A few minutes later, he walks to his side of the bed, drops his towel, and climbs in. “I’m so fucking sorry, Raven. This is all because of me. Even though this crazy hasn’t directly threatened us, I feel like you’re in danger. Are you going to leave me?”
“No, it’s not your fault, Declan. You had a rowdy lifestyle before we met. You have no idea how much I hate this, but we need to continue on like we’re unaffected by it until Finn finds this person.”
“I went crazy tonight when Finn came to get me. I’m so pissed that they messed with you while you were at school studying.”
“I can’t quit living my life, Dec. We have to go on.”
He kisses my head and rubs my back until I doze off again.
*****
The next day, Declan picks me up from school. Instead of driving me home, he drives us to the airport. I give him a puzzled look, but he ignores me.
When we get to the Southwest Airlines counter he pulls me to the side and doesn’t let me see him check-in. He continues to be elusive through security. We stop at a restaurant and he orders us a beer. He sits at the bar without looking directly at me.
“Okay Declan, where’re we going?”
“It’s a surprise; I’m taking you away for the weekend.”
“Where? Is this about last night?”
“No, this has been planned for weeks. This was supposed to be a romantic surprise for our first Valentine’s together as well as a reprieve for how hard we’ve both been working. But now that you found another note, I’m not so sure I want us leaving the hotel room.”
“You’re not going to tell me where we’re going?”
“You’ll find out when we get to the gate in an hour. For now, have a beer with me and tell me about your day.”
I give in and tell him about my exam schedule. Then I switch topics and tell him about the upcoming project I promised my mom I would help her with. It’s a scholarship program that’s set up to help high school seniors afford college. It’s offered to all Tennessee students that want to attend a state college and have lost a parent in the service. I’ll be helping with putting packets together for all those who applied.
Declan thinks it’s a wonderful idea and then he switches the conversation over to him. He tells me how he told everyone including my parents and our friends about this trip and how they all kept it a secret. He canceled the show for tomorrow night at The Steamroom because the whole band was tired and wanted a weekend to themselves. Management was okay with it because of the added revenue that they brought in over the last six weeks.
We finish our drinks and he pays the bill. He laces his fingers through mine and leads us to the gate.
“Oh my God! We’re going to New Orleans?” I squeal as I read the Southwest Airlines departure sign at the loading gate.
“Yep, we come back Sunday night. You and me alone. Bars, music, dancing, shopping- whatever you want to do. The hotel has Wi-Fi if you need to do any schoolwork. But otherwise, no distractions.”
I grab our tickets and we get in the designated spot for boarding. When we get on the plane, I give Declan the seat that borders the exit aisle so he can be comfortable with his long legs. There are two beautiful flight attendants eyeing him, but I don’t get jealous. I just grin and take the middle seat. I take out my e-reader and get comfortable. Declan joins me, reading over my shoulder. Every time there’s a juicy scene, the sexual tension between us intensifies and Declan massages my neck tighter and tighter until it’s over.
As we’re getting ready to land, one of the flight attendants comes by to pick up trash. Declan hands her our garbage and she slips him a napkin with her number on it. I hold back my laugh as he balls it up and leaves it in the pocket on the back of the seat in front of him.
After we deplane, I make a spectacle of rubbing my ass against him so the stupid attendant knows she will never get the call. He laughs at me and heads toward the taxis.
Our hotel is a quaint little place near Bourbon Street. We sign in and head to our room. He unpacks our bags and I notice the black zip up garment bag that contains my red dress.
“Declan, who packed my bags?”
“My sisters. You should have everything you need. But if not, we can go to the store.”
I shake my head and take my toiletry bag to unpack in the bathroom. He joins me a minute later and turns on the shower.
“We have an hour before our dinner reservations so we should shower together to save time.”
He gives me look that says he has more than a shower in mind. Lucky for me, I washed my hair this morning and I don’t need to shave. I undress and join him in the shower. We take turns washing and rinsing each other.
