Page 56 of Shuttered Hearts

Honestly, it turned out to be a good thing because now we’re sitting on the living room floor of her cottage, a box of pizza between us, talking about anything and everything that comes to mind.

She throws the crust of her last slice of pizza into the box. “I had fun today. Thanks for planning it.”

“Of course. I had a nice dinner planned, but someone took a lot of pictures on our hike.” I smirk at her so she knows I’m not serious.

“Sorry, not sorry. You told me to bring my camera with us. So it’s your fault.”

“I know. I love watching you with your camera.” I toss my napkin into the now-empty box between us. “I’ve seen you happy over the last couple of months, but you with a camera in your hand is a different kind of happy.” I shrug. “I like collecting your different happies.”

“Different happies?” She laughs softly. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard that before.”

“Yeah, it’s like your different smiles, but it’s how you show your emotions with your entire body.” I sit up straighter. “Like when you’re with one of your brothers, there’s this almost childlike quality where your whole body becomes more animated. Or when you’re with Emily, it’s like you’ve found yourbest friend. Everything becomes more exaggerated and you talk with your hands more. And with your dad, it’s like all your worries fall away. Your entire body relaxes like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.” I shrug. “I don’t know if any of that makes sense. I’m an artist, not a writer.”

“No.” She closes the box between us, moving a little closer to me. “I get what you mean, and you’re right. It’s different this time—being home.” She reaches for my hand and begins tracing the lines on my palm. “Maybe it’s because I never allowed myself to stay longer than a few days.” She lifts her shoulders in a small shrug, still studying her path on my palm. “I am happier, though.”

“Good,” I say softly.

“You’re a big part of that, you know?” She lifts her head, moving closer to me and placing my hand on her hip.

“Yeah?” I ask as she climbs into my lap, straddling me.

“Definitely.” She smirks at me, her hands moving to the buttons on my shirt.

“What are you doing?”

“Showing you how happy you make me.” She pushes my shirt open when she gets to the last button. “Look at you.” Her eyes and hands trail over my chest.

I know I’m not bad-looking, but I like junk food and sweets. It’s not that I don’t take care of myself—I do. I run and play soccer regularly, but I’m not serious about it. So, seeing the way Quinn is looking at me right now? It’s making it difficult to let her continue her exploration without touching her in return. Knowing she likes what she sees makes me feel invincible.

“Quinn.” The grip I have on her hips tightens.

“Yes?”

“I’m about two seconds away from jumping you if you don’t move on from my chest.”

She smirks at me as she continues tracing invisible patterns.

I surge forward, moving her to her back. Holding my weight on one elbow, I follow her example and slowly unbutton her shirt, pushing it open. My fingers ghost over her stomach, and I savor the feeling of her soft skin on my hands.

I lean down, bringing my lips to her ear and whisper, “I warned you,” before nipping her earlobe and continuing a path down her neck to her chest.

“You did,” she gasps as my lips find her pebbled nipple through the cotton of her bra, biting gently before continuing down her stomach.

“I really wanted to do this in a bed the first time. But this will have to do,” I say as I pull her leggings down. “You’re soaked,” I groan at the sight of the dark spot on her gray panties.

“Declan, please,” she moans.

I sit up, pulling her leggings off and spreading her thighs, giving me better access to her center. “God, look at you,” I repeat her words back to her before bending to suck her clit through the cotton of her panties, moaning at the taste of her.

“Declan,” she whines. “Take them off.” She reaches for her panties, trying to remove them herself.

I gently slap her hands away. “I’ll take them off when I’m ready,” I tell her.

I slowly move up her body, removing the open flannel shirt she still has on. As she arches her back, I reach behind her to unclasp her bra, removing it as well. I lean back and take a moment to look at her, sprawled out below me in nothing but her soaked panties.

“God, you’re beautiful.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen Quinn and not thought she was beautiful, but right now, like this, completely open to me, trusting me in her most vulnerable state, she’s never looked more beautiful.

My hands travel up the outside of her thighs to the top of her panties. “I think I’ll take these off now.” I slowly pull them down her legs and toss them out of the way.

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