Page 5 of Declan

She immediately shakes her head. “I’m not singing that with you.”

I don’t stop playing, but I ease my body closer to her, lean in, and whisper in her ear, “Are you really gonna make a scene on live television? Can you see the headlines? Pop Princess refuses to sing with legendary rock star Declan Hughes, and his feelings are hurt.”

A shiver runs down her body, and I breathe her in, then settle back into my seat, watching her. She’s still staring at me with narrowed eyes, and I give her an innocent look, indicating that the ball is now firmly in her court.

I’m honestly not sure which direction she’ll go here, but what I am sure of is that if she could get away with murdering me at this very moment, she would.

A few moments pass while I continue to strum the melody of the song, and the crowd gets into it, insisting she sing, begging her to. Kylie is doing an excellent job of hiding her discomfiture with the situation, but I’m sure she’s going to give me hell later. It will be entirely worth it, though, once this all plays out.

As I pause my playing, Issa gives me a short nod, and I’m sure the thrill inside of me shines in my eyes. I don’t mean just the triumph but also that pure, giddy happiness that doesn’t come around too often.

I begin the song again while she watches me, and when I get to the point where she’s going to have to sing her first line, her gaze moves over my shoulder, and she stares into the distance instead of at me.

The melodic honey of her voice sends warmth over my skin, and my breath catches in my throat as I watch her, the words effortless and pure.

Is love so fragile and the heart so hollow?

Shatter with words, impossible to follow

She’s trying not to feel it, her eyes still averted, her body turned away, but I move closer, until my thigh presses against hers, and the tremor in her body doesn’t lie—she feels the words, too.

You’re saying I’m fragile, I try not to be

I search only for something I can’t see

Her gaze flits to me, as if she’s incapable of keeping her eyes from mine, the lines speaking volumes as I strum the notes I play only for her because I already know exactly who she is. Mine.

I have my own life

And I am stronger than you know

There’s a tiny moment of hesitation, and her lips quiver, and for a moment, I wonder if she’s going to give up, if she’s going to stand up and leave, but then she continues, stronger.

But I carry this feeling

When you walked into my house

That you won’t be walking out the door

Still I carry this feeling

When you walked into my house

That you won’t be walking out the door

I smile at how true her words are, even if she doesn’t know it yet, and I take a moment to grab a breath, noting the scent of her in the air, the heat in my chest an inferno of triumph as I join her in the chorus.

Lovers forever, face to face

My city, your mountains

Stay with me, stay

I need you to love me, I need you today

Give to me your leather

Take from me my lace

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