Free Declan by Ava Manello Page B

an IED on our last patrol. I can’t bring myself to tell her about killing the young boy, or sleeping with Georgia, or about Max taking his own life. It’s not much, but it’s the first time I’ve shared any of my feelings.
    From the sound of it both of our nightmares share the same timescale. It’s spooky. If I believed in fate I’d say we’d been thrown together to heal each other.
    The food was finished and the rubbish packed away a while ago, meaning we’re just laid on our backs, side by side on the blanket. The stars have come out now. The sky is perfectly clear, lit by a thousand white lights. Just laying here like this is calming. It’s odd but I feel comfortable with Holly. We don’t need conversation; both happy just to lay here in each other’s company and contemplate the night sky.

Holly
    Declan is still a mystery to me, but not as much as he was before this evening. I can sense that there’s more to the story than he’s told me, but like me, he finds it hard to share.
    As hard as it is to talk about Danni and Justice, and everything that happened, I never felt that Declan held me responsible for any of it while we spoke. He just held my hand and nodded in understanding.
    He’s a sweet guy, although I’m guessing with his military background he’d hate me calling him that. He even remembered that I love blueberry muffins.
    It’s so peaceful here; I can feel the heat from his body lying beside me on the blanket. I think I could fall asleep here and not have nightmares.
    Declan reaches over to brush the hair away from my face; his touch is gentle and tender as he pushes the stray lock behind my ear. His finger traces down the side of my cheek, down my neck and to the swell of my breasts where he pauses.
    He moves his hand and lifts my chin towards his, planting a soft kiss on my lips. I kiss him back. The kiss deepens between us, soon we’re biting lips and then his tongue invades my mouth. I can feel his kisses all the way through my body. I’m on fire. Between us my shirt has been removed, and I’ve almost wrestled his t-shirt over his head. Holy shit. This guy has abs. He’s a lot leaner and more toned than the guys back at the clubhouse, but his body vibrates strength and energy. I trace my nails down his chest towards that seductive V that disappears into his jeans. Meanwhile he’s tracing his hands up inside my skirt.
    We’re making out like a couple of teenagers and I love it. His hand reaches the silk of my panties, teasing me. It would be rude not to reciprocate so I undo the belt and buttons of his jeans, pushing my hand inside his boxers. He’s hard as steel already. His cock is pulsing beneath my fingers as I wrap my hand around him.
    His fingers push my panties aside and he eases a finger into me. Fuck. That feels good. I’m already wet for him as he pushes his finger in deeper. His thumb meanwhile is working on my clit. I’m trying to move my hand up and down his cock, but the distraction from his fingers and thumb is too much. I just clench my fist tight around him as he takes me to the brink of my orgasm. Holy shit. The sky has nothing on the stars that explode behind my eyes as I peak.
    I struggle to draw in a breath. That was amazing. Declan hasn’t stopped though. He’s pushed my skirt up around my waist and removed my underwear. All the while he’s continued to kiss me.
    He pulls back, an unspoken question in his eyes. “Yes.” I whisper. “I need you.” He moves away from me for a moment to remove his jeans and fish a condom from his wallet. I feel the chill as his body leaves mine. He’s quickly back at my side, already sheathed. I gasp as he enters me for the first time. The feeling is indescribable; we fit together so perfectly. He eases further into me then starts thrusting. His cock feels like steel as he pushes deeper and deeper. I arch my back to meet his thrusts, wrapping my legs around his back.
    He takes a hand and pulls my left leg down, straightening