I walk into the living room of the small suite and Declan whistles. Abbi had done very well when she packed my strappy silver sandals to pair with the red slip dress.
Declan looks gorgeous in his gray slacks and black button down shirt. He rolls up the sleeves a little and unbuttons the second button on his shirt to reveal some of his tattoo.
When we’re both ready to go, he guides me downstairs to a cab and gives the name of a restaurant to the driver. I recognize the name.
“You got us a reservation at one of the Emeril Lagasse restaurants?”
“That I did. I know you love him.”
“I really love you.”
“Good to know babe,” He whispers in my ear seductively.
I shiver with anticipation, but I can wait until after dinner. I take out my phone and quickly text my parents and roommates to let them know we’ve made it here safe and I’ll call or see them Sunday night. Then I shut my phone off.
Our night is perfect, except for the blatant attempts by the hostess and waitress to get Declan’s attention. He’s polite to them, but shows no interest. After the fifth interruption from the flirty waitress, I ask sweetly if Declan needs anything mimicking her. He grins and shakes his head.
“Ma’am, he appreciates the attention. But we’re just fine.” I make a point to flash my engagement ring so she can’t miss it. She gives me the dirty eye and heads back to the kitchen.
“You do realize they’ll probably spit in our food now?”
“I’ll take my chances as long as she gets the hint that you’re a taken man.”
“Now, Sparkle, are you jealous?”
“I guess between the flight attendants and now the waitress, I feel the need to stake claim on you. But, I see how ridiculous I’m being. I’ll stop now and enjoy this trip. I’ve never even been to New Orleans before.”
“Well, my dear, I can’t wait to show you around the city. I promise you’ll have an exceptional experience, especially with a musician as your tour guide.”
The waitress returns with our dinner and leaves us alone for the remainder of the meal. The food is delicious and lives up to any expectation I had about eating in an Emeril restaurant. When we’re done and the bill is paid, we decide to walk around.
The restaurant is in the French Quarter so we stop at several of the bars to listen to music. We end up at The House of Blues. Declan holds me tight and sings lyrics in my ear as we dance. At midnight, Declan decides we should go back to the hotel.
Our room has a mini-fridge and Declan had asked the manager to stock it. Declan pours us a glass of champagne as I change out of my dress. The lingerie I picked for tonight is a sheer black, flyaway baby doll nightie with a lace thong. I slip my black silk robe over it and fluff my wavy hair the way Declan likes it.
I join him in the living room area and he gazes over me with pure lust. I sit in his lap and drink with him while he sings softly. My body reacts to his voice on instinct. I discreetly pull the tie on my robe so it slips open. His eyes travel to my chest where the satin tie is the only thing holding my outfit together.
“Sweet Jesus, fucking brilliant.”
“Baby, not sure you should put Jesus and the f-word in the same sentence.”
“Don’t think he’d care if he saw what I see. You are exquisite.�
� He stands me up and slips the robe all the way off my shoulders. He takes in the whole outfit. He hisses as he turns me around, most likely because of the string of the thong buried in my ass.
He carries me to the large bed and places me in the middle. I help him undress and when he is completely naked, he lowers us down and hovers over me. His fingertips trace the bare skin of my stomach with invisible patterns. My body heats up with the touch. He finds the bow and pulls it open, exposing my breasts. My nipples harden under his intense stare. He takes one in his hand and the other in his mouth, giving each the same amount of pressure and attention. Then he moves lower and pushes my panties off while circling my belly button with his mouth. He inhales deeply when he sees that I recently had a Brazilian wax done. He reaches the apex and runs his mouth over my drenched folds. Lifting my legs over his shoulders, he pushes his tongue inside me. He proceeds to make love to me tenderly with only his mouth. I feel the sensation building as my body responds.
