2019-08-24 - A Clear Answer

Dinner with Javier had been upsetting for the young woman. Stressful. Draining. She had waited until all her frustrations and anger had been cried out and the tears dried up before texting Declan.

I'm coming over tomorrow night so we can talk.

And now, tomorrow night was the present night. Dahlia had, admittedly, taken a couple hits off of a joint before coming over to calm her frayed nerves. So she was feeling okay tonight. Ready to tell Declan how she felt and what she wanted. She was wearing a powder blue strapless dress and matching sandals. Dressed on the nicer side of casual for tonight's talk.

Declan's front door is open. He told her to come right inside.

It was a long day. A very, very long day. Busted pipes, people screaming about needing them fixed immediately. He rushed it, doing his best to be there for people. It wasn't pleasant. Muscles and back sore, he showered as soon as he got home and ordered pizza. Not that many people know, but he hates ordering pizza. It's the worst.

Unless it's Brooklyn-style Dominos. Then it's okay.

Declan bums around in jeans and a white t-shirt while waiting for food and his maybe-girlfriend... friend... something. He does his best not to think about the day, or the text she sent the day before. Whatever happens will just happen, right?

Dahlia comes in to the house, the smell of pizza reminding her that her stomach's been too knotted up to eat anything all day. She closes the door and then makes her way over to Declan when she spots him. It's a little difficult to discern how she's feeling from her expression, but when she's close enough he does get wrapped up in a hug. Her face burying in his neck for a moment to breathe him in, taking comfort in his scent. "Hey you." She says finally in greeting, lips brushing against his cheek in a gentle kiss.

Declan stops all his moving and puts on his patient, kind smile. He takes a few steps to close the distance and pulls her into a gentle hug. Declan doesn't kiss her back, though. A hand moves across her hair, along the back of her head, and he breathes deep. "This is way different from last time," he points out while glancing down at her. Studying, he bites his lower lip and tries to gauge what's going on behind those beautiful eyes. He must come up short. "Hungry?"

"Because I didn't want to be a wreck, or angry or anything when I saw you next." Dahlia sighed, glancing towards the kitchen and then back to him. "I think I'll feel less like vomitting whatever I try to stomach after we talk." Moving to take his hand and walk over to the couch, sitting down. Urging him to sit next to her. She waits a few beats but then just launches into it.

"Dinner started out fine but it quickly got...unbearable. It was tense and awkward...and. Declan. I loved this man. He's the first person I really ever loved. Getting over him isn't going to be easy but...It's over." There's a pained expression that fleets across her features. "There's nothing left for me and Javier that doesn't just end in ruining each other." Taking hold of his hand again.

"I want us to try Declan. And maybe we'll crash and burn too, but I know I'll be kicking myself for the rest of my life if I didn't give us a real chance. I want to be with you." Dahlia does seem rather certain of this. She can't keep holding herself back. So, she wants this, if he does too.

Declan follows her to the sofa and sits close.

He watches her quietly. When she's finished, he exhales slowly and smirks. Glancing off for a moment, he bites his lip and considers. "That's a lot to take on, Dahlia." He turns back. "Realistically, and be honest, don't just tell me what you think I want to hear, what do you think can come out of this? I mean, what do you mean by be with me?" His head tilts while he waits for an answer, and his gaze doesn't leave hers.

Dahlia isn't great at expressing herslf this way. Her skin is already a little flushed as he questions her. "I don't know what can come out of it. I'm not clairvoyant. I want us to go on proper dates and hang out with people together, go places. I want to get all tangled up with you in bed just from like, snuggling and talking." Her skin is steadily getting pinker. "I don't want you to just be the person I go to when I need to get laid, Declan. Or when I need to go numb. And I'm going to fuck things up. It's inevitable. I'm a fuck up and things will be messy, and so far from perfect you're going to wonder why you put up with me."

Drawing in a breath that's a little shaky. "...When people ask about you, I want to say you're my boyfriend and not feel like I'm just saying it so I don't have to explain some complicated thing." From her expression, she's clearly preparing herself for the worst. Whatever the worst could be. Because he can totally do better and less complicated than her.

"Alright." Declan wraps an arm around her. He smiles, squeezes her arm, and breathes in deep. "Okay."

Moving a little closer, he continues to look down at her. "I think we should still talk about a few things. Do you want to do that now? Or wait." The hand on her arm rubs softly.

