Chapter 59 Chapter 58:
Chapter 59 Chapter 58:
Arya:
It’s eleven thirty in the night and I can’t even sleep, I keep tossing on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The whole house is quiet, with everybody already retired to their bedroom. Samantha went to bed much earlier than expected because she has a shift early in the morning tomorrow. Wanda and Liam are crashing in one of the guest bedrooms, I think they had that wine and now, they are slightly tipsy to drive home.
I bet Collins is playing a video game right now, my mind keeps flying to Devon and what did for my family, bringing them all the way here in his private jet, Devon is just too much.
“Ugh...why can’t I sleep,” I grab the robe and tie it around my ivory lace nightgown. Perhaps, a glass of milk will help me sleep. Going downstairs, I see my mother and my sister, giggling in the kitchen.
“Well, this is something you don’t see every day,” I say, startling them. They look up at me and smile while I move towards the fridge, “What are you guys doing awake at almost midnight, also don’t you have an early shift tomorrow, Sam?”
“Couldn’t sleep,” Sam shrugs, popping a chocolate into her mouth. “I met mom here and we were just talking until you came. Can’t sleep either?”
I mouth ‘yes’, and suddenly, I don’t feel like having a glass of milk anymore. Since I am here, I rather just talk with the Morris women, leaning against the kitchen counter, I ask, “So what are you guys up to?”
“Just life,” my mother sighs, “Your boyfriend is a keeper, Arya. And he’s the father of your daughter; you have to keep him to yourself.”
“That guy is literally obsessed with you. See the way he looks at her.” Sam gushes and I roll my life.
“I am not discussing my love life with my mother and elder sister, that’s just weird.” I playfully say. “I am off to bed!”
“You have to open your heart back to love again; I know how things have been rough ever since Kevin.” My body freezes at the mention of his name. “Even your sister and I know how much that man adores you. He loves you.”
My heart is pounding heavily. “How can you tell?” I ask my mother.
“It’s in the eyes, darling. It’s always in the eyes.” Sam says, munching on a chocolate. “And also, we are absolutely not blind; we see the way you looked at him at dinner tonight, like you completely wanted to ravish him right there on the spot.”
“Thanks,” I say, rolling my eyes. “I am off to bed.” Instead of going over to my bedroom, I stop in front of Devon’s bedroom, holding my breath; I rap my knuckles on the door.
It’s silent, and I think he might be asleep, but then I hear a faint, “Arya?” and my heart literally skips a beat. Pushing the door open, I step in, feeling the carpet under my feet.
“Hey you,” I attempt with a light-hearted smile, Devon’s on the chair, a laptop perched on his desk. The lamp on the bedside table casts a warm glow, highlighting the sharp lines on his face as he studies the screen. He’s so beautiful like this.
“Are you working right now? It’s literally Thanksgiving, Devon.” I walk over to him, my hands on my hips.
“You should be in bed.” He says softly, there’s a softness in his eyes that makes my heart flutter.
“You are always working.” I sigh.
“Fine,” he smiles teasingly, “then make me stop working.”
“My pleasure, Devon Brookes.” I perch myself on the edge of the desk, closing the laptop, I untie my robe, letting it fall to the floor. Beneath it is my ivory lace nightgown that clings to my skin, skimming at my thighs.
“Arya.” He rasps, his voice husky.
“I am making you stop working.” I say softly, my body is already hot with desire, the way he’s looking down at me, like he wants me, like he needs me. I feel so in control.
His chair scrapes back, and he stands slowly, his eyes locked on mine. “Careful,” he says, his voice dangerous.
“I am more than careful.”
Devon steps between my knees, his hands firmly holding my hips, his thumb brushes against my bare skin and electricity cackles through me. “You think you can waltz in here, wearing that,” he murmurs, his voice a silky threat, “and make me forget everything I’m doing?”
“Well, is it working?” I breathe, tilting my chin so our lips nearly touch.
His smile is slow. “More than you know.”
In a swift motion, he lifts me off the desk, his strength making my head spin, and carries me to the bed like I weigh nothing. He lays me down, his eyes devouring as he crawls over me.
He kisses me hard, his lips claiming mine. His hand slid over my hip, fingers tracing the curve of my thigh, sending sparks through my entire body.
“You are making me so insane.” He says, his voice a low growl.
“Oh well...” I laugh, my voice trembling as his mouth crashes on mine again, harder this time.
His hands slide under the lace gown, his touch sending a thrill of heat through me. I gasp, clinging to him.
I let out a soft sigh while sliding my hand down his chest. The ridges of his muscle tenses under my touch.
“Devon,” I whisper, pushing gently at his chest. He lifts his head, eyes curious.
“Yes, Arya?” He says gently.
“Let me,” I murmur, slightly shoving him towards the headboard. I roll us over so I am straddling him, my hair falling around our faces.
“You are dangerous.” He whispers, eyes glowing with hunger and awe.
“Only for you,” I tease, leaning down to kiss him. My tongue slips into his mouth, and he groans, his hands settling on my hips, guiding me closer.
