Deklan

“I was just going to grab a cup of coffee.” My voice is small and timid. I feel like I’m in shock as I slowly pull my jeans back on and try to think of the right words. “I didn’t think about a key until I was already outside. I couldn’t get back in, so I thought I’d just wait for you. I didn’t think you would be back until this evening. I thought I had more time.”

“Why didn’t you call?”

“You said the phone was only for emergencies. I didn’t think locking myself out counted.”

Deklan closes his eyes and leans heavily on the kitchen counter, eyes closed.

“I’ll have a key made for you,” he says, “but you tell me beforehand if you’re going to leave the apartment. Don’t go anywhere unless I know about it ahead of time.”

“Okay.”

He turns to me, and most of the anger is gone from his eyes.

“I’m not trying to keep you a prisoner,” he says. “I’m not like that, but…”

I wrap my arms around myself and stare at the floor. Deklan takes several deep breaths as he stares at the ceiling.

“Come here,” he says softly.

I look at him for a moment, trying to judge his intent. When he leans back against the counter and holds out his arms, I run to him and bury my face against his chest. Deklan runs his hand over my hair and gently kisses the top of my head.

“The Foley’s have enemies, Kera. I have enemies. Any one of them would jump at the opportunity to use you against me. I can’t protect you if I don’t know where you are.”

He tightens his arms around me, nearly lifting me from the floor again before he relaxes slightly and strokes my back, his lips pressed to my temple.

“I’m sorry I worried you.” I reach up and run my fingers through the short hair on the side of his head. “I didn’t mean to.”

“I know.” He stares at me for a moment before turning his head and kissing the side of my hand. “I’m sorry I didn’t get you off. I’m going to make up for that later.”

I feel heat rise to my face, and I glance away from him, but he turns my head back to meet his gaze.

“I mean it. I should always get you off, but I just…” He inhales deeply and presses his lips together as he stares at the ground. “I just needed to be in you. I needed to come in you.” He shakes his head as if he’s trying to clear it. “I don’t know. I have to go now. Stay here. I’ll be back around seven.”

“I won’t go anywhere. I promise.”

Deklan closes his eyes for a second as he nods, kisses me briefly, and heads out the door.

I turn to watch him go before I slowly sink to the tile floor. I’m still throbbing between my legs, and my heart is still pounding quickly, but I don’t want to take care of myself. My mind is reeling too fast to even consider it.

Chapter 13

Leaning back against the arm of the couch, I flip through pages of a book on my WiFi disabled e-reader until I find the right chapter. I am nearly done, and my online group is supposed to go over it tomorrow. Deklan promised to take me somewhere to chat with everyone about the ending.

My husband walks out of the bathroom in just a towel, still dripping from his shower. He is running a little behind schedule this morning but seems able to get himself ready for the day in a matter of minutes. Though we’ve been married nearly a month now, I can’t stop myself from staring at his body whenever I get the chance. I watch him from the couch as he shovels a piece of toast down his throat, followed by a cup of coffee.

I still don’t have the nerve to ask him about his scars.

“How many languages do you speak?” Deklan asks suddenly.

“Speak? Just three, really. I can get by in a couple more and read a few more than that.” I try to brush it off, but Deklan stares at me until I offer more. “English, French, Spanish. I can make polite conversation on specific topics in German, Russian, and Arabic.”

“Arabic? Really?”

“Why not?”

“Hardly Latin based.”

“Neither is Russian.”