Devil In The Waters, Book 5, Chapter 4 (complete)

From the other end of the table now, he spied Kimmy, his wife back in conversation with Karina. And he wondered what it was they talked about. Would Kimmy be confiding to Karina about what it was like to work with Devlin? Probably not. Karina was not a fan of Devlin. Then again, he’d thought, neither was Kimmy . . . 

At his end of the table, he was resumed at the head, the king of the evening, sitting now in counsel with Steve and Meyer, his cousin trying to surreptitiously talk about his exchange with Quinn the nurse. But, unfortunately, Josh was hardly paying attention, sitting and waiting for Kimmy to check her phone. That’s how it would happen most likely. A text from Devlin. I’m here now. And then Kimmy would dart from the table, quick stepping to join him . . . 

Steve was talking close, both elbows on the table, his hand blocking his mouth. “What’s she like?”

Meyer said, “Dude, I’m not kidding, I think she’s like . . . down . . .”

Steve asked, “What do you mean down?”

“You know what I mean, like down.”

“A hookup?”

“I think so,” Meyer said disbelievingly.

Josh, in a low, barely-there grumble, said, “But that’s not what you want . . .”

Meyer laughed. “It’s not?”

Kimmy checked her phone. His heart jumped. But she didn’t rise or leave the table. It wasn’t a text from Devlin. She was just checking her phone. Anxious for her boss’s arrival . . . 

Steve said, “If you want a hookup, I’m not kidding, just go on POF . . .”

“Yeah, no, Josh is right . . . That’s not what I’m looking for . . .”

“I hope she’s not that kind of girl,” Josh said, eyes glued to Kimmy. Her eyes were turned down looking at her phone. Devlin hadn’t texted her yet, but his wife couldn’t wait to get a message from him.

Steve said, “I don’t know . . . You gotta start somewhere. The hookup could become something else . . .”

Steve said, “Girls just hook up now anyway, Josh. It’s not a big deal . . .”

“It is a big deal,” he said, then, shaking his head, he looked to Meyer who was definitely riled by his interaction with Quinn. It was unfair of Josh to be dismissive. Meyer really had gone through it with Hyun. Like got his heart broken. “Hey, man, no. It’s cool. Maybe she even thinks that that’s what you want from her. She might just be playing along, thinking she’s catching your vibe and giving you what you want to hear.”

“Yeah,” Meyer said, hollowing his cheeks and stroking his chin.

“It is what it is. Pursue it. You’re really interested in her . . .”

“She is super-cute,” Meyer said now, interlocking his fingers and stretching his arms, using it as a ploy to sneak a look mid-table and catch a glimpse of Quinn where she was in a close talk with Samara.

Kimmy was standing.

Shit. He pushed back his chair, and the legs scraped on the deck. He licked his lower lip, and even though he was trying to be sneaky, both Steve and Meyer saw his reaction, saw the instant change in him and wondered what was up.

Steve looked to the table’s end to see Kimmy standing. He said, “Is there going to be cake?”

Josh said, “No, not cake . . .”

Kimmy pushed back her chair, then her eyes flitted up to meet his—but she showed him no expression. She turned then, adjusted her suit jacket and buttoned it, smoothed a hand along her flat stomach and trotted down the steps. As she walked the alley toward the street front, her hands were up at her head, tying her hair back. He watched her impromptu ponytail sway and bounce as she strutted streetside to meet Devlin Stone.

“What is it?” Meyer poked his arm. “What’s going on?”

“She has to meet her boss.”

Like he was shocked, Steve hissed: “Now?”

“I know,” Josh said, feeling his spirits getting kicked up. Feeling angry. How dare she . . . But when he looked to Steve, he saw that Steve was kidding again, pulling his leg like he’d done at lunch.

Josh said, “She did something at work today, something good. The guy wants to give her something . . .”

Meyer nodded, still looking at where Kimmy had disappeared. And Josh was left finishing that sentence in his own head: His big hard cock. And he hated having that thought hang in the air, like if it lingered too long one of them would detect it and know his terrible thinking. He said, “She saved him a lot of money. I think he’s going to give her a bonus or something . . .”

