Unbreakable Devotion: A New Adult Romance Novel (7 page)

I
blinked into the mirror and bit my lip as I looked myself over before I met Devon. I still thought about that awful night with Steve, and what would have happened if I did not run away from him. I thought about reporting him at school, but then what would I report? That he kept trying to kiss me? I had run away before he had a chance to do anything more.

I shook my
head to dismiss the thought of the horrible night. I felt so safe when Devon held me, and no matter what happened, he was the one constant good in my life. When I was down, I could count on Devon to bring me up, and when I was happy, I was only happier when he was around.

He was always there for me
, and I knew that my life was much better with him in it. I knew that the world was not fair and not certain, but Devon would always be there for me no matter what. I had kissed him when he promised me that he would never leave me, and that he would always be there for me. Devon had always kept that promise to me. He had kissed me many times, but we were just kids.
It meant nothing
.

Still, t
here was nothing that he would not do for me. There was no harm that would befall me if he could prevent it. I was certain that he would die for me, and that I would do the same for him. Our young relationship transformed into a bond that was unbreakable against any force. He was the best friend I had ever had for as long as I could remember. And then one day, I saw Devon the man, and my safe and familiar world began to shatter.

Little
Devon had transformed into a Greek god with a long, lean body and broad shoulders, lithe and powerful, muscular and beautiful. The muscular contours of his broad and powerful chest, and the delicious ridge that trailed into the rippling muscles of his stomach had left me fluttering and breathless last summer. His muscular and tanned body had clearly thrown me off balance. The way his big green eyes sparkled when he gazed at me had sent me reeling now, and his inviting smile and strong, handsome face made me blush. How was I supposed to pretend this was my childhood friend and nothing more?

Devon was also the one who
came to me during my darkest days—the darkness of my childhood, the darkness of my nightmares, and the darkness of feeling so alone when my dad had left me. And Devon had always been there, like a guardian angel that lit up my world and turned any darkness into light. Deep down, somewhere I could not reach, I sensed that I did the same for him. It was as if we were one, and meant to be each other’s light from the beginning.

We
were made for each other, and no force in the universe could ever tear us apart. I knew that I had fallen in love with my best friend, and that there was no turning back. No one could ever replace Devon. This was the real reason that I was avoiding him. I knew that it was the reason I ran from him, and even went on a date with Steve. It was also why I cried in the safety of Devon’s arms—to release the pain of running from what I loved.

E
very road I tried always brought me back to the realization that I could no longer fight the way I felt. I could no longer deny the way electricity coursed through my body when he touched me, or how I felt light and happy for no other reason but that he was around. Or the way my heart fluttered inside my chest when he looked at me, and how I always insisted he was just a friend. I had to surrender to the feelings inside me, no matter what the cost.

Now
that I would see Devon tonight, there was nothing more I could do to fight what I was feeling. I had to tell Devon the truth. I had to let him know that I had fallen deeply and completely in love with him. This is what I was so scared of, and it all surfaced when I was forced to see him again, to feel his embrace, and the undeniable current that flowed through me when he held me close. I never wanted to let him go again. I could not bear to let that happen.

Erin had arrived at Devon’s house to see him and his mom for the first since his mom had returned home. Erin’s dark chiffon blouse made her eyes appear a darker blue, and her curly blonde hair brushed her creamy face and flowed over her shoulders gracefully. Her black patterned skirt hugged the soft curves of her body, which Devon immediately noticed at the door.

“Hi
, Erin.” His embrace lifted her off her feet and swallowed her up in his powerful, rampant body.

“Wow, it’s only been a
few days!” Erin blushed as Devon set her down.

“
It was a crazy few days. Besides, I missed you.” Devon stood next to Erin, his long arm around her waist as he breathed her in, and exhaled with a deep, gratifying sigh.

“It’s great to see you, Erin.” Devon’s mom always lit up when Erin walked in. Erin sat with Devon’s mom on the sofa as Devon sat down across from them.

“
Ms. Coury, I am so glad you are okay. You look great!” Erin’s blue eyes were radiating with warmth.

“You would be surprised what rest can do. I feel ten years yo
unger,” Marilyn said, taking a deep breath.

“So now she gets to work a normal schedule under a medical recommendation, and your employer cannot change that. They also cannot fire you for it.” Devon knew his mom worried about losing her job, and this added safeguard to put her at ease. “So everything worked out for the best.”

“That’s such wonderful news,” Erin said, glancing at Devon and then Marilyn
. Marilyn’s smile lit up her face.

