Teal

Three Years Later

THE SUN BARELY PEEKS over the trees this early in the morning. The rays have yet to warm the mountain air, and the crisp breeze rushing through my cracked window reminds me more of spring than fall.

I close my eyes and inhale a new day—a new year.

Declan weaves the car up the mountain road. The rhythm of the drive and the classical music nearly rocks me back to sleep. We left when it was still dark, and I didn’t get nearly enough sleep last night.

I’m still unclear where we’re going. All Declan would tell me is that it’s a surprise.

He can’t help himself. Whether it be a vase of sunflowers on the counter or a new work of art he crafted from scraps, Declan is always surprising me with things.

Sometimes, they’re little, and sometimes, they’re larger. Like when I graduated from Briar Academy and he surprised me by purchasing a new house for us outside of town. He heard me when I said I wanted more solitude, even though I didn’t want to leave the support system of friends who were still in Bristal.

I was worried Declan would push for us to move when he, Kole, and a few of his Sigma Sin friends started a new cybersecurity company that works with corporations in some of the larger cities on the West Coast. But he didn’t. He made it clear he was only on board if they could house their main operations out of Bristal, and since Violet didn’t want to leave town after graduation either, Kole was more than happy to back Declan’s request with their other partners.

Violet and I still laugh about the irony in Declan and Kole helping people with their cybersecurity, given they disregard privacy in our relationships and keep an eye on us whenever we aren’t around them.

The possessiveness should probably worry me, but it doesn’t. I want him as obsessed with me as I am with him, regardless of how toxic that is.

“You’re still not going to tell me where you’re taking me?” I glance over at Declan.

“I already told you it’s a surprise.” He squeezes the steering wheel with one hand and grabs my free hand with his other to kiss the back of it.

“We both know you always give them up eventually.”

“Because I wouldn’t hide things from you, wife.”

“I like that answer.” I bite my lip when he winks at me.

Declan tips his chin to the road ahead. “Almost there.”

Glancing back out the window, I watch the trees as we pass. Three years ago, it was a constant battle to simply stand still. Nothing felt worth being here, but now I’m thankful I am. I’m thankful I fought the fight. I faced my demons, and I pushed through. And through it all, Declan was at my side.

A man I thought was straight out of my nightmares became my safe space. He stood with me and fought for who I really am. Not whatever version of myself the world might find more tolerable, but me.

Tealene Donovan.

He accepts my mess and shows me I’m worth more than I’ve ever thought myself capable.

I reach for the hair tie on my wrist and wrangle my blonde hair in a ponytail. It’s longer than it’s been since I chopped it off at six years old, and most of the colors have been trimmed off or washed out.

My hair tickles the back of my neck as Declan takes the next turn, and a lake comes into view.

The sun shines off the still water, reflecting the cabin on the shore like a mirror.

“What is this?”

Declan smirks, not answering as he pulls the car to a stop and climbs out. He circles my door and opens it for me, reaching a hand to help me out of the car.

“Remember that trip to Rochester Lake the summer before your junior year?” he asks as he pulls me to him.

“Yes.” It was the last time I went to my parents’ cabin, and after my father was arrested, Kole’s family bought the Donovan properties and leveled the buildings. “I hated that place.”

“I know.” Declan guides me along the path that leads to the house. “But you like being out in nature, so I thought it was time we find a space a little less haunted.”

I narrow my eyes. “Are you making fun of me, Mr. Pierce?”

“Never, Mrs. Pierce.” He grins. “I want a place that’s yours and mine. A place we can spend time during the summer and make memories that don’t involve… them.”

Declan doesn’t mention his parents by name, and I don’t blame him. We still keep in touch with our mothers on occasion, but even before our fathers both unexpectedly died a year into their prison sentences, we hadn’t been to see them.

It was for the best.

“So, you bought this place for us?”

“We did.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder. “What’s mine is yours. Plus, if your paintings keep selling like they did in New York, it won’t be long before you’re my sugar mama.”

“Very funny.” I shake my head, blushing.

I’m still surprised anyone wants to buy my art.

After our summer in Paris, Louis Petit helped connect me with a broker who has contacts with top gallery owners in the States. I paint and he sells while keeping to my quiet little Bristal town and finding a new way to contribute.

Declan’s trust fund might be more money than we could ever need, and the money he’s already making from his new business will far exceed his current assets, but after spending so many years under my father’s control, it’s important for me to bring something to this relationship. I’m thankful Declan understands and isn’t threatened by it.

“You really did this?” My eyes tear up.

Declan pulls us to a stop and turns to face me. “Most of it. The sunflowers were all Margarite.”

He glances over at the porch, and I notice a large patch of sunflowers I hadn’t noticed when we first arrived.

“They’re beautiful.”

“Not as beautiful as you.” He kisses the top of my head. “But they’re yours.”