“Meyer,” Steve said, “we talk about going on POF and looking for a hookup . . . My man Josh has the world by the tail. Got it all. I mean, Kimmy is about as amazing as a woman could get.”

“I know she is,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Yes, she’s amazing, I know . . .”

But Meyer seemed troubled, his gaze finally pulling from where Kimmy had disappeared and returning to Josh. “So that guy’s here?”

“Yeah, she’s just going to meet him. She said she was just going to be a minute . . .”

Meyer was the first one to rise. And Josh threw up no objection, instantly rising as well. And after he did, so did Steve. All three guys standing up now, not sure what they were going to do, but pretty sure it involved spying on what Kimmy was doing.

He hefted his pint glass, walked around toward the tavern, Meyer going on the other side of the table, Steve joining him on his side. They strolled aimlessly, but managed not to pick up too much attention from the women remaining at the table. When he passed Karina he didn’t say anything, looking in the windows of the tavern like that’s what had his attention. When he was past her, he stopped at the top step, peering down the alley but not seeing the streetside. Karina was right there behind them. “What are you guys doing?”

“Nothing,” he said, “just stretching our legs.”

“Step down, I want to see,” Karina said.

But when he set a foot down on the second step from the top of the patio, a waitress came out of the tavern headed to a table armed with a tray of cocktails. She said, “Oh, sorry . . . you can’t take your beer off the patio.”

“No, I know, of course not,” he said, feeling his cheeks blushing now.

He remained on the middle step and handed his beer to Karina who leaned back and put it on the table in Kimmy’s spot. He stepped down to the brick pavers, hands in his pockets, peering down the alleyway. Meyer came to join him, Steve did as well, staying on the first step and leaning over both of their heads. Karina closed in the group, coming down on Meyer’s other side and peering around Meyer’s shoulder. Four people now (attracting a ton of attention from the patio) looking down to see what Kimmy was doing.

And there at the streetside was his wife standing next to his high school bully, Devlin Stone. Devlin Stone standing tall, like a head taller than his wife. Both of them looking like they were cut from the same cloth—like they worked in the same place. Which they did. Both of them very professional, black suits, stark shirts . . . Devlin leaned casually with a hand—a large masculine hand—flat on the black roof of his low and sexy car.

Why had he enjoined all these people? All of them—Karina, Steve and Meyer—witnessing this . . . Seeing his wife standing and batting her eyes at her boss. This tall hunk of a guy who looked like the villain in a legal thriller. Black hair slicked back, handsome profile, sharp hawk-like nose and black eyes boring into Kimmy. Broad shoulders, hand on hip with his suit jacket pulled back showing his snappy belt and his expensive tie. Nice shoes, too . . . 

Was that what they were all thinking as well?—look how well this guy dresses . . . look how tall he is . . . what a good build, he looks like an athlete . . . 

And was Steve thinking, “Now I see why Josh would be so afraid . . .”

***

Despite what a terrible idea it was to allow the man you’d cheated with to come to your husband’s party, she was unable to deny Devlin. Last night she’d spent hours fucking this man. And now he was plunged into her home life reality. Devlin at work was one thing. Compartmentalized, just the way she wanted it. There was Kimmy at work and there was Kimmy at home. Two different people, two faces of the same coin. Bringing Devlin to where Josh was was like turning a coin inside out. It would destroy it. Ruin its value. At least, that was the worry. But perhaps there was another way to look at it. This thing with Devlin that had come full circle last night had been a long time coming. Now it was done. Perhaps Devlin and Josh weren’t polar opposites. It had certainly seemed like it, the two of them when near pushing against each other. But how could this go on if that were the case? If she were to work for Devlin for the next two years, three years, maybe even four or five . . . How could her husband not be a part of work-Kimmy? How separate should they be? Completely separate, moderately separate, or what . . .? Maybe this would be the best way to find out . . . 

