Chapter 15
Theadora
Decisivenesswasnevermy strong suit. I’d knocked twice and still no answer. The key that Declan had given me to his home left an imprint on my clammy palm as I debated whether to let myself in.
I pictured him handing me the key. His eyes on mine as though that key symbolized something more significant. Something intimate. Everything seemed intimate between us. Even him showing me where the cleaning products were stored.
And then there was that emotional scene in the courtyard yesterday, when he’d cradled me in his arms. Even now, as I shifted from leg to leg at his door, butterflies entered my stomach and my heart pounded thinking about it.
Taking a deep, calming breath, I let myself in and scanned the room just as a burglar might. Why did it feel like I was encroaching his space?
“Hello,” I called out repeatedly, as I stepped into that open-space room awash with speckled colours pouring through the arched windows.
A leather sofa rested against the wall, accompanied by shelves of knickknacks. The large TV screen mounted on the wall seemed incongruous amongst the spiritual motifs on the stained glass windows, which, along with the vaulted ceiling, was the only remnant of a church.
I called out again and headed to the laundry where the cleaning products were stored and decided to start with the bathroom.
When I entered, steam hit me in the face. I turned to the mirror and saw Declan with his back to me.
I could see all of him, including a sculpted butt that could have been carved by da Vinci himself. I gulped. And then he turned to the side, unaware of my presence.
He placed one hand on the glass wall and with his other hand on his dick, he bit his lip. His eyes squeezed shut, and his large hand moved up and down his enormous penis. The thick veins popping out against the folds of his skin.
Stunned by this erotic vision of him pleasuring himself, I remained frozen on the spot. Fixated by him biting his lip. His eyes squeezed shut and that hand moving at lightning speed over his swollen, veiny shaft.
Snapping out of my trance, I snuck off and shut the door as quietly as I could.
Holy fuck.
Leaning against the wall for support, I was breathing hard. My body on fire as his large hand wrapped around that engorged penis echoed in my imagination.
I hurried off and made a start on the shelves instead.
My breathing had only just steadied when Declan entered the living room with a towel wrapped around his waist.
Now if I wasn’t already a wreck after witnessing him jerking off, I’d become a drooling mess thanks to him parading half-naked as naturally as one would in tracksuit bottoms.
He reminded me of a hunky Hollywood actor with that strong chest, glistening with watery droplets, and bulging muscles.
“Oh. I’m sorry.” I almost stumbled back when he finally noticed me there.
He smiled, looking completely unfazed. “Hey. I’m glad you let yourself in.”
“I knocked and called out.” My cheeks scorched. “If you like I can come back.”
“No. Of course not.” He strolled into the kitchen. “Can I offer you anything?”
Yes, please put some clothes on before I melt on the spot.
I shook my head, hoping he wouldn’t think me a prude for blushing like a virgin at an orgy.
He held my eyes for a moment and then continued to make himself a juice.
To avoid hyperventilating, I left him and started on the bathroom.
It felt intimate being there all of a sudden, but I was there to clean. And that envelope of cash he’d handed me for four hours work after my last shift, incentivised me to accept the work with a big smile.
I’d even managed to save a little. Now that my credit card debts were paid off, my life plan had taken shape. But how could I manage to remain sane around this man and his suggestive gaze? Was that it? Did he want me? Or was I just imagining it?