My heart hammers against my ribs as I take him in—the broad shoulders, the powerful thighs, the casual confidence in his stance. His hair is slightly mussed, like he ran his fingers through it while he was waiting, and the shadow of stubble along his jaw only enhances the masculine lines of his face. It’s unfair how good he looks without even trying.

He smirks and takes a few steps closer, his workout pants hugging his toned thighs in a way that takes me right back to all the filthy things I was imagining in the shower. I swear, it’s like I can feel those muscles grinding against me with every step he takes until he stops less than a foot away from me with something flashing in his eyes.

“Did you need something?” he asks, and my heart feels like it’s going to explode in my chest.

“W-what do you mean?” I’m trying to play it cool and like I don’t have a clue what he’s talking about, but I can tell from the glint in his eye and the curve of his lips that he’s not buying it.

“I thought I heard you say my name.” He cocks his head, considering, then adds, “Actually, it sounded almost like you moaned it.”

23. Declan

Chapter 23

Declan

Hannah’s cheeks burst with blooms of red, starting at the center and rapidly spreading out like wildfire as she squeezes her gym bag to her chest like a safety blanket, and I can’t stop myself from grinning even wider as a sense of heady satisfaction swells in my chest.

I knew it.

I came to the studio early on purpose because I just couldn’t fucking wait to see her again, so I was disappointed when I first walked in and found the place empty. But since the door was wide open, it was a safe bet Hannah was here somewhere. I figured she’d stepped out for a second, maybe to run and get some food or to take a call or something between lessons, but then I heard the soft hissing of the shower in the locker room and the rhythmic patter of water hitting the tile flooring.

I didn’t want to eavesdrop, and I really wasn’t trying to, but as I was walking toward the locker room, I opened my mouth to call out to her to let her know I was here—but heard my name tumble from her lips instead. I froze as those two syllables reached my ear in her breathless, almost needy tone. It wasn’t loud, but it hit me like a ton of fucking bricks.

And it made me pretty damn sure what she was doing in the shower. Why else would my name be escaping her lips like that?