Friday evening Devon picked Eleanor up in his car from her workplace and they drove off to spend the weekend with Jackson.
It was the same car Devon used to drive in his high school days. It was the same car in which he had wildly kissed Eleanor numerous times and passionately made out with her countless times in the backseat. And it was the very same car in which Eleanor used to giggle and laugh and hold his hand....

Devon came to realize that he never felt the need to live a life. Because he always lived her.

But life had changed a lot. She had changed a lot more.

Eleanor was surely sat next to him in the passenger seat but it was equal to she not being there at all. Because she was her impassive and aloof self. Empty silences which meant nothing echoed in the car which tortured him. Eleanor either looked out of her side of the window or at the front. Her face was void of emotions and she never acknowledged him. And that was why Devon felt like he was sat next to a complete stranger. He didn't know her at all...

There was a time when their bitter sweet conversations never ended. And even if it did the sounds of silences between them spoke volumes.

There was a time when they used to make out for hours in the couch and he used to spend his days breathing on her skin.

He didn't forget the way she used to be mesmerized looking into his eyes or snuggle deep into his arms. He neither forgot how she could go to any extent to bring a smile on his face...

And now those moments were lost in the abyss of time.

The  journey continued like a silent prolonged monologue. The sun dipped in the horizon and the evening skies turned dark. At times the city lanes were busy while at other times the roads were clear and flanked by countryside scenes.

Finally they pulled up at the driveway of a vintage looking house.

"You will be amazed seeing Jackson," said Devon as they got off the car. "He's is in Grade 3 now. His vocab skills is sick, all because of the reading done with you back in Crawford Lane. And I've taught him sass," he snickered. "So he---"

"I'd appreciate if I hear about Jackson from him alone rather than from an unreliable source," said Eleanor snidely.

Which caused Devon's jaws to become taut.

"Eleanor!"

Jackson couldn't contain his happiness on seeing her. The kid ran to her and hugged her tight around the midriff.

"How are you, baby? You've grown quite tall!" exclaimed Eleanor when they broke apart.

"I'm the tallest in my class! My hormones work hard everyday," he grinned boyishly.

Eleanor pulled his cheek.

""Why didn't you not stay in touch with me?" asked the kid gloomily. "I tried your phone number so many times but no luck...."

"I'm so sorry, honey...." Eleanor said in a heavy voice. "I'm gonna give you my new number and we're gonna stay in touch like best friends."

That brought the huge smile back on the child's face. He hugged her again.

Jackson hugged Devon dearly and he took both of their hands into his little ones and ushered them into the house.

They talked till late in the night because Jackson wouldn't sleep as he had so much to share with Eleanor. His childlike enthusiasm was infectious and very adorable. It made Eleanor feel like a free bird and gave her a reason to wholeheartedly smile and laugh after so long. How could she omit such a wonderful kid from her life?

Devon was grateful the kid had brought the old Eleanor back in some ways, albeit she didn't look at him even once.

When Jackson finally lay down on the bed to go to sleep, Eleanor pulled the duvet over him and sat next to his head looking down at the kid fondly.

"You know, Eleanor, I'm elder to you," said Jackson, cutely sticking his tongue out.

"Really? And how's that?"

"I'm in the third year of school and you are in the second year of college. So I'm one year bigger than you," the kid grinned boyishly.

"Well, aren't you smart now?" Eleanor pressed his nose playfully.

The child giggled.

"Does your dad visit you, sweetheart?" she asked carefully.

"Yes, he sure does!" Jackson face lit up with a big smile. "He comes over once every month and stays with Granny and me for one week. He also attends all my school events. When he is not around, I talk to him daily on Skype."

"That's great, honey," Eleanor smiled down lovingly at him. "You know what, I'm proud of you, Jackson. You're an amazing boy."

Around the same time Devon was just about to enter the room to check on Jackson but seeing Eleanor there, he stayed back in the doorway and listened to the conversation going on inside.

"I just want to be like Devon when I grow up. He is awesome!"smiled the kid widely.

Eleanor's face dimmed a bit hearing that. "You don't have to be like anybody," she said. "You can be a lot better than him."

That's caused Devon's face to turn dark and brooding as he battled the pain inside him.

"Sometimes...." trailed off Jackson looking low. "Sometimes I wonder what did mom do that she had to go away forever..."

Both Devon and Eleanor were caught off guard hearing that.

Pain rose to her chest as Eleanor remembered what Cheryl had done....

"Jackson, God loves you a lot," Eleanor told the kid. "That's why he told your mother to leave you to Him because He wants to look after you and protect you from every danger like nobody else can. God is taking such care of you which is why look how wonderfully you're growing!"

Devon grew grim as he heard those words. I don't think I can ever tell you, Jackson, the true facts about your  mother. It's something which nobody knows, not even Eleanor....

Later that night, as Devon got downstairs in the darkness of the house, he saw Eleanor's silhouette stood at the sliding glass door gazing out at the moonlit garden. Devon's pulses fuelled with desire and the edges of his lips curled into a lopsided smile....

"Still awake?" Devon whispered huskily in her ear.

