by Fable Gray
I hadn’t meant for Declan to sleep over, but it felt so nice and normal. After we’d made love once in the kitchen and then in my bedroom, it didn’t seem to make sense to go back to work since the day was almost over anyway. And when Xander returned, Declan offered to order Thai food and we all spent the evening together.
Normal. Like I had a new boyfriend, and I was enjoying spending time with him. Except that I still had a million questions, and since we were supposed to go hiking tomorrow, I planned on getting answers.
When I woke that morning, I felt Declan’s fingers on my cheek, running down my neck and to my bare shoulder.
My eyelids fluttered, and I realized I wasn’t alone in my room. It had been a long time since I’d had someone else in my bed.
Then the realization hit me that he might have spent the entire night watching me.
I eased up on to my elbow. “Please tell me you did something else and you weren’t just sitting there bored all night.”
Declan smiled, his eyes squinting with the motion. “Watching you isn’t boring.”
I groaned and put my hands over my face. “Yes, it is. And embarrassing. Did I snore? Or drool?”
He laughed but didn’t answer the question. “You are beautiful. I made a few calls if that helps, so we’re prepared for today.” He wrapped his arm around me. “And then I just held you. And dozed.”
His hard body pressed against mine and his cock stirred, hardening against my leg. I closed my eyes at the feel of it and tried to focus.
“You can sleep?”
“I can, but I don’t need to. It’s nice though when I’m relaxed. And I still try to have dreams sometimes. I miss dreaming.” His hand wandered, skimming along my stomach and then cupping one breast. “I think, if I dreamed, it would be about you.”
I forgot what I was going to say next when he turned me on my back and slid inside of me. It was the perfect way to wake up.
Afterward, we showered together, and I got dressed for hiking. Evidently, one of the calls Declan had made was for someone to bring him his hiking gear. So, while he was getting ready, I went to the kitchen to get our water and pack snacks.
Xander was sitting at his makeshift work area, but he wasn’t working. He was looking at me. He glanced to my bedroom where Declan was and then made sure his voice was quiet.
“He moves like a superhuman and looks superhuman,” Xander said, wiggling his eyebrows. “Does he do other things like a superhuman?”
My cheeks heated, but I nodded. “Numerous times.” Xander grinned. “Let’s just say, he’s a fast healer.”
“Oh my God. Please tell me he has a brother.”
I laughed but it reminded me of what my father had said yesterday about other people getting the same serum as Declan. He might be an only child, but in a sense, he might also have brothers or sisters, linked by a common denominator. Connected because of their abilities.
Declan joined us before we could continue the conversation. He said good morning to Xander and then kissed me on the cheek before setting his backpack on the counter and starting to fill it.
“Playing hooky two days in a row?” Xander asked.
I shrugged. “My boss insisted. He always thinks he knows what’s best for me.”
Declan shot me a look but didn't respond. “Did you want to stop by your dad’s house first?”
“I’m not sure.”
Xander stood and walked over, propping his hip on the other side of the counter. “Don’t worry about it. I thought I’d head over and see what he was up to, have some lunch or something. He always makes the best sandwiches. And he texted me last night about stocks or something about moving his money to save more for retirement. I don’t know, I figured I’d stop by and get the scoop today.”
“Really?” I asked. “I’d really appreciate it.” It was a good way to keep an eye on him without hovering.
Xander laughed. “You know I’d do it anyway. Those sandwiches.”
Declan nodded. “Good. So we’re ready to head out?”
I grabbed my backpack and nodded. “Let’s go.”
When we stepped outside and I only saw one small car parked on the side of the road, I glanced at Declan in question.
“Are we taking this?”
His lips curved. “I wanted it to be just you and I today.”
“Can I drive?”
“Do you have a license?”
I arched an eyebrow at him and folded my arms. “Of course. Just because I choose not to have a car doesn’t mean I don’t know how to drive. It’s just…been a few years since—”
“Years?” he asked, eyebrows shooting up.
“It’s like riding a bike, I’m sure.”
He considered this for a moment before pulling open the driver side door for me and taking my backpack. “Just…be careful.”
I smirked at him, excited to get behind the wheel. “What are you worried about? You can’t get hurt.”
“No, I can’t,” he said seriously, “but you can.”
He gave me a quick kiss on the lips before walking around to the other side and hopping in. He made a good point. But I also wasn’t the reckless type. I might not drive as slow as Xander, but I was still careful. Or, at least, I used to be. I wasn’t lying when I’d said it had been a few years since I drove last. But with the college so close and transportation available everywhere else, it didn’t make sense to own a car.
Even now, I had a driver to take me wherever I needed to go. I figured as long as I was with Declan, he’d make sure of it.
I had to adjust the seat because my legs wouldn't reach the pedals. “Is this your car?”
“Buckle up,” he said. He ignored me when I rolled my eyes and nodded. “Yes, this is my car. It’s one of the first things I bought when I started working at Dark Enterprises. Kind of a congratulations award to myself.”
“And yet you use a driver most of the time.”
“Parking’s a bitch.”
