SOFIA’S PRETTY FACE peeks around my bedroom door, closely followed by a bottle of white wine and two glasses. “Hey, Bets, how you doing?”
“Oh, much better for the gifts you bring, my dear. Come, don’t be shy.” I pat my bed, and she jumps and winces at the less than comfortable bounce afforded by the wooden slats underneath my mattress.
“How do you sleep on this thing?” She rubs her injured hip.
I laugh. “That’s exactly what Daniel said,” but I quietly stop my laughing. “Pour the wine, wench!”
“So have you heard from Queen Bitch?” She pours and hands me my liquid lifeline.
“Oh, yes. She’s going all out, I don’t stand a chance!” I dramatically confess.
“Really? You’re going let her take everything from you? Leave you with nothing… again?”
“No, not with nothing. I’ve got you, I’ve got Marco and your family. God, I so love your family, you’re so lucky, sweetie.”
“Oh, yes, I have so many people interfering in my life, I pretty much live a collective existence.” She sighs. “Yes, I’m very lucky… but you love him?”
My eyes flood with unshed tears. “Oh, fuck, Sofs, I’m sorry.” I rub my eyes embarrassed that I can’t hold this inside.
“Don’t, Bets, not with me.” She places her arm around my shoulders.
“Yes, I love him. I’ve never loved anyone like I love him. He sees me, and he knows me. But now, now, I see this distance I can’t stop from growing between us, and it’s killing me. She’s poison, Sofs.” I suck in my sob, but the tears keep falling.
“Don’t let her ruin this, Bets. She can’t make him love her when he clearly loves you. Don’t give up, and don’t run away.” Her soft brown eyes are fixed with love and concern.
“That’s definitely my gut reaction.” I sip my wine. “I know he loves me, and you’re right, she can’t make him love her, but she can make him not love me. How could you love someone who is so quick to give up on family? Not give someone asking, a chance at reconciliation? Not to mention crazy unstable. He really hasn’t known me long enough to give him the tools to challenge these questions.” I release a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “Sofs, I told him everything about John, and all he heard was her. You didn’t see his face when I flipped. He looked so disappointed. No, he looked disgusted.” I shake my head in utter despair.
“Bets, he loves you.” She repeats like that is really all I need.
“He did,” I add softly, “maybe.” I can’t believe I doubt what I know in my heart, so quickly. “But he will let me go. She’ll make sure of that. Now, my dear,” I try for false levity. “I’m calling a ‘no-more’. So let’s pour some more wine.” I tip my empty glass for a refill.
Sofia leaves mine around eleven-thirty, and I’m just about to get ready for bed. I’ve cancelled my contract with Mags after my ‘uncovering’ with Daniel, and it’s just me now, so funding healthcare is no longer an issue. My phone starts to vibrate almost instantly and I get a twinge of excitement that it might be Daniel. The caller ID says Kassandra, and my heart sinks that Daniel must have programmed her number in my phone.
“It’s me, dear sister.” Her icy voice fills me with dread, but she wants to tell me something. She wants something, and I want her out of my life. I let out a controlled breath as she obviously waits to see if I’ll hang up. “There, that’s so much better, I do abhor rude manners.” I don’t know why she’s talking like a fucking Jane Austen novel; it’s just me and her.
“What do you want, Kit?” I am exhausted and see no need to play nice.
“Kassandra.” She corrects. “Oh, good. We’re going to get straight to it.” Her excitement evident in her tone, she is enjoying her position. She is cold and heartless and loving every minute of this. “I want Daniel.”
“I’m shocked,” I respond flatly. “Well, my guess is he’ll be yours soon enough.” I sigh dejectedly, I’m so tired.
“Maybe, but I don’t live my life by ‘maybe’. I make sure I get what I want.” She sneers.
“You always have.” I quip.
“Yes, yes. Look, I was happy to let this pass when I saw you at the drinks reception at your friends’ club. After all, you’re a waitress, and they never marry staff!” She cackles. “But I believe he likes fucking you too much to discard you right away.” I wince at this. “Oh, come on, Boo.” She spits my name with malice. “You can’t possibly think he actually cares for you?” She muses, carefully aligning her weapons. “Has he even taken you out in public? Introduced you to his friends or to meet his family, maybe? No?” Her voice is cruel, her aim perfect.
