I’ve never spent as much time with a man I’ve just met as I have with Declan. The more I know him, the more my wall of defense is chipping away. I’ve been there before. All men start like that. They’re attentive and sweet until the relationship becomes old.
I draw out my rational side. I’ve made it in the cutthroat billion-dollar wedding industry by refusing to allow my emotions to have a part in my decisions. I do this now and push my growing feelings for Declan away.
The problem, as I see it, is that he’s too attractive. Panty-melting attractive. Declan has a body that gives a woman instant arousal. Even now, just sitting next to him in the car is enough to make me ache between my legs.
As long as I remember that what I’m feeling is crazy, mad arousal, I’ll be fine. It didn’t help that Declan kissed me, and now that I’ve had a taste, I can’t help wondering how it would feel to be held in his arms. To run my hands over his muscled shoulders.
We get home too fast before I can organize my thoughts. I haven’t come to a solution.
“We’re home,” he says to me as he kills the engine. Is his voice thicker than usual, or is it just me hearing what I want to hear?
“I had a great time at your brother and sister-in-law’s house,” I tell him.
“They loved you,” Declan says.
“Thanks,” I say.
We sit staring at each other, saying nothing, the sexual tension between us growing by the second. My whole body comes alive, and it feels like every part is aching to be touched.
Declan’s hands are etched in my mind. They are big and strong. The streetlights illuminate us, and I feel as if I’m melting under Declan’s heated gaze.
I don’t know who makes the first move. All I know is that in seconds, our mouths mesh together, and time stops as we kiss as though our lives depend on it. His big hand curls along my jaw and angles my head to give him better access to my mouth.
His scent is an aphrodisiac, invading all my senses so that all I can think about is how much I want more. The low rush of Declan’s breathing matches mine. My limbs turn to water as I cling to him, helpless against the surge of arousal that swamps me.
I moan into his mouth and mutter incoherent words. Words that I am sure would embarrass me any other time. For this moment, I don’t care. My hands explore his shoulders as though they have a mind of their own.
Declan breaks the kiss, and we both breathe as though we’ve come from running a marathon.
“Let’s go in,” Declan says, his voice husky.
I nod, wide-eyed and stunned by my physical reaction to him. I feel like an explosive device that can go off any time as I lead the way to the front door. I’ve lost control of my mind and body.
Declan takes the house keys from me and unlocks the door. He holds it open, and when we are both inside, he takes my hand and wordlessly takes me upstairs.
This will complicate things, a voice screams inside my head, but it’s not loud enough. It’s not louder than the ache in my pussy. My panties are damp, and all I can think about is how it would feel to have Declan fill that ache. I’m desperate for release. I want Declan in a way that leaves no room for any arguments. I’ve never wanted a man as desperately as I want him.
My body is beyond reasoning with. I’m docile as I follow him upstairs to the guest room. He shuts the door behind us and pulls me into his arms. My heart pounds hard against my chest as he brushes his lips against mine. They are soft and slow. This time, his kiss is an exploration. He nibbles my lower lip and then captures the top one between his lips. His hands cup my face as if he’s afraid that I’ll disappear. I slip mine around his impossibly wide shoulders.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs as he trails kisses down my jawline.
A moan escapes my mouth, and as his mouth returns to mine, he dips his tongue between my lips. Our kiss grows deeper, more urgent. Declan’s hands leave my face, skim along the curves of my body and rest on my hips.
Heat sizzles over my skin, and I pull Declan closer. His erection rubs against my belly. Declan’s kiss grows more heated. His hands move to my ass, squeezing it and smashing me against his body. He growls into my mouth, and an electric current sizzles through me.
I want to feel every inch of him, and I reach for the hem of his T-shirt. I tug at it. Declan comes to my aid. He pulls it over his head, breaking away for less than a second. He captures my mouth again, and then with a groan, he pulls away.