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  Devin enjoyed the beauty and radiance Alana projected. Smiling, he noticed eyes on her from every direction. The pride of knowing she was his wife made him smile. Remembering their wedding day, he realized she had always been this beautiful.

  Alana appeared surprised when he asked her to dance. He was sure she didn’t want him touching her for fear she just might like it. Her reaction to him now versus when they’d first met had changed. She didn’t seem to mind his hand grazing parts of her, and he ensured he touched her as often as he could.

  He held his hand out for hers. She shot a quick glance at his hand and ignored it. “I don’t know what you’re up to looking at me that way, but I don’t like it.”

  Devin followed his discourteous wife to the dance floor. It appeared he was making her uncomfortable and he liked it. Masking a conniving smile, he knew that his legendary charm would eventually wear her down.

  He slid his hand around her waist with ease and found her body as smooth and calming as warm flowing water. Although her face didn’t give away anything, her body tensed as he drew her closer. He enjoyed their closeness but it was like dancing with a grenade. Holding it gave you a great sense of power, but mistakenly pull the pin and…boom!

  Her body finally gave up the fight and melted into his embrace. Swaying to the slow beat of the music, Devin let lips hover close to her ear. “Now, this isn’t so bad, is it?” The warmth of his own breath wisped over her neck. The slight touch of his top lip brushing her ear closed his eyes. Her shiver pleased him.

  Trapped by her closeness, Devin fought to control his desires as her body sent out a continuous call to his. Her fragrance of freshly plucked peaches tortured his senses.

  She squeezed words between clinched teeth. “As bad as I would like to say no, this really isn’t that bad.”

  Hearing the strain of resistance in her voice did nothing to dull his need to caress her. Finally getting a taste of what it was like to embrace her had seized his mental control. It was not a good to let your mind go when your hand flirted with the detonator to high powered explosives.

  Watching her stare up at him, Devin observed something he never thought he would see in her. She was just as affected by his presence as he was by hers. Unable to resist pulling her in tighter, his mind instructed his body to keep flirting with danger.

  A burst of emotions flowed from their closeness that had him teetering on the edge madness. Lowering his face closer to her neck, Devin savored this moment. The fear that he may not get many other chances like this saddened him. Never having smelled anything better, his nose brushed her neck. Her aroma enticed him to taste the warm expanse just below her ear. Momentarily hypnotized, he lost himself within her delicate folds.

  Not realizing how tightly he had been holding his wife, Devin erupted into a chorus of cries. “Ouch. Ooooo. Ooouuuchhh.” Shouting into her hair and neck, his reaction remained hidden from the crowd.

  Alana had quickly and painstakingly stomped Devin’s foot after the sharp kick she’d delivered to his shin. She had been quick and he doubted anyone noticed what she likely considered her exploit of protection. She rejoiced in his discomfort. He could tell by the satisfied look on her face. She’d never broken character, allowing him to scream his pain into her hair. She also rubbed at the back of his neck affectionately to give the appearance that they were being romantic.

  Devin loosened the grip he had on his wife. Surprisingly, as badly as his foot ached, it didn’t overpower the energy exchange between him and her. It was the damnedest thing he had ever experienced. Having no idea how he had arrived here, he accepted he had reached a turning point where Alana was concerned. He found himself lost among the overpowering influx of emotions that poured over him. For the moment, he continued to hold her, though not as tightly and not as close. Devin had found something dangerously sexy and irresistible about his wife. Assuredly, he would find himself on the receiving end of more hurt and pain if he didn’t watch himself.

  ***

  Happy to hear the song nearing its conclusion, Alana didn’t know how much longer she could pretend she wasn’t enjoying being close to her husband. It was nice and cozy in his arms and no matter how much she forced herself not to like it, it didn’t work.

