Trudging up the stairs, her head hung low. She felt strangled by her misfortune. So much so, that she did not see the person in front of her.
“Ah!” she cried out, almost tumbling backward, but a strong grip caught her and drew her close.
“Hey, babe,”
She glanced up in surprise as the face of her boyfriend stared down at her. His hazel eyes softened as he took in her expression.
“Nathan?” she asked incredulously. What was he doing here? “Aren’t you supposed to be in a meeting?”He shrugs, “Nah. You never call me during work hours, so I figured something was off.”
Devyn broke out into a smile and wrapped her arms around him. How did she end up with someone like this with all her bad luck?“You figured right,” she grumbled into his chest as he stroked her hair. With a sigh, he broke the embrace and looked at her. “Let’s get inside then we can chat, baby,” he said and laced their fingers together. Devyn nods and unlocks the front door. Nathan always seemed to know when something was wrong with her. This was why his abrupt goodbye earlier surprised her so much. If there’s one thing she was thankful for, it would be him.
She slipped off her heels for her flats and flopped down on the couch next to Nathan. Laying her head in his lap, she lets out a big sigh.
“I got fired today,” she admitted with shame. He had been there through the last 3 job changes, so one more felt a bit embarrassing.
“Really? How did that happen, Dev? I thought things had been going well at this place.” He asked with a frown. It was true, things were going well up until a week ago. That’s when she started waking up later or ignoring her alarm clock. Clarissa mentioned something about depression, but as usual, Devyn ignored her.
She pinched the bridge of her nose, “At least I thought it was.” she answered truthfully.
Nathan shook his head, “What now?” he asked.She looked at him and offered him a thin smile. “I don’t know. Job hunting again, I guess.” She answered him with a shrug. He nodded at her.“You know, Dev. There is one option, and I have mentioned it to you before.”
Devyn stiffened.
Nathan had asked her to move in with him a month ago and she still had not answered him. He told her she would want for nothing and wouldn’t even need to work. But she was not the type to leech off anyone. She was not her mother.
“I can’t answer you right now, Nathan. No matter how desperate I am, I could never do that to you. I need to work and sustain myself, even if that means I have to struggle. I just can’t depend on somebody like that. Please understand.” she answered sincerely and saw his injured expression.
They have been together for just over three years, but she still felt apprehensive about moving in with him. She couldn’t explain why she felt this way, it wasn’t as if she didn’t love him. She thought the world of him.
“I’m not ready.”
Nathan perks up and gives her a smile. "I understand, babe. Wanna go out for the day? It might help take your mind off things."
Devyn sits up and throws her arms around his neck, "I would love that, Nate. But, don't you have work to do?" She asked him with a knit to her brows. He gave her his lopsided smile that she loved so much, "I'm sure my company can do without me for a few hours." He responded as he pulled out his cellphone. "I'll get Manuela to cancel all my appointments for the day."
She stared at him while he called his office, and wondered why she wasn't completely giving herself to this man. He thought the world of her and yet all she had to offer was snippets of her love and affection. Was she not as secure in this relationship as she thought she was?
He gave her another smile as he sat up and held out his hand for her to take. "I'm all yours, babe." He says, planting a kiss on her cheek.
She looked at him as they walked out and could not help but think to herself, "I wish I could say the same."***
They took their seats at her favorite restaurant after an eventful day. Nathan took her to all her favorite places and now he was treating her to a meal.
“You spoil me too much, Nate.” She tells him after they order. He looked at her with eyes full of love and a wave of guilt washed over her. “You deserve only the best, babe. And I aim to please.” He answered with a smile and she giggled.
“Why can’t you just say yes to him, Devyn?”
“I’ve been thinking since I took you to Radio City Music Hall,” he started and she realized where this was going. “Why don’t you go back to school again, Dev? You got accepted to the Manhattan School of Music but left after two semesters. We could get you back in there if you wanted? I know the Dean and I’m sure something could be worked out for you.”
Devyn sighed. Nathan was constantly trying to help her out with her music. Singing was her passion, but she never seemed to get anywhere with it. All the clubs she used to sing at were dives and did not appreciate her talent. Yet here was Nathan, trying to give her her dreams on a silver platter.
“Nate, we’ve spoken about this. If I am going to reach my dream, it will be on my terms. I won’t piggyback on your contacts when other talented people struggle to get in at MSM. It’s not fair.”
Nathan wanted to give her the world, and here she appeared to be debating the fairness of it all.
