Forbidden Heat

Chapter 1: Sparks in the Kitchen

Shawna leaned against the kitchen counter, her sharp eyes tracing the lines of Devon’s broad shoulders as he poured himself a glass of water. It had been years since she’d last seen James’s old college buddy, and damn, had he filled out. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, a dangerous undercurrent that made her skin prickle with heat. She’d always been loyal to James, her steady rock of three years, but there was something about Devon—something raw, untamed, and utterly magnetic—that had her pulse racing.

“So, Shawna,” Devon drawled, his deep voice rolling over her like a caress as he turned to face her, glass in hand. “You’ve been holding down the fort while James and I were out painting the town red last night. Don’t tell me you’re just sittin’ here playin’ the good little hostess.”

She smirked, crossing her arms under her chest, well aware of how the motion accentuated her curves. “Oh, please. I don’t play at anything, Devon. I’m the queen of this castle, and don’t you forget it. Just thought I’d let you boys have your fun before I remind you who runs the show.”

He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent a shiver down her spine. His dark eyes locked on hers, bold and unapologetic, as he took a slow sip of water. “Is that so? Well, I’m lookin’ forward to seein’ that show, queen. Bet it’s one hell of a performance.”

Her breath hitched, but she didn’t back down, stepping closer until the scent of his cologne—woodsy and intoxicating—filled her senses. “Careful what you wish for, Devon. I don’t play nice, and I don’t hold back.”

His gaze dropped to her lips, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Good. I like a woman who knows how to take what she wants. And trust me, I can keep up.”

The air thickened, charged with a heat that had nothing to do with the summer night outside. Shawna felt a familiar ache building low in her belly, a dangerous pull she hadn’t felt in years. She knew she should step back, put some damn distance between them, but her body wasn’t listening. Not when Devon was looking at her like she was the only thing in the world worth devouring.

Before she could throw another barb his way, the front door slammed open, and James’s slurred laughter echoed through the house. Devon’s eyes flickered with something unreadable before he stepped back, breaking the spell. “I’ll be seein’ you later,” he murmured, his voice a promise as he shot her a wicked smile.

Shawna returned it with a wink, her heart pounding in her chest. “Count on it.”

Hours later, after James and Devon stumbled in from their night of drinking, the house fell into a heavy silence. Shawna lay in bed, restless, her mind replaying that kitchen encounter over and over. She heard James snoring from the guest room where Devon had dumped him, and a reckless thought took hold. Slipping out of bed, she padded down the hall in nothing but a thin tank top and shorts, her bare feet silent on the hardwood.

The door to the second guest room was cracked open, a sliver of light spilling into the hallway. She pushed it wider, her breath catching as she saw Devon sitting on the edge of the bed, shirtless, his sculpted chest glistening with a faint sheen of sweat in the dim lamplight. He looked up, his eyes dark and hungry, as if he’d been waiting for her.

“Took you long enough,” he said, voice rough with desire. “Thought you might chicken out, queen.”

Shawna stepped inside, closing the door behind her with a soft click, her chin lifting defiantly. “I don’t run from anything, especially not a challenge. Question is, can you handle me?”

He stood, closing the distance between them in two strides, his presence overwhelming. “Baby, I’ve been dyin’ to find out.”

Her hands found his chest, fingers digging into the hard muscle as he backed her against the wall, his breath hot against her neck. She could feel him, already hard, pressing against her thigh, and a rush of heat flooded her core, leaving her wet and aching. “Then stop talkin’ and show me,” she demanded, her voice a sultry command.

Devon’s lips crashed into hers, a hungry, desperate kiss that stole her breath, his hands roaming her body with a possessiveness that made her gasp. She pushed back just as fiercely, her nails raking down his back as she felt the tension coil tighter, ready to snap. This was no game anymore—this was a fire about to consume them both.