Page 22 of Devoted (Love and Burlesque #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

KNIGHT

You can get an erection from being scared?

M y head rests on the plush of Vivian’s thighs, my legs stretched across the chaise lounge while Vivian runs her nails along my thrumming scalp. The soothing motion makes it easier to calm down after everything that just happened.

The instantaneous panic coursing through my body has been put to rest with Vivian’s caring attention. I try to reassure myself, knowing she wouldn’t indulge me with these caresses if she were upset at me. She wouldn’t have let me lick her until my chin and neck were covered in her cum, either.

“How long have you known?” I ask, finally feeling my body come down from the high of Vivian using my mouth…

and revealing my secrets. She looks down at me with a soft smile.

I still think of myself as undeserving of such beauty, but I’ll bask in it while I can.

“Since the night of your private event at the club. I found your profile after you liked one of my photos—your art is pretty unique. It kinda helped piece everything together,” she confesses.

“Fucking technology. It’s never agreed with me.

” Closing my eyes, I shake my head against her thighs.

The recoil from her legs that hits me back causes my cock to harden in my pants.

As much as I would love to continue taking pleasure in Vivian’s body—and thoroughly exploring these luscious thighs—I know there are things we need to address.

“It’s okay, I like the old-school stalker vibes. It fits you.” Her voice sounds genuine, even if it is teasing at my expense. Tracing the shape of my brow, she encourages me to reopen my eyes with the wispy touches.

“Where do we go from here, Knight?” she asks.

I am hit with the immediate urge to run away from this conversation, but I can’t do that to her again . Instead, I open my eyes and steel myself for what’s to come.

“This is an inappropriate relationship, Vivian,” I begin. The issue of our job titles isn’t the only thing that keeps me up at night, but it’s a safer place to start this conversation.

“Well, from what I understand, you aren’t my direct boss. You’ve just been bossy because you have a huge crush on me,” she states as a matter of fact, but the smug grin gives her away.

Hearing my love—no, my attachment —for Vivian being reduced to something childish like a crush doesn’t sit well with me.

This is not a crush. Whatever you call it, it is all-consuming and something I can physically feel in the cavity of my chest. At times, I cannot breathe with how heavy that spot becomes.

Trailing my fingers on her arm, I reply, “I pay your salary, darling. I’m your boss.” Encircling her wrist, I bring her hand toward my lips to place a kiss on the inside of her palm.

“Yeah, and my boss still has my cum coated on his face.” She swipes through the short stubble on my chin before displaying her fingers to me.

“Give it back, I’ve earned it,” I mumble against her fingers and trace the tip of my tongue to gather her delicious taste. Vivian groans a curse as she watches, looking lost in a spell for a moment.

I can see the shift from a heated appraisal to a concerned lowering of her brow. “Knight, we have other things to talk about, and you can’t do that when you’ve got my fingers in your mouth.”

“Fine,” I whine, letting go of her hand. She keeps it close, resting it on my chest once more. Her other hand stays occupied as she threads her fingers through my hair.

“You’re sure you don’t want to clean up?” she asks and I’m offended she doesn’t realize how much I love the scent of her pussy.

“Let a man live, darling.” I pat her hand on my chest, indicating I’d like to move on with the conversation. Vivian rolls her eyes at me while turning her hand underneath mine so we are palm to palm. Her hand fits in mine like I was created to cradle it.

“For what it’s worth, I didn’t hear of any company policies when it comes to workplace relationships. Unless you’d like to correct me?” She challenges me.

“There aren’t any policies, you’re correct.” I nod.

“All right, so that’s out of the way. Is our age difference also holding you back?” She doesn’t ask the question in an accusatory way, but when she acknowledges how I’m the one who has been holding us back, it stings a little.

“Yes, I’m seventeen years older than you, Vivian.” Actually, it’s sixteen years and ten months, but she doesn’t have to know I’ve studied her birthday and all the information in her personnel file as if it were a holy text.

“Are you interested in me only because of our age difference?” she asks, and I pause my caresses of her skin to think about it.

If Vivian were closer to my age or older, I am one hundred percent certain I would be attracted to her for being her.

The fact that she is younger than me isn’t something I’ve deeply looked into other than the initial worry of us having a large age gap.

But, at her twenty-six years of age, she is and has been an adult for quite some time.

“No, that’s not what attracts me to you,” I answer honestly.

“Then, what attracts you to me?” The way she plays with my hair and ghosts the tips of her fingers over my forehead can coax me into answering just about anything right now.

“Your threatening aura,” I answer, closing my eyes once again when she plays with my eyebrows. “And your lovely tits,” I add, peeking open one eye to admire her large chest barely contained by her bralette.

“You know what? That’s fair. I like big tits, too.

” She laughs, and the sound lights something in my soul.

“I like that you’re older, by the way,” she continues talking as she traces over the bridge of my nose.

“But your age wasn’t a huge factor for me, either.

I didn’t really consider it when I first started to like you. ”

“Others might not see it that way.” My upper lip twitches when she skims over my mustache, taking extra time to pet it gently.

“I don’t base my relationships on other people’s opinions. Not anymore,” she says, and it sounds like there’s a story behind her statement. I’d love nothing more than to pry, but I’m not in a place to do so when I am also omitting truths. “The people that matter will understand.”

“I’m not willing to bet on it yet,” I sigh against her lips.

Opening my eyes, I give her my full attention when I ask my next question.

“Would you consider keeping things casual? Perhaps secretive?” Truth be told, I am not ready for this to be more than what happened tonight, but there is also a part of me that cannot stay away from Vivian no matter what.

“I can be casual and secretive,” she replies. “It could be hot… I think we’re looking for similar things right now.” Vivian doesn’t elaborate, and I should feel more relieved that she also wants to stay casual. Instead, it feels like there is heavy lead sinking into my stomach.

“So you’ll be my dirty little secret?” she asks, and it snaps me back into the present.

This is what I want, right? Something casual with the person I cannot stop thinking about…

“I’d be honored, darling,” I murmur into her stomach, pressing a small kiss just above her belly button.

This will work, we’ll indulge in each other and stay within our little bubble, not caring about anyone’s opinions or what label we need to put on our relationship.

I can do this.

“One more thing.” Vivian taps my cheek twice, not gently, indicating she wants to stand up.

“We need to reschedule this fitting. I’m not mad it took the turn it did, but we still need to get you a costume,” she reasons, and she’s right.

I still have my showcase commitment that I need a costume and a routine for.

Vivian picks up her discarded clothing, and I could burn the crop top and sweatpants for hiding her beautiful body from me. However, I am also aware that tonight’s show is nearly over now, and backstage will soon be flooded with performers covered in glitter.

I groan, thinking about how I’ll most likely be covered in glitter for my performance.

“Are you willing to make it a more private fitting at my house?” Following her initiative, I sit up and begin to right my clothing to look at least somewhat presentable and not like my face was ridden into oblivion only minutes ago.

Stepping in front of me once she is fully dressed, Vivian helps me with the buttons of my dress shirt. “Oh, we’ll definitely need more privacy for what I’ve got planned.” The she-devil smirks at me.

Whatever she wants, I am her more-than-willing participant. A shiver travels down my spine when she gives me the lightest of kisses.

“How do you describe feeling horrified and aroused at the same time?” I ask, once I can focus my eyes on her again.

Tapping her chin in thought, Vivian asks, “What about scorny? For scared and horny?”

“Then I’m positively scorny for you, darling.”