Chapter 16 Cable Car Joy Ride
CABLE CAR JOY RIDE
CLAIRE
The way Declan was looking at me had me retreating a few steps until my back hit one of the center poles of the cable car. I looked from side to side but I was trapped until we reached the bottom of the mountain.
It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy kissing Declan. I really, really, did. In fact, I wanted to kiss him a lot more. But, that was a very bad idea. The few times I had experienced him in that way taught me that his touch was intoxicating. I could so easily get consumed by him and end up broken.
This wasn’t one of those neat situations within my control that I loved.
This was entirely new territory.
I wasn’t sure I could handle it, but the more time I spent around him, the more I wanted to try.
Declan took a few slow steps forward, like an animal stalking prey. He was in no rush which only made my nerves worse. I was in danger of rambling and embarrassing myself, again.
“You look nervous,” Declan said as he approached me, stopping a foot away.
I shook my head and blew out a breath. “Nervous? Me? Nope.” I let out a nervous laugh before slapping a hand over my mouth to force myself to stop.
He chuckled darkly, lifting his hand to my jaw to remove my hand. His thumb brushed over my bottom lip as his eyes locked with mine. A low groan left my throat, but by the smirk on his face I knew he heard it.
Declan leaned in closer, resting his other hand on the pole behind me. He brushed his nose against mine as he let out a breath, as if he was using every ounce of self control to keep a single inch of distance between us.
“Do you like when I kiss you, Claire?” He asked, his breath hot on my skin.
Goosebumps erupted down my arms as they stayed at my sides. I blinked up at him, unsure how to answer his question.
Actually, I knew exactly how to answer it but I was lying to myself.
I shook my head but it wasn’t believable.
Declan hummed. “So, you don’t want me to kiss you again?”
I shook my head “no” before biting my lip and nodding “yes.”
I didn’t know what I wanted, okay? All I knew was that when he kissed me, I felt like I was on fire.
“Well which is it, baby?”
His lips brushed mine so lightly that it had me arching into him.
“Kiss me,” I pleaded like the weak woman I was.
He let out a low growl before dipping his head and pressing his lips to mine. It felt like electricity surging through my body as I melted into him. His lips commanded mine in a way that I loved—a way that made me feel like I could give up control and trust him.
I reached up and ran my fingers through his hair as he pressed his firm body into mine. He nipped and sucked on my bottom lip, forcing my mouth open so he could delve his tongue inside. I moaned, gripping his hair tighter.
I felt Declan’s palms on the backs of my thighs before he lifted me up so my legs wrapped around his middle. My arms looped his neck as he dropped his mouth to my jaw where he peppered kisses.
Suddenly, I felt the length of him press into my center. On instinct, I moved my body against him, reveling in the feeling of him hitting the spot I craved the most.
“Fuck, baby,” he gritted out against my neck. “Keep doing that.”
Tightening my feet against his back, I pressed harder—straight up dry humping the man like a teenager in heat. He groaned as he pushed my jacket down my arm and latched his teeth into my shoulder.
My entire body felt like it was going to explode as tingles started at my toes and made their way to the base of my spine.
The sounds coming from me were borderline feral.
I mean, I hadn’t been with a man in a long time but it wasn’t like I was a virgin.
I certainly wasn’t desperate enough to make myself come while mounted to my boss fully clothed.
Right?
Wrong.
I dropped my head to his shoulder as a familiar pressure started to build more and more intense. I really didn’t want to stop, even if I knew I should.
“Does that feel good, baby?” Declan whispered into my ear.
“Yes,” I whined, opening my mouth on a silent gasp.
He hummed, “that’s a good girl. Use me. Make yourself feel good.”
Hearing those words come out of Declan Alexander’s mouth sent me right over the edge.
I let out a scream as Declan’s palm covered my mouth.
My entire body was convulsing as I gripped onto him tighter.
I hadn’t realized it in my horny haze, but Declan was meeting me thrust for thrust. I bit down on his palm and watched his eyes close as an animalistic growl left his body.
He stiffened and the hand holding my ass gripped me impossibly hard. He pumped a few more times before his breathing became more labored.
Did he just…
Oh my god.
Declan’s eyes snapped open as my gaze trailed between us. A very prominent wet spot covered the front of his pants. It should have been embarrassing, but I did that. I made him feel that good without even really touching him.
Declan’s fingers dipped under my chin, nudging it up so I was looking into his eyes.
“What are you doing to me, Claire?”
I shrugged. “My wifely duties.”
He let out a soft laugh before kissing me quickly and placing me back onto my feet.
The cable car approached the station at the bottom of the mountain as Declan shifted his coat so you couldn’t see the mess we made.
I covered my mouth with my hand to hide my laughter, but this entire situation was so ridiculous I couldn’t help it.
I pulled the scavenger hunt list out of my back pocket and scanned it to make sure we weren’t missing anything. As we walked off of the car, I paused.
“We forgot the last one,” I said, looking around to find something to take a picture of.
“Claire,” Declan called from behind me.
I whipped around, smiling at him as he snapped a picture. My smile fell as I tilted my head.
“What was that for?”
“Something beautiful,” he said as he passed me.
I didn’t know if I wanted to swoon or throw up because that was so cheesy. Or maybe I wanted both. Either way, my heart melted and I had to rub my lips together to not smile like an idiot.
We walked back to the town square where Paul Driscoff was waiting, surrounded by a group of people. There was no announcement that anyone had won yet, but that didn’t mean we hadn’t missed it during our adventure up the mountain.
I laced my fingers with Declan’s as we approached him. Paul turned to us, his eyes lighting up as we handed him our list and the photo evidence.
“Well, I’ll be damned.” He turned toward the square and cleared his throat. “We have a winner!”
Declan scooped me into his arms as the crowd broke into a cheer. You would have thought we just won a gold medal at the olympics and not some silly contest, but it still felt good.
“We’re a great team,” Declan said into my hair.
And we were, but I knew that already. He was the one who was just figuring it out.
When my feet were back on the ground, I turned to see Tom and Sarah frowning behind where Paul stood. Being happy they lost was childish and petty, but I didn’t care. They underestimated me and they wouldn’t make that mistake again.
We lingered around the square for a while longer, talking to other executives I hadn’t had the chance to meet.
As we weaved through the crowd, Declan’s hands never left me.
He looped his arms around my middle, held my hand, pushed my hair behind my ear.
No matter who we talked to, he found an excuse to touch me.
By the time the crowd started to dissipate, we were heading back to our chalet. I was trying not to be in my head about what happened in the cable car but I was failing.
Did he expect more tonight?
Did I want more tonight?
The short answer was no. I wasn’t a girl who liked hookups and it had been a long time since I was intimate with anyone. This was already a lot and I needed a second to breathe before I considered more with him, knowing the consequences that came with it.
I pushed through the front door of the chalet and didn’t wait for Declan as I started up the stairs. I made it to my bedroom door, before turning around. Declan was a few feet behind me on the stairs.
“Want to have a drink?” He asked. His tone was even, almost like he knew I was freaking the fuck out. He probably assumed I would follow the same pattern of running away anytime something mildly intimate happened between us.
“Uh, no. I’m going to just go to bed.”
He nodded, taking the last step and stopping directly in front of me. His eyes dropped to my lips and I froze.
His eyes sparkled with something between adoration and lust—and that fucking scared me.
“Okay, yup. I’m going to go. Cool. Did you know that butterflies taste through their feet? I know. Crazy. Well, goodnight!” I squeaked before slipping into my room and slamming the door in his face.
I could hear Declan’s booming laugh echo through the house as he entered his bedroom and closed the door.