Page 10 of Bond Strength

“Dalek,” I said. “They were representative of the Nazis, so I’m pretty sure they take top-tier on villainy.”

Jacob let out a whistle. “Really? I had no clue.”

I chanced a glance at Declan, who stared at me. The intensity in his blue eyes was enough to knock me over, and I sucked in a sharp breath. Over the past decade and change, he’d been paying attention to anything but me in our brief encounters. However, he was one of those people whose focus was one of the most intense things on the planet; it was wholly there. No distractions.

“Well, I think Cyberman.” Henry shattered the quiet that had settled.

“You’re just being contrary on purpose.” Jacob wrapped his arm around Henry. The movement made the already unsteady table tip the slightest bit.

I watched in slow motion as the half-finished pint of beer in front of Declan wobbled back and forth until it clattered to the table. The liquid sloshed out—partially on the table and the rest over Declan’s shirt.

“Oh fuck.” He leaped up from his seat, and I launched into action. I grabbed a bunch of napkins, tossed one at Declan, and used the others to mop up the liquid.

“Shit, I’m so sorry,” Jacob said, pushing up to help with the cleanup. We managed to get the spill under control within seconds, with a wad of wet napkins in its wake.

“Hey, no harm,” I said. “We’ve all spilled beer before.”

“Mm, I’m more of a wine spiller.” Henry offered another napkin to Declan. I glanced up. Declan dabbed at his shirt with the napkin, but based on the rigid set of his shoulders, he was internally freaking out. Iremember him getting that way with spills when we were younger. It was more about the damp fabric than the actual spill itself. He covered his reaction well, but despite all that had shifted between us, some things hadn’t changed.

“Hey.” I placed a hand on his shoulder. He tensed and looked up at me. “I’ve got a clean shirt in my car if you want something dry.”

Declan opened his mouth and shut it again. “Is this the sort of situation I should be avoiding? Strange men baiting me into their vans with clean shirts?”

I lifted a brow. “First off, it’s supposed to be beckoning with candy.”

“Well, I don’t like candy.”

“What kind of monster are you?” Henry sat again.

“Also.” I steamrolled through. “I’m offended you’re saying I’m a strange man.”

A hint of a smile curled his lips. “Well, you are strange.”

God, the hint of cockiness in his voice, the smirk, how his eyes warmed the slightest bit toward me—I’d take any scraps I could get. “So, want to take a clean shirt from a strange man, then?”

Declan pressed his lips together as if he struggled with his smile, but the crinkle of his eyes gave him away. “Sure. Thanks.”

My heart slammed hard as I led the way to the front door. The moment I emerged, the crispness of late fall greeted me. The streetlights were on, illuminating sections of the parking lot. My truck was parked farther down along the side. All the while, I grew more aware than ever of Declan walking paces behind me.

I opened the passenger’s side of my truck, where I kept a go-bag. Whenever I was on a job, there was always the risk of getting messy, and having spare clothes stashed away had saved my ass a dozen times over through the years. I turned around with one of my faded Phillies shirts in hand. “It’s probably a bit bigger than you, though.”

Declan reached for the shirt, and our hands brushed. Electricity crackled in the air, as strong as ever. I’d thought that over the years, the distance, this connection toward him would fade, but that was the furthest from the case.

“I’ll take anything. I can’t stand stickiness.” He tugged his shirt up and over without hesitation, and I couldn’t help it. I flat out stared. The night shadows sharpened the dips and divots of his chest, his lithe form surprisingly toned. His glasses were askew, and his hair was rumpled. I itched to reach out and run my fingers through it. Fuck. He’d look so damn good pressed up against my truck as I railed into him.

My cock woke right the hell up, and I swallowed.

All too fast, the sight was gone. Declan yanked my shirt on, but even that turned me on. Him wearing my oversized shirt, like we’d just fucked. My heart thumped hard, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

He pulled at the hem. “A little bit big, but it’s comfortable.”

I chewed on my lower lip. As much as I was living for every second of this time with him, I’d dropped into his friend hang uninvited. “If you want me to leave, tell me. I invited myself over to your table.”

Declan sucked in a sharp breath and glanced down at the shirt. “Well, I’ll need to be able to return your shirt to you at the end of the night. So it’s better you stay.”

A goofy grin spread on my lips, and I didn’t try to restrain it. “Ah, very smart reasoning.”

Declan shot me an arch look. “Don’t get sassy with me, Langston.” With that, he pivoted on his heel and marched back toward Fun-Guy. Adrenaline swirled through my veins, hotter and heavier than ever. I took off after him but kept a few paces behind and slipped my phone out.

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