Page 27 of Sins and Salvation

Pretty boy. Looks just like his father.

My blood turns to ice.

"What is it?" Declan asks.

I show him the phone. His face hardens and I see the monster.

"When did you get this?"

"Just now."

He takes the phone. "They're watching us."

"They took this picture before the attack on my apartment."

"They've been planning this." He stands, scanning the garden like they are there lurking in the ferns. "We need to go back inside."

"Declan—"

"Now, Maeve."

I follow him into the house, fear crawling up my spine. He locks the door, checks the windows, calls Finn.

I stand in the kitchen, mind racing. The threats are real. These people have been watching my son, planning God knows what. All before he even came back, they knew about Conor before he did.

Declan hangs up and turns to me. "Finn's sending more men."

"Who are these people? What do they want?"

"They want me to turn on Cormac, and they think they can do that by hurting you to get to me." He pulls me into his arms. "I won't let them."

I don't resist his embrace. "I'm scared, Declan."

"I know." He kisses the top of my head. "But I'll die before I let anything happen to either of you."

That's what I'm afraid of.

Later, in the darkness of the master bedroom, Declan pulls me against his chest. I listen to his heartbeat.

"Try to sleep," he says. "I'll keep watch."

I am too scared to sleep. I lift my head, finding his mouth in the dark.

He kisses me back, pushing aside the thin fabric of my nightgown as he runs his hand down my body. I climb on top of him, taking control.

He cups my face with his hands and kisses me hard until I can't breathe. I need this—need him—to forget everything else. I work at his boxers with my fingers, pushing them down his hips while he traces a hot path down my body with his mouth.

"Let me see you," he whispers, tugging at my nightgown.

I pull it over my head, tossing it on the floor. He stares at me in the darkness like he's starving. I gasp when he takes my breast in his mouth, arching into him. He sucks hard, grazing my nipple with his teeth just enough to make me moan.

I rock against him, feeling how hard he is. He grips my hips, digging his fingers into my skin.

"Tell me you want me," he demands.

"I want you." Fuck it. I do. No point to lying to him here in the dark.

He flips us, pinning me down. Fuck, I've missed his body on mine. I bite my lip to keep from crying out when he slides a finger inside me, then two.

---