Chapter 26
Casey
I’m probably in shock.
I’ve never had someone threaten to kill me before. Much less shove a knife in my back.
It wasn’t fun.
My face aches from where Senesi slammed me into that dumpster. I tried fighting back, but he was so fast and strong. I couldn’t believe it. He seemed like such a nice old man, totally harmless, maybe a little weird, but definitely not a threat.
Right up until he transformed into a monster.
Running saved my life. If I had stayed there in front of that diner, I think Senesi would’ve cut my throat then and there.
But he nearly got me anyway. The bastard caught up with me when I tried to lose him in the alley. I kept thinking to myself, this is where I die, this is how it all ends, right up until Declan came running around the corner.
Now I’m slumped against him as he takes me back to the house. He talks most of the way, trying to be as soothing as he can, and only about half of what he says registers. I let him take me inside, up into the master suite, and don’t even argue when he starts to draw a bath.
“Let me look at you.” He shrugs off his jacket before sitting me on the edge of the tub. Slowly, methodically, he checks every inch of my body, from my forehead down to my toes. He prods so gently and lovingly, checking me for wounds.
“I’m okay, really,” I say softly, shivering still from the shock.
“You’ll have bruises on your cheek.” His jaw tightens, and I can tell how much that bothers him. “And he cut the back of your shirt.”
“Really? I didn’t notice.”
“Undress.”
I stare at him, heart racing, but there’s nothing overtly sexual about the command. He hesitates, but he turns away, giving me some privacy.
I’ve never seen him like this before. Maybe that’s what makes me do it. He’s so deeply concerned, and his attention is entirely focused on me. It’s addicting in a terrible way.
I get my clothes off and climb into the tub. It’s luxuriously warm. I sink down, but the water’s not full enough yet to fully cover me.
“It’s okay. You can look.”
He turns, and a thrill runs into my core.
I like the way he stares. There’s a deep, animalistic hunger in his expression. But he’s also fighting against it.
Slowly, he rolls up his sleeves, showing off his muscular forearms. Veins are roped down to his wrists. He kneels beside the tub and grabs a loofah and some soap.
“Sit forward,” he orders.
“It’s okay, Declan, really. I can just relax here—”
“Forward, Ms. Brennan.” The husky way he says it makes my cheeks tingle.
I do as he says.
He washes my back. He does it so gently and lovingly. His touches are caresses. His fingertips are so soft and soothing. As he cleans me, he tells me that everything’s going to be okay, that he’ll never let anyone get close to me ever again, that he’s so sorry he’s been keeping distance between us.
“I don’t blame you,” I say, and I can tell that doesn’t help. He flinches like I slapped him.
“Maybe you don’t, but I do.” He focuses on every inch of my skin, cleaning me until I’m fresh and new. The water suds up and bubbles slick the top layer, covering some of my body.
This doesn’t feel sexual. At least not only that. The way he’s looking at me is like he’s trying to atone for a failure. He wants to make sure I’m okay, and I think giving me this bath is his attempt at revitalizing me after a really horrible moment.
And it’s working. That’s the weirdest thing.
I’ve never had someone give me attention like this before.
I would’ve thought I’d hate it, but this is actually really nice.
I think it’s because I know he loves every single inch of me, every flaw, every imperfection.
He lingers on my hands, on my elbows, on my knees and shins, like these less commonly touched parts of me are just as important as everything else.
He’s concentrating on me so hard I feel like I might break apart under his attention.
I like it though. I’m still mad at him, but he did save my life. I also can’t pretend like he doesn’t care.
Declan might actually care too much.
“You should have told me sooner,” I say quietly once I’m fully clean. He sits with his back against the side of the tub. I watch his chest rising and falling.
“You might be right,” he admits, which is a minor miracle. I don’t think he’s ever said those words before.
“Why didn’t you? Honestly, just tell me the truth.”
“I was afraid.” His shoulders tense slightly, and he turns his face.
He looks at me in his peripheral. “I had just broken all my rules. I’d given in to the one addiction I swore I’d never take.
You were finally mine, but I was conflicted.
