I lounged on the patio chair, watching Declan's shirtless body move as he worked the hot grill in the hot summer air, flipping burgers, eyeing his muscular body and how his arms flexed whenever he'd flip the meat. And when he'd turn to face me and wink, heat pooled between my thighs, and my belly fluttered.

This man has had me in a chokehold ever since we arrived at his cabin. The way he looks at me full of love and admiration, the way his eyes are always blazing into mine with desire, the relaxing tone in his voice whenever he talks to me, the way he kisses, lovingly touches, and holds me, and the way he constantly vows he'll keep me safe have me lusting over him so much more.

I've also been exceedingly grateful that Declan hasn't brought up what happened the night I threw myself at him, begging that he fucks me like a savage beast nearly a week ago. I still don't quite understand it, and I've been trying to comprehend why I wanted him to do something I hated. I'm embarrassed by it, and it's not something I care to talk about. Not yet.

Declan freed me from my thoughts when he hovered over me and planted his lips on mine. "Food's done, sweetheart."

My lips smiled against his. "Good. I'm starving."

He sweetly kissed me, causing heat to rush to my cheeks and pussy, and my starving belly to quiver in excitement. I can't get enough of his lips whenever he kisses me; it makes me giddy, thrilled, smile, and want more.

Declan returned the smile. "It's nice seeing you eat again without a fight."

"It's nice being able to eat and drink whatever I want again," I returned since I was only allowed to eat approved foods with Chadwick.

He went back inside the cabin for a moment, and when he returned, I licked my lips when he set down a drink in front of me, saying, "Speaking of drinking whatever you want, here's a Long Island just for you." He flashed me a belly-tickling grin. "You can have all the Long Island's you want around me, Ocean Eyes."

I'd love to drink a few of these tonight, but it's our last night here, and I'd like to give him a gift from me for everything he's done and to show my feelings for him are just as strong as they were years ago. Even though Declan has made our time here relaxing and enjoyable, it was still quite noticeable that something heavy had been weighing on his mind. Any time I asked what was bothering him, he'd smile and say nothing, that he was only thinking about how in heaven he was that he and I were back together. So, I'll give him something I know will help take his mind off whatever's consuming his mind and turn his thinking lips into a smile.

I also want to give him my body without crying and begging for something I don't enjoy, like the last time we were together.

He quietly sat across from me, looking ahead at the water instead of at me while eating his burger. I don't know what's consuming him, and it scares me a little to think it could be about me. Curious if he'd finally tell me, I asked, "So, are you going to tell me what you've been thinking about these last couple of days without telling me the same line you've been feeding me."

His eyes focused away from the water to me. "I'm not feeding you anything I'm not thinking about. You're on my mind twenty-four-seven, Seraphine," he claimed, siping his cognac. Then, after a moment, he finally confessed, "I think about the past, the phone call, me leaving without a word, then returning and seeing you in his arms, moving to Alabama on a whim, getting stupidly drunk and knocking up a woman I had no feelings for. Then I went and married her, thinking it would be the right thing to do, knowing my heart wasn't with her and the hell she's put me through ever since." he paused, then eyed the cognac he lifted before taking a drink, saying, "I think about how after years of dreaming you'd return to me, I have you back." His eyes returned to mine. "But there's also a fear of losing you just as quickly as you returned to me. So, my mind has been a bit consumed with coming up with things to ensure you'll always be safe with me."

"Oh," I whispered, assuming it was something else on his mind. "I thought maybe it was because you're involved with a married woman."

He wiped his mouth with a napkin, swallowed his food, and shook his head with his eyes on me, disagreeing with my assumption. "No. That hasn't crossed my mind at all. I don't look at you as a married woman, Seraphine; I refuse to. You're my girl, no matter what. You may be married to that jerk on paper, but in my eyes, you're as single as a dollar bill," he stated firmly. "Not to mention, the dissolution of your marriage to that prick is in the government's and court's hands. You'll be a single woman before we know it."

I still think there'll be complications with that. There's no way Chadwick will allow it. He was very adamant about it and threatened to end my life if I tried and succeeded. Nervous, that's what'll happen; I reached for Declan's hand, rested mine over his, and looked at him with pleading eyes. "Please promise me that once the divorce is finalized, if it ever will be, you'll keep me out of harm's way. Chadwick believes he owns me, and if I'm granted a divorce, he will find me. And he will end my life."

He squeezed my hand assuringly. "He'll never end your life. I'll never allow that to happen. I'll end him before he even has time to think about ending yours."

We'll see about that. I still have that terrible feeling that courses through me all day and all night. And my conscience is constantly telling me to keep looking over my back.

I had another Long Island after I finished eating, and while washing the dishes, Declan set another one on the counter for me.

Smirking, I asked, "Are you trying to get me drunk?"

He embraced me when he came up from behind. He pressed his lips on my head, then lowered his mouth to my neck, pressing feathery kisses along it as he said, "No. I told you. You can have all the Long Islands you want while you're with me."

I smiled, loving his response. "I only planned on having one, and now you're giving me a third one."

His arms tightened around me. "I'm just taking care of my girl, giving her everything she hasn't had the luxury of having for years."

My heart fluttered at his thoughtfulness.

I shook the water from my hands, spun around, and snaked my arms around his glorious, muscular body. "You've done great with taking care of me. Because of that, it's time I returned the generosity and show you my appreciation for everything you're doing for me."

He shook his head no. "You don't have to return anything. You already gave me everything when you accepted to be mine again. That's all I wanted, was you."

His hand formed around my neck, and he pulled me to his mouth, lovingly massaging my lips with his and sending a message to my pussy that he'll be caring for it soon.