Not the worst response. Not the best. But Dahlia nods and swallows. "We're already on a roll. Just...keep going." She murmurs, looking away from him for a moment, pushing her hand through her hair and drawing in another breath herself. Then looks back to him, waiting for him to go on.

"You can't be the only one who gets to make mistakes. I can't be... this guy who has to do it all right. It sounds like that's what you wanted Javier to be, and when he fucked up, didn't meet your expectations..." Declan shrugs. "The rug got pulled out from under you. Him, too. And because you guys had unspoken expectations, it crashed and burned." Declan pushes hair away from her face. "Good relationships don't end like that. That's not the kind of relationship I want to have if you want to try something serious. So I need you to understand... you have to let me make mistakes, too. Because I'm going to." Declan shrugs. "I probably already have."

Dahlia furrowed her brow a touch and then sighed. "I don't want you to be perfect Declan. Nobody is perfect. Everyone is going to make mistakes. Javier and I ended because - well, there's a lot of reason. But the one that broke the camels back was my decision to go into porn. You're right - we never really talked about anything because we were long distance and tried to keep things casual. So it was probably doomed to fail from the start." Dahlia explained. "I'd be a hypocrite if I expected you to be perfect. I'm sorry if that's how it came across."

Declan listens quietly, nodding. "I'm just being careful. For me, but also for you. It'd be a mistake to run into something without knowing as much as we can, and talking things through." He nods a few times. "And yeah... I want to give this a go." He leans forward and kisses her gently, pulling her lower lip between his for just a moment. "Sorry that wasn't more romantic. I want to get wrapped up in you, too. Go out, meet people, talk late into the night. Make mistakes and work through them," he kisses her gently again, "one hard fuck, or one tough conversation, at a time."

"I understand. I do. And I'm not...good at this. I'm trying to get better about it." Dahlia leaned her forehead against his. She leans into his kiss and a soft laugh escapes as he lets her go. "Don't be sorry. I'm just glad you want to try too." Cupping his face with her hands as they kissed again. "That sounds like a good plan to me." Giving him a smile. "....Okay. I think I can eat now." And there was a barely audible rumble from her stomach that seemed to second this motion.

"Not many people are. It's no big deal," Declan replies. His face tilts into one of her hands, stubble scratching. He eventually stands, offering to help her up if she wants. "You can talk to me, though. About anything. If you think we're moving apart, if we're moving too fast. Javier, work. Whatever. That's what make things manageable." Declan moves for the kitchen and gets the pizza out of the oven. It's still warm. "Beer?"

Dahlia accepted his hand and got to her feet. "I'll try. I'm going to be as honest with you as I can. And I want to be able to talk to you about anything. But the same goes for you. I want you to feel like you can talk to me about anything too." Leaning against the counter as she watched him. "Yes please." To the beer. She definitely felt like she needed a drink.

Declan gets two beers, pops the caps off both, and hands her one. He grins up at her, then moves to grab plates. She's given one before he opens the box and serves two pieces. The box gets closed as he says, "We've covered some tough stuff already, but if you want to talk about the conversation you can." He shrugs. "Otherwise, I'll tell you about my day. Wasn't great. But you might laugh."

Dahlia takes a long pull from her beer as he serves up the pizza. "I'm glad we've got covered what we have. I'd love to hear about your day even if it wasn't great. Then I'll tell you about my newest sewing project." Dahlia offered, accepting the plate of pizza as well before sliding into one of the stools to sit.

Declan joins her, taking a big bite of pie and instantly regretting it. He sucks in air, trying to cool his mouth off, and waves his hand in front of himself. Next, he chugs some beer, chews, and laughs a little. "Shit that's hot." Declan puts the slice down. "Whoo. Shit. Ummm. Right. So three pipes burst, three different houses. One was a septic line. Might want to wait for that story until after dinner." Shaking his head, he says, "Next was at an old lady's house. I've been there four, five times already. She needs most of the pipes replaced, but she's struggling to make ends meet. I keep trying to cut her a break, but she refuses and keeps going to her minister. We've talked. It's... yeah. Tough."

Dahlia stifled a laugh as he took a bite of the hot pizza. "You okay?" Still grinning. Though once he started talking, she looked a little puzzled about the last bit. "Why'd she keep going to her minister? Is he doing some kind of repair work too? That's terrible that all these pipes are bursting...espcially in the middle of summer." Shaking her head. She gave his thigh a squeeze and then took a careful bite of her pizza. Which was quickly followed by a swig of beer. "Still hot..." She breathed out. "It sounds stressful. So, we'll have a relaxing sorta night tonight yeah? To let you wind down."

