62. Declan #3
“I’d wanted so badly to call you over the holidays, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. When not being an asshole to everyone around me when sober, I just wallowed in a drunken stupor.”
“I'd been so angry at that time, but most of all, I’d been empty. When in jail, I’d had a lot of time to reflect on things, so upon getting out, I’d tried to move on, thinking it was the best thing to do for all of us.”
“Shouldn't I have gotten a say in that??
“I didn't say it was the best thing for us, only that it was what I’d thought at the time. Each time I’d thought about calling you, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I’d been going through the motions publicly as I’d always done, but I’d been a mess behind closed doors.”
“I’d seen you doing so well professionally… and congratulations on the FDA approval.”
“Thanks. You know what that drug has meant to me. It was the very first project I'd taken on when I’d become CEO, and it was something that’d been all mine.”
“I know, and I couldn't be prouder of you.”
“I’d also heard about you signing on to film another movie. Congratulations are in order for you as well.”
“Only, I don't know what the hell’s going to happen now because of the accident. I’d only taken it because I couldn't be here in the city anymore knowing you were. It didn’t matter whether it was a few blocks or half an hour away.
Just knowing I couldn't see you… talk to you… hold you… It made the idea of getting out of town more appealing. Even if just for work, it seemed like the best thing to do at the time.”
“I don’t want you to go,” he said to me, and I could hear his sincerity. “I never stopped missing or wanting you.”
“And I’ve never stopped, either. What I said that last time at your penthouse with Enslee, I’d meant it. There is no me without you—”
“Nor is there a me without you.”
Brogan leaned in and pressed his lips to mine.
The moment I felt them move against me, I reached out to pull him closer.
When my lips began moving hungrily over his at first, he hesitated as if he wasn't sure what to do, but then he groaned and deepened the kiss.
I clung to him as we ate at each other lips.
Eventually, the kiss made my pulse skyrocket as it so often did, and the machine behind me started to make a series of loud noises causing Brogan to pull away from me.
“I want to make a pact right here and now,” I said as soon as our mouths separated.
“Anything for you, Declan.”
“Let’s promise to never again hold anything back from the other. No matter how shameful or painful, we need to be honest. I don't want there to be any more secrets between us ever again.”
“I don't want that either.”
“I love you, Brogan.”
“And I love you, Declan,” he said before he started to stroke my cheek and my chin with his thumb. When it got closer to my mouth, I sucked it inside, then pulled and tugged on it like I would with his cock. He groaned as if he knew exactly what I was imitating.
“Declan… I… fuck… You’re killing me. Don’t think there won’t be payback for this later.”
“So, are we really okay?”
Brogan smiled and all was right with my world once more. It’d readjusted itself back on its axis, and I knew we were going to make it through this together. “We’re better than okay. And outside of the two of us, someone else will be ecstatic to hear that.”
“Enslee,” I murmured, and his grin grew wider as he nodded.
“She'd been trying to talk sense into me long before your accident, but especially since you’ve been in here. We need to let her know that you’ve awakened.”
“Can you hold off on that until tomorrow?” At his nod, I smiled back at him. “Right now, I just want to hold you.”
“Hold me?” Brogan looked between the hospital bed, then around the room. “I don’t think that's possible in here.” I patted the bed beside me and moved as far back as I could. “I can't fit on that bed with you,” he added.
“It'll be just like college. Don’t you remember the two of us trying to lie together on the twin-sized beds in the dorm?”
“I remember you rubbing your ass against me, keeping me hard as fuck.”
“Do I really need to touch you to do that?” I asked not so innocently.
Brogan let out a low growl. “Good point,” he said, then joined me on the bed. It was most uncomfortable, but altogether perfect at the same time. “I guess the plus side is that I don’t have to worry about you stealing the covers this time.”
I chuckled at that, then tightened my arms around him as I placed my head on his back. “Thank you for being here and giving me a reason to wake up,” I murmured a few minutes later.
“Life… Death… Some goddamn purgatory… It doesn’t matter because we’ll always be together.”
“Amen,” I said.
“That wasn’t a prayer,” he pointed out.
“No, but you’ve been the answer to every one of mine. Goodnight, baby.”
“Good night, Declan.” And a few minutes later, he groaned. Right after, he slipped underneath me, then positioned me to lay across his body. I snuggled into him, and for the first time in months, I was truly home in his arms once more as his heartbeat lulled me to sleep.