Page 76 of The Eagle's Vault

I stumbled backward, nearly tripping over my discarded pants. Bright lights flashed in front of my eyes, and it was all I could do not to rub at my temples. “I need to go.”

Declan neared me, but I dodged and swept up my pants.

“Don’t touch me.” We’d had our fun and now it was time to—to what, Leigh?I pulled the pants on awkwardly, dancing from one foot to the other as I neared the door. He’d broken into my family’s company. Walked through the building without anyone else there and taken things.

It was an invasion.

Those were my plans.

“Be careful.” Declan reached out, steadying me before I fell over.

I jerked out of his grip and did up my button. “I’ve been dressing myself since—”

“With Isaac, I mean.” His mask faltered, the skin around his eyes and mouth growing taut. “If I’m right, if he’s involved with—”

“Shut up, Declan.” I was done. How many times did I have to make that choice? How many times would the universe bring me this close to what I wanted and yank it away again? Why couldn’t I have anything I wanted?

I wanted to go with Declan to the catacombs. But I wanted to bring Isaac there. I wanted Isaac to see what I could do. I wanted to make him proud.

Declan walked backward to the table where my books sat, not taking his eyes off mine. “You’re still welcome to—”

“I said, ‘Shut up.’” I marched across the room and snatched the books.

He just stood there, half naked, doing exactly what I’d told him to. Nothing. Part of me wanted him to grab me and kiss me again. Convince me it was a lame joke. Apologize. Something.

I spun away from him before I could say anything stupid or change my mind. I didn’t need men telling me what I could or couldn’t do. Telling me what I should or shouldn’t think.

And I really didn’t need a thief telling me who to trust.

Chapter 29

Leigh

Thedoorpracticallycrashedclosed behind me, the sound far too loud for this close to midnight. I clutched my books to my chest, like a foolish schoolgirl just leaving her crush’s house. How could I have fallen so hard, so fast? From the peak of physical bliss to this crushing… Tears pricked at the backs of my eyes.

How much more did my life have to suck before it got any better?

Numb legs, I took a few steps down the hall toward my room. I couldn’t go there. Jayce would be there. What would she say? I had my books back from Declan, so she’d know I’d visited him. His smell would be all over me. She’d guess at how long I’d been gone and what we’d done.

Jayce wasn’t the kind of woman to hold back, and she’d make one too many cracks or ask questions I wasn’t ready to answer.

Where was I going to go?

I sagged against the wall where Declan wouldn’t be able to see me through his peephole anymore, just in case he was watching.

Don’t cry, Leigh. Not over another stupid man. All you wanted was a fling and that’s what you got.

I could still feel him between my thighs. The scrape of his stubble, his thickness filling me, the earth-shattering orgasms. Orgasms I’d never felt with a man before. How could that be so wrong?

When would I ever fall for the right man?

A door opened down the hall, and I practically jumped. I had to go somewhere, hide myself before I started to cry, hide my—

But it was Isaac. His brows rose, no doubt wondering why I was out of my room alone in the middle of the night. “Where are you off to?”

I couldn’t tell him I was just coming from having mind-blowing sex with a thief who’d broken into our company office. I swallowed, my mind fumbling for a lie. “Just… um, hungry. Thought I’d grab something from the café next door.”

Isaac’s gaze lingered on me for a moment too long, then he nodded. “You should have someone with you if you’re going out at this hour.”

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