Work Text:
The worst part of my job was the parties. A party for Declan signing on for a new show, a party for the first episode, a party for 10 million viewers, a party for new years and now a party for the interview with Rupert Campbell-Black. Dozens of Declan’s friends, family and coworkers were packed into the bar. Including me. His lovely and trusted assistant.
The buzz of the crowd was piercing into my brain and a migraine was just beginning to crest. The sickly smell of cigarettes and booze was only making it worse. I pushed through the clusters of people and scanned the faces looking for the mustache I adored so much.
I finally spotted him. He was laughing with some colleagues when he turned, I followed his eyesight to Rupert and watched as he began to saunter towards him. It wasn’t ideal to interrupt these two but the pounding in my head was overriding professionalism.
“- young enough to be your daughter.” Declan spoke and I froze in my spot. Not a conversation I want to interrupt. Rupert nodded and mumbled a response before his eyes locked with mine. He gestured his head and Declan turned and furrowed his eyebrows at me.
“What’s wrong?”
“Headache. Are you okay if I go?” I was squinting at him now. The lights of the bar felt like needles in my eyes.
“Yes of course, let me drive you home.”
I went to protest but Rupert spoke up first.
“No, let me.” He said as he placed a hand on Declan’s shoulder. “Least I can do after today. Darling, meet me out front in 5?”
I glanced at Declan and when he gave me a small nod I addressed Rupert again.
“That would be great Mr Campbell-Black thank you.” I didn’t listen for a response and instead turned and forced my way out to the cold air of the night. Working on Valentine's Day already felt pathetic and now I was being driven home by the man who my boss had promised to embarrass on live TV… and then didn’t. I was sure tomorrow would be a bad day at the office at the hands of Tony.
I leaned against the brick wall and enjoyed the silence for a few moments before I heard gravel crunching on shoes. I had assumed it was Rupert but was shocked to see Declan making his way towards me. He leaned against the wall with me and pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
When he blew the smoke out he waved it away from me with his hand. Cute.
“You’re the only one who hasn’t asked me why I didn’t destroy him.”
“None of my business.” I shrugged. He took another long drag. “Smoking is bad for you Mr.O’Hara.”
“Oh but that’s your business?” He joked as the smoke escaped his mouth. “Here you take it. Can help with headaches.”
I don’t know what prompted me to take the stick from his extended hand but I did. I brought it up to my mouth.
“I have no idea how to do this actually.” I laughed and went to hand it back but he shook his head.
“It’s easy. Just inhale and exhale.”
I rolled my eyes at him but placed the butt back in my mouth. His shining brown eyes were staring at me.
“Inhale. Like you're sucking on a straw.” I followed his instructions and his chin lifted in inspection. “Good. Now blow out.” The smoke escaped my lips. For a split second my headache was gone. I hated when he was right.
I handed the cigarette back to him.
“Sorry I got my lip gloss on it.”
I expected him to put it out and light a new one but my heart stopped when he looked at the lip gloss stained stick and put it back in his own mouth. A smirk making its way onto his lips around it.
“Strawberry?”
I gasped. This was my boss. My boss knew what flavor of lip gloss I wore. My head was pounding again. I couldn’t even think of a response before his wife turned the corner to us.
“Declan I am ready.” She spoke before walking towards his yellow car. Her long skirt flowed around her ankles.
Declan without a word nodded at me, took another long drag of his cigarette and then turned towards his wife.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I’m fucking nervous.” Declan sighed as he leaned his head back against his seat. His hands were tightly wound around his steering will to the point where his knuckles had turned white.
“Declan O’Hara has nerves?” Charles laughed from his spot in the passenger seat. I was crammed in the back on our lovely little trip to confront Seb. I hadn’t seen the young journalist since I discovered Declan had quit and submitted my own notice.
Declan groaned and began chewing at his lips. His lips were chapped. They had been since this whole venturer journey began. He was licking his lips more than usual and now they were raw. Not that I was staring at his lips.
