Page 26 of Declan

She swallows visibly, but after a few beats, she nods and then positions her body as I asked her to, slowly leaning against me. I use my free hand to spread the blanket over her, and then I wrap my arms around her and pull her into me until the side of her face is cradled right where my shoulder meets my pectoral muscle.

I wiggle around, adjusting myself on the seat until she fits against me just so, then I tighten my hold on her and drop my head down so I can murmur in her ear, “I got you, darlin’.”

After a few minutes, she begins to relax, and then after a few more, she fidgets and then squirms until she’s curled around me, one of her hands in her lap, the other clutching my shirt.

A few more minutes go by, and she relaxes completely, her breaths evening out. I ease my hold on her and look down at her face, relaxed in slumber. I graze my nose along her cheek and up to her temple, placing a whisper of a kiss at the corner of her eye. When I pull back, the corners of her lips are curled up slightly, and it’s all I can do to stop myself from stealing a real kiss.

I want it.

I want to wrap myself around her and suck her very soul right out of her body to keep her for myself forever, but I refrain.

I push all of my wants and desires down, lifting my head and staring at the roof of the car as I slide my body down into a more comfortable position. I continue to cradle her against me, soaking up the feel of her, the smell of her, the warmth in my chest, an inferno ready to overflow.

Then I smile and close my eyes, reveling in this moment of peace.

With her.

10

Once Upon a Dream

Issa

I’mwarm.

I’m warm, and there seems to be an annoying bug tickling my ear.

I shake my head, willing the irritating tickle to go away so I can remain in my warm cocoon. It stops for a moment, and I allow myself to sink back in, rubbing my face against the most comfortable pillow I’ve ever rested my head on. It’s soft but not too soft, firm but not too firm, contoured just right against my cheek, and it smells like a dream.

I smile, a content murmur falling from my lips, but then that annoying tickle is back, once again attempting to pull me from my slumber. I wait a moment and then strike, my hand flying out as I exclaim sleepily, “Go away!”

I’m mildly disconcerted when my hand doesn’t simply swish through the air and then surprised when my hand connects with something solid. My pillow jerks beneath me, a familiar voice breaking through the silence. “Fucking hell, Issa.”

I open my eyes, staring at the white expanse beneath me, and I blink, confused by my current position. I blink again, my eyes adjusting and moving along that white expanse until a gap appears, showing a sliver of golden skin. I blink a few more times, giving my head another little shake as my eyes scan upward, noting the fluttering of a pulse in the strong neck.

Declan.

I work to keep myself relaxed, not at all accustomed to waking up in the arms of any man, never mind Declan Hughes’.

I don’t know Declan very well, but from what I do know of him, he’s an annoying, arrogant pain in my ass. In the last few months, he has gone out of his way to wedge himself into my life whenever and wherever he can. Ever since we exchanged harsh words at that award show, he went from being an occasional blip on my social calendar to me having to look over my shoulder every minute of the day. And the angrier and more forceful I got about trying to stay away from him, the more insistent he became.

Now, here I am, fake married to the man.

How the fuck did this happen?

And then there’s Bobby. After all the years I’ve spent dealing with his idiotic bullshit, he goes and doesn’t show up for the wedding that he insisted on moving up. If he was out to simply embarrass me, I suppose that worked, but that doesn’t explain his sudden decision to walk out on our agreement, and so far, he hasn’t answered any of my messages or calls, which ties my guts up on knots.

My breath catches in my throat, and a tiny whimper escapes, and Declan’s arms holding me immediately tighten. I close my eyes just as Declan presses his cheek against mine, and he makes soothing, shushing noises against my ear.

A shiver goes down my spine at the same time that heat blooms in my chest, and it’s such an odd mix of feelings that another whimper escapes, and he tightens his arms even more, his face now pressed into my neck. I find myself squirming closer, wiggling around, and wishing I was still asleep because I don’t want to leave this warm cocoon, but now, I have no choice.

His lips press softly below my ear, and then he moves back, his arms relaxing in a way I find myself naturally leaning back into their cradle. I open my eyes, and he’s looking down at me with heated eyes as he says gruffly, “Well, that’s one way to adjust to the physical touch.”

My first instinct is to slap him away and get myself to the other side of the car, but knowing he’s right, I force myself to stay in my current position. I dig my heels into the seat, adjusting my body so I can look at his face more easily. He groans, a slightly pained sound, and his eyes close as his head falls back against the seat. I frown and ask, “Are you okay? Are you in pain?”

He laughs but doesn’t open his eyes as he shakes his head slowly against the seat. “Oh, I’m in pain, doll face.”

My eyes widen, and I attempt to sit up, but his arms tighten on me, keeping me in my current position as I ask, “Is it your neck? Is there something I can do?”

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