Page 62 of Declan
“Whoops.” Hadn’t planned that.
He makes a noise somewhere between a choke and a laugh and drops onto me. “You’re not making this easy. You said you’re not ready, and I’m trying to fucking listen.”
“I know, I know. Just...wait.” His hips move again, slowly, sensuously, and I groan. “I can’t think when you do that. Stop.”
He freezes, and I’m still overloaded with sensation, but the lightning racing along my skin shifts to tingles.
“Just because I’m not ready for all of it doesn’t mean we can’t do some of it.” He wheezes out a ‘like,’ making me laugh. “You were supposed to get to first base...pretty sure we blew past it, but we can go back.”
“I don’t remember what first base is, but it probably has something to do with putting my mouth between your thighs.”
My legs tighten on him. “Jesus, tell me that wasn’t first base in your school?”
My question seems to break the tension in him. He shakes with laughter. “I graduated from high school when I was thirteen. But I guarantee most of the kids at my school skipped the bases and went straight for the home run.”
“You graduated at thirteen? But...how?”
“You really want to have this conversation now? Like this?” He tightens his grip on my hands for emphasis. At my nod, he shakes his head. “What the fuck did you ask me? How does a kid in foster care graduate early?”
“Or graduate at all, in your case. You told me you were stealing cars. I guess I just assumed you ended up dropping out.”
“I did,” he says with a grin, “but Ransom set me straight pretty quick. He found a way for me to challenge the grade twelve exams, and when I passed, he had me start some classes at Tech. After a while, I was going full-time.”
“What was your degree in?”
He wrinkles up his nose. “We got too busy, so I dropped out. Can’t say I minded.”
“Why didn’t you mind?” There was no way I could give up on my degree. I knew that was my only chance to get out of the hole that raising Bree dug for me. Teenagers are fucking expensive.
“I was bored out of my fucking skull. And the social shit was hard. I was younger than everyone else, but I was smarter, too. The administration wouldn’t let me challenge a bunch of classes, and I just lost interest. The timing worked out.”
“Your IQ must be off the charts.” What is it like to have everything come so easily?
His eyes shutter. “I don’t know. It doesn’t really matter.”
It does matter. Why isn’t he proud of who he is? If I was as smart as he is, I’d probably get it tattooed on my forehead, so everyone knows. Okay, maybe not on my forehead, but definitely somewhere near my boobs. Then people would know I’m stacked and smart.
I giggle-snort at the stupidity of that thought. Declan tilts his head in confusion. Before I can explain or ask him more questions, I hear it. He registers the noise at the same time. We stare at each other in horror as it escalates.
The moaning and banging of the headboard next door clearly broadcast what’s happening. But the “yes, yes, more” coming clear as day through the wall seals it.
The panic in Declan’s eyes sets me off. I lose it, my legs dropping from around him, laughter rolling through me as the chick next door gets railed. Wriggling my hands free of his, I reach for my pillow and clamp it over my face.
I feel Declan’s laughter before I hear it, his body shuddering over me. He rolls off me, and I sneak a peek at his face. His arm is thrown over his eyes, only his mouth is visible. His chest is bouncing.
I want more of this. More of laughing Declan. This is the first time I’ve really seen him let go around me, and it’s irresistible. “You have a really good laugh.”
He drops his forearm over his head and turns to smile at me. “Nick says I sound like a hyena.”
“Oh my god, you do!”
He groans and covers his eyes again. “So I guess the mood is officially ruined.”
“Little bit. Unless you want to give them a little show of our own.”
“Strangers listening to us? I’ve officially lost my woody.” He rolls, propping his head on his arm. “But maybe, one day soon, when we have some privacy...” His eyes trail over my skin, heating me everywhere he looks.
“That sounds really good.”
