Wednesday December 3rd
Who: Garret, Keely and Declan When: Evening, after Declan gets off shift Where: Dec's apartment What: Garret decides to be a yenta and cause trouble.
This was going to be... odd. And not just because it was a potential orgy that was probably not going to happen. Mostly, it was because neither Keely nor Declan had much experience with sex, and from what Garret understood, Keely would cut off your hand if you got too fresh. There was also the awkwardness of the very obvious feelings between Keely and Declan that Garret was not sure either of them realized.
After grabbing Keely and giving her a hurried explanation- "Because it's fun"- Garret let them both into Declan's apartment and stripped them down to their underwear. Sitting in Declan's bed, this was possibly the most innocent thing Garret had ever done in his underwear, which was strange since he was wearing the red luckies today. There was nothing innocent about the red luckies. But he was in a bed with a woman in her very cute underwear... and they were playing Go Fish.
Keely had just gotten out of the shower and was in her pajamas as Garret appeared, giving a quick explanation and she was whisked off to Declan's flat. Well that wasn't strange at all really. It was supposed to be fun and she figured it was to just mess with Declan, which she checked as her favorite hobby, so she was easily talked into it. This was about as much as she'd done with a man too, so to sit there in her underwear, consisting of a lavender bra and seashell colored pair of girl boxer-briefs that said 'Smile!' on the bum. "Do ye have any threes?" She asked, the game very simple for their waiting and fun since she seemed to be winning. . . Kinda.
Declan was happy that he'd had a day of work. Sitting in his flat for the past week had gotten rather dull, but it was needed for him to recuperate. Adam had put him on desk work so he could take it easy, but Declan was hoping it wouldn't be necessary for too much longer. He felt fine for the most part. No reason why he couldn't go back to full and active duty. They were short-staffed enough as it was. Didn't need to make it any worse. Entering his flat, he heard the voices in the back and frowned. Wasn't he supposed to meet Garret in the other man's apartment? And what was Keely doing here? He recognized her voice right off. Still, he didn't break tradition. Jacket on the coat rack, keys in the bowl, shoes off by the door and a stop into the kitchen to pick up a bottle of Guinness. Leaning against the door frame to his bedroom, he sipped, "So what 'ave I missed 'ere?"
Hearing Declan come in, Garret smiled, but didn't say anything. "Go fish," he told Keely gently, though he was lying through his teeth. He had two threes in his hand, but he wondered how long he could cheat before she noticed. Apparently, half the game. Hearing Declan speak finally, he looked up at him and grinned. "Go Fish," he informed the Irishman, then patted the bed. "Take off your pants and stay awhile, we've been waiting for you. In our underwear!"
"I've been askin' ye for three's for the past fifteen times! I have two threes! How do ye not have a three!?" Keely cried getting riled up over a simple game of Go Fish. "Are ye cheatin' Garret?" She asked, giving him the stink eye, pursing her lips. She wouldn't put it past him, he looked the type to cheat at Go Fish. Did he have no morals!?
Where Declan was seated, he could see clearly into Garret's hand. "I thought in Go Fish ye went for pairs and no' all four." He frowned, finally noticing that both were in nothing more than their knickers. It was nothing new for either of them as he'd see them both in their skivvies before. Just not on his bed. "Why?" The question was aimed towards the nakedness and not the game.
Frowning, Garret dropped his hand onto the bed, shrugging. "Ah, so sue me. I like to add a little mystery into the game." Not like Go Fish was much fun anyway, it was too simple. To Declan, he could only smirk, tugging gently on the man's shirt. "I told ya. I'm here to stroke your ego. I just brought a friend to help."
Taking this opportune moment, Keely seized Garret's hand and let out a disgruntled kaw of sorts. "Ye daft buggerin' ninny! Ye were cheatin!" She cried throwing the cards at Garret's head without remorse, still slightly ignoring her friend that had just showed up. After all, the man that was in his undies was slighting her in the card game.
Declan rolled his eyes at Keely's display, well used to it at this point. Just like he was used to being ignored in his own flat. "If yer in me bed, Keely, the least ye could do would be ta say hello." Turning back to Garret, Dec moved to sit on the edge of the bed, sipping his brew. "Ye said ye wanted me pants, and yet ye tug on me shirt. How does that work?" He grinned behind the bottle, teasing his friend.
"Baby steps," Garret said matter-of-factly, brushing an ace of clubs off his head. "I want in your pants but I like seeing the top, too." And then, a wicked grin spread over his lips. "Keely love, will you help me strip him? He's over dressed for this shindig."
Sitting there glaring at the older man, Keely sighed and gave Declan a gentler look. " 'lo Declan. Garret's bein' a bugger and annoyin' me with his cheatin'." Oh he did not just ask that. She was going to kill Garret. The red head was tempted to just slug him, but she contained herself, much to her pride, and got up going over to Declan. "The man's infuriatin'," she said with a sight before looking away and started to pull Declan's shirt up, but that only went so far since she was so short. "Dec, bit o' help," she said getting the shirt up to his armpits.
"Still trying to get into me pants?" Declan wasn't offended, in fact he was flattered. "What are you going to do if I actually say yes one of these days?" He chuckled as Keely tried to disrobe him. "Ye've always got to do it tha hard way, don't you Lil'Bit?" Tugging his shirt back down, Dec started in on the buttons, working from the bottom up.