He came to a stop and put the car in park before exiting and addressing Seb. I don’t know why Declan was so stressed, Seb was obviously going to join our team. He hated Tony more than I did.
I slowly made my way out of the car and leaned against the side of it.
“Declan working with you was the best job I’ve ever had. What I’d like is to join you.”
I could see Declan’s shoulders visibly relax at the younger man's words. A few more words were exchanged before the two shook hands.
“Welcome aboard Sebastian.” I smiled from my spot.
The trio of men turned their attention towards me. Sebastians own smile grew and he walked past Declan and wrapped his arms around me. He lifted me slightly off the ground as he hugged me.
“Oh my favorite girl! So excited to be back with you.”
I giggled and patted his back. When we separated he kept an arm around me and returned his attention to my boss.
Declan’s eyes were glued to my shoulder where Sebastian had his hand resting. He always had an issue with people touching me.
“Charles let me give you a ride back to the dictatorship. See ya soon boss man.” Seb smiled before walking to his own car. I made my way around to the passenger seat silently thanking Seb for saving my knees.
As we drove back to the Priory I noticed how the tension had made its way back into his body.
“You aren’t happy.”
“What? Yes I am.”
“Your attitude and intense grip on the steering wheel say otherwise.”
At my call out he loosened his grip and rolled his shoulders. His tongue came out to wet his lips. Still chapped. I sighed and unbuckled my seat belt. I turned in the car and tried to reach for where my purse sat forgotten in the back seat.
“Woah woah what are you doing?” His voice held a slight panic. Always so bothered this one. I leaned further into the back as my fingertips slightly touched the strap. I felt the car swerve slightly and I nearly lost my balance when a large hand gripped my thigh. “Sit back down. Please.”
I plopped back into the seat and held my purse up like a prize.
“Why on earth would you do that while I am dri-” I interrupted him by shoving my chapstick into his hands. He looked confused for a second but eventually relented and applied it. “Cherry? What happened to strawberry?”
My eyebrows shot up. It had been over a month since that night at the bar and we had never brought it up after.
“Changes depending on my mood.” I shrugged.
“So this today? For what? Seeing Seb?”
“I KNEW IT!”
“What?” He questioned like he hadn’t just laid his cards out.
“You got all weird when he hugged me.”
“Just don’t want you to get hurt.” He was lying. I knew there was no point in pushing him but I knew this was a lie.
“He likes Taggie. You know. Your daughter.”
He scoffed and shook his head but didn’t respond to me. We continued into the drive of his house and when he put the car in park only then did he look at me.
“He likes Tag?”
I nodded.
He licked his lips one more time.
“I think I like the cherry.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was back at a bar. At least this time there wasn’t a party going on. Declan and I were in a quiet pub outside London. We hadn’t spoken in nearly an hour and he was nursing a whiskey. Maud had signed the divorce papers. His marriage was over. I shouldn’t be here. This was a deeply personal experience for him and yet here I was… because he asked me to.
“This is pathetic.” He mumbled as he slammed his empty glass down on the bar. “She left 8 fucking months ago and somehow I am still shocked that it’s over.”
I didn’t say anything. There was nothing to say. Declan had maintained a brave face about the separation from the moment Maud left the house the night of the town-hall. He had not once let his parenting falter. Never let the business fall to the side. He was as present as ever. No one would even notice that he had lost his wife. Except for me. I had noticed.
He was tired all the time, drinking more, red eyed and puffy cheeks. Declan O’Hara was heart broken. When he stepped out of the courthouse today I could see the cracks clearly. He needed a break. So when he suggested getting a drink at his favorite pub before the drive home I agreed immediately.
The sun was setting outside, we would be getting home very late tonight but I made no effort to rush him. A band was setting up on the small stage in the back and more patrons were making their way inside after a hard days work.