She walked the brick pavers to join Devlin, who had somehow managed to get a parking spot right up front, even though the streetside parking had been packed when she arrived, and Samara had said she driven around the block twice. Lucky Devlin pulls up right at the mouth of the archway that led to the Dragon’s patio and finds a spot. Fate? Possibly . . . Decisions were being made for her that she had no say in. She was the one who allowed the carnal act with Devlin to occur last night. She’d shored up all her defenses the best she could, but there were always the unknowns, the intangibles lurking around every corner. You had to be fast on your feet. Like now . . . Had Devlin got a spot four or five businesses down, she could’ve slipped out of sight, gone on to find out how happy she’d made her boss without worry of spectatorship.

In the last twenty-four hours she’d made Devlin very happy—probably netted him more than her annual salary in lost revenue, sucked his cock and fucked him. Now with Josh not far away, she would find out with what Devlin would reward her. Figured he would buffet her up front with proposed bawdy rewards, and it would take a few minutes to get to the truth . . . 

The closer she got, the more the nerves worked through her. Not fear of some sort of discovery, some revelation of last night’s transgression, but now her appearance. How did she look to Devlin? Yes, she was in some way the triumphant victor here, maybe it would look all right if she showed signs of battle. Since coming to the bar, she’d let her hair down, the crispness of her clothes had been billowed by the long day . . . Picking up Sophie, visiting Hyun, Hyun’s hairdo, the meeting downtown, back to the office, another meeting, back to the office again, rushing around making phone calls to make sure Josh’s party was turning out all right, then blasting out here, leaving at 4:30 with her foot to the floor of her eco-conscious car, praying she beat Josh to his own party . . . She’d tied back her hair, tucked in her shirt, but couldn’t help feeling less than a hundred percent.

How the hell did Devlin look a hundred-percent? Didn’t he ever work?

“Chang,” Devlin said proudly, leaned back with an elbow on the top of his Mercedes roadster. Just about parked in the spot where he’d kissed her the night he’d offered her the job she ended up taking. His suit jacket was open, his tailored dress shirt hugging tight to his lean and hard body like it was painted on. And she knew what he looked like with it off. Knew what her hands would feel if she ran them up his hips over his ribs and circled his muscular chest . . . 

“You’re ruining my party,” she said, smiling.

Devlin sneered, said, “I won’t keep you long, tell Josh not to worry. It’s not nighttime . . .”

That had her glancing over her shoulder, an immediate stinging awareness of what that might sound like if overheard by her husband. “Don’t be a shithead,” she said, coming to stand next to him, folding her arms and turning her face up to his.

“You look fucking beautiful.”

She reminded him that it wasn’t nighttime.

“You’re beautiful all day long, all night long, I bet. I’d love to see what you look like when you’re sleeping, when you’re waking in the morning . . .”

His hand moved from his hip, and she flinched. A comment like that coming from him would be perfectly complemented by stroking her face. But he only moved to scratch his own chin. Her flinching however amused him. “Don’t be so tetchy,” he said.

“I’m not. I just never know what you’re going to do . . .”

“Same to you. That’s why I’m here . . .”

“You heard from Border Services?”

“No, from Masterson.”

The client. Must be ecstatic.

Devlin said, “So how did you do it?”

“Right, so you can bring back Mel at half my salary, knowing all my secrets.”

“Believe me, if I thought Mel could do what you did . . .”

“You wouldn’t want me around?”

“I’d have you at my side some way.”

“No, you wouldn’t. Don’t forget I’m just a lawyer . . .”

“Just a lawyer,” he said, “just a lawyer, she says . . .” He looked to the side as if he were saying it to a group of passing pedestrians, wondering if they could believe how humble she was.

She uncrossed her arms.

He said, “I could tell Mel all day how you did something, I can guarantee you he couldn’t pull it off. He doesn’t have your . . .”

“Are you going to say legs?”

“Well,” he said, slyly examining her from the waist down, “he definitely doesn’t—but that’s not what I was going to say . . .”

“You were going to say charm.”

“I suppose I was.” he smiled devilishly, cocking his head and looking in her eyes.

“My party’s waiting,” she said, breaking eye contact.

“When did you plan it?”

“Plan what—the party?”

“Did you plan it before we fucked or after?—Is Kimmy feeling guilty?”

Heat raced the nape of her neck, but she wouldn’t show him anger. She said, “I think you’re badgering the witness.”