He left my lips, rested his forehead against mine, and grinned. "I'm looking forward to us being the way we were—happy, in love, and connected at the heart." He pressed his lips to mine and whispered softly on my lips, sending my heart into a fluttering mess. "I still love you, Seraphine. Always have. Always will. Please don't let what Chadwick did to you ruin your heart and mind and our future."

Before I could ask what he meant by that, he kissed me.

Leaving me gasping for air when his lips left mine, he said, "Everly called when I was making your drink. I better return her call and see what she needs."

"Okay. Tell Everly I said hello."

"I will," he winked, releasing me.

I finished washing the dishes, dried them, and put them away, then returned to the porch and cleaned the table. The sounds of twigs crunching and breaking to my left had me snapping my head toward the sound. I looked through the trees, trying to see movement, but saw nothing but birds flying from tree to tree and squirrels chasing each other up and down the trees, jumping from one to the other.

I stepped over to the grill and scrubbed the grates with the wood scraper. My heart jumped from my chest when I heard branches breaking again, and I quickly spun around, looking at and studying the same area where I had heard the sounds before.

I saw nothing but trees, leaves, and wildlife, but my skin still crawled, and the hairs on my arm stood. My body and mind felt an eerie feeling of a pair of eyes on me. I may not see them, but I feel them. And it had me running back into the cabin, slamming the patio door shut and locking it.

Turning around, I bumped into Declan. Looking concerned, he grabbed my arms and asked, "Whoa, what's wrong?"

My heart thumped hard against my chest, and when I answered Declan, I felt out of breath. "I heard something out there," I said.

His eyes looked over me, looking at the window. "What did you hear?"

"Branches breaking in the woods."

His eyes returned to me. "It was probably a deer moving through or another form of wildlife."

"It also felt like I was being watched."

Declan picked up his gun from the table and then turned to me. "Stay here. I'll go check it out. Where did you hear it?"

I walked over to the glass door and explained what I heard again and where I felt the eyes on me while pointing toward the strange noises and eerie vibes.

"I'm sure it was nothing, but I'll check. Keep your gun on you just in case."

I nervously stood at the window, biting my nails while watching Declan head to the woods and go in. He said this area was safe and secure in the woods, but I don't trust Chadwick. Knowing what kind of person he is, I wouldn't put it past him to figure out how to get through Declan's security system.

Declan's phone started ringing, and seeing that Marla was calling, I figured I would answer. "Hello, Marla. How are you?"

"Hey, Sara. I'm doing well, you?"

"I'm okay." Considering there might be an intruder on Declan's property.

"So, I hear you're at Declan's charming retreat. How do you like it?"

I scanned the kitchen and dining room. "It's stunning. I've never seen a cabin as beautiful as this. Rustic on the outside, bright inside, and privately nestled in the woods. Everything about the place is perfect," I said, awed. "How did you know we were here?"

"Declan told me he was bringing you there. I'm jealous," she laughed. I'm jealous she knows about it. "You've been here?"

"Many times." Now I'm really jealous.

"With Caleb, I hope."

Marla snickered. "Of course, I was with Caleb. Declan's let us use that place many times when we needed to escape the world."

My lips twisted, and then I sighed.

"Declan and I have never been a thing, Sara. So don't think the worst. He and I have only been friends and coworkers. That's it."

I nodded as she could see me, and then I looked out the window to see what Declan was up to, but I didn't see him.

"Where is the ole Iron Man, anyway? There was something I needed to talk with him about."

"He's in the woods checking things out. I thought I heard something again, so he went to look."

"Okay. I'll catch up with him later. Caleb's calling for me. Please let him know I called."

"Okay. Is there anything you'd like me to relay to him?"

"Just tell him to call me when he can. No rush."

I nervously eyed my gun on the counter when I set Declan's phone down, contemplating grabbing it and going out to find him, but when Chadwick's face flashed before me, my nerves went haywire, I panicked and thought against it. Instead of looking for him, I paced the dining room.

My feet froze to the floor when I heard the patio door open, and I quickly spun around. Seeing it was Declan, I relaxed, but I was still worried someone was out there. Someone looking for me. "What took you so long?" I asked, my breathing a mess.

"I looked around and went deep into the woods to ensure it was nothing."

"And?" I impatiently asked as he headed toward me.

"The area is clear. What you heard could've been anything. Critters always make noise when they're moving around," he noted, his arms closing around and embracing me in a hug, assuming I needed it, which I did.

"Thanks for checking things out for nothing again," I sighed, squeezing him tighter.

"It wasn't for nothing. I'd rather you have me check things out than not say anything at all." I lifted my head from his chest, and he lowered his mouth to mine. "Promise me, you'll always tell me if you hear anything suspicious."

"I promise."

"So..." he started, kissing my chin and cheek and then pecked my lips. "It's our last night here. What would you like to do before we head home in the morning?"

I smiled against his lips. "What do you feel like doing?"

"I'm open for anything."

My smile wickedly widened. "Anything?"

"Anything," he assured, relaxed.

Here's my chance to finally give him something he's been denying me of giving him for weeks.

"Okay," I responded, my arms falling from him as I dropped to my knees.

"Except that," he warned, but I didn't listen. Nope. I hooked my fingers around the elastic of his swimming trunks and hurriedly pulled them down, smiling when his semi-hard cock stared me in the face.

Wetting my dry lips, I looked up as I wrapped my hand around his cock. "You said anything. So... that's what you're getting. I'm giving you anything and everything—using my mouth."

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!!🤞🤞