Chapter Thirty-Three Declan
Chapter Thirty-Three
Declan
I slip through the door and into the main hall of the house. The lights are low, and the bass of the music in the ballroom nearly rattles the walls. There is a couple entangled on the stairs as I pass, but it’s a man and woman, so I walk on by without paying them any attention.
There’s only one person I’m worried about finding. And hopefully, I’m not too late.
Turning the corner into the room, I scan it to find him. There are roughly two dozen people here, mingled in groups in the corners and on the furniture. In the center of the room is a makeshift dance floor where bodies writhe and move as one to the fast-paced music.
“Barclay!” a deep voice bellows over the music.
There in the center of the room is Pierce. And under his arm is Colin.
My eyes connect immediately with Colin’s as I pace across the room toward them. He’s watching me with a look of astonishment and awe. His lips are slightly parted, and his brows are pinched inward. My appearance takes him by surprise, which is good. It’s supposed to.
“You made it!” Pierce calls as he claps me painfully on the shoulder.
I shrug away from his touch and stare at the man on his arm. A feeling of betrayal threatens to build inside of me, but I know better.
Colin might still be with Pierce. Hell, he might even plan to marry him tomorrow. But this is who Colin is. He doesn’t stand up for himself enough. He doesn’t fight against authority.
“Let’s get you a drink,” Pierce says haughtily. There’s a man tending bar who definitely doesn’t work for us. As he passes me a whisky, I eye them both skeptically. “Relax,” Pierce says with a slur. He’s clearly already drunk. “The party is just getting started.”
I can’t take my eyes off of Colin. The feeling that is currently coursing through my veins is half determination and half terror. What if I’m wrong? What if he does want Pierce more?
I’m just a memory to him now.
No. Like Blaire said, I’m the love of his fucking life.
“So,” Pierce says, leaning toward me. “You’re here, so I assume you’ve given some thought to last night’s offer.”
My molars clench as I stare into Colin’s fierce blue eyes. He looks so innocent right now, although I know he’s far from it.
“I need to hear him say this is what he wants,” I mutter coldly, nodding my head toward Colin.
His eyes widen a fraction. He expected me to turn this down.
Pierce presses his lips to the side of Colin’s head. “Go ahead, baby. Tell him.”
“Don’t encourage him,” I say in an angry tone. “Let him speak on his own.”
Pierce turns a bitter glare on me, but he doesn’t say anything. And he won’t. Not in front of Colin, who is currently standing still as a statue, watching me intensely. I think he’s trying to read my mind. He wants to understand why I’m doing this.
And I understand his hesitation. He knows as well as I do that once he says yes to this, there is no going back. One touch. One kiss. One moment together, and he’ll be mine again.
“Yes,” he murmurs before swallowing and speaking louder. “Yes, I want to.”
Pierce grins wickedly. “Wonderful. The night is still young. My love, why don’t you go fetch me and Declan another drink?”
I glance down to see my glass is still full, which means he’s sending Colin away to speak to me alone. After gazing at me suspiciously, Colin disappears back to the bar to get us another round, and I take the opportunity to throw mine back.
The moment Colin is out of earshot, Pierce steps up toward me. “What are you playing at?” he asks coldly, all charm and glamour gone.
“I think you know exactly what I’m playing at,” I mutter in response.
This makes him laugh sarcastically. “You really think you have a chance because you got a little haircut and put on some clean clothes?”
“I know I have a chance because I’m a hundred times better for Colin than you are,” I spit back.
I realize that by having this very argument with him, I could be ruining my chances of having Colin where I want him tonight, but I can’t hold back. Pierce wanted a challenge, and I’m going to give him one.
“We’ll see about that,” he argues.
“Aye, we will,” I say.
“When I found him, he was so broken,” he mutters in my face. “I built him back up and trained him exactly how I want him. You won’t take him away from me. Not after you were the one who broke him.”
“He’s not a fucking dog, you arrogant prick,” I growl in return.
“Maybe not,” he replies before leaning in and whispering next to my ear, “But I’m the one who makes him howl like one.”
I shove him away as he laughs, and it takes everything in me not to punch him in the face. Colin walks up with two drinks in his hand, giving one to each of us.
“Is everything all right?” he asks.
“Yes, baby,” Pierce replies, kissing him on the side of his head while staring at me. “Now, why don’t you go dance with our host? I want to watch you two together.”
Colin watches me skeptically before I turn sideways, gesturing to the small dance floor. I shoot back the fresh whiskey before dropping the glass on a nearby table. Colin looks nervous as he lets me lead him out to the crowd.
The music has a steady beat, and most of the people are writhing together, so I hold Colin around the waist and pull him against me. I’m not one for dancing, and you’d never catch me on any dance floor, but I’m making exceptions for him. I will always make exceptions for him.
Colin’s arms wind around my neck as he sways his body along with mine.
“Why are you doing this?” he asks, concern etched into his features.
“Shakespeare, you know why,” I mutter as I stare into his eyes.
“I think I need to hear you say it, Declan.”
As we move, I tighten my grip on his body, tugging him closer. Then, I bring my mouth close to his ear as I prepare myself for what I need to say. When the words come, they feel right and long overdue.
“Tonight, I intend to remind you what it feels like to be mine. I’m doing this to prove to you that I’ve changed.
I’m not afraid of fighting for you anymore.
I’m not afraid of telling the world just how much I love you.
And I’m not afraid of trusting you to do what you want.
Shelby, when you leave him for me, it won’t be because I told you to; it’ll be because you want to. ”
He pulls away and stares into my eyes. “He wants you to challenge him.”
“I don’t give a shite what he wants,” I reply. “I only care about what you want.”
“And what if I choose him?” Colin asks timidly.
“If that’s what you truly desire, then I’ll let you go. I’ll live the rest of my miserable life on the greatest memories anyone’s ever been gifted.”
“And we’d be friends?” he asks.
I squeeze him tighter again. “I don’t want to be your fucking friend.”
The corner of his mouth lifts in a subtle smirk, and I realize just how long he’s been waiting to hear me say that. I just hope it’s not too late.
There’s a whistle from across the room, and we both turn to see Pierce watching us with a smug grin.
“I have to go,” Colin says, but I don’t release him.
“You do not have to go,” I say. “Especially not when he fucking whistles.”
He turns his gaze up to mine, and there’s something apologetic in it. “Pierce gives me what I want, Declan. You might think it’s bad to be treated like someone’s property, but I like it. I need it.”
“I’ll give you what you need,” I say with a growl as I hold him against me.
“Prove it,” he replies, holding my gaze.
“I intend to.”
With that, he pulls himself from my arms, but before he can escape my reach, I grab his arm and tug him closer.
Putting my face in his, I mutter, “I’m not fucking you here with an audience.
If they want a show, I’ll give them one, but the next time I’m inside you, Colin Shelby, you’ll be mine for good.
After all of this, if you truly believe I’ve done enough to prove how serious I am about you, I want you upstairs in my studio. Understand?”
His mouth hangs open as he stares at me with uncertainty. Then, with a deep breath and a glimmer of hope in his eyes, he nods.