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“So, sheisin love with him.”
He half laughs. “That’s something you’ll have to ask her. Or Niko.”
“And I’m going to see them when?” I pout.
“He’s an investor; he’ll be there at the premiere of our film. And if I’m reading the situation correctly, so will she. I—"
I clench down on him again, and this time, a pulse leaps at the base of his throat.
“You’re going to pay for that, you realize that?” he growls.
“Can’t wait.” I absolutely adore the effect I have on him. I’ve seen how he never lets me out of his sight, how he follows me with those gorgeous eyes every time I’m in the same space with him. I also know he tracks me through my phone and that, at least, one of the charms he gave me has a tracker… But somehow, I can’t get upset with him. It’s his way of watching out for me, of caring for me, of ensuring we’re always connected. Also, he agreed to return the favor.
I touch the locket he wears around his neck on a silver chain. It’s a twin of the one he gave me to wear as a charm. A tiny locket with a strand of hair from each of us entwined. There’s also a chip embedded in it. This way, I can keep track of where he is. If that sounds a little obsessive, well, that’s too bad. This is what makes us happy. And that’s all that matters, right? I reach up and kiss him.
He deepens the kiss until we’re both panting. He tears his mouth from mine. "If it weren’t for the thought of Grandmama waiting to see us, I’d have told everyone to fuck off and shown you just how much I love you."
"We have to go," I manage to force out through my sex-addled brain. "But first, I need to shower."
"No shower."
"Eh?" I blink. "I smell of—"
"Me—and I want it that way."
* * *
"You look good." Penny looks me up and down.
"Thanks?" I laugh.
"No, I didn’t mean it that way. I mean, you’re glowing, and you look in love, and not like someone recovering from a procedure—oops." She claps her hand over her mouth. "I’m always talking before thinking. Don’t mind me. My brain has a very loose connection to my tongue. I mean, ugh! Ignore me!" She flushes and falls silent.
Mira and I burst out laughing.
"Don’t worry, I know you don’t have a spiteful bone in your body,” I chuckle. Now Giorgina, on the other hand, I can never tell if she’s being spiteful on purpose or not. But then, since our procedures, and all the social media interest around it, she’s been nothing but supportive. So beneath all that cattiness is a genuine heart. It just takes a lot for her to show it. Of course, that doesn’t seem to deter Rick. Or Finn, given how I’ve caught him looking at her. Apparently, he broke it off with his partner and is also single now.
He told me he's equally into men and women… Which makes sense. He has the kind of appeal that cuts across sexual preferences. There’s something about that guy that appeals to both men and women equally. Of course, that piece of information does nothing to assuage Declan. While Finn and Rick both still lead on our security detail, he’s made it clear to me he doesn’t want to see me alone with Finn again. We’re going to have to work out what that means, but there’s still time for that. Probably after we finish shooting the film in New Zealand. The preparations for it are all complete.
We wanted to meet our friends and family before we left though, as we’re not going to be back for a few months, at least, and definitely not until the shooting is complete.
"How do you feel about traveling and getting back to work?" Penny asks.
"As long as I’m with him, I'm good." I glance past at her to find Declan looking at me. He’s sitting next to a woman with gray hair that flows to her shoulders. Her features are lined, but her gaze is sharp. She’s wearing a silk suit that seems to have been cut especially for her. Seated at the same table is a man who looks like a slightly older version of Declan. That must be his brother Arpad. And the woman next to him holding the baby must be his wife Karina. Arpad looks at her with an expression of complete devotion on his face.
And when I turn back to Declan, it's to find him looking at me with a similar expression—of love and tenderness and adoration and so much more. Something flares between us, and I find myself walking away from the girls. Declan, too, rises to his feet. We meet in the middle of the room, and he wraps his arms about me and pulls me into him. He kisses my forehead. "I missed you."
75
Declan
"Anyone would think you two had been apart for years instead of minutes," a man’s voice interrupts us.
Fucking JJ.
"Ignore him, baby." I pull Solene closer. She giggles and snuggles into me.
"Not that I don’t understand the hardship of being away from the one you love…" he offers.
