Without Doubt (13 page)

“
I’m sorry to hear that,”
Declan offers sincerely as he lets go of me with one hand and
reaches for his wallet. He pulls out a business card and hands it
over to him. “This is my publicist. If you and Zach want to come
out to a fight sometime, just call Bailey. I’ll let her know to be
expecting your call. She’ll get you a schedule of upcoming fights
and maybe you guys can come out to one that’s near you.” He puts
his wallet back and wraps his arms around me again. My heart swells
some more with my feelings for Declan James. He’s a badass, but
he’s a badass with a heart. I couldn’t ask for much
more.

Mr. Ryan stares at the card for just a
second before reaching back out to shake Dec’s hand again. “Thanks,
Declan. It was nice to meet you; we’ll definitely get in touch with
your publicist and come watch you soon. Are signing with the UFC
this weekend?”

“
No, just meeting with
them this weekend. It was nice to meet you too, and tell Zack hello
for me.”

The guy gives us a small wave before
strolling up to the large counter with his carryon suitcase behind
him.

* * * * * * *

Macie and Greyden went up to their room as
soon as we checked in. I wanted to go look around real quick so Dec
and I went on a little adventure. The hallways are made to look
like the outdoors of Paris, complete with cobblestone walkways and
little shops that look as if they’re right in downtown Paris. I
notice a very tiny crepe shop and decide that we’ll be getting that
for breakfast in the morning. Declan never releases my hand as he
lets me take it all in. It’s easy to imagine us walking in the City
of Love instead of a smoke-filled casino, though I find it
absolutely lovely and I’m filled with love and excitement to be
here experiencing this with Declan.

We stop and get a frozen concoction before
going upstairs. Mine is vodka and lemonade. I’m not a drinker, not
even a little bit, but this is amazing. It’s really hot tonight and
I just want to suck these down one after another.

“
I’m taking you dancing
tonight, so you better not get drunk off that drink before we even
head out for the night,” Declan says with a big smile as we ride
the elevator up to the top floor.

I give him a quick kiss just when the door
opens. There’s an older couple waiting for the elevator as we step
out into the hall. They watch us carefully and the lady takes a
small step to the side to keep her distance from Declan. I have to
giggle, not only to find it ridiculous that she’s intimidated by
one of the nicest guys I have ever known, but also the vodka
flowing through my veins is insisting that I laugh at this
situation.

“
Behave yourself,
Sunshine,” he says, lifting me into his arms and carrying me to our
room.

The room is exquisite. Its French décor is
understated and beautiful; it’s at least the same size as my little
apartment, probably bigger. Declan sets me down and puts his hands
in his jeans pockets as he bites down on his bottom lip. I walk
through the rooms, still holding our drinks, appreciating every
little detail including the gold swan that is the faucet in the
ginormous bathroom.

“
I
need
to take a bath in here,” I
whisper to Dec as he follows me into the luxurious
bathroom.

He sets our drinks on the vanity before
lifting me up there too. I’m feeling a tiny bit like I’m on a
tilt-a-whirl, but I’m not denying that Declan also makes me feel
that way, not just the vodka in my very yummy lemonade.

Declan steps in close to me and kisses me
thoroughly. “You taste delicious, Sunshine. I just want to suck on
this enticing tongue for a bit. The lemonade taste suits you; you
should drink it every day, minus the vodka.” After drawing my
tongue deep into his mouth one more time, he continues his kisses
onto my neck and rubbing his hands over my ribs.

“
Dec,” I moan.

“
Yes?” he answers, placing
sweet kisses along my collarbone.

“
I need you, Dec. Please.”
I somehow find words to describe somewhat of what I am feeling
right now.

“
I need you too, Sunshine,
but I think our luggage just arrived. I heard a knock on the door.”
He pulls back way too soon for my liking and helps me off the
vanity.

I scoop up my drink and suck it down as I
walk back out to the living area. It’s the attendant that helped me
from the car. Declan asks him to take the bags to the room and the
guy smiles brightly at me.

“
Can you go sit on the
sofa?” Declan asks, or rather, demands.