“We have been out.” I offer quietly. “And he introduced himself as my boyfriend,” adding mostly to reassure myself. I told Daniel the truth when I said I don’t get jealous, but I didn’t mention that I really never had the opportunity before, or that I have enough crippling insecurities, that jealousy didn’t need to feature in my repertoire of vices.
“Really, where?” She is not surprised with my answer at all. “Somewhere local? To meet your friends, perhaps?” She has a sickening girlish laugh. “Don’t beat yourself up. He does have a weakness for the wounded, and my darling, you are the very definition of the ‘walking wounded’. Pathetic.” She mutters. “The charity he and his mother attended was for disadvantaged children, did you know? Well, no. Anyway, I didn’t realize he was so ‘hands on’ with his charity work.” I have a clawing, empty feeling that’s in the pit of my stomach and it’s strange that I can feel pain, when I am numb with this new information. I hate her, but she’s right. I had joked, a little, about his interest in me as an act of benevolence, but he has yet to take me out on an actual date, even our lunches were in his office.
“So I’m going to need your help,” She interrupts my rocketing self-doubt.
“And why would I help you?” My laugh is a little uncontrolled. I am really curious why she would think I would actively break my own heart.
“Well, I happen to know you won’t, willingly.” She clarifies. “But you do seem to care about your friends.” I sit up at this comment, not sure where she’s going. “I didn’t introduce you to my driver; he is ex-military. You might remember him from the old days? No? It doesn’t matter, anyway, he is very handy to have, very good at solving problems. Well… I digress. You know what it’s like to lose someone you love.” The pain is acute in my chest when I think of Daniel, that she’d hurt him. “Sofia is a lovely girl, I met her the other night. I don’t believe she recognized me then, but I knew her.” She pauses as if she is weighing up her options, like she hasn’t already made up her mind to ruin my life. “She’s engaged, is that right?” She doesn’t say anything else, her implicit threat crystal clear. Whether she hurt Sofia or Paul, the devastation would be the same. For Sofia, losing the love of her life or for Sofia’s family to lose their only daughter, it’s horrific, unimaginable, it’s insane.
“I can break up with him.” My voice starts to break at this. “But I can’t make him stay away, I’ve tried before.” I stifle my tears I can’t imagine the desolation. Sofia would never be the same if anything happened to Paul. He is her light.
“Oh, I know, but I have something that may help with that. You need to do it soon, because I have plans.” She says in a bright sing-song voice. “Tomorrow, tomorrow evening, I’ll pop round, you know as a shoulder.”
“Why, Kit?” I can’t help my morbid curiosity.
“The money runs out, darling sister, and I want a man, simple. But I can’t tell you how much better it is, now I know that it’s your man.” Her girlish laugh is hollow. She is pure evil.
“Will you make him happy? Do you even care?” I can’t bear the thought of Daniel’s pain.,
“Ha! Darling, like that even matters.” She dismisses me with a shrill, biting cry. The line goes dead. I fall to the floor and cry. I cry until my eyes are dry.
My phone rings again, and I take it into my bedroom and crawl into bed. “Hey, sister, it’s late. Is everything all right?”
“Calling to ask you the same. I tried to call you earlier, but the line was busy. Just wanted to check if you’re okay?”
I snort a loud laugh. “Is it too late to have another glass of wine?”
“You go, sister. I’ll join you. Paul’s dead to the world.” I get a chill at this quip. “So what does she want?”
“Oh I was right, she wants him, told me he’s just fucking me. I’m his charity case, and that’s why he’s never taken me out. Out as in to meet his family and friends.” I sniff back more tears, which threaten.
“That’s bullshit, Bets, and you know it! Fuck, she’s a total bitch!” Sofia’s volume is such, I have to hold the phone away from my ear.
“She is…” I hesitate. “But she’s also right.” My voice is sad, but I have no more tears, so my shoulders just move with little dry sobs.
“Ah babe, it’s bullshit. She’s just going for the jugular; hitting your insecurities with a freight train. She’s seen you two together right?” I mumble my agreement. “Well, then.” She doesn’t elaborate as if that was evidence enough. “She’s desperate, low, and evil. Did I mention she’s a huge bitch?”
“You might’ve said something along those lines.” She’s made me giggle.
