Down and Out(46)

Pops snorted. “It’ll happen so fast there won’t be a goddamn thing you can do to stop it. She’ll knock you right on your ass, because you won’t see her coming until it’s too late. Then when she’s in your sight, you’ll move heaven and hell just to see her smile, and when it’s good. . .” He let out a long whistle. “Boy, the earth moves. And when it’s bad. . .” He shook his head. “It’s like the whole damn world’s on fire, but that’s all right, ’cause you’ll still love her. Even when you hate her, you’ll still love her. You know why?”
I shook my head, all bravado and humor gone, and he said, “Because you’re a fighter, son, and she’s gonna be the first thing worth fighting for.”
At the time, I hadn’t understood what he’d meant. But as my eyes drop to Savannah’s perfect pink lips, I think about all the sassy little things that come out of her mouth—how it excites me, and how I can’t wait to hear what she has to say next. All that doe-eyed, innocent-looking beauty is a ruse, and a damn good one at that. Hidden behind it is a smart mouth that has me tripping all over myself just to get closer.
A sliver of fear creeps into my stomach and burrows deep at the realization that I’m starting to understand exactly what he meant. If I want more than sex from this girl, I’ll have to fight for it.
And I’ve never lost a fight.





I watch Declan, deep in thought and food forgotten, as I finish off my plate.
“Are you having second thoughts?” Part of me hopes that he is, so my good-girl streak can remain somewhat intact. And another, dirtier part of me hopes I’ll get a taste of Declan Whitmore, because he looks as if he tastes like sweaty skin, clinging body parts, and breathless prayers to God.
He shakes his head. “There’s no turning back now, Kitten. We’ve come too far.”
He’s right, unfortunately. Lines have been crossed, and there’s no going back to before.
Closing his lid, he gets up and walks his Styrofoam box to the fridge while I get up to throw mine away. I’d been starving and ended up eating everything on my plate, much to Declan’s satisfied smile as he watches me make a show of throwing away my empty container.
I lean my hip against the counter as he strides over to me, pinning me in place with the heated but playful look on his face. He boxes me in with his arms again, resting his hands on the countertop next to me as he leans down.
“Are you sure you can do this without getting your feelings involved? ’Cause I’ll be honest, I’m not sure I can.”
Blinking, I look down to his lips. His gaze is too intense, as usual, and has me feeling things I wish I didn’t. Things I don’t even understand. But instead of admitting any of this to him, I shove it down and bottle it up, where it can’t hurt me. “I’ve kept my feelings uninvolved my whole life, Declan. I don’t think I’m about to start now.” My voice is quiet, but steady, and I repeat the mantra over and over in my head.
His fingers lift my chin, gently forcing my head to tilt back. “Maybe it’s time you did.” The pad of his thumb grazes my bottom lip before he sighs and drops his hand. “This is pretty heavy stuff for a first date, isn’t it?”
Clearing my throat, I glance away. “I guess?” I really don’t know, but it feels heavy. And personal, and intense. It’s pretty much like everything else Declan Whitmore does or says to me.
“Come on,” he says, pushing himself away from the counter.
Declan grabs my hand and leads me down the hall, toward his room. I have half a second to wonder what he’s doing before he picks me up and immediately hisses in a breath through clenched teeth. “Ow, f*ck.” Tossing me on the bed, he winces and clutches his side. “You’re heavier than you look.”
I shoot him a glare as he climbs in next to me. “I am not.” I smack him on the arm as he starts up Netflix. “And you shouldn’t be picking me up anyway. You’re hurt,” I mutter, smacking him again for being so reckless.
He laughs and tries to dodge my blows. “You’re right, I should avoid heavy lifting.”
My jaw slackens, making him laugh harder, the bastard. Giving him a murderous look, I tell him, “I’m gonna let that one slide, because you’re technically right. You should avoid heavy lifting, as well as any kind of physical exertion. So you know what that means, right?”
“You’ll have to be on top if we have sex?”
I grin, despite myself. “No, you smartass. It means no sex. At all.” Now if I could just stick to that decision. . .
Declan’s jovial mood vanishes in the blink of an eye. “Now you’re just being mean.”
Rolling my eyes, I prop a pillow behind my head. “What are we watching?”
“Obligatory romantic comedy? That’s normal date behavior, right?”
“What makes this a date? This seems just like we’re hanging out.”
He sinks down onto the bed, lying next to me. “Yeah, but this time we’re hanging out with my intentions made clear.”
I glance away from the opening credits and look over at him. “Your intentions were pretty clear before.”
Frowning as if in thought, he says, “All right, but I bought dinner. That makes this a date.” He scoots over till his arm’s brushing mine. “Plus, we’re cuddling.”
Laughter breaks out of me before I can stop it. “I’m pretty sure this doesn’t count as cuddling.”
“I know.” His pinky hooks mine. “But it’s as close as you’ll let me get to the real thing.”