Page 71 of A Cowboy's Claim
He gave himself over to pleasure. To the giving between them, the ebb and flow. The teasing touch of her fingers and the hot grip of her body around him.
When he reached down to help take her over one more time, that too was pretty damn perfect.
Declan came, the ache in his body rolling out into relaxed satisfaction. The tangle of emotions and words—all of it smoothed and simplified by this honest physical connection.
She was breathing hard, smiling as she stroked his chest and pulled him to her side.
They lay there in the quiet, the house still shaking occasionally but with less intensity as the fire crackled in the stove. For the first time in too long, it felt as if the storm inside him had softened too.
That’s when it hit.
Declan eased up on an elbow so he could see her face clearly. So much soft, tempting skin that was impossible to resist, so he didn’t even try. He stroked his fingers gently over her body, meeting her eyes with his. “Remember you said that this wasn’t a booty call?”
She nodded. “It’s more.”
He leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. “It’s always been more. Just saying.”
Her smile softened, and something unguarded flickered in the depths of her eyes. “I know.”
16
By the time they got cleaned up, it was late enough to crash. Declan made another trip onto the deck to grab the air mattress from his truck that he’d left out there earlier, and the two of them set it up in the middle of the living room.
“Not that Nagy would object to us using his bed,” Declan offered. “It’s just that…”
“Say no more.” Sydney helped straighten the quilt over the inflated mattress. “I’m sure it would be fine, but this is even better.”
For a while she was worried she wouldn’t get any sleep with her brain running on overdrive.
But when she twitched one too many times, Declan simply pulled her closer against his body and pressed another kiss to her temple. “Whatever rabbits you’re chasing will still be there in the morning. Go to sleep.”
Amusement washed away some of the worries racing on repeat. “You really do plan to train me like a dog.”
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Declan offered. “By the way? I love you, Sydney.”
“If you’re looking for me to say it back, I demand a full-on Disney princess dance,” Sydney said. A trickle of nervousness ran up her spine.
He sighed sleepily. “Don’t want you to say it right now. Just want you to say that you’re here and that you’re trying.”
She wished it was as easy to do as it had been with her girlfriends. “Yes, Declan Skye. I’m in your arms and happy to be here.”
He took a deep breath, and by the time he let it out, she could have sworn he’d fallen asleep.
She must’ve followed him immediately because when she woke it was morning. Sunshine did not stream in the windows, and there was no scent of bacon or anything delicious. It was still dark, but when she checked her watch it was past eight o’clock.
The space beside her was empty, and Declan’s boots and coat were missing from the hooks by the front door. She opened the curtains and looked out on a sky nearly black with clouds as rain smacked into the windows as if paddling her for being a lazy butt.
He was probably caring for the animals. So she would care for the humans.
She had a pot of oatmeal on the stove and coffee ready when he got back less than twenty minutes later.
Declan accepted the towel she handed him with a nod of the head. “It’s still coming down hard. I walked as far as I could into all the clearings, but there’s no reception anywhere. We’re stuck for at least another day.”
“There’s more than enough food,” she reassured him. “The clinic will be fine even if I miss a few days early in the week. Lexie is there, and they can handle all of the office visits. Sorry I’ll miss Rose and Chance’s wedding, but it can’t be helped.”
“Me, too. Thanks to Petra’s tracking abilities, everyone will know we’re together here on the mountain. They shouldn’t be worried. Also positive, my brothers have to deal with the chores.”
Sydney laughed, bringing him into the kitchen and gesturing toward the coffee pot. “Help yourself. There’s orange juice on the table already.”
