One Hot Chase (Hot Brits #12)

Chapter Thirteen

Sabrina

Holy cow, I can't believe I confessed all of that to Declan. I've never told anyone else about my innermost feelings. I feel like I've just stripped naked in front of a stranger. Well, not exactly a stranger anymore, I guess. Declan's piercing gaze seems to drill deep into my soul. It's unnerving and exhilarating all at once.

"Has your brain frozen up, love?" he teases, that infuriating smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "And here I thought you'd never run out of clever quips."

I roll my eyes, desperately grasping for my usual wit. "Oh please, I'm just giving you a moment to process all that information I just dropped on you. Wouldn't want to overwhelm that pretty little head of yours."

But my words lack their usual bite.

Declan's expression softens as he reaches out, his fingers barely grazing my cheek. The touch sends electricity coursing through me. "Sabrina, darling, you don't need to hide behind those walls anymore. Not with me."

I can't breathe or speak. His words have stunned me that deeply. I want to believe him, want to let myself fall into those impossibly blue eyes and never resurface. But I can't overhaul my mindset in a few minutes.

"Oh really?" I say with tartness in my tone. "And what makes you so special, Sir Declan? Your dashing good looks? Your ability to annoy me and then abruptly turn back into a charmer?"

He chuckles, but there's an intensity in his gaze that makes my throat thicken. "How about the fact that I see you, Sabrina Remington? The real you, not just the sassy exterior you show the world."

His thumb traces my jawline, and I can't resist leaning into his touch. "I see the woman who's afraid to love again but who yearns for it with every fiber of her being. The woman who hides her vulnerability behind quick wit and sharp retorts. The woman who's stronger than she realizes."

I swallow hard, my heart pounding. "Declan, I---"

"Shh," he whispers, leaning in closer. I can smell the faint scent of his cologne and see the sincerity in his gaze. "You don't have to say anything, love. Just...let yourself feel."

And then his lips descend on mine, tender yet insistent. For a moment, I'm frozen, overwhelmed by the implications of everything he said and the way he kisses me. But then something inside me breaks free, and give in, responding to his kiss with a hunger I didn't know I possessed. My fingers tangle in his dark, silky hair as I draw him closer. He wraps his arms around my waist as if he never wants to let me go, and I abandon myself to the sweet satisfaction he gives me. When we finally peel ourselves away from each other, we're both breathless and speechless.

Then it happens. His tender smile mutates into a snide smirk, and the spell breaks.

"What's wrong?" he asks. "You look rather...incensed. Like a bull trapped in a corral."

"I am a woman, not a bull."

"Ah, my mistake." His eyes twinkle with humor. "Perhaps a feisty little filly then?"

I squint at him, gusting a breath out through my nostrils. "Oh, you did not just go there, cowboy."

"Of course I did." His smirk deepens as he clearly enjoys my irritation. "What's the matter, Bree? Can't take a little teasing after such an intimate moment?"

Though I realize he's teasing me, it's still damn annoying. Maybe our new, deeper intimacy has knocked him off kilter too. I shuffle backward a few steps. "I can take plenty, Mr. Wilde. What I can't stomach is your sudden personality change. One minute you're all deep and understanding, the next you're back to being an insufferable skunk."

Declan's smirk falters briefly, a flicker of something---regret? vulnerability?---clouding his gaze. But it's gone as quickly as it appeared.

It's time for me to get away from him and draw some distance between us. "Goodbye, Declan Wilde. I'm moving on---and moving away from you."

"Yes, pet, go on and run away again. That's your forte, isn't it? Or perhaps you'll track down Crispin, the daft git who actually thought he had a chance with you."

All I can do is growl at him. Declan drives me insane. I don't care if he might be right, a little bit, once in a while. I'm done with the jackass. I swear I am.

"Are you giving up the quest for your PC?" he asks. "I suppose that's an appropriate moniker since you seem to think men are like personal computers that you swap out as you like."

I spin on my heel, fuming on the inside. How dare he? After everything I'd shared, after that kiss...

