Page 34 of The Forbidden Bodyguard

“I did want to kiss you.”

Heat rushes to my cheeks, and my body jolts with pleasure at his words. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” His eyes glisten as if smiling, but he’s careful not to grin. Neither of us should be having this conversation, but we are.

I should be careful. I need the world to believe this is real. Otherwise, it could put Dad in danger. Or me.

“Well, I’m glad you weren’t harmed while you served. Your mom must be pleased about that.” I smile and try to glance away, but his words stop me.

“One life, Stella,” Declan rasps. “That’s all we get. You’re still very young.”

Not that young.

“People think they have all the time in the world.”

“I don’t,” I reply bluntly.

“You must.”

We’re not talking about his family anymore.

He’s judging me, and I don’t like it. In fact, I hate it. He has no right to question what I’m doing with my life. Especially after just telling me he wanted to kiss me. I want to spin and walk away.

Declan unthreads his fingers from mine and, instead of putting more space between us, he gently cups my face. “You must, or you wouldn’t need me.”

Fuck.

His words are a slap in the face so hard I almost physically react. Tears flood my eyes before I can stop them.

“Well, you won’t have to put up with me for long.” Childishly, I turn my head from his touch, then stride through the gallery, briskly thanking Victoria before tugging open the door.

Cold air hits my cheeks.

By the time I’m on the sidewalk, Declan is beside me, helping me tug on my coat.

“I can do it,”

“You’re angry.”

“Stop telling me what I should feel,” I snap.

“That’s not what I’m doing.” His calmness aggravates me so much I spin around and slap his chest.

“Stop it.”

Declan towers over me, his breathing as labored as mine.

“Just stop all of this.” I stare at his chest, feeling stupid because I’m overreacting, but I’m angry that he’s not the man I must marry and that my parents are using me to pay their debt to a criminal.

Declan probably thinks I’m angry about the stupid damn coat.

He steps even closer, and my breath hitches.

Oh God.

He lifts my chin, and my entire body shudders as we gaze deep into each other’s eyes. No, souls. We’ve both shared a moment of vulnerability, and now we are bare inches from making a decision that could change our lives.

We can’t do this.