Groaning, I opened my book and started to read, only I couldn’t focus on any of the words. All I could think about was how I was going to invite myself into Declan’s house and sneak into his kitchen alone.
More thunder rumbled in the sky, and I could feel the vibrations through my seat. It was going to bea doozy tonight. Instead of trying to read, I opened my blinds and turned off the lamp. The lightning looked like glowing veins as it spread across the darkness above. My mom always warned me about being near windows during a storm. She especially hated it when my dad would take me outside on the porch so we could watch the rain fall and dance in it. He was the reason I loved dancing in the rain.
The rain started off slow but only for a few seconds before it turned into a downpour. It hit my window, running in rivulets down the glass as if it were a race. The sound of it pounding on the roof, along with the wind, was so thunderous I was shocked the weather service hadn’t alerted my phone of a potential tornado.
Leaning my head against the window, I looked out at the lake and how the water rippled and swished around like tiny waves. A part of me wanted to go out and dance in the rain for old time’s sake. If I was at my parents’ house, my dad would’ve already dragged me outside. It’d been years since we’d done that together.
The wind died down after a few minutes, but the rain continued to pour. I was just about to open my book when something caught my attention. A light in the back of Declan’s house had turned on, casting aglow across his deck. It wasn’t bright, but it was bright enough for me to see him standing out there. He was as still as a statue while the rain beat against him. He was barefoot in only a pair of shorts. The only movement I could see from him was his chest heaving up and down.
Something was wrong.
An undeniable urge rippled through my chest, demanding that I go to him. I rushed down the stairs and out the front door. Bits of grass clung to my legs as I raced through his yard toward the back. All I knew was that I needed to help him.
I made it to the deck, but Declan’s eyes were closed. There was pain on his face, but it wasn’t like he was battling something physical. It was as if it was coming from a war within his soul.
I called out to him, but he didn’t respond. The sound of the downpour was so loud it had to have muffled my voice. Slowly, I made it up the deck stairs and reached out to touch his shoulder. His eyes flew open and he gasped, grabbing my wrist so fast that his movements were a blur.
It scared me and I instinctively stepped back, but he pulled me closer.
“Ayla, I’m sorry,” he said, his grip loosening but still holding onto me.
There was so much agony on his face that it broke my heart.
I gently pulled my wrist out of his grasp so I could touch his face. “What are you doing out here?” He shook his head, his gaze instantly dropping to the ground. “Tell me,” I demanded. “I just want to help you. Don’t you remember what we talked about at dinner?” His crystal blue eyes lifted to mine and I continued. “We talked about trust and honesty. You have to be able to trust me and tell me things. This won’t work if you don’t.” I held his face tighter and kissed him. His arms circled my waist and he deepened the kiss, his lips like fire against mine. The rain did nothing to cool them down. He pulled away first, his breathing deep and ragged. The way he looked at me with such raw passion made me tremble.
“I’m going to ask you again,” I said, moving closer. “What are you doing out here?”
He looked up at the sky and closed his eyes as the rain pelted against him. “It was raining like this the night my brother was killed. Our mission was to go after the Deluca brothers.” Declan opened his eyes and looked at me. The rain had started to calm down. “I was stationed at a building across the street while Elijah was in the alley. When the Delucas came out the back door, they somehow knew wewere there. The second I saw Joseph Deluca draw his gun and aim it at my brother, I focused on him and fired.”
My stomach clenched at the thought of him being there and witnessing his brother’s murder.
Declan blew out a strangled breath. “I wasn’t fast enough. Both weapons went off at the same time. Joseph killed my brother and I killed him. The mission failed.”
My eyes burned. “And you blame yourself?”
He shook his head and shrugged. “Everyone tells me it wasn’t my fault. But I keep thinking that if I was faster, Elijah would still be alive.”
“You can’t let the what-ifs haunt you for the rest of your life,” I murmured, wishing I could take his pain away. “Elijah wouldn’t want that for you.”
A laugh escaped his lips, but it was sad. “No. He’s probably wishing he could kick my ass right now.”
I laughed with him and hugged him, resting my head on his shoulder. Thunder rumbled above and more rain started to fall. I didn’t want to let him go, and I wasn’t about to leave him for the night.
“I think I know what you need,” I said into his ear, whispering the words.
I stepped back and looked into Declan’s eyes.His lips dropped to mine, and his gaze darkened with desire.
“What do I need?” he replied, his breath warm against my face.
It was a bold move, but I was going to do it.
I moved away from him and lifted my T-shirt over my head, exposing my breasts. “You need new memories of the rain,” I claimed, moving closer again. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my body against his.
Declan held me tight, his hands gripping the waistband of my shorts. “What do you want to do?”
I bit my lip. “I think you know.”
He kept his eyes on mine as he lowered my shorts and underwear to the ground; they were already soaked from the rain.
