29. Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Twenty-Nine
E mma
Something is happening to Declan.
I can’t put a finger on it. But the way he runs his lips down my body in that worshipful manner the way he keeps whispering words against it, makes me feel like something has fundamentally shifted in our relationship.
There's a gentle finality in it like we're reaching the end of something, and he's trying to enjoy every last morsel before it's over. Like the last bite of food before you go on a diet.
Even with the lust roaring through me, I peek with one eye to see that his eyes are shut and he continues kissing around the same spot above my knee, then slowly licking it.
Shivers vibrate over my skin. He reminds me of a cat, savoring his favorite bowl of milk.
And then he licks up my thighs.
"I can smell you from here, you know," he says and suddenly I’m caught. His eyes flash open, snagging mine, their depths impenetrable. "I can practically taste your need even from down here."
He licks to my upper thigh and the muscle shakes underneath his hand. I’m embarrassed to say that even when I was just sitting in his lap, making out with him elicited this kind of response from me. I leak even more moisture at the sound of his voice. It’s like thunder rumbling through me.
"And I know it will taste so good once I reach the top." He reverses direction and kisses down my leg. "But I'm trying to draw it out as long as possible. I want to remember every second of this, every touch, every taste."
I close my eyes. His words themselves are driving me wild, his talk as much as his touch. As his lips begin their ascent once again, my legs tense in anticipation.
Even before he gets to his destination, my heartbeat is flying all over the place and desperation is driving my hips forward subtly on the seat.
And then, before I can ready myself, he's there.
He slides my panties to the side, and his lips press against my clit, slowly mouthing at it and then nipping lightly. I moan and nearly shut my legs. It’s too much.
I feel like I’m going to splinter from the inside out and I need to close my legs to keep myself together. But Declan shifts forward, his large shoulders suddenly in between my legs and holding them open.
His eyes meet mine for a second before they slide shut again. He makes sounds of contentment as he slowly laps at my center, his tongue diving in between the folds to touch sensitive areas.
My eyes fall shut. I can’t watch him anymore. It’s bad enough to feel the melting and zinging sensations he induces.
One of my hands finds its way into his hair, as his hand slides up my abdomen to slip under my bra and palm my breast. His thumb skims over my nipple, and then he adds his forefinger, plucking the nipple.
I choke on my breath and squeeze my hand in his hair. Propriety flies out of me and I spread my legs open so he eats me out even more.
My next moan is louder, but I quickly slap my hand over my mouth. At the back of my mind, I’m hyper-aware that his daughter is rooms away and I don’t want to wake her up. I’m not ready for another round of humiliation.
And I don't want this to stop either.
Even though his expert mouth and finger threaten to push filthier noises out of me anyway, his left index finger joins the mix, teasing around my entrance and pushing in slightly while he continues to lick decadently.
I gasp.
He pulls out and drives it in again. And again. And again. He thrusts faster and faster. A ball tightens in my stomach and my body arches into the air.
Pleasure tumbles out of me without warning, and I flood his face. He moans into me but shows no signs of stopping, licking, and fucking me even faster.
"I want to do that all day." He draws back his face to murmur. His eyes have a semi-crazed gleam in them as he continues. "And all night. I never want to stop tasting you. I want you to be the first thing I taste in the morning, and the last thing I taste at night."
My ass squeezes in tandem with my pussy around his digit, hungry for him. That just might be the dirtiest and sexiest thing anyone has ever said to me.
And as he continues finger-fucking me, he keeps telling me every single thing he wants to do to me. I soon find myself on the edge again. This time, both my hands pull his hair. Rather than pain, he moans in pleasure, his big hands wrapping around my thighs and holding them wide open as he feasts desperately.
I fly so high that my stomach shakes with the need to come. Still, I hold off. I'm on the edge for too long and my mouth opens wide on a gasp that just won't release.
"That's it, baby," Declan murmurs darkly into me. "Come for me."
A band snaps and the explosion sets off. I collapse against the seat, my entire body shaking. I bite my lip to keep from yelling, and bite it so hard that I'm pretty sure I draw blood.
But despite the intense orgasm, I’m not limp or weak. I’m filled with renewed energy as I join him on the floor, kissing him wildly and tasting myself on his lips.
I pull back briefly and meet his half-mast eyes.
"Now," I tell him. "It's your turn."
***
Declan is gone for most of the next day. With the delay in the construction, there are a lot of moving parts that need to be dealt with. And he goes around seeing to all that while I stay home with Amelia.
Being alone with Amelia is a little awkward at first. She doesn’t say anything while I make lunch, and she mostly replies to my questions with one-word answers. I chuck it up to her just trying to focus on homework, but a part of me is scared that I irrevocably damaged our relationship.
But then, when I sit opposite her to eat, she suddenly looks up from her iPad and says, "So now that you’re seeing my dad, are you going to be sleeping over all the time?"
My face heats. God, I hope she didn’t hear anything last night.
"Um, no," I tell her. "Someone broke into my place, they’re still trying to figure out who did it, which is why I’m here."
"Oh," she responds.
"But I can leave and find someplace else if you want me to. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable."
