Page 33 of Hooked on a Demon
She sighs, bringing her head back down to look at him. “It’s possible. He is friends with my brother, but I don’t know whether that’s a good sense of judgment or not.”
Colson huffs a small laugh, and it feels like a triumph. “So if it’s possible that he’s not like Sam, don’t you think it’s worth at least giving this man a shot? Let him show you how he’s different.”
“I mean. I guess that makes sense. But how can I trust that he won’t do the same thing?”
“That’s a great question,” he responds, leaning forward to rest his forearms on his knees—another one of his preferred poses. “Unfortunately, I don’t think there is any way to truly know.”
She laughs without humor. “Thanks. That’s uplifting.” She catches the smile he gives her in return. He’s objectively attractive, but he does nothing for her.
“What I mean is that we never truly know someone’s intentions, but if there is nothing causing your warning system to go off—and given your history, I think it’s safe to say it would—then I think it’s okay to give him a chance to show himself to you. You’ve been through a lot and experienced trauma, so it’s natural that you would be hesitant. However, your experience also means that you are more in tune with yourself and the behaviors of your partner. So he’d have to be really good at being manipulative to get it past you at this point. It’s okay for you to seek out happiness. Comfort. Even intimacy. Be open with him when you’re ready so he knows where you’re coming from.”
The fact that Colson is so good at his job is sometimes annoying, but Eliana knows he has a valid point. Declan has been nothing but kind to her and has been the complete opposite of Sam. “Okay. But if he turns out to be a complete jerk, I’ll never come back here,” she says sarcastically.
“I will give up my license if that happens,” he replies, laughing.
CHAPTER20
Declan
Stepping out of the shower, he grabs a fresh towel from the shelf and wraps it around his waist, tucking the end in to keep it in place. He picks up a second towel, running it over his hair before tossing it in the basket waiting outside the washer as he passes the laundry room on the way to his bedroom.
He hasn’t been able to get Eliana out of his head all day. The way she hooked her finger into his yesterday was such a small gesture, yet the contact made him long for more. The way she looked at him… Hades, it was enough to drive him crazy with need. And the little pout of her lip as she held back a smile, fucking hell, he wanted to reach out and run his thumb along it. To feel how soft it is under his rough skin.
He may have suggested this arrangement between them, but he didn’t realize how hard it would be to keep his hands off her in public spaces. It’s why he allowed himself the small graze of her arm. He wanted to touch her. No, heneededit. To feel her against him, even in the smallest of ways.
As he dresses, he tries to think of a time when he’s had such a pull toward a woman, and his mind comes up blank. Of course, he loves the carnal aspects of being with a woman, but this is… different. It’s as if his entire being needs to be with her.
Eliana is all he can think about while at work, and when they are at the theater, he can’t wait for her to pop in for her daily checks. There’s absolutely no reason for her to be checking in on their progress every day. Everyone knows it. But it doesn’t stop her, and if it means he gets to see her, even if for only a few moments, he will happily play along.
Pulling a dark green Henley over his head, his phone vibrates on his dresser.
Everest
Hey Smoke-show. Wanna hang tonight?
Fuck.
Declan knew that he’d need to find reasons to blow off Everest at some point, but if he’s honest, he was hoping it wouldn’t be for a bit. That there would be some help from the fates for the first little while, allowing him and Eliana to get together without having to lie to his best friend.
Yes, he told her he’d deal with Everest, but he hasn’t quite figured out what that means or what it looks like yet. He needs to see where this thing with Eliana goes, but how does he lie to his best friend? The friend who’s been there for him after he blew out his knee and needed surgery. The friend who helped him with getting Hellbent Motors set up. The friend who would literally jump through fire for him.
Declan runs his hand through his hair, lets out a groan of frustration, and then quickly braids it back. Picking up his phone, he does his best to settle the roil of guilt in his stomach and responds, potentially lighting the ember to burn his friendship to the ground.
Declan
SmokeShow? Really?
Three dots instantly appear.
Everest
Would you prefer Daddy?
Fuck no.
Damn. I was so looking forward to a new Daddy
Anyway…
