by Katie Ashley
“She’s been gone almost a year, Peyton.”
“Okay, but what if he doesn’t like me?”
The corners of Declan’s lips quirked up. “I think after you saved Moose, you’re his favorite person in the whole world.”
“As a vet, sure, but what about his dad’s love interest?”
“My love interest? I’m pretty sure he doesn’t he know what that is.”
“I bet he would surprise you.”
Declan cupped my face in his hands. “Would you please stop worrying? I’m pretty sure I know my kid well enough to know he isn’t going to be threatened by you or not like you.”
Nibbling my bottom lip, I replied, “I hope so.”
“If anything, he’ll be thrilled to have a mother figure around again.”
“Or he could hate me because he sees me as the reason why his mom isn’t coming back.”
“Bullshit. His mom left and has barely seen him for eight months now.”
“I just want don’t want to hurt him.” And that was the honest to God truth. To be four-years-old, he’d already been through enough trauma. I couldn’t bear the thoughts of adding anymore.
“And you won’t. The fact that you’re putting his needs first proves that, Pey.” When I started to protest, he added, “Not unless tell him he can’t have ice cream for dinner or won’t let him stay up past his bedtime.”
I laughed. “Oh no, I’ll defer all of that to you so you can be the bad guy.”
“Thanks a lot.”
“That way I can stay the wonderful lady who saved his dog and never tells him no.”
Declan threw his head back with a laugh. “Yeah, we’ll have to work on that one.”
Chapter Seventeen
When I woke in the morning, my thoughts immediately went to Declan. I couldn’t help wondering if the two of us getting back together had all been a dream. I was debating pinching myself to see if it had been real when my phone dinged. Rolling over, I grabbed it off the nightstand.
It was Declan.
A smile curved on my lips as I read his words. Good morning, beautiful.
My fingers flew furiously over the keys as I typed back Good morning.
Hope you got a good night’s sleep and have a great day.
My heart started beating erratically. While I was charmed at his words, it was the fact he texted in full sentences just like me that really got me. How’s your war wound?
Nothing a little Motrin won’t take care of.
Hope you feel better soon.
Thanks. Talk to you later.
Bye
After I finished texting, I hopped in the shower to start getting ready to work. When I arrived at the café, I half expected to see Declan waiting on me, but he wasn’t there. As I ate my usual morning pancakes, I kept throwing an expectant look over my shoulder.
“He’s already been in, honey,” Cissy said as she refilled my coffee.
Shit. Had I been that obvious? “Oh,” was all I managed to reply.
With a wink, Cissy said, “He had an early morning meeting over in Helen, but he left me with strict instructions to cover whatever you wanted to eat.”
My brows shot up. “He bought my breakfast.”
“Yes, ma’am. He sure did.”
At the tingly feeling in my belly, I fought the urge to roll my eyes. For fuck’s sake, Peyton, it’s breakfast, not a diamond ring. “That was sweet of him,” I nonchalantly mused to Cissy.
“Wasn’t it? I sure wish I had a young, handsome man buying me breakfast.”
“Lucky me,” I replied.
With a waggle of her brows, Cissy left me with my pancakes as well as my growing feelings for Declan.
The rest of the morning was slammed with back to back wellness checks for some four-legged patients. It was almost two before I had a moment to sit down in my office and nibble on my lunch.
At the sound of Declan’s booming voice, I jumped out of my skin, sending my salad container flying. “Good afternoon.”
Rubbing my chest, I replied, “Good afternoon.” I whirled around on my stool. At the sight of his face, I winced. “Ouch. That turned into a worse shiner than I thought.”
“At least he looks worse.”
“I’m sure he does.” Winking, I added, “He didn’t get my expert care last night.”
“Or your sexual healing.”
With a shriek, I bolted off the stool before jerking Declan inside the room. Once I closed the door, I jabbed my finger at him. “Excuse me but what happened last night was not sexual healing.”
“Only because I stopped it.”
Damn him. Scowling, I replied, “Are you constantly going to throw it in my face that you took the moral high road?”
Declan grinned. “I would say hell yes considering I’m usually in the hole when it comes to morality.”
“I won’t argue with that part.”
Declan’s expression turned serious. “You’re not having second thoughts, are you?”
I eyed him curiously. “No. Are you?”
“Definitely not.”
“Good.” Sliding a hand around my waist, he drew me closer against him. “I would take you to dinner tonight, but I have a late meeting over in Adairsville.”
“That’s okay.”
As his fingers drew circles at the base of my spine, he dipped his head to where his breath warmed my cheek. “Tomorrow?”
“Yes, tomorrow sounds good.”
I closed my eyes in anticipation of his kiss, but then Declan abruptly pulled away. My eyelids popped open, and I stared up at him in confusion.
With a wink, he said, “I figured it was best to keep things chaste between us. I didn’t want things getting out of control like they did last night.”
I smacked his rock-hard bicep. “Asshole.”
