The thought flashes through my mind as I splash my face with cold water to try to wash away the sleepiness from my eyes and pat them dry with the towel hanging by the shower. Back in the bedroom, I notice Declan’s clothes are gone too, so maybe he did head out before I woke up.

But as I step into the hall, the smell of something cooking hits my nose, and when I round the corner into the kitchen a few seconds later, a smile splits my face—because Declan is there, standing at the stove and cooking something I can’t see thanks to his broad shoulders. He glances over his shoulder when he hears me come in, and his face lights up with a smile that makes my pulse skip.

“Good morning,” he says and leaves his spatula behind to cross the kitchen and pull me in for a kiss that steals my breath.

As soon as he touches me, I feel myself coming alive inside again. His hands settle on my waist, warm and sure, and the feeling of his lips on mine makes my spine tingle and memories of the amazing night we shared race through my mind again.

“I hope you don’t mind. I poked around in your pantry a bit,” he says when we part, his eyes twinkling playfully.

Stunned and still trying to understand what he’s getting at, I shake my head. “I don’t mind at all. But wait a second, you made me breakfast?”

“Yup,” he says with a casual shrug, as if cooking for me is the most natural thing in the world. “It’s not gourmet or anything, but I did the best I could with what you had. It’s not just breakfast, though. I made you lunch too so you have something to eat between classes.”

I stare at him in disbelief, his words echoing in my ears but not really sinking in at first. I’ve never had a guy do anything like this for me before. I mean, cooking breakfast for me after a night together is one thing, but thinking so far ahead that he made me lunch too? That’s next level.

“Are you upset?” Declan asks, his brow furrowing as he studies my face.

“No, no. Not at all. It’s just…” I trail off, avoiding his eyes. “This isn’t the way I’m used to guys treating me,” I mumble out the rest, but Declan still hears it.

His expression turns serious as he thumbs my chin, tilting my eyes back up to his and holding my gaze. The glint I saw there before is still there, but it seems more intense now.

“You deserve so much better than you’ve gotten before,” he says and lets the words linger for a few moments.