Page 57 of Stealing Forever

With a subtle sigh, I step further inside and close the door quietly behind me. The lock engages automatically, theelectronic mechanism whining, but instinctively, I secure the dead bolt, too.

My steps are quiet across the carpet as I head to where my suitcase is so I can grab my pajamas and hit the shower, but once I’m parallel with the bed, I hear my name.

“Hailey.” Declan’s deep timber rattles through my heart, and I turn to look at him, my eyes only semi-adjusted, but I can make out his silhouette as he lies in bed. With the blankets pooling around his waist, his Adonis-like chest is bare and on full display as he relaxes with one hand under his head.

“Did I wake you?”

“No.” He shakes his head. “I was waiting for you.”

“Oh.” My voice goes quiet. The only thing I can hear is my heartbeat in my ears.

“Do you want to take a shower, then we can talk?” His gruff whisper sends the butterflies in my stomach fluttering in a frenzy.

“We can talk now.” I’d rather use the shower as an excuse if I need a moment. I’m not sure what to expect.

“Okay, let’s go into the bathroom so we don’t wake Sailor.”

My heart rate quickens knowing what happened last time we were in the bathroom together. But I agree, this conversation should be had in private, even if Sailor is fast asleep. On the off chance she wakes up, whatever is going to be said does not need to be said in front of little ears.

With a lump in my throat, I follow Declan inside the bathroom and watch as he flips the lock. No sooner are we locked in, does he take a couple steps forward, his hand sweeping beneath my hair to wrap behind my neck. Before I can articulate another thought, his lips are on mine, claiming them more possessively than before.

He tilts me, bending me to his will, and all I can do is succumb to the high of it all.

If I thought he took my breath away earlier on the baseball field, I was wrong, because at this point I’m certain the only oxygen I’m intaking is his. My head swims, and a bliss-filled tremor racks through me as I forget all about all of the obstacles standing in our way.

Declan kisses me like I’m the most precious thing in the world, taking his time exploring my mouth, keeping me rooted firmly on the ground so my body doesn’t float away in euphoric bliss. A moan rattles through my throat, and I can feel myself melting—my heart transforming into something that only beats for him.

It terrifies me, because then that means he has the ability to break it.

Breaking the kiss, Declan rests his forehead against mine, breathing heavily. “I’ve been waiting to do that again all day.”

“So it wasn’t a one-time thing?” I ask hesitantly, squeezing my eyes shut.

We stay pressed together, neither of us creating more distance.

“Open your eyes and look at me, sweetheart.” His tone is firm—low and commanding. Something dips in my stomach as I open my eyes, meeting his piercing gaze. “Do you want it to only be a one-time thing?”

“No.” The word comes out rushed.

Declan laughs, then kisses me with a soft peck again. Not ready for him to pull away, I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer, bringing his lips back to mine. He groans deeply, then lowers himself enough to lift me into his arms.

My legs wrap around his back, and he carries me to the bathroom counter, effortlessly setting me on top of it. He pulls my hips forward so I’m on the edge, then aligns our groins. His hard length settles between us, and without another thought, I rock my hips into it.

“Fuck, you have no idea what you do to me, Hailey.”

“I want you,” I tell him in a frenzy, my fingers furiously drifting across his body.

He thrusts his hips, his shaft hitting the sensitive part of my body over and over as he glides it against me. There are too many layers between us—his sweatpants, my sundress and panties.

His lips move to my neck, nipping and licking up the column of it as his palm kneads my breast. “You’re so sexy. The things I want to do to you—” he groans “—God, I want to taste every square inch of your skin.”

“Please,” I whimper. My hands trail down to his waistband, and I’m about to reach my hand inside when he catches my wrist.

“Good things come to those who wait, sweetheart.” His teeth skate across my skin. Holding my wrist, he gently pulls it behind my back, forcing my back to arch and my hips to push into him further.

We moan in unison at the rough contact.

Pushing my dress to my waist, he bunches it up and slowly—tortuously—he slides himself against me. The flick of his hips sends an ache through my core every time his length hits my sensitive clit.

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