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24. Savion

TWENTY-FOUR

SAVION

I still can't believe it. I can't believe I just had one of the best sexual experiences of my life—no, scratch that— the best experience of my life, period. My body's still humming with the memory of Declan's hands on my skin, his lips brushing mine. His dick slamming into me. Every touch, every sound he made, it's seared into me now. And yet, even after everything that happened between us under the stars and in that yurt, the first thing I woke up to wasn't the warm, satisfied glow of being with him, but the sharp, cold reminder of my real life.

The news I received wasn't at all what I had expected.

I hadn't even gotten the opportunity to revel in what Declan and I are now—and what we could possibly become—before I was roused from the best sleep I've had in a long time by the ringtone of my phone. I knew better than to answer it, but the world has a way of creeping back in, no matter how far you run from it.

Since then, I've been struggling to bring myself out of the dark hole trying to consume me.

The sky is still streaked with the faintest traces of dawn, the last remnants of the desert night slipping away, and Declan is asleep beside me. He looks... perfect. Peaceful. His head is tucked against my shoulder, the rise and fall of his chest syncing with mine. I could lie here forever, just holding him. No interruptions. No reality crashing in. Just us.

But life doesn't stop for love, does it?

I glance at my phone again, staring at one of the news articles that confirmed what my lawyer said… what pulled me out of that blissful haze. Something I'll have to deal with soon, but not now. Not while he's here. Not while I have this. I tuck the phone away, determined to push it out of my mind for now. Declan stirs, his hand sliding across my chest, and I smile down at him. How the hell did I get this lucky?

"Hey," he murmurs, his voice still thick with sleep. He rubs his eyes and gives me a smile that does something to my chest, something deep and warm.

"Hey," I whisper back, brushing a strand of hair from his face.

"I love you," I blurt out, my voice soft but sure.

Declan blinks up at me, but then, his lips curve into the sweetest smile. "I love you too," he whispers, and that's it. I'm done. I'm absolutely gone for this man.

We linger there a little longer, lost in each other, before we have to face the reality of packing up and heading back to LA. The thought of leaving this place, of stepping back into the chaos of the city, weighs on me. But as we pull onto the road, Declan is sitting next to me, his hand on my thigh, and it's hard to feel anything but content.

"You know," Declan starts, breaking the comfortable silence between us. "These past few days... it feels like I've been living in a dream. Stargazing with you, making love to you, waking up in the yurt... I've never felt so free, so alive." His eyes shine as he turns to look at me, his smile lazy but genuine. "Like I'm on top of the world."

That warmth in my chest flares again, stronger this time, and I glance over at him. I want to make him feel like this forever. I want to keep him up there, above the bullshit of the world.

"Yeah?" I say, trying to sound casual, but my mind is already racing, thinking of ways to give him more.

Declan's hand slips into mine, and I bring it to my lips, pressing a kiss to his knuckles.

"I'm glad you feel that way," I say, my voice low.

For most of the drive, I lean back in my seat, listening to Declan hum softly beside me, his fingers tracing patterns on my skin, but my mind is already plotting what I can do to surprise him.

And then, the light bulb moment.

I know what I'll surprise him with. And if he thought he was on top of the world before, I'm about to take him higher than he's ever been. Literally.

By the time we get back to LA, the sun has fully risen, casting a golden glow over the city as we drive through the familiar streets. Declan is relaxed, content, completely unaware of what's coming next. And that's exactly how I want it.

We pull up outside my place, and as Declan hops out of the car, stretching his legs, I can't help but feel a surge of anticipation. This is going to be good.

He walks me to the door. "Wish I could spend all day with you today, but the band has a meeting with our manager and a few other things to do, and then practice this evening. Can I stop by after we're done?"

I plant a kiss on his lips. "No need to ask; you've got an open invitation here."

By Saturday, I've got it all arranged.

It took some planning—more than Declan would ever guess—but with the help of his bandmates and Skye, everything's set. I want this day to be more than just a break. I want it to be unforgettable. Declan has no idea, and keeping this from him has been torture.

When I arrive at his place, he's waiting, and the second he gets into the car, my heart does that thing—like it's too big for my chest. He looks every bit the rockstar, even in casual clothes—ripped jeans, a fitted tee, and his aviators perched on top of his head. His eyes light up when they find mine, and I swear I could live off that look alone.

"Hey, rockstar," I say, pulling him into a kiss before he even has a chance to speak. It's long and slow, the kind of kiss that lingers, like we haven't seen each other in days, though it's only been a night.

"Hey, paleontologist," he teases when we break apart. His fingers trace my jawline, his gaze warm and a little teasing. "What are you up to?"

"You'll see." I smirk, loving the way his curiosity lights him up, that playful smile never leaving his face.

As we pull out of the driveway, he glances over at me. "Okay, I'm officially intrigued. Where are we going?"

I shoot him a quick grin, hands steady on the wheel as we ease out of the city. "Patience. It's a surprise."

