Unbreakable Love Read online

  Unbreakable Love

  Book Two of the Unbreakable Series

  by Amanda Chayse

  Copyright © 2014 Amanda Chayse

  All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, entities, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Please visit my website to sign up for new releases and updates at http://www.amandachayse.com/.

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Unbreakable Together

  Chapter One

  ~Devon~

  Devon took Erin by the hand, led her to his bedroom and shut the door. Everything he ever wanted was standing right in front of him. He stepped back and ran his fingers through his hair, searching his soul for what he had been feeling and for the right words. He turned to Erin, examining her face with his eyes, and knowing it was a question that could only be answered in the impossible depths of her ocean blue eyes meeting his.

  “Erin, I made a promise to you. But when I saw you hurt this week, it ate me up inside. I couldn’t handle anything like that happening to you.” Devon ran the back of his fingers over her flushed cheek. “It made me realize, it really made me understand …” Devon breathed deeply as the words he searched for tangled over his tongue.

  “Tell me, Devon, what?” Erin leaned her head into him and traced his wrist with her fingers.

  “It made me realize that I could never be just a friend to you, Erin. I wanted to reach out to you, and tell you, but I felt like I was losing you. I couldn’t bear to let that happen. I realized how much you mean to me, and I didn’t want to lose you.” Devon’s green eyes glinted briefly with a slight mist of grief.

  Erin clasped his hand and pulled herself towards him, pressing her head to his broad chest. “You’re not going to get rid of me that easy. You and I both know it takes a lot more than that to get between us.” Erin held her head next to him, as the warmth of her embrace spread over his body. “Now what is it that you wanted to tell me?” Erin gazed up at him, her hands leaning on his chest.

  Devon looked at her, brushing her face with his hand, his eyes moving over the curves of her full lips. Devon’s gaze was intense as he moved closer to her. His mouth slowly descended on hers. His lips touched hers lightly, soft at first, wanting to know whether she would respond. Erin leaned into him, touching her soft lips to his. He wanted more, kissing her more deeply and more fully, pressing his lips and the tip of his tongue to hers and tasting her sweetness.

  Erin tasted like sunshine and strawberries, and her lips were softer and sweeter than he even imagined. He lifted his head and looked into her eyes with a look of satisfaction mixed with eager desire. He knew right then that he made the right decision, but he also knew that he could never get enough of her.

  A satisfied smile curved over his mouth. He could never take his kiss back, and it was Erin’s call now. At least now if she rejected this part of him, he would know that he had tried, and that she would always know how he felt. He wanted it this way. He had kissed her, and there was no going back. “That is what I wanted to tell you.” His fingers wrapped around hers, and he tugged her back to the dining area. Erin smiled a full wattage smile up at him, and he returned a smile to her as they walked together.

  ~Devon~

  Devon grabbed his things and headed to football practice the next day. Opening up to Erin about how he really felt was like a ton of bricks lifting off his chest. The smile in her deep blue eyes turned dreary uncertainty into exhilaration. Now when he saw her, he did not have to pretend or hide. He did not have to hide the desire to kiss her soft pink lips and hold her in his arms. Now she knew. Devon breathed a deep breath of satisfaction as he headed towards the lockers for practice.

  Some of the girls would be waiting for the players after practice. Some girlfriends, some admirers, but the only girl who mattered was waiting for Devon. Matt had set it up so that Kristen would also be waiting for him, so Devon had to tell Matt the truth.

  He interrupted Matt in the locker room when Matt told him Kristen wanted to meet him after practice. “Matt, Erin and I are dating now. We’re together now.”

  “It’s about time you two dorks got together,” Matt said. “I guess I’ll have to break the news to Kristen.”

  “Yeah, I guess so, Matt. Remember, you’re the one who asked them out.” Devon gathered his things from his locker, put them in his backpack and slung his bag over his shoulder. He walked out with Matt, continuing their conversation.

  “She still likes you, dude. What do you want me to tell her?” Matt grumbled. They turned the corner to the exit.

  “Just tell her I have a girlfriend,” Devon said, walking towards Erin and placing his arm around her as she waited for him.

  “Hi Matt.” Erin smirked at Matt.

  “Hey, brat. Congrats on your engagement. You’re hopeless, dude. Let me know when you guys break it off so I can set us up again,” Matt said with a snicker.

  Erin frowned at him.

  “Sure thing, Matt. I can always count on you. See you at practice tomorrow.” Devon pulled Erin into him and walked her home.

  “Later dorks.” Matt’s expression turned humorless as he watched Devon and Erin walk away.

  ~Erin~

  When Devon claimed my mouth fully with a long and lingering kiss, I melted completely in his hands. His masculine scent was all around me, and his warm lips filled me up and left me breathless. “That is what I wanted to tell you,” he told me as his mouth lifted in a satisfied smile.

  I smiled back and blushed, looking at the boy who had become a man, the friend who had become so much more to me. I bounced in place on the balls of my feet, and exited the room, placing my hand next to his. Devon opened his hand to take mine fully into his.