He chuckled, eyed her up and down again, strumming a big hand on his midsection, his knuckles rubbing up and down the bulges of his stomach muscles which she could practically see right through his tight dress shirt.

She said, “I’m not feeling guilty.”

“You should. God, if Josh could see the way you come . . .”

“Don’t be an asshole,” she said with venom, “Josh’s seen me come.”

There was a look of satisfaction on his face. Like he hadn’t meant to challenge Josh’s ability more than he tried to engage her in dirty repartee. And he’d succeeded. She’d just talked about an orgasm . . . 

“What happened last night is done, Devlin. What you see before you now is your star employee. Employee of the month, I daresay. I certainly would like to see my photograph on a plaque in our lobby. And from last night onward that’s all I’m going to be. Star employee . . .”

Devlin showed her an aloof, easy expression. He didn’t believe her. He looked around again at passing pedestrians, lounging against his expensive car. He said, “Best sex of your life should probably only happen once. You’re right. I’m crazy to think we should do that once a week. Or more . . .”

He chanced a sly look her way, and even though she was ready for it, and a little perturbed with him now, it did its magic, tightening her stomach and working through her central nervous system. More sex with Devlin was momentarily considered. Only a fraction of a second. She said, “It’s done. And what’s done is done. I need to move on . . . You need to move on . . .”

“I can move on if you want, Kimmy. I was hoping I could show you a lot more . . .”

“I’m happy with the way it turned out, Devlin. But I’m done.”

He nodded once, changing the subject, saying, “How was that IV?”

She smiled.

“Right? The fucking bomb. I mean, didn’t you feel like brand-new?”

“I definitely appreciate it.”

“Sent you home all riled up, didn’t it? Getting Josh to do that thing . . .”

She averted her eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it . . .”

“You did last night,” he said.

“It’s daytime now. A new day, Devlin. I just called you last night to wrap the events up with a nice epilogue.”

He smiled again. “I think the epilogue was my favorite part.”

“I’m not even going to touch that,” she said. “Why don’t you just tell me why you dragged me out of my party?”

He leaned away, exposing his center to her, neck craned, looking down the alleyway from where she came. She took the moment to admire his body the way it was exposed and pressed up against the fine fabric of his dress shirt. His silk tie askew. Even letting her eyes dip a little lower, see if she could detect his bulge in the crotch of his suit pants. It wasn’t there, and she wondered what he did to hide that thing during the day . . . 

He said, “Looks like Josh and his little buddies are checking up on us.”

Her skin prickled, seeing where he was looking. Was Josh coming?

She whispered, “Is he coming over?”

Devlin smiled, his eyes still down the alleyway. “No, but he’s watching. Thinks we can’t see him. He’s got his fan club with him . . .”

“Is Karina there?”

Devlin’s humored face melted to concern. “Shit, is that Karina?”

“Karina’s here . . .”

“Why would you invite her?”

“She’s my friend, Devlin.”

He chuckled. “She’s gonna rat you out, you know . . .”

“She wouldn’t.” She might.

“I bet you she’s looking right now and knows we fucked last night.”

Now he was getting to her. She’d come in with her hands up, elbows tucked in like her father had taught her, but he’d sneaked past her guard and was softening her defenses.

“She won’t know.”

Devlin cocked his head at her. “A woman can tell. A woman can tell when her friend’s been fucked right . . .”

“Josh fucks me right.”

“No offense, Chang, but if Josh fucked you right, I wouldn’t have got you laid out in that suite last night begging to have it deeper.”

The urge came now to lash out at him. To quit his job, to tell him to fuck off, even to put her hands on him. Just like at Tiffany’s party—how this whole thing began . . . 

She composed herself. “How many are looking?”

“Josh, a blonde girl, I guess that’s Karina—”

“Do you need glasses?”

“I see just fine. Two others.”

Steve and Meyer.

Devlin said, “If they’re looking, maybe we should put on a show . . .”

“Don’t you dare. The show’s over. Don’t make this hard for me. You came here to reward me, the biggest reward right now is for you to leave me alone . . .”

“No,” he said, “I don’t think I will,” and now he raised up a hand, gesturing down the alleyway, wagging his fingers to Josh in a come-hither motion . . .