by N. Natishna
Deklan whistled as he took off his shoes. “Your room is three of mine…and prettier.”
I smiled. “Isn’t it amazing? I think pink and white go well together.”
I heard barking and pounding paws, so I pulled Deklan out of the doorway and off to the side. “You might want to stay right here.”
He smiled slightly, and then the dogs burst into the room and came right to me.
“How are my boys?” I cooed as I rubbed their heads. They barked and Nitro stopped and turned his head towards Deklan, barking again. “He’s friendly, boys, so be nice.”
Deklan’s eyes were wide as he took in the dogs.
“These are my boys, Nitro and Rocket.” I chuckled and walked over to my bay window. “And these beauties right here are my baby girls, Snow and Twinkle.”
“Cute,” he said and reached down to pet Rocket.
I pointed to the bathroom. “I’m going to go change in the bathroom.”
He grinned and sauntered over to me, wrapping his meaty arms around my waist. “You could always undress out here.”
My mouth gaped open as I gasped. My mind was coming up all kinds of scenarios that could happen. Ever since meeting Deklan these thoughts have been nonstop and have just gotten crazier since we started dating.
I cleared my throat and pushed him away before things got heated. “You wish, pervert.”
“Fine,” he groaned and I went to the bathroom.
I changed into my waitress outfit and fixed my hair before coming back out. I smiled at his re-gelled hair that was back into spikes, and I rolled my eyes.
“I don’t understand why you do that when you just ruin it anyways.”
He shrugged and sat down on my bed to put his shoes on. “It trains my hair to stay up, and I know you think it’s sexy, sweet thing.”
“You’re right, I do.”
I was at my vanity, about to put on my lip gloss when he came up behind me, his hands smoothing down my sides. A shiver stole through me and I could see his eyes darken in the mirror.
“You’re so damn beautiful.”
I leaned back against him and just enjoyed his hands on me. We had a few minutes until we had to leave for work, and I was hungry for his kiss. Turning in his embrace, our lips met instantly. His hands roamed all over my back, down to cup my butt before coming back up to my shoulders.
His tongue was exploring every inch of my mouth and all I wanted to do was fall back on my big bed and let him have his wicked way with me, and to hell with work.
His hands slid up my arms and I flinched when he came in contact with that arm Cody had grabbed. Deklan pulled back with a frown.
“You okay?”
I nodded and tried to bring him back down to me, but his hand went to the injured spot again and I hissed in a breath. Damn, I hated having such sensitive skin. Deklan stepped back and brought my arm into view. He pushed up my sleeve and there were bruises below my shoulder that could easily be made out to be fingerprints.
“What the fuck?” Deklan’s voice raised and I shushed him with a hand over his mouth, so Jay or Josie didn’t freak out.
“Calm down, Dek, it’s nothing.”
“This is not ‘nothing’, Emma! This is someone daring to put their fucking hands on you!” His nostrils flared out and his eyes darkened for a whole other reason as he looked down at me. “Who the fuck did this? I want a name, Emma. Now!”
I rubbed his chest and pressed against him, anything to calm him down. “Please stop, baby,” I said softly. “Cody stopped me after school and wanted to know what I was doing with you. He got angry, but I got out of there before he could really hurt me. Please, I need you to be calm.”
He was breathing hard and his bulky chest was moving rapidly up and down. He examined my arm again with gentle care, but his voice was rough when he spoke.
“I want to kill him for this.” He sighed and brought me even closer, crushing my body against his. I relaxed against him, knowing he needed this. “I don’t want you near him at all, Emma. I swear I’ll smash his fucking nose in if he tries to get close to you again.”
“I know, Deklan. Now come here and kiss me so we can get going.”
He complied, kissing me a lot more sweetly than his passionate one earlier. I pushed away from him to slip on my converses and grabbed my purse. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah, come on.” I chuckled when he scratched Rocket and Nitro behind the ears.
“They like you.”