With a glance over my shoulder, I checked for traffic. Once we were clear, I pulled onto the road and headed in the familiar direction of my favorite trail. The day was just as beautiful as yesterday had been, with sporadic high clouds, beautiful blue skies, and sunshine that warmed me all the way to my bones.
Declan reached out and set his hand on my thigh, and the familiar tingles heated me the rest of the way.
“Is it like that all the time?” I asked him. “Do you feel hot?”
He chuckled. “I usually run warm, but my body is especially efficient at adjusting to the climate. For the most part, I feel like it’s the perfect temperature all the time even though to you, my skin is warm to the touch.”
“Lucky.”
“Sure, you take the good with the bad. When my father gave me this serum, I thought it would just enhance my normal abilities. A little stronger, a little healthier, maybe better antibodies or something.”
“Like, yay, now I don’t have to get my flu shot?”
His fingers squeezed my thigh when he chuckled. “Exactly.”
“What else?” I asked. “Are you like…immortal?” The idea had just come to me. If he couldn’t get sick and he was healthier, stronger, and faster than any human, maybe the aging process didn’t work the same either.
“Not as far as I know. I suppose talking with somebody who can actually test for these kinds of things would probably be a good idea, but I wasn’t about to let my father do that.”
“Do you really think he did this for his own personal reasons? I mean, maybe he is just trying to make the world a better place. Creating something that’ll potentially cure so many diseases and help people. People like Randy’s son.”
He stared out the window, quiet for a minute. When he spoke, his voice was low. “If that’s what my gut was telling me, I would have spoken with him already. In fact, I’d put everything I have into building up this research. But I know my father. He only adopted me because it looked good in the public eye. Because he got something out of
it. It boosted his stocks and gave him more investments in the company. Probably a dozen other things I don’t even know about. He’s not a horrible man, but he is selfish at times. Narcissistic. I walk a fine line because I owe him a lot for how far I’ve come. But I worked my ass off to build this company more. And I’ve seen who he really is. I can’t risk upsetting him, but I can’t be fully truthful with him either.”
I glanced over to see his face. He looked as solemn as he sounded. I touched his hand briefly. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what it’s like to have a relationship like that.”
He looked over and then lifted his hand to brush his thumb down my cheek. “And I hope you never do. But, as I said, I owe him a lot. If not for him, I wouldn’t be where I am. And I probably wouldn’t have met you. That counts as a win in my book.”
The warmth from his words spread through my body. I wouldn’t have met him either, and so far there was plenty to like. Even love. Declan was unlike any other man I’d met. And certainly not like the boys I’d known in college. He didn’t seem to want to mess around with my emotions or use me for anything. He truly seemed to care unconditionally. Kind of like my dad.
It was crazy how much alike they were, and how much I’d grown to respect Declan in a few short days.
I pulled off the highway and headed toward the mountains, a familiar excitement building inside. This was my free place. Even back in college when my heart seemed to ache every single day, I could come out here and lose myself in the trees and the green, and the world would, even if only momentarily, be at peace.
“I like watching you drive,” Declan said. “Like you enjoy it.”
“I do. Another kind of freedom, I suppose.”
He was quiet while I turned down a dirt road and found a spot to park. When we were settled, I looked over and warned him, “I still have so many questions.”
“That’s why we’re here. And I know you need this.”
I did. I’d needed this for weeks now. When I came out here, I didn’t have to worry so much about real life. The forest was like a cocoon, keeping me warm and safe and taking away all the rest.
We both stepped out of the car and put on our backpacks. Mine felt lighter than it had when I’d packed it back at home. I narrowed my eyes at Declan. “Did you take something out of my bag?”
He grinned. “You might as well leave yours here. I’ve got everything else in mine.”
Frowning, I pulled my backpack around to the front, unzipped it, and saw nothing but a handkerchief left in the depths. “Declan.”
“It'll be easier this way,” he said.
“Easier?”
He plucked my backpack from my hand and tossed it in the back seat. “Let’s go.”
I poked him in the shoulder, reveling in the warmth of his skin and the strength of his muscles. He wore long shorts that showed off strong toned and tanned legs. And the T-shirt he wore hugged his pecs and biceps, affording me a great view of his physique. Yeah, so he was stronger, but I could still carry my own backpack.
Wondering what Declan had in mind, I joined him at the head of the trail. “This is my favorite hike,” I told him.
His fingers curled around mine. “Good. I get to learn more about you this way too.”
We started up the trail, and I hated that he had to release my hand, but there were parts of it that were only wide enough for one person. Part of the reason why I loved this trail so much was that it was secluded, not many knew about it, and the further up you went there were even fewer people. It went all the way to the top of the peak, but my favorite part was the waterfall.
“Have you hiked here with your dad?” Declan asked.
I nodded. “He’s the one who showed me the place. He said he found it when he was hiking with Mom before I was born. They did a lot of that back then.”
“Do you miss her?” When I glanced back, he shrugged. “I mean I’m sure you do, but I don’t remember much about my mom.”
“How young were you when…?”
“Six years old. One day I was with her, and the next she’d passed away. It…” He sighed. “I don’t really remember it. Just that I went into foster care after that. Three homes until Christopher Dark decided he wanted to adopt a son—someone to carry on his name since he and his wife didn’t have kids. I barely knew her either—she passed away about a year after the adoption.”