“You can’t walk away from this, Bets. You have to play her game long enough for Daniel to see her for what she is. She can’t sustain that level of duplicity indefinitely.”
“I’m not so sure. She’s had lots of practice, and she presses my buttons. She’s this total ice queen, and I’m a raging bag of crazy by comparison. I’d stay clear of me, and I know me!”
“He loves you, Bets, simple, and it’s worth fighting for.”
“She threatened me, well, not me directly, but people I care about, and I can’t… you know I can’t, Sofs. I won’t!” I am adamant.
“Oh, she didn’t!” She laughs. “See? She is desperate! She knows I’m Italian, right? I know people!” Her bravado is almost visible. I imagine she’s tipping her chin high and flipping her fingers up in an aggressive sweep.
“You know people in catering! So, steady on, Ms. Soprano. Daniel is worth fighting for but not at any cost.” I let out a very sad breath. “She’s a disease, and I’m going to treat her like an addict would their disease, one day at a time”
“It’s a start. Better than that flight shit you’re so good at.” She blows a loud kiss. “’Night, sister.”
“’Night.” I blow one right back and put the phone down. I still may fly.
Oh I love these dreams. I moan seductively and move languidly, entwined on soft sheets, which float against my skin, which is warm and feels like silk, the warmth of his strong legs, the rough hairs scratching as he folds his leg over mine. Pushing back between mine, opening me with his weight, pressing his hard cock in the crack of my bottom and sliding slowly, tempting me to wake up with this erotic movement. His hot breath on my neck, my eyes are heavy, and I am aroused in my sleep. My breasts ache, and I reach to squeeze and release the rising pressure, my lips part, and I hear his deep moan in my dream. He feels so real, I don’t want to wake.
“I don’t want to let you go.” I whisper.
“Then don’t.” His voice is urgent, a demand. I wake when I feel his real weight on me. His legs forcing mine wide, his eyes wild and filled with lust.
“Daniel!” I gasp. He captures my mouth, forcing my lips wider, his tongue plunges into me stealing my breath. He sucks my tongue and bites my lower lip as he pulls back. He is trying to consume me.
“You’re mine. You don’t get to make that choice.” His eyes are dark and dangerous. He is going to take me. I can feel his need to possess as he feels my need to be possessed. He pulls my wrists above my head and growls. “Don’t move them, hold onto the boards if that helps.” I obey. He fixes his mouth on my neck, biting and sucking, sending an intense rush of heat and need to my core, and I twist with overwhelming pent-up passion. “Don’t move.” His voice is deep and husky, commanding. I still, but this inability to evade this building pleasure causes my whole body to tremble with anticipation, and I’m rewarded with a satisfying grumble, which resonates deep in his chest.
He moves roughly down my body latching on to my hard, aching nipple and swirling his molten hot tongue around, then pulling the sensitive tip between his teeth, holding me on the edge, feeling my breath hitch, but not release. He looks through heavy-lidded eyes directly at me with a sinful grin and undiluted animal lust in his blue-black eyes. He releases me tortuously slowly, firing my pain sensors with the rough graze of his teeth. My back starts to twitch, and the muscles contract, forcing the slightest curve of my spine. He sinks his full weight, pinning me immobile, and I pant with frustration, my body a sheen of perspiration and alive with a flush of prickles sweeping across my skin. He moves down my body, as one hand remains holding and massaging my breast, his other traces down my torso. His nails lightly catch my hypersensitive skin, which flames at his touch. He uses his shoulder to spread my legs wide then he sits up and holds my inner thighs with his big strong hands, pushing them wider apart. I am so open, so vulnerable, so turned on.
My thighs start to tremble with the strain of his extra weight on the muscle, and he uses his strong thumbs to smooth the quivering flesh. My heart is racing, pumping blood loudly in my ears, and I can feel my swollen clit throb with the desperate need for some pressure, some friction, any attention at all, and I know I’ll be howling like a banshee. He meets my eyes, which must be pleading and flashes me a wickedly sexy smile. “Something you want to say, baby?” He says darkly.
“Please.” My voice barely a whisper. It’s all I can say. “Please, please, Daniel” If I could move, I would be on my knees begging.
“Oh, baby, I love it when you beg.” His mouth tips up on one side, and he slowly sucks the large pad of his thumb between his soft full lips. Raising a brow, he lowers his hand, and with the lightest pressure, presses my aching clit in small full circles.
