Page 54 of Possession

Kate narrowed her eyes. “How do you know Declan?”

I knew Declan from soul to bone. “We go way back.” I gave him a grin and he smiled.

“Have a seat.” Declan motioned to me with his hand to the seat next to him.

I wanted to ask her how she knew Declan, but I wasn’t sure she really did, and the way his body naturally leaned away from hers, as if she repulsed him, it made me think she didn’t know him at all. I sat down and rested my hands in my lap. Declan surprised me. The warmth of his palm encapsulated mine under the table. He leaned over and whispered into my ear, his breath tickled down my ear and neck, “You look sexy.”

It was bold and the pleasure of his timbre vibrated down my flesh and pooled inside my stomach, setting my cheeks on fire. I whispered a thank you as I turned my face to his, our noses almost touching, and Kate long forgotten. It wasn’t like us, public displays. My heart thundered as he pulled me in, so close, our lips if we spoke, would touch, take flight, and I’d be lost to the height of it. He exhaled and it was strained as he leaned back, his eyes on my mouth. Kate cleared her throat, and for a split second, I marveled in the thought that maybe Declan was marking me, letting her know she had no chance.

“Good to see you, Declan,” Her tone proved otherwise. She gave me a snide grin and turned, almost tripping over her own two feet.

She swayed through the crowd and I watched her until she was swallowed whole by the sea of people.

“Do you know her?” I asked, and immediately wished I hadn’t as Declan almost winced. As much as the thought of him kissing this woman made the pleasant warmth in my stomach turn to ice, I had no right to care. “You know what, it doesn’t matter.”

“I haven’t been with anyone since you, Paige. I was honest when I told you that. There were times…” Guilt flashed across his features. “I tried to move on, but like I said before, it never went far.”

“I shouldn’t have asked.”

A waitress came to the table then. “Can I get you something?”

“Just a glass of water, please,” I said.

“What about you, Declan?” she asked him with a knowing smile. “Water, as always?”

He nodded.

“Two waters,” she confirmed before she turned and headed to the bar.

“Kate doesn’t matter.” Declan squeezed my hand under the table.

Again we were almost nose to nose, the charge between us crackled over the loud grind of guitars.

I shook my head. “She doesn’t.”

His lips brushed mine not once, but twice, and the flavor of mint flooded my senses as his mouth captured me. It was a quick stolen kiss, and when he pulled away, my face burned crimson. The room was loud and yet we were trapped in our own bubble. He glanced to the bar and his expression went flat. I followed his gaze and my eyes widened. Lana was practically draped across Liam and he didn’t seem to mind.

“Lana’s always been… aggressive.” I frowned.

“Then they’ll get along great.”

“I think she’s determined to try out every member of the male species. Too bad Liam has a girlfriend.”

Declan laughed. “Liam? No, he’s trying to fuck away Kelly’s memory.”

“What about the girl I heard you guys talking about the other morning?”

“She’s just a regular.” Declan’s eyes darkened with a sad shade of blue.

I watched as Liam took a long draw from his beer bottle, his eyes locked on Lana’s. The intensity of his stare would have crushed me, but Lana basked in it.

“What happened with Kelly?” I’d known her briefly. Her and Liam hadn’t been together long before Declan and I had split.

The waitress dropped off two glasses of water, and Declan lifted his and took a drink with his free hand. “She took a modeling job in L.A. and he didn’t go with her. If it wasn’t for me and Mom though, he would’ve left with her.”

That same spark of guilt flashed across his features. I bumped his shoulder with mine and nodded my chin at his sketch book trying to deflect the clouds I saw brewing in his eyes. There wasn’t much on the paper, a few lines and some shading. I stared at it and realized it was the outline of the bar. I looked up from where we were sitting, and from his viewpoint, he could see everything perfectly.

“What are you working on?”

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