Page 66 of The Ring Thief
She blinks. “Will you?”
“I’ll never stop fighting, but if that means taking a step back and helping her find happiness with someone else?” I shrug a shoulder, acting like the words didn’t burn on my tongue. “I’ll do it.”
“Hmm…” she narrows her eyes. “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?”
“Guess so.” There’s a quilted throw blanket over the back of the couch, so I stand up and pull it over her. “Night, Sasha.”
I’m positive that by the time I step out of her apartment, she’s already crashed.
By the time I’m back in the car, Lily’s leaning against the window, her lashes resting against her cheeks. I pause there, my stare tracing overthe elegant curve of her cheek, her slightly parted mouth, and delicate chin.
It’s been days since I last saw her. After she agreed to go on another first date with me, there’d been expectation in her eyes, waiting for me to tell her when and where. But I had an idea for how I wanted this to play out, and rushing through it wasn’t part of it.
Especially now with Silvia adding her hat into the ring.
Thinking ofherhas my anger rising to the surface again, but I batten it down, turning the radio off before pulling out of the parking garage and pointing the car towards her cottage. The roads are quiet, the drive passing by quickly; the soundtrack of her soft snuffles filling the car. It happens whenever she shifts, and every time, my lips kick up in a smile, even as something tight pinches in my chest.
I miss her so goddamn much.
I pull into her driveway and kill the engine, heading around to her side. With the door open, I crouch down, “Lily.”
As I stroke my fingers over the softness of her cheek, she leans into my touch and my heart skips a beat, hating that I have to wake her. Her brow furrows when I call her name, but she doesn’t open her eyes. Putting her bag in her lap and palming her keys, I pull her into my arms, straightening and bumping the car door shut. Lily hooks an arm around my neck, letting out a soft sigh, her whole body relaxed, like even asleep she knows she’s safe with me.
“Let’s get you inside,” I murmur, unable to stop myself from nuzzling the top of her head. It’s an awkward maneuver to get the door unlocked, but eventually I’m gently laying her down in her bed. I back away, but she stops me, wrapping both arms around my neck and clinging tightly with a groan.
“Lily—”
“You smell good,” she mumbles, her breath hot against my skin, making the hairs on the back of my neck lift. “Why do you always smell so good?”
I can’t stop the rough groan that escapes me at her words. Before I can pull back, she’s shifting, softly pressing her lips to mine. She whimpers, her fingers sliding into my hair, scratching at my scalp, her tongue teasing against my bottom lip. For just a second, I don’t pull away,slanting my mouth against hers, promising myself just one taste, my tongue tangling with hers. She tastes like tequila and citrus. But underneath the tangy bitterness, she’s…sweet.
Desire shoots down my spine like electricity, and my dick hardens behind my zipper, the metal teeth biting even through the fabric of my briefs. It acts like a bucket of icy water, dousing my lust as quickly as it came, reason creeping back in.
I tear my mouth from hers, gently grabbing her wrists and pulling her arms down from around my neck. Her pulse is fluttering rapidly at the base of her throat as she blinks up at me, her eyes confused and hurt as I desperately put some space between us, sitting by her hip.
“I can’t,” I say hoarsely, hating myself when her eyes shutter, her guard going back up. “Not like this, Lily. I need to go.”
She shakes her head, hair mussing against the pillow under her. “Stay, Declan.” Her voice dips temptingly.
“No,” I whisper back. “Not when you’ll regret it tomorrow.” Something flashes across her face that tells me I’m right, and fuck, that hurts more than anything else.
I rasp out, “Harbor of Hope.” It was a charity organization that raised money to support underprivileged children, something that was close to both her and Sasha’s hearts.
She stares at me, nonplussed. “What about it?”
“I want you to come with me to their charity gala.” Her expression doesn’t change, but I sandwich one of her hands in both of mine, pressing our skin together. “I want it to be our first date.”
Her mouth trembles slightly. “That’s two weeks away.” Her tone is careful, not giving anything away.
“Yes.” I agree, feeling like I’m balancing on a knife-edge, with no safe landing on either side. “If you’d be open to it, we could spend time together before then. Not dates, but just…relearning each other.”
Her eyes dart away from mine, brows dipping together. “I don’t know. That’s a highly publicized event.” Her concern is understandable considering the social fervor over the state of our marriage and my family. I was hoping it would all die down by the gala, but Silvia’s smear campaign against Lily has nixed that idea.
“Please, Lily.” I’m not above begging. “I want to show you that things are different. That theywillbe different.”
“And going to a black-tie event will do that?” She shoots me the most dubious look and I bite my amusement back, dipping my chin.
“Okay. Fine.” Her tone is so grudging, I can’t stop my smile, and she rolls her eyes. “I reserve the right to change my mind,” she warns.
