popular guy in the school.”
He laughed. This was safer ground for them both to talk about.
“I was scrawny with acne at school and no one was interested. I got into sports and there were a few girls I dated. They didn’t think I was much of a catch. When no one knows you, it’s great to be recognized as you walk down the street. Then it gets crazy some days when you just want to chill. People want to come up and talk all the time. Look, I wouldn’t be where I am without fans, so I can’t complain. Most of the time people respect your privacy and are happy with a photo, like those girls.”
“What about the paparazzi?”
“You get to know most of them, and they know how far to push it. There’s one called Mitch, who even helped me get away from some annoying people once. He’s one of the professional ones, if they can be called that. These days, everyone with a phone wants a shot. You should know I don’t blame you for being hesitant about getting involved.”
“If it was just me, I would be so tempted, but there are others affected by my decisions.”
“Then we’ll just have to keep having clandestine meetings here. I know you don’t want to talk about it, but I want to ask one thing.”
He stopped and looked her straight in the eyes. There was something he needed to know and it would be the only reason he would walk away.
“Are you married? I want to know if some guy is going to come and beat the shit out of me. Plus, my Dad was a real shit with Mum, and I don’t know if I could do that to someone else.”
“I may not be telling you everything, but I can assure you I’m not married.”
His shoulders relaxed and he hugged her close as they stood on the shore. The longer they were with each other, the more questions would arise. He couldn’t deny he wanted to know more about her, but it would make it harder to say goodbye if she said it was over.
They walked back to the house and Declan poured them two wines as he put some pizza in the oven. He brought out the pizza and sat next to her on the lounger.
“I thought after your question earlier. I would like to tell you a bit about myself.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I don’t care about before. I just don’t want to lose now by keeping you completely in the dark.”
“It’s okay. This feels right to tell you. I haven’t always lived in L.A. I came from the East Coast originally, but a friend of mine lived out here. When I wanted to move, she suggested I come and share a house with her.”
“I’m glad she did. How long have you been here? Sorry, you don’t need to say. How about I just eat.”
Declan picked up a piece of pizza and started to shove it in his mouth. Okay, he was going to asphyxiate but didn’t want to freak her out.
“Two years. I never finished the degree I was doing for various reasons, and I’ve been doing an online course instead. I’d like to set up a catering business with my friend. I’m not very arty, but I’m good with numbers.” She grabbed the last piece of pizza.
“Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me this.” He reached across and wiped a piece of cheese off her lip and ate it off his thumb.
“You’ve earned it with the way you’ve treated me since we met.”
“You mean with the way I do this?” Declan pulled her hair aside and kissed her neck, doing little swirls with his tongue, sending tremors he hoped went straight to her core. She tipped her head sideways to give him better access. He stood up, took her hand, and led her back to the bedroom where he spent the next hour worshiping her body. She was a drug he was not willing to give up just yet. As they drifted off to sleep, he knew they would have to see each other again.
Chapter Eight
Cassi came awake hearing her cell phone ring beside the bed, and grabbed it. It was Sasha, and immediately Cassi’s stomach flipped and her body went cold. She knew it would be something to do with Tommy, as she could hear him screaming
He laughed. This was safer ground for them both to talk about.
“I was scrawny with acne at school and no one was interested. I got into sports and there were a few girls I dated. They didn’t think I was much of a catch. When no one knows you, it’s great to be recognized as you walk down the street. Then it gets crazy some days when you just want to chill. People want to come up and talk all the time. Look, I wouldn’t be where I am without fans, so I can’t complain. Most of the time people respect your privacy and are happy with a photo, like those girls.”
“What about the paparazzi?”
“You get to know most of them, and they know how far to push it. There’s one called Mitch, who even helped me get away from some annoying people once. He’s one of the professional ones, if they can be called that. These days, everyone with a phone wants a shot. You should know I don’t blame you for being hesitant about getting involved.”
“If it was just me, I would be so tempted, but there are others affected by my decisions.”
“Then we’ll just have to keep having clandestine meetings here. I know you don’t want to talk about it, but I want to ask one thing.”
He stopped and looked her straight in the eyes. There was something he needed to know and it would be the only reason he would walk away.
“Are you married? I want to know if some guy is going to come and beat the shit out of me. Plus, my Dad was a real shit with Mum, and I don’t know if I could do that to someone else.”
“I may not be telling you everything, but I can assure you I’m not married.”
His shoulders relaxed and he hugged her close as they stood on the shore. The longer they were with each other, the more questions would arise. He couldn’t deny he wanted to know more about her, but it would make it harder to say goodbye if she said it was over.
They walked back to the house and Declan poured them two wines as he put some pizza in the oven. He brought out the pizza and sat next to her on the lounger.
“I thought after your question earlier. I would like to tell you a bit about myself.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I don’t care about before. I just don’t want to lose now by keeping you completely in the dark.”
“It’s okay. This feels right to tell you. I haven’t always lived in L.A. I came from the East Coast originally, but a friend of mine lived out here. When I wanted to move, she suggested I come and share a house with her.”
“I’m glad she did. How long have you been here? Sorry, you don’t need to say. How about I just eat.”
Declan picked up a piece of pizza and started to shove it in his mouth. Okay, he was going to asphyxiate but didn’t want to freak her out.
“Two years. I never finished the degree I was doing for various reasons, and I’ve been doing an online course instead. I’d like to set up a catering business with my friend. I’m not very arty, but I’m good with numbers.” She grabbed the last piece of pizza.
“Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me this.” He reached across and wiped a piece of cheese off her lip and ate it off his thumb.
“You’ve earned it with the way you’ve treated me since we met.”
“You mean with the way I do this?” Declan pulled her hair aside and kissed her neck, doing little swirls with his tongue, sending tremors he hoped went straight to her core. She tipped her head sideways to give him better access. He stood up, took her hand, and led her back to the bedroom where he spent the next hour worshiping her body. She was a drug he was not willing to give up just yet. As they drifted off to sleep, he knew they would have to see each other again.
Chapter Eight
Cassi came awake hearing her cell phone ring beside the bed, and grabbed it. It was Sasha, and immediately Cassi’s stomach flipped and her body went cold. She knew it would be something to do with Tommy, as she could hear him screaming
Similar Books
