Page 63 of Destined Lovers

I playfully grin. “I guess all those dildos didn’t stretch me out as much as I thought they would.”

His eyes widen in surprise.

“I said I was a twenty-nine-year-old virgin, not a freaking prude. Girls have needs, too, you know.”

“My little spitfire, you are too much.” He grins and places a chastise kiss against my lips, then flops against the pillow.

After a while, when Declan doesn’t speak, I turn my head and glance over at him. He’s staring at the ceiling, and I can see his wheels turning.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, concerned.

He leans up onto his elbow and stares down at me.

“What does your heart seek, Nora?” His words bring a smile to my face, consistently surprising me with his random questions.

“My heart doesn’t seek anything. It’s already full.” I put his hand on my chest and tell him the most truthful thing I’ve ever said. “It’s always been yours. You fill it up completely.”

“What does your heart seek, Declan?”

“My heart seeks repair.” My face drops. I broke his heart?

“I need to know that not only is your heart mine, but thatyouare mine.”

“I’ve always been yours, I told you. Since I was six years old, I’ve been yours and only yours.”

“No. Are youminefrom here on out… my girlfriend, my partner, my better half? What are we doing? I can’t go back to London, not knowing how we go on from here. I won’t ask questions. I’ll honor your wish for now and let you tell me what went on, in your own time. But I need to know that I won’t lose you and that my heart can finally heal.”

I blink away any emotions, gulp down my nerves and answer him the best I can.

“You have me.”

It’s not a lie, but eventually, he may think it is.

10

Nora

I wakeup from our long nap feeling oddly refreshed.

I’m sore, but a good sore. Like when you work out for the first time in forever, and you’re so sore, it reminds you how much you missed it, and you can’t wait to go back to the gym.

That’s me.I want more.

Declan is still sleeping and completely draped on top of me. If I didn’t have to pee so badly, I wouldn’t move a muscle. I could stay here forever, in the warmth of Declan.

Unfortunately, nature calls, so I slowly extract myself from under him and quietly walk to the bathroom, keeping the lights off. I already know… I’m a hot mess express.

Earlier… before our nap, we showered together—another first for me.

We didn’t take it further than just that, simply exploring each other, and it was one of the most erotic things I could imagine doing. We didn’t talk, we kissed slowly and tenderly, and when our lips weren’t sealed, we both ran our hands over one another’s bodies—appreciating every inch.

Declan washed my hair, and I washed his body. I had never felt closer to him than I did in that shower.

With a shower, however, comes wet, unruly hair.

Hopefully, I slept soundly enough that it’s not too bad, but still, I’m not looking in that mirror.

I open the door and peek out toward Declan. Still fast asleep, he’s now rolled over to his back, so I use this opportunity to objectify him completely. I have no shame.