  When he’d placed his face and mouth so dangerously close to her neck, his breath on her neck elicited emotions she thought were elusive to her. The reality of their connection surprised her as much as it scared her. She wasn’t sorry about her actions either. He had been trying to seduce her all night with his seductive looks and deliberate touches. He’d dredged up needs and wants she didn’t want surfaced. What else is an innocent woman supposed to do to protect herself from a conniving seducer?

  The song ended, bringing the dance to its conclusion. “Hallelujah,” Alana announced in a low voice.

  They managed to make it through the rest of the night without a fight.

  Devin escorted Alana to her door. “We had a great date. I had fun, aside from a broken foot.” He glanced down at his foot with a wounded glint in his eyes. She watched indifferently as he attempted to elicit pity from her. He suggested, “You should be a good wife, come to my room and take care of me.”

  With a frozen sarcastic glare, she eyed him pointedly. “If your foot was broken, the pain will have dulled your arrogance by now. It serves you right for trying to molest me in public.”

  Laughing at her comment, he pushed his luck even further. “Since we had such a good time, how about a good night kiss?” Poking out his lips, Devin waited for a kiss he knew wasn’t coming.

  Frowning, Alana ignored his lips completely. Shaking her head, she opened her door. It had become harder to conceal her smiles, but she managed. “Haven’t we been through this before?”

  Walking into her room, she closed the door to his puckered lips.

  Smiling, Alana realized her husband was beginning to find her combative nature and their back and forth banter appealing. Standing against her door, she held her hand over a huge grin. So, my husband has a personality after all.

  Chapter 10

  Hot Body

  The following night, Devin marched into Alana’s room without knocking. The spray of water and her low hum told him she was in the shower. He sat at her desk and waited impatiently to deliver the good news he received.

  His eyes grew wide, when the bathroom door swung open. A full un-edited view of his sexy and very naked wife dance before his eyes. She didn’t appear the least bit embarrassed as he stepped away from the desk to get a better look. Instead, she threw her head to the side and place he hands on her hips — tits bouncing as she gave him an ‘are-you-crazy’ look? “Do you plan on standing there staring at me or are you going to turn around until I get dressed?”

  Spinning, Devin had no idea why he was disappointed in himself for not turning around fast enough. Alana wasn’t Amber, that’s for sure. Alana’s body was all natural and ten times hotter.

  “I apologize. I should have waited until you answered the door. I wasn’t trying to stare, it’s just….”

  What am I saying? He liked what he saw, and he had never apologized for looking at any woman. Unable to articulate his sentences properly, his thoughts kept getting in the way. Best set I have seen; nice, round, and perky, flat stomach, skin smooth and creamy, curves all in the right places…

  He controlled his runaway thoughts long enough to hear Alana at her drawing searching for clothes. She talked as she searched. “Yes, you should have waited for me to answer. You will learn that if I ask you to do something, it is probably for a good reason.”

  Her naked body flashed through his mind a few times as he fought to listen to what she was saying. “I hope you have good news Devin. I would hate to have to classify you as a Peeping Tom. You’ve already tried to molest me.”

  Hardly hearing a word she said, his mind became flooded with more flashes of her hot and naked body. Closing his eyes, Devin concentrated on calming his raised blood pressure.

  Alana ca
lled to him loudly. “Devin. Are you deaf? You can turn around now.”

  Turning with a smile, he spoke quickly. “I apologize for the intrusion, but I have good news. My cousin called agreeing to meet with us.”

  She flashed an excited smile. “That’s great news. Hopefully, we can find some answers.”

  She jumped into her bed and dragged the covers up to her chest. Instead of sitting at the foot of her bed, Devin took a few steps and sat right next to her. She gave a funny look but didn’t comment. He started, “About our marriage, do you think our parents didn’t tell us much because they were protecting us from something or someone?”

  She considered his question. “I considered that, but we’re grown. Surely we should be able to handle whatever this is all about.”

  Alana drifted into a deep thought and he didn’t know if she was irritated or becoming angry or both. He stood, taking her expression as his cue to leave. “As soon as I hear back from my cousin, I’ll let you know. Hope you have a good night.”

