Page 46 of Liar For Hire (For Hire 1)

“I needed to regain what I lost, but what I didn’t know was that you would be the catalyst. So, to answer your questions, Roxie isn’t my mate. You are. You always have been, and you always will be. If you reject me…”

He paused like the prospect undid him.

“If you reject me, I will simply live near you and protect you from the outside. Although I can’t guarantee I won’t remove any men who come into your life.”

She burst out laughing. “Like you’ve been doing from day one?”

“I haven’t…. Not completely. Only the unworthy ones.”

“Hmm.” She narrowed her eyes at him, amused. Reject him? He must be insane. “This is the most truthful you’ve been to me since I met you. What you are still blows my mind, even though I’ve had days to take it in. I’ve seen the evidence with my own eyes, and I feel confused like someone drugged me.”

“Nessa.”

She took a page from his book and touched a finger to his lips. Their firm sexy curve made her want to kiss them, but she resisted for the moment. “There’s one thing I know without a doubt—I’m never giving you up now that you’re open to being with me. Not today, not ever.”

“And about living here?”

“Again, earth to Declan, we are prisoners. I want to be wherever you are, but Patrick is bad news. We don’t have the power to do anything other than what he wants us to do. We’re stuck either way.”

“For the moment.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He didn’t get the chance to answer because someone knocked on the cabin door. A man stepped into the cabin without so much as a “come in” from them. Janessa didn’t recognize him. “Sir, it’s time for the ceremony. Patrick wants you there.”

She started to follow Declan out, but the man blocked her progress.

“I’m sorry, but you have to stay here.”

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“I’m going with Declan.” She was about to push past him, when he raised a hand as if to shove her back into the cabin. Declan caught the hand in midair. The man struggled to free himself as Declan narrowed his eyes at him.

“Do you want to see what I do if you put your hand on her?” Declan had cast his voice low, full of so much intensity, a chill raced down Janessa’s spine. She wasn’t even the one in trouble, but she felt sorry for the idiot.

Declan was feeling himself now that he healed. She hoped she wouldn’t have to put a pin in his head later to bring it down to size. Then again, she liked his confidence and how he’d changed in such a short time. It thrilled her to know he was well and that he seemed to be enjoying himself for real.

“S-she can’t come to the ceremony,” the man stuttered. “Not this one. After Patrick makes sure she’ll never betray us, I’m sure he’ll allow her to move about freely. Please, sir, just cooperate for now.”

Declan looked at Janessa and released the man’s hand. “Wait here a moment,” he said to the man.

After Declan shuffled her backward into the cabin, he shut the door in the man’s face, and drew Janessa into his arms. She melted against his chest. Her heart swelled with love for him.

He drew back and raised her chin to kiss her until she was dizzy. She clung to him, loving this. She was almost ready to cry because she never thought they would get to this point.

Declan whispered her thoughts, confirming he was in the same boat. “I never imagined I could have you. We have the rest of our lives, baby. And I assure you, you will be free to do whatever you want. Give me a little while to secure it.”

“What are you going to do?”

He signaled for her to be quiet and pointed over his shoulder. She’d forgotten that they could hear really well.

“Stay here for me, okay? I promise I’ll be back.”

Panic rose in her gut. What if during this ceremony Patrick wanted to make an example of Declan as to what would happen if anyone crossed him?

Declan guessed her thoughts and cupped her face. He kissed her again. “I will come back for you. Trust me.”

Trust him. She had spent years ignoring her feelings because she didn’t think she could trust a man who made a living lying. Now he revealed the lies were far more than she could dream up because he wasn’t even human.

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