Page 69 of The Bossy One

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My heart raced as we drove home. I couldn’t quite believe this was finally happening. The wild scent of summer air swirled around us.

I cleared my throat. “Do we have to pick Catie up from your mom’s? Maybe we should do that now, before we… Although it’s probably not great to do that with Catie in the house. Not that I’m loud. At least I don’t think I’m loud. But you might be loud. I nannied for this couple that wasnot quietto put it politely, and then their kid asked what those sounds were, and let me tell you, that is not a conversation I ever want to have again—”

Declan took my hand and wordlessly brought it to his lips.

Something lovely fluttered in the base of my stomach.

“I’ve taken care of it,a ghrá. We have the house to ourselves for the night.”

That may have been the single sexiest thing a man had ever said.

In no time at all we were pulling up in front of the house. I felt like everything inside me was sparkling and dancing with delicious anticipation. Declan helped me out of the car, like we were in some kind of old-fashioned fairy tale. Then he led me inside the mansion without releasing my hand.

As soon as we stepped inside, we were surrounded by darkness. Apparently, Declan hadn’t bothered to a leave a light on when he left. The only illumination came from the stars outside.

“You’re trembling,” he said, squeezing my hand. “Is it the dark, or…?”

Have you changed your mind?

He didn’t need to finish the sentence.

“No. I mean, yes. Yes, I want this. And it’s not the dark, it’s just…”I can’t remember the last time I wanted something as much as I want you.

But I couldn’t say that.

“It’s just I’m waiting for you to kiss me,” I said, half laughing at the giddy awkwardness of it all.

Declan tugged me deeper into the house and toward the stairs. “If I kiss you now, I won’t stop. And I’d rather do this on a bed, wouldn’t you?”

I shivered at the undisguised want in his voice.

My heart pounded as Declan led us up to his room, our footsteps the only sound in this giant, lavish house. Once we were in his room, Declan shut the door and flipped the light switch. I blinked up at the sudden wash of light.

“Do you…have a chandelier above your bed?”

“You can file a complaint with my decorator,” Declan said. And then his lips were on mine, and he was kissing me, and all I could think wasfinally.

I kissed him back with everything I had. He felt so damn good under my hands. Strong and masculine and perfect. I couldn’t stop smiling, and for some reason, neither could he. Declan and I fell into his bed, laughing and gasping as we stripped each other bare.

During our interrupted picnic, he’d been the one firmly in control. But now his control was fraying under the weight of his desire. His hands were a little too rough as he helped me out of my clothes. His breath went ragged when he finally saw me in nothing but my panties.

I’d never felt sexier.

“God, Olivia,” he said, his eyes tracing my naked curves. “You’re so fucking beautiful.” He traced a hand between my breasts, like I was something precious he was scared to ruin with his touch.

“Not too many freckles?” I teased.

“I love your freckles.” Declan crawled over me, caging me in with his heat and strength. “I have dreams about your freckles. They’re stars, and you’re my constellation.”

My heart snagged. How could he justsaysomething like that?

Declan kissed his way down my body, unaware he’d casually dropped the most romantic sentence of my life. He found the tip of my breasts and sucked until I was shaking and gasping beneath him. When I didn’t think I could take any more, he moved to my other breast. And then to a sensitive spot on my rib. All the while he murmured profane compliments I couldn’t quite hear against my skin. I was so lost in his words and his touch, it took me a beat to come back to earth enough to realize what he was about to do.

“Oh, you don’t have to…” I said, but he was already peeling my panties off and positioning his face between my thighs.

He inhaled appreciatively and kissed my hip.

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