“So you bought the whole lake?”

“Not all of it. Just most of the land on the north side.” He looks out at the water. “There are a few other properties still for sale, but Kole has his eye on them.”

“That must be what Violet was talking about when we had coffee yesterday. She kept mentioning something about the forest.”

Declan laughs. “That or—”

“Forget I said it.” I hold up a hand, and Declan laughs harder.

What little I know about Kole and Violet’s fun in the forest is already more than enough.

“Come on, let me show you your favorite part.” Declan snags my hand and tugs me along behind him.

“My favorite part, huh? That’s awfully confident of you.”

“I know what my wife likes.” He pulls me to his side. “Don’t I?”

“Yes.” My cheeks burn with his comment.

Declan guides me through the house. It’s beautiful without being overdone. The décor is modern, and Declan already has one of my paintings in every room. A few of his creations are scattered throughout. He still doesn’t display his artwork publicly, but he continues to create in his free time.

Declan shows me all three bedrooms and both living rooms before taking me to a set of doors in the back of the house. And when he swings them open, I’m speechless.

Two walls are entirely windows, letting in the sun and showing off a full view of the lake. One wall has a giant easel against it, and the studio is filled with paint and tools to create with.

“A studio?”

“So you don’t feel like you can’t do what you love. Even if we’re up here for a couple of months in the summer, you should be able to paint if you’re in the mood.”

“A couple of months? What about your work?”

“I can work from anywhere.”

“Especially with your co-owner buying property in such close proximity…” I realize now what Declan and Kole have been scheming.

“We might have talked about how that makes things more convenient.” Declan wraps me in a hug. “What do you think?”

“What do I think?” I sigh. “It’s incredible. I love it. You’re amazing.”

“Don’t go spreading that around. I wouldn’t want to ruin my reputation.”

I lift onto my toes, brushing my lips against his. “They wouldn’t believe me even if I told them.”

“True.” He peppers kisses along my jaw. “Only for you.”

Declan sinks his teeth into the side of my neck, and my body melts. It’s out of my control how I submit to his touch. My lungs want to breathe him; my heart wants to echo for him. He’s the air in the room and the light in my life.

“You okay?” Declan asks. “It looks like there’s something on your mind.”

I bite my lip. “I wasn’t going to say anything until we got back because I didn’t want you to be gentle with me if we were taking a vacation.”

“Teal…” Declan tips my chin up, forcing my gaze to his cool-gray eyes.

“I took a test last night when you were finishing up that project with Kole. I know why I’ve been feeling a little queasy.”

“Are you saying what I think you are?” His eyes widen, and I can’t tell whether it’s excitement or worry.

I nod. “I’m pregnant.”

He crashes his mouth on mine before the words are all the way out. Declan grabs me and spins me around. His lips trail my mouth, to my jaw, and down my neck. And when he nibbles at it, I start to giggle.

“So you’re not upset about it?”

“Are you kidding me?” He sets me back on my feet. “Why the fuck would I be upset?”

I drop a hand to my stomach, avoiding his gaze. “What if I should have stayed on the pill? What if I’m just passing down my craz—”

“Teal,” he cuts me off. “What have we discussed with that word?”

I sigh. “I don’t want to bring someone into this world who could feel even a fraction of what I’ve felt. I know I’m doing much better now, but some days, it’s still a lot of work. I don’t wish that for anyone. Especially this baby.”

Declan circles me until his chest is pressed to my back. His hands graze down my arms until he’s resting them over my stomach.

“We aren’t our parents, Teal. And I know that doesn’t solve everything. But I promise this will be okay. We’ll show them they’re wanted, and we’ll love them with everything we are. You bring so much light into this world. I can’t wait to see it grow with you.”

“You mean that?”

“Every word.” He kisses my temple. “Now, as far as your second concern…”

“Second concern?” My eyebrows pinch as I look up over my shoulder at him.

Declan sinks his teeth into the side of my neck and nips at me. “When you said you didn’t want to tell me about the baby because you were worried that I’d be gentle with you this weekend…”

“Oh—” I’m cut off when he bites the side of my neck.

“You’re going to pay for trying to keep something from me, wife. I know you aren’t fragile.” He spins me around, picking me up so my legs wrap around his hips. “I think now is the perfect time to show you some of the special features I added to the bedroom.”

“Special features?” I grin.

“Mm-hmm.” Declan carries me up the stairs, kissing me. “How about we make a deal? Tonight, you’ll suffer for keeping secrets, pet. But if you’re a good girl, I’ll spend all day tomorrow thanking you for this gift you’re giving us.”

When we reach the bedroom, Declan plants me on the bed, and all weekend long, I enjoy my husband living up to his word.

Through all the pleasure and pain.

Declan delivers when he makes a deal.