But he was proud of the work he’d just completed. The movie was going to do well. He could feel it in his bones.

“Wow. So I guess I was sort of your…muse?” Her brow wrinkled.

“Definitely my muse.” He approached her carefully, not wanting to startle her. He had her in his arms only a few minutes ago when they were still at the ER. Now he wanted her back. “You’re my everything, Reagan. You might not believe me, but it’s the truth. That weekend was like…”

“The best weekend you’ve ever had?” she finished for him with a little smile.

“Yeah.” He grabbed hold of her waist and hauled her into him, her arms going around him in return. “I didn’t know I could fall for a woman so quickly, but I did.”

“I fell for you too,” she admitted, keeping her head bent as she ran her hands along his chest, heat sparking wherever she touched him.

“Are you still falling for me?” He lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Because I’m still falling for you, Reagan. I want to get to know you better. I want to spend time with you and see where this takes us. Do you want the same?”

She pressed her lips together until she couldn’t contain it anymore and her face broke out in a huge smile. “Yes. Yes, I definitely want the same.”

He kissed her as his answer, his tongue delving, his hands roaming. She felt so good, all of those abundant curves nestled close to him. She wiggled against him, making his cock hard as steel, and he groaned, clamping his arms around her waist hard to keep her still.

“You’re driving me crazy,” he whispered when he finally broke the kiss.

“I’m only trying to get away from you because I wanted to tell you I need to change.” He let his arms drop and she stepped back. “Look at me. I’m still in my scrubs. I’m all sweaty and dirty after my shift.”

“Maybe you should take a shower,” he suggested.

“Maybe I should,” she agreed nonchalantly as she started to turn away.

He snagged her hand before she left him. “Maybe I should join you.”

She burst out laughing. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Long after the shower—where Declan proceeded to take her in that sexy, impossibly wonderful way he had, reminding her just how much she missed him, how easily she responded to him. Her back pressed against the cold tile walls, her legs wrapped tight around his hips as he drove himself inside of her again and again. Afterward he dried her off and carried her to bed…where they experienced round two.

And then round three.

Yes, long, long after the shower, Reagan lay sprawled across her bed on her back, exhausted but satisfied. So incredibly satisfied not only because of the orgasms she’d just had, but also thanks to the man lying next to her on his side, his fingers tickling along the length of her arm. That happy smile on his face was contagious. She could feel the exact same smile stretching across her lips.

“Feeling good?” he drawled, sounding cocky as hell.

She loved it. Oh God, she just knew eventually she could really love him. “Yes. Feeling beyond good. And you?”

“Never better.” His fingers drifted across her stomach, caressing her there and making her shiver. “I truly am sorry for never contacting you. I feel like a shit.”

“You sort of are a shit.” But she could forgive him.

He chuckled. “Can I admit something to you?”

She rolled over on her side as well so she could face him. “Of course.”

The chuckle died on his lips, and he pulled his hand away from her. “It scared me, what I felt for you. I wasn’t sure what the hell we were doing and it confused me. It was reckless, you know? And I’ve always been reckless. That’s what always got me into trouble. But this…what we shared, it didn’t feel like trouble. Being with you felt…right.”

“I get it,” she started to say, but he cut her off with a firm shake of his head.

“My world is crazy. The paparazzi has simmered down since they think I’m a has-been, so they don’t follow me much anymore. But that might all change when the new movie comes out. I don’t know. It’s a risk we’ll have to take.” He peered at her, his gaze imploring. He looked downright worried. “Are you prepared for that? It’s not going to be easy. Being with me…it might prove difficult.”

Fear clutched at her, strong and unrelenting. Her heart stalled in her chest as she haltingly asked him, “Why do you want to be with me?”

His face cleared and he reached out, cupping her cheek, tracing his thumb across her lower lip. “You make me feel good. Normal. Like you don’t care if I’m a star. All the other women I’ve met…they wanted me because of who I was. They hoped I could somehow gain them something, if they were seen with me. They were all searching for their own bit of fame and wanted a piece of mine too.”

“I knew who you were,” she admitted, closing her eyes when he proceeded to caress her face with his magical fingers. Would she ever grow weary of his touch?

Probably not.

“I know.”

“I had a crush on you for years.”

He pressed his thumb against the center of her lower lip, making her open her eyes. “But did you want to get with me to further your career?”

She snorted, then immediately regretted it. Not a very sexy noise. “No. How would you help my career?”

“Exactly.” The glow in his eyes was irresistible. “And you didn’t want to talk about me being famous or any of that other crap. You acted like you just wanted to be with me.”

“I did. I do,” she added, smiling when he leaned in and kissed her, his lips soft and sweet. “I like you, Declan.”

“I like you too, Reagan. That’s why I want to be with you.” He pulled away, his heated gaze still locked on her lips. “Nothing else tempts me when I’m with you. I just want to be with you.”

“Do—things still tempt you?” He was a recovering addict. They’d hardly touched on that, but how could they? They’d only spent a weekend together. Could he handle staying clean? Would his behavior become a problem later on?

She had no idea. But she was willing to give him a chance.

“No. You’re the only thing I want.” He kissed her deeply, his tongue tangling with hers for a brief, too hot minute before he broke the kiss. “I want you in my life, Reagan. I know you’re busy with your career and I’m busy too, but if we can fit some time in together where we can find it, I think we can make this work.”

Reagan threw herself at him so he lay sprawled on his back, his arms automatically going around her to hold her close. She straddled him, her legs wrapped around his hips, her naked body molded to his. His skin was warm and firm and he felt so good she rubbed against him like she was a cat.

“I want to make this work,” she said, tipping her head down so their lips could meet.

He tangled his hands in her hair and held her to him, the heat between their bodies igniting all over again, firing them both. His cock hardened against her belly and she felt the answering call deep inside her body. She wanted him. She always did.

“Good. Because I want to make this work too,” he said, when they finally came up for air. He pressed his mouth to her neck, kissing a path along her skin and making her shiver.

“So, that’s it?” she asked breathlessly. “We’re a couple?”

“If you’ll have me.” He pulled away from her neck to smile up at her. “Will you have me?”

“Always,” she said, just before she kissed him.

About the Author

USA TODAY bestselling author Karen Erickson writes what she loves to read—sexy contemporary romance. Digitally published since 2006, she’s a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband and three children.

Karen is also known as New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Monica Murphy.

To learn more about Karen, visit her online:

www.karenerickson.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/monicamurphyauthor