Page 66 of Declan
“We’re not going to a hotel,” Declan answered, running the pad of his thumb across his bottom lip and drawing my eye. I had a feeling he was doing it on purpose. His green eyes shifted to me. “I rented us a villa for the week on the north side of the island.”
“A villa?”
“A private home near the sea,” he said, and the temperature in the car shot upwards of, like, a million. “I didn’t want the hassle of a hotel and being swarmed in the lobby every time we left the room.”
Privacy. In a house by the sea. Alone with Declan.
Oh, the possibilities.
I imagined fucking him in the crystal blue sea, which was probably better in theory since water sex wasn’t nearly as easy as it sounded. But still. We’d be in our own little paradise in the Mediterranean. We could go outside under the sun, tangled in each other, and not have to worry about anyone seeing.
Well, Gideon would be there, but he’d ignore us.
When we arrived at our destination, we got out of the car, grabbed our bags, and walked up to the house. The villa wasn’t that big, but it screamed of luxury. Like most other buildings in town, this one was a white building with a red roof. What I loved most, though, was the lack of other people. The surf could be heard in the distance, the waves licking the shore and softly crashing against the rocks.
“It’s peaceful,” I commented as we walked inside the house.
“It is,” Declan agreed.
And then I dropped my suitcase, nearly dropping my laptop bag, as well, but luckily catching it mid-shoulder before I did.
Directly ahead were floor-to-ceiling windows that peered out into the most breathtaking sight I’ve ever seen. There was a back patio with an infinity pool and a mini-waterfall, and then nothing but sapphire water and clear skies for as far as the eye could see.
The door closed behind us, and in an instant, Declan wrapped his arms around me from behind.
“Do you like it?” he asked before lightly kissing down the back of my neck.
I turned in his arms and linked my fingers at his nape. Staring at him, I was nearly at a loss for words. He seemed so…boyish wasn’t the right word, but it was the only one I could think of. It was like he was shy and waiting for my approval.
“I love it,” I answered, tucking my head into the crease where his neck met his shoulder. Mostly to hide my shock. “It’s almost too much. I’m kinda taken aback by it all.”
My anxiety spiked just thinking of how much all of this had cost him: the star treatment at the airport, the first-class plane tickets, this fancy freaking villa with its privacy walls and view that belonged in a damn luxury magazine, plus the food and every other cost that’d add up during our week-long stay.
“You’re worth every penny,” Declan said, pressing his cheek to the top of my head. I hadn’t mentioned anything about the cost, but he’d somehow read my mind. He pulled away and slipped his hand through mine. “Let’s go out back.”
Hand in hand, we slid open the back door to the patio and walked out into the bright, warm day. It didn’t occur to me until we’d been out there for several minutes that we could’ve easily been mistaken for a couple. We were staying in a romantic place, staring at an amazing view, and holding hands like we cared about each other.
Fuck buddies didn’t do that.
Did they?
In my heart, I knew I felt more for Declan. But I had to keep forcing those feelings back down. Only another week of fun and then we’d go our separate ways. That’s what we’d decided.
So, why did his hand feel so warm in mine? Comforting and familiar. Why did he feel so much like home?
“Ready for a tour of the villa?” he asked, gazing down at me. His green eyes sparkled like the rarest of gems.
Shit, being in Greece was flaring up my sappiness. Maybe I needed to set some time aside soon to write a little. Nothing fueled inspiration more than being surrounded by the very setting you were writing about.
“Depends,” I said as heat traveled south, gathering between my legs.
“On?” The look on Declan’s face made it clear he had an idea of what I was getting at.
“Depends on if the bedroom is the first stop on the tour,” I responded, stepping forward and nipping at his jaw.
“Pretty sure that can be arranged,” he said, and I felt his throat move against my lips as he swallowed.
Then, I remembered my bladder that was about to burst.
“Make it the second stop,” I said before doing a little wiggle dance. He gave me a strange look as his brow drew together. “I have to piss.”
When Declan laughed, it echoed around us. Full and hearty.
Damn, I’d never get tired of hearing it. He seemed more relaxed, too, as if the freedom to be with me in the open livened up his mood.
Our little paradise only reached so far, though. Once we left the villa, the walls between us would be re-built.
