Page 57 of Try Me

Pearl avoided Declan’s eyes, grabbed a towel, and went outside. A cold shower was exactly what she needed right now to get her mind off Declan’s naked body.

The only privacy of the shower came from being in the middle of nowhere. Deep woods framed the house for miles.

Before she stripped out of her clothes, Pearl cast a furtive glance at the window. A glare from the light made it impossible for her to see inside. She couldn’t even tell if the curtain was still closed. At least she knew that Declan hadn’t known she was watching him.

Glad to get out of the damp bathing suit, Pearl threw the garments a safe distance away from the spray and turned on the hose.

A thick layer of humidity clung to the air. She could taste the storm coming.

She didn’t get back to Maui nearly as much as she wanted to and being in Kauai made Pearl miss home. She missed the serene beaches, the quiet forests and even the sudden thunderstorms.

After the exhibition, she would go to Maui for at least a week to visit her family. Pearl thought about how fun it would be to surf Pe’ahi with Declan. They would have a magical time on that wave. It was one of the windiest breaks Pearl had ever surfed, and if you caught the right swell, you really felt like you were flying.

Declan would love it.

Pearl stepped under the hose and shivered as the cold spray hit her heated skin. The icy water propelled her back to reality. Declan wouldn’t be coming to Maui or anywhere with her. They would finish their contract after the Duke, and they would be done. Which was for the best. Absolutely for the best.

An image of Declan in the shower came to Pearl’s mind. Tanned chest glistening with soap, powerful thighs rippling with muscle…

Thunder rumbled, and a streak of lightning ripped through the sky near enough to make Pearl scream. She’d been expecting a storm, but not so soon.

The front door of the cabin banged shut, followed by Declan’s hurried footsteps on the wooden porch.

“Pearl?” he called from around the corner. “Are you okay?”

Pearl took a beat to catch her breath. She’d been so wrapped up in the fantasy of Declan that the lightning had caught her off guard.

“Pearl?” Declan called again.

“I’m here,” she said.

“You should come inside,” he said.

Electricity crackled in the air, leaves rustled in the wind, and limbs creaked. Pearl’s heart beat loud enough to drown out the sounds of the night.

“Declan,” she said. Her voice sounded low and calm, much more confident than she felt. “Come here.”

She heard the sound of his footsteps approach and then falter.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Come here,” she repeated, louder this time, an unmistakable command.

Declan came closer, stopping short when he saw Pearl. His eyes widened, traveling slowly down her naked body before flashing back up to her face.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

Pearl stepped out from under the meager spray of water. Heart pounding, legs steady she stood before him.

“I thought it was only fair that you saw me,” she said.

His throat worked as he swallowed, struggling to keep his eyes on her face. “Why?”

“Because I saw you.”

The undercurrent of electricity sizzled between them as Pearl took another step toward Declan. Reaching up, she touched his jaw where a muscle twitched.

“Pearl,” he warned, his voice a low growl. “We’re not doing this.”

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