Eleanor jerked slightly in reflex but soon saw Devon, who had soundlessly approached her from behind, stood with a smirk plastered on his face.

"Glad that I can still make you gasp," he said rougishly.

Eleanor rolled her eyes. "Go to sleep, Devon. Give humankind a break," she drawled.

"That's your misunderstanding. Nobody hates me. Not even you," he said as he looked at her passionately.

"Is this how guys like you satisfy their bloated ego?No wonder they are so worthless," she said plainly.

Devon's cheekbones became taut hearing that. "Glad that you could keep your differences with me aside and come over to meet Jackson. Thanks for that."

"If you want to thank me, leave me alone."

"Then I rather not thank you," he said bluntly.

Eleanor was about to leave but found his outstretched hand blocking her path.

"I know you've trouble sleeping in a new place..." Devon trailed off, his orbs darkening in intensity. "Do you still get nightmares?"

Eleanor clenched her mouth tight hearing that. She hated the fact that she'd told him about her weaknesses and vulnerabilities when he kept so many secrets. She hated the naive girl she was back then. She felt like a fool now. Which she couldn't tolerate.

"Back then, I used to fear losing the people who mattered to me. But since I don't have any feelings or emotions for anyone, I fear losing nobody now. Hence no nightmares," Eleanor spoke matter of factly.

"If you don't feel for anyone, then you shouldn't have a problem with me kissing you."

Eleanor was shell shocked. Devon took advantage of that and pushed her against her wall, pinning her hands on either side of her head

"Don't even try," she glared at him fiercely as he brought his lips closer to hers, his orbs blazing with desire.

She didn't know why she was letting him dominate her when she could easily push him away.

"Why not, Eleanor?" he asked darkly, as he brushed his eager lips across her cheeks causing her to hold back a gasp. "Scared to admit you still have something left for me?"

"Everything is over between us, Devon," she said, her fiery gazes clashing with his. "Move on."

"I don't move on, Eleanor," he spoke intensely. "I begin things all over again."

With that Devon crashed his lips onto hers for a hard, demanding kiss. Eleanor felt as though she had been consumed by a ruthless fire that burned every blade of her existence. There was no way to fight him or his wild mouth. Devon bit her lower lip harshly making her moan his name. He plunged his fiery tongue into her mouth and her body became limp realizing that Devon Parker was a dangerous mix of extreme pain and intense pleasure....

Eleanor gasped violently for air as he left her mouth to devour her neck and shoulders. He couldn't stop. He wanted to do so much more with her. After all, she was the only one who could survive his roaring carnal thirsts and his darkest sins.

Devon was so much into her that he was left completely off guard when she finally pushed him away from her. Eleanor heaved breathlessly when her eyes locked with his dark predatory ones. She abhorred what they just did. Yet her skin craved for more of him.

Unable to suppress her burning temptations, Eleanor closed the distance between them and started to slowly unbutton his shirt.

That startled Devon. "What do you want to do, baby?" he asked hoarsely as she pushed him back on the couch and straddled his lap.

Eleanor shivered in pleasure as she placed her palm on his bare hot chest. "I hate you so much, Devon," she said bitterly in frustration. She hated herself for being unable to resist him.

Devon smirked. "Pleasure is all mine, sweetheart," he said and captured het lips once again for a slow erotic kiss.

Devon gripped her hair hard as she ran a hand all over his torso. She felt his flawless set of abs under the tips of her fingers which caused a thin film of saliva to trickle down the side of her mouth . Eleanor slipped her hand further down and sudden grabbed him from over her shorts.

"Oh, fuck," he groaned hard against her tongue, shuddering in arousal at her touch.

"Do you want me to take off my shorts, baby?" he asked on her lips as she caressed his growing length.

"You keeping your mouth shut will be more than enough," she snubbed him

"Which means you don't think you will be able to deal with my big---"

"You honestly need to stop talking so much," she said in exasperation,  pulling her lips off his.

Devon smiled devilishly, reaching out to feel her panties from over her flimsy night gown making her breathless.

"Do something more to me, Eleanor," his dark commanding voice held a lot of plea.

She shifted herself on his lap, lowered her head and bit one of his nipples so hard that he let out a sexy harsh groan. Devon's hands travelled upwards from her abdomen and grabbed one of her breasts.

"So you're seriously not wearing a bra?" he spluttered, unable to leash his throbbing desires anymore as he cupped her soft moulds in his shaking hands.  

"No," she breathed sharply as he gave her nipples a hard squeeze. They had never been this intimate before.

"I want to fuck you, Eleanor. Come to my bed," he whispered in a dark voice full of need.

Eleanor grew wide eyed in shock feeling his erect arousal pressed hard against her abdomen. She immediately got off his lap as the realization of what she had been doing hit her.

Dirty. That's what she felt about herself.

Clenching her fists to her sides,  she spoke coldly, "I will never sleep with you."

Devon clenched his jaws tightly, his orbs mad with rage, as he watched her leave.

Instagram: rashmita_b

  (Please do vote, comment and share. It makes me incredibly happy when I read your comments <3)  

  Banner by  @Kumud03 <3