“Where have you been?” I whisper against his skin. I turn and rest my chin on his leg and stare up at him. He taps his fingers across my cheek and down to my mouth. He draws across my lips and his eyes look like my memory of the daytime sky. It hurts to look at him, so I don’t.
“I think,” he says, tracing over my eyelids with his finger. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
I tilt my head to the side and he runs his fingers back to my mouth and I kiss them. Reverently. Worshipfully.
“What was it like? In your time?” he asks, folding one arm behind his head and lying back on the pillow. I slide up his body and rest my head against his chest.
“It smelled,” I chuckle. “It was crowded.”
“What was your life like?”
“I was at University when I met them.”
“How proper.” Declan smirks.
“I was well-to-do,” I admit. “I met them at a party.”
“What did you want to do? Before you changed?”
“I was studying to be a barrister. Which is something I honestly haven’t thought of in years.” I close my eyes. “I was a virgin.”
Declan chuckles. The sound moves his chest and I glare up at him. He brushes my hair out of my face and schools his look of disbelief.
“I was. Elizabeth had on this beautiful blue satin gown and her chest just…well.”
“Hard to say no?”
“Near impossible. I think she may have had a hand in it, though. I’ve never asked if they compelled me into bed, and I don’t think I want to know because I couldn’t bear to loathe them for it.”
“That’s cute.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your speaking changes when you get reflective.” Declan taps his fingers against my lips and I nip at him in jest. “You lapse into proper English.”
“That’s abhorrent.”
“Tell me the rest,” he prompts.
“It was indecent, and then it was done.”
“And you’ve been with them since?”
“Yes.”
“Alone, though.”
“I’ve been without you,” I answer.
“Alone.”
“As much.” I lay my head back. “But here you are.”
“I love you,” he blurts, and I roll my face around so I can see him again. His eyes are wide, but his face is relaxed. “I don’t know the why of it, but I can feel it. Like everything inside of me loves you, and so I have to, too.”
“I don’t understand any of this,” I tell him with an embarrassed laugh. “I thought finding a mate would be one thing, but this is so much more than I’d expected.”
“I’m pleased I didn’t disappoint you.” Declan smiles.