“
That’s enough about me. Sweetheart, are you hungry?” Devon’s mom brushed Erin’s hand.

“Yes, I can definitely eat something.”

“Great, we made garlic chicken and potatoes. Devon helped me cook it up.”

“Oh, Devon helped make it?
Okay, on second thought…” Erin gave Devon a wry grin that formed a dimple on the side of her face that drove him crazy.

Devon stood up
with pretended offense. “Then you will have bread,” he said, pointing at her and speaking with a bad French accent.

Erin
stood and leaned next to him. “Okay, I’m sorry, chef Devon. I will try your delicacy.”

Devon reached around her
waist and held her close, kissing her on top of her head, catching a strand of her hair. He waved the hair off and rested his cheek on her head. “Thanks for coming,” Devon said softly, relishing the embrace with deep, calm breaths.

Erin looked up at him, her fingers curled in his. “I wouldn’
t miss it.” Her soft curls outlined her exquisite face, her eyes looking up into his.

Devon thought back to when they were kids. His heart
pounded even back then when she looked at him with her soft blue eyes. All of their lives, they sensed something special between them. As a child, he felt it when she looked at him. He was defenseless against her pouting blue eyes, her gentle features that leveled him. But nothing could prepare him for the exquisite beauty that he had seen over the past year, and that stood before him now. His pulse still raced when he was around her, and he was actually getting nervous around his lifelong best friend. Now when he was merely with her, he would smile for no reason at all, and when she asked why he was grinning, he honestly did not know.

As Devon grew olde
r, his tall physique and powerful frame attracted the attention of other girls in the area. Sometimes girls would come to his house to hang out or do homework. But none of them had the effect on him that Erin had. On his worst day, she would bring him back to himself, and on his best day, he would become even better.

But
Devon was not prepared for Erin’s metamorphosis into the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He glimpsed at her in new ways, her golden skin shimmering in the sunlight, her long blonde hair cascading over the delicious curves of her body. Devon remembered how he had become mentally distracted at the thought of her in school. He was daydreaming about her more and more, and he even started to doodle her name on his notepad in class as he thought about her.

When he held her at the lake, and laughed as they fell into the water, he knew then he was falling in love with her, and that no one would ever replace her. Equally, he knew he could never let anyone else hurt her. But he had never told her how he felt.

Together as they laughed and played in the summer sun, it was unclear to both of them that when they laughed at nothing in particular, and shared darting glances with each other, it was no longer because they were best friends. When they playfully shoved and grabbed each other, their expressions had become something much more. It crept up on both of them.

But i
t was part of the destiny they both shared, calling them towards each other in an irresistible feeling that neither of them could fight, that neither of them could fully understand, and that neither of them could break. That was what made it so terrifying to them. It was why Devon insisted that she was nothing more than a friend. The feeling was overwhelming.

How could Erin ever understand what he was feeling? How could he ever tell her that he had fallen in love with his best friend, the little girl
who he dumped sand on in the sandbox? He remembered when Erin made him promise that he would always be her friend. Her kiss sealed the deal, to his delight. And now he could no longer keep that promise.

“Erin does look beautiful tonight, wouldn’t you say, Devon?” Devon embraced his mom with one arm as they walked into the dining area. “Beautiful. I always knew Erin would grow up to be stunning. Look at her now,” she said as she smiled at me.

“Oh, Ms
. Coury, you are too nice.” I blushed and bounced lightly on one foot.

“
Devon’s never the same when you are around.” Marilyn walked towards the kitchen to retrieve the salad and meal.

I
leaned into Devon, looking up at him. “What does your mom mean you are not the same when I am around?” I was hoping that I would find the answer that I could only find in Devon’s heart.

Devon looked into my
eyes, my pulse increasing and my heart banging inside.

“She
said I was happiest when you’re around. I kind of blew it off, but deep down I know she’s right. Do you remember when we were playing, and you made me promise I would always be your friend?”

“Yes.” I took deep, savoring breaths, my
eyes meeting his.

Devon swallowed and cleared his throat. “Erin, I made a promise to you a long time ago. But I
can’t keep that promise anymore. I have to break that promise now.”

A somber feeling weighed on my body and my stomach quivered
at the thought of losing him.

T
he End of Unbreakable Devotion

Book Two of the Unbreakable Series

UNBREAKABLE LOVE

In Stores
May 5, 2014

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For more about Devon and Erin, look for
Unbreakable Together
and
Unbreakable Forever
in 2014, part of the Unbreakable New Adult Romance Series.

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