He chuckled before bending over to place a chaste kiss on my cheek. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Don’t bother if you’re just going to keep being a vagina tease.”
“I think you mean pussy tease.”
Wagging a finger at him, I replied, “Oh no. Don’t you dare go there.”
“One day soon, I am going to go there. I’m going to jerk off your panties, spread your legs, suck your clit until you’re shaking with need, and plunge my tongue deep inside your pussy. While you’re screaming your orgasm, I’ll be licking and sucking every drop of your arousal.”
My mouth literally went dry. After fumbling for my water bottle, I took a long sip as I nodded my head at him. “Yes, you should totally do that.”
With a shit-eating grin, Declan replied, “And when I finally do, you’ll thank me for the exquisite foreplay of us abstaining.”
“Yeah, those are your words. Mine would be more like, ‘Why the hell did you make me wait so long for this magnificent oral attention’?”
“We’ll just have to see about.”
“Sooner than later, okay?”
He grinned. “I’ll try.”
“You’re insufferable,” I replied as he started to the door. At the same time, I couldn’t hide my smile. He might’ve been insufferable, but he was mine. Were there tiny voices asking if I was wise? Yes. But I had known Declan for a long time, and what I knew about this adult version, I truly liked already. I didn’t doubt him . . . and I didn’t doubt us.
Chapter Eighteen
I didn’t hear from Declan again until bedtime. He called as I was watching a true crime drama on Netflix.
“You weren’t asleep, were you?” he asked.
“No. I was just watching TV in bed.”
“It’s only eight-thirty.”
“Way to make me feel old.”
He chuckled. “Sorry. I thought Cam was the only one who went to bed at eight-thirty.”
“I have an early morning slammed with neuters from the Humane Society.”
“Poor guys. They have no idea they’re spending their last night with their balls.”
“Hopefully, they realize how much trouble
they get into because of what’s dangling between their legs,” I countered.
“True. But it does make life worthwhile.”
“Whatever,” I laughed. “Are you home?”
“Nope. I’m stuck in the car for another half hour.”
“And you thought you’d call me as a means to pass the time?”
“Way to cheapen me wanting to talk to you.”
“I’m terribly sorry.”
“What are you wearing?”
I shot straight up in bed. “Excuse me?”
“I think you heard me.”
“Yes, but I was thinking that asking about my attire could be construed as sexual, and you have curbed anything sexual between us.”
“I didn’t take everything sexual off the table.”
“You wouldn’t even kiss me this afternoon,” I countered.
“I didn’t want to tempt you.”
“Me? Why is this all about me?”
“I know you’re more about wanting to be physical with me than cultivating a relationship.”
“That’s not true. I very much want to cultivate with you.”
Declan laughed. “You know what I mean.”
I blew a frustrated sigh out of my lips. “Yes, I know what you mean. The rational side of me thinks you’re very wise to insist we take it slow. However, the side of me that is teetering close to my sexual prime says you’re a bastard.”
“I’m sorry you’re frustrated. Want me to help you out with that?
“Are you going to come by my house?”
“No. I was going to talk you through an orgasm.”
I gasped as a tingle shot straight to my nether regions. “How is us having phone sex not against the rules?”
“Because we’re not actually touching.”
“Sounds like a bullshit excuse to me.”
“Hey, I was just offering to help you blow off a little steam.”
“What are you going to be doing while I’m pleasuring yourself?”
“I planned on pulling over.”
Was I really going to have phone sex with Declan? It’s not like it would be the first time. We’d certainly dabbled in it back when we’d gone off to separate colleges.
“Peyton?” Declan asked drawing me out of my thoughts.
“What?”
“Are we doing this?”
“I am if you are.”
“Are you touching yourself?”
“Not yet.”
“You’re still in your clothes, right?”
“Yes.”
“Strip down to just your bra and panties.”
“I’m wearing pajamas so I don’t have on a bra.”
“Fuck, I like that visual. Then strip down to just your panties.”
“Um, okay. Let me put you on speakerphone.”
After I lay the phone down, I whipped my pajama top over my head. Lifting my hips, I then shimmied out of my shorts. “Okay, now what?”
“Touch your tits.” Just as I was told, I brought my hands to my chest, cupping their fullness. Although I’d touched myself countless times since my times with Declan, there was something illicit in doing it now.
“What are you doing to them?”
“I’m palming them in my hands.”
“Squeeze them.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Does it feel good touching yourself while I’m talking to you?”
“Mmm, yes.”
“Are your nipples hard yet?”
“Yes. But now I’m pinching them to make them even harder,” I murmured
“God, I wish it was my hands on your tits right now.”
“So do I.” Shifting in the bed, I asked, “Are you touching yourself?”
“Yeah, I have my cock out.”
“Are you stroking it fast or slow?”
“Slow and then tugging on the tip. I’m imagining you sucking my dick into your warm mouth.”
A shudder went through me at his words as the dull ache between my legs began to grow.
“I’m slipping a hand into my panties now.”
“Is your pussy wet?”
