Page 26 of Stealing Forever (Bridge Point Bears Baseball #1)

I’m startled awake, a sheen of sweat layering over my skin as I sit up in bed. The room is dark, but Hailey’s fire-hued hair is fanned out over the pillow on what I’m hoping to permanently call her side of the bed.

The sight of her comforts me, even while in a state of fear. I can’t remember the dream, but I know the way it made me feel.

Uneasy.

Inadequate.

Like disaster is looming just off in the distance.

Quietly, I toss my legs over the edge of the bed, rubbing my hand down my face. I need a cold bottle of water to ease the edge, then I’ll go back to bed.

The flooring is cool on my feet as I enter the kitchen, squinting as I pull open the fridge and am assaulted by the light. Chugging down one of the cold bottles of water, I crumple it and toss it into the nearby trash can before I head back upstairs.

Entering the room, I’m ready to crawl back under the sheets. I push back the covers, stopping for a minute to look down at the woman sleeping contentedly.

It’s crazy to me that less than six months ago, she wasn’t in my life at all, and now, in the span of the last few weeks, so much has changed between us.

It’s hard to pinpoint a time frame where my view of her shifted from just being Sailor’s nanny into realizing my attraction to her was more than just a physical one, but I think it happened much earlier than I care to admit.

The only thing that’s been standing in my way is myself. Even though I’m terrified that if I were to lose Hailey, Sailor would inevitably lose her too. I still feel this is a necessary risk for both of us.

Hailey is everything I’ve ever wanted—ever hoped for.

She’s not only perfect for me, but perfect for Sailor, too.

She’s proven time and time again just how much she loves my daughter.

Not because she has to, but because she wants to.

I never once fathomed that a woman stepping into our home to become our nanny would be capable of such an incredible maternal relationship with my daughter, but then again, there’s no one else in the world like Hailey Shea.

Slipping into the bed beside her, the mattress dips from my weight, and I scoot closer, tucking my arm around her midsection. She grumbles in her sleep as I pull her tight against me, but snuggles into my chest further, fitting against my body in the perfect little spoon.

The feel of her skin against mine instantly makes me hard, images of her writhing beneath me earlier flash through my mind, and the contentment I went to bed with reignites into desperation.

Gliding the back of my hand down the side of her breast, my fingertips trace over her stomach, pausing briefly at the waistband of her cotton underwear before I easily move them aside.

Spreading her lips, I find her clit and start tracing small circular motions with my middle finger. I toy with it lazily until she starts to rock her hips in her sleep, unknowing where the pleasure is coming from, only recognizing that her body should be chasing it.

I strum my fingers against her center, pulling up the wetness she’s leaking until it coats her sensitive bundle, and I intensify my ministrations.

She moans, pressing her ass back against my dick, and seconds later sucks in a sharp breath when I press a finger inside of her.

“Declan,” she moans, my name like a prayer on the tip of her tongue.

My lips trace the shell of her ear. “Shhh. You’re such a good girl, sweetheart. Your body is so wet and ready for me already, even when you’re asleep. Is this what I have to look forward to night after night?”

She hums in agreement, pressing against me more. “Keep going,” she whimpers.

My finger never strays from her clit. “This pussy is so wet, I could have slid right inside you and fucked you while you slept. Would you like that, sweetheart? To wake up with me inside you?”

“Yes,” she moans. “More.”

“Or maybe we’ll just go to sleep tonight with my dick in your heat.

Warming it, keeping it cozy all. Night. Long.

” I enunciate every word, pride blooming in my chest at how with each sentence that comes out of my mouth, Hailey grows wetter.

“You’re such a good girl, you’d let me do that, wouldn’t you? Make us both feel good.”

“My God, Declan, please. I need you,” she pleads. “I need you inside me.”

“ Fuck , sweetheart. How can I deny you when you beg so beautifully?”

Shoving her panties down, I push my sweatpants down, too, and let my dick spring free. Hitching her leg up over mine, I spread her, sliding the tip in her arousal to lubricate it.

She’s making a mess out of me as I glide my shaft from her tight pussy to her ass. “You’re so fucking wet, Hailey, I don’t even need extra lubricant to get you ready. Already so fucking drenched for me.”

The head of my dick rubs against her, and I wish I could see the pleasure on her face, but the anticipation of fucking her from behind has my balls tightening prematurely.

Feeling like I’m in danger of coming without even putting it in, I reach over her hip, my fingers diving between her legs to play with her clit more, winding her up because I know this won’t last as long as I’d like it to.

She makes me feral, unable to stop myself from getting off the moment I’m inside her.

Holding my dick at the base, I align myself, lifting her leg higher as I push inside, groaning in pleasure as she cries out.

“Fuck! Oh my God, Declan!”

Her cunt is impossibly tight from this angle, and I have to squeeze my eyes shut to stop from coming. “Dig your nails into my leg, sweetheart.”

“What?” she asks, breathless and confused.

“You feel too fucking good. Dig your nails into my leg.”

She does, and the bite of her fingernails is enough to hold me off. “Goddammit,” I curse.

“I need you to move, Declan. Fuck me, please .”

So for the third time tonight, I oblige what my girl wants and I rock my hips.

“Where are we going?” Hailey’s contagious laughter bubbles through my car as we drive away from the house, her vision eliminated by the black silk scarf covering her eyes.

It's been a week since the day everything changed between us, and I have no idea how I convinced myself for so long that she wasn’t everything I wanted. It’s been a long few days, and last night I decided I couldn’t wait any longer to take her out.

After making a quick, last-minute phone call with the promise of a fully paid-for round-trip ticket, dinner delivery, and a place to stay, Hartley agreed to fly up for the night to watch Sailor so I could take her sister on a proper date.

Money well spent, in my opinion.