With a little chuckle, Garret shrugged. "Maybe someday we'll find out." He really doubted it, but it was fun trying anyway. Half the fun was trying. Watching Keely tugging on the shirt, Garret was tempted to reach out and grope Dec's chest, run his hands over that smooth skin... mmm... soft. "Alright," he said, snapping from his momentary gaze, "pants now. Unless you're going commando today, then that'll be pretty awkward."
"No, I just go the fastest route," Keely huffed, rolling her eyes at the nickname. Letting him undo his shirt and strip, she resisted the urge to just hug him. Unf, that body. Shaking her head, she stepped back. "Fair's fair, Dec," she nodded trying to resist the urge to just pull his pants down like she had done dozens upon dozens of times when they were younger.
Just because he could, when the shirt came off, Dec dumped it on Garret's head, covering his face. He had to stand to undo his pants, belt first. It came through the loops and was draped on a nearby chair. "Ye two are rather pushy tonight for just a game of cards. Next time ye've got ta win the clothes again, Garret." Shucking his pants to the floor, leaving him standing in a pair of respectable navy blue boxers, Declan sat back down. "Are ye 'appy now?"
If Keely thought that that look she was giving Declan went unnoticed, she was dead wrong. Garret saw. And he smirked, because he totally agreed. Unf. Taking a deep breath of the scent of Declan before taking the shirt off his head, Garret uncovered in time to get an eyeful of trousers hitting the floor. He purred throatily, looking Declan up and down. Gorgeous. "I'm getting there," he said with a smile, reaching out to brush a few fingers down Declan's thigh. "You could sit, that would help."
"It's an important game of cards," Keely said, even though she knew it was bollocks. She was never as forward as Garret was being right now. In fact, she'd never even touched a man like that before, even Declan. Taking a seat next to Garret, she sat down to contain herself and not just throw herself at her best friend.
Declan sat himself back down on the corner of his bed since the other two semi-adults were taking up the rest of the space. "Alright. So we'll play cards. What game?" Please not go fish, please not go fish. Declan was doing his best at avoiding looking at Keely, keeping his attention focused on Garret. Since the pathfinder had mentioned Keely in a sexual context earlier in the evening, he'd been hard pressed to think of anything but that. But Keely was his best friend and he wouldn't disrespect her that way. So he focused his attention on Garret. Dec also knew it'd annoy her.
This was just too cute. They were like preteens, only fully grown and in their skivvies. Declan wasn't looking at Keely, but his eyes were straining to stay on target. It was a little disappointing that the distraction, and not the main event, was Garret, but he could live with that. For the greater good. Stretching across the bed, Garret leaned over to Keely, whispering in her ear. "We could try and get him to play strip checkers again," he whispered softly, just barely loud enough for her to hear him. A hand brushed her hair over her shoulder, fingers just lingering a little on her neck. Subtle, but the action would speak volumes to a jealous friend being left out of the intimate moment.
"That wouldn't last long at all," Keely giggled, pulled away from her staring at anything but Declan. Mmmm, the touches felt nice. Fiancé Declan was good with cuddles and kisses, but nothing like this. He wasn't subtle. Very straight forward, part of her attraction to him, but the soft touch felt. . . Good. Like a romantic good.
Declan didn't know exactly what game Garret was playing but he wasn't sure he liked it. Still, he stood by what he'd said earlier. Keely may be engaged, but she was free to choose. If she wanted to fool around with Garret, that was her choice. Jaw clenched, Dec glanced away, looking around his own room. The cards were scattered on the bed and he started to pick them up, straightening them into a pile.
If laughing wouldn't have given away how devious he was being, Garret would have chuckled right now. It was just too delicious. Declan was soooo jealous right now, his jaw tight and his eyes looking at anything but Garret and Keely. Humming, Garret moved closer to Keely, nose brushing her temple, breath tickling her cheek. "Maybe not, but it'd be fun to try," he murmured. "We could get drunk first, make it more of a challenge, trying to play already drunk. He's very... fun when he's drunk." Another hand brushing her skin, over her shoulder this time. "But you know that already, don't you love?"
"We'd never get anywhere and end up in the floor wettin' ourselves from laughin' so hard at a game piece," she snickered. "Still sounds fun though." Because Keely was avoiding looking at Declan, she couldn't see the bits that showed his jealousy or any uncomfortableness. Shivering slightly at the touch of her skin, she nodded. "Aye, I do know that."
Declan was starting to get tired of being left out of the conversation, and watching Garret make moves on Keely though he wouldn't admit that last part. "Do I need ta leave the room?" With the cards stacked neatly, Dec picked them up, starting to shuffle idle. He was well practiced at it, could even do a few tricks and he started rehearse since Garret and Keely were so busy being close.
With a fake little pout that actually indicated triumph, Garret cooed. "Aww, I'm sorry Declan! Do you feel lonely over there?" Shifting himself, Garret stretched out, laying himself in the dryad's lap, head and shoulders resting against his chest. "I didn't mean to exclude you," he purred, draping an arm around Declan's neck, looking up at him with a grin. "I was just getting cozy with Keely."
Keely sat there, her legs under her as she suddenly sat there confused as Garret flopped into Declan's lap. "I'm gonna go ta the loo," she said getting up as she rolled her eyes at the dark haired man in her friend's lap. He was much like a needy cat. Had to have someone always paying attention to him. It was kinda cute. Going pee quickly, she washed her hands and flushed before coming back in. Despite being in her skivvies, she decided to body slam the larger men. It was funny, since she was so small, but it seemed too tense in there. So with a slight running start from the door way, she landed on both of them. Her hips crashing into Garret's chest and her limbs in Declan's face.
