Page 23 of Stealing Forever (Bridge Point Bears Baseball #1)

I knew I missed my sister, but the magnitude of how deep the ache was didn’t dawn on me until I spent the entire day with her.

Obviously, being a twin naturally means you’re inseparable for your entire childhood, but Hartley and I have been inseparable throughout our adulthood as well, up until I moved to Bridge Point to finish college.

That decision didn’t come lightly, and the only reason I had to stay was because it seemed unbearable to leave her.

In the end, she forced me to go.

We’ve seen each other a few times here and there, but it’s almost as though the emptiness gets buried when we’re apart, making it manageable to do the day-to-day monotony without realizing there’s a piece missing.

Some call it codependence, but we call it a soul tie.

Mine and Hartley’s evening started off with massages, which we booked as a couples massage so we could chat the whole time.

Lying on the massage table with tears streaming from my eyes and onto the floor because of so much laughter was exactly what the doctor ordered, and it made me feel whole again.

After our massages, we went to the rooftop and bowled a few games, enjoying a couple of fruity drinks while groups of men kept making eyes at Hartley. She, of course, didn’t entertain them, fiercely loyal to Owen, even though I’m one hundred percent certain he’s not loyal to her.

While she drank several drinks, I cut myself off after two in hopes of getting back to the hotel room early to speak to Declan. The unknown of what that kiss meant to him has been lingering on my mind since it happened, making it hard to fully focus on anything else.

I wonder if he knows we were caught on camera and have gone viral yet again.

When Hartley checked her social media, it was the first thing we saw on the home screen. My cheeks flamed as I watched the replay, the moment that I’ll forever cherish captured in several different angles and uploaded for everyone to see.

With the first viral video, Declan didn’t seem to have too big of a reaction, but with a more intimate moment caught on camera, I’m worried this will force his hand into backtracking on whatever this is between us.

It’s entirely possible that the kiss was a one-off. A heat of the moment thing that he never intends to happen ever again.

I wouldn’t blame him if it was, but God, I hope it isn’t.

Kissing Declan was as sweet as getting caught in the rain on a warm summer night. It made my heart swoon and my panties melt, and was the one thing that finally felt right about leaving behind my life and starting new in Bridge Point.

Now, as I sneak into the hotel room after making sure Hartley was safely picked up by her boyfriend, I know Sailor will be asleep, but I’m praying Declan isn’t.

It’s past ten, and as I push open the door, the room is dark and quiet—not even the TV is on.

He’s gone to bed.

With a subtle sigh, I step further inside and close the door quietly behind me. The lock engages automatically, the electronic mechanism whining, but instinctively, I secure the dead bolt, too.

My steps are quiet across the carpet as I head to where my suitcase is so I can grab my pajamas and hit the shower, but once I’m parallel with the bed, I hear my name.

“Hailey.” Declan’s deep timber rattles through my heart, and I turn to look at him, my eyes only semi-adjusted, but I can make out his silhouette as he lies in bed.

With the blankets pooling around his waist, his Adonis-like chest is bare and on full display as he relaxes with one hand under his head.

“Did I wake you?”

“No.” He shakes his head. “I was waiting for you.”

“Oh.” My voice goes quiet. The only thing I can hear is my heartbeat in my ears.

“Do you want to take a shower, then we can talk?” His gruff whisper sends the butterflies in my stomach fluttering in a frenzy.

“We can talk now.” I’d rather use the shower as an excuse if I need a moment. I’m not sure what to expect.

“Okay, let’s go into the bathroom so we don’t wake Sailor.”

My heart rate quickens knowing what happened last time we were in the bathroom together. But I agree, this conversation should be had in private, even if Sailor is fast asleep. On the off chance she wakes up, whatever is going to be said does not need to be said in front of little ears.

With a lump in my throat, I follow Declan inside the bathroom and watch as he flips the lock.

No sooner are we locked in, does he take a couple steps forward, his hand sweeping beneath my hair to wrap behind my neck.

Before I can articulate another thought, his lips are on mine, claiming them more possessively than before.

He tilts me, bending me to his will, and all I can do is succumb to the high of it all.

If I thought he took my breath away earlier on the baseball field, I was wrong, because at this point I’m certain the only oxygen I’m intaking is his. My head swims, and a bliss-filled tremor racks through me as I forget all about all of the obstacles standing in our way.

