“At least we didn’t consummate the marriage,” he retorted.
“Is that even a thing still?”
“How the fuck should I know? I didn’t even do repeats until your huge cock and sexy as fuck face barged into my life.”
“Well, I’ve put a ring on it before, but not this kinda ring.”
16
DECLAN
“What the fuck do you mean you put a ring on it before? You said you weren’t married.”
I’d never been a possessive guy. I’d been with twosomes and threesomes and more, and jealousy never figured into it. Ever. Not until now. Vibrant green-hued rage surged through me like a tidal wave, making me see red.
“Settle the fuck down. I’m not married. I got close. Once.”
“How close?”
“Well, I didn’t get left at the altar. Not technically, anyway.”
“That’s not cryptic or anything.”
“My high school sweetheart came from a well-to-do family. Her grandfather was a politician, so they sent her to public schools to show he was a man of the people or some shit. Anyway, she hid our relationship from her family until she turned eighteen. When we came out of the closet, her family wasn’t rude or anything, but they were standoffish. Fast forward a few years, I proposed. Long story short, her daddy offered to pay me off if I canceled the wedding. He didn’t want his daughter giving birth to beige babies. I told him to fuck off, and he upped the ante. He offered to release her trust fund to call it off, and she took the deal. She never showed up for the wedding rehearsal.”
My mouth fell open. What the fuck is wrong with people? It’s no wonder he side-eyed the SUV and hotel room. Not to mention the comments he’s made about me paying for things.
“So… there you have it. It’s why I don’t do relationships.”
I bit my tongue because we’d only just met, but this felt like a relationship to me. At least, I thought so. I didn’t do relationships either. We’re a fucking mess. Two control freak tops who didn’t do relationships, and despite what he said, I had a sneaking suspicion this wasn’t a prank, and we were definitely in a relationship.
“I can understand why.”
“What about you? Any near misses?”
“Does this one count?”
“It’s a prank,” he stated, his tone firm.
“So, then… no. No close calls.”
“You’ve never been in a relationship at all?”
“No.” I reached for the shampoo as I asked, “Was she it?”
“Unless you count Scott’s sister.”
“Wait. What?”
He took the shampoo out of my hand, stepped under the showerheads on my side of the shower, and washed my hair himself. I’d never had a lover wash my hair. Hell, other than when I was a kid, only my hairdresser had shampooed my hair.
“Lucia and I were… fuck buddies, I guess you could say.”
“Aren’t you…”
“In the same unit? Yeah. We’re both squad leaders in different platoons, but yes, we’re in the same unit.”
“Is that why she didn’t come on this trip?”