“Wanna get out of here?” He turned to the growing crowd. I thought for a second and looked at the tired eyes of my boss. The man that had been focused only on his duties for the past year. The man who only had a drink when the stress was too much. The man who hadn’t done anything for himself since the move to Rutshire.
“No. Let’s stay and dance a little.” I raised my hand to flag down the bartender and ordered a beer.
“Dance?” His bushy eyebrows were scrunched in confusion causing a wrinkle to form between them.
“You dragged me all the way to London on a Saturday. The least I can do is have some fun.”
That answer seemed to satisfy him and he ordered his own beer. The band started up and as the music flowed I could slowly see his shoulders begin to relax. His fingers began to drum against the bar and his head began to nod.
As the singer of the band finished up his song, the bar came to a quiet tone as he addressed the crowd.
“Now. This one wasn’t on our original setlist but we have the most famous Irish in the country in this pub right now so… this is Rattlin Bog for ya Mr. O’Hara.”
I cheered loudly with the crowd as Declan’s entire face turned bright red. The band started the familiar tune and I grabbed his hand and forced him away from the bar and into the crowd. We clapped along to the beat and sang along to the increasing speed of the verse.
Declan didn’t miss a single word and with every second the smile on his face grew. Thank god. I tried to keep up with the speed but after verse four my words became jumbled and I just started laughing.
“Oh come on! Ya working for an Irish ya gotta know this!” He yelled over the crowd before continuing. His accent was thicker now, almost like the joy was bringing his soul back. I continued to watch him as he let himself free for the first time in awhile. He looked so handsome like this.
This wasn’t the first time I had seen this Declan. I had gotten glimpses of it during our hours working together but this was the longest. This was Declan O'Hara, the man from Dublin who dreamed of being a journalist. Not Declan O’Hara CEO.
The band finished the song and switched into another lively tune and Declan continued to clap and bob his head.
“I am gonna get us some beers!” I shouted over the crowd and he nodded at me. I turned towards the bar and rested my arms against it while I waited for the bartender.
“I thought that was you.” An agitating voice said as it slid in next to me. “You’re in London and didn’t call?”
Sean, my ex, leaned against the bar staring at me. We had broken up years ago and somehow he still thought I carried even an ounce of care for him.
“I am here for a day.”
“With who? Your new boyfriend?” He laughed like it was impossible for me to move on.
“Yes actually.” I am a fucking moron. He must have sensed my apprehension because a smirk appeared on his face.
“I’d love to meet him.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I nodded and turned away from the bar and spotted Declan watching the band. I was about to be fired… but my pride was more important. I sauntered over to him, grabbed his arm and he turned towards me. His head cocked in confusion at the lack of beer in my hand.
“I am so sorry. I will explain later.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down to my level and attached our lips. He froze. Of course he did. His assistant just mauled him in a crowded pub after he signed divorce papers with no explanation. I was a horrible person.
I figured he would push me away but he eventually wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer. I could taste the whiskey and smoke on his lips. His mustache was tickling my lips but I oddly enjoyed it. His left hand traced up my body to cup my cheek and I tried to ignore the lack of metal on his ring finger as he moved his lips against mine. Suddenly things weren't about Sean at the bar or Maud at the courthouse. It was two people who enjoyed each other's company.
The claps of the crowd as the band finished their song is what finally separated us.
“Wow… she was never that into me mate.” Sean laughed as he put a hand on Declan’s shoulder. I had no idea at what point he had made his way over to us. Declan looked at the hand on his shoulder then at me. I tried to silently scream at him to just play along. He looked back at Sean and shrugged his hand off.
“Who are you?” His voice was gruff from our kiss. I could feel my cheeks heat up.
Sean was shocked at the lack of care Declan was giving him.
“I-I’m Sean. She and I dated a few years back before she moved.”
Declan nodded and turned towards me.
“Ready to head home love?” He was completely ignoring the man. God I could kiss him again. I nodded and he placed a hand on my waist and led me through the crowd and onto the street. When we were a significant ways away from the pub I stopped him.