While Keely was gone, Declan frowned down at Garret. "Just what game are ye playing, Garret?" He trusted the man, but he wasn't sure of his motives. Hearing the door shut, Dec glanced up and all he saw was a squealing Irishwoman before he dropped back on the bed, laughing.
Innocent, innocent. Clearly Garret was so innocent. "What?" he asked, twirling a strand of Declan's hair in his fingers. "You're cute, she's cute, we're in our underwear. This is just fun." And it was about to get more fun. Keely came out of the bathroom, and then suddenly she was in the air, and then she was landing on his chest. And her cooch was about four inches away from his face. Snorting, Garret bit his bottom lip, trying to contain the laughter. Oh, if he lifted his head just a little, he could have a face full of Keely. And while it would be sweet for half a second, she'd kill him soon enough. But oh, the possibilities...
Slithering away from the two men, Keely sat smiling happily in her own spot. It was nice to hear Declan laugh finally. He seemed too uptight lately. At least the lately that he came into his bedroom. "So anyone up for a drink?" She asked thinking that might ease things up a bit. While Garret had also suggested strip checkers, she figured the best route of action would be to get less tense, for all of them. Well except for maybe Garret. The man never seemed to be worried around her.
Since Declan was already laying down, he reached to the floor and picked up his forgotten pint. "I've already got mine." Garret was still laying on him, so he was pinned to the bed even after Keely had rolled off. "An' this time yer no' snitching it." Keely liked to steal his brew and drink it for her own. Only problem with his statement was that he couldn't accurately defend it right now.
Lucky Declan, he didn't have to worry about just Keely today. Garret was definitely in sneaky cat mode. "Yeah Keely, no stealing his drink," Garret agreed, sitting up and taking the bottle from Declan's grasp, sipping it. "But it looks like he might need another..."
"I don't snitch ye pints!" Keely huffed before getting up. "I'm gonna end up bein' the bar wench aren't I?" She sighed like it was a big deal. It really wasn't, she planned on coming back with a drink for herself and Garret so Declan wouldn't whine about her stealing his. Going to the kitchen, she took her time looking over the offered beverages. Hmm, maybe she should grab the Jameson too. . .
"Oi!" Declan shot up, laughing. "Give tha' back!" It'd be an easy day, but he felt he'd earned the Guinness after being sick for so long. Reaching around Garret, he pressed his chest flush to the other's back, aiming for the bottle that was held out of reach. Calling out to Keely, he didn't stop trying to get his beer, "Have what ye like, Lil'Bit."
If all it took was to steal an Irishman's beer to get him to press himself to you, Garret made a not to start thieving bars. Keeping his arms outstretched, Garret struggled a moment to keep the bottle out of reach, then suddenly turned his head to look back over his shoulder and kissed Dec on the mouth.
Guinness was always good no matter what. So she grabbed two bottles and hummed a tune as she bounced back to the bedroom. What she saw, she didn't really expect. Okay, so Keely was never one known to keep her jealousy or temper, but this time. . . She decided to not throw the bottle of brew at Garret's head. He'd probably be thankful, maybe. "Wow, when I usually steal Dec's drink I get a flick in the ear," she chirped, putting on a smile that looked like she was either too happy or about ready to come at you with an ax. "Ye must be extra special to get that outta him, Garret," she said, easily twisting the cap off and taking a drink, tossing the unopened one at his crotch. Not hard, just. . . a toss.
The kiss was unexpected. Well, only slightly as it was Garrett. He kissed back for a second then pulled away. "Do I get me beer back or no'?" Turning, he saw Keely standing nearby. That wasn't a good look on her face. He recognized the "must kill" expression that she was hiding, but he couldn't understand what had put it there. Maybe she was more interested in Garret than he'd thought. Scooting back, he left the bottle in Garret's hand
It was hard, almost impossible in fact, not to laugh. So he smirked, and smirked hard. Keely was going to kill him, he could see it. She had that death look women thought they were good at hiding. And Declan... the way he pulled away, didn't even bother taking his beer...
Sitting up properly, Garret grabbed the beer that Keely had tossed at him, thankful that it had hit his thigh and not his favorite parts. "I didn't get it from him," he told Keely gently, handing the opened bottle back to Declan. "I stole it. I bet you could get something a lot more pleasant than a flick on the ear if you used a bit more... assertion." There was suggestion absolutely dripping from his words, his eyes deep and piercing on Keely. There were times to be subtle, but now was not one of them.
The smirk she received from Garret only made her want to bury him out in the back woods even more. "Assertion?" She said, doing good on holding back her violent tendencies. That piercing gaze was met with one green eyed stare that could make milk curdle. "Why don't ye explain this assertion then, Garret," she said taking a long drink from her bottle. "I'm sure Declan would love ta know how I should be more assertive in takin' his drinks, right Declan?" She asked, turning that gaze to her best friend.
Declan was well aware that the saying 'Hell hath no fury' was one that accurately described Keely. Apparently kissing Garret upset her more than he thought. Taking his beer back, Dec decided to get out of the line of fire. "I'm, uh, just going ta go make me some dinner." Sliding off the bed, he slipped past Keely, leaving the two to work out their problems amongst themselves.
