Declan locked the door behind us and turned to find me watching him. “What?”
“Nothing. Just thinking about how this is going to work.”
“What part?”
“All of it. London. Us. Building something that isn't just about surviving.”
“One day at a time,” he said. “We figure it out as we go.”
“You make it sound easy.”
“It won't be easy. But it'll be worth it.”
I crossed to him and kissed him again because I was apparently addicted to the way he tasted now. He kissed me back with the same intensity, his hands finding my waist and pulling me flush against him.
“Bed,” he said against my mouth.
“Yeah.”
We made it to the bedroom without separating for more than a few seconds at a time. By the time we collapsed onto the mattress, we were both breathing hard and my ribs werescreaming in protest, but I didn't care. This was worth it. He was worth it.
Declan pulled back and looked down at me with concern bleeding through the want. “We should stop. You're still hurt.”
“I'm fine.”
“You're wincing.”
“Only a little.”
“Troy.”
“Declan.” I pulled him back down. “I'm fine. And I want this. I want you. So either kiss me or get out of my way so I can kiss you.”
He smiled and it transformed his whole face. “Bossy.”
“You like it.”
“I really do.”
He kissed me slow and thorough, taking his time in a way that made my toes curl. His hands roamed over my body with careful reverence, avoiding the worst of the bruises while still making me feel like I was the center of his entire world.
We didn't go further than kissing and touching. My body wasn't up for more and Declan was too aware of my limitations to push. But it was enough. More than enough. Just being here with him, safe and whole and allowed to have this, felt like everything I'd been chasing without knowing what I was looking for.
When we finally settled under the covers, his arms came around me and pulled me against his chest. I felt his heartbeat steady under my ear, felt his breathing even out as exhaustion finally caught up with him.
“London's going to be good,” I said into the darkness.
“Yeah. It is.”
“We're going to figure this out.”
“We are.”
“And we're going to be okay.”
“Troy.” His voice was soft but certain. “We're already okay. Everything else is just details.”
I closed my eyes and let myself believe it. Let myself feel the weight of his arms around me and the warmth of his body and the certainty that for the first time in a long time, I wasn't bracing for impact.
