by S. E. Brown
“I know we’re just getting to know each other. I didn’t really feel like I knew you well enough to get a gift – at least, not one that really meant something. So instead, I wanted to give you this. It’s the drawing I was working on when you rang my doorbell. I wasn’t quite sure what it was going to become then, but after meeting you and talking with you, it sort of took on a life of its own.”
Issy looked back to the picture and ran her fingers over the image. At the top was a lotus bloom. The pedals were different shades of bright pinks and blues, and went from light at the bottom to dark at the top. Beneath the pedals where the bloom started were spring green leaves that doubled as wings for the phoenix incorporated into the stem. Overall it was a simple design that created a huge, colorful impact.
“I love it.” She smiled at Madison.
“It’s going to be my next tattoo.”
“Really?” Issy looked to Madison with excitement. “Would you draw one for me, too? We could get them together.”
Madison wasn’t sure how to respond. Hannah didn’t seem too keen on the idea of Madison having a tattoo when they were talking earlier, so she wasn’t sure how she would feel about her taking Issy to get her own. “I, umm…”
“I think that’s a great idea, Issy. You’ve had a hard time deciding what you wanted your first tattoo to be. Maybe Madison could help.”
Madison looked to Hannah in disbelief. She certainly hadn’t expected that to be her response.
“I would love to draw something for you.” Madison looked to Issy whose smile had grown even bigger, if that was possible.
Chapter 29
Memorial Day weekend had finally arrived, and looking down to the beach from the deck, it certainly looked like it. There were more people scattered along the surf than Madison had seen in a long time. It helped that it was an absolutely beautiful cloudless day. The temperatures had continued to climb all week, making taking a dip in the cool Atlantic or surrounding oneself with tasty frozen drinks the only plausible options to gain any relief.
“How’s it lookin’ out there?” Declan’s voice came from behind her, and soon his arms enveloped her.
“Busy. It seems we all had the same idea for how to beat the heat.”
“Welcome to living at the shore.”
Madison noted the smile in his voice. She knew he loved living on the beach, and whether it was full of people or bare for miles, he really didn't care.
“When is everyone supposed to get here?”
She felt him move slightly, and soon his lips had found the space on her neck where her curls were barely touching. The shiver that ran down her spine did little to help cool her.
It was Madison’s turn to have everyone over for a BBQ. And by proxy, that meant Declan had been suckered into it, too. Honestly, Madison was looking forward to it. She was becoming … domesticated. It had only been a handful of weeks, but she and Declan had practically lived together during that time.
“Soon enough that you aren’t going to have time to finish what you’re starting.”
Declan dipped his head and sucked her earlobe between his lips. “What do you mean?” His words sent another shiver all the way to her toes.
She wrapped her hand around the back of his head, wishing they had time to sneak away and take care of the fire he was quickly building. “You know what I mean.”
Madison sighed as his lips traveled from her ear to her neck. His tongue making a trail to her collarbone.
“I could just …” his lips murmured against her skin as his arm reached down to the button of her shorts and popped it open.
“Declan …” She didn’t even care that hundreds of people were three stories below them. His hand, the one that had just lowered her zipper and was finding its way beneath her panties, would be shielded by the decking so no one would be able to see. At least, they wouldn’t be able to see much.
Knowing someone could look up and see them just intensified the feelings his fingers were giving her.
“Madison …” His breath against her skin was driving her mad.
He lowered his arm from around her collarbone to cup a breast but her shirt was in the way. As his lower hand found her clit and started to make slow circles around it, his other slid beneath the fabric of her tank top and into her bra. A moment later, his fingers found her nipple.
A low moan escaped Madison’s lips causing Declan to smile. He loved that sound, and he loved doing whatever was needed so he could hear it as often as possible.
It wasn’t the first time something like this happened. There had been quiet moments where both had been overcome with feeling and needed to act on it, so Declan approaching from behind and using his lips and fingers on her didn’t surprise her. She enjoyed it, and knew she would enjoy returning the favor.
Madison was beyond wet, and Declan knew she was getting close. It never took her long.
Her breathing had changed, and although he knew she was trying to stay quiet so they didn't bring any attention their way, her hips were starting to buck to match the tempo of his fingers.
“That’s it, Baby. Let go.”
His breath forced another shiver down her spine that landed quickly at her center.
Like the two were connected by a string, Declan flicked her nipple causing her orgasm to bubble over. Her hips spasmed against him as he continued to focus on the space between her legs.
When the sensation had lessened and she felt she could turn around without falling over, Madison faced him. “You don’t play fair.”
Declan chuckled as he slid his hand from her shorts and brought his finger to his mouth. With a grin he answered simply, “Nope.”
There was a faint knock on the door. Knowing it was likely Ty letting them know their guests had started to arrive, Madison reached up and gave Declan a quick kiss before she scurried off to the bathroom to clean up. “I’ll get you back for this.”
Declan laughed quietly. “I look forward to it.”
Waiting until Madison had closed the bathroom door, Declan finally responded to the knock. “Come on in.”