Keely was... really something else. It was almost like she had absolutely no idea he was being friendly. Her gaze looked like the was watching Garret molest her friend in front of her. Thankfully, Garret was not afraid of Keely in the least. And also thankfully, Declan had stepped out a moment. Once the dryad was safely out of earshot, Garret spoke quite plainly. "You know he's attracted to you," he said simply, fixing Keely with a gaze that indicated she might be an idiot if she wasn't aware of these facts. "And he was jealous of me flirting with you? You do realize this, right?"
"He. . . What?" She said, the fire to kill was gone as she stood there confused. Okay, Keely was not the most perceptive when it came to men. It took her fiancé literally telling her that he liked her to make her understand that he liked her. "He's jealous?" Keely said, calmed. "I was all up in arms cause I come back ta find the man I'm practically head over heels for kissin' another man. I. . . I thought he like ye more than me."
Chuckling warmly, Garret patted the bed for her to sit down. "Oh come on, I don't have a shot with Declan. Yes, he lets me kiss him but... it's not real." This was going to be fun to explain to someone who didn't know much about love and sex and the complications thereof. "Declan likes to have me around because I'm fun, and I stroke his ego, and I'm good at what I do. That's all. We have good conversation and I make him feel sexy. Aside from that, I don't mean all that much. You, though..." The sly smirk returned. "It's obvious he wants you. You're his best friend, and you're beautiful, and when I mentioned to him earlier that I wouldn't mind making you moan my name, he got pretty unhappy about it." Tapping the tip of her nose, Garret smiled. "So you should take him. See?"
An eyebrow slowly started to arch as Garret spoke. This started to make more and more sense. "Ooooh," she said nodding. "Aye, I see," she said smiling and giggling at the nose tap. Declan used to do that all the time to her when he was teaching her about plants she didn't know about and she suddenly got everything he was telling her. "He still thinks I'm engaged though," she sighed before her eyes went wide. "Och! He probably thinks I'm a wench! Engaged and in me skivies with ye two!" She groaned.
Putting an arm around Keely's shoulders, Garret gave her a half hug. "Oh, I'm certain he doesn't think you're a wench. That's not his style." And to prove the point... "DECLAN!" he shouted, grinning. "Come back here! Do you think this sexy vixen is a wench??"
As promised, Declan had wandered into his kitchen to make himself a sandwich. Roast beef and Swiss on beer bread went rather well with a Guinness. While waiting for the death screams to erupt from his room, he sipped on the beer and munched on the sandwich. He was mildly surprised when there were no gurgles coming from his room until his name being called. Sauntering down the hallway, sandwich in one hand, half empty bottle in the other, Dec leaned against the door frame. "Depends on who yer talking abou' o'course. Last I checked Keely wasn't a wench, but I'm no' too sure about ye," he teased with a smile.
Sitting there, Keely leaned into the half hug slightly, giggling when Garret started to yell at their friend. Seeing him come back in, in his boxers with a beer and sandwich in hand, she really just wanted to run over and hug him. "Well then, that settles things," she laughed at Garret and Declan as she sat back and sipped her beer.
"I did say sexy vixen," Garret reminded Dec, which clearly indicated that he was obviously not the potential wench in question. "But see now, little love? He doesn't think you're a wench. He could never, he's a gentleman. With gorgeous thighs." Pressing a kiss to the side of Keely's mouth, Garret gave her one last squeeze before getting to his feet heading over to Declan. "Ooh," he said, eyes on the sandwich. Snatching it up, he stole a sizeable bit from it, humming in delight. "Welp, I should go. OH by da way Geck," he added, mouth full of roast beef (damn that was delicious), "Keery has a fing for you. Buh issok, I already told her you like her, so. You koo should... figure dat out." With a little wave, and a wink to Keely, Garret stepped backward and phased through the wall beside Declan, stumbling into the living room.
Declan sipped on his beer, fingers tight on the neck of the bottle when Garret kissed her. They liked each other, so it wasn't his place to step in. "Oi!" He grabbed for his sandwich, but wasn't able to rescue it before a good chunk was gone. "Go get yer own dinna." Then he frowned, trying to puzzle out just what the man was saying with his mouth full. It couldn't be what it sounded like. Turning to Keely, still obviously confused, he asked, "What was 'e talkin' about?"
Keely sat there frowning as she tried to figure out what Garret had said, before it dawned on her. Oh for heaven's sake! Sighing, she looked up at Declan. Garret had let the cat out of the bag. Kinda, She kinda had to let it go now. "I think we need ta have a talk," she said patting the seat next to her on the bed.
Declan stepped away from the doorway, finishing off what was left of his sandwich before sitting down. He didn't want crumbs on his bed after all. "What's going on, Keely?" Dec looked very much confused. The evening hadn't gone at all like he'd expected and suddenly he was supposed to be sitting down and having a serious talk.
"I haven' been all that truthful with ye Dec," she sighed. "I did come here lookin' for me fiance, but. . . The reason I don' know where he is, is because he left me," Keely sighed, looking down at her hands that were wringing themselves in her lap. "I told him I was a dryad and at first he thought I was daft, then I change in front o' him and the next thing I know he's telling me I'm a monsta and that he doesn' want anythin' ta do with me anymore," she said. It was hard to admit this to him. Hell it was Declan! Her best friend! "Then when I found out ye was here, I thought maybe we could be like the ol' days, but then things started ta change and. . . I like ye Declan, as in I like ye more than a friend." There it was out in the open and still, even when she was bound and determined to do anything, she couldn't look him in the face and listen to him reject her.
