Page 54 of Shuttered Hearts

“You’ve got to be quiet.” He pinches my exposed nipple before bringing his lips back down to soothe it. My body arches into his touch, my hips grinding against his hand.

“Kiss me,” I beg him as his thumb strokes my clit, finding the perfect rhythm, applying just the right amount of pressure while his fingers thrust in and out of me, hitting my G-spot on each thrust in. My thighs begin to tremble, and I know my release is close.

“That’s it, gorgeous. Come for me.”

And just like that, I do. I collapse against Declan, biting his shoulder to hide my moan as I fall over the edge. I think I might blackout for a second from how intense that orgasm was.

“Sorry about your shoulder,” I say softly as I come back down to earth.

“I’m not,” he says as he pulls his fingers from me, fixing my underwear back into place and bringing his fingers to his mouth to lick them clean. That small action has me clenching my thighs, wanting even more.

“That’s twice I haven’t been able to do anything for you,” I say, grinding against his obvious erection.

His hands go to my hips, holding me still. “Believe me, that was entirely for me.” He grins at me, pulling my sweater back over my exposed breast. “I’m going to need a minute before I go back out there,” he says reluctantly.

“Okay.” I lean forward for one more kiss, tasting myself on his tongue. “I’m going to go to the bathroom before joining everyone again,” I tell him as I get up from his lap.

I glance back at him when I reach the doorway and find him watching me, a heated look on his face. “Get out of here, or I’m never going to be able to face your family again.”

I’m still smiling to myself when I make it back to the kitchen to rejoin everyone else.

“Ew. I don’t want to know what Declan did to put that look on your face,” Caleb says from the counter where he’s getting the pies ready to serve.

“Shut up.” I push him when I stand at his side.

“I’m kidding.” His face contorts. “Okay, I’m not. I really don’t want to know. That would definitely be too much information.”

“Okay, I get it. You can move on.”

“Sorry. But in all seriousness, I like seeing you both so happy. You’re good for each other.”

“Thanks.” I rest my head on his shoulder. “Can I help with anything?” I ask after a minute.

“Emily went a little crazy with pies this year. If you could grab those two and bring them to the table, that would be great.”

“Sure.” I smile at him as I pick up the pies and join everyone at the table. Declan comes in a few minutes later, taking the empty seat beside me. He smiles as he pulls my seat closer, draping his arm over the back of my chair and relaxing into his.

I look around the table and realize I don’t think I’ve ever been more content in my life than I am in this moment, and I could get used to it.

But as my eyes land on my dad, I’m reminded I won’t have many more nights like this one.

twenty-six

DECLAN

“Hey!”Quinn opens the door, springing forward to give me a peck on the lips before immediately turning back around and heading to her room. “Sorry, Max distracted me. I’m almost done getting ready.”

Not surprisingly, Quinn and I weren’t able to find time for the two of us the weekend after Thanksgiving. Her dad needed help decorating the house for Christmas, something he always does the Friday after Thanksgiving. And my sister decided I didn’t have enough Christmas decorations to put around my house, so she demanded we go shopping and decorate immediately.

But I refuse to go through another weekend without going on an actual date with Quinn.

“It’s fine. We’re not on a tight schedule.” I step into the cottage and close the door behind me. The laptop on her island counter catching my eye.

A photo of Max and me standing in line for the Ferris wheel at the Fall Harvest Festival is on the screen. She’s framed theshot in such a way it looks like Max and I are perfectly centered with the Ferris wheel behind us. You can see Emily and Caleb standing to the side, but it’s clear they’re not the main focus. While they aren’t facing the camera the same way Max and I are, you can still see the smile on their faces.

Max is in front of me, my arms over his shoulders, hands clasped in front of his chest. Max grips my forearms and looks up at me with the biggest, proudest smile, and I’m looking down at him, laughing.

I remember he had just told a joke he heard at school, and while it was the cheesiest joke, it had all of us laughing hard.

---