Page 27 of Beastly Mr. Buchanan
It doesn’t matter.My bottle of antidepressants is tucked safely in the bottom of my bag, and after the chaos of the last few days, even a normal person would crash.
It’s good Declan escaped when he did twenty years ago.He hasn’t had to deal with my mess.The mood swings, the pain, the depression, he never has to know about any of it.
I force a levity I don’t feel into my tone.
“This is seriously impressive, dude.I’d ask you to teach me your ways, but I’ve got enough on my plate, and I doubt women like your grandmother would let me get away with a career change at this point,” I ramble.
“No, I suppose not.”He pauses as my stomach rumbles.I wouldn’t mind if the floor opened up and swallowed me whole.“Speaking of plates, what do you want for dinner?”he asks.
“Tacos, fried chicken, and ramen,” I answer, only half joking.
Despite my weight, I don’t eat massive meals.My caloric intake, when I monitor it, is never as high as the doctors assume.
“Done,” Declan declares without batting an eye.
He strides toward his apartment.
“Wait!I was kidding.I don’t need that much food,” I huff as I chase after him.
“Well, I do, so you’d better hurry up and put in your order before I claim it all for myself,” he calls over his shoulder.
I pause and lean against the wall to take off my shoes, the low heels cute but not conducive to running after a man with legs twice the length of mine, before rushing after him.
Normally after a stressful day, I rush home, lock myself in my room, and fall asleep to my favorite show without bothering to find food, but Declan’s challenge awakens my competitive side, and I’ll be damned if I lose out on my favorites because of his big mouth.
His big, kissable mouth.
Following him to his apartment was stupid.I’m going to do something I regret.
That’s a problem for tomorrow’s me.Tonight’s me doesn’t give a shit.
Despite the queasiness in my belly from the bloodbath earlier today, visceral hunger throbs deep in my abdomen.
I may never say it out loud, but as far as I’m concerned, Declan Buchanan and I are even.From the first punch he threw on my behalf, I forgave him for abandoning me twenty years ago.
His violence stirred something in me, and I know without a doubt he’s the only one who can calm the storm.
Nervousness jitters up my spine, adding a delicious thrill to the fire raging inside me.
Just for tonight, I’m giving myself to Declan Buchanan.All of me.Nothing held back.
My clit throbs in anticipation, and my heart shouts with joy.
A small part of me warns against tying myself to him, especially in such an intimate way, but I don’t care.
I want Declan Buchanan, even if I can only allow myself one night with him.
Chapter 10
Declan Buchanan
We order food from fourdifferent restaurants before I offer her a tour.She accepts and walks barefoot through my apartment, fulfilling one of my deepest fantasies in quiet awe.I miss her playful devil-may-care attitude from the foyer, but I don’t dare push when she’s finally in my home.While she doesn’t hide her growing apprehension, the soft vulnerability shining from her eyes reveals just how much she trusts me.
It’s mindboggling.She should be running as fast and as far away from me as possible after seeing the violence trapped in my blood, but instead she followed me back to my home and locked herself in with me.
I won’t fuck up this opportunity.Her trust means more than anything.More than my empire.More than my grandmother.More than my cursed blood.
I lead her to the master bedroom and ignore her protests when I declare it hers for the night.She stomps after me as she argues, oblivious to our surroundings as I step into the walk-in closet.
