by Cathryn Fox
He arched a brow. “I could say the same about you.”
Okay, so he had a point there.
“Changed my mind. A girl has a right to do that you know.”
He grinned, and shot back, “And what, a guy doesn’t? Hey what’s good for the goose.”
“So I’m a goose now, am I? And a scrawny one at that, apparently.” She feigned insult, but Daniel’s soft laugh soon had her smiling.
His grin broadened. “Would you have preferred I’d let them go on?”
“I supposed you’re looking for a thank-you?”
He angled his head. “A thank-you would be nice.” Something about the way he said that had desire skittering through her veins.
“Fine then…”
He held his hand up to stop her. “Wait. You can thank me later.”
She pursed her lips, wondering what he was up to, but he simply gave her a devilish look and turned the conversation to his progress on the guestroom, entering into safe, common ground, she supposed.
They spent the next thirty minutes talking about the room and her ideas. He listened with interest and for a moment there, it felt like old times when they’d chat about nothing and everything over the backyard fence. Once the dishes were cleared, the guests made their way to the other room for after dinner drinks, and Daniel went to speak to his parents.
As everyone mingled, Anna tried to blend into the background, but from across the room Daniel spotted her inching toward the door. When his eyes locked on hers and a predatory smile crossed his face, he sidestepped the other guests to close the gap between them.
Anna swallowed and tucked her hair behind her ear. Oh God, how she wanted him. As warmth moved through her, she began to question the logic behind the pact and the logic behind denying her needs.
He eased in beside her and arched a brow. “Looking for a quick getaway?”
Anna smirked. “That obvious?”
“To me it is.”
“Oh really? Aren’t you astute?”
“I just know you, Anna.”
“You don’t know me, Daniel. I’m not that same naïve girl I was back in high school.”
Two drinks in hand, her mother stepped up beside them, a glint in her blue eyes. “It’s nice to see you two getting reacquainted.” She held the drinks out, but neither one accepted.
Daniel cleared his throat. “I was just trying to convince Anna here to take in a football game with me.”
Anna’s head came back with a start and she swatted him in the stomach, only to meet with a wall of muscles. “What? You were not.”
“Oh, Anna, that’s a great idea. Come by tomorrow and we can pack a picnic basket. I just picked up some fresh bread and cheese, and I just bought these great wine glasses…” As her mother droned on, Anna gave a slow shake of her head. So much for Prince Charming coming to the rescue. Daniel stood over her, looking all innocent and sweet as he rocked back and forth on his heels. But Anna knew him for what he really was, the devil in disguise.
No longer in the mood to make conversation, Anna excused herself and stepped outside for some fresh air. With everyone mingling, she suspected her temporary absence wouldn’t be noticed, and after a refueling breath, she would step back inside, give her goodbyes then make her way home. As she strolled around the garden, to the spot where she used to indulge in one of her romance novels or play with room designs, her glance went to Daniel’s bedroom window and to the tall, towering maple tree that she’d seen him climb down a time or two, when he used to sneak out at night. Okay, okay so maybe he hadn’t been the only one doing the spying.
She gave a heavy sigh. The truth was, she’d wanted to be the girl he was sneaking out to see, or better yet, the girl he was sneaking in to his bedroom. It had been something she’d fantasized about for years.
The wind picked up, and as she hugged herself to stave off a shiver, heavy footsteps heralded someone’s approach. She turned around and came face to face with Daniel. The second his body came into contact with hers and she caught a whiff of his warm, familiar scent, heat unfurled inside her, and she struggled to maintain a coherent thought.
“You cold?” He pulled her close and ran his hands up and down her arms, but the friction merely created heat in the needy spot between her legs.
“I’m okay.”
Daniel slipped off his jacket, draped it over her shoulders, and pulled her in tight. Feeling warm and wanting and in need of a distraction, she glanced at the towering maple tree. She momentarily wondered if his parents had redesigned his room after he’d left, or if they’d left it the way it was. Not that she knew how it was before his departure, since he’d never invited her in.
“Want to climb it?”
She chuckled as her body absorbed his warmth. “I don’t think so.”
He gave her a boyish wink. “Come on, it’ll be fun.”
“Fun?”
“Where’s your adventurous side, Anna?”
“I’m not dressed for climbing trees.” Her voice lacked conviction.
