Scarred for Love (MFM)

Chapter 9

The next morning, I was awakened by Scarlett's beautiful singing. Blinking my eyes open, I reached over to the nightstand to grab my glasses. Where are they? I pat the flat surface like I'm Velma on Scooby-Doo.

Ah, there they are. I grab them and slid them on my face just to notice how close Derek and I were, lying in bed.

We weren't on top of each other or anything but less than a foot away. I let myself drink in the glorious sight before me from his raven-colored hair to the smooth tanned skin of his hip, where the sheets were draped. The v lines on display made my mouth water. s**t, I should stop ogling before he wakes up to catch me staring.

For good measure, I glanced up at his eyes to see they were in fact closed. I sigh in relief. Only then, his eyes opened to meet my gaze.

Derek's P.O.V

~~~~~~~~~~~

I could feel his eyes roaming my body as I lie awake now, due to Scarlett's singing. I didn't want to spook him so I just continued lying with my eyes shut while trying to keep my breathing even.

When I hear a soft sigh from him, I open them to meet his brown eyes. They widened a fraction, while in my peripheral, I could see his pale complexion redden.

It made me think back to last night. At first, I was just watching Scar and how she moved her body so fluidly and effortlessly with the strap on.

However, as soon as Declan started making those erotic noises from how good he was feeling, my eyes were immediately on him the entire time. His skin flushed and his eyes dazed as Scar brought him to cloud nine.

I never understood why women thought men grabbing the sheets was sexy until I saw his veiny, masculine hands clenching the sheets.

Ever since I told myself to allow the thoughts of Declan to come through, it's like I'm seeing him in a new light.

Neither of us broke eye contact. We just sat, staring at one another. To be honest, I'm surprised he is holding his stare. Usually he is quite shy.

"I never thanked you for the pizza" he muttered.

"Does that mean I'm forgiven?" I asked hopeful. I have always bought him his favorite pizza whenever he got into one of his moods. It took me mowing and helping Mrs. Grazza in her garden to earn enough money, but it was always worth it.

Declan was sort of a loner back in the day, so I really was his best and only friend until he met Raiden in college. Yes, we had our siblings and other family, but him and I. We were thick as thieves.

"Yes" he quietly said, after a minute of silence.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Hmm?"

"When did you know?" I asked and I didn't have to elaborate what I was asking as his gaze turned to the sheets, sheepishly.

"I've always loved you, Derek" he admitted softly. "But it wasn't until I was 17, I realized in what way I do"

Mindlessly, my fingers reached out and began to skim up and down his arm in hopes of a soothing way. However, it did everything but soothe him. His fingers twitched and his breath stuttered as goosebumps spread across his skin. He clamped his eyes shut and made a fist.

"Why are you doing this to me?" He asked in a tortured tone. I immediately withdrew my hand.

"Declan" I softly said and his breath was harsh as he opened his eyes. "I-"

What am I supposed to say? Hey, I wanted to be supportive and also I may or may not be attracted to you, so let me touch you to find out if it does anything to me. Yeah. No. I've already done enough stupid things in the last 24 hours. I went to open my mouth again to formulate some sort of response.

"Oh good, you two are up!" Scarlett says cheerfully as she walked in from the bathroom. I didn't even notice she stopped singing.

Declan visibly relaxed as she jumped and landed between us on the bed.

"So what's on the agenda?" She asked, looking between him and I.

"Boardwalk, amusement park, food....you know the standard tourist getup" Declan replied with a shrug.

"It may sound so juvenile but I hope my men win some stuffies for me" she happily says. And she means it too. She's obsessed with stuffed animals. You should see our walk in closet. Filled with squishmallows and all sorts of different stuffies, as she likes to call them.

"Come on Dj, Deck...chop, chop. Time's a wasting", she clapped her hands while sitting up and scooting off the bed, Declan following right behind.

I'll need to talk to him about my thoughts eventually....maybe after our little getaway though. We will just enjoy this time for now.

~~~~~~~~

After getting ready for the day, we ended up going for a walk on the boardwalk. It was the perfect fall day. Not too hot and not too cool. I always liked the water; it was very serene.

Declan and I escorted Scar on to the rides as well as playing the silly, overpriced carnival games. Declan won her a huge squishmallow. It was an adorable black cat.

