“Just offering some friendly advice,” Lorenzo says, pushing himself up from the table, “Wouldn’t want you to go forgetting your priorities. You two have a pleasant evening. Lovely to meet you, Miss Kassenia.”
Declan’s jaw pulses with tension as Lorenzo wanders away with his arm candy. With one gulp, he downs his entire drink.
“Are you going to tell me what that was all about?” I whisper.
“Not here,” he snaps, standing quickly, “Come on. This table is cold.”
I hurry to follow Declan as he storms off the casino floor. His shoulders ripple with contained rage, and for the first time since meeting him, I’m truly frightened by what he might do next. He looks ready to punch in a wall—or someone’s face. I’ve never seen him lose his temper before, but he’s teetering on the brink right now. That Lorenzo character set him off in a big way. I have to bring him back down to Earth.
“Hey,” I murmur, as we step out into the hot June night, “Declan, you still with me?”
“What?” he snaps, shoving a hand through his thick curls, “I...Jesus. Yeah. That guy just gets on my last fucking nerve.”
“Forget about him,” I say, taking Declan’s hand in mine, “Let’s just find some club, drink our asses off, and—”
“You had me at drink our asses off,” he growls, slipping his arm around my waist. I lean against him as we make our way up and down the strip, ducking into whichever club or bar we please. The world blurs into a montage of unbelievable sights. Showgirls and sirens, limos and diamonds, caviar and champagne—the works. I match Declan drink for drink, or at least, I manage to for a while. The world around me grows ever more hazy, the edges of my vision closing in. I know where this night is headed, but I can’t stop myself. I drink until the world goes black around me—Declan’s concerned face is the last thing I see before I finally pass out, wasted.
I don’t rise up from that boozy darkness until I hear the familiar ding of our building’s elevator. My eyes flutter open as Declan nudges open the door of my suite, carrying me over the threshold in his arms. My signature nervous laughter starts to bubble up as he bears me across the suite. Embarrassment and delight war for control of my drunken mind.
“Well, hello sailor,” I slur, giggling.
“Hello to you too,” Declan says.
“How are you still upright?” I ask.
“I’m not much of a lightweight,” he replies.
My head spins as Declan carries me into the bedroom. Is this my moment? I’ve had way too much to drink, that's for sure. All I know is that I’m tipsy as hell and horny as a motherfucker. And here’s the man of my every fantasy, in my very own bedroom. I decide that I have to go for it. I’d be crazy not to.
Declan lays me down on the king sized bed, his voice warm and so, so close.
“Why don’t you get some sleep?” he says.
“I’m not really in the mood for sleeping,” I reply, pulling myself onto my elbows. My slinky dress pools around my waist, revealing the black lace garters I wore entirely or Declan’s benefit. His eyes travel the length of my body, and I can feel my chest heaving. This is it. The moment I’ve been waiting for since my first night here.
“I want you,” I whisper, laying a hand on Declan’s perfectly sculpted thigh.
“I know,” he growls, turning to face me.
“Do you...feel the same way?” I breathe, letting my hand travel just an inch higher.
Declan catches my wrist in his hand, his grip firm but gentle. His face is set, and I feel my heart begin to sink. Oh my god...have I made a total ass of myself?
“I’m sorry,” I mutter, pulling away from him, “That was totally unprofessional. I’ve just had too much to drink tonight, that’s all—”
“Kassie,” Declan begins, his voice dripping with tamped-down need, “If you think for a second that I haven’t been dying to touch you since the moment we met, you’re out of your goddamn mind.”
“Wh-what?” I stammer, “But I thought—”
“All I want is to lay you out across this bed, strip you down, and make you come, screaming my name,” he rasps. “You’re the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever met, Kassie. I’d kill for a taste of you.”
“Then come here and taste me,” I return, breathless with need, “If we both want to—”
“No,” he says firmly, clenching his jaw. “Not tonight.”
“Declan—”
“If you were just some one night stand, some nameless fling, there’d be no question,” he says, running his fingertips across my collarbone. I writhe beneath his touch, my sex throbbing and wet between my legs.
“I’ve never wanted anyone like this before,” I whisper.
“Neither have I,” he says, edging toward me, “That’s why we’re going to wait.”
“Wait?” I gasp, falling back against the pillows, “I don’t know if I can.”
“Well, you’re going to have to,” he replies, a grin blossoming on his face, “If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it right. You deserve that.”
“You’re killing me, Tiberi,” I groan, slapping the covers in exasperation.
“Trust me, Kassie,” he says, bringing his lips toward mine, “It’s going to be worth the wait. I’ll make sure of that.”
I tilt my face up to his, reaching to feel those full lips against my own. At least I’m going to get a goodnight kiss. But at the last second, Declan takes my face in his strong hands and presses his lips to my brow. I’m touched by this warm gesture and out of my mind with sexual frustration all at once. How is that even possible?
“Sweet dreams, Kassie,” he whispers, his face inches from my own.
I stare after him wordlessly as he strolls out of my bedroom. My entire body is charged with pent-up desire, but my mind is too tired, too confused to deal. I let sleep rush in to claim me at last. As baffling as this night has been, at least there’s a shiny silver lining. Declan does want me. And that little fact is enough to send me off to dreamland with a smile on my face.
CHAPTER TWELVE
My drunken admission of lust proves to be a game changer. From the moment I roll out of bed the next morning, I can feel that everything has shifted. Declan’s true intentions for me are out in the open, now. The question is, when does he plan to make good on them? Is our getting-together inevitable, or could I still lose my chance to be with him?