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He stared at me.
He didn’t ask me to elaborate, and I didn’t ask him what crazy idea he’d gotten in his head.
He studied me for a long time. Whatever he saw was enough.
His hand left mine.
Then both hands came up. He cupped my face, pushed up while pulling me down. We met halfway in a kiss. His soft lips explored mine, his tongue teasing me. I opened my mouth and kissed him back for all I was worth.
The first contact was almost cautious.
Then it wasn’t.
His mouth opened over mine, warm and hungry, his tongue sliding against mine until my entire body seemed to understand before my brain did.
I had spent years wondering what kissing Declan would feel like.
Apparently I had lacked imagination.
His hand slid into my hair and held me exactly where he wanted me. The other stayed against my jaw, thumb moving once over my cheek as though he still needed to verify I was there.
I kissed him harder.
He answered immediately.
I was clumsy, but he was perfect. He kissed me again and again, deep, wet, hot kisses.
I learned quickly. Enthusiasm superseded inexperience.
He made a rough sound when I caught his lower lip between mine.
That encouraged me enormously. I did it again.
His hand tightened in my hair.
I was on my back without realizing how I’d gotten there. He held himself above me. Not breaking the kiss, I tried to tug him down. I wanted to feel his weight. His legs were outside of mine. I wanted to move them in.
He resisted just enough to keep from crushing my bruised ribs.
Annoying. Considerate. Extremely Declan.
My hands went to the front of his jeans. This time he let me open them. I tried to reach a hand inside, but it didn’t fit.
I pulled my mouth away with a gasp and said. “Take them off.”
He stared at me.
I stared back.
The old Chief might have argued.
This version seemed to have remembered his promise.
He was panting as he moved off of me. He kicked off his shoes, then yanked off his jeans.
My eyes were on his erection. It looked like it had a life of its own. Unconsciously, I shifted on my back.
That drew his eyes, and they ran over my naked body for the first time. There was so much desperate, starving, delicious want in his eyes.