Declan takes another swig of beer. "She needs money, she's too proud to let me work for free. So she goes to the minister, the church, for extra cash. He reached out to me... three months ago? Told me to cut her a break, do the right thing. I told him I already had. The church isn't in great shape either, so the funds are... tight. It just sucks all around. We worked out a deal, though." Declan wipes at his mouth. "Yeah, we can relax. What'd you have in mind?"

"That's unfortunate, but I'm glad you were able to work out a deal." Dahlia took another bite of pizza. "Well I could give you a massage, or we could chill out on the couch and watch something or talk more and I could play with your hair. Or anything really. However you'd like to unwind." As she sipped her beer once more.

Declan takes a cautious bite of pizza and clears his throat. "Yeah it is." he listens to the options with a grin. "Man, tough decision." He thinks it over, still grinning. "I could totally go for a massage and a talk. Are your hands strong? My muscles get pretty tight."

"I've been working out! Since Mae says upper arm strength and leg strength is important to pole dancing so you don't fall and break something." Dahlia grinned. "So we'll see how my hands do yeah? You can just lay back and I'll do all the work."

"If you're doing all the work, I hope you use more than your hands." Declan smirks and tries not to laugh at his own joke. Sighing happily, he says, "I really just don't think that's getting old for me. Anyway. Thanks, Dahlia. My back could really use it." A hand moves to her thigh. "I'll rub your shoulders after? And how's Mae doing?"

Dahlia giggled at his joke, giving him a devilish grin. "Maybe I won't just use my hands. We'll see." Teasing him. "You just lay down on the bed when you're ready." She's only made it through one slice of pizza, but she isn't a big eater anyway. "Okay I guess. I haven't really had a chance to see her lately. So I've been trying to stick to the workout and all so next time we're able to do a lesson, I'm not completely terrible." Leaning into his touch briefly. "A shoulder massage sounds good to me."

"Now I'm curious. Just fair warning, I'm not really into switching or sub. I'll do switching, that's fine, especially if you like it. But... no tying me up without fair warning." He gives her a wink. "Massage sounds great, though." Chuckling, he adds, "I'll have to give her a text, so what she's up to. What workouts have you been doing? Stuff with weights, or?"

Dahlia feigns a pout. "Well there goes my plan of lulling you into relaxing and then tying you up so I can have my way with you." She teased and grinned again. "Don't worry baby. I'm perfectly happy with the way our dom, sub thing is right now." Leaning in to give him a kiss. "But I'll keep it in mind." Settling back in her seat. "Yeah, weights primarily with cardio mixed in."

"Oh, my bad. You wanted to have your way with me," Declan says with a chuckle. "Honestly, maybe. But not tonight." He kisses her back, letting the topic fall away. He tastes like cheap pizza and beer. "You keep lifting weights you'll lose some of those beautiful curves. I'm kind of curious what you'd look like with some muscle, though."

"I think my goal is just not fall off the stripper pole, ya know? I don't know if I want to get like...a six pack or anything." Dahlia laughed, examining her arms a moment and then shrugged, giving another grin. "My arms and legs'll tone up some. We'll see how I feel after that." Polishing off her beer and relaxing against the counter.

"You're pretty soft. I might miss that. But... strength can be pretty fun, too." Declan doesn't finish his beer, but he stands up anyway, gives her a kiss on the forehead, and walks towards the bed. His shirt is pulled off, pants undone and slipped down a bit, and he crawls onto the bed. His arms go wide, and his head turns a little. "I really hope you don't get a six pack. Your stomach is fucking hot as is."

Dahlia lets him get settled on the bed, laughing as she made her way over. "Well then, just for you - I won't work on a six pack." She promised as she straddled him, leaning down to kiss his cheek. Then she righted herself a bit, sliding her soft hands along his back, feeling the different points of tension. Then she started up at the back of his shoulders, kneading gently at first. Then steadily putting more pressure until they found the right amount.

Declan's back is a mess. He does stretch, which helps, but it's tight from working out, stress, and anxiety. The middle of his back is probably the worst. That's just... like rubbing concrete. His shoulders are pretty tight, too. "How long do you think you'll strip?" he eventually asks, trying to relax. "Sounds like you really enjoy it."