“
What?” I reply, annoyed
that he’s speaking to me like that.

He lets out a little groan and steps closer
to me. He grabs my hand and leads me to a sofa that’s facing away
from the bedroom the guy went into and the entry door. He gently
pushes down on my shoulders for me to sit and I flop down.

“
What is wrong with you?”
I ask in a harsh whisper. I’m a little embarrassed and a lot pissed
off that he thinks he can dictate where and when I
stand.

Declan kneels down and
pulls me closer so my legs are on either side of him. “I’m sorry.
You have no idea how hot you look in your extremely sexy,
but
very
short
shorts. I swear I will smash his face if he looks at you one more
time, even in a friendly manner. I will br-eak him, Ava.” Declan
sounds out the word break as though it’s physically painful not to
follow through with at the moment. “Can you
please
just sit here until he
leaves?”

“
Yes,” I reply because I
really don’t want to fight with him. We bicker and argue, but we
haven’t fought and I definitely don’t want to start our first one
over me wearing short shorts.

“
Thank you, baby.” He
kisses me quickly and stands just as I hear the guy come in from
the room. Declan thanks him and I assume tips him since the other
guy reciprocates before the door closes and locks. I wait for him
to come to me. He was pretty upset just a minute ago and I don’t
really know what to expect right now.

Declan comes over to the couch and sits next
to me before pulling me onto his lap. “I don’t have any clue how
long it’ll take for me to get over this jealousy I seem to be
experiencing. I’m sorry I’m coming across as an ass, Ava. I dislike
it about as much as you do I’m sure, but I don’t know what to do
about it. This is definitely a new one for me.”

“
Are we ever going to have
sex, Declan?” I ask as I snuggle into his chest and inhale his
intoxicating scent. I feel his chest rumble beneath my
cheek.

“
Did you finish your
drink, Sunshine?”

My drink? Where is it, anyway? I sit up,
suddenly feeling like my tilt-a-whirl is going at full speed. As my
ride slows back down, thankfully, I see Dec pick up my empty cup
and grab my slice of lemon to suck on it. Him and his lemons. Him
and his lips. That tongue…

“
I think I may have. I
can’t remember right now.” I look at him and he seems so completely
happy. Right now, I really want to take a shower with him and get
in bed. I’m so tired, and so… I just really want to get in bed.
With Declan.

There’s a knock on the door and Declan
stands up after he situates me back on the sofa and puts my head on
a pillow. I’m not sure if my eyes are going to stay open long
enough for that shower, definitely not sex, that’s for sure.

“
Declan! Why did you get
her drunk before we even go out?” Macie screeches and my eyes pop
open.

Oh, hell. I am drunk.

I hear Declan laughing close by. “She had
one drink, Mace! I swear.”

“
It was a really big one
though,” I tell them both as they stand over me, starting to
laugh.

“
Okay, drunkard, Dec’s
going to get you in the shower while I do my hair and makeup, then
I’ll get you ready after you sober up a bit. I’m not going out
without you tonight, so get it together, girl!” Macie orders and I
listen.

Declan picks me up and carries me to the
bathroom. He sets me on the chair beneath the vanity and begins
undressing me starting with my shoes. “You’re not drinking when we
go out tonight, okay?” He says it in question form, but it’s not a
question at all, he’s pretty much telling me I won’t be
drinking.

“
I’m not?” I’m surprised.
I sorta thought that’s what people did in Vegas.

“
Nope,” he reiterates
softly but without hesitation.

“
And why am I not drinking
tonight?”

“
Because apparently you
can’t even handle one shot of vodka in a mixed girly drink. I don’t
need you inebriated in Sin City with they way I’ve been reacting to
other guys around you and I
really
don’t need to end up in jail tonight.”

Oh. “I don’t want you in jail either. Maybe
I should just stay in tonight. You go and I’ll stay, it’s probably
safer that way anyway.” I’m actually really okay with my
suggestion. And I know how he feels because I feel the same about
him.

