“Because.”
“Because…?”
He didn’t answer, though he opened his mouth as though he were about to speak. I watched him, felt the pain and shame and longing rolling off him, the confusion and hurt. I could smell his mingling scents and my hand tightened on his shoulder instinctively. I wanted nothing more than to wrap my arms around him, let my tentacles out to slide around his middle and over his thighs and pull him as close to me as he could get.
But that was whatIwanted. What Declan needed was something different. Not soft cuddles.
I made my voice hard, the way I knew always shocked him. Sure enough, when I said, “You don’t have a reason,” he looked up at me, eyes wide in surprise.
“Ex-excuse me?”
“You were afraid, which is understandable, but you let your fear get in the way of your happiness. OfSonny’s happiness. He said he loved you and you, what? Pretended not to hear him?”
I was pleased to see that Declan’s cheeks were heating with embarrassment. He nodded his head.
My voice grew harder. “You made Sonny’s choice for him. He wanted you, and you made his choice for him by denying him. If you weren’t interested in him, that would be different. But youdowant him, you just cut him out to save your pride.”
“No, I—”
I raised my eyebrows as Declan’s eyes flashed with a challenge, ready for whatever he would throw at me. But he didn’t say anything else. The words dried up on his tongue and he lowered his head in shame.
I actually felt my tentacles ripple out of my sides, undulating against my skin as they wanted to break out and touch. I stiffened in my seat, trying to keep them under control.
“I thought he felt sorry for me. That he wanted to tell me he loved me before I died. Only then I didn’t die.”
“You don’t think that now?” I asked.
He shook his head.
“That’s good,” I said. “What changed your mind?”
“I-I love him. And I want to tell him. Even though you said he’ll be okay, I—”
Leaning closer to him, I ducked my head so I could meet his lowered eyes. “Yes?”
“I’m afraid. I thought I’d lost him.”
Finally, I gave in to my instinct and slid my arm around his shoulder, pulling him close to me. I had to adjust my body so I was at an awkward angle, rather than dragging him down to my height. I still had to keep my tentacles pressed tightly inside me, but holding Declan in my arms was heaven.
I ran my hands over his back, soothing him.
“It’s okay,” I whispered. “He’s here. I’m so proud of you.”
“You are? Why?”
I nearly chuckled at the astonishment I heard in his voice. Instead, I answered. “I’m proud of you because admitting what you want is hard. Putting yourself out there is hard. And you’re working through a lot of stuff.”
Declan leaned into me, his hands snuck up my chest to grab at my shirt, as though he were afraid I’d pull back before he was ready for me to let go. If only he knew how much I wanted to wind myself around him and never let go.
“I thought I’d lostyou, too,” he whispered.
“I’m here.”
I’d meant to reassure him that I was going to be here to support him, that I was safe and well, but everything flew out of my head when Declan twisted round to face me and pressed his lips against mine.
They were warm and soft, and his kiss was gentle. He moved those lips against my own, encouraging me with soft kisses to kiss him back.
For a moment, I forgot everything and fell into that kiss. My arms tightened around him, pressing our bodies closer together and parting my lips to invite him inside.
