by CJ Azevedo
“Declan! Why did you get her drunk before we even go out?” Macie screeches and my eyes pop open.
Oh, hell. I am drunk.
I hear Declan laughing close by. “She had one drink, Mace! I swear.”
“It was a really big one though,” I tell them both as they stand over me, starting to laugh.
“Okay, drunkard, Dec’s going to get you in the shower while I do my hair and makeup, then I’ll get you ready after you sober up a bit. I’m not going out without you tonight, so get it together, girl!” Macie orders and I listen.
Declan picks me up and carries me to the bathroom. He sets me on the chair beneath the vanity and begins undressing me starting with my shoes. “You’re not drinking when we go out tonight, okay?” He says it in question form, but it’s not a question at all, he’s pretty much telling me I won’t be drinking.
“I’m not?” I’m surprised. I sorta thought that’s what people did in Vegas.
“Nope,” he reiterates softly but without hesitation.
“And why am I not drinking tonight?”
“Because apparently you can’t even handle one shot of vodka in a mixed girly drink. I don’t need you inebriated in Sin City with they way I’ve been reacting to other guys around you and I really don’t need to end up in jail tonight.”
Oh. “I don’t want you in jail either. Maybe I should just stay in tonight. You go and I’ll stay, it’s probably safer that way anyway.” I’m actually really okay with my suggestion. And I know how he feels because I feel the same about him.
“As much as I would love to take you to bed and keep you hidden away in our private little oasis we have here, I have to go. I’m meeting some friends, so therefore you have to go with me. Besides, Macie will kill us both if you don’t go.”
“Are you sure?” I double check as he pulls my tank over my head and kisses my forehead.
“I’m sure. C’mon, let’s get you in this shower.” Declan turns the shower on as I shimmy out of the offensive linen shorts.
My bra and panties are a matching set with nude lace. I couldn’t really afford to buy matching sets like this but I bought them in hopes that Declan would finally have sex with me this weekend. I’m starting to feel more coherent and stable while I wait for Declan to finish getting the shower ready for me. It’s probably best that I don’t drink tonight anyway, especially if we’re meeting people. Declan finally turns around and stops. He’s frozen, just standing there staring at me with a stoic expression gracing his handsome face.
“Dec?” I’m a bit amused and a tad bit self-conscious when he doesn’t respond right away.
He finally shakes his head and takes the few steps that are between us. “You have no idea how hard this is for me right now. I’m expected to walk out of here leaving you…like this,” he makes a sweeping gesture with one of his hands, following the length of my body, “and knowing that I won’t be touching you for hours.” He slides his hands down my sides and places them on my lower back before pulling me into him so I can feel what I’m doing to him.
“Then don’t walk out. Stay and get in the shower with me. Stay and have sex with me, the way I have been imagining you doing for what seems like forever now. Please.” I kiss him under his jaw and he releases a quiet growl. I take that as a green light, so I reach around to unfasten my bra.
“Stop,” he says in a husky tone, grabbing my hands when I try to release my bra, leaving it fastened and very much still on.
“Declan! Seriously, what the hell?” I’m kind of pissed. Why? Why won’t he have sex with me? Not having sex hasn’t been an issue before now, because we’ve spent every evening that I didn’t have to work at my apartment with Harper there. Harper sleeps in my room and Marla lives with me, so sex hasn’t really been an option for us yet. But now we’re in a hotel room, a very beautiful and romantic hotel room, without a roommate or child here! I don’t get it! “You do realize that I’m not a virgin, right?” I say furiously. I assumed he would know this, but, hey, maybe he doesn’t—we’ve never talked about it.
Declan gives me a smile, letting me know that he thinks my little outburst was cute. That was, until I added that last part. A very intense scowl replaced his pretty smile. “Don’t say things like that to me, Ava,” he said sternly. “Sonuva bitch, I can’t handle a guy looking at you and you think I want to hear about you having sex with someone else? Especially when I know damn well who the hell it is—now I have fucking visuals, Ava! Dammit!” He pulls at his hair and turns around to gain some space from me.
