28. Liz
LIZ
The next morning, I woke up with a jolt. For a few seconds, I didn't make sense of the strange room or the soft mattress, or the smell of sage in the air, but then it all came back to me. We were at a B&B.
I glanced sideways. Declan was right next to me, lying on his side looking at me.
I couldn't help sliding just a bit closer to him to feel the side of his body against mine.
"Hey, you," I whispered. "How long have you been up?"
"Not long. Your mom called, and I answered before it woke you."
I blinked rapidly, fear gripping my chest. "Something happened? She has news?"
"Yeah, good news. Amy’s feeling great, and she’s been discharged. Mark took her and Rose home. We can visit them later.”
"Oh, thank God."
"She asked me not to wake you because you were in a state yesterday."
"That's true, I was. I slept since yesterday afternoon."
"And she also asked me to tell you that your sister is sleeping soundly, and she'll let you know when you can go visit."
"I can't believe you're here," I murmured, tracing his arm with my fingers, turning on one side so I was facing him. I moved my fingers farther down to his chest.
“Liz, why didn’t you even ask me for help?”
“I knew you were in a meeting.”
“One of my brothers, then. You have Travis’s number.” His voice had turned hard.
I winced. "It was a tough morning, and I was in a frenzy to get on that bus. It only runs once a day."
"Liz, is that really why you didn’t reach out to anyone?"
I bit my lip, not sure how to bring this up. Even though we were completely naked, I felt like there was a wall between us.
"I don't know. I got wrapped up in everything else. And yesterday, things seemed strange between us. You seemed strange."
"Liz, do you know how it makes me feel whenever you bring up your two-year plan? And then you casually add that you'll move back home if it doesn’t work out, like I'm not even a factor."
Oh my God. That’s what’s been bothering him?
I blinked rapidly, putting a hand on my chest. Then my eyes widened, and my breath caught. "Declan, I didn’t mean it that way. I thought I was doing a good thing. I mean, I didn't want you to feel pressured."
"Into what?" he asked.
"Into… I don't know, having to think about the future. I wanted to let you off the hook."
He pulled himself into a sitting position, looking straight at me.
"I don't want that. I'm happy to be right here on the hook.
I'm happy with you." He leaned forward, cupping my face.
"No matter what, whatever happens in two years, I know one thing for sure: I'll still love you.
And I'll be proud of you. No matter if the bakery breaks even or you decide to do something else.
We'll find a solution together. But I need you to let me in all the way to do that.
I need to know that you want me to be part of your life.
I didn't pressure you when you first brought it up because I figured once I show you how I feel and how much you mean to me, you'll understand. "
"You are in all the way," I whispered. "I promise. I didn't want you to think I expected anything."
"You can expect lots of things, Liz." He caressed my cheek and then my lips. "You can expect me to always love you." He kissed my forehead. "To always support you." He kissed my cheek, then pulled back, looking straight at me. "To always be there for you."
"And I for you," I whispered.
Declan
I kissed her, and damn, she tasted even better than I remembered. When I entangled her tongue with mine, she instantly reciprocated. I couldn't stop kissing her. I was going to explore her until her legs shook and she begged for me.
Pulling back, I watched her quietly. She drew in a breath, looking me up and down.
I trailed my fingers under the covers to her clean, shaved pussy. I was dying for a taste. I wanted to look her in the eyes while I buried my tongue and fingers inside her and made her come hard.
"You're gorgeous," I told her. “So damn beautiful.” I pulled her against me, kissing her again.
She put her arms around my neck. I dragged my hands down the curve of her back before grabbing her ass.
I nodded, kissing her hard. I was growing even more hungry. I pushed her against the mattress, kissing and kissing her. It still didn't feel like enough.
"Do you have condoms?" she asked.
"Yeah. Wait a second."
I backed up, grabbing the wallet out of my pants from the side of the bed, taking out a condom, and putting it on.
I captured her mouth the next second, wanting to own every sound of her pleasure. Wanting to own her . I rubbed her clit, slowly at first and then faster. I moved my fingers until I felt her get soaking wet and ready for me.
When I took my hand away, she jerked her head back.
"Why did you do that?" she muttered. I liked the protest in her voice.
"Because I'm going to give you my cock now. Are you ready for me?"
She sucked in a breath as I positioned her legs at my sides. She dug her heels under my ass, and I brought my cock to her entrance, sliding in a fraction of an inch. She was so wet that I knew I could push in all the way, so I did.
"Fuck," I exclaimed, dropping my head back. She felt so damn good. She clamped her muscles tight around me.
"Oh, Declan," she whispered. I was completely still, watching her, wanting to give her a few seconds to adjust. Her face was completely transformed by pleasure, like she was trying to work through it.
It turned me on just as much as the feeling of her pussy around me.
She gripped the sheets, holding them so tight that her knuckles went white.
"Liz, am I hurting you?"
"No, no." She opened her eyes. "I'm bracing myself.
Literally." She moaned and started rolling her hips back and forth, driving me completely insane.
Her breasts bobbed up and down on every move.
I couldn't take my eyes off her, even as I began thrusting.
