Devil In The Waters, Book 7, Chapter 01b

Their waiter and another server appeared, emerging from the dining room onto the patio, both of them in their smart but comfortable Cape Ginger attire: black shorts, black knee socks, white linen shirts with crisply ironed collars.

“Oh, thank God,” Kimmy said in anticipation. “I’m starving.” She already fiddled with her fork.

The two men brought to the table-side their three plates along with a shellfish tower for the table. The plates were set down in front of them, all three of them ordering the same dinner: Châteaubriand flambé with honey-ginger glazed carrots, buttered broccoli, and fire roasted forest mushrooms. some side dishes. The steak looked magnificent. The other server set the tower in the center of the table and provided side plates. Before he even considered enjoying this delicious serving, he pulled over his cold whiskey and imbibed.

A warm and immeasurably comfortable feeling put a cotton coating around his turgid angst. Imagine sitting here happily, in Grand Cayman, enjoying dinner and a trip on Devlin Stone’s tab. And Devlin Stone was here with you, and you didn’t hate it. Josh was getting comfortable. But the greatest high of all was the woman sitting across from him, on the other side of Devlin. The one who was making this lurid and outrageous fantasy a reality.

Josh set down his whiskey glass. Watched as Devlin imitated Josh’s action, taking a sip of his own whiskey. For a brief moment, the two of them shared a look. It had none of that animosity they felt for each other. Two guys about to enjoy a fucking delicious meal. In a perfect locale. With perfect woman company.

What would it be like to completely let go of Devlin’s historical torment? What would it feel like to actually gain ground with this guy? Gain his respect. Imagine that. Devlin coming around, Devlin finally acknowledging that Josh was a man; an individual with his own accomplishments, a guy who’d made it out of high school, stood up on his own two feet, and scored a wife of immeasurable value. Imagine that.

Imagine even going out with Devlin and some of his friends, enjoined amongst other successful men. He was due a promotion at Swanson; if he got that and he had Kimmy, and he had friends with box seats to Jays games, Leaf games, Raptor games. That would be a long time coming, but would he hate it? If you fucking asked him six months ago he would’ve said no way on earth. Who gives a shit about guys like Devlin? And yet now . . .

Devlin set his glass down, examined his cut of meat, then looked to Josh. He said, “Wasn’t too bad an idea coming out for dinner with me, now was it?”

“Only for a steak,” Josh said, not meaning it sarcastically, but actually ribbing. And Devlin took it that way and chuckled.

He said, “I get the feeling. But this sure does beat me coming out here by myself. Not that I would have any trouble finding some companionship for the night.”

Also not said sarcastically. A reality. Josh wouldn’t challenge him on that. One stop by any of the hotel bars in George Town, and Devlin could get some woman on vacation out for dinner and into his bedroom. But not a woman of Kimyy’s caliber. Josh eyed Kimmy now, and she watched him with a strange look in her eyes. A humorous one, but strange nonetheless. He found out why.

Kimmy leaned closer to the table, looking at her plate. She said, “What an impressive display of meat.”

The delivery of the line was slow, careful, deliberate. A truthful comment, but one whose context was known only to her husband. Or possibly only. Devlin had a deep dirty and devious mind as well.

Kimmy’s proclomation registered with Devlin, but he made no comment or side glance. Josh enjoyed it. Looking at Kimmy now who, through years of knowing her, could see her struggling to hold a straight face. She pulled her plump lips between her teeth, and had to look away for a moment, and he imagined what it would be like if she burst out laughing the way she wanted to right now. But that would give it all away.

And now Josh was having trouble not laughing too. Watching his cute wife—sorry, beautiful–reduced to cuteness, like a high school girl, a college kid he dated, trying not to burst out laughing at a juvenile joke. But it was no joke, it was foreplay. Foreplay between man and wife at Devlin’s expense. Poor Devlin, none the wiser.

“I heard through the grapevine that you were hungry for some meat.”

“That wasn’t a grapevine,” Kimmy said, “I literally said it to you.”

Josh said, “When was this?”

“That I told him I wanted steak? Today. At the lawyer’s office. I told him if we had any meetings coming up, it sure would be nice if we found ourselves at a steakhouse.”

A shiver chilled him with exquisite and dreadful alarm. Imagine the two of them, Kimmy and Devlin, concocting this scheme. An outrageous scenario, but one he found wildly thrilling. His naughty wife worse than he could ever imagine. Imagined her talking earlier with Devlin today, and how she had suggested a way to have dinner out with him. Already engaging in this game, taking advantage of a terrible situation, Devlin showing up here where he wasn’t welcome. Was explicitly told he wasn’t to show up.