Declan kisses me like I’m the most precious thing in the world, taking his time exploring my mouth, keeping me rooted firmly on the ground so my body doesn’t float away in euphoric bliss.

A moan rattles through my throat, and I can feel myself melting—my heart transforming into something that only beats for him.

It terrifies me, because then that means he has the ability to break it.

Breaking the kiss, Declan rests his forehead against mine, breathing heavily. “I’ve been waiting to do that again all day.”

“So it wasn’t a one-time thing?” I ask hesitantly, squeezing my eyes shut.

We stay pressed together, neither of us creating more distance.

“Open your eyes and look at me, sweetheart.” His tone is firm—low and commanding. Something dips in my stomach as I open my eyes, meeting his piercing gaze. “Do you want it to only be a one-time thing?”

“No.” The word comes out rushed.

Declan laughs, then kisses me with a soft peck again. Not ready for him to pull away, I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer, bringing his lips back to mine. He groans deeply, then lowers himself enough to lift me into his arms.

My legs wrap around his back, and he carries me to the bathroom counter, effortlessly setting me on top of it. He pulls my hips forward so I’m on the edge, then aligns our groins. His hard length settles between us, and without another thought, I rock my hips into it.

“ Fuck , you have no idea what you do to me, Hailey.”

“I want you,” I tell him in a frenzy, my fingers furiously drifting across his body.

He thrusts his hips, his shaft hitting the sensitive part of my body over and over as he glides it against me. There are too many layers between us—his sweatpants, my sundress and panties.

His lips move to my neck, nipping and licking up the column of it as his palm kneads my breast. “You’re so sexy. The things I want to do to you—” he groans “—God, I want to taste every square inch of your skin.”

“Please,” I whimper. My hands trail down to his waistband, and I’m about to reach my hand inside when he catches my wrist.

“Good things come to those who wait, sweetheart.” His teeth skate across my skin. Holding my wrist, he gently pulls it behind my back, forcing my back to arch and my hips to push into him further.

We moan in unison at the rough contact.

Pushing my dress to my waist, he bunches it up and slowly—tortuously—he slides himself against me. The flick of his hips sends an ache through my core every time his length hits my sensitive clit.

I’m desperate for more of him—all of him.

“Declan,” I whine, my eyes rolling back.

“You’re so perfect, Hailey. Such a good girl letting me dry hump the fuck out of you. Do you like the way it feels, sweetheart? I’m so hard for you. Do you feel what you’re doing to me?”

“Yes,” I moan. “I want more, Declan. I want all of you. I want you inside of me.”

“I want that too, sweetheart. I want nothing more than to have this tight little cunt soaking and milking my dick. I’m going to make you feel so good.”

Holy shit.

His words send a jolt of arousal through me, and the telltale signs of an orgasm building tingle.

Catching my lips again, Declan kisses me, and it’s as desperate as I feel.

Full of teeth clashing and heavy moans peppering through every stroke of our tongues.

His hips never stop moving, thrusting and rocking against me so intensely, all I can do is squeeze my legs around him tighter and free-fall when my orgasm crashes into me.

Crying out his name, I toss my head back, stars overtaking my vision.

He releases my wrist and moves his hand to my hair, pulling my head back to him and catching every whimper and moan I give him through my climax.

His hips work in time with my incoherent chants, and seconds later, he grunts long and hard, his head falling to my shoulder.

It takes several minutes for us to catch our breath. My legs stay wrapped around Declan’s hips, my hand on his shoulder as he keeps his head on mine.

“You’re absolutely perfect. Trust me when I say that the moment we’re truly alone, I’m going to worship your body, sweetheart. I’ll take my time with you and give you everything you deserve.”

I lean back to look at him, and he lifts his head. His eyes sparkle, and with a quick glance down, I notice his sweatpants are saturated near the waistband from his release, and pride blooms in my chest.

I did that. He wants me just as badly as I want him.

But I still have doubts. There will be so much working against us if we give this a chance, the biggest thing being Sailor. If Declan and I don’t work out, how could I still be her nanny? Losing them would be devastating…

But not giving us a chance would be even more soul-crushing.

When our eyes meet, I ask, “You’re sure about this? What about?—”

He cuts me off with a kiss. “Yeah, sweetheart, I’m sure. I’ve lied to myself for months about not wanting you, and I’m done. We’ll figure it out as we go. This is just the beginning for us.”