Dahlia uses as much pressure as she can muster and he can tolerate with the palm of her hands, slowly working her way down and closer towards the middle. Trying to warm him up, so to speak, before she starts introducing elbows. The question catches her off guard. "Huh. I don't know." She speaks honestly. "I do enjoy it. But I think it's mostly because enjoy teasing." And also because now it wasn't just a second job. She was also there to make sure Antonio didn't try to shortchange Felix on his 15%.

Declan groans a little when she hits a good spot. He shifts, doing his best to remain still. "Playing it by ear?" he wonders with a smile, but that doesn't last. There's another spot. His foot bounces. "Damn that feels horrible. But so good. Teasing how? Teasing the customer, or them teasing you?" He glances back at her, watching.

Dahlia giggled a bit when he jumped. "Sorry." She offered, but kept right on working. "Something like that." To the playing it by ear. "Teasing the customers. I'm a terrible, terrible tease. It's good for business." She leaned over a little, sloowwlyyy starting to introduce her elbow on to a tenser spot to work it deeper. "Lemme know if this is too much."

"Awwwwwww shit," Declan groans, tensing up. He tries to take it like a man. That doesn't work that well, and he ends up lifting his hips in a playful bump. "Tad bit too much. Still feels good, though." Rubbing his head, Declan tries to take even breaths while she works. "I bet it is. Not sure I could take it, personally. Drives me cr-" he tenses, "crazy. What's your boss like?"

Dahlia places a kiss on the top of his head, stifling another giggle. She lightens up on the elbow and then switches back to her palm. "Maybe one day," Lips close to his ear to talk softly to him, "We'll have to see how much you can take." Pressing against him briefly before pulling back with a grin and resuming her handwork. "Antonio? He's neat. Pretty laid back, let's us kinda do whatever as long as we're making money. Little too slick for my taste sometimes though."

Declan remains pretty tense, listening. "Yeah... maybe. I mean, I still plan to come in. Check it out, maybe a drink or two. We'll see." He tries to relax again, sighs, and nods as she describes the club owner. "Sounds like a great boss. What, you don't like slick?" he wonders. His chuckle is interrupted. "Kind of thought you did. Maybe I'll cool it on all the smooth... stuff."

"I meant just here at the house...or at my house. No strip club necessary." Dahlia mused. "You do need to come to my house some day...well. Justin's house. It's only fair I guess." A soft laugh. "It's a different sorta slick. Hard to describe...I'm sure you'll understand what I mean if you meet him though."

Declan laughs. "... oh." He looks up at her again. "I'd be down for it that, then. I just... don't want you getting in trouble because of me at work. I'm not possessive, but pretty sure my hands would be on you in less than a minute." He turns back, resting. "Yeah I should. Justin sounds like a cool guy. I can't wait to meet him." Declan thinks for a few moments. "Caught up on himself? Thinks he's hot shit?" he wonders.

"You can be a little handsy with me if you visit at work. I don't mind it." Dahlia chuckled. "But I'd much rather tease you where I can take full advantage of the effects." Giving him a wink, hands sliding to start focusing on his lower back. "Yeah. That sounds right." She agreed. "Jesus, you really are all tensed up. I'm gonna have to do this for you more often huh?"

"You might not, but all your clients, the bouncer, your boss?" Declan says with a sigh, "Probably won't like it at all. Unless it's in one of those private booths. Trust me, even then, sounds like a bad idea." Chuckling a little after she mentions more teasing, he tilts his hips back up, adjusts, and clears his throat. He tries to make no big deal about it, but it's not exactly subtle. "Speaking of bad ideas. How's the selfie coming?" Her final question gets another look. "I mean. I won't say no. Feels really fucking good, and my back feels like crap most of the time."

"It's a really lax place. The girls know how much or how little touching they're okay with and we've got the bouncers to set people straight or kick 'em out." Dahlia shrugged and then grinned as she feels him shifting. "But you're right. You'd totally get me fired for all the things I'd want you to do to me." Nipping at his ear lobe. Oh, she's just terrible isn't she.

"I really want to have at least one of my tattoos done before I give it to you." Is Dahlia's answer. "But I might do something else instead. It might sound silly...but I want it to be special." Giving him another smile. "Well we'll work on it. I'm having plenty of fun doing this."

Declan smiles a little when she nips his ear. One of his extended arms reaches around to squeeze her leg. The hand lingers. "I didn't realize dancers could let a client touch them more than offering money. I thought it was just... her. Never you." He grunts again when she hits a sensitive spot, and his hips push up again. This time, his hips shift a bit to one side. "Didn't realize you were getting a tat," he admits. "It's not silly. I can wait. Make it special, Dahlia. That's not silly at all." He blushes a little while he listens and thinks. "Yeah... feels like you are. So am I."