  “Good night and thank you,” she replied, still a bit distracted.

  As he lay across his bed, Devin thought he’d be too overwhelmed seeing Alana naked to think about anything else, but he’d surprised himself. As far as he was concerned, they were making progress. If he had walked in on the old Alana naked, she probably would have skinned him alive. He sent her a text.

  Her two-word texted reply made him happy. He found that she wasn’t such a bad person once you get past whatever caused her to guard her emotions better than the members of the famous SEAL Team Six.

  He believed he was gradually peeling away some of her protective layers. She was a beautiful butterfly—wrapped in an onion cocoon, covered by cement, enclosed in a Venus flytrap, surround by prison bars. If you could survive pilling off the top layers, you may actually get a chance to see the beauty hidden within.

  Chapter 11

  Stay in your Place

  Preparing to start her day, Alana’s mind drifted to the night before. She nearly dropped her phone when she’d read her husband’s text the night before. “You have a Super-Hot Body. Would you like to go out with me again?” Her husband apparently thought she had a super-hot body. He was showing signs that resembled interest and she didn’t want to acknowledge them. Knowing they had to establish at least a cordial friendship, she’d texted him back. “Thanks. Yes.”

  Dressed and ready to start her work-day, Alana departed her room. She ignored the lurid voices coming from her husband’s room as best she could. Having heard Amber and Devin having sex before, she rushed towards the stairs. Amber’s sharp words sliced into Alana’s ears as she yelled something about Devin owing her money. Devin’s cracked door muffled some of the sound, but Alana could discern enough to know they were arguing.

  Not intending to snoop, Alana found herself stopped at the top of the stairs. Amber shouted again. “How dare you cut me off? I stopped working to give you whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted it. I demand my usual reward plus three additional months. A check or bank transfer is fine with me. If you weren’t wealthy, I wouldn’t have given you the time of day. You rich types think you can use people and drop them when you think you’re done, but I have two others just like you taking care of me.” Devin’s voice was unusually calm. “You were a part-time waitress. It’s not like you were a lawyer or doctor. It sounds like you have a solid back-up plan, so why do you keep bothering me?”

  From what Alana could tell, Devin had dumped Amber and she was now requesting money and insulting him on top of it. Alana admitted, she had said some mean things to her husband, but this was ridiculous. She couldn’t believe that tramp was demanding money. The more Alana listened the angrier she became.

  The decision was made rather quickly. Alana’s mind took over and her body just followed. She entered Devin’s room without knocking and walked effortlessly into his arms. She’d brushed pass Amber, not bothering to look in her direction. Throwing her arms around Devin’s neck, Alana placed her head on his chest and enjoyed the warm comfort his closeness presented.

  Almost instantly, Devin folded her into his arms. The warm sweep of his breath on her neck was a refreshing reward she hadn’t expected. Smiling, she liked that she’d made him forget Amber standing there.

  Raising her head, the top of Alana’s hair brushed the bottom of Devin’s jaw. Although she looked at Amber, her words were meant for Devin. “Honey, I’m preparing for work. Do you need help getting rid of this hooker before I leave?”

  Devin released a strangled cough. She was sure shock is what kept him from forming audible words right away. Alana acknowledged his dilemma, but for reasons unknown, she couldn’t stand to hear Amber talking down to him.

  She put her back to Amber. “Baby, my suggestion is that you pay her what you owe her so you can stop lowering your standards. You have me now.”

  She watched Devin’s Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed his surprise. He glared at her with wide eyes, appearing too stunned to spit out his words. His glanced traveled to Amber whose expression remained struck on astonished.

  Amber stood open mouthed, glaring at Devin for what looked like support.

  Seeing her husband’s shock evaporate into a smile made Alana happy. His eyes found hers. “Thank you for having my back.”