“God it feels so good. Don’t stop” This only encourages him more. His pace quickens and my thighs tighten. I grip the sheets and twist my body against his face. I feel a pinch and it sets me over the edge. I come against his mouth, screaming his name. He loosens my legs and crawls back up my body. I open my eyes when I feel him enter me in one quick stroke. My body stretches for him and grips at the welcome intrusion. His cages me in with his arms and kisses me longingly. I get drunk on the taste of Champagne and me on his tongue.
His strokes are slow and steady, making sure to hit me in all the right places. I whimper when he hits my g-spot and I move my hips against his to let him know he’s found the Holy Grail. I pull away from his lips as my body lights up. He continues to stroke in and out, in and out, hitting my most sensitive spot each time. The feeling is so erotic that I want it to last all night, but I know I’m about to come undone again. I squeeze my walls tight around him and he quickens his speed. He leans back on his knees and raises my hips, never breaking our connection.
“I wish you could see what I see right now. Me in you as far as I can go and your body taking all of me without resistance. Our connection is so tight, I can feel your muscles all the way to my stomach.”
Even though it’s not quite dirty talk, it’s still sexy talk which always pushes me over the edge and he knows it.
“Come with me, Sparkle.”
I mutter his name as the orgasm takes over my entire body. He releases in me and I can feel the warm liquid everywhere. He stays inside me while he showers my face, neck and shoulders with light kisses. When he pulls out, my muscles involuntarily squeeze and he grins at me.
“Don’t worry; I’ll be back.”
He brings a warm cloth and cleans us both before turning back the bed and pulling the covers over us.
“Dec, that was pretty amazing, intense, but amazing. It was as if our bodies knew exactly how to respond and react to each other’s movements. Was that new for you?”
“Yes, and it just proves my theory is correct.”
“What theory is that?”
“That you were made for me. Every piece of you has touched me deeply in some way. Your heart, your soul, your beauty– everything about you holds me captive. Even the air you breathe fulfills me in a way. I’m not the same when we’re not together. My body and mind are present, but my heart aches until we’re together again. And I think I was made for you too.”
There are so many things I want to say, but none of them seem like the appropriate response to his declaration so I kiss him.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Declan Collins.”
“Happy Valentine’s Day to you, Sparkle.”
*****
The rest of the weekend was spent in pure luxury. We took long walks through the city discovering its culture and heritage. We spent the entire Saturday afternoon in Jackson Square shopping, site-seeing, and watching the abundance of street performers. At one point, Declan saw a guitar sitting next to a man who was singing for a small audience. He asked the guy if he could join him and the guy agreed. The man gave him a song to play and Declan strummed the tune as the guy sang. In the middle of the song, Declan joined in and finished with him. They performed a few more songs together and the crowd grew. When Declan put the guitar down, the crowd applauded loudly. We waved and walked further down to enjoy more of the entertainment.
When it was dark and the city started lighting up, we chose a small café to eat at and watched Bourbon Street come to life. After dinner, we went bar hopping again so Declan could make sure I had the whole New Orleans experience. I tried a hurricane and became incredibly tipsy. I joined the group of dancers in front of the stage and Declan watched from the bar. He laughed at me until a man tried to dance with me. Then he was pulling me into him possessively. The guy raised his hands and walked away. I rolled my eyes and continued my dance party. He never left my side again until we got back to the hotel.
The next day after Room Service delivered breakfast and our steamy shower, we decided to visit a few more monuments. I also wanted to go to the cigar place we passed yesterday and buy some cigars for my dad. I turned my phone back on and I had a few text messages from my friends, but none of them were important.
We rummaged our way through the city until it was time to head to the airport.
When we got home, the girls asked about our trip and Declan thanked Abbi for her help shopping for my dress that I wore on Friday night. I needed to do some school work so we said goodnight and closed ourselves in my room.
I went through my emails while he returned phone calls. I told him about some more confirmations on upcoming shows that Jay sent. I updated his social media sites with the new dates and shot an email to everyone letting them know.