She has always wanted a black cat and with her birthday a month away, the day before Halloween, I was planning on buying one for her. I'll have to talk to Declan about it though, considering he is a new addition to the family. Well, I mean...ugh, you know what I mean. I just need to make sure he is on board with it as well.

"Would you be okay with that?" Scarlett whispered to Declan, causing my attention to focus on them.

"What would he be okay with?" I asked and she narrowed her eyes at me.

"None ya bees wax" she stuck her tongue out at me and my curious gaze went to Deck and he put his hands up and shook his head.

"You're having the conversation literally in front of me" I defended.

"Yeah, but you were in LA LA Land and we were whispering" she retorted. I rolled my eyes.

"Okay, whatever" I chuckled at the face she made as if she was like 'Damn, right'. "Where are we going for dinner?"

"Oooh, Chinese" Declan piped up enthusiastically. "I could go for some crab rangoons" he hummed while licking his lips. My eyes followed the path of his tongue, leaving his lips shiny.

It reminded me of the nanosecond of our lips touching at his apartment. It wasn't long enough to evaluate and conclude anything, which made me want to kiss him again.

"Yaaas, I could go for some sushi" Scar agreed. So, naturally, I also agreed with the Chinese. Not that I have anything against it, but I'd rather have a big juicy cheeseburger and steak fries if I'm completely honest.

We went to one of the many Chinese places. Declan got his crab rangoons along with sesame chicken while Scarlett got some sushi and bubble tea. I got general tso's chicken and some pork lo mein.

"What does your fortune cookie say?" Scar asks Declan after reading her little paper from the cookie.

"A long-term goal will soon be achieved" he reads, then looks at her and me. "What about your guys?"

I bit my cookie and pulled out the paper. "You have a strong instinct to take care of the people you love", I read aloud. I hummed in agreement.

"Mine says 'A thrilling night is in your future....in bed " she wiggled her eyebrows. "I sure f*****g hope so" she bit her lip, looking at both Declan and I, up and down. Declan's cheeks heated as he popped the rest of his fortune cookie into his mouth.

It's adorable how he's all so shy right now, but yet when it comes to intimacy, he's more assertive.

To end our day, we ended up just walking along the boardwalk as the sun was setting.

"Gosh, it's so beautiful" Scarlett says with awe while looking into the horizon where the sun was meeting the water. Beautiful colors of purple, yellow and orange painted the sky.

She took out her phone and started taking pictures of it before motioning for us to take a selfie with her. We dropped the stuffed animals that Declan and I were carrying around the whole day by our feet before posing next to her.

"Say threeway!" She yelled, making a few passerbyers do a doubletake at us.

"Scar!" Declan hissed, making Scarlett snicker.

"Oh, it's okay, Deck. They probably think nothing of it" she waved it off. He grumbled under his breath before we all smiled at the camera.

She took a few, turning her phone from different angles before the three of us looked at them.

I analyzed them as she swiped through them to pick the best one. The background was captured perfectly behind the three of us and Scar looked as gorgeous as ever. She is naturally photogenic.

My eyes then moved to Declan in the pictures. He looks genuinely happy, from what I could tell. Eyes bright and beautiful under the lens of his glasses, a broad and radiant smile. Recently, clean shaven face. His sandy blond hair falling perfectly imperfect on his head. He's handsome.

Even if I was only a straight man, I could tell when someone was attractive. However, now, I'm noticing his lips and how they are light pink with a cute little cupid's bow. I don't know any strictly straight male who looks at another man's lips. I mean, unless there was food on it but even then there is a slim chance.

"I'll have to frame this one for our living room." Scarlett commented, smiling at us both once we all decided on our favorite picture. I looked at Declan and the happiness radiated off of him. It made my heart feel warm and happy to see him happy.

My arms wrapped around the two of them, initiating a group hug. We squeezed each other lightly before pulling away.

"Let's get back to take a dip in the pool before calling it a night" I told them.

"Yes! I want to go in the hot tub too. My muscles need the warm water and jets" Scar said, rolling her shoulders.

"Mmm that'd feel so good" Declan moaned in agreement. My mind flashed to the previous night of his noises, making my d**k twitch with interest.

"Alright, let's go then", I picked up the stuffed animal I won Scar, then hooked my arm for her to take. Declan picked up the squishmallow then hooked his arm on the other side of her before we began our stroll back to the hotel.