*Leah*My life had taken a pretty dramatic turn a month ago. I'd been extremely stressed and anxious, but for the first time in weeks, I was completely calm, which was new to me. My mind was at peace; in fact, I was happy.I could only think of one thing – Declan and his incredible hands. I couldn't stop thinking about how he had used them to make my body writhe in pleasure during the shower we took just a few minutes ago.I quickly got dressed, eager to find Declan and bask in the afterglow of the wonderful experience we had just shared. However, I realized I had no idea which room was his, as we had spent most of our time in the guest room, or on the deck. So, I decided to embark on a barefooted journey around the house in search of him.As I walked, I felt the coolness of the floor beneath my feet, and the gentle breeze caressed my skin, adding to my feeling of serenity. I listened closely, hoping to hear his voice and follow it to his room. After a few moments of wandering, I h
We spent the rest of the day holed up in the guest room. I had managed to put all intrusive thoughts at the back of my mind and fully focus on Declan. I was all in.Declan seemed to appreciate that because he became more attentive than ever. He kissed me every time he laid his eyes on me, making my heart flutter. He held me every chance he'd get, like he'd never let go.We barely slept that night. We didn't stand a chance against the soft bed that was definitely made for long, hard nights. Wanting more, I woke up in the middle of the night and touched him subtly. He was soundly asleep, so I had all the time in the world to run my hands along his body.Before I knew it, he growled and pushed me under him, releasing himself in my tight, wet heat. Only after that did we finally find sleep.The next morning, he brought breakfast to me which consisted of pancakes and bacon. We tried to focus on the food, but as I took a bite of the second bite, Declan began running kisses down my neck.
"So, you didn't get your daily dose of your super client, you must be having withdrawals," Marcella said, a smug look on her face.I rolled my eyes at the lame joke; I was in no way addicted to him. After yesterday, I needed some time away from him to clear my head. I might have made some promises, but after having time to think about it, I realized that we both needed to stay away from each other, so I could figure out what to do about Cassandra and a way to keep my job.However, he was not the easiest man to resist. Resisting him at all took a lot of self-control and I didn't think I had much left. So, I was going to bury myself in work and not think about him. Right after I read this really short article about his extra-curricular activities. Maybe I am a little addicted.I felt Marcella's eyes on me and looked up at her. "What do you want?" I asked spitefully."Oh, nothing, just making sure you're okay," she said.I narrowed my eyes at her, but went back to what I was readin
"So, are we going to talk about yesterday, or…?" Marcella said, handing me a cup of coffee.I sipped slowly, wishing the drama in my life moved slowly as well. I glared at her as I rubbed the back of my neck; sleep had escaped me last night. I had spent the night stuck in my head, trying to figure out what to do."I hate to say I told you so, but I do remember telling you so," she said, tapping my shoulder.I swiped her hand off, not in the mood to hear that right now. "You can gloat later. My life is going to pieces.""Okay, okay. I'm sorry," she said, pulling out the bar stool beside me. She placed her coffee cup on the kitchen counter and turned to me. "What are you going to do?""I don't know. I have no f*cking idea." I turned to Marcella, my voice breaking. "I don't want to hurt him, Marcy, I really don't.""It's alright.""No, it's not alright. Things are going to sh*t, and I have no control over it.""Calm down, Leah. Let's figure this out together." She placed a hand o
*Declan*I sat alone in my dimly lit apartment, cradling a glass of whiskey, my mind consumed by the thoughts of Leah Garcia. She had taken control of my mind, body and soul. There was nothing I could do about it. I had no choice but to let her fire consume me, and now I'd gotten burned.Even though she had walked all over my heart repeatedly, if she walked through my door right now, I would be at her feet again. I took a bitter sip of my drink, trying to distract myself with alcohol. My 'relationship' with Leah definitely didn't go how I wanted it to.I was tired of her constant games, lies and inability to trust me enough to tell me whatever it was that was bothering her. I poured my heart out to her on numerous occasions, bared my soul, and yet she still remained elusive. For as hard as I tried, I couldn't get a solid hold of her.But she had managed to get a solid hold of my heart. So solid that it hurt whenever she pulled away from me.I sat on the edge of my couch, staring b
*Leah*Standing in front of Declan's door, I took a deep breath and steadied myself. This was my first time at his apartment. I had to dig through all the documents Janet - his secretary had handed to me just to find his address.I hesitated for a moment before knocking on the door. A few seconds passed, and then I heard footsteps approaching. The door swung open and I was face to face with Declan. I wasn't ready for the look of pure despair in his eyes. I quickly composed myself and opened my mouth to speak."Can I come in?" I asked subtly, hoping I hadn't hurt him enough to make him hate me.Surprisingly, he let me in, making me hopeful, because that meant he didn't hate me… yet. I stepped in tentatively, taking in the sight of the apartment. It wasn't like a typical bachelor's pad, but it was all man.It had gray walls, dark furniture, a bar, and a well-equipped kitchen. I couldn't see the rest of the apartment, but I could tell that it was entirely Declan."Let me take your c
