7
LAILA
Ican’t believe how fun tonight was. I'm usually slow to get to know people, but all the scheduled activities are making it easier.
Of course, our team winning charades was a fantastic bonus. Everyone else got pink cupcakes for a late-night dessert, but we got bright red with a dusting of gold sparkles. What a fantastic trophy! I almost didn’t want to eat mine.
Devin and I are becoming more comfortable together, too, which makes it easier. At one point we were laughing, and he pulled me into his lap so naturally it felt like we'd been together for years. The surprise in both of our eyes was hysterical. Of course, that meant we just kept on laughing.
As soon as we reach our room, Devin makes another small fire and I get changed in the bathroom. I put my hair up in a messy bun on top of my head, which makes him grin.
"That's the bookish girl hairstyle, right? Completely out of your face and out of your way?"
"Yep.” I tilt my head back and forth, making the topknot sway. “Utilitarian, not glamorous."
As he passes me, he twirls a tendril of my hair that curls around my cheekbone with his finger. His deep, resonant voice softens to a whisper. "I think you always look glamorous."
Does he see the tremor that runs through me?
I slip into bed. By the time he comes out, I'm doing some spinal twists.
"Bedtime yoga?"
"I was sitting still way too much today. I have to be careful my back doesn't lock up."
"May I?"
I turn to look at him, and there's no stifling my gasp. He’s shirtless, wearing only a pair of loose shorts that sit low on his hips, revealing ultra sexy grooves beside his rippled abs.
"I'll be gentle," he murmurs as he sits behind me. Hearing his smoky voice saying those particular words sends another shiver through me.
His hands land on my shoulders, tipping them slightly back, then his thumbs slide up and down my neck. Devin proceeds to give me a shoulder and neck massage that loosens every single bit of tension in the area, while making a different kind of tension build in my lower belly, my inner thighs, and directly between them.
It's not just the way he touches me with such tender care. It's his concentration, not to mention the way he leans forward to whisper in my ear, "Does that feel better?"
When I nod, he spears his fingers through my hair at the very base of my skull. "I've heard this is good for tension," he murmurs.
He makes gentle, tight circles that move my entire scalp around. He whispers right by my ear, "How's this?"
"It's…good. Definitely helping. To, you know, pull away the tension."
After a few moments, he slips his fingers into my hair and does it again. This time I can't stop a tiny breathless moan. I hear him chuckle faintly, then he lets go, giving my shoulder blades another few rubs before leaning back. "Laila?"
"Yeah?"
I'm positive I burned off the alcohol from those drinks through our lively game of charades, but right now I feel a bit tipsy. Drunk on his energy, this heat, the hope that I’ll be snuggled in his arms again tonight.
"We promised absolute honesty, right?"
"Yes, we did."
Devin smiles, a sexy gleam in his eye. "I could say we should practice kissing in case we have to do it in public tomorrow. But that would be a lie. The truth is, I would love to kiss you right now. Don’t worry. If you say no, or even hesitate, I won’t ask again."
I can't breathe.
Devin leans back after a moment, still smiling as he holds up his hands. "No problem. It's fine. You can still use me as a heater tonight. Or not. I won’t be offen?—"
My hand lands on the center of his chest. "Wait." I take a slow breath. "That wasn't hesitation. I was just…surprised."
