Page 75 of The Lake House

He grabs my hand. “I just want to make sure you’re okay with me going. I don’t want this to be the reason we don’t work out.”

I smile. “I’m totally okay with you going, Declan. I trust you wholeheartedly.”

He finally smiles back at me, and damn, I missed seeing that so much.

“Just promise me one thing,” I add.

His eyes scan mine. “Anything, babe.”

“Promise me you’re not going to leave me for a hot-thonged huge-boobied blonde.”

We both chuckle, and that’s when he gets up and pulls me up on my feet as well. “Are you kidding me, babe? There’s no one else I’d rather be with than my gorgeous, hot, Italian brunette with the midnight eyes, dark curly hair, and beautiful smile that could light up any room.”

His words are perfect, and they touch my heart. He always knows exactly what to say to put my mind at ease, even if it doesn’t need it. I don’t even have a chance to feel ify about this whole situation because of the type of guy he is.

He’s just perfect.

* * *

After dinner is done and the table is cleared, Declan and I find ourselves cuddled up on the couch just watching TV and enjoying one another’s company. It feels so damn good to have his arms wrapped around me like this. I could stay this way forever and be perfectly happy. Never have I felt more safe than I do right now.

He sighs deeply as his hand runs up and down the side of my arm.

“What’s up?” I ask.

He sighs again. “Oh, nothing. I just really love having you here with me like this.”

I smile. “Me too.” It’s funny how I was just thinking of that very thing.

“I’m just so happy. I haven’t felt this way in… shit, I don’t know if Ieverhave, actually.”

I roll my eyes playfully and turn my body around so that I’m facing him. “Dec, you had to be happy when you married your wife back then. I can’t imagine you’d marry someone you weren’t happy with.”

He smirks. “Ex-wife, and yes, I was happy… but not like this, babe. This is different. It’s just hard to explain.”

Suddenly, I know exactly what he means. Sure, I was happy with Todd when I married him, but oh, how different that was. It just wasn’t the same. He’s right. It is hard to describe, but what I feel in my heart for Declan now is not like what I felt for Todd.

And that’s when I realize I’m just about to fall over the edge. How much longer can I hold myself back before I give in and fall in love with this amazing man so hard?

Before I have any more time to dwell on the thought, he asks, “Do you know what I’m saying?”

All I do is nod because the ability to bring words to life has escaped me right now.

He grabs my hands in his. “This, right here, between you and me, it’s not like anything I’ve ever had or felt before. It’s new. It’s different, and it’s magical. I don’t know how else to describe it, but the way you make me feel is out of this world.”

Finally, I’m able to speak again. “I actually know what you mean. I feel the same way about you. It was different with Todd. Yes, I was happy with him. I mean, before I knew about all the cheating and stuff, but it was never like this with him. I know exactly what you’re talking about.”

He looks into my eyes and leans in to kiss me. His lips are soft and his kiss is passionate. I return it with my own, but before things get too far, he pulls back.

“Giules, stay the night.”

My eyes widen.

Realizing what he’s just asked of me, he quickly shakes his head. “No, no. I didn’t mean it like that. We don’t have to do anything. I just want you to stay with me so I can hold you all through the night. We don’t even have to lie in bed. We can stay right on the couch for all I care. I just want you with me.” He pauses for a moment and then repeats. “We don’t have to do anything at all.”

But him saying those words makes me realize I want to more than ever before. I don’t simply want to stay the night. I want to stay and go all the way with him. I want him to take me into his arms and strip me down until there’s nothing separating me from giving him everything I have. I want to tear his clothes off and have our nude bodies intertwine until I don’t know where mine ends and his begins.

I inch my face closer to his and when our lips are just about to touch, I whisper, “But, Declan, I want us to. I want us to doeverything.”

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