Dark Steel

by Fable Gray

  “What does that mean? Not directly?”

  “I want to explain it all to you but it’s not my place.”

  My dad frowned but nodded. “I can respect that.”

  Declan returned, putting his phone in his pocket. “It’s all set. They should be here in a few minutes.”

  My dad pointed to the kitchen. “Good. I’m going to make a sandwich. And then… Maybe go over some emails.”

  “No work,” I reminded him. “You have to wait till the doctor clears you. And I just want to make sure it’s safe.”

  My dad frowned. “I’m going to need answers here soon, Royal.”

  I nodded. I’d work on talking to Declan to see if he would open up to my dad. But we had already given him a lot to deal with today. I’d let him get his sandwich and get settled. I’d give him his space for a little bit now that I knew there was someone outside and he was safe.

  We all said goodbye and Declan and I walked outside to the car that was waiting for us. Declan reached for my hand before we could get inside, but I pulled away and shook my head.

  “Not quite yet,” I told him. “I have something I need to say to you.”

  Chapter 24

  “Let’s talk while we ride,” Declan said, glancing around uneasily.

  I couldn’t argue with that. I didn’t want him feeling like we were in danger. I gave a curt nod and pulled open the back door before Declan could. I hopped inside and slid across the seat, the smell of leather hitting me and relaxing me just slightly.

  “Home, sir?” the driver asked.

  I leaned forward in my seat so I could meet his gaze in the mirror, recognizing him from when Declan had introduced me before. Declan had called him Davis.

  “Can you please take me to my house?” I asked him.

  Declan gave me a sharp look.

  “I have to get changed for work,” I told him.

  “We're not going to work after this,” he said.

  “You mean you’re not. I still have things I need to do. Commitments. I told Tim that I would help out with more emails or whatever needed to be done.”

  “That’s not your job,” Declan said with a quiet snap in his voice.

  “I thought we established I don’t really have a job. Nothing except for the project, which we should be working on. But if you have other plans, you’re welcome to them. I’d like to go into work.”

  I folded my arms and arched my brow at him.

  “Take us to my place,” Declan told Davis.

  I could see Davis’s shoulders straighten. I knew he didn’t want to argue, but he had conflicting information.

  I gritted my teeth. I waited until we slowed for a red light and then said to Davis, “Please take me to my house.” I reached out to set my hand on the door handle and gave Declan a purposeful look. “Or else I will walk there myself.”

  Declan’s jaw clenched. His muscles tensed like he was ready to spring into action.

  “I know you can’t race after me,” I told him. Not unless he wanted to make a scene. Or expose who he really was.

  “Dammit, Royal,” Declan growled.

  I gave him one more second to do what I asked, and then I pulled the handle, letting the door swing open.

  “Miss,” Davis started.

  But Declan was faster than the both of us. He reached out to slam the door closed and snapped at Davis, “Bring us to Royal’s house.”

  I folded my arms and gave myself a little nod. Good. He had to see that he wasn’t in charge of me.

  Declan shifted to face me. I could feel the heat of his gaze on my profile. I crossed my legs and tried not to think about how hot that made me. I was supposed to be indignant right now, not wishing he’d put that passion into something else.

  “If something is wrong, I need you to tell me,” Declan said. “I need you to talk to me.”

  “The same goes for you, too.”

  “What do you mean? I’m speaking to you right now. You’re the one who’s being stubborn.”

  My mouth snapped open. I almost felt bad for Davis, that he had to listen to us arguing in the back seat. “Me? I’m stubborn? You’re the one who’s not telling me what’s going on. What did you mean back in my dad’s house when you said that you already had it taken care of?”

  “I meant I am concerned for your safety just like you’re concerned for your father. And I’ve already put things into place to make sure that you’re not alone.”

  “Without asking me? I have a life despite what you might think. And people I like to spend time with. You can’t just go around deciding where I should live and who I spend time with.”

  Declan’s eyes narrowed on mine. “Didn’t you just do the exact same thing to your dad?”

  “What? No, that’s not—I mean, it’s not the same thing,” I sputtered.

  He arched an eyebrow. “Really?”

  I frowned.

  “So, if I just told you that I was going to station a few men outside your apartment, it would be fine, because that’s what you just did to your dad,” he said.

  Now he was getting me riled up. Especially because he just made a decent point. But still, he needed to talk to me. “It’s not the same thing,” I argued lamely. “And besides, I have Xander there with me. And security at the front desk. I’m safer where I am than where my dad’s at. Besides, you’re the one who told him that you were going to station people outside his apartment—”

  “Because he refused to stay at your place,” Declan argued. “It seemed like a solution he would go for, and he did. I solved the problem so it worked for everyone.”

  I rolled my eyes. If he was going to keep being logical about this, it was going to be a problem trying to fight with him.

  When we pulled on to the street where my apartment was, I prepared to hop out. “I guess, if you’re not going to work, I’ll see you…?”

  “I’m not going to work because you’re not going to work,” Declan said, looking confused.

  “That’s not necessary,” I told him. “I’m going to get ready and I’ll be at the office in an hour. I’ll call an Uber.”

