Declan - Heart of a Tiger (Royal Taiga Streak #1) - J.R. Loveless Page 0,99

strikingly naked or the movement of the mattress when Declan sat down beside him. It was only when Declan pulled him into his arms did Sean jerk back to awareness. “Ah, baby, you have to stop worrying so much,” Declan murmured while using his thumb to dislodge Sean’s lip from between his teeth.

“I can’t,” Sean whispered.

“You have nothing to worry about. I’ve known Nicole and Arthur almost my entire life and I have known Austin since he was a baby. They are good people and I am more than certain they will love you as much as I love you.”

Sean sighed leaned into Declan, soaking in his warmth. “What’s Nicole like?”

“She’s warm and caring with a great sense of humor. But she’s also strong on the inside. Like you. I’m pretty confident she’s where you got your strength from.”

“But I’m not strong,” Sean protested.

“You are. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met and I will tell you that until the day we die. In order to survive the things you have, you’d have to be.” Declan nuzzled at Sean’s temple. “Try to get some sleep. Everything will be fine. I swear it.”

They shifted around until they lay flat, Declan never letting Sean go. Declan’s words made sense and he knew he’d always have Sam, Tara, and Vicky, but he couldn’t shake the fear in him of being found wanting by his real parents. Declan passed out before him, leaving Sean to lie there staring at the ceiling, his mind still going in circles. It was late when he finally let sleep pull him under, no longer able to fight his drooping eyelids.

The following morning, Sean and the others were delivered to the school building once more. Only this time Sean found it beyond impossible to concentrate. Clarissa asked him more than once if he were all right. They’d barely accomplished anything by the time their classes with Clarissa were finished. Clarissa stopped him at the door after the girls had already headed toward the front. “Are you sure you’re okay, Sean?”

He gave her a tremulous smile. “I’m fine, Ms. Clarissa. Just… I may be meeting my parents for the first time today and I can’t help but worry they’ll be disappointed in me.”

“Oh, Sean.” Clarissa wrapped him in a tight embrace. “No one could ever be disappointed in you. You’re such a bright, amazing, strong individual. I’ve never known anyone I admire as much as I do you.”

Sean gave her an incredulous look. “Admire?”

“How anyone could survive what you did for so long is something I can’t imagine. I know I would never have been able to withstand it. And to care for the others as you have and still do. It’s beyond humbling, Sean. You can’t even see just how kind and sweet you are. They’re going to love you and if I know anything about how a mother feels about their child, she is going to adore you.”

Her words made him blush. “Thanks, Ms. Clarissa.”

“Now go on before Declan comes searching for you.” She gently nudged him out of the classroom, following behind him and closing the door. “Good luck today, but I don’t think you’ll need it.”

Sean thought over everything she’d said on the walk back to the main house. While it helped settle him a fraction, it wasn’t enough to curb his anxiety. He went straight to Declan’s office instead of stopping in the dining room for lunch. He couldn’t have eaten a stitch even if he’d wanted to.

Knocking, he heard Declan call out to come in and opened the door. Declan sat at his desk, staring at the computer screen. Sean waited until he looked up and then Declan smiled. “Hey, gorgeous. How was your day?”

The benign question almost made Sean snort, but he shrugged. “Couldn’t really pay attention.”

“Come here,” Declan said, pushing back from the desk a bit. Sean walked over to him and Declan pulled him down into his lap. “Not much longer and then you can laugh at yourself later for being so worried. Until then, why don’t you stay here with me and we can make out.”

Sean eyed Declan. “Make out?”

Declan grinned and leaned in to kiss him, cupping Sean’s cheek in one hand. “Making out means kissing you until you can’t think straight,” Declan said and captured Sean’s lips again.

Of course, it worked. Within minutes he couldn’t think past the feel of Declan’s mouth on his or the evidence of Declan’s desire against his bottom. Sean had grown to understand