“Yes. My panties are damp.”
“If I was there, I’d have them soaked.”
“I know you would,” I panted.
“Stroke yourself nice and slow.”
“I am.”
“Is your clit getting bigger?”
“Mm, hmm,” I murmured as I started to speed up my pace.
“Don’t go fast yet.”
“It feels too good not too,” I moaned
“Are you fingering yourself?”
“No.”
“Slip two fingers into your pussy.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice. As my middle and index finger slid inside, my arousal coated my fingers. Rubbing my thumb against my clit, I pumped the fingers in and out of me. When I sped up my tempo, I couldn’t help gasping with pleasure.
“Oh baby, that’s right. Let me hear you.”
“I want to hear you, too.”
Pinching my eyes shut, I focused on the image of Declan sitting on the side of the road with his cock in his hands, pumping his hand up and down as he thrust up his hips. With my fantasy came the sounds of him jerking off, which turned me even more on.
“Are you closing to coming?”
“Yes. Oh fuck, yes.”
“Fuck yourself harder,” he commanded.
As my fingers pumped frantically in and out of my pussy, I began raising my hips in time. With my free hand, I rolled and pinched my nipple between my fingers. The sounds of Declan’s grunts and groans fueled me on. My body tensed as I went over the edge. Oh Declan!” I screamed as my walls convulsed around my fingers. God, that felt good. I want him here. I want him right now.
“Did you—”
“Almost. Fuck, Peyton. I almost blew my load listening to you.”
“If I was there, I’d let you finish in my mouth.”
“Fucking hell.”
“Are you close?”
“Yes.”
“Tug your balls with your free hand.” I knew he had with his gasp. “Now pump your cock harder.”
“Fuck. I’m coming.” His loud groan of pleasure echoed through the bedroom and made me hot all over again.
It was a few seconds after his last curse that Declan spoke. “I can’t believe I just jerked off next to a cow pasture on Hwy 140.”
Giggling, I replied, “At least your only witnesses were cows.”
“That’s true. All I need is for it to get out in town.”
“I think your secret is safe with them.”
“What about you? Feel better?”
“Yes. Of course, it would be even better if I was sore from your dick.”
“Your dirty mouth is something that has certainly changed since we were together.”
“You aren’t complaining, are you?”
“Fuck no. I love it.”
“Good. What about you? How are you feeling?”
“I’ll feel better when I can get home and clean up. I’m afraid to turn on the light and see I have fucking cum on my steering wheel.”
Snickering, I replied, “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“Oh yeah, those good old days in the front seat of my truck.”
“Maybe we can reenact some of those soon,” I suggested.
“Mm, I’d like that a lot.”
“How’s tonight?”
He groaned. “Would you stop?”
I huffed out a frustrated sigh. “Now you know how I felt back in the day.”
“You have my apologies.”
“Well, you don’t have mine now. It was one thing being a sixteen-year-old virgin with a minister for a father. It’s quite a different thing being a thirty-year-old independent woman.”
“Come on, Pey. You and I both know sex complicates things.”
Although I hated to admit it, he did have a point. When you jumped in too quick, it clouded your judgement. If the sex was really g
ood, it was like slapping on a pair of rose colored glasses to read the relationship. With sex as my only focus, I’d used Kieran as a fuck boy, so there was no hope for anything between us. I didn’t want that happening with Declan. “While it pains me to admit it, you’re right. It does complicate things. It certainly did the last few times for me.”
“And me.” His ragged sigh echoed through the phone. “If I hadn’t
“Oh fuck me!”
“What’s wrong?”
“A cop just pulled up behind me.”
Although it was horrifying, I couldn’t help busting out laughing. “It’s not funny, Peyton.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“What in the hell am I supposed to tell him? I sure as hell can’t say I pulled over to have phone sex with my girlfriend.”
The word girlfriend gave me a momentary pause. It still seemed so strange to be Declan’s girlfriend. “Do you have something to eat in the car?”
“Wait what?”
“Like a granola bar or even a sandwich wrapper?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Tell him you’re diabetic and pulled over to eat something because you were feeling lightheaded.”
“Damn, that’s pretty good.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Okay, he’s at the window now.”
“I hope you’ve put your cock away.”
“Shut up,” he said, laughing.
“Good luck. I’ll feel really special if you spend your one phone call on me.”
“Smartass,” he muttered before hanging up
Chapter Nineteen
After our phone sex, I fell into a satiated sleep. Well, I did after Declan called me when he’d gotten home safely and hadn’t been arrested for lewd behavior. The next morning I hit the sleep button twice on my alarm before I finally dragged myself out of bed. I wanted to stay there, rolling around in my semi-sex sheets.
I didn’t stop at the café because I was running late from being lazy. I was between back to back kitten neuters when Sylvia came to the door of the operating room. “The florist just delivered this.”
She held out a vase with just one red rose and a sprig of baby’s breath. The sight of it caused my pulse to accelerate because there was only one person who would send me one red rose.