She lets out a breath, something unreadable crossing her features. "I'm just doing my job."
"And that's what scares me the most." I shake my head. "Because you're good at this. Really good."
Her gaze drops to my lips, then shoots back up like she's afraid I'll catch her. "Why are you being nice to me?"
I push off the railing, taking a step closer.
"Because I was an asshole. And because I've been thinking about what you said. About that night."
"I told you. It didn't mean anything."
"Maybe not to you."
Her eyes drop to my mouth again, and this time she doesn't look away. My hand moves before I can stop it, fingers sliding along her neck, thumb brushing the corner of her lips.
She leans into the touch and our eyes lock.
"Tell me to stop," I murmur, giving her one last out.
She doesn't.
I close the distance between us, my lips finding hers.
The kiss is soft at first. Tentative. Like we're both testing the waters, seeing if this is real.
But then she makes a soft, desperate little noise…
And I'm gone.
My hands slide into her hair, tilting her head back as I deepen the kiss, my tongue sliding over hers as I crowd her against the rail. She melts against me, the warmth of her body incredible as she opens her mouth wider, letting me in.
Her fingers grip the front of my shirt like she's afraid I'll disappear. She moans into my mouth and the whole fucking world falls away.
The ocean, the mansion, the chaos of the day… all of it fades.
We finally break apart, and she looks up at me, her lips swollen, her eyes dark.
"I should go," she says, but she doesn't move.
"You should," I agree, but I don't let go either.
She laughs, a breathless, shaky sound. "Really. I have work to do."
Finally, she pulls back, her fingers lingering on my chest.
"Thank you," she says softly, biting her bottom lip like she's savouring the taste of me. "For today. For being a good sport. For… this."
"Don't thank me yet, Josie. I'm just getting started."
Chapter 7
Josie
The ocean breeze drifts through my open balcony door, but I’m still laying in bed, thinking about Declan’s mouth on mine last night.
I didn't go over there for that. Swear to God, I didn't.
I had a plan to fetch my laptop, turn my back on him, and get out of there as fast as I could.
