My heart aches.“Oh, Declan.”
“Then, when I was seventeen, my dad took me to an away game and was so distracted, screaming at me on the drive home, that he ran a stop sign and we were hit by a truck.”
I squeeze his hand.
Declan smiles grimly.“He died instantly, and I was pretty banged up.Rumors started to swirl after the accident that I had caused it, that I’d killed my dad, that I’d wanted him dead.”He swallows and looks away.“I did want him dead.I hated him.”
“You didn’t cause the accident,” I whisper.
“I got a lot of looks after he died, a few calls from reporters wanting a story.”
“That’s why you hated me when we met,” I realize.
“I wanted to, but I could never hate you.Even when I was trying to stay away from you, I couldn’t.”
I understand why he’s so closed off now.“I’m sorry that happened to you.”
“Me too.”
“What did your mom do?Your grandma?”
“They tried to protect me, but it was no use.My mom looked into getting a divorce, but she knew my dad would fight for custody.She didn’t want us to be alone with him, so she stayed.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“She died when I was twenty-two.Heart attack.”
I lean my head on his shoulder.
Declan wraps his arm around me.“I’m sorry.I didn’t mean to bring the vibe down.”
“No, I’m glad you told me.I want you to be able to tell me anything.”
“Me too,” he agrees.
I lean forward, kissing him, and he cups my face, kissing me back.
“You know, I meant what I said,” he murmurs between kisses.
“About what?”I ask breathlessly.
“Moving in with me.”
I groan as he sucks on a spot on my neck that sends tingles through my body.“It’s too soon.”
He shakes his head.“No.”
I sigh at his stubbornness, then moan as he kisses lower.
“I have ways to make you say yes,” he warns me.
I laugh.“I’d like to see you try.”
“Game on.”
I’m confident until Declan strips me in record time and dives between my legs like a man on a mission.He eats me out with the same focus and determination I’ve seen him use on the ice, and something about that is so hot.
Declan pushes one finger inside me as he sucks my clit into his mouth.It doesn’t take long before I’m coming all over his mouth.