Well. That was a lot of information to be dropped all at once. Dec wasn't sure in which order to process things, so he started from the top. "So, yer fiancé...is no'?" There was an important question here that he felt needed to be figured out before anything else. "Do ye want him back?"
"No, I don't want him back. I thought I did, but now I don't. I thought maybe he might still love me if I gave him room, but he just left, so no. I don't want him back," she said, kinda glad there wasn't rejection right off the bat.
Declan nodded, then pointed down to her hand. "If ye don't want him back, then why still wear the ring?" It was an important point to him, which was why he'd pointed it out. In his mind, as long as she had the ring, she had hope that her lover would come back.
"I don't know, I just. . . I'm scared ta take it off. Then everyone would see it and then they'd start askin' questions about why I'm not wearin' me engagement ring anymore and then I have ta tell them why. It's embarrassin'. Someone ye thought ye knew suddenly leaves ye because of who ye really are." At least it was embarrassing to Keely.
Declan took a sip from his bottle, trying to figure out what to say. "It's yer choice, o' course, but I would think in this place that more than a few people would understand a broken relationship because of who we are."
"It's not this place I'm worried about though. It's back home with Ma and me sisters," Keely sighed. "They'd never let me live it down and then coddle me like it was goin' ta happen at some point because apparently I can't do relationships," she scoffed.
Declan rolled his eyes. Enough was enough. "C'mere." Setting the bottle on the ground, he tugged Keely into his arms, giving her a hug. "It's not yer fault that he's a daft ceann cac."
Easily going into Declan's arms, Keely sighed and hugged him back. This felt right. It had with the other Declan, but not quiet like this. Pulling back after a moment, she looked down at her ring before pulling it off. It felt weird and odd. Wiggling her fingers, she sighed looking down at the expensive ring. "Think I could sell it ta someone?" She asked looking back up at Declan with a giggle. Maybe he'd forgotten about the part where she admitted she had feeling for him.
For the time being, he had set aside the part where she admitted she liked him. Declan felt that her first relationship needed to be dealt with before they did anything about a second. "Aye, ye probably could. Ye could always sell it online. I'd help if ye need it." No sense in her keeping the ring if there wasn't going to be anything to come from it. Dec glanced down at Keely and smiled, pleased to see her happy again.
"Probably will get more if I go online," she nodded. "Och, I would need ye'r help. I can barely open me email let alone put this thing up for sale," Keely sighed looking at the silver right with three small diamonds on top. "I'll put in a box when I get back ta me flat, so I won't lose it." The fact that Declan was even considering the second relationship, the one with him, would have thrilled Keely, but right then, she needed to finally let go of the first one.
Declan may not have been considering the relationship to be with himself, but he knew that one chapter needed to be closed before a second could be started. Otherwise it just got complicated and messy. "Aye, that sounds like a smart idea." Declan looked at the ring with Keely. Impressive, but the flash didn't look like it was quite her style, at least not the Keely he'd known. Maybe her tastes had changed.
It really wasn't Keely's style. It had been Declan's choice and she was just happy she had a ring. She would have rather had a knotted ring in silver, but oh well. Setting it aside, on his nightstand for a moment, she felt the finger it had been on and found it to feel weirder. It had been there for so long, it was out of place not to have it on. Welp, she might as well get used to it. "I could make ye some proper dinner if ye'd like," she offered, not sure how to move on since it seemed Declan was preoccupied with the first relationship and wasn't speaking about the other bit she blurted out.
It was settled and out of the way, which relieved some bit of tension in his chest Declan didn't realize he'd had. "Aye. Dinner sounds marvelous. Let's get dressed and eat." Giving Keely another quick hug, he moved to stand, realizing he was being a bit of a coward. Sighing, he rubbed the back of his neck. He wasn't a coward and wouldn't start acting like it. "Why did ye tell me that?" He knew Keely would understand what he meant.
Getting up after the hug, Keely was hopping into her jeans and buttoning them up when Declan asked her the question. Looking up at him, she puckered her lips for a moment before bending down to pick up her shirt and slipping it on. "Because. . . I like ye Declan. I like ye a lot, more than a friend and. . . Garret said ye liked me too. I thought maybe, if I told ye then ye might want ta give it a go with me," she said honestly, looking up at him. Oh that fear of rejection was starting to well up again.
Declan sighed, trying to figure out what to do. Rejecting her was at the bottom of his list, but she'd just taken another man's ring off. "I'm not against it, but wouldn't ye want time ta get over the other bloke?"
"He left me a year ago Declan. I. . . I just didn't want ta admit it ta anyone or myself. I do want time, so I can finally let go of everythin', but. . . I don't want ta take too long and end up makin' meself believe he'll come back again, ye know?" She asked. "A few days at least. Is. . . Is that okay?"
Declan nodding, slipping into his own jeans and buttoning them, riding low on his hips. "Aye, that's fine. Take all the time ye need." He'd need it on his own to get used to the idea that someone he'd spent years only seeing as a friend could be something more.
"Alright," Keely needed. "How do ye feel about fajitas? I saw steak in yer fridge. Might slice it up and make somethin' warm since it's so cold out. I don't think home ever got this bitter," she said as she gave him a smile.
Declan smiled, moving to his dresser to find a shirt. "Aye, that sounds good. Let me finish getting dressed and I'll come help. I've got peppers in the fridge and onions in the pantry." The muscles rippled along his back as he rifled through the drawers, finally settling on a plain white tee.