"I don't really do it too much. Usually just letting them take off my top or help take off a skirt. No like, groping or anything like that." Dahlia shrugged and shifted a bit to lean her leg into his hand. "I'm getting two of them actually. The art's being worked on and I'll be going in soon so we can get it all laid out and started at least." Her grin brightens a bit. "...Yeah, seems like you are." Echoing his words. One hand briefly moves from his back to tease against that semi-exposed from area. But then is quickly back on his back. "I'll give you some kind of heads up...before I send it. So you don't get it at an inopportune time."

"I'm not sure how much I or anyone else comes into your decisions for work," Declan begins, "but if you're telling people no because of me - don't. It'll be a lot easier, a lot better, if you don't. Bartending is the same way. Obviously no groping, but clients want to feel something." He squeezes her leg. "They want to feel like they're special." He tilts his head up, muscles more or less relaxed now. Still hard, but he's no longer wincing. "I can't wait to see them. Sounds like you're pretty excited." When she rubs down his hip, his hips jerk a little. "Okay..." he says, trying not to laugh. "That... is not my fault. That's all you." His head lowers a little, and he chuckles. Maybe a little nervous. "That might be a good idea. I've no idea... uh. I mean, it'll be fine either way. But I might like a warning so I can enjoy it."

"I appreciate it." Dahlia smiled a touch. "Bartending or giving a lap dance...letting them touch me or flirting with people. Like you said, it's an act at the end of the day. Just doing what we need to do to get by." There's a soft laugh when his hips jerk. "I definitely claim full responsibility for it." Eyeing him a moment. "You know, you're cute when you're nervous. " Hands starting to slide up some again, working in deep. "Have you ever asked a girl for a nude selfie before?"

"It is. And we do. Really... it's no big deal. To me, at least." Declan remains relaxed, eyes eventually closing. "You just put on a face and accept the cash." When she laughs, he smirks. "Am I? I didn't realize I was that nervous. But... maybe I am. I don't feel like I get nervous very often." Her final question is met with a brief quiet. "Yeah, sure. Sometimes, I just get sent them. A few turned me down." Declan shrugs. "I think it's... hm. It's really interesting. For some people, it's really intimate and private. Others really like the idea of someone getting off to them from a text." He turns back again. "And before you ask, I've only kept two. Mutual splits. They were both fine with it."

"What are you nervous about?" Dahlia's tone is curious, then nods as she listens to his answer about the selfies. "I'm not sure I was gonna ask, but I'm glad you told me anyway." She muses. "It is interesting I suppose. How many different views and opinions there can be on a topic like that. I definitely feel like it's a more intimate thing. Because it's something I'm choosing to give to someone that I know. It's not the same as one of my videos or something where tons of people I don't know and will never meet are viewing it to get off. "

"Who, me? Nothing... nothing at all." He tries not to smile. A little vulnerable, he does anyway. "Yeah... it is. It's... I don't know. It can be strange to think someone's getting off to you. That there's someone who finds you that attractive. I think I'm over it, though. Well, maybe not over it. But yeah, it's still exciting." He continues to watch her, and the hand on her leg squeezes. "Does it bother you?"

Dahlia eyes him skeptically, but she doesn't push the issue. For now. "Does what bother me? The idea of strangers getting off to me getting railed?" Raising a brow and then offering a smile. "Nah. I mean, yeah at first maybe a little. It sort of hit me that people watch those things...people I know might see them. I was awkward about admitting I did porn. But, now? Who the hell cares. Especially because it's in the past." She runs a hand through her hair. "And it isn't going to bother me one bit to think about you getting off to a picture of me. Especially one I gave you."

Declan turns beneath her, rolling over, and steadies her hips so she doesn't tip right off. He looks right up at her, letting her hips go, and lifts his hands above his head. His chest is sculpted, and when stretched he definitely has more-than-faint six pack lines. "No. You giving me a private picture," he explains with a grin. "Back feels great, by the way. Thanks."

A hand lays on his shoulder lightly as he starts turning to help him help her stay steady. Once he's settled again, Dahlia's contently to let her fingers wander over his chest, enjoying the feel and sight of his six pack. Bright green eyes falling on to his own dark ones, the grin returned. "Still not bothered by it. Because I want to do it. If I didn't, I'd have told you I didn't want to anyway." Leaning down to steal a light kiss. "You're very welcome. We'll do it again some time."

