We both pause when our lips are only an inch apart. My heart’s drumming in my throat. Can he hear it? He can probably hear it. But I can’t hear anything except the blood rushing in my ears, and the biggest surprise?
Our lips don’t move. They hover exactly where they are as if we both know that we can either move in or we can move away, and neither of us is willing to make such a huge, profound choice.
His breath coils against my skin like home—warm and spicy. But this is wrong, right? I’m supposed to be with Storm. I shouldn’t be thinking about Devlin.
Even though every cell in my body is on fire, yelling at me to pull away, I find myself unable to break from the force that is Devlin. He’s like a whirlpool in an ocean, pulling ships down to the depths, and I’m a willing vessel, ready to head to my destruction.
Our lips touch. It’s impossible to say who moves first. We actually may have moved at the same time. Yeah, that’s it. I’m totally not culpable here.
We kiss, and his lips are soft and pliant. And sensual. I’m lightheaded from such a simple meeting of two mouths. I can’t think straight because his lips are teasingly good, and everything about this kiss feels right. They’re so perfect that they’re practically begging for me to kiss them again.
But I don’t. I pull away. “Sorry.”
“Sorry,” he repeats, taking a step back and scrubbing a hand up the back of his head.
We stare at each other for a long time, neither of us moving. I don’t know what to say besides what I already have, and I don’t want to move because to be honest, I don’t want to stop looking at him. Devlin is absolutely, truly beautiful.
It’s right here, in this moment, that I realize that I’ve forgiven him for what happened in high school. Yes, he broke my heart. But I’ve held on to that for long enough. I’m ready to let go of all that hurt and become someone new, someone who doesn’t hate this man.
And craziest of all—I don’t actually think he’d use my power for anything devious. Maybe he deserves more credit than I’ve been giving him.
But that doesn’t change the fact that I’ve got to get married, and even though I may not be sure about Storm, at least he’s talked about a future—wanting kids and all that.
Devlin hasn’t been serious about anyone in a long time, he said that. He’s not wanting to jump into a relationship. Which means that I can’t entertain the idea of us, because we don’t exist as a couple.
We’re still staring at one another when his grandmother calls, “Cookies!”
I inhale sharply and step back as he also retreats. I wink. “Last one to the kitchen’s a rotten egg.”
And then I scamper off, not looking back to see if he’s coming.
24
DEVLIN
Twice now we’ve kissed, and twice now we haven’t talked about it. I’m not sure I like the way this is going. But for now, it is what it is.
Rebecca decided to stay with my grandmother. She said that she’d return to the house on her own. Blair questioned what would happen if she got lost, and her nana reminded her that she’s a ghost and the Thornroses would love it if shedidget lost.
Blair agreed. She also told her grandmother that she would give the invisibility potion to the family for their use.
Rebecca scowled at that.
All of that’s to say it’s only the two of us in the car as we head back to Castleview. Neither of us has said one word.
I’ve never been one to be intimidated by silence, but it’s beginning to weigh on me. “Blair, I?—”
“I don’t want to talk about it, Devlin.”
I give her a side glance. She’s staring to the right, watching the sprawling meadows as we drive past them. All her body language screams,Leave me alone.
I’m not interested in that. “You don’t even know what I was going to say.”
“It sounded heavy, whatever it was.”
“It wasn’t heavy. Look, the more we’re around each other?—”
“I said that I don’t want to talk about it.” She glances over, her dark eyes burning with annoyance. The wind whips stray hairs from her braid, and she presses them down, only to have them fly around her head like a halo once she moves her hand. “You’re not the man I need.”