“Fuck!” I scream, my hips jerk clean off the bed and he quickly secures me with the force of his other arm across my waist. My sex clenches, spasm after spasm ripple through my core and tiny white dots float across my tightly-squeezed eyelids. I catch my breath, my whole body shaking from the speed and intensity of the orgasm he held at his fingertips. “Fuck.” My breathing slows, and I feel my inner contractions ebb, “Fuck.” He kisses me hard and laughs roughly.
“I love it when you talk dirty. I’ve missed you talking dirty.” My eyes widen, is he serious about our Late Night Calls? I don’t have time to ponder, as he dives between my still spread legs and sweeps his hot tongue deep along my soaking wet folds. He moans, and the vibrations from the sound send a ripple of pleasure deep inside me. He licks and laps, his tongue dipping inside and swirling around the sensitive nub of nerve endings, all the more sensitive from my recent explosive climax. I instantly feel the uncontrollable pulse of an impending orgasm start to build, and he must feel it, too, because his tongue becomes more forceful, tasting and moving rapidly from tip to entrance. This and my immobility are driving me insane, and I cry and whimper at his incessant ministrations.
“Ah, ah, Daniel. Oh, God, please, please.” I press my head hard against my pillow, wanting to thrash it wildly from side to side. My knuckles are pure white as I grip the boards above my head, hoping the cheap wood will not splinter in my grip. He shifts and purses his lips tight over my clit and sucks in the most deliciously intense and erotically painful manner. I crash and plummet from a bliss he so brutally demands. My thighs start to spasm, my body trembles, even my fingers shake, and I try to suck in some desperately needed oxygen. He continues to lick me intimately, reverently, softening my fall until I am limp and sated.
He rears up from between my legs, gloriously naked, his taut tanned body glistens with sweat, his scent is raw and his eyes are predatory. “Mine.” He roughly forces the word through his tight jaw, and I shiver all over again. He is slowly fisting his hard angry cock, the tip dewy with pre-cum, and I lick my lips and swallow. He holds my stare and it’s possibly the most erotically charged moment in my life. This perfect male is hard for me, possessive of me; feral for me. He kneels closer and presses the velvet head of his thick wide cock against my lips, smearing his juices along my lips. I flick my tongue to taste, and the desire I feel escapes as a small moan from the back of my throat. “Don’t move, just take what I give you.” His voice is deeply calm, but the inflection tells of the control he is fighting to maintain, and the thought makes me smile. My smile dissolves quickly as he pushes deep into my mouth, my tongue swirling his tip, lightly licking the slit and tasting him. I use my tongue and lips to bring him in deep, and he holds my head, giving me the support I need to take him deeper still. His hips start to move, and he throws his head back with a loud moan.
His cock lengthens, and he is fighting his desire to fuck me hard; he is holding back. I can feel him thicken, and his veins pulse. I hollow my cheeks and try to swallow him into the back of my throat, but he controls the depth. Frustrated, I shift up slightly, taking my hand I grab his fine muscular arse, feeling the flex as he continues to pump his hips. My nails dig into his flesh, and he releases a guttural sound from deep in his throat. “I said to keep your hands…. Ahh! Fuck.” I push myself forward and swallow him to the back of my throat, and with his thrust he hits me hard. The muscles in my throat flex in defense at this intrusion, closing tightly around him. My grip on his arse tightens and my tongue frantically laps him as he withdraws slightly, but understanding my need to have him, all of him, he slams his palm against the wall, fisting my hair tight with the other, as he starts to fuck my mouth without reservation. He pumps hard and fast, moaning in agonizing pleasure. I take my other hand and wrap tightly around the base of his cock. He instantly thickens in my grip. His balls tighten and his hips jerk forward as he comes, shooting torrents of scorching hot semen on my tongue and down the back of my throat. I swallow and lick, and I’m still pumping him when he pulls from my mouth still coming, releasing whatever he has left on my breasts. He hovers, and I pull every last drop from him onto myself. His breathing is still fierce. He sits back and wipes his hand through his essence, smearing the warm cream across my breasts and stomach. “Mine,” he declares. I look down at my sticky body, seeing the red marks he has left on my breast, no doubt on my neck too, marking me as his. I am under no illusion that tonight was about anything else.