“I am so sorry that was completely unprofessional of me. Sean cheated on me and I just freak when I see him and I said I was there with my boy-”
He placed his hands on my shoulders to stop my speech.
“It’s okay. I promise.” He smiled at me and I returned it. “Least I could do for dragging you to London on a Saturday right?”
I laughed at his call back to my earlier sentiment. His cheeks were red. I didn’t know from what but I was sure mine matched. I glanced at his lips.
“Shit I got lipstick on you.”
I reached into my bag for my handkerchief and blotted his lips. He let me wipe the remnants off as he stared down at me. My skin pricked up as my body reacted to him. I pulled the cloth away and he licked his lips almost like he was looking for the flavor again. Christ.
“Yea it tasted like Vanilla. Are all your lip products flavored?”
“Sure are.” I laughed.
“Well this has been my favorite I think. Although it could have been because of how much I tasted.” He teased me. My mouth dropped open.
“Okay get your jokes in now because the moment we are back in the Cotswolds I want NO mention of this day. Deal?”
“Deal.” He nodded before he placed his hand around me and continued walking towards his car. “I had fun with you today ya know?”
I looked at him in shock.
“No mention of it when we reach the Cotswolds, remember?” He added.
All I could do was nod.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Venturer had won. The evil of Corrinum was defeated and now Venturer held control over the regional broadcasts.
The entire team was in Rupert’s backyard celebrating. Champagne was flowing, there was a haze of smoke over the yard, and the music was loud. I had found my way up to a balcony. The music was muffled and it allowed me to actually enjoy the experience.
I was holding an untouched flute of champagne and enjoying people watching.
“You are meant to be celebrating.” The gruff Irish accent made me jump. Declan stood at the door back into the mansion. His own champagne flute in his hand.
“Taking my mandated break Mr. O’Hara.”
It had been just a few months since our kiss in London and we had not brought it up since… but things had changed.
Before we kept things pretty professional, minimal touches and a clear boundary set.
That was no longer the case. Touches lingered longer than necessary, conversations toed the line of flirty… that boundary was gone.
Declan walked over to stand with me at the ledge and looked over at the party.
“Congratulations Declan.” I smiled and raised my glass to him. It was the first time in my employment I had addressed him with his first name. He returned his attention to me and clinked his glass with mine and took a sip.
When I went to take my own I spilled it down my chin.
“Drunk already?” He laughed as I groaned
“No just a clutz.” I went to wipe my chin but paused when Declan’s thumb grazed my lips. He wiped along my bottom lip collecting the remnants of my spill. My heart was pounding and I was sure he could tell. He took his thumb to his own mouth and sucked on it for a second. I let out a small gasp. God this was sexual.
“Coconut with champagne… interesting.”
I was confused for a second until my brain flashed back to me applying my coconut flavored lip gloss in the mirror of Rupert’s bathroom before I came up here. He was tasting my lipgloss again.
My brain malfunctioned. I couldn’t think of a response. Every nerve in my body felt like it was on fire.
He smiled at me almost like he knew what I was thinking.
“Come on. Rupert wants to give a speech soon.”
I followed him as he led me down the stairs and back into the party. Once we were back with the crowd his hand latched onto my waist. When Rupert began his speech I expected him to let go but he just held on tighter.
He leaned over so that he could whisper in my ear.
“Can I drive you home?”
I looked up at him. His eyes held the same look they did in the pub. A playful look. I nodded and turned back towards Rupert and attempted to calm my nerves. I had been with Declan alone 100s of times and yet something had shifted.
The rest of the party passed in a blur. I didn’t touch another sip of champagne even as the people around me got drunker and drunker. Soon I found myself in the front seat of Declan’s car on the side streets of town.
We hadn’t spoken again at the party but his eyes were always on me. He was always an arms length away from me.
