Page 18 of A Kiss to Remember
At least, that’s what they believed.
Her? Well, before tonight, the last three weeks had offered her hope that Declan was attracted to her. Her mind had warned her that the heated glances, the fleeting caresses to her cheek, the holding of her hand, the jokes and laughter they shared, the phone calls and texts they exchanged—they were all part of the charade. But her heart failed to get the message. Her stupid heart took each gesture as proof that he feltsomethingfor her.
And she understood now why she grasped that hope so desperately.
Because in these three weeks, each caress, each glance, each compliment had worked toward transforming her longtime crush for him into love.
Yes, she so, so foolishly had fallen in love with Declan Howard.
Her head bowed, forehead pressing against the cold window.
She’d fallen for the most emotionally unavailable man in Rose Bend.
“Talk to you?” she said, leaning back in the seat and turning to him. “What is there totalkabout? I told you I’mfine.”
“Actually, you didn’t. You just ordered me to let it go. But too many people in your life have done that, and I refuse to be another one who ignores your pain.”
She stared at him, forcing her fingers to remain flat on her thighs and not to ball into fists. “Do you want me to admit that what Tara said hurt? Okay, yes. It hurt like hell. Do I want your apology on her behalf? No. I don’t want it or need it. It’s insulting to both of us. That should sum it up, right? Are we done here? Good.”
“Hell no, we’re not done. We’re friends, dammit.”
Oh God, didn’tthatjust punch a hole in her chest?
“There. Satisfied? Now, good night.”
She reached for the door handle again.
“If you get out of this car, I will follow you to that front door, Remi,” he rumbled.
She threw her hands up in the air, loosing a harsh laugh that abraded her throat. “What more do you want from me? A pound of flesh? According to your ex-girlfriend, I can afford to sacrifice a few—”
His arm shot out, and his hand hooked behind her neck, hauling her forward. His mouth crushed down on hers, swallowing the words from her lips. Her moan surged up her throat, offering itself like a sacrifice to him. She was helpless at the erotic onslaught, opening herself wider and wider to this wild thing that masqueraded as a kiss. He took from her over and over, slanting his mouth, diving deep, sucking harder as if starved, as if desperate.
As if afraid she would disappear if he didn’t gorge himself in this moment.
Or maybe she was projecting.
Declan lifted his other hand to her chin, swept his hand over the shallow cleft there. Once and twice. Such a simple, small caress, but it echoed in a soft flutter between her legs, and she clenched her thighs against the sweet, erotic sensation.
God, touch me there... Kiss me there.
The plea bounced inside her head, words she longed to utter aloud. She’d never believed that opportunity would be hers.
Did you want it to be?
The low, insidious whisper slid through her lust-hazed mind. And no matter how hard she pressed her lips to Declan’s, how hard she thrust her tongue against his, she couldn’t evict the question from her thoughts. Did she? If she took this step with him, there was no coming back. And for her, it wouldn’t be just sex. Not with him. Her heart was already involved. Giving him her body, too, would cement an epic fall that would make Icarus’s look like a mere stumble.
“Invite me inside.”
Declan issued the hoarse plea-wrapped-in-a-demand, and it reverberated loudly in the confines of his car. She stared at him, emotionally on a precipice. One step off could mean joy for her... Or utter heartbreak.
Was she brave enough to find out which?
He brushed his thumb under the curve of her bottom lip, the hand at her nape a gentle weight. But he waited, allowing her to make this decision, even though desire darkened his eyes to indigo and his mouth bore the damp, swollen mark of their raw kiss.
“Come inside.”
Inside my house. Inside my body. My heart. My soul.