I allow that space because he’s right, there’s a reason we haven’t spoken about it until now, or spoken of the fact that he’s never had a real girlfriend before me even though I know without a doubt that he’s no freakin virgin either! I for sure don’t want to know how many girls he’s been with. After several deep breaths, he walks back over to me and places his warm hands on my waist.
His frown disappears as he takes my hand. “Ava, I’m not having sex with you for the first time in a bathroom, while you’re drunk and my sister is just on the other side of the door. So you have got to stop tempting me,” he ends his explanation with a playful warning before kissing me softly and deeply, holding me close to him. He pulls back slightly before whispering across my lips without looking in my eyes, “I’m sorry for yelling. We talk about everything. We don’t keep anything from each other. Ever. Okay?” he confirms quietly, smiling when I nod in agreement. “Now that that’s out of the way, is there anything else you feel is important to tell me that has to do with that category? If so, now is the time to bring it up so I can work it all out at the same time.”
He’s still working this out? I thought that’s what he just did when he did his breathing/pacing/hair pulling thing. Do I need to know how many girls he’s been with? Do I need to know if he’s always used protection, if he’s clean or if he’s ever had a threesome? No, yes, yes and not sure yet.
“I have questions,” I admit. “You want to do this now?”
He nods, looking a little unsure.
I take a deep breath before diving in and asking like he told me to. “How many girls have you been with?”
“I’m not answering that,” he replies casually, as if I should’ve already known that answer.
Not really the exact response I thought I would get, but close enough.
“Have you always used protection?” I ask as he leans against the vanity, settling in.
His muscular arms fold across his chest and he clears his throat. “No. I have in the last few years, but I was stupid when I was younger; thought I was invincible.”
“Are you clean?”
“Of course. I get tested regularly to be sure, but like I said, I don’t ever do anything without a condom now.”
That made my gut hurt. What the hell, may as well power through this last one and see what he has to say.
“Have you ever had a threesome?” I’m proud of myself; it actually came out super casual as if I just asked, “you want some coffee?” In reality, I’m dying; sometimes I can’t believe what comes out of my own mouth. I tell you, this guy does this shit to me.
Instead of answering me with words, Declan raises his eyebrows at me; it’s the only movement the guy makes. No twitch of the lips, no cock of the head or foot spasm, just raised eyebrows. My conclusion is one of two probabilities: A) he hasn’t and thinks that was the most ridiculous question ever or the more likely possibility B) he has and he’s giving me the opportunity to retract my question.
“I’m done, I don’t want to hear anymore. Thank you for answering most of my questions,” I say as I walk over to the shower that has been running this whole time.
Just as I reach back for the hook on my bra, I feel Declan’s hands grasp mine. He slowly guides them to my sides as he presses gentle kisses to the back of my neck and shoulder. His hands move to the bracelet he had made for me and releases the clasp before it pools into his palm. It sounds like he slid it into his pocket before reaching bac
k up to undo my bra and slid it off of my chest. After tossing it off somewhere to the side, his hands are back to my hips and inside my nude lacey panties. I feel unsteady; my breathing is out of control. I no longer feel the effects of the alcohol, just the effects of Declan. My hands dart up to grip the wall of the shower in front of me as he slides my panties down my legs. I step out of them one foot at a time and just when I’m ready to turn around and reach for him I feel his hands gliding back up my legs. They pause on my calves when I feel his warm breath and then his wet tongue on the back of my knee. Oh Good Lord. My knee buckles and my head falls forward. Declan’s right hand quickly reaches up to steady me by spreading his fingers broadly across my lower belly, but makes no move to stand. Instead, his left hand raises a little, up to my thigh, while his lips follow along, making a trail up the back of my leg until they meet my butt cheek. There, they do not depart from my skin, oh no, but they do however make a different connection. Declan takes this opportunity to lightly nip at the plump skin back there. An audible gasp rings out above the water pounding against the tile. Too soon, I feel his body rub against my bare back as he stands up, running his hands along my body and up into my hair.