The soft light of the morning streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow across the disheveled sheets of the bed. I pulled the sheets closer to cover my naked body, resting my head on Declan's chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.Last night was more than what I expected. I hadn't expected much when I made the decision to come here, but I was glad I did. Even though I had hurt him on multiple occasions, Declan still opened his heart to me.I propped myself up on an elbow so I could stare at him. He laid on his back, eyes closed, a contented smile playing at the corners of his mouth. I smiled in return, staring down at him with pure adoration. My heart was filled with so much affection for this man.We had talked for hours throughout the night, and had explored each other's bodies until the early hours of the morning. I moaned softly at the thought of all the activities we had engaged in.At the sound, Declan opened his eyes. "Good morning, Tiger," he said, his vo
As the day dragged on, time seemed to crawl at an unbearable speed, each moment feeling like an eternity. The weight of the impending story hung heavily on my mind, casting a dark cloud over everything else. All I could think about was how to stop Miranda from publishing it, how to prevent the inevitable fallout that would follow.I sat at my desk, my thoughts spiraling out of control, consumed by fear and desperation. "It's too late," a voice inside my head whispered.No! I'm not going to accept that. It's not too late. I can't let this happen. I can't lose Declan over this, not after all the effort I put into getting him back.The question was, what could I do? How could I possibly persuade Miranda to change her mind? I racked my brain, searching for a solution, but nothing seemed to come to mind. Even if I resigned, it wouldn't make a difference – Miranda was determined to publish, regardless of the consequences.But I couldn't give up. I had to try. Maybe I could get her to del
*Leah*A month later...When it comes to living a fulfilling life, there is nothing quite like indulging in something that you truly love. It brings a sense of joy and contentment that is simply unparalleled. However, the true magic lies in being able to enjoy your passion in an environment that is warm, welcoming and accepting. Whether you are with that special someone or flying solo, there is a unique kind of peace that comes with knowing that you are exactly where you are meant to be.You find peace in your surroundings, in the little things, and you find yourself smiling all the time.Yes, there were times when I missed him, so much that it hurt sometimes, but I was okay with that. Distance makes the heart grow fonder after all. Right now, I was exactly where I was meant to be. In a loving and accepting environment, doing something that brought me pure joy. And that is what life is all about.Of course, getting to this point can be a long and winding journey, full of twists an
As we laid in bed, tangled up in each other, I knew that we had finally found our way back to each other. Our past mistakes and misunderstandings were behind us, and were ready to give us another chance.He held me close, his arms wrapped tightly around me as if he never wanted to let me go. I snuggled closer, my head resting against his chest. I could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and it brought me comfort.I took a deep breath, taking in the familiar scent of him. It was a mixture of his cologne and his natural musk, and it was a scent I had missed desperately. This was where I was meant to be, in his arms, surrounded by his love.The atmosphere was safe and comfortable, but something kept nagging at me. There were still things we hadn't talked about. I knew it might be difficult for him to discuss, but I needed to hear it.I took a deep breath and looked up at him. "I've been meaning to ask you," I said, hesitantly. "What happened after you left that night?""You mea
*Leah*I stood outside the grand, imposing black door towering over me like a dark sentinel. My heart raced as I contemplated the impending conversation that would change everything. I was dreading it. I took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet smell of spring blossoms, hoping it would calm down my raging nerves. Steeling myself, I stepped forward, reaching for the metal knocker.I hesitated, wondering if I should turn back. But I knew it was too late now. I had to face him, no matter how hard it was. Summoning all my courage, I grasped the knocker and tapped it against the door.Moments later, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching, and I took a step back, anticipating his appearance. The door swung open, and there he was. Declan Samuelson, standing under the doorframe, dressed in black slacks and a simple sweatshirt. My heart skipped a beat as I met his gaze, unable to read the expression on his face.He said something to me, but my mind was too preoccupied to register it. I n
