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“There’s lipstick on your jaw” I touch my own, and his hand lifts to h his brow reht bit furrowed

“I saw you dancing at the bar, and now you smell like Holly” I shut ain, I’ripped by fury “Why are you here, Declan? What do you want from me?”

“You were gone” It’s whispered He leans on the door frarips its top beam with his palm I can see the liquor in his eyes, the way they’re wide and over-focused on my face

“Is that hoorks where you’re froer, or perhaps because of it,anyway That’s right! You’re leaving soon, aren’t you? And there’ll be other women Ones who don’t hold court in your bed or force you into bubble baths They won’t really know or care for you, or risk their lives to love you for mere weeks, as I have!”

His face twists again, and his brows notch in anger Oh please, try that! I give a hollow laugh “Go back to Holly, won’t you?” I wave at hi “Holly wants you, no doubt Rachel as well! Go be merry at the bar, and we’ll end this here! So much simpler And that’s what you like, isn’t it? Keep it all risk-free and si too !”

He steps inside, his dark eyes flashing “You don’t like to fuck me, Finley?”

My heart beats so quickly, I fear Iyou I likethat You won’t look me in the eye now!”

He closes the distance between us How he reek

s of alcohol His potent breath sends me back to my childhood, makes me tremble

“You’re a liar” The words are like velvet, and his face is set like stone

“No, I’o away froht and then recoil as fear pounds through me

“Telltell me, Finley Make it easy”

“I want you, and I hate it I hate you!”

“Tell ht there” His finger points to my throat I can’t s His hands run down rave as all the universe

I can say nothing I’ve ht in moss I’ll never break free ofand still I crave him