Claiming Serenity(26)

Donovan hadn’t exactly warmed to the idea that Layla could be giving someone else what he thought was his, at least temporarily, but he knew her. He knew most women. If he told her that, she’d read way more into it than he wanted. So he deflected. “When was your last test?”

“A year ago. There was a ‘Be the Match’ bone marrow drive in Beechum Hall. They only took people with clean tests.”

“And since then?”

“I told you, Donley,” she added an eye roll that Donovan thought was fake, “you’re the only one I’m sleeping with.” When he narrowed his eyes at her, she sighed. “You’re the only one I’ve been with since that bone marrow drive.”

“You and Walter?” He doubted anything had gone on between Layla and the Rent-a-Cop. That asshole had a stick so far up his ass he walked like someone was pulling a string out of the top of his head.

“Are you serious?” Hearing Layla’s loud laugh had Donovan relaxing a bit more. “He wouldn’t know where to stick the vital parts. He’s clueless and definitely not my type.”

“But you were together for six months.”

“You were counting?” Donovan calmed when she waved her hand, as though she didn’t need an answer to her question. “I didn’t let him touch me. I’m clean. We can go bareback if you want.”

“Seriously?” She nodded, her laughter rising as Donovan quickly pushed her legs a part, ready for her, eager to feel all of her.

“You idiot, now?” she asked, pushing on his chest.

“Why not?” He was already guiding himself over her folds, loving the feeling of her heat.

“Because you have practice and I need to get home.”

“Layla, come on…” He knew she liked it when he nibbled on her nipple with just a touch of his teeth pressing down and so he did just that, smiling against her skin when she moaned. “I’ll be quick and you know…”

She pushed down on his shoulders, making Donovan release her breast with a loud pop. “Did you hear that?”

Head tilted and his attention off the sweet smell of Layla below him, Donovan narrowed his eyes, listening for what she’d heard. “I don’t…”

“Hey mate, you awake?”

Perfect timing, Declan.

“Shit!” Layla’s quick whisper of a shout matched Donovan’s and they both scrambled away from each other as his best friend knocked on the door.

“Fuck. Get up.” He had to think of something quick, something that would keep Layla out of Declan’s sight. God knows what the Irishman would do if he found her in here. A glance around his messy room, and Donovan took her elbow, leading her away from the bed. “Go in the bathroom.”

“What? Are you serious?”

Swinging his gaze from the door Declan kept knocking on, to Layla’s increasing fury, Donovan whispered, dragging Layla to the open bathroom door. “You want Declan to know what we’re doing?”

“Oh God,” she said, hurrying to slip her skirt over her hips. “This is ridiculous.”

“Donovan? Let’s go mate.” The doorknob twisted, but didn’t open and Donovan said a small prayer of thanks that he’d remembered to lock the door. “What are you doing in there? I brought my car so we can run the track in Willow Peak before practice.” Declan continued to beat on the door, this time making the hinges rattle.

“Hang on a sec,” Donovan shouted and then Declan’s constant banging against the door stopped.

“What’s the problem? You bare arsed or something?”

Donovan hopped on one foot as he jerked on his boxers, then his practice shorts up his leg. “Um, yeah, I am. I ah, locked the door because Jeff kept, uh, coming in here to use my bathroom last night because he’s, um, too lazy to move too far from the XBox.”

Layla shook her head and Donovan shrugged, knowing the excuse was stupid. He hoped Declan didn’t remember that his roommate Jeff had moved in with his girlfriend. Donovan hated to imagine what kind of girl would put up with his sloppy ass.

“Just give me a sec.”

Donovan pushed Layla into the bathroom, grabbing his toothbrush and helping her with her bra as Declan started chatting about something Donovan couldn’t quite make out.

“Quinn at hospital, which, the bollicks won’t bloody stay away from…”

Finally, Layla had her rumpled clothes on and tried straightening out the wrinkles as Donovan raced back into his room, grabbing his shirt. He was almost to the door with his shoes under his arm and his head through the neck of his practice tee when he darted back to the bathroom to find Layla scowling as she waiting on the edge of the tub.