Wecan think of a game plan.
As much as I want to play the wholeI’m an islandcard, I’m not stupid. I need help to get to the bottom of this.
As soon as I have Jadon in the ground, Nico and I are finished.
CHAPTER 14
NICO
Declan’s anger is radiating off him in waves. Probably made worse because he’s only gotten one hit on me while I’ve slapped the shit out of him at least twenty times.
He’s too mad and it’s clouding his judgment. He needs to learn to think through his anger. That’s the only way Carter will stay off his back.
It took effort not to yank Carter’s ass up and tell him to keep his hands off Declan. Yeah, Declan keeps telling me not to catch feelings but fuck all that. He belongs to me and I won’t tolerate anyone touching him in anger.
For the fifth time, Declan rushes at me and ends up on the mat, a snarl leaving his throat.
“Come on, Deck,” I murmur. “You can do better than this. I’ve seen you fight before. Then again,” I say as I push off him, “you’re used to catching people off guard.”
“Fuck you,” he growls and gets to his feet.
He’s not without skill, though. He started with a good stance, with amazing control of all his muscles, but he let his anger bleed in, pissed every time I evaded his strikes or madecontact with his pretty face. He becomes sloppy and uncoordinated when he gets too in his head.
After that time in the foyer, he’s at least learned to listen to my instructions and apply them. If I tell him to drop his arms, he does and he actually let me arrange his body into a better ready stance. He puffed up like a damn cat, but he stayed right where I put him.
I’m sure when he came here, he thought we’d immediately jump into talking, but while he’s upset, it’s not possible. He’ll try to go off half-cocked and end up dead or locked the fuck up.
When attitude comes into play, Declan is wildly impulsive. That’s fine for when he wants to kill someone, but it doesn’t work when we’re trying to solve the mystery of his blackmailer.
I want to teach Declan that rage and clear thinking can go hand in hand. I manage it often. No one knows when I’m truly angry—aside from Kai. They always think I have a clear head and run off logic. But oftentimes, I’m fucking pissed, but I give myself space to think.
Declan rushes at me, a roar leaving his throat as he throws a wild cross. I hook my arm around his elbow and bring his arm around his back, then shove him against the wall opposite us. He lets out a huff and tries to push off, but I’m bulkier than he is and I’m able to hold his weight with little effort, even with his squirming.
I put my mouth near his ear. “Think, Declan. Did you see an opening when you came at me?”
Through clenched teeth, he says, “No.”
“So why throw a reckless punch?” He pushes against me, but I press harder into him, our bodies flush against one another.
Instead of continuing with my instruction, I roll my hips,letting my cock fall between his ass cheeks. The loose sweatpants he has on allows me to nestle myself nicely.
I lean closer to him, nuzzling at his neck. “I might have to give you a deep dicking for you to think while you’re mad. I’m up for the challenge.”
“Who says I won’t be deep dicking you?” he grunts, gyrating against my erection.
I hum as I run my nose along his skin, pulling his sweaty scent into my lungs. “Your head is clear when it comes to sex, huh?” I kiss him quickly on the exposed skin of his neck, then push away from him. “Apply that to when you want to knock someone’s head between the washer and dryer, yeah?”
“How?” he asks, spinning around and adjusting his hard on. “When I’m mad, I’m fucking livid and want everyone to know.”
“But they don’tneedto know. How many times have you seen me mad?” He stares at me but doesn’t answer. “Exactly. I’m always pissed, I always want to beat someone’s ass for one reason or another, but no one ever knows. All they see is what I show them. Do that and no one can guess your next move.”
Declan nods and shakes out his limbs. Then he puts his hands up, his face blanking. It’s such a drastic change from his usual scowl that I’m taken aback, giving him room to snap an arm out and catch me with a solid right on my chin. I drop to one knee, grinning through the blood that fills my mouth.
“Just like that,” I tell him, standing to my full height and bouncing on the balls of my feet. “Again.”
Declan smiles so brightly that I’m nearly struck speechless. I haven’t seen him like this outside of the bedroom. He truly is a beautiful man. Even his little angry scowls draw me in. This though? I’m a fucking sucker for a grinning Declan.
Instead of charging at me, he takes measured steps,dodging a few strikes and getting around my back. I don’t allow him to get me in a hold, though. I turn with him and wrap my arms around his middle and toss him, grinning when he hits the mat with a thud. He curses and holds his hip, glaring up at me.
