Chapter 10 #2
“But I’m not your dom.” A disappointment pings at me, and that’s a surprise, but so are his next words.
“I’m nobody’s dom.” A sound escapes his lips, but his eyes don’t leave me; he’s staring at my swollen mouth.
“As much I do like the idea of that lifestyle, have respect for anyone who can handle it, but it requires trust, patience, and most of all, time. There are rules, and you’re in a sort of relationship.
It’s not for me.” His head tilts slightly to the side. “…At this moment.”
“Oh.” My breathy answer is the only word that I manage to say, and it’s not even a word of substance.
Declan leans down so our eyes are aligned. “It’s extremely hot that you’re open to a lot of things.” He begins to untie my robe to reveal my naked body. “By all means, we can try a few things over the next few days, if that’s what you want.”
“I…” What am I trying to say? “It’s not that I’m into it, I just… really thought if either of us had done that, then it’s you.”
A sinister chuckle escapes him. “Maybe one day. But right now, I need to fuck you again, because I’m still painfully hard, and I know you’re wet and eager.
” He opens the flaps of my robe, and I’m splayed out naked, with the fabric hanging off my arms. “How about you ride me until I’m about to come, and then I come all over your beautiful ass that’s red from the spanking I give you. ”
His hands travel down my body, spreading goosebumps across my skin.
“Yes, sir.”
I giggle as he pulls me up out of the chair and takes us straight to the bed.
I kick away Declan’s foot as he tries to keep his leg over me to entrap me, but as tempting as this warm bed is, I know better and should head home soon. But one minute more won’t cause any harm, I’m sure.
His arm adjusts around me as I lie with my head on the pillow.
“I think we can agree that we need to recover now,” I say.
“Pff, speak for yourself. I’m a well-trained athlete with stamina for days.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re a retired athlete.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah, because team owner sounds so drab.”
Declan rolls to his side and props his head up against his arm. “I might be horrible at it. I can’t even properly feed the woman I’m fucking like crazy.”
I wave him off. “You’ll be fine. I barely remember to feed the bird, and I’m still successful at my shop.”
He reaches back with his free arm to grab his phone, and he begins to connect to the Bluetooth. “What are we listening to?” He pauses, and his nose scrunches up. “What’s your musical taste?”
“Anything country or indie.”
“Ah, you’re a country girl. No wonder you like certain positions.”
I laugh as he brings up a playlist and hits play.
“I’m curious, how in the world did you get into origami? Trust me when I say that it’s the last thing I would ever expect your talented hands to do.”
Declan gets comfortable between the covers again and peppers a few kisses along the curve of my shoulder. “My grandfather taught English in Japan. Picked up the art of origami and taught me.”
“You’re close with him?”
“Was. He passed a few years back. Now it’s just my parents and me. My mom gets along with everyone, and for what it’s worth, my dad isn’t bad. He’s just waiting for me to step up, and I have no plans to take over maple syrup and hotels. I’ve been avoiding his calls all week, to be honest.”
This time, I’m the one to place a kiss along his arm, a sort of caress.
“It’s okay, everyone is allowed to have their Lake Spark escape before making key decisions.
You know everyone on Ford’s street kind of did that.
Now you’re here and can enjoy Illinois summer and coffee with jellybeans before finding your career path and talking with your dad. ”
“Illinois summer have just been rain for the past few days,” he deadpans.
I wrap my arms around his bicep. “True, but there is an extremely hot florist on Main Street who might just be able to guide you with indoor activities.”
“You’re guiding me?” He pretends to be offended. “Other way around, sweetheart. It’s more like you have a perfect ass and bring good conversation.”
“A winning combination,” I retort.
He rolls us over so I’m underneath him. “That’s kind of a problem.”
I get the feeling there is something underneath his words, but I don’t want to try and analyze. This is probably my cue to leave, anyway.
“On that note.” I tap his nose with my finger. “I need to go and let you enjoy the warm chocolate chip cookies that they deliver at turndown service.”
Leaving him in bed, I scramble to find my clothes.
“Are they good? I keep declining every time they offer the cookies.”
I look at him, shocked, as I begin to dress. “They’re delicious. I would stay here purely for the cookies. I mean, they are chocolate chip, and they even bring you a glass of cold milk. Come on, live a little.”
He smiles to himself. “For you, I’ll try. Maybe I can meet you for lunch, but I have a few team meetings about moving training here next season.”
I work on the buttons of my blouse. “See? Every day here is getting you closer to your path and will help you let go of hockey-player you and welcome billionaire-team-owner you. Although technically, weren’t you always a billionaire?
You don’t seem like one, except for the car, but you get my drift,” I ramble.
“Your perspective is a nice change. People normally hate me or try to kiss my ass. You’re just… blunt.”
He sits up in the bed, and the sheet falls around his waist. Yikes, staring at his chest is not going to get us anywhere. I grab my bag from the chair and decide to steal the paper crane.
I hold it up. “I’ll add it to my Declan Dash shrine.”
He grins. “As long as it isn’t a paper flower, then it’s fine.”
“Why?”
“Because the flowers in your store wilt and die. A paper flower lasts forever. My grandfather told me that the most romantic thing a guy can do is deliver a paper flower because it shows the relationship will endure time.”
My eyes go wide as I think I’ve heard that before, but it’s a beautiful thought, and I do my best to erase the image in my head of what it would be like if a paper flower were to appear in front of me.
After all, flings are temporary.