Page 54 of Between Commitment and Betrayal
“I—”
His mouth moved like lightning, like he wasn’t thinking about the consequences, and his length hardened against my belly where I could be reminded of how deliciously big he was. There was no denying him that kiss, even if we shouldn’t have indulged. His hands went to my ass as he picked me up, and I wrapped my legs around him as he turned and set me on the vanity. I clawed at his back, pulled him closer with my legs, and met his tongue swipe for swipe.
“Fuck,” he murmured as he pulled back for a second. “Forget the plan for the morning. Let’s stay here.”
I finally willed myself to push him back. “I’m not skipping work and changing my plans only for you to cancel whatever you insisted I attend with you and stay in bed.” I hopped off the vanity. “Let’s go.”
He grumbled the whole way, rearranging his pants and making sure I knew it. I smirked as I grabbed my coffee off the counter and made my way out to his Bugatti instead of an SUV with Peter. “Driving today?”
“I like to drive when I can.” He shrugged. “It’s too early for the paps to be out. Might as well enjoy a fun ride.”
I nodded and took a deep breath. This was Declan. Snap decisions, going with his gut. I wanted to consider every scenario first. If the paps did happen upon us, what would we do? “Everly”—he tapped my temple as we both stood in front of his car, me not making a move to walk toward it—“stop thinking.”
“It’s hard for me to do that. My mind is trained to be in overdrive.”
“Care to tell me why that is?” he asked as we stood on his massive driveway.
What could I say? I glanced at him and took in his strong jaw, the way he didn’t pry since he knew it was important now that he didn’t, the way he handled me with care when it was necessary and roughness when I wanted it.
“I should tell you.” I breathed, and my hands fisted. “I will tell you. You’ll need to know if the paparazzi start digging into my past—”
His brow furrowed suddenly and then he cut me off. “Tell me when you’re ready. I’m not going to have the media push us to share our lives prematurely. I’ve had to do that one too many times. Until then, I want you to stay here.” He pointed to the ground. “In the present, with me. I’m taking care of you today.”
“What do you mean?” I whispered.
He stepped close, and his hand went to my throat where he rubbed his thumb up and down, up and down. “Just let me take care of you today. Let me handle the anxiety, Drop. Let me praise or punish you for listening or not today, huh?” My throat moved under his grip. “I think maybe someone broke your trust. I’m earning it back now, though. I get my chance. So, today, I’m taking control, and you’re not going to think about it at all. You’re going to listen. Got it?”
Ten more months with him. Ten. We would have to work together, be seen together, endure a lot together. I had to trust him.
This was for the best.
“Right.” I nodded. “I can do that.”
His jaw worked. “We’ll see.”
Yet, even as he opened the door for me, I couldn’t help but ask, “Will you at least give me a hint of where we’re going?”
He smiled as he pushed the button for the gate to open between the visors of the car, one hand on my hip so he could lean in. He took his time, rubbing a circle on the bare skin through the hole of my jeans. “Sure, I’ll give you a hint, babe.”
Then he slammed the door in my face and rounded the hood of the car, dragging a finger across it. One side of his mouth lifted up at me devilishly. I hated that I blushed, and when he got in and pushed the start button, he murmured, “Being shy looks good on you, Everly.”
Before I could answer, he shifted into gear and peeled out of the drive. I gripped the dashboard and yelped as he sped past the gate before taking his foot off the accelerator a second later. “There’s your hint.”
I narrowed my eyes but didn’t get a chance to respond because Clara was texting me.
Clara: I’m only going because you are… And because Declan asked for me to go because of you. Also, Declan said I shouldn’t mention it to Anastasia, that there wouldn’t be room.
“You invited Clara?” I asked, staring at my phone. He nodded, pulling his aviators on. “Why?”
“Why not?” He shrugged. “You were going to go to her bakery. This seemed like the better option.”
“Better than both of us going to work?” I scoffed. “Plus, what’s she going to say about us showing up together?”
“That I was trying to do something nice for Carl’s estranged daughter? You’ve been on edge since he passed and felt isolated.”
“Is that what you told her?” I picked at a fingernail, not sure whether to be offended or relieved. “I mean, it’s good that you did. We can’t be telling people anything else, but other than me staying in your guesthouse, I’m not sure it’s a good idea to tell them we talk at all.”
He shrugged and pinned me with those green eyes. “Is it that much of a stretch, Drop? I drive you to work every day. They know we talk.” We didn’t actually even talk that much in the car. “She doesn’t know I fucked you, but I’m happy to tell her that, too, if you’d like.”