“You’ll see,” I tease, squeezing her thigh.

She looks amazing in a hunter green mini dress that hugs every single one of her curves. She almost changed out of it, but I convinced her not to when I slid my hand up her thigh and whispered a few pretty words while I made her feel good.

I thought nothing was sexier than when she came, but then I got to witness it in the mirror, while she was fully clothed, after watching my fingers thrust relentlessly under her dress.

Fuck, that will forever be ingrained in my mind.

“Can I have a hint?” The playfulness in her tone matches the smile on her face.

“We have a twenty minute drive.”

“That’s the worst hint ever.” She laughs. “Give me another?”

“You’re overdressed.”

“Declan!” she squeals. “I told you to let me change!”

“Not a chance, sweetheart.” My fingers dig deeper into her thigh. “This dress is like a slow torture that’ll keep my dick hard all night.”

“You’re killing me.”

“Not as much as it’s going to kill me not to sink into you the second we’re out of this car.”

She laughs again before changing the subject.

Our conversation flows easily as we spend the next several minutes traveling out of Bridge Point and into the countryside of Deerbrook Valley, where Gareth Fox’s family owns a picturesque lakeside ranch.

Wanting a unique place for our first official date, I called in a favor.

She has no idea I have a full picnic dinner in the trunk, or that Hartley packed an overnight bag for her, just in case we decide to stay in the guest cabin instead of going home.

The road turns from smooth asphalt to bumpy gravel as I turn down the unmarked road. Up ahead, an archway with a sign reading Fox Den Ranch acts as a beacon on where to go.

“Maybe I’ve watched too many true crime shows, but is this the part where you murder me, Declan?” Hailey asks, her fingers floating up to the blindfold, preparing to lift it.

“We’re almost there, keep that on.” I touch her gently, lacing our fingers together before I bring the back of her hand to my lips.

“Okay.” Her voice is small, but she bites her lip, suppressing a smile.

When I pull my car off to the side of the lake, the sun’s beginning its descent to the horizon. The timing couldn’t be more perfect.

Hopping out, I pop the trunk before walking around to Hailey’s side and opening the door. I grab her hand and help her out, then guide her with my palm against the small of her back.

We walk down to the dock, where two wooden rocking chairs wait for us.

Before I lift her blindfold, I kiss her deeply. She sighs in contentment, then I take a step back.

Lifting the black silk from her eyes, I watch as they light up while she takes in her surroundings. “Where are we?” she asks in wonder.

“Fox Den Ranch. The Fox family owns it.”

She’s quiet as she takes in our surroundings, and for some reason, that makes me a little unsure I made the right decision in bringing her here for our first outing alone. “I know it’s not the traditional dinner and a movie?—”

“It’s perfect,” she cuts me off. Turning toward me, she wraps her arms around my middle. “Have you heard of the love languages?”

My brows raise to my forehead. “Uh, I don’t think so?”

“There are five love languages, and each individual person tends to favor one or two. Words of affirmation, physical touch, acts of service, receiving gifts, and quality time.”

“Your love language is words of affirmation.”

Hailey tosses her head back and laughs. “I think that’s only with you , but yes, that’s a newly discovered love language. Quality time has always been my number one.”

I tighten my hold on her waist, then kiss her cheek. “Then I guess I planned a pretty good first date after all. Because it’s just you, me, and the lake for the rest of the night.”

“I love that.” She beams, and it’s prettier than the rays of the golden hour sun reflecting off the lake.

I leave her standing on the dock and go back to the car to grab the supplies out of the trunk.

After setting up the picnic blanket near the side of the lake, I pull out the cooler I packed and begin arranging our food options—a charcuterie board I put together, since she liked the last one I made so much, and a few drink options, not knowing what she’s in the mood for.

When she joins me, she finds a seat on the blanket, then nudges my backpack with her foot. “You really do bring this thing everywhere you go.”

“A guy has to have some way to cart all his crap around. This time it’s packed with your stuff, though.” I start making her a plate, putting a little bit of everything on it.

“My stuff?” she questions as I pass it to her.

“Yeah.” I grin, picking up a plate for myself. “Rented the guest house for the night, so if you decide we should stay, we’ll stay. But if you’d like to go back, we can do that instead. Or if you get cold, you have a change of clothes.”

“You thought of all that for me?” Hailey looks stunned, and it makes me wonder something.

“I thought of all that for purely selfish reasons. Has a man ever taken you on a getaway, sweetheart?”

Her eyes widen for a second before she looks down at the plate in her hands. “Nope. Never.”

The familiar feeling of possessiveness sparks within me. “Lucky me. I get to be the one who shows you how a real man treats a woman.”

I don’t ask Hailey for more details about her past relationships. Frankly, they don’t matter one iota to me because after just one week of intimacy with this woman, I can tell you there’s no way in hell I’m ever letting her go.

Thoughts of fear and uncertainty went out the window by day three. She’s what I want for both me and Sailor.

And I’ll take things at whatever pace she wants to go at, so long as I don’t have to ever give her up.

She thinks about what I said for a minute before a mischievous smile blooms across her face. Setting her plate down, she pushes up to her knees and faces me. “Oh, yeah?” she taunts. “But what if I want to show you how a woman treats a man?”

Her hands move to my belt and she looks up at me from under her lashes, and I know in that moment I’m well and truly fucked.

There’s no way I’m not falling for her at a much faster rate than what’s probably acceptable, but apparently that saying rings true: when you know, you know.

Grabbing her backside in both hands, I yank her toward me, forcing her to collapse onto me, and we roll backward, my back hitting the blanket on top of the soft earth. Her hair floats down around us, her eyes burning with desire.

Before I pull her to me for a kiss, I state with certainty, “Then I guess we’ll both have a very happy life together, sweetheart.”