I thought I was making a mistake. But I didn’t want to scare you away. ”
“You probably would have,” I mumble, admitting it to him as much as to myself. “But that’s not a good excuse.”
“You’re probably right. I’m sorry, Casey.”
“Sheila was involved the whole time. That part really bothers me for some reason.”
“Don’t blame her. She did what was best for both of you. I wasn’t involved in your life beyond giving her money and using my influence to further your education and opportunities. She sent me updates, but I ignored them for the most part.”
“At least until one included a picture of me going to college.” I laugh softly. The idea seems so absurd and crazy. “Which one was it, by the way?”
“You were standing outside your dorm in a tank top, your cheeks flushed red from moving in. You had on a pair of sweats and sneakers. Your hair was up and messy from working. There was a box on the ground beside you filled with books. You were saying something, mid-laugh maybe. You looked so beautiful and confident.”
I stare at him, heart quickening. “I remember that one.”
“I don’t know why Sheila sent it. But I’m glad she did.”
I close my eyes and sink lower. A part of me is glad she did too. “After that though? You got more involved?”
“I chased away boyfriends. I watched you from afar. I studied your grades, stalked you between classes, made sure your friends were worthy of you.”
“That’s… terrifying.”
“You became a part of my life. I should have approached you so much sooner, but by then, I didn’t know how.”
“Is that why you made me your assistant?” I perk up slightly. “Are you the reason I had so much trouble finding a job?”
“Yes and yes.”
“You’re such a bastard, you know that?”
“I’m aware.”
I smile to myself, a tingling excitement in my stomach. “This is crazy.”
“I know that too.”
“You really were watching me all that time? All through college?”
“As often as I could. I told myself it would be okay if I never crossed the line.”
“What was the line?”
“Touching you.”
I chew on my bottom lip. “All it took was one box filled with lingerie.”
“One stupid mistake.”
“Was it though? Are you sure it was a mistake?”
He’s quiet for a moment. Then he shakes his head. “No, it wasn’t, because it ended up here. With you as my wife.”
“Even though I hate you?”
“I don’t think that’s true.”
“I kind of do.”
“Then why are you still in my tub? Why haven’t you left? You’ve had plenty of chances.”
“Maybe I’m afraid.”
He turns slightly, shaking his head, and meets my gaze. “I know you, Casey. I know you better than anyone in the world. If you don’t want to do something, you don’t do it. You stayed because you wanted to.”
I know he’s right. Which pisses me off a little bit. I’ve always tried to live in a way that’s been true to myself, and if something feels wrong, I do my best to walk.
He’s given me plenty of chances to do exactly that.
“I still need your protection.”
“Yes, you do.”
“But that’s not everything.”
“No, it’s not.”
I push myself from the tub. Water runs off my body.
He sits back and looks at me, his mouth hanging slightly open like he’s witnessing something angelic.
I love the gleam in his eyes. The way he seems to worship me.
I like him down on the floor like that, staring up at me while I’m completely naked and soaking and vulnerable.
But also in command.
“Stand up,” I order him. Maybe the first time I’ve ever told him what to do.
He hesitates, but he does it. He climbs to his full height. Declan’s so big he easily dwarfs me.
I move out of the tub and onto the bathmat. When I lose my balance, he’s there, steadying me. His hands are cool on my warm hips.
I put my damp hands on his chest.
He doesn’t seem to mind that I get his shirt wet.
His fingers tighten on my skin.
“I keep thinking about that knife against my back.” I start to unbutton his shirt. I do it very slowly, fumbling a little. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. “I don’t want to think about it anymore.”
“Casey.”
“I’m still mad at you. I’m pretty freaked out by everything.”
“I know.”
“But you care about me, don’t you?” I get his shirt open and touch his bare chest. He’s so beautifully sculpted. It makes my core clench tight with desire. “You really, really care.”
“Yes, I do.”
“You’ll do anything for me.”
“I will.”
“And you really won’t ask for anything in return.”
He reaches up and strokes his fingers across my cheek. “You’re wrong about that.”
My heart skips a beat. “What will you ask for?”
“Only you.”