I wake to an empty bed and just when I start to think that perhaps my erotic dream was only a dream I smell the aroma of coffee wafting in from my living room, followed by the equally delicious sight of Daniel in his tight boxer shorts carrying my liquid breakfast. I sit up and feel the tight stretch of my skin on my breasts and tummy. Looking down I now see my error in judgement regarding foregoing the late night shower in favour of sleep. I’m gross and flaking, I look like a lizard. I quickly pull my covers to my chin.
Daniel laughs as he passes my coffee. “I thought we’d passed the ‘being shy’ stage?” He raises his brow and shuffles in beside me.
“Oh, we have. We just haven’t passed the ‘I’m going to gross you out’ stage.” I smile, but a flash of heat in my face highlights my embarrassment.
“Ah…regretting the shower decision?” He chuckles at my discomfort.
“Just a bit. What time is it?” I sit up to check my clock and slump back down in the pillows. “Fuck!” I exhale.
“What? It’s not early?” He lifts his arm for me to crawl under but I am still swathed in the sheet. I shake my head.
“No, it’s not. Which means I have to run the gauntlet of showering with an army of horny kitchen porters, dying to catch the show.” I pull my covers further over my head. I feel the mattress dip and hear my front door close. Five minutes later he returns with a triumphant smile. He leans down and kisses my nose.
“All yours, baby. You have 20 minutes, so move that sexy arse before I have to pay for a time extension.” His lips curl casually around his cup.
“What did you do and don’t tell me you went into the kitchen like that?” He is glorious, but he is also nearly naked.
“I sent everyone for breakfast, so you’ve got twenty minutes, and, yes, I went like this.” He wrinkles his nose like I’m being ridiculous. It would be cute if I wasn’t so mortified.
“Oh, my God!” I cringe.
“What’s more important, your personal hygiene, or them all knowing you’ve been, how did you so eloquently phrase it?” He grins. “Oh yes! ‘That you’ve been riding my enormous cock.’” His laugh is infectious and makes him seem really young. It’s such a lovely sound. “Besides.” He adds as I grab my towel, still wrapped in my bed sheet. “It’s a small price to pay. There is no way anyone catches this show, except me.” He whips the sheet from my body, and I squeal as he wraps me in his arms and dips me back into a dramatic embrace with the sweetest kiss.
Daniel is ending a call as I return fresh from the shower. His eyes are heated and instantly hungry as I close the door behind me with a click. He stalks toward me, towering, predatory, and he places his arms on either side of my body, caging me in with his frame against the door. Despite being hugely turned on by this animal display of dominance, I am suddenly completely freaked out that he got into my apartment in the middle of the night in the first place, and I push his chest and wrinkle my forehead in anger.
“Mmmm.” He dips to suck on my neck. “I kind of like a little resistance.” He pushes his arousal hard against my stomach.
“How did you get in here last night?” I try jabbing my pointed finger into his pectoral, but he is unmoving and just looks more dangerous.
“Mmm? How… how what?” He heard me. He’s just trying to distract me with his wickedly playful tongue, which is flicking and sucking the soft spot below my ear. I’m starting to melt, his hard body preventing me from pooling in a puddle on the floor.
“Daniel, I won’t feel safe unless I know how you got in here. What’s to stop someone else doing the same?” My words may be breathlessly spoken, but they are enough to halt him.
“You’re completely safe. Well, completely safe would be living with me, but you are safe here, too. My security company did the upgrade and fixed the shower door, too!”
I let the ‘living together’ remark slide, as I’m sure it was a joke, but the other bit is news to me. “Ok, and you may have to speak slowly, because I am not sure how the two are linked?” I narrow my eyes; I know exactly how the two are linked and I’m starting to feel a little bit violated, and not in a good way. He has the grace to look sheepish at least and he stands back a little to gauge my mood. His hands move protectively in front of his groin. He may well have to protect parts of his body if I lose my temper, but I’m not stupid. I’m not going to hurt him there, that would only hurt me more.
“I have a key. It drove me crazy the other day when I couldn’t get to you. I need to know I can get to you. I need to keep you safe.” He wants me safe, not ‘crazy stalker in my basement safe’ I hope, just safe, and part of me is overwhelmed that someone cares so much about me, but then there is a part of me that thinks this is setting a dangerous precedent regarding privacy.
