Swallowed (Devoured #2) Read online

  “Wanna stay the night?”

  He had never known a person with such a healthy sexual appetite. “You know I can’t do that, Julianna.”

  Her breasts moved with her shrug. “Can’t blame me for asking.”

  Kirk slipped his shoes on and took another sip of wine. Then he sat on the bed beside her and put his fingers under her chin. “Take care of yourself.”

  “Like I’ve been taking care of you?”

  He leaned in and kissed her gently on the forehead. “Good bye, Julianna.”

  And with that, Kirk walked out on Julianna and their affair, taking nothing with him except for her taste on his lips.

  Julianna

  Julianna flicked through the channels and drank the rest of the wine straight from the bottle. She hadn’t been sober since approximately thirty minutes after Kirk left the hotel room.

  She knew he said it was over in so many words, but she still couldn’t believe that he’d meant it. After all, her pussy was sore. Guys who didn’t like you didn’t make your pussy feel like this. If she so much as sneezed she was brought back immediately to the hotel, to the memory of looking down between her legs and watching him lick her senseless.

  She had to give credit where credit was due. The proficiency with which Kirk had fucked her with his tongue, well, it made it look like every other guy who’d ever attempted that was merely licking a stamp.

  And there weren’t that many once she started thinking about it. Because, as everyone knew, that was something guys only did when they really, really cared about somebody. It was the most intimate thing she could think of.

  And though she’d heard food was the fastest way to win a man’s heart, surely letting him fuck your mouth was a close second? She could still picture the look on his face as he did it, like he couldn’t believe his luck. And he bought her a present.

  It was obvious. She meant something to him. It was just a matter of time before he realized it and things heated up again. Sex wasn’t enough with him. He was so sweet. All that stuff he said about her being sexy and deserving a guy that she didn’t have to share. It was all true, of course, and very nice of him to say, but she didn’t want just any guy. She wanted Kirk Jenkins.

  Mrs. Julianna Jenkins. It was pretty much the cutest name she’d ever heard. Almost fated if she had to guess. There was no way he could go back to his wife. Not really. Not forever. They were newlyweds and he was obviously already bored of her!

  And if she knew anything about marriage it was that things didn’t get steamier as time went on. Quite the opposite if the rumors were true. Eventually, picturing her while he screwed his wife wouldn’t be enough for him, and he would come crawling back. Right between her legs where she liked him best.

  Julianna steadied herself as she stood up from the couch. Then she went to the kitchen to get another bottle of wine, passing the nightdress where it was draped over a kitchen chair. She grabbed it to throw it in the wash, but something stopped her. Instead, she spread it across the counter and looked at it.

  She dragged a finger over the hardened cum stain and decided not to wash it just yet. After all, the stain was probably set anyway. She threw it back over the chair and grabbed another bottle of red, not bothering with a glass.

  She lay back down and checked her phone. Still no text from him. She didn’t want to seem desperate so she couldn’t call. Even though she ached from missing him. This was exactly why she was so anti-feelings and anti-relationships. Because of this exact pain.

  Julianna picked up the phone and waited impatiently through the musical ring tone.

  “Hey Ju.”

  “Hey Heather.”

  “Are you drunk?”

  “Drinking.” Julianna hiccupped. “Not drunk.”

  “What’s the occasion?”

  “He went down on me.’’

  “The professor?”

  “Yeah, he fucked me with his mouth-”

  “Jesus, Julianna. Hold on a second. I’m at work!”

  “Don’t you write a sleazy sex column?”

  Heather sighed. “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I can have sleazy conversations on the phone at my desk. I already have enough trouble being taken seriously.”

  Julianna laughed. “What’s so great about being taken seriously? Overrated if you ask me.”

  “Well I didn’t. Anyway, I have some privacy now. Tell me everything.”

  “That’s pretty much it. He went down on me, fucked my mouth, gave me a present, and told me it was over.”

  “Whoa.”

  “So I’m calling you right now so I don’t call him.”

  “Good idea. I thought you told me he was going to leave his wife.”

  “I still think that.”

  “But he told you it’s over?”

  “But he did all that other stuff at the same time!”

  “Yeah, there are definitely some mixed signals there.”

  “So what do I do?”

  “I think you have to leave him alone, Julianna. He’s a married man.”

  Julianna pulled her feet up onto the couch. “Really? Even with the mindfuck of the present and everything?”

  “What was the present?”

  “Lingerie.”

  “Weird,” Heather said. “I don’t know what to tell you. It sounds like he doesn’t know what he wants.”

  “I’m pretty sure it’s me. I mean, just based on how things are when we’re together.”

  “Right.”

  “I really like him, Heather. I didn’t want to like him, but it’s too late.”

  Heather sighed. “Look, I know that I’m the last person you want to hear this from because you’ve always felt that I have notoriously bad taste in men…”

  “Why would you say that?”

  “Cause you’ve made it quite clear and Sam confirmed it.”