She shakes her head almost instantly. "No, I like having you around. It’s just weird seeing my dad like that. So...in love."
I nearly choke on my bacon. "Your dad’s not in love with me."
"He’s not?" she frowns. "Then why are you dating?’
"It’s, uh..." God, how do I explain it to a teenager? "It’s complicated. Like I said. We’re still getting to know each other."
She frowns and shakes her head. "Adults are weird."
"Yeah."
"At least y'all aren't as sappy as Madam Thornley and her fiancé. They're disgustingly in love. If I wasn't so intrigued by her recollection of the hotel, I don't think I could read that diary."
I nod. I can’t exactly remember the exact details, but I remember her many ramblings about how in love with Victor she was. And from his letters, Victor felt the same way.
Emma's homework takes up most of the day, during which I spend some time sketching. It's just as well–Declan has strict instructions for us to remain at the hotel till his security detail gets here. Once she's done with homework though, I try to entertain her at home.
We mostly talk about Laketown lore and call Grandpa on the phone. Dr. Han thinks he should be getting released soon, which puts me in a predicament because I haven't yet told him about the break-in.
I don't want Grandpa to worry, so I told Rick not to mention anything, but with his upcoming discharge, it seems we might need to have that conversation soon.
I'm already dreading it. Then again, knowing Grandpa, he might just make a joke out of the whole thing. I just hope we catch the culprit before then.
Later that evening, Amelia and I go to the hotel restaurant for dinner.
Then we watch TV well into the evening until Amelia goes to bed.
She leaves Madam Thornley's diary on the couch before she retires, and I pick it up, tracing the loose binding and the worn corners of the book. Even though it's nearly nine p.m., I don't feel sleepy at all. Declan already texted to let me know that he would be home late, but I didn't think it would be this late. And I find I'm having some trouble sleeping without him here.
I sigh and I crack the book open. Maybe I can read this to get my mind off things.
Madam Thornley's diary is pretty thick, consisting of several pages of bleeding ink detailing her stay at the hotel. It also has excerpts of letters from her lover, V, which she posts every now and then.
The diary starts the day she arrives, and she speaks about how lonely she feels after the death of her father:
Diary,
Mother thinks this vacation will transport me out of my melancholy, but I fear it might only make things worse. I miss him so sorely some days, it's like an ache in my chest. V is trying his best to help me get over it. I appreciate him so very much for bringing me here. It's such a charming hotel, with so many friendly staff. V doesn't like them so much. He thinks they're nosy. He said as much in the letter he left me this afternoon. He is staying in the room opposite mine, but we're both being very decent. Here is the letter:
M. Thornley, I hope you're resting well. Some of the men and I are going hunting this morning. We saw some fine deer on the way in. We'll be back soon, so don't get too irritated by the nosy staff. They don't know their place. If anyone bothers you, let me know. I will always take care of you.
PS: I know you're terribly sad for now, and what happened to your father was awful, but I think this marriage will be a good thing for both families. It will also get you out of that house.
Anyway, I will see you at lunch.
V.
I frown at the words. That was it? It's odd reading it because I remember V being so much more romantic than that. He was almost, as Amelia put it, sickeningly in love with Madam Thornley.
I turn the page where she has another of his letters posted which reads,
M. Thornley, I missed you at breakfast today. I had to talk to Peter concerning the oil wells. He's considering this business seriously. This will be good for our future.
V.
Huh. Was it youthful thinking that made me recall these letters as far more romantic than they actually were? I thought they had a whirlwind love. Or did it develop later?
I flip through a few more pages and then finally find one letter that says,
My love. I burn for you. Our distance slashes through me and every night I long for the day, so I can see you again. Every breath I take has your name on it. I hear you in the birds. I see you in the stars. I long for you every moment.
V.
Ah, that’s more like what I remember. But the date on top says that V sent this letter only about two weeks later. So, when did this burning passionate romance develop? Did it grow that quickly from their earlier tamer relationship?
It's not such a surprise. I mean look at you and Declan now. A month ago, you didn't know him, and now…
I refuse to finish that thought.
There's so much to think about apart from my relationship with Declan. I should be thinking about what I'm going to tell my Grandpa or how I'm going to fix up the house.
But I can worry about all that later. Instead, I head over to my room and let myself get wrapped up in the diary's love story once more, letting it drag me into a smooth, restful sleep.
Sometime during the night, I think I hear someone walk in, and I feel a kiss pressed on my forehead. But it could have just been the wind and my imagination.
But in the morning, I wake up to the very real sound of Declan's smooth baritone out in the living room. Excitement eliminates the sleep from my eyes, as I bound out of bed, rushing out to see him, wearing just his T-shirt.
"Declan! When did you get back? I was waiting–"
The words freeze in my mouth.
Declan isn't alone.
There's a tall, gorgeous woman next to him, with beautiful long brown curls cascading down her back. Her eyes are startlingly green, like emeralds set in her face. Her lips are the perfect shade of pink.
She also looks eerily like an older version of Amelia.
And with that resemblance, comes the knowledge of who she is
Shit. It's his ex-wife.