“I’ll call the cops in a little bit to report the deaths,” I say.
“Dad wants to see me tomorrow, so I’ll fill him in. He can talk to the chief of police and make sure my name is as far away from this as possible. With him just being fired though…of course, I’ll have eyes on me.”
I hum and wrap my arms more securely around him. This is my first time staying over in his bed. When we finish fucking, I usually hang out for a while and we talk but judging from how he’s holding me—and the fact that he didn’t give me a shirt or a pair of shoes—I’m not going anywhere tonight.
It’s been years since I’ve slept with someone, but I like Declan being so close.
“Guess it’s all over now,” he mutters. “Well, kinda. I’ll have Dad keep his ear to the ground about the murder case. Who knows? Maybe Jadon wanted to get money so bad because someone threatened to kill him. Were the bodies staged?”
“Yeah, hold on.” I untangle myself from his arms and head to the living room to grab my phone. When I get back in bed, I show him the picture I snapped. “See how their wrists and ankles are bound? Looks like a hit.”
“You’re probably right. I think he might have been murdered by some of the loan sharks after him. Poor kid got caught in the crossfire.”
He hands my phone back and I place it on the nightstand. Then I adjust us until we’re lying down once again. “You’re free now, Declan. Guess you don’t need my help anymore.”
He tenses, but says, “You’re supposed to teach me to spar. Or are you going back on your word?” He glares up at me, though I see the hint of uncertainty creeping in his gaze.
“Nah. We’re still sparring.” I kiss his forehead and smile when he relaxes into me. “I’ll get you to stop being so fucking angry at some point. Stick with me, kid and you’ll be unstoppable.”
“Shut the fuck up and go to sleep,” he grumbles, turning over onto his other side. But I don’t miss the smile on his face.
CHAPTER 17
NICO
“Hands up,” I tell Declan, tapping his elbows. “You want to protect your pretty face.”
He rolls his eyes, but grins and raises his hands. “I know that.”
It’s been a few days since I spent the night with Declan and I haven’t left cloud nine yet. He was so warm and solid against me, nestling his body in my arms like he never wanted to let me go. Even when he was dead asleep, he pasted himself close, his arm and thigh draped around me, ensuring I didn’t leave.
The next morning, he gave me my bag of smelly clothes and pushed me out the door, telling me to never show up to his door smelling like death again. I stepped close to him, gave him a lingering kiss, and said, “I’ll think about it.”
My lips still tingle from that scorching lip-lock.
This damn Whitlock man has me all fucked up and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“If you knew, it would be second nature,” I say, pushing away the memories of our night together. “When I square up, my hands automatically go?—”
Declan steps forward and throws a nice cross and I only catch it because I know his tells. He always puts weight on the side of his body he plans to throw a punch. I’m able to block his left and his right, moving back when he tries to aim a knee to my gut.
He grumbles, “You’re too fast.”
“I’m as fast as I need to be. You’re good, but you expect to land blows and get upset when you don’t.”
“Thank you, O wise one,” he snarks.
We go at it for a few more minutes, neither of us able to land a blow…
Until Declan overextends with a haymaker and rolls his ankle. I use that distraction to wrap my arms around his waist and tackle him to the ground. He wraps his legs around my waist and raises his arms over his face as I throw soft punches his way.
“I give, I give!” he shouts, laughter in his tone. “Aren’t you supposed to let me win, since you’re my teacher?”
When he lowers his hands, I slap him across the face, making him scowl. “If I let you win, you wouldn’t learn.”
“Get off,” he grumbles, rubbing his cheek. “That was a cheap shot.”
I poke my lip out. “Poor baby. Want me to kiss it better?”