“You look beautiful tonight.” He spoke, finally breaking the silence.
“Thank you Declan.”
There it was again. His name. Not Mr. O’Hara… Declan. That last strand of professionalism gone.
He parked in front of my own home but neither of us moved. Normally I would throw a thank you his way and make my way inside but tonight was different.
“Do- Do you wanna come in for some tea?”
“Yea. That would be great.”
I fumbled with my keys as I went to unlock my door and his chuckle behind me made my head fall forward to the door.
“Stop making fun of me.”
I turned to face him and the glow of the street lights was giving him a halo effect. His eyes were brighter now that we were alone.
“I’m not making fun of ya love. Just think you are cute.”
Cute. My boss just called me cute.
He nodded his head towards the door as a cue for us to head inside. Somehow I managed to steady my hand enough to open the piece of wood. I was very grateful for the fact I had decided to clean my small cottage before the party tonight.
I threw my bag down on my couch and made my way into the kitchen with Declan following. I filled the kettle and placed it on the stove before turning it on.
I leaned back against the counter and looked at where Declan stood across from me leaned against the other counter. This was uncharted territory. He had never been in my house before. Almost like he could read my mind he stood up straight and walked towards me.
He was wearing my favorite suit of his. A simple matching black set with his favorite checkered print tie. Classic Declan O’Hara. His hands were in his pockets up to the moment he was an inch from me, his hand came up to brush the hair away from my ear and he leaned down next to it just like he had at the party.
“You look like a fucking angel right now.” His breath caused a chill to go down my spine and I could feel his lips smile as he noticed. He placed a small kiss to my ear before backing away and looking at me. “What are you doing to me?” He asked almost to himself.
The colliding sounds of the kettle and my wall phone ringing doused cold water on the small flame he had created in my kitchen. He took a step back and cleared his throat which allowed me to catch my breath.
“I’ll make the tea. You get the phone.” He suggested before moving to the stove. I nodded and moved myself. I picked up the phone.
“Hello?”
“Hey it’s Cailtin, is my dad there?”
My heart sank. I pulled the phone away from my ear and extended out to my boss.
“For you. It’s Caitlin.”
Declan turned with a confused look but made his way over. If his youngest was calling it was important. I moved to finish up the tea he had started. I didn’t listen to what Declan was saying to his daughter over the phone but I could tell he was confused… and maybe a little angry.
When he finally hung up I turned to look at him and saw the old Declan. The exhausted, tired and sad Declan.
“Maud’s at the house. She wants to see me.”
My heart leaped into my throat. Of course. Suddenly the realization of what we were about to do hits me. This was my boss.
“That's great!”
His brows furrowed.
“Great?”
“You can give your marriage another shot.”
“What the fuck are you even saying?”
“Declan. This…” I gestured between us. “... can never happen. I… I don’t want this to happen.”
He shook his head and ran a hand down his face.
“You are a bad liar.”
With that he turned and walked out of the kitchen. I jumped when my front door slammed shut. I felt nauseous. The man I admired so deeply was livid with me… and even though it was the right thing to let him go back to Maud I wished so deeply he had told me I was wrong and that he wanted me instead.
I dumped the half made tea down the sink and made my way to my bedroom praying my dreams tonight could silence the sound of my heartbreak.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next two days were a mix of distracting myself and intense heartbreak. Fred had announced at the party that all staff had the weekend off and normally I would ignore that and be at the O’Hara house bright and early the next day… but as the sun rose Saturday morning I didn’t move from my bed till the early afternoon and once I did I focused on every house chore I had been avoiding for the last few months. My bath was practically sparkling now.
When the sunrise of Monday forced its way past my curtains I groaned and rolled over in my bed. I had a 9am meeting to attend with the 3 founders of Venturer. The mere idea of seeing Declan brought the nausea back. I didn’t know how we moved on from this. I loved my job and everything Venturer was doing- but everything was ruined now. As I pulled on my outfit for the day I tried to focus on what I could control. Doing my duties. The Declan conversation could wait.