I kiss him everywhere- the hollow of his throat, his collarbones, the ridges of his abs. His hands find my hair, pulling me up. His hand slides into the gown, his warm hand resting on my breast.
“Devon, fuck...” I say as he teases me, nibbling his mouth on my sensitive part, a dangerous smile playing on his lips. “Goodness!”
“Shh, your parents are here. We don’t want to disturb anybody,” Devon pulls away.
I am breathing heavily, “Damn it. That was something alright,” I didn’t imagine walking in here just to have a make out session with Devon. He lifts me effortless towards the bathroom, my robe is on the floor, but I am too blessed out to care.
Devon runs the warm water and sets me in the tub, he follows me in, settling beside me. He picks up a soft washcloth, and drags it gently over my arms.
I really love the way he takes care of me.
Sleep is already starting to dawn on me, “Can we go to bed now?”
“Of course,” he presses a gentle kiss to my shoulder. He dries me off with a thick, fluffy towel. Then, he carries me to bed, tucking me beneath the soft covers, he slides in beside me, his arm around my waist, pulling me closer.
“Goodnight, Devon.” I press a kiss to his forehead, his hair dampened by steam.
“Goodnight, Arya.” He says, and we both close our eyes.
\--
Daphne:
For some unknown reason, my mother figured it would be nice if I found a way to warm up to my newly discovered step-brother, yes. That’s right; apparently she wants me to ‘bond’ with Theo Duncan before we tell him.
There’s no way in hell that someone like Theo and I can bond, I don’t know the guy, but I sure can spot an asshole when I see one. Just to think we share the same father, since my mother is really worried, I sent him a text earlier asking if he wanted to hang out in a nearby cafe. To show that I was serious, I added two smiley emojis.
He sent me a response fifteen minutes later, all I got was a bunch of question marks. He's probably surprised, we barely speak to each other at work, basically we dislike each other.
‘Be there’ is what I typed back, so now I am heading over to the cafe, hands firmly curled into the pocket of my coat. As I walk in the streets, I see couples walking hand in hand, some couples taking selfies, and well, it makes me think about my non-existent love life.
“We’re going to get there, Daphne. We just have to find that prince charming.” I say to myself, thankfully when I reach the cafe, it’s basically empty with only a few people. I think of ordering for Theo, but I have no idea what the fuck he might want, so I decide to wait for his arrival which by the way I don’t think I am going to be there.
I pull out my phone, in the hopes to text her that I can’t do this bonding stuff with Theo. But as I lean forward, phone in hand, a sudden movement catches my eye- and I bump right into someone.
I think I am about to fall when one steady hand grabs the small of my back, bracing me.
“Whoa- careful there,” he says, his voice warm in such a way it sends a shiver down my spine.
“Sorry,” I say back, steadying myself. I stare into his relatively warm brown eyes, he’s tall, with light copper brown hair that falls over his forehead. He smiles at me and gosh, familiarity strikes right at me instantly.
“Mr. Young.” I stumble over his name. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know.”
“Daphne?” He looks at me, “I have told you countless times, it’s Jasper. You don’t have to be so formal with me considering we are not strangers.”
“Sorry, Mr. Yo- I mean, Jasper.” My heart is beating faster than normal, why in the hell is it hard to breathe right now? He’s wearing a cozy, cashmere sweater over warm khaki.
“What brings you here?” He pushes his glasses over the tip of his nose and I stare, unable to form words.
“What?” I zoom out, and he asks again, “Just seeing a friend, what about you?”
“I wanted to meet a friend here but he just called to cancel, anyways how has Devon been? I haven’t had time to visit him.”
“He’s well,” I say, wondering how he’s so nice and his wife, Alisha Young, is something nice.
“And how have you been?” He asks, still smiling. What is with this man and smiling? Damn it, he should stop smiling at me.
Hmm...let’s see, I just figured out recently that I have a half-brother, whom I greatly despise in real life but I am here, trying to ‘bond’ with him.
“I have been good.”
“Alright then.” He checks his Rolex watch and huffs loudly, “I wish I could stay and talk more, but I have a meeting in the next twenty minutes. Anyways, it was really nice chatting with you.” He chuckles and I wave him goodbye, as he passes by me. I catch a whiff of his cologne and I inhale it deeply.
That man is freaking handsome, is Alisha like blind or something? How can she have a husband like this and still pursues Devon? Just wow.
I keep waiting for Theo, five minutes have passed and I keep annoyingly checking my phone, waiting for any new notification to come up.
“Where in the hell is he?” I ask myself, the barista is already starting to look at me with judging eyes, considering I haven’t even sat yet, I am just glued to the door, eagerly looking at my phone like a maniac.
The barista might think I got stood up by a date and I badly want to tell her that I did not, thank you very much. My phone pings and I hurriedly check it, there’s a message from Daphne.
Theo: Sorry, can’t make it. Something came up.
That’s it? That is all I get after waiting for so long? My mom was wrong, there is no way that he and I can bond. He might be my half-brother and all of that, which isn’t even fully confirmed yet but I know that there’s absolutely nothing in the world that we have in common.