“Get in that shower, Sunshine. Right now, please,” Declan demands in a gruff voice and I listen, stepping into the blazing hot shower on trembling legs with a wildly beating heart, more turned on than I thought could ever be possible.
Chapter Thirteen
Declan
I deserve a fucking medal for being able to walk out of that bathroom like that. Before I reversed the tension, Ava was pissed as hell and she yelled probably a lot louder than she realized—when I walked out, Macie was practically rolling on the ground laughing her ass off.
I change in the room real quick before heading out to meet Greyden while the girls get ready. He’s just walking out of his room when I reach it.
“How long until the girls are ready? Sloan just called and they’re on their way to dinner,” he says in way of greeting.
“I told Ava an hour.” I’m still in a bad mood from all kinds of shit that went down today. I haven’t had time to deal with one issue before another hit me, then Ava went off like a damn bomb in the bathroom. I’m about to lose my shit.
“I’m surprised you’re letting her out to play after the way you fuckin’ wigged out on the valet attendant.” Humor laced his words and he was smiling, but he knew me too well and could probably tell that I was dealing with a whole slew of shit right now.
“Dude. He was touching her! And then he came to the room to bring our luggage and was all smiles for her. Does the guy have a death wish?”
Greyden laughs at me while we get in the elevator to go to the casino. My face remains expressionless as I stare ahead at my reflection in the mirrored wall.
“I am not bailing your ass out of a fight or jail tonight, so you better rein it in, bro,” he warns.
We walk out into the casino and go to the side exit to get to this little country bar next to the hotel. We always come here for appetizers and drinks before we hit the clubs. It’s cool; outdoors and small, but popular and most the time the people there are pretty chill.
“She has me all kinds of crazy. I’m not sure how to handle it. Grey, you wouldn’t believe the shit we just went through in the…” I trail off, thinking better of telling him everything right now. Can I do that? “Ah hell, I have no damn idea how to be in a relationship,” I say out loud as it crosses my mind.
Greyden shakes his head and laughs quietly as he walks next to me. “Are you looking for advice?” His question is serious, but I know for a fact that his sorry ass hasn’t ever been in a relationship either so I don’t know what he thinks he’s going to give me advice on.
I just look over my shoulder at him as some girls dressed in shorts that show their ass cheeks and shirts that could pass for oversized bras walk past us, sizing us up and murmuring to each other. He watches them too, until they’re too far behind him. This was once my scene also, and they were pretty girls—okay, not the right choice of words—they were sexy as hell, and if we followed them about two steps, they would have stopped and then hung with us for the rest of the night until we told them we were finished with them. Jackass move on our parts, but it’s what those girls are looking for and expecting when they come to Vegas dressed like that, or should be anyway.
“Are you offering it?” I ask. I’ll take whatever I can get right now.
“Give the girl whatever she needs, Dec. You do that on top of secretly telling Rachel to back the hell off. If Ava is seriously handling your bad tempered, possessive, jealous craziness, then you give her whatever she wants and maybe just try to rein it in a bit.” He’s not being patronizing, he’s being helpful, and I know I should take his advice seriously.
Rather than chancing getting any more feelings out on the table, I opt for a subject change. “Is the room situation really okay?” Not much I can do about it at this point, but I still thought I should ask.
Greyden winks at the hostess that lets us in the gate to the small bar and she blushes profusely. I chuckle under my breath because he has always had it easy in the sex department.
“Yeah it’s cool. Macie is…” he trails off, probably thinking of the right words so he doesn’t piss me off, “different when she’s not around her brothers. It’s good; we’re good.”
I’m not entirely sure what he means by that, but I’ll take it at this point because our only other option is for her to come sleep in the second bedroom in our suite and that’s not happening. I want Ava all to myself.
