Waking Up by Arianna Hart Read Free Book Online Page B

with him, the more of him she wanted.
    God, what was wrong with her? Could she be any more cliché? She was totally falling for him and she’d only known him two days. Damn it, she was smarter than that. It wasn’t like she’d never been in love before.
    In theory, she and Michael had been perfect for each other. If they couldn’t make it work, how could she risk falling for a thousand-year-old Celtic warrior? One who needed a baby to release him from his curse? It was ridiculous and her brain spun as she tried to make sense of everything that had happened.
    How could her heart dive in deep when her brain had sworn never to test those waters again? Something about him pulled her heartstrings and she was helpless to resist. Maybe it really was his goddess interfering, or maybe she was just a sucker for a gorgeous guy with a sob story. Either way, she was hooked.
    And because she couldn’t get pregnant, he would be forced to live with his curse no matter what he felt for her.
    She lit some of the candles she had scattered around the room. In their soft glow, she dropped the robe in a puddle around her feet and climbed into the queen-sized bed.
    “We should talk. I feel like I know your body perfectly, but until this afternoon I didn’t even know your last name.”
    “Then you’d better put that robe back on, because talking’s hard to do when I see your naked body.”
    “I’ll pull up the sheet.” She patted the spot next to her. “Come on in and cuddle with me for a bit.”
    He set their wine glasses on the nightstand and slid into bed next to her. She ran her hands over his chest. He had a long, faint scar that ran from just beneath his armpit over his ribcage and disappeared in the line of hair on his belly.
    “I didn’t notice this before. How’d you get a mark like that?”
    “Spear thrust. I blocked it, but the tip skidded along my ribs before I could kill him. It wasn’t that big a deal. If the spear had hit me in the gut like he’d intended, I’d have been dead as that was before my run in with Morrigan.”
    “So none of the wounds you’ve gotten since the curse have left scars?”
    “Not a one. They heal almost instantly unless it’s something like beheading, then I need a few days in bed.”
    “You were beheaded?” She gasped in shock, then punched him when he laughed at her.
    “Just kidding. I’ve been stabbed and shot but never beheaded. Healing from a near-fatal wound is … uncomfortable.”
    “I’ll bet. So is Declan your real name or did you just take that because it sounds sexy?”
    “It’s my given name. I’ve used many others in my time, but for some reason I come back to the one my mother gave me every hundred years or so.”
    “That makes sense, in a weird sort of way. What did you do for a thousand years?”
    “Everything. For a while I lived in complete debauchery, traveling from country to country and bed to bed. I drank oceans of wine and ale. I’ve been in more battles than I can count and I’ve gambled away fortunes. None of it made me as happy as I’ve been with you tonight.”
    Her heart flipped over in her chest. “Really?”
    “Really. For the first time in what feels like forever I can be honest. You know my secret. I don’t have to hide anything from you. It’s like a weight has been lifted off my chest.”
    “But I can’t—”
    “Shhh, let’s not worry about anything but this moment. Something I’ve learned is that the future eventually takes care of itself. Let’s enjoy now.” He eased the sheet down until she was naked to his eyes. “I can’t get enough of your curves. You’re so lush and welcoming, and all mine.”
    “I should probably lose a few pounds,” she said weakly. She sure as hell didn’t feel chunky when he was looking at her like he wanted to devour her.
    “Bite your tongue. You’re perfect.” He traced his fingers across her breasts, lightly teasing her nipples before stroking the sensitive lower curves.
    She shivered as