Soul Reader

*“And because he was the usher of souls, Declan placed the weight of everything and everyone on his shoulders. Exhausted, he repeated his same prior mistake, not knowing that if he died, he would not return. His betrothed suspicious, he pushed himself to hide the truth, the second of the horseman to be tested, his ill desire to burden others would lead to their demise.”*

"Now I know this is probably super lame to you but, I LOVE things like this so humor me,” Desiree whispered as she and Declan continued their ghost tour.

He laughed. "Not at all, especially if you could see what I see.”

She froze. "What can you see?”

Declan pointed to a few of the guests. "His grandmother, her sister, oh, and his father who is a real pain in the ass.”

"But I thought-”

"No one escapes judgment? They don’t, but there’s sometimes a gray area where we allow a few to stay. They still are judged, but they are meant to be guardians and protect their loved ones for a certain amount of time before they must leave.” She looked at him. "Why are you looking at me like that?”

"You’re honestly the most fascinating person I’ve ever met Dex. Like I can’t help but know that this is weird, but I’m enjoying every minute with you.” She saw his blush, and she leaned against his arm. "So, tell me, do I have a guardian because that would be cool as hell.”

He stopped her and made her face him. "Me, and that’s the best one you can have.” She smiled brightly at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Pulling him down, she kissed him deeply and heard another tour members sigh.

"Get a room! You two have been at it all day. If you two don’t just bone already and save us from having to watch you kiss every five minutes.”

Declan rubbed the back of his neck and remained silent until he heard Desiree mumble absentmindedly, "Shit…I’m trying to sir.” He laughed and her face flushed. "You heard me didn’t you?” Declan nodded, and she placed her hand on her forehead and groaned. "Why do I insist on embarrassing myself in front of you?”

He kissed the top of her head. "It’s absolutely adorable, and trust, I feel the same.”

Her eyes widened. "You want to-”

"Have sex with you?” He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "You tell me.” Taking her hand, he moved it quickly past the front of his pants under his jacket.

"DON’T DO THAT!” She shouted, and his eyes gleamed with amusement.

"Then don’t ask a question you already know the answer to Dezzy.”

As they continued to walk, Declan began to feel dizzy. He’d been awake for almost four days straight, often times forgetting to eat. As the words of the tour guide, blended together into something he could no longer understand, he closed his eyes.

*Not now*

Feeling himself stumble. His head throbbed, and he loosened his grip of Desiree's hand. She turned and to her horror, she saw him almost fall. She wrapped her arms around his waist and held him up as best she could. Completely embarrassed, Declan pulled away from her.

"I’m sorry. I’m fine now.”

“Stop fucking lying to me! What’s going on with you Dex, please whatever it is, just let me help.”

His words slurred, "You already have so much on your plate…everyone has so much…I can’t be…I need to…I’m okay.” He saw her eyes blacken in pure anger and he shook his head. "...I’m not okay. I-I need your help.” And he dropped to the floor.

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Declan awoke to find himself in a bed. Curled under him, Desiree slept, immediately popping up when she felt him stir.

"Where am I?” He asked still slightly dazed.

"In our hotel room. You passed out. You were dehydrated, and you had nothing in your stomach.”

He sighed, "I’m sorry, I ruined our trip.”

Her lip quivered in anger. "I DON’T CARE ABOUT THIS DAMN TRIP DECLAN! YOU COULD HAVE FUCKING DIED! I called your brothers and they told me everything. They wanted to come to kick your ass, but I told them I would.” She pinched his arm.

"OUCH!” Glaring at him, she moved from the bed. Declan grabbed her and pulled her body close to him. He heard her sniffle.

"Don’t you ever do that again.”

"I won’t, I promise.”

“Prove it.”

He paused and sat up. Waving his hand, Declan produced his planner and highlighters, seeing her eyes widen as she looked at everything on it.

"Dex…”

"I know. I-I have a hard time asking for help but-” He highlighted in yellow. "This is me.” He changed to green. "This stuff, I know Callum would be good at.” From the mirror, Desiree and Declan could see her ring start to glow. He kissed her on her cheek and continue with his highlighting. He changed to pink. "Waylon, though he’ll be pissed about the color.” He pulled up the blue. "Fabian, shit I should have made his green. He and Callum are going to fight.” Hearing her laugh, he felt better.

"And what about me?”