“I’m a likeable guy.” He kissed me and we left.
✽✽✽
Al adored Rosie and gave her the job right on the spot, and she fit perfectly into our group. Work was slow, which made it easier to train Rosie. It also made it easier for me and Deklan to have a nice make out session in the back of his car. I was glad us employees had our own parking lot. I never thought kissing could be so much fun, and there was definitely more heavy petting than we’ve had before.
Deklan had octopus arms, I was sure of it. His hands seemed to be everywhere at the same time. I loved when he’d run them down my legs then back up and under my skirt to cup my bottom. He always got me so flustered and I had to stand outside for five minutes before heading back inside.
After work Liam tried to convince Rosie to come to The Garage to watch their practice, but she had a lot of homework to do. Deklan stopped at my house so we could change and then we headed to where the guys’ practice always is. It was just a building that sat vacant for fifteen years that Liam and Zane came across one night.
It had an upstairs with four office rooms, each down the three hallways it had. The upstairs main room looked out over the downstairs where the guys performed. We thought of it as our own little club. Liam’s parents bought it for the guys when they started the band and we added a few extra things, like the bar counter and the tables, chairs, and couches to make it look even more like a club. Then Zane came up with ‘The Garage’ and it’s been called that ever since.
When we got to the property we parked next to Jeff’s truck. I could hear Reggie practicing one of his guitar solos as we got closer.
“I can’t wait to watch you play,” I told Deklan. He opened the door for me with a smile.
“I can’t believe you didn’t come for two weeks, all because you wanted my body.”
“Yeah right, you wish,” I scoffed, even if it was true. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing that.
“Whatever you say, Pixie.”
Bianca and Molly were sitting on one of the couches off to the side. I reached up to kiss Deklan and went over to them, looking around for Aria. I spotted her just as she was coming down one of the stairways to the upstairs, Zane trailing behind her with a goofy grin. I rolled my eyes as Aria reapplied her lip gloss while walking over.
“You have a button in the wrong hole, mamacita,” Bianca said and Aria looked down at her wrinkled top. Molly and I couldn’t contain our laughter.
“He needed a little motivation for practice,” she argued with a sly grin.
“Aria, he tells you that before every practice.”
She nudged Bianca with her hip so she would move over and then sat down. “I like to keep my man happy, chicas.”
I smiled at the loving shine in her eyes as she looked over at Zane. I followed her gaze and saw him wink and blow her a kiss before focusing on his guitar. Zane and Aria never had their hands off each other, and they’ve been together for eight years. If that was how I was acting now – a slut in Cody’s words – then I guess I was a major slut, and I definitely didn’t want to stop.
I turned my attention to Deklan as he sat behind the drum set talking to Liam. He was twirling one of his drumsticks between his fingers as he studied the paper Liam was discussing.
Liam walked away and handed the paper to Luke, who was in front of the stage.
“Okay, let’s get this started,” he spoke into the microphone.
Deklan counted off and then they were playing. I sighed, my attention solely on hi
m while everyone else vanished. He sucked his lip piercings between his teeth and nodded his head to the beat. When the tempo picked up his eyes fixed on mine in one of his ‘Emma only’ stares. I couldn’t look away, even if I wanted to and he knew it.
We kept our eyes locked until the end of that song and I was pretty much drooling at his sexiness. An hour and a half later, Liam called for a break and I ran right over to Deklan as he jumped down from the stage. I jumped and he caught me in midair, pulling me close so I could wrap myself around him. I’m pretty sure I looked like a Koala bear on a tree.
“You were amazing!” I exclaimed, peppering kisses on his face. He chuckled and I felt us walking, and then he lowered into one of the chairs at a table, keeping me in place. I pulled back with a smile. “I can’t believe what I’ve been missing for two weeks.”
“Damn straight, baby girl. Now gimme some sugar.” I obliged and kissed him deeply. We were out of breath by the time Reggie called Deklan back over to the stage. I pouted and he shook his head.