  “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay, really. It’s fine,” Heather continued. “The point is, I think you need to stay away from this guy to avoid getting any more hurt than you obviously already are.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. I mean, he’s clearly using you because his marriage is fucked up.”

  “He’s not using me.”

  “Whatever. You’re using each other, and it’s not healthy,” Heather said. “There’s only one place you’re going to end up if you don’t stop pursuing this guy.”

  “Where’s that?”

  “Hurtsville, U.S.A.”

  Julianna rolled her eyes.

  “Seriously, Julianna. As a friend, I’m telling you that this guy isn’t going to leave his wife for you, and you’re never going to have anything of substance with him besides cheap, secret sex.”

  Julianna was quiet.

  “Are you there?”

  “I thought you were going to make me feel better?”

  “You didn’t let me finish.” Heather took a deep breath. “I know you already know what I’m about to say, but just in case you forgot since you’re drunk off your ass, I’m going to remind you.”

  “Go on.”

  “You are a beautiful, smart, sexy young woman with nothing but wonderful opportunities ahead of you.”

  Julianna sat up a little. “Better.”

  “And the world is full of clever, funny, handsome rich men who would beat each other to a pulp just to hold your hand, much less date you and spoil you like you deserve.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “So stop wasting your time on this cheating loser. He doesn’t deserve you. Let him crawl back to his poor, betrayed wife and try to save his miserable marriage, and do not allow yourself to be sucked into his bullshit, his mixed signals, or his bed again.”

  Julianna gnawed on a hangnail.

  “Have I made myself clear?”

  “Yes.”

  “Don’t make me come down there and kick the shit out of this guy, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “Forget him.”

  “Okay.”

  “Call
me in a week when your hangover’s gone.”

  “Okay.”

  “I love you, bitch,” Heather said. “You know that.”

  Julianna hung up the phone and cocked her head at it. For a moment, she considered Heather’s logic. After all, she was considered an accepted expert when it came to sexual matters and relationship problems.

  But in the end she put the phone on the table, picked up the wine, and decided Heather was an idiot. She didn’t know what she was talking about.

  Kirk would come around eventually. And everything would work out just how she wanted. Just as it always did.

  Kirk

  Kirk woke up to a familiar smell and smiled before he even opened his eyes. He stretched in bed before wiggling into his slippers and grabbing his robe where it hung on the door.

  As he followed the sound of the sizzling griddle into the kitchen, he felt like his life was finally back to normal again.

  When he saw Madeline flipping pancakes in her pajamas, he couldn’t remember ever being so happy. He wrapped his arms around her waist, snuggled his face into her blond bob, and breathed her in.

  “Good morning,” she said.

  “Good morning.” He peered over her shoulder. “Those smell delicious.”

  “I could make a few chocolate chippies, too, if you want.”

  “Do you have powdered sugar to go with them?”

  “You know it.”

  “What a nice surprise.” He sat down on the barstool at the end of the counter. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

  “Are you kidding? I owe you more than a few meals in bed after how patient you’ve been with me.”

  “I’m just glad you came around. I was really starting to worry.”

  “You mean you were really starting to get sick of my mom calling you every day.”

  He looked at her over the rim of his glasses and laughed. “Your words, not mine.”

  Madeline rolled her eyes. “Coffee’s made if you want a cup. I’d love one if you’re pouring.”

  “Say no more.” Kirk got up and filled two mugs with the fresh, fragrant brew. “Cream?”

  “You trying to fatten me up?” Madeline asked over her shoulder.

  “Can you blame me?”

  “Go on then.” Madeline nodded. “Might as well put some sugar in there as well.”

  Kirk smiled. “Want to eat at the table for a change?”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  Kirk placed the coffees on the table and grabbed two placemats from behind the toaster. He used to hate setting the table, but that was before he knew what the alternative to eating there was. He hoped it would be a long time before he had to eat another frozen dinner in front of the Discovery Channel.

  Madeline carried some plates stacked with pancakes over but jumped up from her seat before she sat down as if she’d sat on hot coals. “I almost forgot!”

  Kirk watched her to see what all the fuss was about.

  She grabbed a teaspoon and a bag of powdered sugar from a kitchen cabinet and came back. “Figured I’d just bring you the bag.”

  He leaned over and gave her a little kiss and made an exaggerated “mwah” sound. “Good call.” He cut into his pancakes and groaned when they hit his tongue.

  Madeline smiled.

  “I missed you even more than I realized,” he said with his mouth full.

  She laughed. “Well I’m glad to be back.”

  He slipped his hand over hers.

  “Thanks for your patience, and thanks for helping me snap out of my funk.”

  “That’s my job.”

  “I’ve just never been so sad, honey. I just couldn’t even get out of bed.”

  “I know.” He took another oversized bite. “I was there.”

  She looked down at her plate and picked up her coffee cup. “To you.”

  He clinked his mug against hers. “To us,” he corrected.

  “Babe?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I want to try again.”

  Kirk looked down at his plate. “What for? They’re perfect! And I already ate most of them.”

