“What?” Madison asks, her brow arched in question.
“Clive is sending up food,” I tell them. “I thought Devin could use a little stay-at-home lunch date.”
“Who knew you could be so romantic, Sebastian?” Lauren jests. “What do you want us to do?”
“Set it up?” I ask with a grin.
“You got it.”
“Love you, girls”
Making my way down the hall, I listen for any sign of tears. I know how insecure this attack makes Devin feel. For Christ’s sake, she could have lost half her face. I can’t blame her one bit. Stepping into the doorway of the bathroom, I watch as she fiddles with her hair in the mirror.
“You are stunning,” I say, causing her to jump, and I feel like shit for scaring her. “I’m sorry, princess.”
I walk across the room, stopping behind her, and wrap my arms around her waist. Her voice is small when she says, “You have to say that. You’re my boyfriend.”
Oh, princess.
When her eyes meet mine in the mirror, I let her see everything I feel in that look.
Love.
Admiration.
Desire.
Attraction.
Need.
“I don’t say things I don’t mean, Devin. A haircut and a few scars could never change the way I look at you. In fact, this makes me love you more. You are a survivor. You’re strong. Don’t let Crystal take anything away from you.”
She runs her fingers over the ends of her hair. “But she did take things away from me.” Devin’s chocolate orbs glisten with unshed tears. “She took away my safety. She’s instilled a level of fear in me I’ve never known.” She pauses as a shiver rolls through her body. “She took away my confidence. Everyone is going to look at me and know what she did. They’ll see the change in my appearance, and all they’re going to think is ‘that’s the woman who had acid thrown on her.’ Yeah, my hair will grow back, but what about the scarring? We don’t know what it looks like under here.” She touches the bandages once again, and I think the unknown of what’s under them has her most terrified.
Placing my hands on her shoulders, I gently turn her around and gaze down in adoration as I slide my hands up her neck, over the bandages at the base, and into her hair. “It doesn’t matter to me what’s under them,” I explain. “Regardless of what it looks like, I love you. I’ll love you no matter what. Your beauty is untouchable. Your strength is intoxicating. You are the only woman who has ever held my attention for longer than a minute. Crystal didn’t take anything away from you. I want you just as much today as I did that night at the hotel. To be honest, I probably want you more now that I know the person behind the beautiful exterior.”
Vulnerability oozes from her, and I want to take it all away. Not a word of what I’ve said is untrue. I run my fingers through the straight chocolate tresses that now end just below her chin and smile.
“I like it,” I tell her again before placing my lips on hers.
As our lips meet, a current of emotions surge between us. Her shoulders relax marginally, and the tension eases slightly. Her body softens under my touch. She grips the waistband of my sweats before slipping her fingers under my shirt, digging the tips into my sides as if she’s worried I’ll vanish.
Reaching down, I grab her ass and lift her onto the vanity while deepening the kiss, trying to convey how much I desire her into this one kiss. The need for oxygen is the only thing allowing me to let Devin pull back.
“Wow,” she huffs, looking at me with wide doe eyes while digging her fingertips deeper.
I can sense her thinking about taking this to the next level, but that isn’t going to happen. As much as I’d love nothing more than to get lost in Devin, she’s vulnerable and traumatized. I take a step back and tip her head up with my finger.
“I have a surprise for you.” I smile.
“What’s that?”
“A lunch date. Your favorite from Valentino’s and a movie of your choice. I’ll even let you pick one of those cheesy romances you love so much.”