“That’s sweet but also really wrong, you know that, right?” He nods but has a wickedly sinful gleam in his eyes indicating no remorse whatsoever. “And you’d give me back that key if I asked?” He nods again slowly, grinning. “Because it’s not your only copy, is it?” He shakes his head. He may be a crazy stalker, but he is my crazy stalker.
Daniel joins me at the gym with Marco. Although he sits on the bench at the side to watch, he occasionally leaves to take a call. He returns just as Marco throws me hard on my butt, falling swiftly onto me with his knee in my chest and straddled over me. But only briefly before he is knocked clean off me and onto the mat. I catch my breath, which has been knocked from me with my fall, and look to see Daniel straddling Marco with his knee at his throat. I jump to my feet and push him off Marco. He doesn’t resist. “Fuck! Daniel, what are you doing?” He stands and wraps me in his big strong arms, squeezing hard before he releases me and starts to turn me, checking for blood, I presume. My brow is wrinkled with confusion and amusement. I hear Marco snicker. Daniel shoots him the filthiest look and growls.
“Don’t you think that was a little excessive, Marco?” His voice is deep and angry. I bite my lip to stop the rising giggle.
“No! I think that was payback!” Marco narrows his eyes at me, and I stick my tongue out. “You weren’t here when she pulled the same move on me. Are you gonna kiss me better, too?” He turns to pull his sweats down, and I laugh loudly, but Daniel is not laughing. I feel bad that he is even worried about this, and I cup his cheeks and kiss him lightly.
“Hey, it’s fi…” I quickly change what I was about to say in response to his scowl. “Daniel, I do this every week, and most weeks I kick his arse.” I nod my head toward a grinning Marco. “He does go easy on me, look at the size of him, of course he does, but there’s no point if it’s too easy. I’m pretty sure an attacker isn’t going to be so considerate.” His teeth visibly grind at this.
“Look, dude.” Marco comes over to me. I don’t think he has warmed to Daniel, but he is super protective of me, so I am not surprised. “I would never hurt her. Ever.” He leans to pick up his towel, kisses my cheek, but as he walks away, he adds, “Can you say the same?” He swings the gym doors wide and leaves us.
I look in Daniel’s eyes, worry, love, and lust all mix together for a lethal intensity. He grabs my butt and lifts me, so my legs wrap around his narrow waist. He notices me wince at his grip.
“Tell me again how this doesn’t hurt?” He squeezes a little tighter, and I bite my lip and try to smile. He is right on an emerging bruise. “And, baby, I’m just dying for you to lie about this, knowing exactly where you’d be taking that punishment.” His smooth voice is dark and sensual, his veiled promise searing a heat through me.
“It doesn’t hurt.” I giggle and grind my hips into him, hot with desire.
“I’m so fucking hard, I want to fuck you right here.” He is looking around, and my eyes widen in panic. No, he isn’t serious. “But I have to get you changed. We have someplace to be.” He takes my hand and leads me from the building, not allowing me time to check on Marco or chat to anyone else. He mumbles something about private lessons before securing me in his car.
Back at Daniel’s apartment I am freshly showered, changed, and pouring myself a coffee from his space station kitchen appliance with integrated coffee machine, when I hear him raise his voice on the phone. I’m not eavesdropping, he is shouting.
“Fuck, Mother, you had no right… But I’m really angry about this…I was bringing someone…No, I haven’t asked her yet, but I was just about to. Hardly the point, mother, it was my decision…Fuck!…No, of course I’ll accompany you, I just don’t have to be happy about it.” He hangs up abruptly and is still cursing when I walk into the room.
“Problem?” I walk to him, the tension visible in his shoulders. I reach up to try and massage it, but it’s really not the right angle. So I take his hand and pull him to the sofa. “I heard you on the phone. I wasn’t eavesdropping,” I add quickly. “But you were shouting and…” I squeeze his solid muscle that has no give, “you do seem a little tense.” I laugh lightly and kiss his cheek.
“Yes, well… My mother has just managed to piss me off and ruin my surprise.” He grumbles.
“Ooo, I like surprises!” He turns swiftly and sweeps me into his waiting lap, stroking my hair from my eyes.
