Page 14 of See You Maybe

Declan didn’t like the way the man’s eyes lingered on the length of Rose’s legs in the short skirt and shifted her body so that his larger frame partially blocked it. “My girlfriend’s fine.”

With another dark glare at the man for good measure, he jostled Rose a little to get her moving again. “Come on, lass. Let’s get you to bed.”

“About time!” Against his chest, he heard her snort with laughter. She lifted her head and looked up at him with a bright smile. “How’d you know my name was Rose?”

His lips twitched. “It’s on your arm.”

She lifted it and stared at the smeared red writing. “Oh yeah. That was really nice of that bride.”

“That bride? Was there more than one?” he asked, using his free hand to swipe her card, keeping the other one wrapped around her to keep her upright.

She thought for a moment as though it were a serious question, and then nodded solemnly. “At least two.”

“Hmm.” Declan tried not to laugh, thankful she was at least an accommodating drunk.

Rose stumbled in front of him into the room. He flipped on the overhead light and turned to place her phone and key card on the table when he felt her fingers plucking at the hem of his shirt. His skin burned where her fingertips stroked over him.

“Take this off. I want to see.”

Declan leaned away, but Rose got one hand fully underneath, her palm splayed across his stomach. Then she purred. Actually, fucking purred. A sound from low in her chest and so sultry, he was instantly, painfully hard against his zipper.

“You’re so warm,” she hummed, her fingers tracing over his abs.

Declan felt like a fucking inferno, but there was nothing he could do about it. He needed to stop this before he did something they’d both regret.

I deserve a sainthood, he thought, walking her backward toward the bed, as her hand continued to explore his skin under the shirt.

The back of her knees hit the bed, and she dropped like a rock. “Oof.”

Declan kneeled in front of her and slowly removed her boots. He eyed her stockings, skirt, and top. She’d be more comfortable sleeping without them, but he wasn’t that big of a masochist.

Reaching behind her, he caught the top of the coverlet and pulled it back. “Okay, Rose, under the covers.”

She blew out a breath, her plump lips vibrating in a raspberry. “I have to pee.”

Rose struggled to her feet, dropping back twice before she was able to stand on her own.

“I’ve got it,” Rose said, when he tried to steady her. She stumbled to the door next to the bed and rested her cheek on the door jamb. “Wait here. Don’t move.”

As soon as she was under the covers he’d go, Declan promised himself. He heard water running and then giggles. Was she okay?

“Rose?”

The door swung open suddenly, and Declan’s mouth went dry. Rose had used her time in the bathroom to pull off all of her clothes and now stood completely nude in front of him.

Look at her face, asshole.

Declan swallowed hard just before she launched herself at him, and his arms were suddenly full of soft, warm skin.

His body reacted instinctively, arms wrapping around her. His brain registered silky skin and hard nipples pressed to his chest. Electric shocks sprouted over his body, and urgent raw hunger coiled tight inside him.

No.

He lifted his hands to her shoulders and somehow managed to get her into the bed without touching anything else he shouldn’t.

But… Fuck… She was perfect.

Declan grit his teeth as he pulled the coverlet up to her shoulders. Rose blinked up at him in confusion, like she couldn’t quite figure out what had happened. She wasn’t the only one.

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