Keely stopped in the door way to look back at him and felt like one of those crazed fan girls that everyone talks about. She just wanted to run over and jump the man. Opening her mouth and making a silent scream as she flailed her hands a bit, she watched the man dressed before making a beeline for the kitchen so he didn't catch her being. . . Weirder.
Declan had the shirt over his head when Keely was spazzing out, so he didn't notice anything except her leaving the room. Running his hands through his hair absentmindedly, he picked up the bottles around the bed and followed her into the kitchen, deliberately avoiding looking at her ass in those tight jeans. "So, ye take the steak and I'll take the vegs, aye?" Dec tossed the empty bottles in the trash and washed up.
"Okay," Keely nodded as she opened the door and dug around to find the veggies and steak, setting them out. If she paid enough attention to the meat she won't have enough time to notice Declan and how he moved and the smooth way he went about with that controlled strength and- Ok! Shaking her head a bit, she bent back down to grab the other things they needed from the fridge as she stopped her tangent from going further. Damn Garret.
While Keely was in the fridge, Dec reached around her to get out the cutting boards. "Finding everything?" Glancing down, all Dec saw was a pert arse sticking out from the icebox. Biting his lip, he turned away, reaching to get out the knives and moving to the pantry to grab the onions and seasoning. He was on the opposite side of the kitchen from her, and right now that suited him just fine. He took a moment, crouched down in the door of the cabinet to breathe, to remind himself that they were just friends and this in no way should be awkward like it was.
"Aye, I am," she nodded as she set the steak and veggies on different cutting boards before washing her hands quickly and drying them off before grabbing a knife. The meat was already thawed so it would be easy to cut into slices. That wasn't the hard part. The hard part was keeping her eyes from the butt she saw sticking out of the cabinet. Just a hint of underwear as the shirt rode up a little bit. Oh stupid, stupid Garret! Turning back to the meat, she quickly started to slice it. "Did ye get lost in there?" She called with a laughed as she made a face, setting the knife down spazzing a bit before he came back up.
Declan grabbed the spices and onions and came back up rather quickly when Keely called his name. Why did everything have to feel so weird now? "No, didna get lost. Just figuring out how many onions." It was a decent sized steak and with two kinds of peppers, he'd brought out two onions. They were smaller so together made one large. That was his excuse and he was sticking to it.
Finishing the steak, it was thick and juicy and would taste amazing. If they ever got around this awkwardness. Nothing wrong, just friends fixing dinner together is all.
What was so wrong or bad about that? Nothing, nothing at all. Unless one or both friends had just admitted feelings for each other and they weren't sure how to go about this. Oh sweet greens! Putting the steaks in a plastic baggy and taking the spices she was given, Keely mixed it all up to marinate the meat for a little bit. It'd be an hour at least before they could cook it. . . That meant an hour to be there and trying to think of something to say. Ooooh, this was bad. Glancing over at Declan as he worked, she stared at his arms. The strong muscles under the tight, sun kissed skin. She didn't even think to look away for a bit.
Declan sliced the peppers and took out the seeds and ribs, tossing them into his little compost bin. No sense throwing away what would make for excellent fertilizer. He might even scrape the seeds off later and convince Keely to start a vegetable garden. Organic food was so much better anyways. Lost in his own little world where he was ignoring Keely, Declan didn't notice that she was staring at him. "Um," he started, trying to think of ways to break the silence as he sliced. "Do ye think we should call Garret back? Invite him ta dinner? He seemed hungry when he left."
"Uuhh," Keely said as she just stared. "Maybe?" She asked before looking up at his face finally. "What was the question?" She asked as she grabbed the bag and put it in the fridge and just hoped that it wouldn't be this awkward when they actually ate. Okay, so she hadn't really been listening or paying attention. The name 'Garret' registered though. "Oh! Oh! Um. . . I could go give him a ring real quick," she said not sure if she should reach through the phone and kill the man or not.
Declan nodded, focusing on the veggies. "Aye, sure. That'll work just fine. Or ye can run to his flat. It's no' far from this one." Right now Dec was hoping for a moment of space, to breathe, to get his head back in order. To figure out what on earth to do.
"I'll go run ta his flat real quick, not that far," she nodded, wanting and needing the space as well. "I'll be back in a few minutes," Keely said as she put on her socks and shoes and jacket and rushed out the door and down the stairs about ready to have a big spazz attack. Going to Garret's door, she pounded on it. "Open up Garret! I know ye'r in there!"
Garret had gone home, drank the rest of his beer, and was failing miserably on Mario Kart. Rainbow Road did him no favors. He had not expected in a million years for someone to come knocking at his door, and he certainly didn't expect it to be Keely. Frowning, he opened the door, in his jeans for the moment but no shirt. "Shouldn't you be sucking face with someone?" he asked seriously.
"Currently, we're havin' an awkward as hell pre-dinner. I can't stop lookin' at his ass or his arms! What the hell have ye done!?" She cried all flustered and arm and hand waving. "I told him about not bein' engaged anymore and we talked about our feelin's a bit, and we agreed ta give it a try in a few days, but not it's all 'blaaaaahhhhh' and neither of us know what ta say ta the other," she huffed.
Staring a moment, Garret pieced together the rant, blinking a few times. "Okay, so... you agreed to wait a few days because... why now?" If they both wanted to try it, and they were both on the same page, what good would waiting do?