  I felt euphoric when Devon had taken me in his arms and told me how he felt about me. When Devon embraced me, I felt safe. I breezed through my morning classes, including one test that I studied for with Kathy. In spite of all of the talk about our love lives, we actually managed to get some studying done.

  When I returned from lunch and opened my locker, I grimaced as I stared at my science book on the bottom shelf. I felt as if I needed to wash my hands every time I saw it, with the memory of Steve’s unwanted advances still lingering in the back of my mind. I already made up my mind that I would ask for a new lab partner if he showed up to class.

  When the science teacher informed me that Steve had dropped the class before midterms, I drew a sigh of relief and flopped back into my chair. Devon did not tell me anything, and I really did not want to ask. I just wanted it to be over. A slight smile laced across my lips.

  I thought about Devon the whole hour. When he gazed at me with his bright green eyes and told me he could no longer deny how he was feeling, joy bubbled in my heart. I felt as if I had grown wings and soared over everything else that didn’t matter. I could not wait to meet him after school.

  I saw Devon waiting for me at the football field and strode up the bleacher stairs. He was leaning back with a boyish smile, his long, lean body stretched over the seats of the bleachers. My body tingled inside when I saw him. The way Devon watched me with sparkling eyes and his half-smile made me feel as if I was the only girl in the world. It made me feel sexual and desired for the first time in my life. My heart lightened with my bouncy steps as I approached him with an excited and playful grin.

  Devon didn’t even need to say anything. His facial expression said it all. “This is the best part of our day, the best part of our lives.” Devon welcomed me with an outstretched arm over the bleachers.

  I leaned over and kissed him on his firm lips. Devon lowered his mouth to me and pressed his lips to mine, gently tasting the outline of my lips with his tongue. I opened to him, and our tongues curled together as we smiled and held back wide grins. His tongue sent shivers of desire pulsing through my body. Devon’s scent was all around me as I pressed into him. I tasted his lips, and the sweetness of his kiss melted me into his embrace. He parted and his eyes swept over me face, fixing on me eyes. I licked my lips, still warm and moist and sweet from the fullness of his kiss.

  “You taste so good,” he said, “I could kiss you all day.” I held his arm and rested my head on his shoulder.

  Devon glided his hand over my thigh, sending warm sensations that washed over my body.

  “I’ve been thinking about what you said about the lifeguard positions. I don’t have football practice in two more months. I can just replace football with swimming, and train.” Devon glanced down at me. I was clinging to his arm and still looking straight ahead. “I want to spend the summer with you, Erin, and I’ll be working. This is the only way. And it will look good on our college applications.”

  I glanced up at him. “I want to spend the summer with you, too, Devon. I could not stand being away from you for that long.”

  “Then you’ll train with me?” Devon’s eyes me
t mine.

  “I will if you want me to.” I smiled while gazing up at him, admiring the strong angles of his face.

  “I do, Erin. I want you there with me.”

  “Then I will do it.” I leaned my head against Devon’s smooth shoulder and drew in a gratifying breath.

  Chapter Two

  ~Devon~

  Devon was doodling in class again. His thoughts were drifting towards Erin and the events of the week. A slight smile crossed his lips as he doodled her name on his notebook. He had not told her specifically that he loved her, but the feeling was overpowering. Surely she could feel it too?

  He knew Erin was happy as she bounced on her feet and held his hand. But she probably had no idea that he had completely fallen for her. There was no greater feeling in the world than holding her in his arms, smelling her sweet scent, and kissing her all over. Devon had never been in love before, but he was pretty sure this is how it felt.

  “Devon!” Mr. Harris turned his body towards Devon. “Am I boring you, Mr. Coury?”

  “No, sir, I was just thinking.” Devon stared blankly ahead at the board. Did he just ask me a question? Devon thought to himself.

  Devon could see three girls out of the corner of his eye talking and breaking into a fit of giggles as they glanced shyly at him. Other kids were laughing under their breath.

  “I suggest you start thinking about what we are covering in this class. You have a midterm next week.” Mr. Harris wore a solid white long-sleeved shirt with a T-shirt visible underneath. His shirt sleeves were rolled up and his stomach rose and fell as he breathed at Devon with exasperation.

  “Yes sir,” Devon said as he gazed straight ahead at the chalkboard, trying to figure out what Mr. Harris had asked him.

  “Would you like to repeat what I just said, Mr. Coury?”

  “Romeo and Juliet.” Devon said, reading the board.

  “That’s what we’re studying, Mr. Coury.”

  Laughter erupted across the room.

  “Act 2, scene 1, Mr. Coury.” Mr. Harris folded his arm over his chest and rested his chin on his hand as he waited for Devon to respond.

  “But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?

  It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

  Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,

  Who is already sick and pale with grief

  That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she. . . .

