She looks down at the book in her lap. “Yeah, I’ve always been able to.” She smiles back at me, and it feels like I’ve been punched in the junk. It’s a wide genuine smile that I normally don't see because I’m being a complete ass to her, but it lights her face up in a way that’s much more alluring than I can handle right now. “It made the bus journeys to and from college pass a lot quicker.”
“You didn’t have a car?” She laughs at my surprise.
“God, you sound like such a spoiled rich kid. Lots of people can’t afford cars, Declan.” I can feel my cheeks heat slightly at her response, but I don’t want to turn this into a fight; she’s got a bit of a point. “I did ride back and forth with Max, but I made use of the bus a lot too. Max had a life and partied a lot more than I did. Don’t knock it until you try it. Not having to worry about anything during that ride was blissful.”
I try to think about the last time I didn't have to worry about things, and I can’t remember anything like that. Highschool maybe? Back then, it was parties, football, and girls. College was similar, but by then I was ready for whatever I needed to do to take my place in the Neighpalm empire. So I still partied, and I still fucked my fair share of girls, but my studies were important to me. I was also going into the offices and learning the ropes from Dad and Poppy, so there wasn't time for much else. I certainly had learned by then that women saw me as a commodity and not someone they could have a loving partnership with. It was all take, take, take, and none of them supported me for me.
Blowing out a deep breath, I decide to share a little about my life with her. Try and make her see I’m not really the spoiled rich kid she thinks I am. Although I’m not ready to dive head first into a romantic relationship with her, that doesn’t mean we can’t start laying the foundation. We’ve already got the physical chemistry, and she’s got Princess’ approval. If I want her to end up liking me for who I am, then that makes it obvious what I need to do: show her the real Declan who doesn’t always have his head up his ass or his foot in his mouth.
“I lived in the dorms for the first year of college, but I couldn’t have my cat with me and I missed my family. It’s embarrassing to admit, but I didn’t make it too far into my first year before I asked Dad to buy me a house close by. Thomas, Kai, and Holden all moved in when it was their time for college, but Oliver decided to live in the dorms, as did Jacinta and Jaxon when it was their turn. Of course, we all came home as often as possible, but it was the first time in our lives, since being adopted, that we’d been without Dad or Nana and Poppy around.” I snort when I think back to the chaos of that time. I don’t know if Mrs. Heyton would have died laughing or broken out into sobs if she saw some of the monstrosities that came out of that kitchen in the early days of being on our own. There’s a reason that woman has the power to stop any of the Summers with a single word. We know we’ve got it good with her.
“To say we had quite a learning curve was an understatement, but I'm now proud to admit that I can cook and clean and do all those things that ‘normal’ people have to do. It also made me realize that I didn't want to be without my family. Sure, Jax, Jacinta, and Oliver were near enough, but it just wasn’t the same as having all of us at home. I don’t know if it’s because we’re all a little… broken in our own ways, but I think I’ve never really felt completely at ease when my family is too far from me.” I cringe slightly at the next memory but choose to share it with her anyway. I’m already putting myself out there more than I even expected to, but there’s something about her that makes me feel like she’ll be a good listener. Not to mention, it might help her understand why up until now we’ve been anti-relationships.
“As much as I love my family, there was a bit of a drawback… Dating became a nightmare. The girls we brought home wouldn't get along, and tensions were always high. We decided to keep our private lives exactly that, private, but it caused a rift in our once harmonious household. Eventually, we all just stopped dating and threw ourselves into the businesses and more temporary solutions. A never-ending parade of one night stands passed through that house, and it has continued like that for the most part since. Apart from Thomas’ big mistake and Jaxon’s latest, no one has ever been serious with anyone for longer than I can remember.”
I fall silent, not sure what else I can say right now. I think that’s why the idea of sharing Harlow is so appealing to everyone. We’re all at the age where one night stands are just not what we want anymore. I know Kai especially wants a woman to spoil and love and to have a family with.
“Look, Declan, I appreciate you telling me all of this. I’m going to be honest, right now there’s a lot to process, but I want you to know that I’ve heard everything, and as much as you guys might not have taken a chance to get to know me, Idowant to learn more about what makes you all tick. Call me crazy or idealistic or stupidly optimistic, but I feel like maybe there’ll be something about each of you that I could even like. Maybe we all have more in common that we could figure out if you all just get out of your own way. I don’t know how much of myself I’m ready to share just now, but I think that if I ever get the chance that I should’ve had in the first place, well… who knows?” There’s an almost sad smile on her face, and I regret that I’ve somehow put it there, but at least I’m trying. That’s got to be worth something in the long run, right?
After her question, which I don’t think either of us know how to answer, we both let the silence grow between us. Despite how the conversation ended, or maybe because I was actually honest and a little bit open with her, the silence is more comfortable than I would’ve expected. A little more time passes before I see her shoulders are totally relaxed. She’s curled up into her seat as much as she can, her head stuck in a book. I take advantage of her distraction, studying her out of the corner of my eye as I try to make sure we also don’t crash into something, and she almost manages to startle me when an unexpected giggle breaks the silence.
