Semua Bab Appealing To His Gaze : Bab 61 - Bab 65

AIDEN.I felt good. Relaxed in a way I hadn't felt in a long time. My back was against the couch, my legs spread just enough for Devin to settle between them. His hands were on my thighs, warm and steady, and his head was lowering. I had one hand in his hair, holding him close, guiding him slowly because I wanted to enjoy the moment without thinking about anything else. My breathing kept getting heavier, and my jaw was tight because the tension felt too good to control.I let out a rough sound low in my throat, and Devin looked up at me before continuing. My fingers convulsed in his hair without meaning to, and he took it like he always did, quiet and focused. My chest rose and fell hard as I let my head fall back for a second, just to breathe because it felt too good to stay still.Then the doorbell rang. The sound struck the room so suddenly that Devin was stock-still in a matter of a second. His mouth stopped, his hands stilled, and the sudden absence of warmth chafed me. I blew ou

DEVIN'S POVThe second Stella's expression changed, I knew. She snatched her phone so fast she almost dropped it, and the way her eyes shot over the screen told me everything. I didn't need to ask, didn't need to wonder. I just watched her panic. And instead of feeling punched in the chest or sick or dizzy like I used to, all I felt was something loosening deep inside me. Something quiet. Something real.My shoulders actually dropped. It felt weird, because I didn't remember the last time my body wasn't tense around her. I even let out this breath I didn't know I'd been holding for years. And the smile came before I could hide it. A real smile. Not the polite one I force when she drags me to her parents' dinners. Not the tired one I put on when she starts crying to avoid accountability. This was real, and I let it sit there.She looked terrified of the smile."D-Devin," she whispered, voice cracking, "I can explain. Please. Just let me talk. It's not-it wasn't-just listen to me for tw

DEVINS P.O.VI woke up before my eyes opened.There was a tightness in my chest, like the kind that didn't come from a bad dream but from something real and waiting. My body felt coiled, restless, the way it feels when it's been bracing itself all night for impact. When the phone on the nightstand started vibrating again, I didn't jump. I already knew it was there. I already knew it wasn't going to stop.I cracked my eyes open and stared at the ceiling for a second, breathing slow, trying to convince myself I was still half-asleep. The early morning light barely filtered through the curtains, soft and pale; the world outside was still quiet. Inside my chest, though, everything was loud.I reached for the phone.The screen flickered on, and my stomach dropped so hard it felt like I might actually be sick.My father had called a lot.Not one missed call. Not two. A long list, stacked on top of each other, like he'd been calling all night and only stopped when exhaustion or rage finally wo