When I pulled up to Rupert’s home I ignored every racing thought that was racking my brain. Rupert was playing with his dogs when I approached him on the lawn. One of his labradors ran up to me and I kneeled down to give him some pets.
“You’re here early darling” He spoke as he made his way over.
“Haven’t worked in two days and I am eager to get back.”
“Ah yes Declan had mentioned you taking the weekend off. The man has been in a tizzy since he came back Friday night.”
I stopped petting the dog and looked up at him.
“Came back? Here?”
“Yes the poor bloke has been sleeping in my guest room since his grating ex wife made her way back to the Priory. A real snorer that one. Thank god you’re back, he is much less insufferable with you around.”
My brain hurt. He hadn’t stayed with Maud?
Rupert continued. “He finally left this morning to see her off to London. Should be back soon for the meeting. I have breakfast in the hall if you’d like some.” With that he walked into his foyer leaving me and the dogs on the lawn.
I stayed and gave the dogs attention until Fred’s red jaguar pulled up to the front. He smiled at me as he stepped out.
“Hello dear, where's Declan?”
Almost like fate, the familiar yellow car made its way into the drive. Fred looked at me with confusion.
“You came separately? When was the last time you lot did that?”
I forced a smile on my face. Did everyone notice we were inseparable? God I had become emotionally dependent on my boss.
Declan parked and got out of his car and immediately raced towards me completely ignoring his business partner waving hello. I finally stood to address him. It looked like this conversation was happening now. He grabbed my arm and dragged me away from Fred to the side of the house.
“Ow Declan let go.” I pulled away from him once we were away from prying eyes.
He looked pissed. His hair was disheveled and the bags under his eyes had made it evident he hadn’t slept well the last few days.
“Don’t quit.”
“What?” I questioned. He was losing his mind.
“If you are here to quit I am begging ya not to.” He looked at me with pleading eyes.
“Where are you even getting that idea?”
“You haven’t worked in two days I tho-”
“Fred gave us all the day off.” I reminded him. “I needed the time to clear my head. I figured you’d be with Maud.”
He groaned and turned around and began pacing. He was mumbling something but I couldn’t make it out. Rupert turned the corner and smiled when he saw us both.
“If you two are done we would like to have this meeting at some point today.” He laughed before turning around. I followed the taller man leaving Declan with his thoughts. I made my way inside towards the table where Freddy sat. I took my usual seat and soon Declan sat next to me. I tried to ignore the way his body heat felt and focus on the new office plans Fred was presenting.
Rupert’s own assistant Gerald joined us and asked if he and I could meet to discuss the monthly schedules. I excused myself from the trio and when I stood Declan reached for my hand.
“Meet me at the Priory tonight.” Was all he said before returning to his conversation.
As Gerald and I worked on the schedule my anxiety grew. I knew it was my job to give Declan the rundown of his schedule. Like I did every week. Yet our unfinished conversation from the lawn was what I knew would be the main topic of discussion. Not his working lunch with Lady Gosling on Thursday.
When we finished I packed up my papers and said goodbye to Rupert. He informed me that Declan and Freddy had taken their leave. So Declan was waiting for me. Great. I made the short drive to the man's house. There was the nausea again.
I took three deep breaths and finally made my way to his door and knocked. Declan answered immediately and let me in. I made my way to his office and pulled out the planner where his entire life lived.
“I have some new appointments that we weren’t aware of last week. Rupert needs to reschedule your dinner th-” His large hand covered the planner stopping my words in their tracks.
“Maud’s gone.” His voice was low. Barely above a whisper. My eyes welled with tears and I swallowed the frog in my throat. I attempted to continue.
“Rupert wants to reschedule for Saturday. You don’t have anything as of yet but I wanted to confirm with you.”
“Look at me.” He begged.
