Deklan

He gives me a half nod, conceding the point as he walks over to sit on the other side of the couch. I pull my knees up to give him more room.

“How did you learn?” he asks.

I consider how to answer without sounding snarky. Besides, the whole truth could lead me to a topic I’ve wanted to discuss with him but hadn’t yet built up my nerve.

“After…everything that happened my first year of high school, I studied at home. I didn’t go out much. I got bored.”

“So you learned more languages?”

“I studied a lot of things.”

“Sounds lonely.”

“It was.” I lick my lips and glance at him through my lashes. “Kind of like now.”

“I bore you, do I?”

“Not you, no.” I swivel around, discard the e-reader on the coffee table, and place my feet on the floor so I can snuggle closer to him. “But you aren’t here all the time.”

“I wish I didn’t have to leave you all day.” Deklan places his hand on my thigh, running it slowly from my knee farther up and under the hem of my robe. “I’d much rather stick around.”

I feel his fingers crawling farther up my leg, and I know exactly what that means. Deklan only has about fifteen minutes before he has to leave, and he’s not even dressed yet. He’ll get me all wound up and then leave with a smirk on his face, but I need to keep my focus.

“I wish I…Oh!” I moan as Deklan’s fingers reach their goal. He silences me with his mouth as his fingers circle, and I tilt my hips to press against his hand, rocking slowly.

He kisses down the front of my neck, opening my robe to get to my breasts. He licks my nipples as he keeps working at me with his fingers, and I groan loudly. He moves his mouth back up, licking between my breasts and up over my chin. He kisses me lightly and then stares intently as he slows the rhythm of his fingers and grins.

“Gotta get dressed.” He leaves me panting as he heads off to the bedroom. I can hear him going through the closet while my thighs clench and my nipples tingle. A few minutes later, he’s back in the living room with his shirt hanging open, and I’m still frustrated.

He grins from the kitchen as he starts to button his shirt.

“Ugh! Why do you do this to me?” I cry as I lean backwards on the couch. My robe opens completely, and I hope it’s enough of a temptation to make him chance being late.

Deklan comes up behind me, wraps an arm around my waist as I squeal. He pulls me up until my butt is on the arm of the couch and my back is against his chest. His shirt is still mostly unbuttoned, and I can feel his warm skin on my neck. He reaches under my robe again to stroke me.

“Because I want you to start every day with my fingers right here.” He punctuates the words by sliding his fingers inside me, stroking them in and out slowly. He runs his nose along my neck and shoulder, inhaling deeply. “I want you unsatisfied. I want to be the only thing on your mind. I want you hot and wet and so frustrated that all you can think about is my cock throbbing inside of you.”

With a quick kiss on my neck, he removes his fingers and lowers me back to the couch. I’m completely unable to speak as he finishes buttoning his shirt, grabs his jacket, and heads for the door.

“Wait for me.” Deklan looks at me over his shoulder as he turns the doorknob. “No masturbating today.”

I groan, and he winks and snickers as he walks out of the apartment.

“Bastard,” I say quietly when he’s gone. I shake my head and resist the urge to finish myself off. I’ll have to go the cold shower route for now, but I’m going to make him pay for that when he gets home.

I shower and dress. I make the bed and do the breakfast dishes. I try to watch daytime television but quickly get disgusted with every show on every channel and turn it off. I stare at my phone for a long minute, wishing it would magically turn into something that wasn’t easily traced so I could use it. I’m actually starting to miss Facebook drama.

Strangely enough, I do not miss my parents—at all. Other than the one nasty text from my father using my mother’s phone, I haven’t heard a peep from either of them—not that they could have called since my phone is always off, but I wonder if they still think about me.

The day drags.

Every inch of the apartment sparkles. I even polished the shower fixtures. I’ve done my nails—fingers and toes. Dinner is in the oven and should be done just as Deklan arrives home. The kitchen island is set with dishes and silverware.

Though it had seemed very important to me at the time, I no longer care that I don’t live in a huge mansion. Deklan’s apartment is simple, and I rather like it this way. Of course, if it were bigger, I’d have more rooms to clean. It would make the time pass more quickly.

I stare out the window that overlooks the street and watch for someone to head down the sidewalk, but the apartment is an out-of-the way place, and there isn’t a lot of foot traffic. A few cars pass by, but the angle is wrong for me to see the people inside.

Sighing, I resolve to finish the book. I only have a couple of chapters left, which I want to savor. I settle myself on the couch with the e-reader and a glass of water, wondering if boredom is why housewives turn to wine and vodka.