Page 59 of More than Friends

Chapter Twenty-Two

Declan

Then

“Ican’t believe you’reactually letting me come to one of your work events,” I say.

“Well, I can’t talk with you long,” she answers back, smiling at me over her wine glass. “But I’m looking forward to meeting you in my hotel room later tonight.”

She bites on her lip, and everything else in the room goes out of focus.

Something catches her eye behind me. “Oh, Hugo’s here. I need to go speak with him.”

“Hugo?” I say. She’s still watching him behind me. I’d love to crane my neck to see what she’s seeing, but there’s no way for me to do it casually.

“Yeah, Hugo. Haven’t I mentioned him before? Super rich. Very influential in the art world. He’s like one of the biggest dealers.”

No, she hasn’t mentioned him. I would remember him.

She lowers her voice. “I’ve got to run. See you back at the room.”

I nod. After she’s walked away, I move to the other side of the table so I can watch her. He’s older than her. A lot older. He looks rich and acts like he’s important. Barf.

He’s flirting with her. Well, maybe they are flirting with each other. I can’t tell if they are fucking – maybe? He’s interested in her, that’s for sure. I look down at my hand. I’ve pulled it into a fist. I take a deep breath and relax it. She’s free to be with whoever she wants. That’s the deal. I know that. I know she’s with other men. It’s none of my business. I get what I get from her and nothing more, but right now, I’d like nothing more than to rip that guy’s fucking arm off because he just touched her back.

She makes eye contact with me and frowns. I’m glaring. I need to go.

When she makes it back to the hotel room that evening, I’m standing on the other side of the door. She jumps. I close the door behind her.

“Declan, what...”

Before she can finish that thought, I wrap my hand around the back of her neck and pull her in for a kiss. Not a gentle, tender kiss. A needy, desperate one. I need her to feel me. I need her to remember how good I make her feel. As we kiss, I push her backwards until her back hits the door.

We pull back and stare at each other. I’m feeling too much right now – anger, jealousy, lust. My chest is rising and falling with each ragged breath. The more I stare into her big, blue eyes, the more I’m falling. The more I’m feeling. God, I came to Milwaukee to see her – twice.

As much as I like to tell myself this is just about sex, it isn’t. It definitely isn’t.

She bites her lower lip and stares up at me through her lashes. “Whatcha waiting for, Dex?”

What am I waiting for? Of course I want to fuck her. I think about fucking her all the time, but I also just like being with her. I could stand here staring into her eyes all night, but she’s unbuckling my belt. Her breathing is just as ragged as mine. When she finishes, she slides her hand into my pants and strokes me. She turns her gaze back up to me – her eyes full of fire. I lean forward until my forehead touches hers.

“Gaww.” All of my brain cells have stopped working. I can’t even form proper words anymore.

“You have a condom, right?” She purrs into my ear. I nod. Speaking is still an impossible task.

I reach down and grab her hand and pull it away. “Buttercup, unless you’re wanting me to come in your hand, you’re going to have to stop.”

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