Page 47 of Declan

I can’t let her go.

And I can’t let Wesley find out.

Not yet.

Unfortunately, that fantasy dies a little as my phone buzzes on the nightstand. I ignore it and I watch her.

Lena stirs beside me, a soft sigh leaving her lips as her eyes flutter open. I smile as she stretches slightly, turning to face me.

“Morning, beautiful,” I whisper, brushing her hair from her face.

She smiles, her lips brushing against mine in a gentle kiss. “Morning.”

“You working today?” I tug her closer, and she rests her hand on my chest, her fingers splayed out like she’s claiming the spot.

“I am,” she says, lifting her eyes to mine. “What about you?”

I thread my fingers into her hair, gently stroking her scalp. “Gotta head to Twisted Souls. Some club business I can’t ignore.”

Her smile falters. Barely. But I see it.

It’s a flicker. A twitch in the corners of her lips. But it hits me like a sucker punch to the gut.

I sit up, pulling away from her warmth. Crossing my arms. Guarding myself. “Second thoughts in the light of day?”

She doesn’t deserve the bite in my tone. Not after what we shared. But fear and vulnerability are cruel.

“No, Declan. I’m not,” she says, sitting up beside me. She adjusts the shirt she wore to bed, my shirt, the sleeves falling over her fingers. “Are you?”

She won’t look at me, her fingers fiddling with the edge of the blanket like it’s the most interesting thing in the world.

“I don’t do things that require second thoughts.” I try to slow my heartbeat, but I can still hear it pounding in my ears. “So why did your smile disappear when I mentioned the club?”

She rests her head on my shoulder, her hand finding mine and lacing our fingers together. “I’ve wanted you for as long as I can remember, Declan. Through the good, the bad, the darkest shit in my life. I’ve always wanted you. I tried to fight it, drown it, ignore it. But it never went away. I’ve done a lot of things I regret in my life, but last night? That wasn’t one of them. That was real.

It was everything. And I’m scared I’m going to wake up alone in my bed and realize it never happened.”

She kisses my shoulder, leaning further into me.

“I don’t feel guilty that you’re Wesley’s best friend,” she says softly. “But I know you do. That’s why my smile slipped. Because I know you’re going to see him and it’s killing you inside.”

I wrap my arm around her and press a kiss to the top of her head.

“You’re right. I care what he thinks. And it’s not about whether he approves or not. He’ll be out for blood if he finds out.”

She giggles and shakes her head. “He needs you too much to kill you. He’ll probably beat your ass, but he won’t kill you.”

I grin and flip her onto her back, pinning her arms above her head. “You think he can take me?”

She tilts her head like she’s considering it. “Hmm…”

I grab both wrists with one hand and tickle her ribs with the other. “You seriously need to think about it?”

She squeals, laughing and squirming beneath me. It’s pure. Light. For a minute, it’s like the world outside this bed doesn’t exist.

“No! No, definitely not. He definitely can’t kick your ass,” she laughs breathlessly.

Then my phone rings again. Reality slams back in like a freight train.

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