20. Olivia #2
“Then let’s give her one.” He spun me out, then brought me back close into his arms. “She escapes the wizard and builds her own home. When she steps over the threshold, she becomes a human again. And this time, the wizard can’t touch her ever again because she carries her home in her heart.”
“What about love? Does Fionn find her again?” I asked.
“Does she want him to?” Declan asked. His eyes were piercing in the twilight. I felt like we were talking about more than a made-up story.
Before I could answer, the song ended, and the music shifted again, this time something fast and jaunty.
There was whooping and stomping from the other dancers, and before I knew it, Declan and I were pulled into a circle of dancers clasping hands and spinning faster and faster around the fire.
The music soared, and the sky spun, and when everyone threw their hands in the air and let go of each other, I found myself falling back, dizzy.
Declan caught me easily with one arm behind my back and pulled me tight to his chest, laughing down at me.
I leaned against his chest to brace myself and felt his heart pounding under my fingertips.
“What’s that line from the movie? ‘Sir, you have stolen my breath.’”
Declan dropped his voice into a comical brogue. “‘Fair play, for you have stolen my heart.’”
“‘Then steal a kiss, my lord, for it is yours,’” I said cheekily, feeling pretty proud of myself for remembering the line. The words didn’t actually make sense when you thought about it—if it was his already, then it wasn’t stealing—but the phrasing certainly rolled off the tongue.
Declan looked at me, eyes dancing. And then without warning, he dipped me backward in a swoony kiss, just like in the movie.
At first I clutched at his shoulders, laughing against his mouth as people around us whooped and cheered. But as his lips lingered against mine, and I realized he wasn’t going to drop me, I felt myself relaxing into his arms. Relaxing into him. Trusting him.
The music changed again, to something dark and driving and romantic, with a drumbeat that matched my racing pulse.
Declan straightened and pulled me out of the dip, so that we were both dancing together again.
But now that we’d found our way back to each other, we couldn’t seem to keep our lips apart for long.
I felt as hot and hungry as the fire blazing at my back.
Declan brought his mouth to my ear. “Come home with me, Olivia,” he said, his voice husky. “‘Be kind to your man.’”
I shivered, remembering what came after that particular movie line…and understanding exactly what Declan was asking me.
“Yes,” I breathed. “God yes.”
My heart raced as we drove home. I couldn’t quite believe this was finally happening. The wild scent of summer air swirled around us.
I cleared my throat. “Do we have to pick Catie up from your mom’s?
Maybe we should do that now, before we… Although it’s probably not great to do that with Catie in the house.
Not that I’m loud. At least I don’t think I’m loud.
But you might be loud. I nannied for this couple that was not quiet to put it politely, and then their kid asked what those sounds were, and let me tell you, that is not a conversation I ever want to have again—”
Declan took my hand and wordlessly brought it to his lips.
Something lovely fluttered in the base of my stomach.
“I’ve taken care of it, a ghrá. We have the house to ourselves for the night.”
That may have been the single sexiest thing a man had ever said.
In no time at all we were pulling up in front of the house. I felt like everything inside me was sparkling and dancing with delicious anticipation. Declan helped me out of the car, like we were in some kind of old-fashioned fairy tale. Then he led me inside the mansion without releasing my hand.
As soon as we stepped inside, we were surrounded by darkness. Apparently, Declan hadn’t bothered to a leave a light on when he left. The only illumination came from the stars outside.
“You’re trembling,” he said, squeezing my hand. His touch was reassuring, but it only fanned the flames of what I was feeling. “Is it the dark, or…?”
Have you changed your mind?
He didn’t need to finish the sentence.
“No. I mean, yes. Yes, I want this. And it’s not the dark, it’s just…” I can’t remember the last time I wanted something as much as I want you.
But I couldn’t say that.
Not just with words, anyway.
“It’s just I’m waiting for you to kiss me,” I said, half laughing at the giddy awkwardness of it all.
Declan tugged me deeper into the house and toward the stairs. “If I kiss you now, I won’t stop.” The lust in his eyes enough to make my heart ache. “And I’d rather do this on a bed, wouldn’t you?”
I shivered at the undisguised want in his voice.
My heart pounded as Declan led us up to his room, our footsteps the only sound in this giant, lavish house. Once we were in his room, Declan shut the door and flipped the light switch. I blinked up at the sudden wash of light.
“Do you…have a chandelier above your bed?”
“You can file a complaint with my decorator,” Declan said. And then his lips were on mine, and he was kissing me, and all I could think was…
Finally.
I kissed him back with everything I had, pressing my body tight against his. He felt so damn good under my hands. Strong and masculine and perfect. I couldn’t stop smiling, and for some reason, neither could he. Declan and I fell into his bed, laughing and gasping as we stripped each other bare.
During our interrupted picnic, he’d been the one firmly in control. But now his control was fraying under the weight of his desire. His hands were a little too rough as he helped me out of my clothes. His breath went ragged when he finally saw me in nothing but my panties and bra.
I could feel his eyes on me, the heat of his gaze tracing a path over my half-naked skin.
He sucked in a deep breath, almost as if to control his wildest urges, and unclipped my bra, the cups slipping aside to reveal my breasts.
The cold air lapped at my hard nipples, but that barely registered—right then, I was boiling from the inside out.
I’d never felt sexier.
“God, Olivia,” he said, his eyes tracing my naked curves. “You’re so fucking beautiful.” He traced a hand between my breasts, like I was something precious he was scared to ruin with his touch.
“Not too many freckles?” I teased.
“I love your freckles.” Declan crawled over me, caging me in with his heat and strength. “I have dreams about your freckles. They’re stars, and you’re my constellation.”
My heart snagged. How could he just say something like that?