The Non-Date

*Monday Night*

*Desiree and Declan*

"I think the students really enjoyed your lecture on how religion and the ideology of death in culture intertwine. It was very intriguing.”

Declan gave Desiree a small smile, "Much appreciated. Admittedly, I was a bit nervous, as interested and knowledgeable as I am about the topic, speaking in front of such a large audience is intimidating. I have no clue how you do it on a regular basis.”

"Well, you did amazingly,” Desiree laughed."“Your knowledge is really fluid. It’s insane! If I didn’t know any better, I would think you had firsthand experience. Are you the Grim Reaper hmm?”

Declan’s eyes gleamed, "And if I was? Would that frighten you?”

Leaning into him, Desiree whispered, "Not at all…but don’t tell my shrink that.”

Declan shook his head in amusement. "So, tell me, why become a Mortician?”

She faked a yawn, "Because everything else was sooo boring. No-I just really want to help families in my own way. I worked with this one guy last year whose wife died of cancer.” Her eyes saddened. “And she lost so much of herself. He didn’t have any expectations when it came to how she would look at the funeral, but when he saw what I had done-he cried. He was so thankful, and it made me realize that this was what I was meant to do.” She scrunched her face, "You probably think I’m a creep, don’t you?”

Declan shook his head no. "I think you’re interesting, intelligent, funny, and dark as hell.”

Desiree playfully punched him in the arm, "Don’t forget cute as hell.”

Declan scrunched up his face, and she hit him playfully again. He couldn’t figure it out. What was it about Desiree that made him confident and nervous all at the same time? "You know, I watch your show all the time.”

Desiree grimaced, "Uh oh. Bring on the criticism.”

Declan laughed, "None here. I enjoy listening to your thoughts Desiree. I wasn’t kidding when I said that I truly find you intelligent and…different-but different is good. I’m different.”

He saw her face flush and she turned back to the papers in front of her, "So, what will we be discussing on Wednesday?”

"I was thinking maybe taking another route, with an exercise.”

"What do you have in mind?”

Declan stood and extended his hand. "Here, I’ll show you.”

Standing, Desiree took his hand and he began to create a pattern with them. "You’ll be surprised at human's ability to interconnect with one another. We often perceive death as this isolated event, a black mass of nothingness or white light that takes us to the next steps. Whatever you perceive, the fact still remains we believe that the event of death itself is a road traveled alone-follow my hands.”

Removing his hands from hers, Declan continued the pattern over top of them. "But if we’re truly connected in life-to the point in which a single stranger on the street can later be someone who becomes one of the most influential people to you-where this person and you are so entwined that you can-”

Desiree looked into his eyes. Without seeing his hands, she began to follow his movement. He grinned. "That you can physically manifest that connection into an ability to predict their movements based only off that shared relatedness…if life is such a realm that holds that type of amazing interconnection…what is to say that death can’t be the same?”

Declan continued to speak, and Desiree could feel the heat of his hands without him touching her. Her eyes widened as his pattern brought their hands inches from her face. "Perhaps it isn’t the fear of death itself, but the fear of the potential isolation-when, in reality, we are so entwined…even in death we still could feel such a link to one another…”

Declan eyes wandered to her lips as she breathed raggedly. "I-is it supposed to feel this intense?”

Tilting his head, he looked at her and whispered, "I don’t know why it feels this way with you.” That wasn’t the truth, he knew exactly why. It was the reason he couldn’t bring himself to kiss her, no matter how badly he wanted to. The reason he would only allow himself to touch her small intervals at a time. She brought out something him, something dark and passionate that both excited and terrified him. He needed to remain in control, for the sake of not hurting her.

She stared at him. Pulling herself closer, Desiree tilted her head upward. Clearing his throat, Declan backed away and watched her eyes widen,

"Oh God…I’m sorry I-”

"No, it’s fine, don’t apologize.”

Her face flushed. "This is so embarrassing. I completely misjudged-” Darting from him, she grabbed her items.

Watching her frazzled, Declan could no longer control himself. "Desiree...” He walked over to her. Taking the papers from her hands, he put them back on the desk and pulled her into him, clashing his lips against hers. Hearing her groan, he ran his hands up her back. She grabbed at his suit jacket pulling him to her as she leaned against the desk. Their kiss intensifying, Declan pulled away feeling his eyes darken. He covered his mouth with his hand.

"We shouldn’t-”

Desiree nodded, "Yeah…it’s probably best that we keep things professional.”

He could see her face flush again in embarrassment. Declan handed her, her items, "Let me walk you to your car.”

"It’s fine really. I’ll see you Wednesday. Excuse me.” Darting quickly to the side door, Desiree left Declan one hundred percent certain that he would lose control and possibly kill her.

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Arriving home, Declan found himself frazzled. He placed his hand in his hair.

"I take it the non-date didn’t go well?”

Declan looked up at Fabian, "I kissed her.”

Fabian patted his shoulder, "All right stud.” He chuckled, his face turning serious when he saw Declan’s jaw tighten. "What happened?”

"I-I almost lost control. One kiss Fabian, and I almost forgot my training. Anyway, I freaked out and pushed her away, and then she freaked out because I rejected her and now, I’m pretty certain my *wife* hates me.”

Fabian smirked, "Must have been some kiss.”

"FABIAN!”

Fabian threw up his hands, "Easy don’t get your scythe in a tizzy.” Sitting down beside his brother, he folded his arms to his chest, "Why don’t you just do whatever it is that you do when you’re in the bed with other women.” Declan avoided his eyes. "Wait a minute.”

Getting up, Declan ran his hair through his hair in frustration, "Well, go on. Get it over with, tease me.”

Standing, Fabian eyed his brother, "Why would I do that?”

"Because you’ve probably have bedded more women-”

"And I haven’t felt a connection to any of them.” He looked at his brother seriously. "I would never tease you about not being like me-or anyone of us Declan, but can I offer you some advice? Stop overthinking things. If you’re worried about what’s going to happen, just take it slow. Learn to be around her and touch her without invoking your inner death dealer…because eventually you’re going to screw and that would be extremely awkward if she wakes up naked in granddad’s office.”

"I hate you.” Declan said in embarrassment.

Laughing, Fabian patted his brother's shoulder, "Good luck, you’re going to need it. Your *wife’s* already kicking your ass.”

Declan grinned, "I’ll remember this the next time Fiona has you blushing like a schoolgirl.”

"Shut up,” Fabian grumbled under his breath exiting the room. Declan looked at his phone. Pulling up an image of Desiree, his mind traveled back to their kiss.

*Fucking Hell*

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"I’m so embarrassed Fi!” Desiree groaned laying back onto the bed. "You should have seen the way he pulled back from me. Like I had three heads-I should have never kissed him.”

Fiona shook her head, "Didn’t he kiss you first though?”

Desiree scrunched up her face, "Doesn’t matter. Wednesday I’m going to pretend it never happened. As far as I’m concerned, we will have a strictly professional relationship moving forward. At most, we’ll be friends.”

"Des-you almost jumped his bones tonight, I’m sorry but Declan isn’t the kind of man you can be *friends* with, you’re too attracted to him.”

"YOU’RE NOT HELPING FI!”

Fiona chuckled, "I’m sorry, you’re right, but maybe you should talk to him? Clear the air before you try this *just friends* thing.”

Desiree nodded, "You’re right. I have to handle this like a responsible adult…who doesn’t have a massive crush on her co-lector.”