Dare to Submit (Dare to Love #4)(38)
Author: Carly Phillips

She tipped her face up to the water, and hopefully she rid herself of the worst of the makeup mess she was sure to have had covering her.

He looked at her. Smiled. Then reached out, wiping beneath her eyes with his thumbs.

His touch was so sweet. Familiar. Needed.

“Decklan, what are we doing?” There was no mistaking what she meant.

They were both naked in the shower, two people who hadn’t spoken in too long, and the last time had been hurtful and ugly. But she didn’t feel any of those emotions now. She just felt taken care of and … loved. She swallowed hard, the lump rising in her throat because she wanted that last one to be true.

He braced his hands on either side of her face. “We’re doing what we should have been doing all along. Being together. Believing in each other. Being there no matter what.”

“But I lied—”

“And I screwed up how I handled it after I found out. I have no good excuse except—”

She placed her finger over his lips. “I don’t care about why. I just care that you came around. I shouldn’t have kept something so important from you.”

“And I have issues stemming from losing my parents in such a traumatic way. We were getting so close…”

“You pushed me away first?” She rose to her tiptoes and briefly pressed her lips against his. “Can we agree to forgive and forget?”

“We can.” He grinned. “Now can we get the hell out of this shower? I’m turning into a prune.”

She laughed and nodded. No sooner had she stepped out and dried herself off than Decklan picked her up and carried her to bed.

“I’m not finished with you yet,” he said in that deep, commanding voice she loved.

“No?”

He came over her, his naked body covering hers, and she moaned, soaking up his strength and body heat. “No.”

She raised her arms, intending to grip the headboard, hoping he would take her body to miraculous heights, when he surprised her.

He slid his hands into hers. “Touch me.”

She felt the smile pull at her lips. She’d been waiting for this moment since the night they’d first been together. “Really?”

“Really. Ask me why.”

“Why can I touch you?” she asked, finally running her hands over his well-honed body and enjoying every touch, every caress. She could finally show him she cared, and she reveled in that fact, knowing she’d never get tired of touching him.

He braced his arms on either side of her shoulders and began to rock his body over hers, the hard length of his erection gliding over her sex. She moaned, arching up and into him, her body clenching and craving his.

“Because I love you, Amanda. You can touch me any way you want, any time you want, because I love you.”

She opened her eyes and met his gaze, his expression full of emotion. For her.

Her heart filled. “I love you too.”

He shifted his lips, lifted himself up, and slid into her in reply. She sighed in pleasure, amazed at how full she felt, not just her body but her heart. She curled her fingers around his biceps, as he didn’t thrust hard, just rolled his hips, pushing into her, making love to her in the sweetest way possible.

She knew there would be times he would want it harder, need to tie her up or have her submit, and she’d need those moments just as much. But now? As he took her up and over, he completed her, and she knew she’d come home.

* * *

Amanda hung up the phone. She was smiling so wide her face hurt.

“I take it that was Brad?”

She nodded. “He’s in his own room. Recovering. Keith is hovering over him, which he loves. And though his parents met him under the worst of circumstances, I think the life-or-death thing showed them what was important. The senator accepted their relationship. They actually wished them well.”

Decklan raised his eyebrows. “That’s amazing for them.”

“Miracles happen.” She stepped into his waiting arms and rested her head against his chest, savoring the steady beat of his heart.

“Did he say if the police know anything?” Decklan asked.

She stepped out of his embrace and walked to the kitchen, then poured them both a cup of coffee she’d set to brew earlier. “The guy who shot Brad was detained by witnesses.” She added milk and sugar to hers, milk only to Decklan’s, and handed him his.

“Thanks.”

She nodded. “Faced with being arrested, the shooter squealed like a canary. The senator’s campaign manager hired the guy.” She shivered at the thought. “I never liked the man. He always gave me the creeps. And I knew he wasn’t happy when he found out the senator planned to go public, but this?” She shook her head.

“Sick bastard,” Decklan muttered.

“Yep. He wanted Brad out of the picture before his homosexuality was exposed and the senator’s campaign took a hit.”

“How the hell did he think he’d get away with it?”

“He figured if he could hire a guy and make it look like a random crime, he’d build sympathy for the presidential candidate whose son was killed.” She took a sip of much-needed caffeine. “The senator believes the Second Amendment gives the average citizen the right to bear arms, so his manager planned to push the him toward major speeches where he’d say, if my son was armed, he would still be here today. Play the sympathy angle.”

Decklan shook his head. “Has he lost his mind?”

“I’m not sure he ever had it,” Amanda said. “The bottom line is, he just wanted Brad gone. And he almost got his wish.” Her voice shook at the very thought.

“Well, he didn’t. Do you want to get ready to go to the hospital and visit?”

She nodded. “But we have to stop by my apartment so I can pick up a changes of clothes. I think I’d call too much attention to myself in your sweats and my high heels.”

He grinned. “You look hot in anything.”

She stepped back and patted his cheek. “Charmer.” She started for the bedroom, but he grabbed her wrist.

“I have a question.”

She spun back around, happier than she’d been in … ever. Not only did she have Decklan back but there were no more lies between them. “The mood I’m in, I’m likely to agree to anything.” She wiggled her eyebrows seductively. “Go on. Ask.”

“Would you move to New York? I know you’d have to give up your dream job, but with Brad’s reference, I’m sure you could find something flexible here. And let’s face it, Gabe is pretty influential himself. He could help.”