  “Royal—”

  “Thanks for the ride,” I told Davis.

  I opened the door as fast as I could and hopped out. I tried to shut it and heard it thud behind me. I winced when I glanced back and saw Declan’s dark look.

  “Sorry,” I muttered but didn’t stop to see that he was okay. I knew he was. He couldn’t get hurt anyway.

  I barely made it inside the door to the building before I felt his hand close over my elbow with a grip like steel.

  I smiled and nodded at the man at the desk, but my teeth were gritted.

  “Let me go,” I hissed at him.

  Declan gave a curt shake of his head. “We’re going upstairs, and we’re going to figure this out. It would be beneficial to both of us if you don’t make a scene.”

  With a sigh, I pressed the elevator button and when we stepped inside, I pulled my arm away.

  At this point, I couldn’t even really remember why I was mad anymore. It was just frustrating that he wouldn’t hear me out and understand my side of things.

  When the elevator dinged, I strode out and went straight to the door, shoving my keys in the lock and stepping inside.

  Declan followed me in, closed the door behind us, and locked it. “Where is Xander?” he asked.

  I looked around for a minute before I remembered. “He had to go into work.”

  “Work?” Declan asked. “I thought he worked from home.”

  “He does. And he doesn’t like going in for those meetings—he actually doesn’t like going outside at all that much either. But he has to go in for an actual meeting every month or so just to make sure things are running smoothly.”

  Declan walked into the kitchen, making himself at home. He opened the refrigerator and pulled out two bottles of water. He passed one over to me across the island. “Here. Cool yourself off.”

  I glared at him. But I was thirsty,
so I opened the bottle and drank almost half of it at once.

  “Why doesn’t he like to go out?” Declan asked. “He seemed fine at dinner the other night.”

  “He just isn’t good around people—or so he says. And, really, most people are jerks. I think it was because he got bullied a lot in high school and college before we met. Anyway, he likes to be at home.” I looked around with fondness at our apartment. “I like to be at home.”

  “Ah.” Declan came around the counter and stood in front of me. “Is that what this is about? You wanting to be at home, in the place you’re comfortable in.”

  “It’s about me wanting to have a say about what happens in my life. I like to be in control…” I pushed my hands into my hair and sighed, surprised that I’d revealed that to him. “I like to know what’s going on and I don’t want a man to be in charge of it.”

  Declan caught both of my hands in his, and because my anger was fading, I let him. “What happened?”

  “What do you mean?”

  Declan gave my hands a purposeful squeeze. “You know what I’m talking about. There must be something that’s made you start thinking this way. Don’t get me wrong, I understand you not wanting anybody to tell you what to do. But it seems like it’s more than that.”

  “It is. It is more than that,” I told him quietly. And I didn’t want to talk about it. Now I was a little embarrassed that I’d gotten so worked up. It would have been simple to just tell him how I felt. That I need to be able to make decisions on my own. Judging by the way he handled this, he probably would have understood. He wasn’t exactly an irrational person. “I just… There was this guy in college who I was basically in love with. He wasn’t interested in me at all, but he strung me along and made me feel like my world revolved around him.” I shrugged. “It was a long time ago but I guess this is the first…thing, or whatever you want to call it, I’ve even attempted since then.”

  Declan slid his hands down my arms and his fingers came to rest on my wrists. “Your first relationship since then.”

  I nodded.

  “I understand what you’re saying. And maybe in the future, you can tell me more about it when you’re comfortable. I’m not trying to force you into anything but I’m not going to negotiate on your safety.” Declan softened the words by kissing me. “How about that?”

  My lips curved. “That’s a start.”

  “Actually, I was going to ask if you would stay with me. You haven’t seen my place yet. It's big enough for the both of us—and more. It would give us time to spend with each other and learn more about each other.”

  My heart jolted. I knew it was mostly about my safety, but it still screamed fast. It was taking a big step in a relationship that was just beginning. However, I could understand how that would make him feel like I was safe. And depending on how much security he had, it probably would be safer.

  I reached up and touched his cheek, rubbing my thumb on his stubble and loving it when he leaned into my palm. “Can I think about it?”

  He swallowed and nodded. “Of course.”

  “Now, that was the perfect answer.” I leaned up to kiss his lips, but my breath caught when he spun me around and backed me against the counter.

  Fueled by the same need as he seemed to have about forgetting words and being more physical, I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling his head down for a searing kiss.

  “When is Xander supposed to be home?” Declan asked.

  “Not for another hour or so.”

  He gripped the hem of my shirt and tugged it off. “Good. We’ll have just enough time for what I have planned, then.”

  A shiver raced through my body. Who knew what was going through Declan’s mind or what he had planned. All I knew was that taking it slow this time didn’t seem to be part of it.

  Just as I reached for him, he caught my hands in his and hauled me against the length of his body. “I want you naked,” he murmured against my lips. “Completely naked, right here in the kitchen.”

  “No fair,” I returned, nipping at his bottom lip. “I went first last time.”

  His lips curved. “So we’re keeping score.”

