I nodded, trying to calm my heart rate, which had noticeably sped up. I could feel my heartbeat and wasn’t sure if that was normal. Was I meant to feel my own heartbeat?
“That’s great,” I said. “I can’t wait. It’s going to be really lonely until then, though.”
That confused frown was back on Declan’s face. “Why would you be lonely until Easter?”
“Because it’s months away! I’m going to miss you both so much.”
“Sonny, we’ll see you before then.”
“Are you sure?”
He looked at me like I was mad. Was I the mad one? I really should have stayed sober for this.
“Yeah, I’m sure. I’m not having you live away from us for months at a time. You can come back and visit at the weekends. Erik and I can visit you, too.”
He tugged at my hand and I took a step nearer to him so we were almost chest to chest. I felt the brush of his shirt when he inhaled deeply and filled his lungs.
When he spoke, I felt his exhale on my lips. “I wish there was a way for us to be closer together all the time.”
“I’ll give up my job and get a new one here. And I can get a place to stay in town, if Erik doesn’t want us both crashing his lovely little cottage.”
Declan shook his head. “I didn’t think any of this through. I assumed we’d all— I don’t know, I assumed we’d all be together, out in the open. And we’d all live together. But you’re right, we can’t both just invite ourselves to stay in his cottage.”
As he said that, I noticed a movement above Declan’s head. Looking up, I saw mistletoe hanging there, directly over Declan. It was held up by a long, slender tentacle.
And, at the end of the tentacle, was Erik, his polo shirt rucked up from where his tentacle extended out of his side and a curious expression on his face.
I wondered how much of that he’d heard. That could be awkward.
The mistletoe dipped lower and Declan looked up, realised what was happening, and smiled. That same, beautiful, genuine smile again.
I leaned in and kissed Declan. He was just too beautiful not to kiss.
His lips moved against mine, languid and soft, his tongue slid into my mouth and I wanted to be consumed completely.
He pulled back. “You taste of peppermint. Have you been eating sweets again?”
“Hey, it’s Christmas! I’m allowed.”
It had been my emotional-support peppermint, okay?
Declan laughed and dipped his head to mine again, taking my mouth and owning me.
Chapter 28
Erik
It had only taken me a minute to establish that Sonny was not upstairs, which meant I’d followed Declan towards the kitchen pretty quickly. And I’d heard Sonny’s blabbering. He looked flushed from alcohol, though not drunk. Just tipsy enough to lose his filter and blurt out his fears.
He’d always seemed so confident and happy with himself and with our new relationship that I hadn’t realised how many thoughts had been whirring round his head.
I had assumed he’d taken it in stride. He’d been the one to lead the way into this thing, after all. Now I knew better, I’d make sure I checked in with him more often, but I was very new to this and I was learning.
Having heard him worry about where he’d live, though, I could calm that fear straight away.
I slid another of my tentacles out and moved nearer to them so I could wind it around their bodies.
“I’d like you both to move in with me. If you don’t want to leave your flat or your job, Sonny, we can work something else out. Get somewhere to live near you.”
