Page 75 of His to Protect

It still sparked heat inside my body.

“Yeah…”

His smile disappeared with my response and his gaze dropped to my mouth. “Right, then. Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

He didn’t wait for me to answer, just slid his arm around my waist and pulled me to his chest.

“Your purse,” Blue called out from behind us, and I felt the leather straps slide into my palm. “Have a good night.”

“Thanks for the invite tonight.” I looked back over my shoulder and smiled. “I had a lot of fun.”

She smiled and I watched Tyson’s arms slide around her waist from where he stood behind her. He held her just like Declan was currently holding me. “We’ll do it again. Lots.”

Sounded perfect.

Declan led us out the door and ushered me into his truck, keeping a firm grip on my waist until he was forced to let me go so I could climb into my seat. Once I was settled, he closed the door behind me and then walked around the hood before climbing in on his side.

“You had fun?”

“I did.”

“From where I was in the kitchen, sounded like you did.”

My eyes widened. “You heard us?”

“Hard not to hear six women wasted on margaritas. My guess? The entire block heard y’all laughing your asses off.”

My lips twisted, and for just a brief moment, I felt ashamed of my behavior, and how loud I’d been. But then I thought about how much fun I’d had—possibly the best time in my life since I was a sophomore in college—and quickly decided that I didn’t care.

I glanced over at Declan and saw him looking at me with the same wary expression I must have worn just a moment ago. I shrugged. “I don’t care. I had a freaking great night.”

His laugh was my reward, as was the way he slid his hand onto my thigh and squeezed. “I’m glad, Trina.”

We were in his driveway and then inside his house in a matter of minutes. As Declan entered the house behind me, reaching over my shoulder to flip on the lights, I turned around and faced him once the door closed.

“Declan,” I asked, fighting the uncertainty in my voice and in my body. I hadn’t stopped thinking about him. I hadn’t been able to stop remembering the way it felt when he slid inside of me in Chicago.

I lifted my hand and pressed it against his cheek, hoping he understood.

“You’ve been drinking.” His eyes slid to my mouth again and I saw his pulse jump at his neck.

“I sobered up hours ago.”

Our voices were whispers, barely audible.

I took a step back into the living room and he followed me.

I heard Boomer’s paws pounding toward us on the carpet. He bumped into my leg, almost throwing me off balance, but Declan wrapped an arm around my waist.

“Chill, Boomer.” I looked down at my dog and scolded him with my glare.

My dog was ruining my moment.

Themoment.

“I’ll put him outside.”

“Wait.” Summoning all the confidence I’d been trying to find to tell him this, I inhaled a deep breath and watched his eyes narrow. “I have something to tell you.”

---