That’s an opportunity that I just can’t pass up. For the first time in a long time, I want this woman’s attention on me. I want to know what she’s thinking and what’s bringing a smile to her face. “What are you reading?” She looks up in shock, and then her face flushes with embarrassment. “Come on, tell me about it. It’s been a while since I read a good book, so I may have to borrow it after you're done.”
This comment earns an even more extreme reaction. Her eyes just about bug out of her head before she slams it closed.
“Harlow,” I growl at her, and this time her eyes heat with something other than embarrassment. Hmm, I like that reaction from her. “Tell me,” I demand.
“Well, it’s a paranormal romance book,” she starts.
“What, like vampires or something?” I ask, and she looks surprised. “Harlow, I produce movies. I know what paranormal romance is.”
“Oh yeah, I guess you would. Well, this one is shifters, wolf shifters to be specific, and, well, it’s a….” Her last few words are mumbled, so I can’t catch them.
“I'm sorry. What was that?” I push, unwilling to give it up now that I see how badly she doesn’t want to answer. It’s got to be something horribly smutty for her to be so shy about it.
She sighs her frustration before blurting out, “It’s a reverse harem romance.” I run the words through my head.Reverse harem. So a harem is a man with lots of women...And then my eyebrows jump when I figure out what the reverse of that is. Well, well, well, maybe Nana’s idea won't be shot down as quickly as I had thought.
“Oh really?” She looks at me with trepidation like I’m going to judge her. “Does it have lots of hot sex in it? And is it just one woman with multiple male partners, or are there other females involved, or do any of the men have relationships?” I prod, and this time it'shereyebrows that jump in surprise.
“Actually, this one is just one woman with multiple males, and two of the males have a sexual relationship with each other as well as the woman. But I’ve read others that have a female in the harem as well, but she’s usually just involved with the woman. When the other woman starts becoming involved with the other men, it heads toward the polyamory genre instead.”
“Like our Jilly, right? That’s what kind of relationship she has.” Something I said has her looking thoughtful and a bit surprised, but I’m not sure which part—whether it’s because I called herourJilly or if it’s because I know what kind of relationship she has or even what polyamory is.
“Jilly is practically a Summers. She’s been working on our family plane for years, and Nana took her under her wing from the very start. She’s much like Hope in that regard. Nana likes saving the wounded birdies. Not to mention she’s Jonah’s sister. I think you met him when you went to the studio with Oliver. As for me knowing what polyamory is, I wanted to be informed when Jilly announced that's the kind of lifestyle she wanted to live.” She frowns a little when I admit that, so I quickly continue. “I mean, it makes sense in her profession, but I wanted to make sure she wasn’t getting into something that would get her heart broken. It’s my protective family instincts at play, I suppose, but I couldn't do any less for her than I would do for Jacinta or Hope.”Or you,I add in my head, but I don't think she’s ready to hear that yet. Not to mention, it could send the wrong message if I refer to her in the same sentence as Jacinta. I donotwant this woman thinking I could see her as a sister. “But it seems to work for her. She’s introduced us to a couple of her partners when we’ve been overseas, and of course we know James and Chris.”
“I can’t wait to meet her. Do you think she’ll talk to me about it? I'm fascinated. I mean, it’s like one of my books in real life. I’d love to know how it all works in reality, but I don't want her to feel like I’m prying.”
I chuckle at her enthusiasm, and my dick, which had gone down, roars to life again. Harlow may find herself with firsthand information very soon. “I’m sure she’d be glad to talk to you. She’s not shy or embarrassed about it at all.”
She bounces on her seat in excitement again, much to my amusement. It’s cute seeing her enthusiastic about something. She’s always been combative during our interaction, which I know is entirely my fault, but it’s nice to see a different side of Harlow. I want to keep seeing this side, so I can’t help the teasing that escapes my mouth.
“So, Harlow, you didn't tell me if the sex scenes are hot.” That stops her bouncing, and I see her body vibrate before she turns to look at me. I can feel the heat of her stare on my cheek, but I need to keep my eyes on the road, so I don’t turn.
“It’s so hot, Declan, that I regularly need to use my BOB to relieve the pressure.”
Fuck me.I was teasing her, but she just brought the thunder and knocked all the wind out of my sails. My cock is once again hard as fuck. “Much like I needed to take the edge off last night,” she tags on.
And slam dunk. Put in my place and there’s nothing left to say. Or is there? “Did you moan my name as you came? Because I moaned yours.” The tension in the cab is off the charts, and she squirms on her seat like she needs relief. It’s all I can do not to pull the truck over, haul her into the sleeper cab, and fuck her brains out. Taking my eyes off the road, they meet her green ones, and I see her look from me to the cab behind, but then she shakes her head. That fog of lust is gone, and a new light enters her eyes.
