Page 31 of Beastly Mr. Buchanan
Relief masks the pain of his hard shoulder digging into my abdomen.My rapid breaths and pounding heart drown out my startled squeak.
“Declan!Put me down,” I demand.
Or at least I try to demand.Unexpected giggles escape my throat.A mixture of nervousness, discomfort, and dark delight frazzles my senses.
He wraps long fingers around the back of my thigh and squeezes.A breathy moan sneaks through the giggles.He slips his hand higher and brushes his thumb against my squished pussy.
I tense as he nears the bed, but he maneuvers me off his shoulder with careful control and lays me on the bed.Before I can reach for him, he flips the blankets over me and pins me down with a hand on either side of my arms.
“Go back to sleep, Karey,” he demands.
I watch in disbelief as he pulls a plush chair up beside the bed and settles his big body in it.When I finally process the unexpected change, I try for a playful tone, but emotions clog my throat and ruin the effect.
“Are you so afraid you won’t be able to find it that you’re just giving up?”
He leans forward and props his elbows on his knees.In the darkness, his eyes gleam with cold menace as he speaks.
“I don’t give up, cupcake.”
“Then what is this?Why aren’t you in the bed with me?”
“Because I don’t share.”
For the briefest of moments, I forget about my fake boyfriend and stare at him like he’s lost his mind.I consider telling him the truth and then wonder why I haven’t already.What am I protecting in continuing my lie?
Why can’t I have Declan Buchanan?Sure, he broke my heart forever ago and another betrayal will completely ruin me, but he’s here now.He saved me.I forgave him.I want him.
Except exposing my lie and explaining the nicknames proves too hard to begin, so I huff and roll to face away from him.
“You just don’t know how to handle a plus-sized woman,” I accuse.
He flicks on the bedside lamp, wraps long fingers around my shoulder, and rolls me back toward him.
“Do I look like someone who wants a toothpick?”he demands.
I squint from the brightness but enjoy studying his masculine frame.
He leans over and traps me under the blankets again.
“I need a woman who can handle me.A woman who won’t snap in two when I take her.I need hips to grab and curves to devour.I’m a hungry man, Karey.”
His eyes roam over my mummified curves as though he can’t wait to feast, but he makes no move to touch me.
“Right.Sure.Fine,” I snap to hide my breathlessness.
He growls and cups my face.
“I don’t want a snack; I want a four-course meal with courses one through four being the sweetest desserts known to mankind.I want you, cupcake,” he declares.
Impatience and annoyance bubble up in me, and I lash out in the stupidest way.
“I hate that nickname,” I say.
“Why?”he asks.
“It makes me feel fat,” I blurt.
It’s suddenly too much.His partial yet justified rejection, him looming over me without touching me, my stupid words; everything makes me want to curl up in a ball and cry.
