Devoted: The Blackwell Lessons Part 44

Marc and I push Ivy along dark country lanes, watching her beautiful pale little face as her eyes gently close. Pretty soon she's fast asleep.

'I am going to give this little baby everything,' says Marc. 'I will take care of her for the rest of her life.'

'Don't spoil her,' I say.

'Of course I'll spoil her,' says Marc. 'That's my job as her father.'

'You're not disappointed you didn't have a son then?' I ask.

'What do you think?'

'I know you're not.'

'I said all along I didn't mind about the s.e.x. But I suppose I just a.s.sumed ... the Blackwell's always have sons first.'

'Well I guess she's not a Blackwell then.'

'Oh yes she is. But she's my rose too. Just like you.'

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www.facebook.com/ivylessons Obey Mr Blackwell will be released in Winter 2015.

But before then, here's an exclusive working sample of my new paranormal romance series ...

s.e.xY DEVIL.

"A devilishly beautiful and sizzlingly s.e.xy paranormal romance by bestselling author, SK Quinn."

Eve has always been a good girl and a model university student. So when devilishly charming Lucien Burns starts pursuing her, she's wary.

Charismatic and seductive, Lucian is known for his wild parties and serial seductions.

But there are rumours. Lucian is powerful. He can get into people's heads. He's dangerous. And things happen when Lucien is around. Things that can't be explained.

Soon Eve begins to wonder who she's falling for ...

"You've never met a bad boy like this ... Lucien is dark, dangerous and s.e.xy as h.e.l.l."

1.

'And the Devil will walk among us ...'

When I was little, my nana used to tell me about angels and devils. She told me to watch out for handsome, charming men. Because they could be devils tempting me from the right path.

'Lucien Burns? Who's he?' I hug books to my chest.

Kitty and I are leaving the campus bookshop, having just blown our book budget.

I bought all the books on my reading list.

Kitty bought 'How to Win at Poker' and three sci fi novels.

'How can you not have heard of Lucien Burns?' Kitty asks. 'He's notorious.'

We cross the big snake mosaic that covers the campus main square and head over a stone bridge.

I read a sign on the moat house.

Grail University for exceptional students.

I've never felt exceptional. Okay, so I do well at exams. But I'm so ordinary it's ridiculous.

For a time, nana thought I might change like my mother did. But if I was going to change, I'd have changed already.

'What exactly is this Lucien guy notorious for?' I ask, as we head through the herb garden. All sorts of plants grow here. I smell lemon and lavender.

We cross another bridge and the moat becomes a river Grail River. It runs from campus down to Grail town.

'Oh many things,' says Kitty. 'But mainly sleeping with half the female students.'

Kitty is my best friend. We met on our first day at university and just sort of clicked. She looks sort of like a punk pixie, with her cropped pink hair. Basically the opposite of me, with my nice-young-lady clothes and long blondey brown hair.

A pigeon flies towards us.

'Hey look.' Kitty points. 'It's Florence.'

At the beginning of term, I found a baby pigeon on our balcony. I made the mistake of feeding her and giving her a name. Now she's all grown up and brings me presents.

c.r.a.p presents.

Florence lands on the gra.s.s beside me and drops a muddy shoelace at my feet.

'Thank you,' I say, pretending to admire the shoelace. 'Go find food now Florence. You shouldn't waste your time bringing me things.'

Florence c.o.c.ks her head.

**'You want me to put it in my pocket, don't you?' With a sigh, I push the sopping wet shoelace into my dungarees.

Satisfied, Florence flies off.

'That bird thinks you're her mother,' says Kitty.

'I know. I'm an idiot. But I love that bird.'

'You're many things Eve, but an idiot you are not.'

2.

Across the lawn, I see our campus accommodation.

Kitty and I are staying at the Tall Tower, which is a beautiful curved-brick building on the edge of campus. It has little arched windows and turrets and couldn't be more perfect.

I literally hugged myself when I found out I was staying there. Hugged myself and shrieked down the phone to my nana, who shrieked right back.

Eve, that's where Gabriella stayed! Oh ... it's perfect.

My mother, Gabriella Lightfoot, went to Grail in the 1970s. There are no pictures. But that's another story.

'So anyway, this Lucien guy. Why would he be asking about me?'

Kitty shrugs. 'Maybe he's heard you're a goody-two shoes and wants to see if he can get you into bed.'

'A goody-two shoes?'

'You do spend every evening studying. Or playing netball. Or visiting your grandmother ...'

'Family is important.'

'You haven't had one night out since we started uni.'

'I have actually,' I point out. 'That club night at the beginning of term. Remember?'

'You left at ten o'clock.'

'Okay. Yes. I did. But nana wasn't feeling very well -'

'And you wore the sort of dress most people would wear to a wedding. It went all the way down to the knee.'

'It was elegant.'

'It was old. I'd kill to have legs like yours. And those curves ... if you've got it, flaunt it. This is your time to do wild, rebellious stuff. Do you want your only university memories to be of your bedroom walls?'

'I have to study hard if -'

'I know, I know. You're going to solve world hunger. I'm not saying don't study. I'm just saying don't miss out on the fun stuff.'

'Maybe I'll try and go out more this term.'

'You should. You're gorgeous.'

'Oh, I am not. I'm just ordinary. Anyway, I don't understand what's fun about getting drunk and sleeping with people you hardly know.'

'That's because you've never tried it.'

'So you think I should sleep with this Lucien guy? Some heartbreaker who sleeps around?'

'It would be an experience. Probably a good one.'

'No way. What kind of man messes girls around like that? He sounds like an a.r.s.ehole.'

'Look, I wouldn't set you up with someone who had a girlfriend, would I? He just plays the field.'

'How do you know him exactly?'

'He shares accommodation with Cain. I saw a girl leaving Lucien's room last week ... oh my G.o.d she was glowing. I'm telling you. Saying it was the best night she'd ever had -'

'I would never tread on another girl's toes.'

'She seemed happy enough with her one night.'

'Come on Kitty. You know me. I don't do one night stands.'

'Well maybe he'll fall in love with you.'

'Why would I want anything to do with a guy who treats girls like that?'

'Because he'll know what he's doing.'

'Not interested.' I shuffle books in my arms as we walk across the gra.s.sy lawn. 'I'm saving myself for true love.'

'What if you fall in love with someone and find out the s.e.x is terrible?'

'Then we'll work together to make it wonderful.'

We cross the little wooden bridge that leads to the Tower, and Kitty pulls out her door key. We both have old wrought-iron keys that were made hundreds of years ago. They fit the clunky lock in the big oak door, and the admission's secretary told us to guard them with our lives.

'Home sweet home.'