My heart ached for him. He could barely remember a mom who had probably loved him unconditionally, and then there had been foster care for years before Mr. Dark had come along and adopted him, only to use him in some sort of experiment for a purpose we still didn't know.
I swallowed and nodded. I could relate just a little. But was it better or worse that I’d had my mom for longer only to lose her?
“I miss my mom every day,” I admitted. “But it’s better now, good memories. It was hardest when I was a teenager and I was dealing with being a girl, with a dad who tried his hardest but still couldn’t relate. And in college…” I sighed. “I guess even now, I still wish she was here. Just to spend time with, joke around with as women, get lunch and shop. Everyday mundane things you don’t think you’ll miss until you don’t get them anymore.”
I felt Declan’s hand touch my back. The warmth and support it brought me made me turn and put my arms around his neck. I kissed him with abandon, loving when a low groan came from his throat.
“What was that for?” Declan asked when I leaned back to look at his eyes. They were shielded by sunglasses, but he pulled them off and propped them on his head so he could see me without that barrier.
“Thank you. That’s all. Just…thank you.”
He smiled, eyes squinting. “If I recall correctly, you thanked me enough last night.”
“And if we weren’t in the middle of a National Forest, I’d thank you again.” My mouth watered at the idea of having him inside of me or something else just as naughty.
His gaze searched our surroundings. “It looks like we're alone.”
I laughed and started back up the trail, loving the burn in my legs from the small incline. “Wait till we get further up, it’s even better. Trees all around and the waterfall, so loud you can barely hear your own thoughts.”
“Sounds beautiful.”
We walked in companionable silence for a few minutes while thoughts raced in my head.
“Go ahead,” Declan said with amusement in his voice. “I know you’re thinking about things and the questions that you have. I’ll answer them all.”
“How fast can you go? Like…when you run or whatever.”
“You mean, have I ever timed myself? Like when I raced out to get the mail or something?”
I threw him a laughing look over my shoulder. “Okay, I see your point.”
“How far up is that waterfall?”
I looked around, estimating how far we’d come. “About a mile, I’d say.”
He stopped on the trail and pulled off his watch.
“What are you doing? I asked.
“Here.” He set the watch in my hand. “Time me. To the waterfall and back. See how long it takes.”
I stepped to the side of the trail, just in case someone else showed up. But it looked like we were alone today.
Declan put his hand over mine and guided my finger to a button on the side. “Just press this, and the timer will start.”
I looked up at him, torn between doubt and amazement. “You’re really going to do this?”
He settled his glasses on my head as well and then gave me a quick kiss. “Yes.”
I laughed and nodded. “Okay. Ready? Go!”
He took off in a blur, making my mouth drop open. I was paying as close attention as I could, and I barely saw the motion as he raced away and vanished into the trees. I glanced down at the watch, seeing only five seconds had passed.
Then I looked back up to the break in the trees. No way he’d be back in the next few seconds. Then I glanced around, anxious, hoping we’d keep this moment of solitude
.
One more glance at the watch. Ten seconds.
He’d be at least another minute, right? Or—
There! Another blur through the trees and suddenly Declan was standing next to me with a rush of air. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at him unbelieving.
He was hardly out of breath. He put his arm around me and grinned. “Time?”
“Oh.” I looked down and wonder filled me. The clock had just passed twenty seconds. “How did you…? Did you go all the way there?”
He touched my cheek, and his fingers were wet. “From the waterfall,” he explained. “And when he lifted his other hand, there was a pink flower in it. He tucked it behind my ear. It too had water on it. “And from right next to the waterfall.”
Words failed me. Declan took that moment to kiss me, sliding his tongue along my lips.
He smiled at me. “Faster than you expected? Or slower?”
“Faster. So much faster. This is…” I still couldn’t find the words. It was amazing. So, I told him just that. “That's amazing. You don’t even know. I have to tell my dad about this.”
He laughed. “Do you tell your dad about all the amazing things your boyfriend can do?”
The word boyfriend wormed its way into my heart. Yes, he was my boyfriend. In fact, I was coming to realize he was more. He had already revealed his feelings to me and mine were close to the same. It gave me a jolt.
I covered it with a smile. “Not everything.”
“Good. I also scoped out the area up there. We’re definitely alone.” He grinned. “You know if you want to thank me again.”
My stomach swelled with excitement. Any chance I had to get my hands on Declan made me want to pounce. But still, out here?
“Let me show you,” Declan said.
Before I could say a word, he scooped me up in his arms and held me close to his chest.
“Hold on,” he suggested.
I clenched my hands in his shirt, though I knew without a doubt that he wouldn’t drop me.
Then I prepared myself as much as I could. It still made my stomach swirl and my mouth open in surprise when he took off. The world blurred around us, greens and blues and browns, as we raced to the waterfall. I could hear his soft, even breaths, but more than that, I could hear the accelerated beat of my heart. And the crunch of his shoes on gravel at such a fast, staccato pace, I could hardly believe it.