"You know what, Declan?" I spit out, whirling back to face him. "You're right. I am running away---from arrogant, emotionally stunted jerks like you who think they can play with people's feelings like it's some kind of game."

His smirk falters, and surprise flickers across his face. Good. I'm not done yet.

"For your information," I continue, jabbing a finger at his chest, "Crispin is twice the man you'll ever be. He may not have your looks or your charm, but at least he's genuine. At least he doesn't hide behind sarcasm to avoid intimate conversations."

Declan frowns. "Is that what you think? That I'm hiding?"

"Prove me wrong," I challenge, lifting my chin defiantly.

For a moment, we stand here, locked in a battle of wills. The air crackles with tension, and I'm acutely aware of how close we are, how I can smell the masculine scent of him.

Then he thrusts his hand out, grasping my wrist to drag me against him. I gasp, my free hand instinctively pressing against his chest to steady myself.

"You want something genuine, Sabrina?" he growls, his face inches from mine. "Here it is. I'm terrified of how you make me feel, of how easily you've slipped past every defense I've built."

Though I open my mouth, ready to lob another sarcasm arrow at him, I stop short of doing that. He sounds genuinely upset. Because of me? That's never happened before. But Declan has sneaked past my defenses too, and yeah, it's knocked me off kilter. I take a moment to compose myself before I reply. "Do you still want to chase me? Or would you rather go home? Go our separate ways?"

"We hardly know each other, pet. Ever since Eleanor left me, I've been careful about whom I take into my confidence. I've allowed the tabloids to portray me as a playboy, but that's far from the truth.." He bows his head, seeming to struggle with dueling emotions. Then he looks up at me. "But with you, I've let my guard down like never before. So, if you want to continue our chase, you can count me in."

I feel light-headed, as if I've been swept up inside a tornado and only now am I falling back to the ground. "I'm in, Declan, all the way."

His lips gradually curl upward into a devilishly steamy grin. "You won't regret it, Bree."

"Want to spice things up a bit?"

He flicks his tongue out, languidly sliding it across his lips. "Oh, yes, darling, I'd love that."

"Let's take the chase beyond the UK. I've always wanted to see Europe."

"Now is your chance, Bree. You will choose the locations, and I shall attempt to keep up with you." He brushes his fingertip over my bottom lip. "I will give you a two-hour head start. Use any means necessary to achieve your goal. That's what I'll be doing."

"This is the most erotic, exhilarating vacation ever. I'm already wet just thinking about what will happen when you find me again."

"Sabrina Remington, you are full of surprises." Declan hooks a thumb under my chin to place a soft kiss on my lips. "I can't wait to unravel more of your mysteries."

"Well, you'll have to find me first, Sir Declan."

"Challenge accepted, Miss Remington." He crushes me against his firm body for one more searing kiss before he releases me. "Your two hours start now. Make them count."

My heart racing, I grab my purse and dash out of the park, my mind already whirling with possibilities. As I hit the streets of London, I pull out my phone and start frantically searching for locations I might want to visit. My friends will provide anything I need to fund my journey, but I need to book a flight. Or do I?

When I find a cafe that isn't too busy, I call one of my new friends.

"Sabrina, how's it going?" Derek Hahn says. "Did you find your perfect guy yet?"

"Not quite. But I have some possibilities, and I could use a helping hand."

I hear a muffled voice, but I can't understand what the person said.

Derek chuckles. "Relax, Diana, I'll put you on speaker." Shuffling follows, then I hear Derek again. "Chill out, baby. She can hear you now."

"I do not need to chill out, love. Sabrina, what can we do to help?"

"Um...Let me borrow your jet? And the pilots?" She'll say no, for sure. It's a crazy ask.

"Of course, dear. Our jet is at your disposal for as long as you need it."

I jump up and down in my chair, but only the few patrons in the cafe can see that, thankfully. "That's amazing. Thank you so much. I'd kiss you both if I could. On the cheek, of course."