"Because he wanted ta give me time to fully get over the evil Declan even though it's a year since he left me and I don't even know if he really wants ta or if he's just sayin' so so he doesn't upset me.”
Sighing a little, Garret pinched the bridge of his nose, one hand on a hip. This was... well there were no words for what this was. Ridiculous came to mind, also adolescent. Also ridiculous. "Keely..." he groaned, "I don't... Declan wouldn't tell you something if he didn't mean it. So here's what you're going to do. You're going to go back there, and you're going to tell him that this other shitty Declan is history, and whether it's today or tomorrow or next Tuesday, how you feel won't change. And then you should kiss him. And if that doesn't get his ass in gear, then he's not worth sweating over. You get me, little girl?"
"Ye look like my da when I used ta come home covered in mud," Keely said randomly before sighing. "Aye, I get ye. I'll march right back in there and we'll flatten this thing out," she nodded, a new determined look on her face. Sometimes it took a kick in the rear to get things going. This was it. So on that note, she turned right around, marched up the stairs, barely gone five minutes. Coming in, she shut the door, took off her jacket, and grabbed the step stool. Bringing it over to Declan, she quickly climbed it and pulled him in for one of the most affectionate/passionate/forceful kisses she could muster up.
During the time Keely was gone, Declan had managed to slice the two peppers and place them in a bowl in the fridge. The onion he left alone to do last minute so it wouldn't try to turn. He cleaned up the knives and cutting boards then leaned against the counter to breathe. What were they supposed to do now that the status quo had changed? He liked Keely, no doubt, but that much? He huffed out a breath, realizing the answer was yes. So all he needed to do was wait until she was ready. No problem. Hearing the door shut, he called out, "So what did Garret say about dinner?" The last thing he expected was for Keely to pull him in for a kiss. He stood there for a couple seconds in stunned silence before instinct took over and he was kissing her back with just as much fervor.
This must have been what Garret was talking about. She never thought that she'd be kissing her best friend, but hell it was good! Wrapping her arms around his neck, she hopped off the stool to wrap her legs around his waist. It wasn't like it was a sudden weight gain. She was small to him, not to mention it made it easier to be mobile if need be.
Declan shifted his hands from her hair to support her weight when she climbed on him. One against her lower back and the other cupping her arse. He shifted his head slightly, taking the kiss deeper, sliding his tongue against hers and using the tricks he'd learned. The dryad was enjoying himself too much to think about just who he was kissing or why.
This was amazing. Not even with evil Declan was she able to just let go and do this. Just be tangled in someone's limbs and not care as to where the hands were going. Waaaait, where did he learn THAT!? That twist of the tongue thingy? Oh, that felt good. Without even thinking about it, Keely groaned into the kiss as she worked around and mimicked Declan's moves that she was picking up.
Declan had learned quite a few tricks, thanks to Garret and Rorie and the dryad had no issues putting that knowledge into practice. Leaning back against the counter for support he, too, groaned into the kiss. He hadn't imagined that kissing Keely could feel like this.
Keely panted slightly against Declan's lips as they continued the kissing. "Mmm, Dec," she moaned slightly against his lips. It was starting to get way too hot in there for any person. "S'hot," she murmured, running her fingers through her hair. No man had ever done this to her, not even Declan. At least till now.
It was definitely getting hot. Declan groaned, slowly breaking off the kiss. "You never did tell me what Garret said," he murmured against her mouth. As much as he felt they should stop and talk, he couldn't seem to get his lips from hers now that he knew how she tasted.
"I'm doing it right now," she panted, a slight, sticky feeling coming up on her skin as she continued to kiss him. Sweat was starting to form from her working her heart so fast. "Declan, mmm," Keely moaned as their lips kept crashing together.
"Keely," Dec groaned, trying to work his mouth free, but not putting much effort into it. He groaned again, scraping his teeth over her lip. "Is this really what you want?" Part of him was hoping she'd say yes, and part wasn't sure what he wanted her to say.
Pausing a moment, Keely listened to Declan. Augh! It was what she wanted and yet it wasn't. Why, why, why!? "I want ye Dec," she finally said. "I want ye." Why did it have to be more specific though? She didn't wanna be one of those girls that just threw themselves at a man and immediately have sex. Sure she threw herself at Declan, but. . . He was her best friend. She wanted this to be about more than just her and him physically. She didn't wanna ruin their friendship. "I want ta be with ye and I want ta wait. So we're not another one of those couples that just relies on sex when everythin' else fails. I want us ta be more than that."
That was both what he wanted to hear and the exact opposite. "What a pair we make," he chuckled. Kissing her nose, he loosened his grip so she could get down if she wanted. "So then where do we stand?" Declan felt like he didn't need to say how much he wanted her. All Keely had to do was slide down an inch and she'd feel.
Smiling at the kiss, she gave him one in return. "I think we stand next ta each other, holdin' hands," Keely giggled as she hopped down, though not without feeling that rather important note. "Oh wow," she said her eyes going wide. Declan was tall while she was short, so the quite obvious want was pressed against her belly slightly. "I know how ye feel," she said, not really expecting it, but at the same time liking it.
Declan blushed slightly, stepping back from Keely and tugging his t-shirt down to camouflage the bulge a bit. "Aye, sorry abou' tha'." He realized how it could be taken and his eyes widened. "I mean, no' sorry about tha' like tha'...just y'know....a general sorry for no'...." Dec closed his eyes and leaned back against the counter, wondering if he could be more embarrassed. "Bugger."
