“That would be amazing. I thought I might need to buy a portable electric.”
“No need,” he said. “Use it when you like.”
I released a breath, which he must have heard because he glanced at me.
“Is there something the matter?”
Yes. I can’t stop playing with my clit when I should be playing the piano.
“No. It’s all good. And thanks for your generosity, by the way. All of this wouldn’t be possible without it.” I choked up.
Regardless of how he’d fired up my libido, Declan was such a kind man. I just wish he didn’t look like he’d just stepped off a Hollywood set.
He pulled out in front of the college and turned to look at me. His hand landed on the top of my hand, unleashing an electrical storm through my body. And that was just from his hand resting gently as any good soul’s might.
Get a fucking grip.
“I’m not going to rest until those deviants are charged for what they did to you, including your stepfather.”
My head turned so sharply I felt a twinge of pain in my neck. “I really don’t want that.”
He gazed into my eyes, and they softened into that swoony turquoise. I almost forgot that we were discussing the monsters of my past.
“Declan, please, I beg you to forget everything I told you.” I couldn’t breathe all of a sudden. It was like I’d been winded. I could feel a panic attack building as colliding thoughts spun out of control.
I removed my hand abruptly and started to wring my hands, looking anywhere but his handsome face. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m good now. I’ve moved on.” Although I squeezed muscles to conceal an involuntary spasm from head to toe, I managed a quivery smile as I faced him.
His hand came to rest on mine again, calming my agitation. My heart warmed at how his gaze resonated with sympathy. I think he understood my pain, by the way his eyes reflected tenderness towards me. “Your stepfather needs to be reported.” His voice soft and cajoling in sharp contradiction to this vile subject matter. “And one day soon, I will convince you to do that. He’s a fucking worm.”
He’s more than a worm.
The thought of sitting in a courtroom dredging up those creepy bedroom scenes turned me to ice.
Lost to these disturbing thoughts, I hadn’t noticed Declan opening the door and offering me his hand to help me down. That chivalrous gesture helped me snap back to the here and now as I took his large hand.
Declan wouldn’t meddle in my past. I’d see to that.
With that in mind, I let go of everything and breathed him in instead.
One didn’t need drugs around this man. A whiff of his unique scent wafted through me, and I tripped off to a warm, sensuous oasis away from ugly experiences.
“Thank you. I could have done that myself.” My speech centre had finally woken. That cologne was killing me. It should be made illegal for tampering with my motor skills.
“I’ll see you at the hall. There’s a dinner tomorrow.” He smiled sweetly.
Good. All that dark shit forgotten.
“That’s right. I have to work.”
Despite work eating into my study, I couldn’t wait to see him.
I was besotted. Infatuated. Just like the legion of women who encountered Declan Lovechilde, no doubt.
But did he look at them as tenderly as he did me?