“
As much as I would love
to take you to bed and keep you hidden away in our private little
oasis we have here, I
have
to go. I’m meeting some friends, so therefore you
have to go with me. Besides, Macie will kill us both if you don’t
go.”

“
Are you sure?” I double
check as he pulls my tank over my head and kisses my
forehead.

“
I’m sure. C’mon, let’s
get you in this shower.” Declan turns the shower on as I shimmy out
of the offensive linen shorts.

My bra and panties are a matching set with
nude lace. I couldn’t really afford to buy matching sets like this
but I bought them in hopes that Declan would finally have sex with
me this weekend. I’m starting to feel more coherent and stable
while I wait for Declan to finish getting the shower ready for me.
It’s probably best that I don’t drink tonight anyway, especially if
we’re meeting people. Declan finally turns around and stops. He’s
frozen, just standing there staring at me with a stoic expression
gracing his handsome face.

“
Dec?” I’m a bit amused
and a tad bit self-conscious when he doesn’t respond right
away.

He finally shakes his head and takes the few
steps that are between us. “You have no idea how hard this is for
me right now. I’m expected to walk out of here leaving you…like
this,” he makes a sweeping gesture with one of his hands, following
the length of my body, “and knowing that I won’t be touching you
for hours.” He slides his hands down my sides and places them on my
lower back before pulling me into him so I can feel what I’m doing
to him.

“
Then don’t walk out. Stay
and get in the shower with me. Stay and have
sex
with me, the way I have been
imagining you doing for what seems like forever now. Please.” I
kiss him under his jaw and he releases a quiet growl. I take that
as a green light, so I reach around to unfasten my bra.

“
Stop,” he says in a husky
tone, grabbing my hands when I try to release my bra, leaving it
fastened and very much still on.

“
Declan! Seriously, what
the hell?” I’m kind of pissed. Why? Why won’t he have sex with me?
Not having sex hasn’t been an issue before now, because we’ve spent
every evening that I didn’t have to work at my apartment with
Harper there. Harper sleeps in my room and Marla lives with me, so
sex hasn’t really been an option for us yet. But now we’re in a
hotel room, a very beautiful and romantic hotel room, without a
roommate or child here! I don’t get it! “You do realize that I’m
not a virgin, right?” I say furiously. I assumed he would know
this, but, hey, maybe he doesn’t—we’ve never talked about
it.

Declan gives me a smile, letting me know
that he thinks my little outburst was cute. That was, until I added
that last part. A very intense scowl replaced his pretty smile.
“Don’t say things like that to me, Ava,” he said sternly. “Sonuva
bitch, I can’t handle a guy looking at you and you think I want to
hear about you having sex with someone else? Especially when I know
damn well who the hell it is—now I have fucking visuals, Ava!
Dammit!” He pulls at his hair and turns around to gain some space
from me.

I allow that space because he’s right,
there’s a reason we haven’t spoken about it until now, or spoken of
the fact that he’s never had a real girlfriend before me even
though I know without a doubt that he’s no freakin virgin either! I
for sure don’t want to know how many girls he’s been with. After
several deep breaths, he walks back over to me and places his warm
hands on my waist.

His frown disappears as he takes my hand.
“Ava, I’m not having sex with you for the first time in a bathroom,
while you’re drunk and my sister is just on the other side of the
door. So you have got to stop tempting me,” he ends his explanation
with a playful warning before kissing me softly and deeply, holding
me close to him. He pulls back slightly before whispering across my
lips without looking in my eyes, “I’m sorry for yelling. We talk
about everything. We don’t keep anything from each other. Ever.
Okay?” he confirms quietly, smiling when I nod in agreement. “Now
that that’s out of the way, is there anything else you feel is
important to tell me that has to do with that category? If so, now
is the time to bring it up so I can work it all out at the same
time.”

He’s still working this out? I thought
that’s what he just did when he did his breathing/pacing/hair
pulling thing. Do I need to know how many girls he’s been with? Do
I need to know if he’s always used protection, if he’s clean or if
he’s ever had a threesome? No, yes, yes and not sure yet.