  The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars

  As daylight doth a lamp; her eye in heaven

  Would through the airy region stream so bright

  That birds would sing and think it were not night.”

  Devon recited the scene perfectly.

  Mr. Harris put his hand over his heart, staring at Devon. “Impressive, Mr. Coury. And what do you think this scene means?”

  “Even though it’s late at night, Juliet’s beauty surpasses even the night sky, transforming even the darkness into light.” Devon paused and glanced down for a moment before continuing. “But the scene can be a metaphor. Her beauty is like the sun, transforming the darkness around him into light, because her beauty is greater than all of it. She is far brighter than any star, and even the moon is sick with grief. Her light is greater than any darkness, so that even the birds do not recognize the night sky but begin to sing as if it were the day.”

  Silence filled the room and some of the girls sighed.

  “Imagine how brilliant you would be if you actually paid attention, Mr. Coury.” Mr. Harris paced back to the front of his desk.

  “Yes, sir.” Devon replied.

  Snickers and whispers scattered across the room, and some of the girls glanced at him with adoring smiles.

  Devon walked home and noticed the air had become cooler. His light fleece jacket was too thin for the cool air, and he had already outgrown his winter coat from last year. He hated that his mom worked so hard and yet they still had so little. But at least he had a place to sleep and some food. His mom had given him that through years of working long hours. The rest, he felt, was going to be up to him.

  The lifeguard position paid a lot more than other jobs he would be able to get. If he got certified, he would make even more, and could begin to help pay for his own food and clothes. Devon planned to eliminate any excuse his mom would have for going back to working too long or too hard. He knew if anything happened to her, he would not be able to forgive himself.

  Devon was eighteen but he already knew that sometimes life only gave you one opportunity before it was gone forever. Devon learned this early when his father died. He had discovered at a young age that you have to make the most of things while you had the chance. It was the reason he had to tell Erin how he really felt, no matter what.

  He also learned that life gives you one warning before it unleashes holy hell. Devon had taken this warning to heart, and was not going to forget it. He was not going to let his mom sacrifice her health for him.

  He walked to the local training center and enrolled in a lifeguard certification course, and would begin training well ahead of the testing over the summer. The course required that applicants swim fifty meters each with sidestrokes, breaststrokes, backstrokes, and various requirements with no hands allowed at all. This was on top of other physical fitness requirements.

  The next day, Devon wanted to get a feel for the required training and with his gym bag and swim gear in tow, headed to the training center to swim laps.

  When Devon walked into the indoor pool, his muscular, lean body immediately caught the attention of a group of young ladies practicing water aerobics. Devon was still not used to the attention he was now receiving from young ladies because most of his life was spent as a scrawny, lanky boy. Girls who were clearly out of his league in middle school were now getting in line to get his attention.

  Erin was always there for him, no matter how ridiculously geeky he appeared. She had no problem being seen with him or kissing his dorky face when they were young. Now she was one of the most beautiful girls he had ever seen in his life, and she was his girlfriend. Devon breathed in deeply at the thought. He was in love and it gave him renewed energy for the challenges he faced.

  Devon dived into the pool and surfaced fifteen feet out before moving in long strokes across the water. He swam fifteen laps before calling it a day and getting a feel for the water. He walked past the girls and towards the locker when he overheard a comment about his nice tight behind. He tilted his head and rubbed his ear with his towel, as if to empty the words on it and re-check what he had heard.

  Chapter Three

  ~Devon~

  Devon met Erin after football practice the next day. He was sitting in the bleachers, wearing a long-sleeved black T-shirt and jeans and leaning back. She had a colorful mini skirt and a pink and blue chiffon top with her hair in a thick ponytail. Erin skipped up the stairs and stood in front of Devon¸ twisting a wild strand of her hair and biting her lip.

  Can her eyes get any bluer? Devon thought to himself. Erin’s presence filled the grayest day with brilliance and made a sunny day like today shine brighter. Devon reached for her hand and pulled her close. Erin bumped up next to him.

  “I went to the training center yesterday to check out the training program.” Devon held Erin’s hand with one hand and traced his fingers across the back of her hand with the other. “You should come with me. I swam some laps and it felt great.”

  “Swimming fifty laps does sound like lots of fun,” she said, flashing a teasing grin at him.

  “Think how much fun it will be hanging out this summer though. We’ll be together and we will get paid.”

  Erin rubbed her hand over Devon’s, and turned her head, gazing up at him. “You can’t take the world on your shoulders, Devon. You’ve been through a lot. We both have. I know you’re worried about your mom.”

  “It’s just…” Devon paused, trying to find words through the pain he felt. Erin glanced up at him.

  “You don’t want to lose her like you lost your dad.” Erin caressed Devon’s hands.

  “How did you…”

  “You told me. He worked himself to death. I know what you are feeling, Devon. You’re the man of the house now, and you want to protect us. You want to do your share now. It’s what I love about you. You were always that way.” Erin leaned her head on Devon’s strong shoulder, caressing his hand.