I blinked my tears away and turned to look at him. His eyes were dark and they held a pleading look.
“I don’t wanna talk about work.”
“Declan please. Don’t do this.” I begged him. I attempted to turn back to the planner but he grabbed my forearm.
“Please. Let me speak, say my peace and then if you wish to never speak of it again or to me again I promise you I will leave it at that.” I nodded for him to continue. “Maud came to the house to congratulate me. She… like Maud does… attempted to seduce me.”
The bile rose in my throat again.
“I denied her.” He spoke quickly. His thumb gently rubbed circles on my arm. “I told her she could stay to see the girls but our marriage was done.”
“So you went to Ruperts.” I mumbled, more to myself then to him, and closed my eyes in an attempt to ground myself.
“H-he told you.” He laughed a little. “I have not been able to stop thinking about our kiss.”
“It was a mistake.”
‘You’re lying.” He groaned and stepped away from me. Just like earlier he began to pace. I thought this would be the end of our conversation. That we could forget all about that stupid kiss in the pub. I went to speak again when he turned towards me and my breath caught in my throat. He held my eyes with his own. I felt like I was in a trance.
Just like in my kitchen a few nights ago he sauntered towards me. I backed up and my hips hit his desk. I placed my hands on the surface to steady myself just as he stood inches from me. He licked his lips as he stared down at me. I looked down, unable to look in his eyes any longer but his hands pulled my chin back up to look at him.
He leaned down slightly, our lips ghosting,testing. He pulled back just slightly to look in my eyes. He was searching them for something. He smiled slightly at whatever he saw then pressed his lips hard into mine. A grunt escaped me at the force. His hands moved from my skin to my waist and he lifted me to sit on his desk.
I heard something roll and hit the floor behind us but neither of us moved to see what it was. He stepped between my legs and deepened the kiss. I wrapped my arms around him and laced my fingers in his hair. His hands moved to my thighs and he lifted me off the desk. I wrapped my legs around him as he turned us and he walked forward till my back hit the wall.
He separated from my lips and began kissing down my neck to my collarbone.
“Declan… We can’t… your daughters.” I said breathless. God this man was good at this.
He stood up straight again and looked me in the eye.
“They left to Dublin to visit Patrick this morning. It’s just you and I.”
A shuddering breath escaped me. He leaned down to my ear, his breath casting over my earlobe and neck.
“I’ll stop if you want me too.”
“You’re my boss.”
He leaned back to address me again. He was holding onto the tether of wanting to continue our kiss while also making sure this is what I wanted. Ever the feminist that is Declan O’Hara
“Is that your only issue with this?”
“It’s a pretty big one.” I laughed.
“You work for Venturer. Rupert will sign your checks. If this all blows up you become Fred’s assistant.”
I was shocked. He had a plan? There were so many other worries but the promise of my job being safe eased my brain… and the man kissing down my neck helped too.
“I want you.” He spoke firmly. “Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. You.”
I gasped at his words. He finally reconnected our lips and led me through the house and up the stairs to his bedroom. He fumbled with the door knob behind me but finally opened it and we crashed into the room like a tornado. He tosses me onto the bed and I ran a hand against the soft cotton. I remember when he bought this new bed. He said he wanted all new bedroom furniture after Maud left… I am thankful for that now. I looked up at him just to catch him as he licked his lips.
“No flavor today.”
I looked at him in confusion for a moment before I realized. I hadn’t put on any lip products today.
“I was thinking about other things this morning.” I laughed as he fell on top of me.
“I have your chapstick on my desk so after I am done with you, you can use that.” That was what had hit the floor earlier. I had never gotten it back after our conversation with Seb. He had kept it for a year. On his desk.
I pulled him down to kiss me again. It was less frantic than earlier. It was everything I couldn’t say in words in a kiss. I knew this was not going to be an easy relationship. There were many things we would have to figure out in the light of the morning but here with the glow of the moon and the flavor of our lips. Declan was mine.