“Well, thanks to my mother, this surprise I’m not sure you’re going to like.” His frown deepens.
“Okay?” I wait for him to explain.
“There is this charity Gala tomorrow, and I wanted to take you, but my mother gave her ticket to a friend because she assumed she could come with me.”
“Oh.” I let out a breath. I don’t know what terrible surprise I was anticipating, but I’m clearly relieved. “Well, really, that’s not so bad. I can’t blame her, and I’m sure she would really like to go with you, anyway. God, I bet you look smoking hot in a tux.” I say wistfully.
“Lucky you’re not the jealous type.” He kisses my nose.
“Yeah, lucky.” I may have to revise that position. “Anyway, I don’t have anything to wear. Even Sofia’s wardrobe is limited in the Gala outfit wearing department.”
“That’s what I wanted to do this afternoon, take you to get a dress.” He seems shy. It’s sweet.
“Oh.” I’m stunned, so he does want to take me out, show me off at a Gala. I know that’s not going to happen now, but it’s the principle. I also know a small part of me should be affronted at the notion of being ‘shown off’, but unfortunately that small part is fighting a losing battle against my other insurmountable insecurities. So I am warmed by this development. I know I’m to blame for allowing the doubt Kit raised to have any oxygen to breathe, but I am thrilled that this was his surprise to begin with.
“So, no need to go shopping. I guess we’ll have to think of something else to do in the meantime.” He wiggles his brow suggestively, and I push his chest.
“You’re a monster, a sex fiend,” I tease.
“Takes one to know one.” He covers my mouth, and his lips swallow my screams. “So what will you do tomorrow? I have to go to my mother’s before the Gala, some family drinks.”
“Sofs probably, although I should maybe invite Marco, too. After your alpha display today, he’s probably a little pissed. He’s my best friend, and it would help if you two got on a little better.” I plead my case.
“Then he should stop beating up my girlfriend.” He is deadly serious, so I decide to drop it.
“So, shall we go out tonight?”
“Oh baby, do you mind if we don’t? If I’m out all tomorrow, I just want to bury myself in you, and when you crash I can work; it’s perfect. We’ll get take out -- anything you want. There could even be a bath in it for you?” I need to not let this eat at me. He was going to take me to a Gala, it’s not like you can wear a paper bag on your head to those things.
I laugh. “You had me at bath.” He leans to kiss me lightly, but his hunger for me consumes him, and he is delving deep with his tongue and thrusting his hands in my hair, pulling me tighter to his body. We both sag when we hear his entry phone ring.
“Expecting company?” I tease as he eases himself from beneath me.
“No, and it better be fucking important to interrupt me from doing what I have planned.” His stern voice disappears into the hall as he goes to answer the phone. I lay back into the warmth, which is fading from the sofa at his departure, and throw my arms over my eyes. I hate that Kit has raised suspicions in me that simply weren’t there before. I hate that she makes me doubt myself and makes me doubt him. I hear his tentative steps, his voice is soothing.
“Hey, baby, we’ve got a visitor.” The hairs on my neck stand at attention, and I take a calming breath. I know who’s just ‘popped by’, and I need to not be the crazy one right now. I move my arm and swing my legs round, standing in a smooth graceful movement with a huge smile, which I grip to my face with a gritted jaw.
“Kassandra.” I notice Daniel’s warm smile at my response, and I die a little inside. “It’s really nice of you to stop by, and,” I draw in a steadying breath as I feel the bile rise in my stomach, “I am sorry for my outburst. It’s, well… it’s just all been sickening.” I’m sure her brow would raise at my choice of words, but her face is chemically frozen. She’s only just twenty-six, and I think a line or wrinkle would be too scared to dare attempt finding a home on her face.
“Bethany.” She sways toward me, and I panic at the thought that she might actually try to embrace me, and I know my instant reaction would be a take-down, followed by a swift elbow in the face. I move to the side and toward Daniel, with a half-smile at my violent fantasy.
“Kassandra, would you like something to drink, tea, coffee?” I ask her kindly, as I walk toward the kitchen, whispering, “Hemlock,” under my breath.
“I’ll have a beer, please, baby.” His eyes are deep blue and sparkle. His smile dazzles me.
