Page 21 of Declan (Men of Clifton, Montana #53)

After Declan walked her back to the studio, she kissed his lips, then watched as he strolled along the sidewalk to the sheriff’s office. As she entered the studio, she went to pull the door shut, but someone pulled at it and she turned to see Stephen.

“I thought we agreed you’d wait outside for Jenny,” Elise said.

“Come on, Elise. It’s damn cold out here. Just get her and I’ll be on my way.”

Elise sighed. “Alright, but only because it’s so cold.”

“Thank you.” He stepped inside and leaned against the counter.

“Erica, would you get Jenny please?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Elise stared at Stephen as he narrowed his eyes at her. She raised her eyebrows.

Stephen stared at her intently, a smirk curling up one corner of his lips. “I thought you were smarter than that, Elise,” he said, his voice dripping with condescension.

“Smarter than what?” Elise responded, her brow furrowing in confusion.

“You have to know that Cavanaugh is only taking you out because you went out with me. It’s payback for me taking someone from him,” Stephen explained, his tone laced with a knowing arrogance.

“Oh, you mean, Dawn?” she replied, feeling a surge of satisfaction as she noticed the flicker of surprise on his face before he let out a laugh.

“So, he told you. No matter what he’s told you, they were having an affair,” Stephen asserted, his voice lowering conspiratorially.

“I saw him leaving the house one day when I came home early. He didn’t see me because I stayed back, watching as Dawn stood at the door.

.. in her robe, waving at him as he got into his cruiser.

He had no reason to be there, Elise. Absolutely none. ”

“Did you ask your wife why he was there?” Elise challenged, her arms crossing over her chest defensively.

“Of course, I did. She gave me some cockamamie story about him fixing a busted pipe because she couldn’t get a hold of me. That’s bullshit,” he retorted, his voice tinged with incredulity.

“Why would it be bullshit? You think your wife lied to you?” Elise pressed, raising an eyebrow skeptically.

“Yes, she lied. I’d see her looking at him all the time. Hugging him when they’d see each other out somewhere. He was screwing her,” Stephen snarled, a bitter edge to his words.

“You have a problem, Stephen. You never see the good in anyone. Maybe that’s exactly why Declan was there—” Elise began but was cut off.

“She was in her robe!” he snarled, his frustration boiling over.

“What time was it?” Elise inquired, trying to maintain her composure.

“Close to noon. Dawn was always dressed and up by eight,” Stephen replied, his voice tinged with certainty.

“And you think that proves they were having an affair?” Elise questioned, her voice steady.

“I know they were, and if you were smart, you’d get the fuck away from him. He’s not interested in you. He’s just toying with me,” Stephen insisted, his eyes narrowing.

Elise shook her head slowly; disbelief etched across her face. “I don’t believe that.”

“Then ask him about why he was there when she had her robe on. I can guarantee he’ll lie. Look, since I took Dawn from him, he took you from me,” Stephen declared, his tone accusatory.

Elise laughed softly. “I wasn’t yours for him to take. We went out twice, Stephen. Twice.”

“Do you think that matters to him? He wouldn’t care if we’d only gone out once. You were with me, and he wanted payback.”

Elise shook her head. She knew he was lying.

“Just how would I know if Declan was lying about seeing your wife? He’s already told me they weren’t seeing each other.”

“He lied.” Stephen shook his head. When Jenny ran into the room, Stephen picked her up and looked at Elise before stopping at the door. “Eventually, you’ll find out.”

Elise sighed as the door closed behind him. The man had a problem and as much as she hated it, she was going to tell Declan about it and see his reaction. He wouldn’t lie to her. Would he?

****

Saturday afternoon, Declan climbed the stairs to Elise’s apartment, anticipation building with each step.

As he knocked on the door, his mind flooded with images of her gorgeous body and how much he wanted to be with her.

He frowned when she didn’t answer, so he knocked again, calling out her name, then smiled when the door opened.

Elise, clad only in a silk robe that seemed to cling to every curve, greeted him. “I’m sorry. I’m running late. Come in,” she said as she opened the door wider.

“I hope you made sure it was me before you opened the door in your robe.”

Elise laughed, the sound making his pulse race. “I looked first. Sit down.”

Declan’s fingers twitch with barely restrained hunger as he gripped the silky fabric of Elise’s robe, his knuckles whitening with his need for her.

The sash gave way, slithering open to reveal her naked body, all creamy skin and trembling anticipation.