I reach down and grip his belt.
What’s there to lose?
We’re already married.
He’s already so deeply burrowed into my life.
Even though I’m pissed, I feel safe with him. Safer than with anyone else in my life. Because I know—
He’s obsessed with me. This man can’t help himself.
I unbuckle and unbutton his slacks. He lets out a low groan when I reach down and grasp his cock.
He’s so beautifully hard.
“Make me feel better,” I whisper.
His mouth crushes down to mine.
I kiss him in a frenzy as I stroke his hard shaft.
Everything else becomes a blur like a fuzzy photograph.
There’s only Declan, bright and centered, glowing like heaven and burning like hell.
He dominates my mouth with his taste, his tongue and teeth my only focal point as he lifts me like I’m nothing and puts me down on the vanity.
I yelp and lean back on my hands as he kisses my neck, moving down to my breast, his lips sucking my hard nipples as he opens my legs.
His fingers feel so fucking good as they stroke up and down my slit.
“You don’t have to think about anything but me,” he murmurs, teasing me, licking my breasts and nipping at my stiff nipples.
He sinks a finger inside, curling it, making my back arch.
I gasp in pleasure and grip his hair tightly with one hand.
“You’re all that matters. I’m all you need. This is everything in the world, baby.”
Another finger joins the first. I’m moaning now. My back arches as he licks my tits. I’m burning with him, shining bright. “Don’t stop. I need more.”
He pumps his fingers in and out then dips down lower, kissing and kissing, worshipping me like he can’t help himself.
I’m the center of his world and that’s so incredibly intoxicating.
“I need more too, baby,” he murmurs, tongue lashing at my clit.
I pull him up. He stares at me, smirking.
“Fuck me.”
His eyebrows raise.
“Please,” I whimper.
“Please, what?”
I moan as his fingers fill me and curl. I’m so wet I’m dripping into his palm.
“Please, sir.”
“That’s a good girl.” He crushes me with a kiss as he shimmies out of his boxer briefs. I fumble for his big cock, stroking him and guiding him to my pussy, and when he finally presses his tip against my entrance—
It’s all the bliss I need as he thrusts forward and fills me to the brim.
“Oh, fuck,” I moan, nearly shattering right then and there.
He kisses me more as he slowly pulls back out and fills me again. He’s easing me onto his size. After the initial burst, the intense explosion of bliss turns to an avalanche of pleasure.
“All of you,” he whispers in my ear. “All of you, always.” He fucks me faster, slamming me back against the wall.
I wrap myself around him. I hug him tight and hold him as his cock fills me over and over, ripping into my pussy. “All of me,” I moan into his ear, breathing hard as I dance along the edge. “Please, sir, don’t stop, please don’t stop.”
“Oh, god,” he gasps, pumping faster, and it’s how out of control he sounds that finally wrecks me.
“Declan,” I moan, grabbing his hair. “Fuck me, Declan.”
“God, Casey.”
He rips into me and I finally break, coming like my body’s glass smashed on concrete.
I say his name as I flush with bliss, my core contracting around his massive cock, and he doesn’t hold back.
He tears into me, driving me into hysterics, as he finally finishes seconds after my orgasm starts to fade.
I’m so sensitive I’m twitching as he fills me to the brim, and when he pulls out, I slip off the edge of the vanity and drop to my knees in front of him.
I take his cock into my mouth and suck him clean.
I lick his cum and my juices from his shaft and stare up into his eyes.
He looks back, his mouth hanging open, and I’ve never felt so powerful in all my life.
He’s completely mine.
Right now, in this moment, he’d do anything for me.
Anything at all.
I own him, and he owns me.
I pull his cock from my mouth with a gasp and he pulls me to my feet. He crushes my mouth possessively, kissing me and holding me against his body.
“I think we might need another bath,” I whisper, struggling to catch my breath.
“I think you’re right.” He grips my ass in one big palm. “But don’t move. I want to stay like this for a second.”
I hide my smile against his chest and let him keep his big arms wrapped around my body.
I’m still mad at him.
But maybe I can vent some of that anger into more productive ventures.