Page 71 of Scorched

“Damn, Maggie.” Declan’s voice was soft. He gathered her to his chest.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, sniffing.

“I’m sorry, honey. I know Seb’s doing everything he can to find this guy. And no one’s going to get to you so long as I’m around.”

She hugged him tighter. “I know.” She lifted her head. “I appreciate that. You make me feel safe. It’s why I haven’t balked at you staying with me even though you don’t need me anymore.”

He lifted a hand and buried it in her hair. “I’m not so sure about that.” His eyes flicked to her mouth, heat flaring in their blue depths.

Maggie felt an answering heat build low in her belly. She wanted him to kiss her.

Take charge.

Rayna’s words floated through her mind.

All right, fine. She tipped her face up, stood on her toes, and sealed her mouth to his.

He made a soft grunt of surprise at the contact, but relaxed into the embrace. In a blink, he took control. His hands cradled her head as he plundered her mouth. She went from zero to sixty in an instant. Her fingers toyed with the hem of his shirt, sliding beneath to touch the skin at his waist. She’d been dreaming about the golden skin of his torso for weeks now. She was going to touch it while she had the chance.

Careful of his tender ribs, she slid her hands up his back, loving the feel of silken skin over hard muscle. His hands traveled south to hold her hips. He pulled her into him, and Maggie felt the evidence of his desire against her abdomen. A thrill went through her, sending shivers down her spine. She wished they were back at her house.

Laughter from in the barn intruded on their moment, breaking them apart. Declan stared down at her, his eyes hooded.

“That wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“Why not?”

“I’m no good for you, Maggie. You don’t want my history clouding your life. We’re better as friends.”

“The fuck we are. How about you let me decide that?”

Surprise at her outburst widened his eyes, but she was tired of him making excuses for why they shouldn’t be together. “I don’t care who your parents are. And anyone who knows you, knows you would never hurt someone deliberately.”

“Maggie—”

She held up a hand. “I don’t want to argue, Declan. Let’s just go back inside.” He still held her, so she stared up at him, waiting for him to release her.

“Dammit.” He let her go and stepped back.

She walked around him and headed for the door.

“You’re not going to quit, are you?”

“Nope.” She spun around. “I like you. Enough to set all my insecurities about men aside and take a chance. I don’t want to be friends. I want more. I just need you to realize you’re more than your family.” Turning around, she marched back to the barn. Her hands shook as the realization she told him how she really felt hit her. Boldness in a relationship was not something she was accustomed to. But no one had ever mattered the way Declan did. She wasn’t going to give up.

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