Declan smiles up at her until she bends. A hand moves onto her back and stay there, keeping her close. For awhile, he's quiet, and he doesn't even try to kiss her. Then, his fingers tease across her back. One hand begins to squeeze a shoulder, sudden and pretty hard. There's no warming up. The other hand reaches around and squeezes the back of her neck, fingers finding pressure points near the bottom of her skull. "I'm glad you're here." The hands don't let up.

A soft shiver runs up Dahlia's spine as his fingers tease. Then a gasp as he suddenly is squeezing down on her shoulder. "Fuck..." She murmured out as his hands squeezed. There's plenty of tension in her shoulders and neck. Her head tilts forward a little bit, closer to his forehead as if to give him better access to those areas. "I'm glad I'm here too..." Trying to relax her shoulders a bit.

The hand on her shoulder pinches hard, thumb digging deep. That hand isn't messing around. As it releases, the other massages right up her neck, pushing hard. Beneath her, his muscles tense. His head tilts, and lips gently kiss her neck. "No, I mean I'm glad you're here. That you chose this. Gave it a shot, even after all the shit you went through." The hand on her neck squeezes hard, nearly enough to hurt. "And I'm glad you waited to tell me. That you wanted to talk. I'm excited that we took it slow, relaxed." Teeth rake slightly against her neck. "Mostly, I'm glad you're willing to talk. I've been with so many people who just wanted to... drink the pain away. Fuck hard and forget. Shoot up. Fight. I've done all that, seen it. I'm so, so tired of it."

Dahlia whimpers as he squeezes harder. That struggle to tense back up versus trying to stay relaxed is a real one. Pressing against him a bit out of reflex. Her nails digging lightly into his sides. "We have something. That can be good." She breaths out, shutting her eyes. "I didn't want...want to mess it u-up before it started." She falls quiet again, trying to focus on her breathing for a minute, head tilting again to give his teeth more access. "I want us to build each other up. Not tear each other down." As her nails dig in a hair harder.

Declan doesn't mind the nails, but he does grunt softly. Closes his eyes, he trusts his hands and lips to do what's... right. Squeezing, he lets both hands work against her hard. The one on her neck eventually leaves, pushing against her back. His legs wrap around hers... slowly. She gets pinned while he kisses down her neck. "So, you're afraid?" he asks. "I can see why you would be, after all that." He breathes deep, inhaling her, and then continuing to grin. "Me too. But we're headed the right way. I think." The hand on her shoulder squeezes harder than it has before, really grinding against muscle. "Guess I should ask - did you really want to just chill tonight? I'm about to hit that place where I don't want to turn back."

"'Course I am." Dahlia admitted softly, currently like putty in his hands. There's another whimper and groan when he grinds into that muscle. Her eyes open finally to study him, chuckling when he asks about chilling. Her hips shifting against his as if in response. "I think we've chilled out plenty." She tilted her head to pull him into a slow, simmering kiss. "So let's go past that point of no return hmm?"

The hand that was on her neck shifts to her shoulder. It squeezes, hard, and finds those points that hurt... but feel so, so good. When her hips grind into his, his hips rise. Reaching, searching, it's obvious he's excited. Below her, he grins and kisses her throat, and then lets himself get pulled into that slow kiss. After her question, he nods. "Yep. Like this, or... something closer to our usual?" Before she can answer, he kisses her again, hands squeezing.

A low-tone moan escapes at this next round of shoulder squeezing. She adjust a bit if she can, grinding against him further. "I'm liking-" She started to say, but the kiss silences her. The kiss is deepened, tongue sliding out to seek out his. Despite not getting to finish her answer, it's obvious. She's enjoying this pace their at now. A slow burn that leads to a great release.

As they kiss, Declan tilts his head against her. A hand moves down her back desperately, searching. Trying to remember what to do. It eventually settles on her curve of her hip. Her dress is drawn up, fingers fumbling, and a thumb hooks around what she wears beneath. A few moments later, all that grinding feels better. A lot better. One hand is still on a shoulder, rubbing hard, while he kisses her deeply and without much thought. Not much is said, they said enough before, while the night goes on. As passions rise, the world turns and relationships shift. Something temporary begins to become something long term, but Declan has no words for it. She's on top, and she stays that way until he's ready to shift.

But that could take a long time.