He sighed and took her hand in his, “You’re too kind for this world, baby. Did I mention how much I love you?” He asked her with her favorite lopsided grin playing on his lips. She beamed at him, “Nah, I don’t hear it enough.” She joked, sticking her tongue out at him, and he feigned shock. “Well, I guess I will have to show you tonight, won’t I?” He responded with a mischievous smile.
Devyn loved these exchanges with him, but lately, Nathan barely made time for her. He was CEO and Head Editor of a small publishing company, so she understood he was busy. The fact that he ran over to her today had been a surprise to her. In the quiet season, he would regularly visit her every second day. Lately, if she saw him twice a week, it was a lot.
“So, how are things at work? They seem to keep you busy lately.” She asked him, trying to dig a bit. He looked at her and shrugged, “I’ve been approaching e-novel authors for the next big thing. From what I can see, there is an abundance of untapped talent out there and e-novel websites are the only way for them to get their stories out into the world. They have given me 4 months to land a best-seller.”
So that is why he has been so quiet then. She leans forward and gives him a tense smile, “Here I was starting to think I was boring you with my presence.” She joked and caught the frown on his face, He shook his head, “Never, Dev. You’re my world and if something was bothering me about our relationship, you know I would tell you.” He responded, and she knew it was the truth.
“I know, babe. I’m only joking.” Devyn said, trying to iron out the mood again. She looked around the room and smiled, “Do you remember how we first met?” She asked. Of course, he remembered. Pointing to the bar area, he chuckled, “Right over there.”
She worked as a bar lady here when they met. He was along with a bachelor party crawl when he spotted her. She felt his eyes on her all evening before he eventually resolved to approach her. When she saw him, she remembered thinking how handsome he looked. He was wearing black jeans with a buttoned-down shirt, but it was his eyes that drew her in; deep pools of honey. She wasn’t looking for any relationship then, so they started out as friends first. One evening her ride didn’t pitch, so in desperation, she called Nathan and he took her home.
They had their first kiss that evening.
“I will never forget how I felt when my eyes met yours.” He gushed, taking her hand. “I knew then that I had to have you.”
"Woah, why did that suddenly sound creepy?" She thought to herself, hiding her reaction. “Now you have me.” She says with a tight smile and he nods. “You’re all mine, no one else’s.” He whispered as he took a sip of his wine.
What the hell was up with him this evening? Where did this possessive personality suddenly come from?
They spent the rest of the evening chatting further, but Devyn grew rather apprehensive about her boyfriend. She did not like the possessive tone in his voice earlier; it reminded her too much of her father. Remembering her vow to never choose a man like her father, she kept her distance from Nathan as the night went on. If he noticed her behavior, he mentioned nothing.
11 pm - Nathan walked her up to her apartment door. She turned towards him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Thank you so much for today, babe. I really needed it.” She mumbled into his chest and inhaled his cologne. He ran his fingers through her hair and brought his lips down to meet hers.Nathan met her lips with such demand that it took her breath away. He had never kissed her like this before, and it felt like she could snap from the way he wound her up. He ran his tongue over hers and fisted her hair behind her head as he claimed her mouth. Pushing her up against the door, she felt his erection press up against her abdomen. His hand that was around her waist suddenly went lower and underneath her skirt.What was wrong with her soft-spoken boyfriend?She broke the kiss and gently pushed him away. “Woah, Nate. Let’s back up a bit, okay?” She said, struggling to catch her breath. When she looked up at him, she saw the rage
Kieran Teague took a drag of his cigarette and looked at the pathetic piece of shit in front of him. His men had just caught this one outside one of his strip clubs and noticed the tattoo, knowing their boss would reward them well. They were not wrong.He glared down at the MC member and grabbed his Karambit knife again. The man looks up at him and grins, “Fuck you,” he grumbled and spat at his torturer’s feet.Kieran sighs in anger. He walks towards his captive and rears his fist back, connecting with the man’s nose repeatedly.“Tell me where the fuck they took my shipment!” He growled in frustration, landing a final blow to the throat.“Kieran! For fuck sakes, you’ll kill him before we know anything!” Danielle, Kieran’s sister, grabbed his fist and pulled him back. Kieran spun around and glared at her, “Don’t touch me, Dani.” He warns, pointing a finger at her, and turns towar