Ty walked in, a duffle bag on his shoulder. “Issy’s here. Where should I put her stuff?”
Declan smiled to himself. Madison had stayed in Charlotte for the work week while he had returned to the shore a couple days early to take care of a few things at the house. She didn’t know what he had up his sleeve, but she was about to find out.
“You can put it in the guest room.”
Ty turned to walk back into the hallway when he was called back.
“Hey, Ty?”
“Yeh?”
“Just keep Issy downstairs for a bit, okay? I haven’t talked to Madison yet.”
Ty grinned, knowing what Declan was up to. “You got it.”
Declan paced the floor as he waited for Madison to finish in the bathroom. He had meant to come up to the bedroom and have a serious conversation with her, ask her a pretty important question, but he hadn’t been able to stop himself. The way the sun was highlighting her hair, the little curls at the base of her neck blowing softly in the breeze, he had to touch her. And kiss her.
Finally, Madison opened the door and saw Declan there. “Who’s here?”
“Issy.”
“Oh, okay.” Madison smiled. She wasn’t sure if Issy and her family would have had plans for the holiday weekend, but when she asked her daughter if she would like to join them at the shore for the weekend, Issy hadn’t hesitated in accepting the offer.
“She’s downstairs with Ty.”
Madison walked up to Declan and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Okay.”
There was a light in her smile and her eyes, and he loved that he was able to put it there. He wanted it to stay there forever.
“She gonna stay in the guest room?”
Declan looked into the green eyes of his love and didn’t say anything. But as Madison looked to his lips, she saw a mischievous grin start to take hold.
“What are yo
u up to, Declan Healy?”
“What? Me? Why would you think I’m up to something?”
His grin had only gotten bigger.
“I may not have known you for long, but there are two things I’m certain of. First, when you sigh, a real sigh, I know something is wrong. And second, when you grin, just like you’re doing now, I know there is a different sort of trouble coming this way.”
Declan laughed. She was absolutely right, and he loved that she had learned to read him so well already.
“You’re right,” he nodded. “Come with me?”
He held out his hand, and she interlaced her fingers with his and followed him out of the room. She thought they would be going downstairs to where Issy and Ty were, but instead he walked them down the hall.
When he stopped in front of the closed door, Madison raised her eyebrows in question. “The guest room?”
Instead of answering, Declan opened the door. Inside, the room had been transformed from a simple guest room into one a young woman would be proud to call her own. The bedding had changed from plaid to a cream color, and the room had been painted in a soft sage. Madison looked to the side and noticed new, matching furniture had been placed in the room.
Unsure what to make of it, but loving what he had done with the room, she looked to Declan.
“I thought maybe Issy would like to have her own room here.”
“Issy?” Madison wasn’t quite sure what to say.
Declan nodded. “See, I was hoping you would move here. With me.”
Madison looked at him, her eyes big and getting bigger the more he explained.
“Being six hours away from you is too much. I know I travel to Charlotte often, but I want to see you more than a week or two a month. I want to go to sleep with you cuddled by my side and wake up with you the same way.
“And I want your daughter to have a place here, to be able to come and go and see you as much as she’d like. I figured if she had her own room,” he reached into his pocket and produced two keys, “and you both had a key, then …
“I cleaned out space in my room, our room, for your things.”
Madison stood in the doorway doing her best to wrap her head around what he was saying. There was nothing she wanted more than to spend her days and nights with Declan, but she had a job in Charlotte. And a home.
“But my job,” she finally interjected.
“We can figure it out. Maybe they’ll let you work from here. Honestly? I make more than enough to cover for both of us.”
"Declan, I -" Madison started to interrupt. The last thing she wanted was for him to start paying her expenses.
"And I know you have your house there," he wouldn't let her finish. "You could sell it, or rent it for a while, even.” Declan took her other hand in his. “I know there are things to figure out, but what do you say? Will you move in with me?”
"I'm gonna wanna work. Pay my own fair share." Her voice adamant.
"Whatever you want, Babe."
Madison was silent for a long minute. She looked into his eyes and quickly ran through all the reasons for and against moving in with Declan.
I have a job - but I could work from home - if they'll let me.
Issy is in Charlotte - but with her having her own room here, she'll always be welcome and have a place to stay.
I'd be leaving my friends in Charlotte - but I'd be with everyone here.
It’s a different kind of life, living at the shore versus in the city - but I could probably travel with him when he went to Charlotte.
It's so early in our relationship. Is this rushing things? Declan would never ask if we were rushing. He was the king of taking things slow.
It just feels right.
And I love him.
Slowly, Madison’s head started to nod up and down.
“Is that a yes?” Declan grinned as she continued to nod.
“Yes.”
“Woohoo!” He hollered as he picked her up and swung her around. “She said yes! Ty, she said yes!”
“It’s not like you proposed marriage, Declan.” He turned the corner shaking his head with a chuckle.
Declan slowed his spinning and set Madison on the ground. Together they turned to see Ty and Issy standing there.
“Marriage?” Issy asked.