Declan picked up orange. "I’d love if we start doing our lesson plans again together, it will really help me to bounce ideas off one another and get it done faster. Plus, you’re really great at time management so I’d like you to help me learn that too.” He rubbed the back of his neck. "It might take me some time to get everything to run smoothly, so…it might also take a little bit of time until we can spend time together like we used to...” Reaching for a pen off the table, she placed something on his to-do list. *“Complete lessons plans by Sunday, spa/relax day with Dezzy.”* He scrunched his face. "That’s only one day.”

She nodded. "We have class and our study sessions. A relaxing day to help clear your mind a week is honestly good for me right now. Gotta listen to your body Dex, right now it’s telling you, you’re overworking it. Took me a while to learn time management too, so we can re-learn it together." Declan dropped the planner and grabbed her in his arms, she chuckled, "Alright, alright, now I KNOW you’re hungry so let’s order spooky room service. We can gain weight and be bed potatoes the rest of today and tomorrow.”

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Awaking from a food-induced nap, Desiree reached out for Declan. Not feeling him beside her, she panicked and sat up. She saw him sitting in the chair across her, and when she looked at him, his eyes gleamed. "Oh gosh, please don’t tell me I did something mortifying in my sleep.”

He smirked, "Depends on what you consider mortifying.” Standing, Declan watched as her lips parted horrified at what she could have done. "You even adorably ramble in your sleep Dezzy.” He folded his arms to his chest.

"NOO what-”

"Did you say?”

She nodded. “Whatever-”

"It was, I shouldn’t take it personally if it was mean.”

Her eyes widened. "How the hell do you-”

"Keep finishing your thoughts?” Folding her lips, she nodded and he laughed, "Cute.”

He pointed to her chest, and she glared at him. "Please don’t tell me you can read my soul.”

"I could tell you that, but I won’t lie to you ever again.”

Desiree slammed her hand on the bed. "WELL STOP IT! IT-”

"Freaks you out.”

"Asshole...Just tell me what I said.”

Declan looked at her seriously. "That you love me.”

Desiree covered her mouth and avoided his eyes. Her nervousness getting the best of her, she began to panic. "OH MY GOD! I didn’t mean to say that… shit… no! It’s too early. And now I freaked you out. Oh gosh, are you freaked out? I understand if you are because that’s a lot to tell a person who almost fucking died twice. And here I go with my blabbermouth, I can’t even stop talking in my sleep.” Seeing her flushed face, and hearing her ramble, made Declan laugh again and shook his head. She pulled her knees to her chest. "THIS-”

"Is not funny. I disagree.”

She cut her eyes sharply. "STOP. PRYING. INTO. MY. SOUL.”

"I normally wouldn’t, but I needed to know if you meant what you said. That way I could tell you finally that I love you too.”

Desiree was floored. "What?!”

"You heard me. It’s the strangest thing, the fact that we seem to switch when we’re together. I make you nervous and you make me the most confident I’ve ever been. And if I’m honest, it makes me want to taste every inch of you.” She folded her lips and he shrugged. "You’re not the only one who wants to bend you over the table and the bed, and against the door, and on the floor a few times.”

She glared in both embarrassment and excitement. "I’m not saying another word around you. I’m tired of making an ass of myself.”

He laughed, "I call you bluff on that. In fact, I already know the next four things you’re about to say." Catching her off guard, Declan grabbed her leg and yanked her to him. He bent down and pulled at her pajama pants.

"What-” She started but her silenced her.

"Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to.” Eyes wide, her skin prickled as Declan touched her bare thigh. He pulled down her panties, smirking at the fact that she was already wet. "Guess you weren’t lying earlier.”

“Don’t-”

"Tease you? I don’t plan on it.” He spread her legs, and she leaned up, falling back to the bed the moment his tongue touched her clit. Hearing her third thing.

"Shit…” He grabbed her waist, pulling her closer. The feel of his tongue against her made Desiree's body arch in pleasure. She closed her eyes, feeling her climax growing near. Replacing his tongue with his finger, he drew quickened circles and kissed her hidden spot on her thigh. "FUCK I’M ABOUT TO-"

"I know.” He dropped his fangs and bit into the flesh of her thigh. Her eyes blackened as she surrendered to her ecstasy.

As Declan returned to her side, she looked at him wildly. "Sir, I’m confused and for once, I have no words."

He laughed and slowly unbuttoned her shirt. "I know you Dezzy.”

"Prove it.”

He smirked. "Absolutely.”