Page 41 of Hooked on a Demon (Leeside Witches #3)
Declan
F uck, saying goodbye to Eliana this morning was tough.
He would have loved nothing more than to stay locked away with her in his house, continuing to learn every inch of her body and every sound she makes while he makes her come again and again and again.
Sure, he had to rub one out, okay, maybe more than one, after she left.
But it was one hundred percent worth it.
Seeing her let go is the hottest thing in the world.
He’s barely been away from her a few hours, and it feels like his world is off its axis. That he’s missing the piece to balance him. He’s never seen himself as the boyfriend type, but with her, it’s different. He wants to be the one there for her. To support her. To cheer her on. To keep her safe.
And he will do all of that. But first, Declan needs to find a way to tell Everest that he’s fucking his little sister.
Because, yes, while they haven’t gone all the way yet, eating her out on his kitchen counter and humping her against a wall until she comes is just as good.
But also, not only are Declan and Eliana fucking, but they have a relationship.
With everything bouncing around his brain, he knows what he needs to do.
“Bucks, wanna go for a car ride?” he calls out.
Seconds later, the excited tippy-tapping of paws sounds as the furry beast comes bounding down the hall.
Declan braces himself for the incoming attack as he waits at the door for Buckley to join him.
Buckley bounces his way to Declan, jumping up and putting his paws on Declan’s thigh.
“Alright, boy. Let’s go,” he says, running his hands roughly at the side of the dog’s head, flopping his large ears back and forth as he squishes Buckley’s face.
Bark!
“You’re not old enough to drive yet. You need to be at least four.”
Bark! Bark!
Declan closes and locks the door behind them, then opens the back door of his truck, lowering the custom stairs he had installed, and lets Buckley climb in. “Okay. Okay. I see your point. I’ll teach you at three.” Declan climbs in the driver’s side and pulls his phone out to send a quick text.
Declan
Got time for your little bro?
The response is nearly instant.
Lachlan
New number. Who dis’?
Alright if the Buck-a-tron and I stop by?
Yeah, that’s fine.
Cool. See you in a few.
The drive over is short. As he turns the last corner onto Lachlan’s street, Buckley perks up in the back, panting with excitement.
“Where are we, buddy?” Declan says, riling Buckley up even more.
He pulls into the driveway, quickly parks, and as he opens the truck’s back door, Buckley pushes his way out, running to their front door.
He barks a couple of times before looking back at Declan as if to say, what’s taking you so long?
Declan opens Lachlan’s front door, and Buckley flies inside, nails clicking on the floor as he searches for his second favorite demon.
“Lach,” Declan calls into the house as he follows Buckley in.
“Out back!”
Buckley makes his way to the door before Declan. When he catches up, Declan opens the sliding glass door and lets the dog loose. He’s greeted by Petra’s giggles and Daisy and Sloan yelling in unison, “Grab your drinks!” Buckley is adorable and so lovable, but his tail will absolutely clear a table.
Laughing as he watches everyone but Petra scramble for their drinks and clear the table before Buckley can do it for them, he grabs his own can of soda from the minibar fridge and makes his way to the seating area to join everyone else.
“Hey, you. Haven’t seen you around the Acorn lately,” Daisy says, giving him a once-over.
“Yeah. Been busy and haven’t felt up to it.”
“I’m sure.” Her tone is dry, like she doesn’t quite believe him. “Everest has been there plenty, though. He seems to find himself getting into more trouble when you aren’t around.”
He winces. “Hopefully nothing too bad.”
“No, he does need to keep better track of his partners, though,” Lachlan chimes in, earning a laugh-snort from Daisy and Sloan. “He keeps us entertained, and seems to know when to rein it in, at least.”
“That’s good. I think he’s been feeling a bit lonely lately. But I’m not feeling that scene so much anymore.”