*Declan*I had successfully stayed away from the club for the past few weeks. I had given up on my search for her, and had left everything up to fate. After all, whatever happens, happens. Tonight however, I needed to loosen up. I was in desperate need of a drink and an entertaining environment.The thumping bass vibrated through my body as I took in the scene around me. I couldn't dare hope that she was among the crowd, but here I was, after countless disappointing nights, still searching the crowd for a glimpse of her. It was a reflex action by now, and I had to stop it.I made my way towards the bar, in desperate need of a drink to calm my nerves. Suddenly, a familiar figure caught my eye. My breath caught in my throat. Could it be her? I abandoned my thirst and followed the figure.Excitement coursed through me as I grabbed her arm to turn her around. "Leah," I breathe out.Green eyes looked up at me, confused. That definitely wasn't Leah. Embarrassed, I let her go, apologiz
*Leah*I stepped out of the glass doors of the sleek, modern company building, and a cool breeze brushed against my face, sending a shiver down my spine. I wrapped my arms around my torso, taking in a deep breath of fresh air, the scent of newly brewed coffee from a nearby café wafting towards me.There was a painful pang in my chest. I had spent a considerable amount of time at another coffee shop with someone special. I wouldn't dwell on that; it was all in the past now.What I should focus on is my new job. After I quit my job at Epic Buzz, I felt lost and aimless, unsure of what direction my life was heading. Miranda had threatened to crush my career with her mere fingers, so I had been scared to apply for anything at all.But now, after a successful meeting with my new boss, I was on my way to becoming a travel blogger. The position offered me flexibility, and there was no reason for me to stab someone I loved in the back.I made my way down the busy city street, my mind alre
*Declan*I sat in my boardroom, surrounded by the buzz of shareholders discussing the latest developments in our company. But my mind was far away, lost in thoughts of her. It had been months since I had seen her, but her presence still lingered in my heart and mind.Their voices flew over my head as I stared at her Instagram page for the millionth time. There was still nothing new on her profile, but it was nice to see her smiling face. I couldn't help but grin at the sight of her beaming, it was infectious. It could light up any room and make anyone's day brighter. It was almost as if there was a permanent spotlight on her. But the memory of the night we parted ways still haunted me.It was hard to walk away from her, seeing the light die in her eyes. But I had to prioritize my company's interests over my personal desires. Unfortunately, that didn't make it any easier.Despite the distance between us, I wondered if I'd ever see her again. If by a small chance, we would bump int
I sat in front of my laptop grimly, mentally preparing myself for the conversation. There was no pressure, but I knew I'd be expected to smile and have a sense of humor. However, I'd lost that part of myself.My life had become gloomy, monotonous. I woke up, hung out with my parents, and helped my mom out at her shop. I avoided all my friends and made a conscious effort to stay off social media. It definitely wasn't easy because all I wanted to do was see his face, even if it was just once. But I had to recognize that in order to heal, to move on, that I needed the space.That was why this was so hard. I hadn't spoken to anyone apart from my parents in months. Social interaction was no longer my thing.I rubbed my arm – a habit I had developed after that night – wondering how to handle this. The screen flickered to life; bright dark eyes met mine with an overly enthusiastic smile."Hi, Tiger."I flinched at the old nickname. I hadn't heard it in months. It brought back memories, s
*Leah*I watched Declan from where I stood at the back of the hall. The only thing I could focus on was him, and before I knew it, he was walking towards me. In a matter of seconds, Declan was in front of me. His hand slipped into mine and he pulled me along with him. It was a small gesture but it meant the world to me.I followed after him, unable to do anything else. The last time I saw him, he didn't even want to look at me, but now his hand was on mine as he dragged me out of the hall. I didn't dare hope that the little physical contact meant that he had forgiven me. I knew better than that. The story was out and he wanted to give me a piece of his mind. Again. Couldn't say I didn't deserve it."I'm sorry," I said, unable to hold back the words any longer.He didn't respond, but I could feel the tension in his grip. We walked in silence for what felt like an eternity before he finally let go of my hand. The sudden absence of warmth made me shiver.I watched anxiously as he p
*Declan*"We've contacted Epic Buzz's management, but there's been no response," Janet said as she walked into the dressing room.I turned my back to the mirror, securing my tie, "Did you contact Miranda? Tell her what I told you to?""She didn't pick up," she replied, the frustration evident in her tone."What about our lawyers, what options do we have?" I asked, hoping for a solution."We can sue, but the best option would be to settle this out of the media. They're still trying to get a hold of Miranda."I cursed under my breath, but smiled at Janet, determined to maintain a professional standpoint, "Keep trying. We have to do everything we can to stop this. Have you informed my parents?""Yes, they're both here."I nodded at her, indicating she could leave. I chuckled bitterly the moment she left the dressing room, thinking back to everything that led to this moment. Today was my inauguration. I was supposed to have the woman I loved on my arm, but I couldn't stomach the si