  It wasn’t that at all. It was that he’d managed to get me naked and begging for him before he’d even removed half his clothes. I wanted to see him, all of him, just as much as he wanted to see me.

  “All right,” he said, releasing me. “State your demands.”

  With a laugh, I pointed. “Shirt. Off.”

  He tugged off his shirt and tossed it away. His chest was tanned and toned with a light dusting of hair. Just as I remembered. But I’d never get enough of seeing him like this. I’d always want more.

  “Better,” I murmured.

  “Still not fair,” he countered.

  I glanced down at my bra and smiled. “I see your point.” When he moved toward me, I stepped back and shook my head. “Stay there.”

  His hands clenched into fists at his sides. “You’re teasing me.”

  I was. Just a little. “If you touch me again, you’re going to take over, and I want to experience this from my own perspective.”

  Surprise flickered in his gaze before it went back to dark and smoldering. I wasn’t just talking about what had happened earlier, although that was part of it. It was also because of last time. Declan was smooth and fast, and he knew just what he wanted. He’d raced me to his bedroom and had me naked in a matter of minutes, while I was still salivating to see his body. To get the full impact of just how glorious he was.

  Declan lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I’m at your mercy.”

  “Interesting way to put it,” I told him, reaching behind me to the latch of my bra. “Since you’re a thousand times stronger and faster than I am.”

  “And yet you can still bring me to my knees,” he whispered.

  My heart clutched. To know he was that vulnerable around me, that affected by me, consumed me. I’d never felt this way about anyone before. I’d thought it was what I wanted with Tate, but now I knew better. Now I knew that wasn’t real love or even healthy lust. But this, what I had with Declan, was everything.

  “Royal,” he said when I didn’t respond.

  “No. Stay there.” I gave him a brilliant smile. His words had filled me up and made part of that hurt from the past vanish. “You’re healing my heart.”

  His lips parted, something like wonder racing across his features. In the blink of an eye, he was standing in front of me, his hands framing my face.

  “Cheater,” I whispered.

  His lips curved as they found mine, kissing me sweetly. “You can’t say something like that to me and expect me not to be here for you. I…” His gaze swept my face, words hovering on his tongue. I knew what he was thinking, and it made my chest even tighter with sweetness. Love. That was the word on his lips.

  And he probably would have said it too, if I’d been in a different position. If we’d known each other longer—or at least if I’d known him longer. He was still ahead of me and I wondered how long it would take to catch up.

  “We’re in this together, right?” Declan asked, his thumb brushing my cheek. I nodded. “So, we’ll do this together.”

  His tongue plunged into my mouth. I groaned at the feel of it and plastered myself against him. With an expert flick of his fingers, he undid the latch of my bra as I reached between us to undo the button of his jeans.

  I could tell he was slowing himself down, forcing himself to take it one step at a time. His body trembled with pent-up energy, and the longer he kissed me, the hotter his skin got.

  “You’re so warm,” I murmured against his lips.

  He didn’t respond, only swooped down to remove my pants, sliding my panties off with them before yanking his jeans off and tossing them aside.

  “I need you, Royal, so much,” he said, his lips moving to my cheek and then my jaw.

  His cock rose hard and proud between us, and I reached down to wrap my hands around the heated
shaft. His body shuddered and his head bowed, forehead resting on my shoulder briefly.

  “Everything you do feels so good,” he said, lips vibrating against my skin. He groaned. “I can’t…”

  “It’s okay,” I told him, nearly losing my mind myself. I couldn’t wait for him anymore. I needed to feel him inside of me, to have him warm me from the inside out. “You don’t have to wait.”

  In an instant, he spun me around. He hiked me up, and I automatically wrapped my arms around his waist. But we didn’t go far. He only pressed my bare back against the cool wall of the kitchen, making my breath catch.

  And in the next moment, he was sliding inside of me, his cock velvety smooth as he filled me full. I sighed and dropped my head to his shoulder this time.

  “Yes,” I whispered, shutting my eyes. “I need you.”

  He supported me with little effort, pinning me against the wall as he shifted his hips, working his way in and out of me slowly. Testing and torturing me with how good it felt.

  “Are you okay?” Declan asked, brushing my hair off my cheek.

  “Yes. You feel so good. Keep going.”

  He didn’t have to be asked twice. The moment I gave him the okay, Declan found his rhythm. He stroked in and out of me, steady and quick. The friction drove me crazy, as did his control. He could have gone faster, could have already taken me where I stood before at the counter. But instead, he took enough time to make sure I was primed, and then took even more time to make sure I was satisfied.

  At this angle, he was hitting all the right spots, driving me closer and closer to a shattering peak.

  “Yes,” I said again. “Declan—”

  A gasp lodged in my throat as he thrust again, and then I fell apart in his arms. My body shook, my skin nearly as hot as his. He pumped his hips against me a few more times and then his muscles clenched and his arms tightened around me. I held on as we both trembled, the climax long, wringing every ounce of pleasure available out of me.

  “Together,” Declan murmured against my lips as he kissed me.

  “Together,” I agreed.

  Chapter 25