  Madeline laughed. “No. Not the pancakes. I want to try for another baby.”

  Kirk stopped chewing. He had hoped she would come around eventually, but he hadn’t expected her to make a full recovery so quickly. “Right now or after we’re done eating?”

  She elbowed him playfully and laughed. “Seriously, though.”

  He smiled. “I know, honey.”

  “Not that I didn’t know it before, but after these last few weeks, I just think if you’re half as good a father as you are a husband, our babies will be the luckiest kids on the block.”

  Kirk felt a knot in his gut. “Thanks,” he said. “I try.”

  “And I want you to hold me to what I said on nights when I have a headache or say I’m too tired.”

  Kirk raised his eyebrows.

  “Promise?”

  “Sure. Yeah. I promise.”

  “Cause I know you’re up for it more than I am and you must’ve been going crazy these last few months, but I’m going to try really hard to make it up to you.”

  Kirk leaned over, put his hand around the back of Madeline’s neck, and looked into her brown eyes, admiring their newly regained sparkle. “Are you sure? That’s going to take a lot of pancake batter.”

  She smiled. “I’m sure.”

  “Well in that case, I have a present for you.”

  “You do?”

  “I do. I was hoping this day would come, and I wanted to be prepared!” Kirk scuttled to the hall closet in his slippers and tunneled through the shoes and coats until he found the wrapped box with the bow on it.

  He returned to the table with a big smile on his face and put it down in front of his wife.

  “That’s for me?”

  “Yup.”

  “What is it?”

  “Open it.”

  She pursed her lips and pulled the ribbon away until it unraveled. Then she carefully ripped the paper along the sides and lifted the lid off the box.

  “Oh my goodness!” Madeline’s face lit up as she lifted the silk nightdress out of the box by the straps, careful not to drag it through her pancakes. She held it up in front of her robe and swayed from side to side.

  “Do you like it?”

  “I love it,” she said. “It’s so sexy. I mean, wow.”

  “I thought the red would look great on you.”

  She reached out and took his hand where he sat at the end of the table. “Thanks, babe.”

  He scooted his chair out. I wanted you to have it for whenever you were ready to try again.”

  She sat in his lap and put her arm around him. “That was really thoughtful of you. How did you know I’d come around?”

  He shrugged. “The other day when you called and said you were ready to make an effort to feel better, I was just so excited.”

  “That’s when you got it?”

  “Yeah. Right after you called.”

  She wrapped her arms around him and cradled his head against her chest. “What did I ever do to deserve such a wonderful husband?”

  He looked up and put his fingers under her chin. “I’m the lucky one.”

  “Well, let’s make our own luck together from now on. Like before.”

  “Oh you’re getting lucky alright!” He shook her waist gently from side to side. “Just as soon as you eat your pancakes. You’ll need plenty of energy for what I have planned for you!”

  Madeline giggled and sat back in her seat, a wide smile plastered to her face. “We’ll have to make it quick, honey. My folks are coming over in a half hour.”

  Kirk’s face dropped.

  “Gotcha!” She stuffed a bite of chocolaty pancakes into her laughing mouth.

  Kirk shook his head. “You sure did.”

  “I’m just kidding,” she said, covering her full mouth. “We’ve got nothing to do today but each other!”

  Kirk smiled. “I like it when
you talk dirty.”

  “Well then you’ll love hearing about what I think of your efforts to tidy the house while I was out of commission.”

  Kirk groaned.

  “I’m just kidding, honey.” Madeline stood up. “You know I’m grateful for everything you’ve been doing.” She picked up some plates and walked over to the sink.

  As soon as her back was turned, Kirk slipped his phone out of his pocket and saw that he had a text from Julianna. He deleted it along with her number. She was an adult. She would understand eventually.

  Then, over his last few bites of chocolate chippies, he renewed his vows to his wife and looked forward to a bright, uncomplicated future.

  Epilogue

  I knew he wanted it to be over. And I tried to respect his wishes by laying low and giving him space.

  I took comfort in the age-old adage that absence makes the heart grow fonder and trusted that his desire for me was growing inside him with each passing day.

  But it wasn’t. It was growing inside of me.

  When I saw the two blue lines on that stick, I knew we would be together forever.

  Now that I was carrying his child, he would have no choice but to make me his first priority. After all, I had what even his wife hadn’t given him. It only made sense that we would start a new life together and leave the past behind.

  I couldn’t wait to tell him the good news. I knew he would be so happy for me. For us.

  Naturally, I was anxious about telling him, too. Because I knew he would be shocked. I certainly was.

  But I expected him to take it well. Or at least, much better than he did.

  Thanks

  Thank you for taking a chance on a new writer.

  If you enjoyed this story, please take a moment to leave a review and tell your friends.

  To find out what’s next for Julianna and Kirk, check out the final book in the Devoured Series, Choked http://amzn.to/1rJb3IW

  Want to get in touch?

  You can find me on Facebook @ Facebook.com/HazelKellyAuthor or contact me directly at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.