Declan wrapped his arm around my waist, holding me close. He was faster than any human. Faster than any car, faster than I could even follow with my eyes. If anyone could keep me safe, it was him.
We said goodbye to Xander and then got in the Bentley behind his car.
When I scooted across the seat, Declan followed, only stopping when his thigh was pressed against mine. His eyes glittered with amusement when he looked at me.
“It's been a long time since I’ve gone out like that.” He took my hand and brought it to his lips. “Thank you.”
“Of course,” I said, “but I really should be thanking you. Xander had a great time tonight. He doesn’t get out a lot so I’m sure this was a blast for him.”
Declan shrugged. “He’s important to you, so he’s important to me.”
“That simple, huh?”
He kissed my hand again. “That simple.”
I reached up and rubbed my free hand on his cheek, loving the feel of short stubble on my palm. “Every single time I think I start to understand you, you do something that surprises me, and it makes me feel like I have to start all over again.”
He closed his eyes briefly when I moved my thumb on his cheek. “That sounds like a bad thing.”
“No, it’s a wonderful thing. And a learning experience for me.”
“About that,” he began. “I want to know more. Tonight, what Xander told me, seems like the tip of the iceberg. You were a different person back then, in college. Now you’re more cautious. Especially with me.”
I frowned slightly and repeated the same thing he had said before. “That sounds like a bad thing.”
“It’s not. It’s a learning experience for me too. My relationships have been few and far between. And like I said before, you’re different. It means something this time.”
Moved with tenderness toward him, I leaned in and pressed my lips to his. His mouth parted with a breath of surprise before he moved to put his arms around me.
Parker took us in the direction of the hospital, but I was so lost in Declan that I had no clue exactly where we were.
“Royal,” Declan said, voice rough. “I want you.”
My heartbeat sped up, simultaneously thrilled and afraid he'd actually go for it in the back of the car.
I slid my hands down his chest and then moved to his impressive bulge, running my hands along his erection.
“That's not helping,” he said in a gruff voice.
“I’m sorry,” I murmured, prepared to move my hand.
“Don't stop.”
But I didn’t continue. Instead, I eased back so I could see his face. And with a quick glance around, I noticed we were getting close to the hospital. “I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
He considered this and then smiled. “We’re going hiking on Wednesday. Tomorrow we’ll make sure your dad is settled, but on Wednesday, we’re getting out of the city and hiking.”
“But we have work.”
He grinned. “I’m sure your boss won’t mind. In fact, he insists on it.”
He gave me one more kiss, this one chaste compared to the last one, and then settled for holding my hand in his lap.
I blew out a breath, noting that he was still aroused but trying not to do anything about it. There was time, I reminded myself. And things were going exactly as planned.
Chapter 23
It had been weeks since I had been back to my dad’s house and coming back today brought on a wave of memories. Memories from when we lived here with Mom and all the time afterward when she was gone. The most important years of my life when I had grown closer with my dad and fallen in love with science just like him.
“It's kind of small,” I told Declan as we stepped out of the car, suddenly embarrassed that it was probably a tenth the size of his cabin by the mountains.
“It’s perfect,” he said simply, casting me a smile before opening the door for my father.
I wanted to kiss him for what he’d said, but I had been careful about how much touching we did since we arrived at the hospital this morning. I had to tell my dad something at that point, so I’d explained to him that Declan and I had met at the hospital a while back.
It was mostly true. That’s where Declan had found out about me.
But I hadn’t said anything more. I knew Declan was waiting for it, waiting for me to tell my father the truth. But I hadn’t even told him about working at Dark Enterprises. And if I was worried that was going to surprise him, then I was downright terrified about telling him my new boss was also my new boyfriend.
Declan didn’t understand. For him, it was black and white. For me, telling my dad these things took some finessing. We were closer than he knew and my dad was able to read me as well as Declan seemed able to.
I walked with my father to the front door while Declan carried his bag and opened it with the key that I’d had since I was a kid.
My dad angled back to speak to Declan. “That was nice of you to come with Royal to get me. Seems like you’ve become pretty good friends.”
My stomach clenched. I gave Declan a purposeful look, hoping he didn’t say anything more before I had the chance to tell my father the truth.
Declan’s gaze flicked to mine before it returned to my dad’s. His jaw clenched. “We have.”
Relief traveled through me at his answer, and also when my