  Turning slightly away from Devin, Alana reached into her purse and withdrew her checkbook and pen. Standing there with her checkbook in hand, she asked Amber, “So, how much do we owe you? You came in here demanding payment for services right? Hooker, slut, skank, prostitute? What title do I put on the ‘pay to’ line? My husband has somehow stomached your services long enough. I honestly don’t understand why he didn’t choose a classier side piece. Next time, I’ll save him the trouble and pick one for him.”

  Since Amber stood motionless, Alana snapped her fingers three times in an attempt to snap her from the trance.

  “Look honey, playtime is over. You’re fired.” A mean look accompanied Alana's stern words.

  Waiting for a response, Alana stood scrutinizing Amber. She couldn’t believe this was who Devin was choosing to spend his time with. The woman was fake from top to bottom, from her blonde extensions, to her breast, nails and even the outrageous shade of blue of her contacts.

  Finally thawed, Amber positioned her lips to speak. Her body language and the deep frown in her face suggested she would say something stupid.

  Alana stopped her before she uttered the first word. “Don’t you dare say one off-handed word to me. Stay in your lane because I will not hesitate to put you in your place. I have allowed you to prance around this house with my husband for far too long.”

  Unintelligible sounds shuffled from Amber’s mouth. Gasping and blowing, she glared at the two of them as she stormed pass.

  ***

  Taking in his wife, Devin’s eye grew big just as a huge smile resurfaced. “Thank you.” Then, he fell into a fit of boisterous laughter. Speaking through his laughter, he managed, “I guess you put her in her place.”

  “I am happy you seem pleased with my display of unkindness. And I am glad Amber decided to leave because I have no intention of paying the woman a single dime.”

  When Alana opened the small book she had in her hand, Devin realized it was a day calendar she had posing as a checkbook. He fell into another fit of rolling laughter.

  Alana joined him in laughter realizing this was the first time she and he had shared a laugh. “All of my finances are electronic. If she’d stated an amount, I would have had to write her an IOU.”

  Devin laughed so hard at this point his eyes were wet with tears of mirth.

  Dashing to the window, he peeked in time to see Amber jump into the car he’d purchased for her a year ago and take off leaving black tire marks in the driveway. His head shot back at Alana. “I can’t believe you just did that, but I am happy you did. She was becoming a huge thorn in my side.” He was happy to see that he wasn’t the only one subject to receiving the wrath of his wife’s lethal t
ongue.

  Overwhelmed by the excitement of Alana’s actions, Devin rushed toward her. He didn’t give her a chance to protest as he wrapped her tightly in his arms.

  Her stiff posture told him he’d caught her off guard, but it only took a moment for her to relax and return his embrace. Holding her made him happy but feeling her return his embrace stoked a tender side he didn’t realize he had. When he turned her loose his eyes boor into hers and he found a spark of care hidden within. She has feelings for me?

  She backed away quickly, “I better get to work.”

  Devin was left with an urgent sense of loss after her departure. He found himself wanting to contribute to their marriage and not for the cynical eyes of the public either. It’s why he’d broken up with Amber. He was starting to discover that there was a lot more to Alana’s fiery presence then he’d initially realized. Seeing her fight for him, whether she was acting or not had increased his desire to connect with her. Not knowing how to tap into her compassionate side saddened him. Since when have I sought compassion in any women?

  ***

  Alana thought about the run-in she’d had with her husband and Amber throughout her day. She enjoyed remnants of Devin’s cologne, a continuous reminder of his intoxicating closeness. She racked her brain trying to figure out why she’d jumped into her husband and his girlfriend’s argument. However, she did enjoy putting Amber in her place. Maybe I want to be the only one to have abusive rights to him.

  There were days when she and Devin got along well; then there were days when her fuse became lit and she was ready to ignite total fury. If Devin said something she didn’t want to hear; she would let him have it full force. At first she used her anger to protect herself, now she had to accept that she was using it to hide the fact that she was developing feelings for him.