Never Been Ready (19 page)

"Goddamn, that's a beautiful sight. I really want to take a picture of it."

"You want to take a picture of my snatch?" I asked, kind of amused. I'd never been told that one before.

"Are you kidding? I'd be fucking stupid if I didn't. Having that picture with me when we are apart..."

His words drifted off then, and he looked at me. We hadn't discussed what would happen after Declan finished his current project. We had decided to enjoy our time together until the time came. But we knew a decision would have to be made. A long-distance relationship between California and Virginia would never work.

Our eyes connected, and the lack of time we had left together suddenly seemed even more evident than before. His eyes heated again, and he came at me, burying his hands in my wet hair and kissing me like his life depended on it. Our tongues twisted and moved together like we were trying to fuse our bodies, defying the impending separation with our kiss.

"I need a taste of that sweet pussy first," he said against my lips before dropping to his knees in front of me.

Unlike other positions, I could watch him this time. Fingers spread my folds, and his mouth made contact with my core. I cried out in response, bucking against his tongue, as he licked me. From my spot on the counter, I looked down as he tongue fucked me with fervor, like he couldn't get enough. Just then, his eyes found mine. Those hazel eyes were now so vividly green, and I was done. I climaxed against his mouth as he watched and sucked, drawing it out to make the orgasm last longer. Just when the last quake died down, Declan's tongue slipped back into my channel, working my body like it was his to command.

"No, Declan, I can't. Not again," I said, panting, already feeling the orgasm beginning to build.
Holy shit, really?

"You can, and you will," he answered.

He found my clit and flicked it with his tongue as his fingers slipped into my tight, slick core. When his mouth clamped down on my clit and sucked, I fell over the edge again, calling out his name. He rose then and slipped his slick fingers into my mouth as my hands found the waistband of his pajama bottoms. As I sucked on his fingers, licking off the taste of my own body, I untied the tie at the center of his waist and then let his pants fall to the floor. There, before me, was Declan —naked, turned-on, and mine, completely mine.

"Stay, just like that," he commanded, pointing to my legs, still bent up on the counter.

He slid me a bit farther to the edge, so I was nearly falling off, and then without warning, he slammed into me. I gasped at the sudden invasion, my body grasping his tightly, as he continued to thrust in and out. Our bodies crashed together as he kept up the relentless pace. I let my head fall back as I moaned and screamed out his name while he gripped my hips, so he could push farther into me.

"Say it, Leah. I need to hear it. Now."

"I love you."

"Say it again."

"Oh God," I moaned, feeling a third orgasm started to build. "I love you, Declan!" I screamed as trembled and broke apart.

I watched his eyes as I came, feeling my body clamp down on his cock while it pumped in and out of me. He gave one last thrust, and then he called out my name as he came.

He leaned down and kissed me gently. It was a complete opposite to the frenzied lovemaking we'd just shared. Yin and yang, sweet and spicy, the best of two worlds —that was Declan James.

"I forgot to tell you why I came in here," he whispered in my ear.

"You mean, it wasn't to fuck me senseless?" I teased.

"Well, that became my intent the moment I saw you in that towel."

"So, the reason?"

"Oh, right. Merry Christmas." He grinned.

I grinned back. I cherished the fact that I would be able to spend the entire day with all the people I loved, and I wouldn't have to spend a single second thinking about my father. And it was all thanks to Declan.

~Declan~

"The doctor dude from Thanksgiving isn't going to be here, is he?" I asked, as we pulled into Clare's parents' driveway.

There weren't nearly as many cars here as on Thanksgiving, so I took that as a good sign.

"No" —Leah laughed —"just immediate family today, Hotshot. You really didn't like him, did you?"

"He was flirting with you —right in front of me!" I said defensively.

That only made her laugh harder. I gave her a scowl, and she pulled my hand in hers.

"You had nothing to worry about then, and you have nothing to worry about now. A million men could flirt with me, but I'm not going anywhere."

"Damn straight," I answered with a grin, leaning across the seats to kiss her.

Just as I deepened the kiss, I heard a tiny giggle and my eyes sprang open just in time to see a little girl's head appear in the car window. We pulled apart quickly as Leah turned and opened the door.

"Hey, Short Stack! What are you doing out here? It's freezing!"

Maddie's little nose was bright red, and she was bundled up in a puffy pink jacket with matching gloves and a hat. "I was waiting for you at the inside at the window, but you didn't get out of the car. So, Mommy said it was okay if I came out and got you."

"Well, we're ready to go inside. Think you could show us the way?" Leah asked.

Maddie nodded her head with enthusiasm. We got out of the car and all headed toward the house. I bent down and scooped Maddie up in my arms as she giggled. I was pretty sure it was the first time I'd ever picked up a kid in my life.
They didn't break easily, did they?
She seemed happy, so I went with it.

"Hey, you. I think you asked me a question about your Aunt Leah the last time we met. You remember?" I asked Maddie.

"Um..." She thought about it while scrunching her nose and lips together as if it helped her concentrate. "Oh, yes! I remember!" she said, getting excited as she looked at her aunt.

"You want to ask me that question again?" I chuckled.

She looked at her aunt, and Leah just shrugged in response, which caused Maddie to giggle.

"Okay, but first, I'm just going to say that you're silly."

"Duly noted," I said, straight-faced.

"Declan, are you my Aunt Leah's boyfriend?"

"Why yes, Maddie, I am Leah's boyfriend. Aren't I lucky?"

She just giggled again as we made our way into the house. I set her down gently, and she ran off into the house, announcing that Leah and her silly boyfriend were here.

"You're insane," Leah said, shaking her head.

