Page 57 of His to Protect

While I was there, I made another decision that was probably idiotic. Using the complimentary mouthwash, I rinsed out my mouth, freshening my breath. I also fluffed my hair, even though with the day we’d had and the wine we’d drunk it still looked disheveled, and not messy in a looking-forward-to-what’s-to-come sort of way.

I was pinching my cheeks, bringing life back into them, when a knock on the door made me jump.

“Just a second!” I shouted, and gave myself one last look in the mirror. I looked like I’d spent the day in the car, stressed about selling that same car, eaten good food, ridden a train, and then almost fallen down a flight of stairs.

Essentially, I looked exhausted and worn-out.

Not bed-worthy in the least. Especially to a man like Declan, whose entire body silently screamed passion and control.

To make matters worse, the realization that we were not here on some sensual couple’s getaway slammed into my gut, knocking the breath from me as another knock vibrated against the door.

“Trina?”

“Coming!” I choked out, and then moved as quickly as I could to open the door. “Did you talk to your friend?”

“I did.” He nodded and flipped his phone in his hand. “He’s working a few more hours. Said if you can hang in there a little bit longer, he’ll stop by on his break.”

“I can. That’s fine, thank you.”

“Are you okay?” he asked, and this time, he lifted his hand and pushed some of my freshly fluffed hair behind my ear.

I leaned into his gentle touch. “I’m fine. Just tired.”

“Of course,” he muttered, even as one side of his lips kicked up before he dropped his hand and took a step back.

“I’ll run to the pharmacy, get you an ice pack and ibuprofen while we wait for him.”

I shook my head. “It’s not necessary.”

“It is. Get off your feet and I’ll be back soon.”

Something else flashed in his eyes, something I didn’t fully understand, but I knew I’d seen that look before.

It was the same thing I saw in his hallway last night when he told me to stop kissing him before he pushed me further than I wanted to go. All my earlier doubt and fear vanished into the thickening air.

I opened my mouth to tell him that that wasn’t possible, when I felt his lips at my ear. “Get some rest while I’m gone, Trina. You’ll need the energy later.”

My jaw fell open. I was too stunned, in the best of ways, to speak. And then I wasn’t given the option, as he turned and I watched his beautiful backside saunter out of the hotel room, the door shutting behind him.

—

“Nice legs,” I heard a male voice murmur.

Another male voice, one I recognized, growled, “Eyes on the ankle, asshole.”

The unfamiliar male voice chuckled, and I struggled to open my eyes, realizing I was being woken up by Declan and his friend David.

“Still. She’s nice. Pretty.” A long pause caused my heart to stall in my chest as I waited for Declan’s reaction, then David continued. “Way better than Mara.”

“Two aren’t even comparable, dickhead.”

At their quick burst of laughter—which I felt in my chest, because I could tell that was a compliment, and that the negative thought about Mara was definitely a good thing—I opened my eyes and made it completely obvious that I’d woken from my nap with an exaggerated yawn and stretch.

“Hey,” I whispered, my throat dry from sleep. Declan was on my side of the bed, standing close. I could sense the other male in the room, but I couldn’t see him. “What’s going on?”

Declan grinned and leaned forward to brush my hair off my forehead. He was always touching me there. I liked the sensation way too much to consider investing in cheap hair ties anytime soon.

“David just got here. He needs to see your ankle before he goes back to the hospital.”

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