Naughty November

Chapter 2

TWO

JOOLS

Devin lets me in and shuts the door. I had no clue I was coming to look at his flat. I didn’t even know he’d moved to London. Yet, here we are, our paths crossing again without either of us trying. What’s the word for that? Serendipity.

His flat is neat, tidy, and roomier than I was expecting. No wonder he needs a flatmate. Every other flat I’ve looked at would have been better described as a shoe box, but this place is nice. Of course, my opinion might have something to do with Devin. Being in the same vicinity as him makes my pulse race, which is crazy. He’s the guy I let go. Twice. I shouldn’t be swooning over him, but I am.

He’s exactly the same as in Amsterdam. Well dressed, with a soft face, strong jaw, and a broad chest and shoulders. His straight, ash blond hair is a little longer, and he’s swept it to one side so the tips graze the righthand side of his jaw. His eyes are as kind and soul-searching as they always were, his arms just as inviting. It still surprises me that I’m taller than him. It used to be the other way around. I was short for my age until I hit sixteen and then had a growth spurt, making me taller and lankier than almost everyone around me.

“You were going to tell me how you got into kink,” Devin says.

“Huh? Oh, right.” I was too lost in him to think straight.

“So…?”

“Well, I met this gorgeous guy in a bar in Amsterdam three years ago, and he let slip that he was kinky.”

Devin presses his lips into a smirk. “He led you astray?”

“No. He was an absolute gentleman. But, after the hook-up, I wanted to know what he was into. So I looked it up, fell down a rabbit hole, and got interested in it myself.”

“That is a fun story.”

“Right?”

He steps towards me, falters and moves away. “How have you been?”

“Good. You?”

“Yes.”

“You moved to London.”

He smiles. “So did you.”

“Was it work that brought you here?”

“I’ve started working as a pro-Dom in a kink club.”

I raise my eyebrows. “There’s such a thing as a pro-Dom?”

“Yes.”

“Wow. I guess I’m still pretty naive when it comes to this stuff.” I rub the back of my neck.

“And yet you used the My Kinky Housemate app.”

“I stumbled across it when I was looking for places to rent. I might only have stuck my toe into kinky waters, but I figured—or at least hoped—that would be enough.”

“What do you do for work?” Devin asks.

“Oh. I do localisations for video games.”

He gives me a blank stare.

“I translate the scripts into English, mostly from Japanese or Korean.”

He gapes. “You speak both those languages?”

“Fluently. Fun fact. Japanese is taught as a second language in some Australian schools.” I stuff my hands in my pockets. “It’s really good to see you again.”

“And you.”

“So why is this more awkward than Amsterdam?”

He exhales. “I’m not sure. Although we didn’t do a lot of talking.”

“We did plenty of talking. We just did most of it after having sex.” I bite my lower lip. “I guess there’s not much point in you showing me around.”

“Why?”

I scuff the toe of my boot against the laminate flooring. “Us, living together, would be weird.”

“Bad weird?”

I tilt my head and stare at him. “I dunno. It’s been a long time.”

“It has.”

I swallow. I want him to come closer and kiss me like he did in Amsterdam.

He clears his throat. “You’re staying for a year?”

“Yes.”

“And after that?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. It’ll depend on where my boss wants me to be located. Should I—go?” I half-step towards the door.

“No.”

I stop. His commanding tone of voice sends a shiver slinking down my spine.

“Let me show you the flat.”

“I’d like that.”

It doesn’t take long to tour his home. The main living area might be roomy, but it’s still small and cosy, which reminds me of Devin at every turn. The quilt his gran hand-made out of his baby clothes covers the bed in the spare room. A Mickey Mouse mug I bought him as a holiday souvenir stands upside down on the drying rack in the kitchen. Pictures hang on rails around each of the rooms. The ones of his family spark happy memories. Others feature artwork from films, books, and video games.

I gesture at a metal picture of two giant robots with a dramatic sunset behind them. “I worked on that game. ”

“Really?”

I nod. “Your flat is really nice. Why are you looking for someone to share it with?”

Devin grimaces. “I can’t afford the rent and bills on my own. I looked for something smaller but didn’t find anything I liked.”

“I can relate. I’m sure most of the flats I’ve looked at wouldn’t even meet size standards for a prison cell. I mean, I’m used to small. I lived in Tokyo for six months. They take tiny living to a whole new level. But I had no choice there. I’d rather live somewhere with a bit more room.” I’m talking at one hundred miles per hour. I shouldn’t be nervous around Devin, but I am.

“You can move in here.”

I should be doing cartwheels. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

He frowns. “Why?”

“We have no idea if we could live together.”

“The same would be true of anyone.”

“True… but… are you asking me because we have history?”

“Is that a bad reason?”

He gnaws his lower lip. “I guess not.”

“I thought that you’d want to.”

I do.

He squeezes my knee. “We could catch up. Get to know each other again. It’ll be fun.”

“Devin—”

He stares at me.

“We’re not kids anymore.”

“I know. We weren’t in Amsterdam, either. We did plenty that wasn’t kid-friendly.”

My cheeks become warm. “I remember.” My voice is a little breathy.

“I’ve missed you.” He moves closer.

“I’ve missed you, too, and that’s kind of the problem.”

“I’m confused.”

“I thought I was over you, and then we ran into each other in that bar, and I realised I wasn’t. Then, another three years passed, and I thought I was over you again. But I’m not. I’m not sure I could stand to be so close to you.” I’m about to self-combust as it is.

“Because you want me?”

“Yes.” My response comes out as more of a whimper than a word.

“Why do you think you can’t have me?”

“The app. We had to agree that?—”

“Screw the app.” He closes the distance between us, drags me to him, raises onto his tiptoes and slams his mouth over mine.

I melt into the kiss, bending my knees to make it easier for him to dominate it. And, fuck, does he dominate it. It’s commanding and demanding, but oh, so tender. Static swirls around us. Every nerve in my body tingles. My mind races with all the things I want to do with him, the things I want him to do to me.

His breathing is harsh as he breaks the kiss, holds my face, and rests his forehead against mine.

“Why can’t I get over you? Why can’t I stop wanting you?” I whisper.

“I don’t know, but I feel the same.” He nips my bottom lip between my teeth, not hard enough to hurt.

“What are we doing?”

“Unpausing. If you want to.”

“I want.”

He steps back and pushes my jumper sleeve up, revealing my tanned arm. “You’re going to lose that tan over a British winter.”

I chuckle. “I don’t mind.”

He stares into my eyes. “May I?”

I shiver and nod. I keep my gaze focused on him rather than whatever he’s scratching onto my arm. My skin tingles, but I don’t look until I’m sure it’s had enough time to react. When I do, I expect to see a Play button. My chin quivers, and my chest tightens. He hasn’t drawn a Play button. He’s drawn a heart with our initials inside, just like he did the day I left the UK.

“Devin.” I’m too overwhelmed to say anything else.

He strokes his thumb over my hyperreactive skin. “I have to work later, but that’s not for a few hours. Stay for dinner. We can catch up.”

“I’d love to.”