We finish a few beers and appetizers and Grey wants to go meet the guys at the club. The girls are somehow still about an hour away from being ready and against my better judgment I tell them to meet us there.
When we arrive at the club, I have the bouncer keep an eye out for the girls so he can tell them where the VIP section is that my buddy, Sloan, reserved. His cousin, Lyle, is a bouncer here and hooks him up with this section or one similar whenever he’s in town.
Sloan Smith is quite a bit younger than I am. He found me after a fight I had in San Jose a few years ago, letting me know he was a fan, and it wasn’t long after that when I started seeing him more frequently after my fights because when the fights are over, they hold bodybuilding competitions and that’s what Sloan’s into. He’s a cool guy, we keep in touch and we hang out whenever we’re in the same city.
The section where they’re at is full of your typical club girls. Sloan and his friends have at least one on each arm, which is the norm for these guys. None of us have a big enough name for groupies yet, but Sloan is a pretty bastard and nicest asshole you’ll ever meet and it certainly shows by the amount of short skirts following him around like he’s their next meal ticket.
Greyden is keeping himself busy with the previously mentioned short skirts and I dodge as many as I can. They’re hot and not that long ago I would have been all for it, especially since I haven’t had sex in months. Months. Months is a very long time to be with the one you want but aren’t sleeping with, but to then get thrown into the lion’s den on top of that? I need another drink. I flag down the waitress, who grabs me another beer just as I see the bouncer, Lyle, who I paid to keep an eye out for the girls. I don’t see either Ava or Macie, but I do see a second bouncer following him as they make their way up off the stairs and into our VIP section. Our group gets eerily quiet. I stand to go find out what happened with the girls when the big guy steps to the side, revealing a very underdressed Macie and Ava. I can feel my body heat from the sight of Ava and from the lack of clothes covering them both. Sloan quickly takes notice of Macie, or maybe it’s Ava he’s salivating over; I’m not sure since they’re standing right next to each other equally wearing next to nothing.
Lyle comes up and speaks in a hushed tone, “Hey, Boss, figured you would probably want them escorted up here. That’s your sister and your girl?”
I’m furious. I can’t verbally respond since all of my streng
th and effort are being utilized to remain as calm as possible and not flip the fuck out on them, so I give one curt nod for my answer instead. “That’s what I thought. We can’t have any issues in here, James, so I think I’ll be hanging around while you guys party. Got a problem with that?”
“Yeah I do. I can handle my own.” I don’t need this guy thinking he needs to fight my fights for me, he knows who I am and what I do for a living.
“Look, I’m a fan and I’m not going to allow you to lose your shot at UFC because you lost your shit over some guy looking at your sister or heaven forbid your girl. Let me stick around to make sure some numbnut doesn’t do anything stupid.”
Well that makes sense. At this point I can’t guarantee I won’t smash the next douche that looks at either of them like he wants to eat her alive. Before I tell Lyle to stay I need to see if I can convince Ava to go back to the room with me instead.
Greyden abandons the girl hanging on him and walks straight to Macie. He looks almost as pissed off as I feel, which is weird since he’s the only one of my friends that has never taken on the brotherly roll to Macie. He’s always been on her side and backing her up when she wanted to date in high school even when Luca, Keegan and I were dead set against it.
Ava has apparently determined my mood because she has turned her back to me and begins speaking to a waitress. The back of her dress… well, there is no back. Ava’s smooth, slender, tan back is completely bare, which means she’s not wearing a bra. And if I noticed in two seconds that she isn’t wearing a bra, every other guy has noticed too. Her dress is molded to her delicate curves and just long enough to not allow anything to hang out. When I asked Macie to buy her a dress for tonight, this is not what I had in mind.
“Shut the eff up, Greyden!” Macie screeches as she attempts to push him away.
He doesn’t budge. “Watch your mouth, Macie,” Greyden grinds out through his clenched teeth.