, and a lonely tear rolls down my face. “You’re scaring me. If you’re in trouble, I want to help.”
He lifts his chin, and his eyes are filled with so much pain. I gasp. Without thinking, I slide my arms around his waist and rest my head on his chest. The words are lying on the tip of my tongue. I want to tell him I love him. That I’ll help make it better, but I can’t lay all that on him when he’s obviously already dealing with so much.
“The best way you can help is by staying away.”
I jerk back at that. “What?” I frown. “What are you saying? I don’t understand.”
He presses his forehead to mine. “I can’t drag you into my shit. I won’t do that. Not to you.”
Our eyes connect, and we stare at one another. My heart is pounding in my chest. I want to tell him to drag me into his shit. Hell, he can drag me anywhere, and I’ll willingly go. I’ll do anything to be with him.
His mouth is so close. Right there for the taking. With so much emotion lying between us, it would take nothing to close that gap. But I’m confused. My head is spinning in a million different directions, and I don’t know what’s transpiring between us. He clasps the back of my head, winding his fingers into my hair, and I almost forget how to breathe. His gaze flicks to my mouth, and my lips part automatically. The air is charged with anticipation. His eyes lower to my snug tank, where my nipples are already pebbled and straining against the material. I’m too afraid to look down. To discover if he’s as turned-on as me.
His eyes return to my lips, and flares of confusion spark in his gaze. We don’t move, and the only sound in the room is our joint heavy breathing. I’ve just decided to pull my bravery hat on when he pulls back, moving away so fast it’s as if someone is pulling a string, yanking him farther and farther from my grasp. It seems kinda prophetic. He stands up suddenly, swiping a hand across the back of his head and sending me a sheepish smile. “I’ve got to go.”
Shaking the fog from my brain, I hop up. “Wait!”
He halts at the double doors, turning around with his palm raised to stop me in my tracks. “Don’t forget what I said, beautiful.”
I thrill at the endearment.
When it comes to him, I’m so easy to please.
“Promise me, Ange. Promise me you’ll never forget.”
“I won’t, Dev. I won’t ever forget.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Devin’s words are still playing on a continuous loop in my mind the next morning as I get ready for school. I put some bread in the toaster, and fill the coffee pot with water. Touching my lips, I smile to myself at the memory of Devin’s fleeting kiss. It takes me back in time.
“What’s takingAydenso long?” I moan, shivering under the blanket in the treehouse. My fingers shake as I flip my cards over, and I scowl at the pathetic hand I’ve been dealt.
“Practice must’ve run over,” Devin says, shrugging, doing his best to maintain a strict poker face as he glances at his cards.
“I think I’m going to go inside. I’m freezing.” I fold my cards over.
“I don’t want to go home yet.” Devin opens his arms. “Come here. I’ll warm you up.” My cheeks turn fire-engine red, and a big grin slips over his mouth. “Come on, baby doll. Whatcha waiting for?”
Recently, he’s graduated from calling me princess to calling me baby doll. I’m not sure I like it any better, but I’m afraid if I tell him to stop, he won’t call me anything but my name, and I like that he has a special name for me.Itmakes me feel important.
I crawl over to his side, butterflies running rampant in my chest. Slipping under his arm, I instantly feel warm. He tightens his arm around me, and I snuggle in closer to his chest, closing my eyes, and savoring the touch of him against me. He pulls the blanket up under our chins. “Better?” he whispers, and I nod. I’m not looking at him until my cheeks have calmed down.
Some nights, I dream about this.Abouthim holding me and kissing me and being his.
“I heard something today, but I’m not sure I should tell you.”
I blink my eyes open at that. “We don’t keep secrets, so spitit out.”
“That doucheAdamis going to ask you out.”
