Page 173 of A Convenient Secret

Jonathan’s phone pings, and he checks it before he looks at me wide-eyed. “That’s ten percent above the agreed price.”

“A bit of an incentive to give me the keys and leave finally.”

“Declan,” Lily warns.

“Jonathan, technically I own this place, and you’re trespassing.”

His phone rings.

“That’s probably my lawyer to discuss the paperwork.” I gesture for him to answer.

“Hello?” He listens, and without disconnecting the call, he drops the keys into my hand and leaves.

“That was reckless. Not to say rude.” Lily turns to me.

“I couldn’t wait any longer.”

“To own a house?”

“To be alone with you.”

Chapter 34

Lily

Iroll my eyes, but a smile stretches across my face. I’ve tried all day long to resist, but it is a lost battle.

A devil on my shoulder is reminding me he’s being crazy to uproot his life for me. That he will regret it and hate me for that.

But leaning into that fear will rob me of potentially a lifetime of happiness with this grumpy, controlling man whom I love.

When he left last week without explanation, I stopped crying, my sadness replaced by anger and frustration.

When the first bouquet arrived with his “Just because” card, I was torn. A part of me got even more upset about his complicated way of communicating, or lack of it.

But a much bigger, significant part of me accepted that he needed to do things his way.

I place my hand over his where he is leaning against the kitchen island. “I’m sorry I ever compared you to Tim. I know that whatever you did, you never meant to hurt me.”

He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. “Lily, I know I still have years to prove to you that you can trust me. I understand that you must have reservations, and all of this seems too fast, too spontaneous. Believe me, I feel the latter too.”

I smile. “I like spontaneous.”

He yanks me to him. “Then I really hope you like to be fucked right now. Because I can’t wait another minute without being deep inside you.”

Oh my. His arms around me dissolve every last hesitation I might have harbored. I missed his touch so much. “There is no furniture here.”

He pivots us and lifts me to the counter. “No problem.” Bringing his forehead to mine, he traces my lower lip with his thumb.

The anticipation crackles in the air. My heart thumps in my temples. It’s almost like we’re doing it for the first time.

I slide his jacket off his shoulders, and he lets it drop to the ground. He unzips my dress and traces myshoulders, my clavicle, and then my arms as he pulls the top down to my waist.

His gaze drops to my bra, and a guttural sound makes its way from deep in his throat. “My wife has the most perfect tits.” He cups them, flicking his thumb over my hard nipples. “So beautiful.”

“Declan,” I moan, arching my back, his touch not enough.

He dips his head to my neck, kissing me gently. “What does my Seagull need?”