Chapter 26
Declan
Ittookallmy inner strength not to return to that pub and insist, yes, insist, Theadora come with me.
She was with another man.
So fucking soon?
My sheets were still warm from her beautiful body. Her rose perfume filled my space. And she was out with a guy?
Maybe they’d known each other for a while. He had his arm around the booth, looking very familiar, and they were all laughing when I walked in.
Fuck.
I tried texting her but no answer. Uncertainty kept me there on that main drag. If I went back in, it would seem as though I was being a control freak. If I didn’t, she’d end up sleeping with that guy.
Fuck.
I heard “Declan” and turned to see Theadora running up to me.
Her lips parted as she hurried towards me, reminding me of how she looked bouncing on my dick, and my jeans tightened.
“I wanted to invite you to join us, but then you left.”
“I didn’t want to bust in on your party,” I said.
“It wasn’t that. Those guys just joined us. Lucy’s like that.”
“Like what?” I had to know if this friend of hers was a bad influence.
“Well, she’s friendly.” She pulled a coy smile. “I didn’t invite them to sit with us. But they’re nice people, I suppose.”
“I’ve been trying to call you all day.” I hated how desperate I sounded.
I was fucking desperate. I wanted this girl. Now. Naked. In my arms.
Maybe a week away together. Perhaps after that, I could get her out of my system.
I couldn’t concentrate. Everything revolved around Theadora. Especially now that I’d had a taste.
A taste? A fucking banquet.
Her eyebrows knitted. “Oh. Did you need me to do something? Like organise your files or cleaning?”
My heart swelled with affection at how innocent she seemed. Her face resembled that of a girl’s all of a sudden. Endearingly so. I wanted to smother her with cuddles and buy her everything her heart desired. If only just to bask in her pure soul.
Wearing a questioning, wide-eyed stare, Theadora made me smile sadly. “No, Theadora. I just wanted to see you.”
“Oh.” Her brows puckered as though me wanting to see her was some abstract concept.
“I don’t want you to work for me anymore.” I took her hand and stared into her eyes. “I’d prefer it if you allowed me to set you up in your own place.”
She removed her hand abruptly as if my palm was made of broken glass. “To be a kept woman?”
I hated how that sounded too. I shook my head. “No. I just want to give you everything. Help you.”
“I don’t need your or anyone’s help. That goes against my nature.” Under the streetlight, her eyes shone with intense emotion. “I’m seriously independent. I’ve had to be.” Her voice cracked.