Declangrunted, moving a hand to Ash’s waist and stroking circles into the bare skinthere with his thumb.
Ashwas learning quickly that Declan was clingy after sex, and a total sweetheartabout it.
Thatwas nice. He’d been with a lot of guys who just rolled over and fell asleep.
Ashe was thinking that, Declan dipped his head to catch Ash’s lips, humming softlyas he pressed their mouths together. It was a clumsy, lazy kiss, but it madeAsh’s heart swell all the same.
Hecould have gotten used to clumsy, lazy kisses with Declan.
Heknewthat Declan needed to take it slow, that he wasn’t sure of himself yet, but itwas hard not to imagine a future with him. It was what Ash had always wanted.
“Ithink I could go for doing it again,” Declan said. “Not… in the next hour or so,but…”
Ashchuckled at that. “Oh, I’ll need a nap first. And probably a shower and a meal.I’m just saying. No complaints.”
“Mylegs are killing me,” Declan murmured.
“Minetoo,” Ash said. “But that’s not a complaint. I’m gonna be sore in the morningand I don’t know about you, but for me, that’s kinda hot.”
Declanchuckled. “I get it. You wanna try stumbling to the bed?”
Ashlaughed at that, amazed by how good Declan made him feel. Not just while theywere having sex, but after, too.
“I’lltry anything once.”
ChapterTwenty-Three
DespiteAsh saying that they needed to talk, Declan had woken up alone this morning, andAsh had been… completely normal all day.
Sonormal that it was as though nothing had happened last night. As though Declan’slife hadn’t changed forever over the last few days.
Whichwasweird, and Declan had no idea what to do about that.
Heknew what he wanted. His fingers itched to reach out and touch Ash, put hishands on his shoulders, or hold him around the waist and kiss his neck.Anything to get back that brief taste of closeness they’d had last night.
Declanwas sure Ash had stayed with him. He’d only woken once or twice during thenight, and only for a handful of seconds before going back to sleep, but Ashhad been there.
He’djust been gone when Declan was finally awake enough to say something.
Andnow he had no idea whattosay, or how to start the conversation, orwhether Ash maybe regretted what they’d done and was pretending it hadn’thappened.
Justthe thought of that was enough to make Declan’s heart hurt. He’d never felt likehe did last night before. Never felt so intensely close to another person.
Itwas all so new, and he didn’t know what it meant, and he didn’t know how theywere supposed to move forward from here. He felt as though he’d stepped outonto a patch of ice and hadn’t quite regained his balance yet.
“I’doffer you a penny for your thoughts, but I think I’d be short-changing you,”Ash said, startling Declan.
He realizedafter a moment that he’d been staring at a spot on the wall while he’d beentrying to think of some way to start a conversation. At least he could see nowthat Ash had been in the same spot. It wasn’t the most elegant conversationstarter ever, but it’d do.
“Well,they’re about you, so I think it’s okay if I give you them for free.”
Ashsmiled a tiny smile, taking a step closer to Declan and leaning back against thecounter in front of him so they were facing each other, with less than a footof space between them.
Theknot that had been sitting heavy in Declan’s stomach all morning eased a little.Ash wasn’t avoiding him.
They’djustbothbeen trying to figure out what to say to each other.
Declanwet his lips. “Last night was… I… umm.” He paused to clear his throat. “Waslast night okay?”