I had given the password for the twitter feed to all the guys and they said they would send out a message. Declan was the only one with no interest in it at all and it was an intrigue factor among his female fans.
We called Finn to see if he had any new leads on the stalker, but there was nothing new to report. He mentioned doing a few random drive-by’s over the weekend to both our houses, but didn’t see anything unusual.
Chapter 36
Gone
Over the last two weeks, Declan and I have only seen each other at night. Our schedules are unpredictable and school is demanding. My group and I are turning our presentation on social media tomorrow so Anna is coming over to finalize the last piece. The doorbell rings and I throw my notes on the table. I’m the only one home tonight. Declan has a show at a new spot across town.
She’s turned around but I see blond hair through the peephole. I disarm the alarm and open the door to let her in. Before I know what’s happening, she’s pushed out of the way and I feel a searing pain through my side. I try my hardest to push the panic button on the alarm before I fall.
*****
I wake confused and disoriented. There’s a sliver of light through a small window and I assume it’s daylight outside. My head is pounding and my hands are tied together. I breathe slowly at first, pretending to still be passed out in case someone’s watching me. When I realize I’m alone, I open my eyes. I’m in a small room with one window covered mostly up. The carpet I’m lying on is old shag and smells bad. I think there’s a small bathroom through a doorway, but I can’t be certain. My throat is so dry that it feels like sandpaper when I swallow. I try to move just a little to see if I have any injuries and but when I shift the pain in my side makes me whimper and I fall back into darkness.
I’m not sure how long I was out, but when I open my eyes again, the sliver of light has dimmed and I know I have been here almost a full day. A door opens and light floods inside the room. I keep my eyes shut, feigning sleep, but hear voices talking over me.
“Well, then you’re just stupid. I want her gone. I’ve wanted her gone for months, but I had to wait for the right time.” A girl says with venom in her voice.
“You told me you only wanted to talk to her. You didn’t say anything about kid
napping her and locking her in the basement!” I recognize this voice, but I can’t place it.
Someone kicks me in the side and I feel searing pain. I open my eyes and find Christie standing over me with a wicked smile on her face. Her eyes are wild and I remember back to Declan describing her as bat-shit crazy. She sees the recognition dawning on my face and immediately starts laughing.
“Yeah, bitch, it’s me.”
“What do you want? Why are you doing this?”
“WHY? You want to know WHY?”
I keep quiet and try to control my heartbeat because the pain in my ribs is so dire.
“I’m in fucking love with Declan Collins and I knew if I gave him time, he’d realize how good we could be together. I tried to get pregnant by damaging the condom package; then when I watched the video I set up, I saw that he NEVER even finished in me. I passed out and he got up, ripped off the condom and left me. I spent months trying to get him back into my bed. He tried to push me away by fucking a whore in the hallway one night while I watched! But I knew he wanted me so I put a plan in place. I would have succeeded if it weren’t for his bitch sisters asking me to leave. I’ve been watching him for months. Then you went and moved in and fucked up his brain. Now every time I see him, he’s with you- dinners, dancing, trips. THAT WAS SUPPPOSED TO BE ME!” She screams at me.
“I even had his name tattooed on my back. I’m not giving him up. He’s not going to want you when I get through with you anyways. I’m starting my plan to seduce him back soon. Don’t get me wrong; I’ll play hard to get. That ring on your finger won’t mean anything. You’ll be a thing of his past.”
I recognize the feeling growing in my head and stomach. My skin grows cold, but my body gets hot. I feel like I’m boiling and I scream in pain. I know what’s coming next and I yell, “BATHROOOM NOW!” Christie doesn’t move, but two hands help me up and take me to the toilet. I retch up everything in my stomach. Someone pulls my hair back and ties it with a band as I dry heave. I know there’s nothing left in my stomach so I let the migraine take over and I pass out.
Surrendering Page 34