The landscape changes as we continue to drive. The city's skyscrapers disappear in the rearview, replaced by the rugged beauty of the desert. The further we drive, the quieter it gets, the hum of traffic replaced by the steady rhythm of the tires on the asphalt. Declan's hand rests on my thigh, his thumb tracing absent circles against my jeans, and the simple touch calms the nerves I didn't even realize were building.

Declan's quiet beside me, his head tilted back against the seat, sunglasses shielding his eyes as he takes it all in. I steal a glance at him, the way the light catches the curve of his lips, the line of his jaw. He looks relaxed, happy.

I focus back on the road, but my mind is racing. The surprise I've planned is bold, maybe even a little crazy. But if there's anyone I'd take this kind of leap with, it's Declan.

The drive feels endless, but after nearly an hour, we finally pull into the lot. I park the car, and the second we step out, Declan's eyes widen. "No way," he breathes, his gaze locking on the massive hot air balloon that's waiting in front of us.

The balloon's fabric glows in the early morning light, colors vibrant against the pale desert backdrop. Reds, oranges, and blues ripple in the slight breeze, and the sight is even more breathtaking than I imagined.

Declan stares at it, speechless. "Are we…?"

I step up behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist and pulling him back against my chest. "You said you felt like you were on top of the world." My voice is low, close to his ear. "I figured I'd take you even higher."

He turns in my arms, eyes wide and sparkling with disbelief. "You did this for me?"

"I'd do anything for you," I say simply, because it's the truth.

The soft creak of the gate behind us draws our attention, and we turn to find a man approaching. He's tall and fit, dressed in khakis and a branded polo, his easy smile putting us at ease. He's the pilot, our guide for the ride.

"Good morning, gentlemen," he greets us, his tone professional but warm. "I'm Mitch, and I'll be taking you up today. I understand you're looking for some peace and privacy—don't worry, we're very discreet here."

Mitch gives us a brief rundown of what to expect. He's efficient but friendly, clearly accustomed to putting people at ease. "We'll be up there for about an hour, give or take, depending on the winds," he explains as he secures the basket. "The views are incredible. And don't worry, you're in good hands."

We climb into the basket, which rocks slightly beneath us, and I feel Declan's grip tighten on my arm. I give him a reassuring squeeze. "You okay?"

"Yeah."

Mitch pulls a lever, and with a soft whoosh of the burner, the balloon begins to lift off the ground. My stomach flips as we rise, but it's not fear—it's excitement. Declan stays close, his hand in mine, and we watch as the ground slowly falls away beneath us.

The landscape spreads out below like an endless tapestry, the desert stretching in every direction. As we rise higher, the distant mountains come into view, their jagged peaks softened by the morning light. The sky above is a brilliant blue, so vast it makes me feel small in the best way.

Declan's eyes are wide, his mouth slightly open as he takes it all in. "Oh my God," he whispers, looking down at the shrinking world beneath us. "This is…"

"Beautiful," I finish for him, wrapping my arms around his waist. The wind is cool against our skin, the air crisp and clean. Up here, it feels like the rest of the world has fallen away, like it's just us floating in this endless sea of sky.

"I can't believe you did this."

"I wanted to give you something special," I say, my voice low against his ear. "Something that shows you what you mean to me."

He tilts his head back, those soft blue eyes locking onto mine. "You already have," he whispers, and I feel it—the weight of his words. The truth in them.

We fall into a comfortable silence, just the sound of the occasional whoosh from the burner breaking the quiet. The view is mesmerizing, the desert a patchwork of reds and browns, dotted with cacti and rocky outcrops. The sun is starting to climb higher, casting long shadows across the land below.

Declan pulls out his phone, snapping selfies of us with the sky and the distant mountains in the background. I can't help but laugh as he turns the camera, insisting we get every angle.

I've officially become a different person. I was never one who was into taking lots of selfies like my high school and college friends, but I never shied away from them. But since… but since the attack, I don't ever, ever take photos if I can prevent it. But here I am, basking in the confidence that Declan thinks I'm beautiful, he says it, shows it, and I believe it. And I'm not even hiding. Don't get me wrong, I still don't want my scars on full display, but just the fact that I'm even consenting to getting photos taken of me is wild.

"Don't you get enough of the camera?" I tease, but I'm grinning.

He shrugs, flashing me that cheeky smile. "Not when I'm with you."

We settle back into the moment, the two of us wrapped up in each other. There's something about being up here, so far removed from everything, that feels right. Like all the noise and chaos of our lives has melted away, and for this brief time, it's just us.

I press a kiss to his cheek, my lips lingering there. "This is just the beginning," I whisper, more to myself than him.

Declan looks up, eyes soft with something I can't quite name, something that makes my heart stutter in my chest. "I hope so," he murmurs.

And I feel like we really are on top of the world.

But deep down, a part of me wonders how long we can stay here—how long this perfect moment can last before reality pulls us back down. I push the thought away, tightening my hold on him, determined to make the most of every second we have up here.

We don't talk much after that. We don't need to. The quiet intimacy of the ride says more than words ever could. As the balloon drifts, carried by the wind, I let myself believe—if only for a little while—that this could last forever.

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