His rough palms slid up her sides, mapping every dip and curve like he was memorizing every inch of her.

Elise arched into his touch, her nipples hardening into tight little peaks under his calloused fingers, begging for his mouth. But Declan dragged his hands down slowly, savoring the way her breath hitched, before gripping her hips almost hard enough to bruise.

“I need you so much, Elise. I will never get enough of you.”

Elise practically ripped his T-shirt over his head, dropping it to the floor before moving to unbuckle his belt.

Declan toed his boots off as she slid his zipper down in one swift motion making him hiss in a breath.

As she pushed his jeans down, she dropped to her knees and slid her mouth over his thick cock.

Her tongue swirled around the swollen head, then sucked him deeper.

Declan couldn’t take it much longer; he felt like he was hanging by a thread. With a groan, he stepped back, picked her up, carried her to the bedroom and placed her on the bed.

“I need you. Now.”

Elise lay on the mattress, and spread her legs for him. “Please, Declan.”

Declan rolled on a condom, put his knee on the bed, but lowered his face between her legs, sucking at her clitoris until she cried out in pleasure.

He moved up her body, placing his lips on hers, and slammed into her with one brutal thrust, her scream was half-pain, half-ecstasy, her nails clawed at the sheets as he set a punishing pace, driving her closer to the edge.

Declan leaned down to nip her shoulder, as he continued to take her hard.

Elise’s legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him in tighter as her body started shaking, and he could feel her clenching around him like a vice as she came.

Declan followed her over, coming hard. They collapsed into each other’s arms. Taking one final taste of Elise’s lips before rolling onto his back, Declan knew they had something special; a sensual dance entwined with tender emotion that would forever change him.

As they lay there trying to catch their breath, Declan ran his hand down her soft belly, then looked at her.

“You probably need another shower,” he said with a grin.

“If I do, you do.”

Declan chuckled. “Fine by me.”

He sat up, stood, then put his hand out for her. She placed hers in his and he pulled her to her feet, then they walked from the bedroom and entered the bathroom.

****

Elise pulled on a T-shirt and a pair of jeans, then tugged her sweater on as she watched Declan pulling on his boots. He stood, walked toward her, and kissed her lips.

“I want you to spend the night with me, Elise.”

“I’d love that. Let me just throw some things in a bag.”

“Okay, darlin’, I’ll be right here. Pack warm clothes. Maybe we can take a ride in the snow.”

She practically ran to her bedroom. After grabbing a small overnight case, she tossed in some extra clothes, her toothbrush and paste, then just as she was about to close it, she opened a drawer and removed a bathing suit.

She’d love to swim in the pool with snow falling around it.

She entered the room to see him staring out the window, looking down on the street, then turned when he heard her.

“Did you get what you need?”

“Yes.”

“You know you didn’t have to pack any clothes.”

“I will not walk around your house naked,” she said.

“No one but me would see you, but you could always wear one of my T-shirts. I like you in those.” He stepped closer to her, kissed her cheek, then slid his lips to her ear. “I like you out of them too,” he whispered then nipped the lobe of her ear, making her shiver.

Elise slid her arms around his waist. “I can do that.”

“Did I ever tell you that you’re easy?”

She laughed. “Only with you, cowboy. Only with you.”

Declan grinned as he helped her with her coat, picked up her suitcase, and after locking the door, they walked down the steps, climbed into his truck and he drove them to his house.

“The snow is getting thicker,” Elise murmured.

“The weather station is calling for up to nine inches.”

Elise snorted out a laugh, but when Declan looked at her with a raised eyebrow, she shook her head.

“You’re not going to get away with that. You laugh and won’t tell me why.”

“When you said the weather station was calling for up to nine inches, I thought, I had that earlier.”

Declan laughed. “You’re good for my ego.”

When they pulled up to his driveway, he drove through, then pushed the button to close the gate. Elise watched it over her shoulder.

“Are you kidnapping me?”

“Yes. At least until tomorrow.”

“Okay. Just checking.”

“You’d better hope the snow doesn’t get too deep or you’ll be stuck with me.”

“No one I’d rather be stuck with.”

Declan reached for her hand, lifted it to his lips, and kissed her knuckles. He pulled the truck up to the garage, pushed a button and the door slowly rose, then he drove inside.

Elise opened her door, stepped out and stared at the other vehicles in the garage. Sitting in one bay was his SUV cruiser, another bay sat an UTV, an ATV, and a snowmobile, and in the last one was a small bulldozer.