“No.” Madison shook her head. “Not marriage. But I’m going to move in with Declan.”
“That’s awesome!” Issy ran toward Madison to give her a hug. As she let go, she noticed the changes in the room. “What happened here?”
Madison looked to Declan. It was his idea and his effort, and she wanted him to be the one to tell her. “Go on.”
“Well,” Declan said, turning to Issy. “With Madison living here with me, and you being her daughter, I wanted to make sure you had a room here, too.”
“What? This is for me?”
“It is, if you want it.”
“But what about Ty? Where will he sleep?”
“Well, for right now, Ike is going to sleep in Erin and Chris’s room when they come up, so he can have the baby’s room.”
“Does Erin know about this?” Madison looked to Declan.
He nodded with a smile. “We talked earlier this week.”
"Helllloooo!"
The voice had come from downstairs.
Madison laughed. "Sounds like Cody and Ryan are here."
Before heading downstairs to greet their friends, Madison turned to Declan and whispered in his ear. “I love you. I can’t wait to move in with you.” She kissed his cheek and turned to walk down the stairs.
With a smile on his face, Declan turned to Issy. "I truly mean it, Issy. I want you to be comfortable here. Consider this place your third home, okay?"
Issy wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you, Declan. This is awesome." She stood back and grinned. "I'm so excited Madison is moving here!"
Laughing, Declan agreed. "Me, too."
Coming down the stairs, Madison thought it was just Ryan and Cody that arrived, and was surprised to see four people.
"Jessa?"
"Surprise!"
Madison went to give her friend a hug. As she released her, she saw that standing next to Jessa was the guy that had been with her the night they celebrated her birthday, Trent.
"What are you guys doing here? I thought you were going to LA this weekend."
"I had to give you some answer when you asked." Jessa laughed then pointed to Declan who was standing behind Madison. "Declan called and invited us for the weekend."
"He did?" Madison spun around to see Declan grinning. And that would be grin number two - the one that brought trouble.
"Yup. I figured you'd like to have your friends here. Plus," he turned her around so she faced everyone and slid his arm around her waist, "I thought you might want to share the good news with everyone."
"How very confident of you," she grinned at him.
"News? What news?" Ryan prodded excitedly.
"Put the wedding invitations away, Ry," Declan teased.
"No, it's not that. But …" she paused, "I am moving to the shore with Declan."
Ryan squealed as she ran past Cody to hug Madison, tugging her out of Declan's hold. "I knew it!"
Madison released her hold enough that they could talk quietly between them. “We’re serious, Ry. No pressure about a wedding, okay?”
“Mad, I don’t care about a wedding. Whatever you guys want to do is fine with me. I’m just glad you’re happy - and so excited you’ll be close by again.”
“I’m so happy it’s disgusting. I’m one of those women that usually makes me want to vomit they’re so nauseating.”
Ryan laughed. “It’s great seeing you like this.”
“Yeh, well, we have a few things to figure out regarding the house and my job, but we’ll get it figured out.”
“We might be able to help you with that.” Ryan winked at her and scooted back to Cody’s side.
Madison looked to Ryan with a question on
her face, but Ryan just shrugged.
Their non-verbal conversation was cut short when the sliding door opened and Mac and Riley walked in. Followed close behind were Abby, Jake and Luke.
"Looks like the gang's all here!" Declan smiled as he walked toward the cooler and pulled out a beer. "Help yourself, everyone." He popped the top and took a long swig.
"Wait!" Madison said excitedly, suddenly remembering that not everyone knew each other. "Before everyone scoots off, some introductions are in order." She walked to Jessa's side and stood between her and Trent. "This is Jessa and Trent. Guys, this is Mac, Riley, Abby, Jake and Luke."
The pleasantries and "nice to meet yous" were taking place when Madison started up again. “And this is Ty. He’s staying with Declan for a while.” She smiled as she looked at Declan.
Then she moved to stand next to Issy, who had just come down the stairs with Ty. “And … this is Issy."
Ryan walked over to Issy and instead of shaking her hand, she wrapped her arms around her and squeezed her tight. “I’m so excited to finally meet you!”
“Ry, take it easy.” Madison laughed as she tapped Ryan on the shoulder. “Let the poor girl breathe.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too.” Issy smiled at Ryan as she finally released her hold. “Madison has told me a lot about you.”
“Breakfast.” Ryan pointed her finger at Madison and Issy. “We need to go to breakfast and get to know each other.”
“Okay,” Madison smiled then looked past Ryan to Jessa.
There were tears in her eyes as she approached Issy. Jessa had known Jeremy, and looking at Issy, she was the perfect combination of him and Madison.
“You have the same color eyes as your dad.” Her smile was soft as she felt a tear escape.
“That’s what Madison said.” She felt a bit of that remaining hole in her heart fill. She knew she would never have the chance to meet her biological dad, but she’d have a chance to get to know him through his friends.
“It’s really nice to finally meet you, Issy.” Jessa tenderly wrapped her arms around Issy, almost as though she was afraid if she squeezed too hard, she would disintegrate in her hands.