I watched her face, the way it changed every time she was too overwhelmed by the sensations.
A little frown formed on her forehead as she rounded her mouth.
My calves were burning. I moved faster, but not too fast. I wanted this to last as long as possible.
I wanted to increase her pleasure bit by bit until she couldn't help but relent.
"Oh my God." She gripped my shoulder tight, and I knew what she needed to get over the edge.
I brought one hand between us, flicking my thumb over her clit.
She shuddered in my arms. Her inner muscles clamped around my cock.
A bolt of heat coursed through me, followed by an explosion of pleasure.
It started deep in my body and then completely took over.
At the same time, she cried out her own climax, growing so tight around me that I thought I was going to go insane from the feeling.
I'd never felt anything this intense in my entire life.
I leaned over to one side, catching my breath. We were both utterly spent.
A cell ringing interrupted us a while later.
"No, be quiet," Liz muttered.
"I think that might be your family."
"Oh crap," she said, turning to one side and picking up the phone from the floor. "You're right. It's Mom."
“You can't ignore her. What kind of an impression would I make?"
"Um, you flew down here with your brother's helicopter to be with me. I don’t think you have to worry about the impression you’re making," she said with a smile as she answered the phone.
"Morning, Mom. Yeah, I just woke up. How is Amy?
" She nodded as her mom spoke. “We’ll be there soon. Love you too, Mom.”
I got out of bed, ready to start the day.
She was smiling from ear to ear when she hung up. “Amy’s fine. They’re all at my sister’s house. Feel like going?”
“Obviously.”
"Oh my God. You have so much energy," she muttered. "How doesn't all this have an effect on you?"
"Like I said, I'm motivated to make a good first impression. Come on, let's go. We've got to shower."
We had to take turns showering because the bathroom was insanely small. We were ready to go half an hour later. I kept a close eye on Liz. She was utterly relaxed as we got into the Uber.
"What are you smiling about?" I asked.
She immediately schooled her features, glancing at the driver. He pretended not to hear us.
"How do you know I was smiling? You're not looking at me."
"I can feel you. Besides, you've been smiling since we left the B&B."
"I'm just happy," she murmured. "Aren't you?"
"Yes, I am. I still have to win over your parents and sister.”
She threw her head back, laughing. “As I said, Mom is your fan. Dad too. And Rose too. I think she liked you even back when I dubbed you the landlord from hell.”
I cocked a brow. “How come?”
“She thought I needed some excitement.”
I tilted my head toward her, touching her cheek with the tip of my nose. “And was she right?”
“Hell yes. We’re here.”
The drive took less than five minutes. Talk about a small town. Sunnyvale was definitely that. The car stopped in front of a bungalow-style house surrounded by a large property and a white fence.
She sighed as we got out of the car. “I miss coming over here. I used to visit her every Saturday evening, and we’d watch a movie.”
We heard voices outside, so instead of going into the house, we went around to the backyard. Rose was holding Amy, who was wide awake and smiling. Mark, Jake, and Danielle were hovering around her, putting plates with food and cups on the table.
“Sis, you’re here,” Rose said. Liz immediately went over, hugging her. “I’m feeling so guilty that you actually came here. But I’m so happy.”
“I’m happy too, Rose.” Taking a step back, she kissed Amy on the forehead.
Something shifted inside me. I loved Liz with all I had. I knew that. But this was the first time I could picture having a family with her.
I greeted the rest of her family, and then Rose cleared her throat.
“I think a do-over is necessary. I wasn’t myself yesterday,” she said.
Liz chuckled. "At least you can both meet under better conditions this time."
"Hello, Declan. So glad to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you."
“So I heard,” I replied, glancing at Liz. “I know all about the nicknames.”
Rose grinned. “You deserved ‘the landlord from hell’ though. I’m thinking now you deserve a new one. ‘Boyfriend of the year’?” She winked at Liz.
“It’s got my vote,” Liz said.
“And mine,” Danielle added.
Jake looked at his wife in confusion.
“Don’t get into their conversation when they’re like that,” Mark told him. “Though I’ll note that I was never nicknamed that.”
Rose wiggled her eyebrows at him.
Danielle came up to me. “Declan, I’m going to take this opportunity when I'm not shaking like I was last evening to say thank you for coming here and for making my girl so happy. We haven't seen her like this in a while. Well, actually, we haven’t seen her at all in a while."
Liz frowned. "Oh, Mom, don't make me feel guilty. I'm here for Rose, remember?"
“And I’m invoking all sister privileges to beg you to come home next month for your birthday,” Rose chimed in.
Liz jutted out her lower lip like a kid. “I can’t let my team alone too often. And the trip here takes forever.”
I stepped right next to her, putting an arm around her shoulders. “Babe, Travis will be happy to lend us his helicopter again. We can come for dinner if you want. Say the word, and I’ll make it happen.”
“Awww, I like you even more now,” Rose said.
Liz looked up at me with soft eyes. “You truly deserve the title ‘boyfriend of the year.’”
“I’ll make it happen, babe.” I kissed her forehead, already making a plan in my mind. Not that I didn’t like the title, but I wanted an upgrade.