Page 38 of A Convenient Secret
I freeze, my face turning the richest crimson known to man, I’m sure. “Yes.”
I don’t know how my voice comes out in an audible volume, but the war in his eyes suggests he’s fighting the next question. Or ten. How am I going to explain this? He will file a police reportand then—
Declan sways, and a pang of guilt hits me. I’m so selfish. I can worry about myself later. I scramble out of the bed and run to get a towel from the bathroom.
Declan sits on the edge of the bed when I return.
“Here. You need to apply pressure on it.” I press the towel against his arm.
The wound just above his elbow is ugly, but doesn’t look deep. Thank God.And now you’re a doctor, Lily?“Let me call nine-one-one.”
He glares at me, which I take as his acquiescence, and I grab my phone from the nightstand. After I make the call, I chance a look at him. He’s still glaring. And who could blame him?
“Jesus Christ,” he mutters and looks away, shaking his head.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“You mentioned that a few times,” he growls. “If I need stitches, you will stay here with the kids.”
“Of course, of course, anything you need. Do you want me to call Cormac, or Saar? Or your mother?” What or who can make him feel better? “Do you need water? Or maybe whiskey? Or I can—”
“Just shut up, Lily.” His voice is exhausted, but not necessarily mad. But then he is probably in shock.
I stay quiet, my hands shaking and my chest heaving. Jesus. The last thing this poor man needs right now is my panic attack.
The silence stretches, heavily descending on me. I didn’t expect to fall asleep in Declan’s house. But having him intercept my nightmare is… Well, a nightmare.
I fidget, stepping from one foot to the other. When I chance a glance at Declan, my jaw drops, and despite the gory situation—because there is something seriously wrong with me—my pussy clenches.
During the chaos earlier, I didn’t notice he was shirtless. Which only speaks to the volume of my shock. But now I can’t take my eyes off the planes of muscles that form the masterpiece of his torso.
He’s the ultimate package—broad shoulders, sinewy chest, multi-pack abs—all covered in olive skin with a dusting of dark chest hair. And currently some blood.
I should be ashamed, mortified, worried, guilty, and regretful. I feel a potent cocktail of those emotions. What I definitely shouldn’t feel is lust. And yet, here we are.
I’ve always known my childhood and early adulthood couldn’t possibly lead to well-adjusted behavior, but this is the worst timing ever for any depravity. Jesus.
“Do you want me to get you a shirt?”
He groans and looks up at the ceiling, probably searching for the strength not to strangle me. Then hestands up and sways a bit again. Of course, I cross all the boundaries and jump to help him.
He angles his body to avoid me, I think, and takes a few steps toward the door. “Make sure the kids are not concerned when they wake up if I’m not here yet. Tell them I cut myself and I went to see the doctor, but do not scare them. Don’t go into details, for fuck’s sake.”
I nod, like he can see me with his back to me. “Where are you going?”
“I’ll wait downstairs for the ambulance. Stay up here,” he says through his teeth and leaves.
I stabbed Declan.
Cora
Took you long enough (laughing emoji)
Saar
I was going to write the same.
Cora