“Oh?” Petra replies, perking up and shifting her attention away from the fur monster rolling onto his back for her to pet his belly. She turns to face them, crossing her legs in front of her as a hand passively rubs Buckley’s fluffy stomach. “Is there something we need to know about, Dec?”
He hangs his head, trying to decide if he wants to do this here and now. He came here because he planned to discuss everything with Lachlan and seek his advice. But with everyone here? Is it too much? Too many opinions? Too much judgment?
Fuck.
He lets out a frustrated groan, raising his head. His gaze catches Petra’s interested but caring expression, and that seals it for him. He knows she would never steer him wrong, and if anyone can help him with a fucked up situation, it’s this crew.
“Yes.”
“I knew it!” Daisy calls out, fist pumping the air. “Who is she?”
Groaning again, he wrestles with the words that want to fly out of his body. What he wants to shout to the world, but can’t.
“Eliana.”
All eyes are on him. The pressure of their stares weighing on him, but there is no response. He waits another beat, hoping they’ll make the connection without him having to explain it. When they don’t, he finishes, “Oaks. As in Everest’s sister.”
“No fucking way!”
“Your best friend’s sister?”
“Didn’t she move to Hollybrook?”
“For how long?”
They all ask their questions simultaneously, each voice layering over the other.
It takes him a second to sort it all out before he responds.
“Yes, my best friend’s sister. Yes, she did.
She moved away to be a dancer but got injured and recently moved back home.
And it’s been going on for like a month or so.
But things have really picked up over the last couple of weeks. ”
“A MONTH!” Lachlan says, incredulous. “Wait, is that why you were asking me about how to know when to settle down?”
Declan sips his drink, putting his hand out for Buckley to walk under as he comes over to comfort his distressed human. “Yeah.”
“Dude.” Lachlan reaches over, playfully punching Declan’s shoulder. “So why are you here?”
“Everest doesn’t know. No one does. I’m tired of it being a secret, and I don’t know what to do so that I don’t lose my friend and the woman I’m crazy about.”
Petra’s eyes look like they are about to pop out of her head. “Hold on, your best friend doesn’t know that you’re in a relationship with his sister?”
“Nope. She was worried about how he would react, and I didn’t want to risk not having a chance to see how things would play out with her. But now I can’t stop thinking about her and want to be with her anytime we want without having to worry about him busting in and discovering us at any moment.”
“How have you kept it from him for so long?”
He sighs, resigning himself to the truth. “A lot of lies. So many lies. I fucking hate myself for it.”
“Aww, Declan,” Sloan says, leaning forward and giving him her full attention. “You are in a tough position, but it sounds like this is more than fooling around.”
“It is.”
“Then you need to be honest with him,” Sloan continues. “Continuing to lie to him and to yourselves, forcing what you’re feeling to be a secret, isn’t going to help anyone.”
“I know,” Declan says, his head dropping back in frustration. Buckley lays his head on Declan’s lap, trying to soothe him. His hand lands on Buckley’s head, petting it to reassure him he’s okay. “He’s gonna fucking hate me.”
“Maybe,” Lachlan says. “Or maybe he’ll be understanding.
If anything, knowing what I know of him, he’ll likely be more upset about you lying to him than you being in a relationship with his sister.
” He puts extra emphasis on the term relationship, and while Declan knows it’s his brother trying to tease him, because in the past that would have sent him running, he’s relieved to feel no tension in his body.
The idea of a relationship with Eliana doesn’t scare him.
It does the opposite, actually. It excites him.
“Maybe. But how do I even broach the subject with him?” Declan asks. “It’s not like I can hand him a beer and be like ‘by the way I’m in love with your sister’ and expect it to go well.”
All of their eyes go wide at that revelation. His own body freezes as he plays back what he said. As he looks around, he sees nothing but knowing smirks looking back at him. “Fuck off,” he retorts to their unspoken reaction.
The group busts into laughter, and Lachlan claps him on the shoulder. “Welcome to the club, Dec. It’s a whole new world on this side. You’re gonna love it.”