Two hours later, I'm settled into the plush leather seat of the Hahns' private jet, sipping champagne and plotting my next move. The thrill of the chase has my head spinning, and I can't help but grin as I imagine Declan's face when he realizes I've left the country---in a private jet.

"Where to, Miss Remington?" the pilot's voice crackles over the intercom. He has a pleasing British accent, but it's not as steamy as Declan's voice.

I pause, considering my options. Europe is a big place, and I want to make this as challenging for Declan as possible. My mind flashes back to last night and a conversation we had about his travels. Yeah, we actually talked a little bit. He mentioned a few places he'd never been.

"Never made it to Greece," he'd said with a wistful smile. "Always wanted to see the Parthenon."

Perfect.

"Athens, please," I tell the pilot. "And step on it. We've got a British gentleman to outrun."

"Happy to oblige, miss."

As the jet takes off, I settle back into my seat. This is it. The adventure I've been craving, the chance to break free from my carefully constructed walls and truly live. If I'm being honest with myself, the prospect of Declan pursuing me across Europe is more than a little exhilarating.

The flight to Athens is smooth, giving me plenty of time to plan my next moves. I research the area, mapping out potential hiding spots and escape routes. By the time we touch down at Athens International Airport, I have a rough itinerary sketched out in my mind.

The co-pilot informs me we'll be landing in twenty minutes.

Finally, I step off the plane and take a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves as I gaze out the window at the sprawling city below. The ancient and modern structures of Athens blend together in a stunning panorama.

The second we land, I jump off the plane and into a waiting taxi. "Acropolis, please."

Jeez, I hope the driver understood what I wanted. I didn't have time for a crash course on the Greek language. Since he nods and pulls away from the curb, I assume he knows what I said.

While the street whizzes by in a blur of white buildings and vibrant life, I wonder where in the world Declan is now. Has he figured out I've left the country? Is he right behind me, or still searching London?

The driver drops me off at the base of the Acropolis, which consists of several temples. I pay the driver, giving him a generous tip, and make my way up the winding path. My eyes widen as I approach the Parthenon, a towering temple that once honored Athena, the goddess of war. I'd visited the Nashville Parthenon in Tennessee, an exact replica of the original but without all the missing bits. As I climb up the Acropolis hill, my pulse beats faster---not only because of the exercise I'm getting, but also because I'm so excited to finally see the original temple.

So what if most of it's been destroyed? The giant pillars are still intact.

For a while, I wander around the perimeter, taking pictures on my phone and marveling at the scenery. As I stand in awe before the ancient columns, a familiar voice cuts through the chatter of tourists around me.

"What a coincidence, meeting you here."

I freeze, abruptly breathless. Then I slowly turn to face Declan, who's leaning casually against a nearby column, looking infuriatingly handsome in a crisp white shirt and aviator sunglasses.

"How did you---" I sputter, unable to hide my shock.

Declan grins, pushing away the column to saunter toward me. "You aren't the only one with connections, darling. Though I must say, a private jet was a nice touch."

I try to regain my composure, but that's impossible to do with him standing there looking so scrumptious. "I'm impressed. But don't think this means you've won."

"Oh, I would never assume such a thing," he says, closing the distance between us. "The chase is half the fun, after all."

"If you think I'm going to make this easy for you---"

"Heavens, no. I expect nothing of the sort." He flashes me a grin and winks. "What's your next move? Will you dash off to another country? Or perhaps you'd like to explore Athens a bit more...together?"

I worry my lip, torn between the desire to run and the temptation to stay. Declan seems to sense my indecision and reaches out, only to retract his hand before he touches me. "You wanted me to follow you, pet, and so I did."

"Mm-hm." I must look baffled---because I am. "How in the world did you get here so fast?"

He crooks a finger at me. "Come with me, and perhaps I'll share my secret. And I'll give you the special Declan Wilde tour." He smiles in that easy, irresistible way I've come to both love and hate. "When I say 'come,' I mean the dirty version of that word."

When he offers me his hand, I accept it without hesitation. Yes, I crave all the dirty things this man gives me.