Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Atlanta—Present Day
Olivia’s heart raced as she adjusted the bow at the collar of her blue blouse. Declan leaned over the desk, his arms braced as he looked over the papers she’d laid out. The outline of his muscles clearly bulged under his tailored gray dress shirt, and her body flushed with the memory of how she had woken up that morning, with Declan’s hot breath against her thighs.
“This could work,” Stuart said. His words were like a bucket of cold water. For a second, she’d forgotten he was there.
Olivia shook herself.
You are a professional .
Declan glanced up, and met her eyes with a smirk, before he turned to Stuart. They hadn’t discussed how their relationship would work when it came to decisions about Armstrong, and she was nervous.
“This looks good, Olivia. Very good.” Declan’s voice was its normal cool, impassive tone, but the heat in his eyes sent a thrill down her spine. “What do you think it will take to close this?”
“Senator Menendez wants to be courted. A few dinners and a contribution to his reelection campaign should be enough. They are as eager for this as I am.” She beamed. “A high-tech manufacturing site in their constituency is a win-win.”
Declan’s lips quirked. “Great. Let’s meet again in three days for a status update.”
Stuart nodded and gathered his things quickly, rising to his feet. “I’m going to that salad place down the street for lunch, Olivia. Do you want to join me?” His cheeks reddened a little. “Mr. Bloom, you are welcome of course, but…” His eyes returned to Olivia. “I know you’re busy, so I thought we could make it a working lunch.”
She opened her mouth to make an excuse, but Declan beat her to it. “Olivia and I already have a working lunch planned.”
Declan’s tone was smooth, but Stuart picked up on the dangerous undercurrent and practically scurried out the door, mumbling apologies and promises to catch up later.
Olivia arched a brow. “You didn’t have to scare him.”
“Trust me, if I’d wanted to scare him, it wouldn’t have looked like that.”
“I’m starving, so that better not have just been something you told Stuart to get me alone.”
Declan leaned back in his chair and rested his steepled fingers against his lips. “I’m hungry too.” Declan’s eyes hooded, then he shouted, “Todd.”
They heard scrambling in the outer office, and then a slightly out of breath Todd appeared in the doorway.
“I have a special request for lunch. Sakura Kaze,” Declan said, naming a high-end sushi restaurant in Atlanta. He then rattled off a large order while Todd took notes.
“I’ll order it now.”
“I want you to personally pick it up.”
Todd’s forehead scrunched. “That will take me almost an hour.”
“It’s worth the wait.” There was no room in Declan’s tone for an argument.
“I’ll leave now.” Todd cast her a look and then shut the door behind him.
Declan came to his feet and walked to lock the door. “You can’t eye fuck me in meetings, Olivia. It’s very distracting.”
“Was that what I was doing?” she purred.
Declan took her hand and pressed it to where his erection pushed hard against his suit pants. “Certainly, felt that way.”
Olivia’s fingers curled around him, shaping him through the fabric.
“Fuck.” The sound hissed out of him as he arched into her touch. One large hand reached behind her head, pulling her in to crush her mouth under his.
Declan’s tongue dipped into her mouth, exploring and claiming every inch. Olivia’s hands were on his belt, yanking it loose, as his hands tangled in her hair. Slowly pulling his zipper down, she looked up at him through her lashes. “I don’t remember these perks laid out in your offer.”
She walked him backward until he leaned against his desk. Then keeping a deliberate eye contact, she licked her lips and slowly sank to her knees, taking his pants and boxer briefs with her.
Declan’s fists bunched at his side as she slid one hand up over the defined muscle of his stomach, and teased her nails over him. “Olivia,” he growled. His hips jerked, as her lips brushed over his hot skin.
His body trembled, and his stomach muscles contracted when Olivia trailed a line of soft kisses down his length. A low guttural sound ripped from him as her mouth closed over him drawing him deep. Declan’s hands threaded into her hair as she used her lips and tongue to drive him closer to the edge.
“Fuck, Petal.” His breath rushed out on a harsh exhale. “Stop. Wait.” Declan roughly grabbed her under her arms, hauling her up before spinning and catching her behind her thighs to lift her onto his desk.
She heard the popping of stitches as the narrow-cut of her skirt objected to the move. Pens and paper scattered when she leaned back, supporting herself on her elbows as he shoved her skirt higher.
“I’ve been thinking about doing this from the moment you sashayed into the office in that tight ass skirt.”
Hooking his fingers in the elastic, he pulled her panties down her legs before pushing her knees wide. Olivia cried out when his mouth closed over her.
“Shhh, Petal. We don’t want to be the office gossip do we?” He chuckled against her, the vibration sending sparks of pleasure cascading through her nerve endings.
Olivia covered her moan with her hand, biting her finger to keep from screaming as he brought her to the edge over and over again. When her body finally exploded, Olivia smothered her scream as Declan stroked her through the last of her convulsions.
Declan stood, and in an instant, he was inside her thrusting deep. “Mine.” He growled into her ear. His hands tangled in her hair before his mouth claimed her again.