Keely just stood there, letting him jabber away as she bit her lower lip slightly trying not to laugh. "I'm sorry," she said after he got done, giggling. "Um. . . What can I do for ye? Or should I leave you alone for some 'Private Time'?" She asked with a sly smile that said she was teasing.
Declan rolled his eyes, realizing he was being ridiculous. "I'm fine. It'll go away on its own." He made a mental note not to tell Garret what they'd both turned down because he was pretty sure the pathfinder would throttle them both. "Did ye happen ta ask Garret about dinner?"
"No, I didn', got too wrapped up in being lectured about not throwing myself at ye," Keely sighed. "So. . . How long till it goes away? Should I set the oven timer?" She asked looking at his crotch. This was kinda funny and interesting. "Could I make a doll dive off it like inta a pool?"
Declan arched a brow at the mini commentary. "Are ye saying that ye dunna know one well enough?" Leaning back against the counter, he crossed his arms over his chest. "It'll go away on it's own in time as long as I stop thinkin' about it."
"No," she snorted with a chuckle. "Declan, the most I've done is. . . Well what we just did," Keely said. She'd always been ahead of Declan in so many ways, she never thought the'd be ahead of her in this subject. "I've. . . Never even seen one before," she sighed in defeat, feeling very much like a dweeb.
Declan licked his lips. "Oh." He wasn't quite certain what to say about that. He knew what he wanted to say, but he couldn't. Maybe he could play it off. "I'm going ta leave it ta yer choice, but if ye want, we can always fix that." He bit the inside of his lip, wondering if it was too much. They had both just agreed to back off and here he was instigating it again.
Oh the temptation. Hmmm. Should she? Well maybe, so she wouldn't freak out later when they actually had sex or started to laugh. "Maybe we should go ta the bedroom," she sucking in her cheeks. "So. . . In case there's anythin' messy, we don't haveta worry 'bout bein' sanitary."
Declan frowned. "If ye just wanted ta see, I could show ye here." After a moment, it clicked that maybe she'd want to do more than just look. "Uh, if ye'd rather, let's go back to tha bedroom. It'd be more comfortable."
"Aye, bedroom," Keely said with a soft giggle. Turning around she led the way to the bedroom, a little nervous now. After just saying she didn't want to rush them, here they were, in Declan's bedroom, about to see Declan's penis. . .
Declan could tell that Keely was nervous, so just before they entered the room, he caught up to her, hugging. "Ye know we dunna have ta right now. We've got time." Dropping his head, he pressed a kiss to her hair. Declan didn't want to rush either of them, and so much had happened in the past couple hours that it was definitely starting to feel fast.
Keely didn't understand why things had to always be so rushed with relationships. Especially the sex part. Feeling Declan hug her, she leaned into the touch. "Yer right, we do," she nodded, smiling up at him. "Maybe after dinner," she giggled, joking of course. "I'll ignore it with you and we can finish up dinner, aye?"
Declan grinned along with her. "Aye. Sounds good." Stepping away, he tweaked her nose. "Now I'm going to send Garret a text and tell him to come up for dinner. Ye feel like tormenting him?" Declan grin took on that mischievous edge that he could get. "I mean, 'e put us in this situation. Let's tease 'im a bit."
"Oh I always feel like tormenting him," Keely giggled. "Of course! It serves him right!" She nodded with a determined grin. "I'll start the steak and veggies while ye text him then," she said strutting to the kitchen with a slight bounce in her step.
"Ye still need ta slice the onions. I'll get that in a minute." Declan pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and shot off the text to Garret. Heading back into the kitchen, Declan pulled out the cutting board and knife then grabbed the onion. "Now we wait and see. If 'e says yes, are ye going ta hit on him?"
"Yep," Keely said as she adjusted her shirt, making her breasts more noticeable. She was gonna go all for it now. He deserved a mind frazzle. After all, it was all in good fun and he'd either pout and leave or deal with it. "Aye, I'll get everything else ready."
Declan fussed with his phone, texting back and forth with Garret. "I'm no' sure 'e's going to come." Laughing, he glanced up at the most recent message. "Thinks we both fail for taking so long." He finished slicing the onion, having it ready to slide into the hot skillet whenever Keely needed it.
"Oh well, more for us then," Keely said as she got everything going, grabbing the onions and throwing it in when it was time, cooking the meat and veggies separately. "So are ye okay with this?" She asked as she washed her hands and let the food cook. "With us, being together like this?" She said.
Having the final answer from Garret, a resounding no, Dec shook his head to Keely and tucked the phone back in his pocket, cleaning up the couple dishes he could. "For us? I dunnae. It's...different, aye?" He glanced over, watching her at the stove, realizing that things were changing. "I'm so used ta just thinking about ye as a friend that anything else seems a bit weird."
"Well I'm still yer friend, just. . . We kiss and hug and couple stuff now," she reasoned. "I'll always be yer friend no matter what Declan, even if this doesn't work out for the best. I'm not gonna throw that away." Keely was sincere in that. Finishing up at the stove, she walked over and hugged him, letting her head rest on his chest a bit.
Declan wrapped his arms around her. "Good, because I dunna want ta lose ye just because ye dunna like me kissing," he teased. He was serious about the not wanting to lose her and hugged her tightly. They would fumble through this one way or another.