“Oh, no, I won’t intrude.” I return with a beer for Daniel and a bottle of water for me. I’m a little dehydrated from my class, and I start to drain the bottle as I sit opposite Kit, who is sitting next to Daniel; her knee touching his. “I have to say, I am rather pleased you have chosen to wear more clothing this time, Bethany.” She laughs at her funny little remark.
“Any clothing is too much clothing,” Daniel’s voice rumbles low, and he moves with stealth across to my sofa. With a predatory glimmer in his eyes, he scoops me into his lap and dives his nose into my hair inhaling deeply. He strokes my body as if we were alone, and he sends tingling sparks where his fingers touch my skin. It would seem ‘polite host’ Daniel has left the building, and with his massive erection pressing through the thin fabric of his sweats and the thinner cotton of my dress, I am not entirely sure he even knows Kit is still in the room. But then she coughs and stands, brushing the creases from her dress, well, caressing the creases and fondling herself in the process. It’s a move that is wasted, though, if only Daniel was looking.
“I only wanted to check you were okay, and I can see that you are, which warms my heart.” I bite back ‘like you have a heart to warm’ with all my self-control, I am super proud of myself, and I give me an internal high five for not having a melt-down. “Bethany, may I have a private word.” She walks toward the hall, and Daniel reluctantly lets me go and adjusts himself discreetly. I laugh, not that discreetly. She turns and steps close, so her face is hidden by mine, and her voice is too soft to be heard. Her eyes narrow to tiny slits. “I think you are so very cavalier with someone so precious to you, and you are so very naïve to think I was bluffing.” She leans in to air kiss my cheeks, pleased with the effect her words have caused. My face is now drained of the flush I’d felt from Daniel’s attentions. “Good-bye, darling.” She steps aside and back toward the living area. “And I’ll see you tomorrow at your mother’s. I understand you are her date at my table? It will be such fun, so glamorous. Anyway, do enjoy your cozy evening in.” Drained and winded, like I said, I don’t stand a chance.
I take a moment before I return to Daniel. I told Sofia I would fight for us, and the only way is to tell Daniel the truth. But how much truth to tell? I have no evidence, and I have already come across as crazy, unstable, and mean. I don’t want to add vindictive, too, because I know Kit is a professional at playing the victim. Still, I have to try. Daniel is lying fully stretched on the sofa with his arm lazily drooped over his eyes. He looks relaxed, and his lounge pants are barely hanging on his hips, so he looks incredibly sexy, too. I walk over and slide to the floor on my knees beside him. He lifts his arm and grins with a raised brow.
“Oh, baby, I like where you’re going with this.” He goes to sit, but I place my hand on his taut stomach, and he sinks back down.
“Daniel…I need to tell you something.” I can feel my mouth dry.
“Anything, baby…you can tell me anything.” His hand stretches to cup my neck, and the warmth and love I feel give me much needed courage.
“It’s about Kit…Kassandra… She left me, Daniel, but she didn’t just leave me. She left me with my mum and all the bills, too.” I swallow hard. His face seems to darken, and he draws in a deep frown.
“She didn’t leave you, baby…She would’ve come back if she knew how…I know its hard-“
“-Daniel, she sold my home and took all the money for herself…She is the reason I work two, sometimes three, jobs.” The pitch in my voice is starting to rise, and I take a steadying breath.
“Is that why you didn’t look for her? You were angry?” I drop my head, because his eyes look…I don’t know. They look sad, but I don’t know if that’s for me or Kit. “It’s understandable, baby, but she didn’t know. How could she? You can’t keep blaming her. We all made mistakes in our past. You have to be able to forgive her, baby. I need to know you can forgive her past.” His voice is almost pleading, and his face flashes with something I don’t recognize, something distant, but then it’s gone.
“I don’t trust her, Daniel.” I try one last time.
“And that’s okay. That is completely understandable. It will just take time, that’s all, and I’ll be right beside you all the way. She’s not expecting you to let down your guard right away. Well, she probably is, given that she feels abandoned, but she’ll understand. She just wants to be a part of your life. Is that too much to ask?” His warm palm caresses my cheek.
“You’ll be with me, always.” He nods and sweeps to capture my mouth with his hot possessive kiss. It is too much to ask, too much for her, but for him, for us, it isn’t too much at all. If he is beside me, it’s Kit that doesn’t stand a chance.