Olivia’s heartbeat thundered as Declan again had her body coiled tight with need.
“Declan!” His lips covered hers, swallowing her cries.
His powerful arm came around her hips to pull her to the edge of the desk, pressing her chest against his, as his rhythm became frenzied. Olivia could feel his heart pounding through the layers between them, their pulses almost matching pace. This man. Declan buried his face in her neck and let out a roar, only somewhat muffled by her skin.
When Todd returned, they were working again, but by his red cheeks, Olivia suspected he knew exactly what had occurred in his absence.
“We are totally getting written up by Human Resources.” Olivia giggled when Todd shut the door behind him.
Declan grunted, and put a piece of sushi in her mouth. “I’ll give him a raise.”
The next few weeks were the happiest Olivia had ever known. They did their best to hide their relationship from everyone at Armstrong, but she knew from the looks she got that they hadn’t been entirely successful. Olivia couldn’t remember being this at peace in her life, and she knew it showed.
There was still no word on Kyle which was worrying, but Declan assured her that if Kyle had died of his wound they would have heard. Even if he’d wandered off and collapsed somewhere that night, his family would have reported him missing.
“You don’t need to worry, Olivia. I won’t let him get anywhere near you.”
Olivia had spent so long taking care of herself, feeling like she was alone, being told that her problems were taken care of was a heady sensation. She wasn’t an idiot. When Declan’s friend Alex found Kyle, he wasn’t going to hand him a cookie and give him a stern talking to. Maybe it made her a bad person that she didn’t care what happened to Kyle—but the truth was, Olivia didn’t. Each night, as Declan’s strong arms held her close, her sense of safety grew.
Declan had rearranged his life to be with her every day, but after a few weeks, there were meetings he needed to attend in New York. When he kissed her goodbye that morning, an uneasy feeling settled like a rock in Olivia’s stomach. Over the years, she had learned to listen to her instincts. It often meant the difference between a dinner plate thrown against the wall and a semi-pleasant dinner.
“Wait,” Olivia said, as he pulled away.
“I have to go, baby.”
“I know it’s…” She didn’t know how to put what she was feeling into words without sounding dramatic or clingy. There was no concrete reason for them. There’d been no sign of Kyle. And with the Fort Knox setup Declan had installed at her house, Olivia knew she was as safe as she could be.
Declan smoothed her hair back and sank to the side of the bed. “Are you worried?”
“It’s...” Words failed her, and she swallowed before trying again. “It feels like if you leave, it could all disappear.”
Every day they had breakfast together, before driving to work separately, and then frequently saw each other during the workday, ending with a dinner at home, curled up on the couch reading or watching a movie. It was deliciously normal.
In the low light of the early morning, she saw how her admission affected him. Declan cupped her cheeks and brushed a kiss across her lips. “I will always come back to you, Petal. Always.”
“I don’t want to wait another twelve years,” Olivia whispered, her throat clogged with emotion. It wasn’t a fair thing to say, but it was how she felt.
Declan inhaled a ragged breath and lowered his head until his lips hovered an inch over hers. “Nothing,” he whispered against her mouth. Then he repeated the word in a fierce tone. “ Nothing will ever keep me from coming back for you.”
His lips descended, and Olivia whimpered, opening her mouth, encouraging him to deepen the kiss—to stay with her a little longer.
“I’ll be back in four days.”
“Promise.”
God, when did I become so needy? This is embarrassing.
Except Declan didn’t seem to mind. He seemed to crave hearing how much she wanted to be with him as much as she needed to tell him. “I promise.”
The panicky feeling in her chest settled a little. Declan hesitated, then said, “You will be protected at all times. Brady and Vincent’s man will be outside every night I’m gone.”
His words momentarily distracted her from her nerves, and Olivia frowned. “Someone will be watching me?”
Declan nodded. “It’s only when I can’t be with you. If something else less immediate comes up, call one of my brothers.” He made a face. “Or my brother-in-law. Tell them who you are to me, and they will help.” He stroked her cheek with his knuckle.
“And who am I?”
Olivia meant it to sound teasing, but Declan’s face was serious as he stared down at her. “You are the most precious thing in my life.” Declan brushed her hair back. “I understand if you don’t like the idea of being watched, but I can’t function if I don’t know you are safe.” He leaned forward and pressed his forehead against hers. “Don’t be upset.” He pulled back, his eyes burning into hers. “Without you…”
Olivia reached up to grasp his wrist. “I’m not. I don’t love the idea of needing someone outside, but that’s not your fault. It’s Kyle’s.” Her voice was firm. “I love you, Declan Bloom. And while you can be autocratic and overbearing sometimes…” Her lips twitched. “Maybe more than ‘sometimes’… Thank you for taking care of me,” Olivia finished quietly.
“I will always keep you safe.”
But even with Declan’s assurances in her ear, when Olivia heard the beeping, that signaled him resetting the house alarm, and the front door closing, she couldn’t deny the boulder in her stomach was still there.