Page 106 of Vengeful Vows

“I was defending you,” Declan says fiercely. “He said some things that he couldn’t take back. Made accusations...” he trails off.

I soften despite myself and put my hand on top of his for a second. “Well, thank you. But still, why are we here tonight?”

“You’ve just seemed so sad lately, princess. I wanted to cheer you up. See if there was anything I could do to help.”

My heart clenches in my chest. I put my fork down, making a decision. Even if this is it, even if this is my last night on earth, I won’t end things without telling him the truth.

It’s now or never.

“You’re right.” I take a deep breath. “I haven’t been okay lately, and it’s all your fault.”

Declan looks at me, raising an eyebrow.

“You kidnapped me. You brought me here to your family, forced me to marry you.”

Declan’s face falls, but I keep going.

“But I’ve come to realize something. It’s not easy for me.”

Declan reaches across the table to take my hand.

I squeeze it softly, trembling all over. “I don’t even know how it happened. It probably shouldn’t have happened, given everything. But I’m in love with you, Declan Burke.”

The room falls silent, and I keep searching his face, but his expression is blank.

“You mean that?” His voice is raspy. “You really mean that, princess?”

“I really do,” I shrug, looking down at my plate. “I know it’s stupid, but?—”

Declan stands up, pulling me to my feet and putting his arms around me. “You don’t understand,” he says in a low tone. “I’m in love with you, too, Bree.”

All the air leaves my lungs. “Wh-What did you say?”

“I’m so fucking in love with you I can’t see straight. God help us both.”

We laugh almost in unison, and it’s the only sound in the room before Declan leans down to kiss me, slowly, sweetly.

I deepen the kiss, sliding my tongue against his.

Declan kisses me over and over, pulling away briefly to look at me and then kissing me again as if he can’t get enough.

He pushes me toward the bed, and my knees hit the back of it as I fall back down on it. Instead of covering me with his body, though, he bunches my dress over my hips, sliding down my body until he’s crouching on the floor.

He loops my legs over his shoulders, looking down at my bare sex with hunger in his dark blue eyes.

He presses his face against me, and I moan as he laps at my clit, sliding two fingers inside me and angling them up to hit my g-spot.

I can’t breathe for a brief moment while he works me over, and then I’m coming, so quickly I can’t believe it.

“God, you taste so good,” he murmurs against my inner thigh, kissing me there, leaving his mark on me.

I want him to leave it everywhere.

I feel giddy, drunk even though I’ve only had half a glass of wine.

Declan loves me. He really loves me, feels the same way that I do.

Declan doesn’t let up, pressing his face against me again, locking his lips around my clit and pumping his fingers in and out of me.

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