"About you," I answered before kissing her cheek.

"God, that was awful. You need better pick-up lines."

I laughed. "Why? Who am I trying to pick up? I already got what I wanted."

"That was so much better. That one kinda makes me want to hump you right here."

"That can be arranged. I'm sure we could find a closet," I teased, remembering our almost indiscretion in the closet at Clare and Logan's house.

She grinned at me as we rounded the corner of the hallway into the family room where we found Clare and Logan huddled together in a tight hug. They looked up, and my heart fell. Clare had been crying, and Logan was visibly upset.

"Oh God, what's wrong? Please say it's not what I think it is," Leah said in a panic, gripping my hand tighter.

"No, no, I'm fine. Cancer treatment is exactly on schedule, and things look good, great even," Logan said.

Leah's death grip on my hand loosened a little, and I felt some of the blood rush back to my fingers.

"Oh thank God. So, what is it? Why are we upset? Whose ass does Declan need to kick?"

"Whoa, why I am being thrown into this?" I asked, throwing up my hands in defense.

"Logan's father called this morning." Clare said.

"Oh," we both answered in union.

That would explain it. Logan's father was like mine, only the upgraded model. He was richer, meaner, and crueler. His idea of love was sending checks on birthdays and graduation. He hadn't spoken to Logan since the day his previous marriage went public in a very embarrassing way and he'd made no attempts to meet Logan's new family since he'd married Clare. He'd never spent one second of his life caring about his family, and Logan had spent his feeling like a shunned outcast.

There was only one reason Mitchell Matthews would be calling.

"So, how much is cancer going for these days?" I asked.

"A quarter of a mil apparently," Logan answered absently.

"So, the man called you up, after years of nothing, only to offer you money because he'd heard that you have cancer?" Leah asked.

"Yep, pretty much."

"So, did you take the money?" I asked, grinning.

"Declan!" Leah scolded.

I brushed it off. Logan and I were friends for a reason. We thought the same way, and I bet he was thinking the same thing I was.

Logan grinned back and nodded. "Yep, sure did. It's being wired on Monday. I will then take his guilt money and donate it anonymously to as many cancer societies as I can find. My family and I will spend the rest of the holidays in New York with my mother, knowing his money is going to hundreds of other families in need. It's a win for everyone."

I probably would have thrown in something with a little more vengeance, like sending out a party invite with my father's address to the entire population of Facebook and then watching from afar as they all descended on his house. But that was where Logan and I differed.

"It's still pretty messed-up that your father calls only to send you money. Did he even ask about your wife and child?" Leah asked.

"Nope."

"Well, I'm pretty sure the motto we used for these situations back in high school still works," I said.

He chuckled, nodding his head in agreement.

"What motto is that?" Leah asked.

"Fuck 'em. Fuck 'em all."

~Leah~

I'd spent Christmas with Clare's family for as long as I could remember. Years ago, ever since Clare's mother had asked about my plans for the day and I'd sheepishly mentioned my father having to work, I'd been here. I thought she had known it was a lie, but she never asked. She'd just opened her home and family to me, like she always had...like she did this night with Declan.

Christmas Day for the Finnegan family was for family only. Where Thanksgiving was a come-one-come-all event, Christmas was small and intimate. Having Declan with me felt special. It made it more absolute to me that he was actually here, holding my hand, whispering, "I love you," in my ear. Sharing him with my family made our love real to me.

Clare said nothing about our obvious new commitment to each other, but I did see her wipe away a tear or two when she overheard one of Declan's endearments whispered over the course of the night. By the way she was reacting, she must have really thought I was going to die a spinster.

Mrs. Laura Finnegan, or Mama as we all called her, was completely enamored with my new boyfriend. Not only was he a Hollywood star in one of her favorite movies, but he was also charming, sweet, and hot as hell —her words, not mine. When she'd uttered those shocking syllables, I'd about choked on my stolen cookie in the kitchen. Mama Finnegan did not usually use such language.

As we waited for dinner to cook, we all debated on what to do. When we were kids, we would all beg to open presents, which Maddie had already tried and failed at, but we were adults now, and we had restraint. Plus, we'd already asked. We were shot down, just like the kid. Some things never changed. So, we'd moved on to card games.

"Uno!" Logan yelled triumphantly.

We all groaned.

"Okay, that's it. I'm not playing with him anymore. Remind me not to play against a Harvard-educated doctor anymore. It's just not fair," Garrett lamented, who'd arrived shortly after us.

"Ah, come on, I didn't win every game, did I?" Logan asked.

We all nodded at him.

"Sore losers," he grumbled.

We all laughed. I relaxed into my seat on the sofa and sipped on my hot apple cider. Clare was snuggled up next to me, sharing a blanket. Both of us had wisely opted out of the card games, having played with Logan before.

"Logan seems very comfortable with your parents now," I commented.

"Well, he did put a ring on it," she joked, holding up her beautiful antique wedding set.

"Hand job?" I asked quietly.

"What?" she feigned innocence. "No! I can't believe you...okay, fine, you got me."

"Nice. Nothing relaxes a man like a little hand action before meeting the parents." I laughed.

"And Declan?"

"Blow job."

"Right on."

We high-fived each other before giggling into our cider, which eventually turned into roaring laughter. The men finished cleaning up their cards and looked to us for entertainment.

"Okay, so what do we do next?" Garrett asked.

There was a strict no-TV rule on Christmas.

"Oh, I know! Let's look at photo albums!" Clare exclaimed.

Both Garrett and I moaned.

"I think that sounds like an excellent idea," Logan said, looking over at my soon-to-be-dead boyfriend.