Page 128 of Always Be an Us

I rip out his hair.

At some point, I nip his shoulder, and he moans, his cock hardening inside me and his hips driving faster.

"Yes," he says when I do. "Bite me. Make me yours."

I half think I imagine the words because it’s difficult to think of Declan saying something so vulnerable. But I don’t imagine the looks on his face when I pry open my eyes. Pained pleasure has taken over his features but there's also something nakedly desperate on his face.

"You’re mine." His lips are drawn into a snarl "Don’t forget it."

"Attention: Dr. Lawson, please report to the ICU. Dr. Lawson, please report to the ICU."

A ding closes out the announcement, and I glance once more at the clock. The longer hand of the clock slides slightly to the right, becoming perfectly vertical. Anticipation ripples through me.

It's now six o'clock which means it's almost time.

"Alright, Grandpa?" I tuck my hands into my hoodie pockets and slide off the hospital bed. "Are you ready to go home?"

"Boy am I ready," Grandpa responds, adjusting himself in the wheelchair. He's been cleared to walk, but we're wheeling him out as part of protocol.

The hospital always gets colder at night, so Grandpa is wearing a fresh new pair of pants and a sweatshirt I got him from home.

"The grub here has been heinous lately," Grandpa says.

I roll my eyes. "Come off it. I know Rick has been bringing you food every day when I can't make it. And I also know you tried to get him to sneak you a bite of his burger."

A look of mock indignation crosses Grandpa's face, and he places his hand over his chest. "I would never."

"Yeah right." I shake my head. "Now let's say our goodbyes to Dr. Han and head home."

"Is Declan driving us?"

My mood dips. "Um, no."

I haven’t spoken to Declan since yesterday. After the fast and furious sex in his living room, he didn’t say a single word to me. He let me land on my feet, catching me when I almost fell over. But then I pushed him away, went into the room, and locked the door. I waited for him to leave before, I went back to grab my duffel bag and go.

And then I had to come to terms with what I did.

Which was having crazy monkey sex with a man I was mad at.

God, my face heats up every time I think about it.

"Declan's busy," I say, scrapping the thought. “Rick is picking you up.”

"I see." Grandpa scratches his beard as he always does when he's in thought. "How did you even know about the burger in the first place?"

I raise an eyebrow. "Rick told me."

Grandpa shakes his head. "A bunch of tattle tales y’all are. And damn that Poppy. You know how hard I had to work to get Rick to give me a bite of that burger. It smelled so good too. And then that damn Poppy came in. When she saw what was happening, she threw the entire damn thing in the trash. Can you believe it? Ranted for hours at the both of us. And she told Dr. Han to keep an extra eye on me too, so the nurses have been watching me like hawks. That old witch. You know she's had it out for me ever since I broke her heart years ago. When I spurned her for my lovely Diana."

"So you say," I respond. "But, wouldn’t you like to know that theold witchcame over to visit you several times." And helped me clean up our cottage too, but I don’t add the last part.

I still haven’t told Grandpa about the break-in and don’t plan on doing so until he’s well and recovered.

It’s why I begged Cross to keep his distance today, and maybe just guard me from afar. I didn’t think he needed to be beside me, because there’s no threat, and I’m spending time surrounded by people anyway.

Cross obliged, but decided to tail me with his car anyway, which I suppose is fine as long as Grandpa doesn’t notice anything is amiss.

"Yeah, she came to give me a lecture about eating right and all that." He sighs heavily. "Rick doesn't bring anything good around me anymore."

---