“That look is like my kryptonite.” He lifted me off him and set me on the chair next to him. “Just one more hour, sweetheart, and then…” He brought his lips an inch from mine and I shivered when his hot breath whisked over my skin. “I promise you, I’ll kiss you so long and deep, and nothing is going to interrupt me.”
I heard myself whimper before his lips brushed against mine in a kiss so soft it had me aching for more, and then he was gone.
For the rest of their practice I had my eyes dreamily trained on him while he played his heart out. I knew I’d be a goner when I watched him play. He had such talent and he deserved the best of the best. When I think of the way he and Molly grew up, and how he protected his sister, my heart grew bigger. He was still such a good person even though he hadn’t been around people with the same goodness, besides his sister.
I clapped my hands together and held them under my chin as I stared at my boyfriend – awestruck.
Deklan Mayfield was too amazing for words.
✽✽✽
Deklan
If there was one thing I was sure of, it was that I was madly in love with Emma Clarisse Van Buren.
It’s been three weeks since we started dating and I felt like I was on cloud nine. I have no experience with being in love, seeing as I used to be a typical teenage guy when it came to girls. But with Emma, I knew I was meant to be with her, as strange as that sounds coming from an eighteen-year-old.
She came to every band practice and our performances. She was always right upfront where I could see her, cheering and screaming like everyone else. Only, when she did it, her eyes were on me, she blew kisses to me, and shouted my name. I can’t help but brag about it, because Emma was one special girl…and she was mine. My girl. Having her with me and loving on me was definitely something I wanted to brag about.
I still haven’t met her family yet, but she told me she was telling them about us when her mom got home, and then she wanted me with her for her birthday barbeque. I’ve been telling her I want to meet them, but I didn’t want to tell her how much of a nervous wreck I am. What if they hated me on sight because of my tattoos and piercings? What if I said something bogus and they thought I was an idiot?
I hated the feeling of vulnerability.
It was hard to tamp down my anxiety, but I knew I had to for Emma. No matter what her family thought of me, the only person whose opinion I care for is hers. I just didn’t want her family to try and convince her that I’m no good for her, as true as it is. I learned long ago not to give a shit about what others thought, but I wanted…I needed Emma’s acceptance.
I loved the time we’ve been spending together. I took her to and from school and work, as much as she’d let me. She convinced me to let her drive ‘Miracle’ a few times, but I was still a man who wanted to be the one taking care of my girl. Yes, that even includes the little things like driving her places and carrying her shit for her. I wanted her to know that I cherished her in every way.
The more we were together, the more heated our encounters became. I couldn’t seem to stop touching her, but she didn’t seem to mind one bit. Hell, she was just as bad as I was, maybe worse. Well, maybe not.
She was so damn dainty and pixie-like, and I was a mountain of a guy. I didn’t know how I was able to be so intense with Emma and not break her body, but I was happy that I could.
I wanted her, so bad I ached from head to toe. But I wouldn’t pressure her into it and I made sure we only went so far without snapping my control. Whenever I got my hands under her shirt and caressed her silky skin, I felt like the luckiest guy in the world. The first time I touched her breasts over her bra she’d made the sexiest sounds…but when I got under that bra, she burned in my arms. Just thinking about it and her responses to me had me almost as hard as granite. I needed safer thoughts, seeing how I was in the middle of school.
Emma’s boldness had no bounds anymore. She would kiss me anywhere and in front of anyone. She wasn’t embarrassed to be with me or let me hold and kiss her in public. I never let our kisses last long in front of others, because I respected Emma too much for that. When we were along, though, was another story. I would devour her mouth like it was my last meal. And when we’d part, I always counted down the time until I could have my lips and hands on her again.
Her birthday was next week and I had something very special planned. The song I’ve been working on for her will be revealed, but that’s not the only present I have for that night, either. I had a feeling she’d love it.