He walked into the club and looked around for his usual sub, Marley. He didn’t spot her, so he headed over to his VIP section and called a server over. She was a perky blonde, wearing a tight latex dress with heels to match. She was walking around with a collar around her neck.He knew most men loved this blonde, but she didn’t interest him. “Sir,” she says while kneeling down in front of him with her head down. He tilted her chin up to look at her and gave her a look he knew she would feel in her core.“Kim,” he dragged out her name and caught the blush on her cheeks. “Whiskey, please.” Holding out his hand for her to take, he pulled her onto her feet and cocked his head towards the bar. “When Marley comes in, tell her I’m waiting.”“Yes, sir.” The server, Kim, answered and was about to walk away when he called her back.“Why are you wearing a collar, love?” He asked
“What the fuck was that?” Devyn thinks to herself as soon as she leaves The Rabbit Hole. Her future boss was a fucking pervert! She gets a chill down her spine, thinking about the way he looked at her while he had that girl on her knees. As dangerously gorgeous as Kieran Teague was, she would stay out of his way.She knew she wouldn’t have come here if she wasn’t desperate enough. At least she would just be dancing. Half naked dancing, nonetheless. Men always stared at her as if she was half-naked anyway, so this time she would make them pay for it.Driving away from the strip club, her mind drifts to Nathan and his behavior a few days ago. He still had not contacted her since their exchange outside the apartment, and she started wondering if it wasn’t for the best.He would probably not like the fact that she was now working at a BDSM strip club. But with the way he acted, she had already resolved to let him go. She lived
“Okay, Dev, you can do this,” Devyn mutters to herself when they come to a halt outside The Rabbit Hole. She glances up at the place and feels her stomach churning. Are these nerves? Is this what nerves felt like?Devyn looks over at Clarissa, “I think I’m a bit nervous.” She admitted and Clarissa nodded, “If you weren’t nervous, I would be concerned.” She replied as they got out of the car, “On my first night I almost lost my balance on stage, luckily the pole was there!” Clarissa finished and Devyn felt herself pale.“Not helping, Clary!” She grumbles and sees her friend’s amused face.Then Clarissa straightens her back and looks at Devyn, “Babe, this is where it gets tricky.” She starts, “You need to walk in there like you’re the shit and they came out just to see you dance. Head in the air like you’re some kind of fucking queen. Don’t take shit f
As soon as Devyn took centre stage, all eyes were on her. Kieran watched her dance with a morbid fascination. The way she was swinging her hips left him with a hunger he never knew he possessed.She closed her eyes while she danced, swaying her body to the rhythm. The other dancers did not pull in him, Marley was a means to an end, a hunger that needed to be sated now and then. But she could never make him feel what Devyn did when she swayed her hips.Then she undid the lace in front of her top, and her gorgeous tits spilled out for every salivating asshole in the club. This pissed him off for reasons he could not explain. She was a stripper; it required her to strip naked, but Kieran didn’t want anyone to see her like this. It pissed him off.Devyn intrigued him, that much he would admit. But what was this fierce possessiveness he felt towards her? He breathed a sigh of relief as her dance ended, but did not expect the applause that followed her. She flashe
Devyn stared at his back as he left the room. She looked down at the card Kieran had just given her and wondered what game he was playing with her. Why did he want to help her if he barely knew her or her story? She pockets the card, putting Kieran Teague out of her mind, and heads out of the dressing room.Clarissa grabbed her arm as soon as she stepped towards the bar, “I am so sorry, Dev. I saw him and freaked!” She said, looking sincere. Devyn laughed and pulled her into a hug, “It’s okay, Clary. He didn’t fire me at least.” She replied to her friend’s apology. Clarissa breathed a sigh of relief then frowned, “What did he want, anyway?” she asked, the curiosity all over her face.Devyn shrugged, “Hell if I know. He seems to enjoy making me uncomfortable though, not sure what it is about me.” She replied and wondered that herself. Clarissa eyed her with suspicion, which made her laugh. “No, real
Devyn has just completed her first dance and ended it off with Kieran pinning her with a gaze. According to the other ladies, Kieran hardly ever used to come to the club in the evenings, unless it was to take Marley to his private booth.It secretly bothered her that he had been here every night to watch her. He would only stay for her first dance, then he would leave. The staring itself she was used to, it was the way he stared at her that gave her goosebumps.Pure unadulterated lust and everyone saw it.She shimmies off the stage, then heads to the dressing rooms to freshen up and fix her makeup. It was the day before her performance at Siren Song, and she was a nervous wreck. Ross gave her off until 12 am because she was popular with the patrons and they would request her.She had agreed because she loved singing so much.Approaching the dressing room, she hears voices inside and sighs. It was Marley complaining again. “Kieran has been in