Severing Ties (Book 2. Ties)

40. I'm Sorry

Monday through Wednesday, I always seemed to end up with my back to a wall. That wall usually was the hospital's where Declan worked at. If that wall had the ability to change colors with mood, it would have been the color of lust or ecstasy. Declan and I discovered we were more and more compatible as time went on. He had been unexpectedly placed in my life, but I was enjoying every minute with him.

Four more weeks had passed since my argument with Declan about telling my mom about our relationship, and she remained none the wiser as did everyone else. Declan had not asked about that anymore, so I felt a little more at ease. I did want to try more for him. I had reached a resolution in my mind; I would soon tell the important people in my life about my relationship because I knew it was something significant for Declan.

I left the matter for a weekday though. It was Sunday, and I had made up an excuse to go out. After my Mom arrived from work, I had told her and Lucius I was going over to Stephanie's. Why I had never thought of that lie before, I did not comprehend. Regardless, Stephanie was my alibi without her awareness.

Declan and I spent our evening dining and walking. We went to one of his favorite restaurants in Manhattan. We leisurely circled blocks while other people passed us by. It was a relaxing evening with the right amount of romance.

"I'm moving into a new apartment," he announced out of nowhere. We were nearing his car when he communicated about his new home.

"Do you not like where you live now," I asked.

He opened the car door for me, so I moved to go inside. "I did, but the lease is coming up and a change of air and new people would do me well," he said as he sat in the driver's seat. "Do you want to see it? There's nothing in there at the moment, but you could give me some of your female eye advice regarding decor."

I laughed. "My female eye?"

He reciprocated my smile. "Only for a bit. Just long enough to give you the grand tour." He ended with a chuckle and a charming smile I could not resist.

"Only for a bit then."

With my agreement, he drove towards the location of his new apartment. It was a nice building in a nice neighborhood. We went up to his floor, and he gave me the tour he had promised. Everything was light wood with soft neutrals. The design made the apartment seem open and inviting. "I like it a lot," I said after a minute of silence.

"Maybe one day you could move in."

Whether he was serious or not, I did not know, so I stared at him unblinking. "Declan..."

He breathed out and smiled. "I know what you're going to say. I'm not saying now, Mackenzie. Later when we're ready, it will happen. All I am telling you is we have something that can be long term."

I looked intently into his light eyes. "Do you truly believe that?"

He pushed a hair strand behind my ear and left his hand on my neck. "I want to give you everything you've never had."

How was I supposed to reply to something so intense? My eyes drifted to his lips for a millisecond and he knew. Declan leaned down and laid his lips on mine. As time increased, so did our ardor. There were no pedestrians, no witnesses who could complain or feel uncomfortable with our kiss, so we stayed connected for longer. We took advantage of the absence of eyes on us.

His hands were everywhere and so were mine. He transferred his lips to my cheekbone, my jaw, and my neck. His breath fanned over my ear, so I shivered. I could feel his smile on my neck which only made things more gratifying. Our lips made contact again while his hand traced the side of my ribcage. It was like his skimming fingers were touching my breast, but in reality he was not; it was only the feeling, and what a good feeling it was. "We should go now," he said.