“Hey baby,” Emma purred in my ear and her arms snaked around my shoulders. A shiver stole through me at her closeness and I peered behind me at her. She was so damn sexy. I must have been really lost in thought to not sense when she entered the cafeteria. Her dad had texted her before lunch, telling her to call him. I’d taken her stuff with me and bought her lunch while she called him.
I rubbed her arms and angled my head so she could kiss me. “Hey Pixie, what’d your dad say?”
She sat next to me and I chuckled when she groaned at the sight of her food. I had piled a lot on there. My girl had a serious thing for food.
“My mom’s plane is coming home earlier. Daddy wouldn’t stop going on about it.” She giggled and smiled up at me. “She’ll be home soon!”
“That’s great, baby.” I knew she was excited about her mom being back home. It’s mostly all she talked about for the past week. This is how happy families acted. Happy to be around each other, excited when being reunited. Damn, I’ve wished to be that happy about my family, but that was years ago.
I didn’t give a rat’s ass if my mom left and stayed away. My sister and I have been our own family since we were children. And now, we had some pretty cool friends, too. I don’t know where we’d be if I hadn’t walked in Al’s Pizzeria and Gaming and met Zane. I never realized friends could be so close knit and family-like. As much as I loved it, I knew Molly needed and cherished them more. I’ve been the only person she trusted up until now.
Emma squeezed my thigh and brought my attention back to her.
“What’s going on in that sexy head of yours?” she asked me in that sweet voice of hers.
I slipped my arm over the back of her shoulders and ran my fingers against the soft skin that caught my attention. “Just thinking about how lucky I was to have loyal people in my life.”
She flashed me that winning smile that I love so much and stretched up to kiss me. “You have no idea how happy I am to have met you, Deklan.”
I sighed and shook my head. “Pixie, I think I do know.”
And I kissed my sweet girl again.
✽✽✽
Emma
I was in love with Deklan Chase Mayfield.
I knew it deep in my heart and soul, we belonged together; fated. I wanted nothing more than to blurt it out to him, but I wanted to wait for tonight, at my birthday bash. We’ve been dating for a month and, as short a time as that is, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. It migh
t be crazy to fall for someone so fast, but hey, Aria and Zane knew they loved each other at the age of ten – I’m sure falling in love with Deklan within a month is completely possible.
We were heating up so fast that I was afraid the next time things got intense, we’d burn down the city. I was glad Deklan always knew when to stop, because I lost myself in him every time we kissed. If he’d never had the sense to stop when he does, I would not be a virgin right now. He knew I wasn’t ready for that and I loved him even more, because he respected that.
I had framed pictures all around my room and – swear on my recently purchased Prada purse – I have pictures of us taped to my vanity mirror, and one of him shirtless at the beach on my bathroom mirror. Yummy.
There was a framed photo of the two of us at the beach that sat on my nightstand that was my favorite. It was taken by Bianca when the whole group had a bonfire, just us besties, hanging out and having a blast. I was wearing a white bikini with pink and black stripes, and Deklan was in his black swim shorts.
I stared at that picture every night. Deklan had his big arms wrapped around my small form while my hands gripped his biceps. I had definitely made sure Bianca got his whole arm tattoo in the picture. He was ducked down so his head was close to mine, and we were both smiling and very much in love. And yes, I knew he was in love with me, could see it every time he looked my way, and I reveled in it. He was my everything.
I’d already told my sister about him, mostly because I really needed her sisterly advice on my unbalanced hormones. I wasn’t shy when it came to Kat, because we told each other everything. She may be six years older than me, but she was the greatest sister I could ask for.
She was ecstatic that I’d finally found a guy that cared for me as much as Deklan. She had taken a long look around my room at the pictures of him and she found him cute. Like I’d told Deklan, my sister was married to a guy who was pierced and tattooed – even had some herself – so she didn’t judge on appearance. All that Kat wanted to know was if he treated me right and kept me happy; I answered yes to both.