Josh said, “You made reservations here before we even said yes?”

Devlin said, “I get what I want.”

Kimmy scoffed and laughed it off. “How rude,” she said. “I can turn you down six ways from Sunday.”

Devlin chuckled and said, “But you won’t.”

Kimmy laughed and rolled her eyes, looking Josh’s way. Then she batted the back of her hand into Devlin’s hard, round shoulder. There was no jostle, the sound of impact a non-reverberating thump.

Kimmy chuckled, then batted his muscular shoulder again, saying, “The guy lifts more weights now as an exec than he did playing football.”

And Josh’s stomach muscles tightened again. His cock throbbed in an arcing hump under his khaki cotton shorts. He leaned back to adjust the way it snugly fit in the crotch of his pants. Tried avoiding plucking at the fabric to give it some room, but had to before his cock was strangled. The first two inches literally throbbed right now, aching with the fantasy of pushing into his wife’s tight and hot and wet interior.

And just like any good bully would, Devlin caught that inopportune moment, looking down below the table edge where Josh sat. Instead of fear and dread, like this was high school still, Josh felt no shame. So what? Yeah, you caught me with a boner. What are you going to do, make fun of me? All I’m thinking about is how bad I want to get my wife back to our villa, get you the hell out of here, and get down to some business that was probably going to last all night long.

Kimmy set down her fork, saying, “I didn’t wash my hands when we got here. Excuse me a sec,” then began scooting sideways out of the banquette.

She side-eyed Josh as she passed, giving him a look of fun. She knew he was enjoying this.

Both men watched Kimmy leave, walking across the front of their table and heading into the dining room to clean up. Josh’s head swiveled, following her along, trying to get a glimpse of her ass. It looked good in her skirt; he wasn’t able to see it now as she was a step below their banquette. He couldn’t help making an appreciative groan in his throat. He was luckier than he ever imagined he could be. More probably than he deserved to be.

Turned to the table again, he looked at Devlin. Devlin looked at him. There was no fear. No concern about what might now occur between them. He’d said some things to Devlin out on the patio behind the villa, but none of that mattered. Devlin could play his games, the only game that mattered was the game between Josh and Kimmy. Text me all you want. Taunt me all you want. I’m going to make the best of it. It might turn your milk sour, but you will never understand.

Though maybe Devlin did—this whole thing started with that dream-whisper in his ear at Tiffany Hansen’s cottage.

Devlin said, “I didn’t wreck your night, did I?”

The concern was unexpected.

“Quite the contrary,” Josh said. “Look, I can be a bit of an asshole. You’re not the only one to say it.”

“You think I call you an asshole?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Josh said, brushing a hand in Devlin’s direction like nothing they would talk about mattered. “I can be an asshole and I know it. Kimmy keeps me in line. No, I couldn’t be happier we’re out having dinner with you. You hiring Kimmy might just be one of the best things that’s ever happened to us.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Devlin said. He reached for his fork, then set it down. “I guess it’s rude to begin without her.”

“She won’t care, but I think this restaurant you picked has standards. I don’t want to get us kicked out for bad manners.”

Devlin laughed and it felt good to have him laugh at something other than at his own suffering. He sipped the whiskey, and Josh reached for his as well. “I’m not a big fan of single malt, but I have to say—”

Devlin set his glass down, wiped at his lips with his first knuckle. He leaned closer to Josh and said, “You have a hard-on right now?”

This was absolutely right out of high school. The bully’s beginner textbook. Chapter 3, page 9: Set the nerd back on his heels.

But this wasn’t high school anymore. And Devlin was quite powerless. If he wanted Kimmy’s amazing talents, there was a certain amount of respect to be afforded. A certain protocol to be followed. He could act like the big shot, but Josh was ready to throw down the gauntlet that devil and wouldn’t want to see at his feet. Kimmy’s coming with me, you’re on your own. You don’t think she can get a better job than what you offer?

Devlin knew her skills. So the words had no effect. Josh chuckled, sat back unashamed. The crotch of his pants were humped out, and if Devlin wanted to take a peek, well, didn’t that mean he was the gay one now? Touché, motherfucker. Josh said, “In anticipation of when I get back to the villa.”

“You’re a wily dog,” Devlin said, and didn’t return to his seated position—stayed leaning toward Josh. There was more. He’d been bullied enough by Devlin to know there was more. He waited. Devlin eyed him up and down, looking from eyes to crotch, smiling, looking sly. He said, “Hey, Josh?”

Josh said, “Yeah?”

“You think I don’t know what you guys are up to?”