“It’s your only way out, you know.” He pulled a face, fear dancing in his eyes as he pointed to her parents’ living room. “Unless you want to go back in there with those sharks, you don’t have a choice.” He gave a mock shiver. “I’ve never seen such an interrogation. When I first arrived I thought I was in the middle of an intervention.”
Anna laughed and Daniel joined in, and in that instant, she felt like the world had been lifted from her shoulders. Honestly, she’d been strung so tight over the last few days it felt so good to laugh, to let go for a few minutes.
“It’s was an intervention,” she said. “A let’s-get-Anna-hitched sneak attack.” She paused to shake her head. “I didn’t see it coming.”
He touched her gold chain, and when his warm fingers grazed her skin, her hands curled in his shirt. Eyes smoldering, he wet his mouth and in a low voice said, “I think they only have your best interests at heart.”
Needing to lighten things up before she went to mush in his arms and remembering how he’d toyed with her mother, she whacked him on the shoulder and he let loose a moan.
“Hey, what’s with all the abuse?” he questioned, faking exasperation. But that exasperation quickly gave way to passion. “You keep it up and you’re going to get a spanking of your own.”
Anna’s breath grew shallow, and she gulped air, trying for normal. “What’s with teasing my mother like that and telling her you wanted me to go to a football game? She’ll be clinging to that for weeks. You know as well as I do that she wants us together.”
Without an ounce of humor in his voice, he said, “So do I, Anna.”
Her insides twisted. Okay, she understood he wanted her physically, the last few days had proven that. But what she wasn’t sure about was why. Because she was the one he couldn’t have? Or had he changed and matured over the years, and like her, knew how good they could have been together?
“Why, Daniel. Why do you want this?”
He ran his thumb over her bottom lip. Despite the cold, her cheeks flushed hot and her legs felt a little shaky beneath her. The tender intimate way he looked at her took her breath away. Heaven help her, she was fighting a losing battle here. He was charming, seductive, persuasive—the attraction far too powerful for her to ignore any longer. “Daniel—”
Instead of answering her, he grabbed her hand and tugged. “Come on.”
“Where?”
He gestured toward the huge tree branch that hung over the fence. “We’re going up. I’ll show you the view.”
With unhurried movements, he dropped her hand and grabbed the branch to test it. As he pulled himself up, her glance moved to his perfect backside, enjoying the view from where she stood. Instantly, with her brain on overdrive, she couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe he was right and an adventure was in order. And she wasn’t necessarily talking about climbing the tree.
As she warmed to the idea, she slipped her arms through his coat, zippered it, then g
rabbed the branch to climb. Her tight jeans protested the movement. “These are my favorite jeans, so help me if I rip them—”
“I’ll buy you a new pair,” he offered and reached down a helping hand.
She scoffed, half-heartedly, aware that she found the situation a little exciting. Not to mention fun and spontaneous. “Couldn’t we be normal adults and use the front door? I’m not really a fan of heights.”
“Nope. The only way to my front door, is through your front door. And since you’re avoiding the sharks…”
He was right, the fence circled the yards, and she wasn’t quite ready to go inside and face another swarming.
“Plus this is a little exciting, don’t you think?” he teased with a wink. “Sneaking into my room late at night.”
In spite of herself she laughed. “I’ve had more excitement watching paint dry,” she lied, masking her enthusiasm. Heck, she didn’t want to make this too easy on him, letting him think he was finally going to get what he’d been after for years.
But deep inside her she was excited. Damn excited. Growing up, Anna had always been a rule follower and had never done anything quite like this before. Being here with Daniel and climbing this tree took her back to her teen years when she used to go to bed and dream about sneaking into his room with him, dream about being the one girl he wanted, really wanted.
She grabbed his hand and he hauled her higher. Once they reached the top, Daniel shimmied his window open, climbed inside, then helped her in.
When her flats hit the floor, she let out a breath. Feeling much more comfortable on solid footing, she shut the window behind her. Daniel flicked on his lamp, and as the warm light bathed the room, she took in the décor. A single bed was up against one wall, a navy blue comforter haphazardly thrown over it. On the other wall, there was an open laptop sitting on a small wooden student desk. Trophies and medals adorned the numerous shelves above the bed, and a football lamp sat on his nightstand.
“Nice room.”
He walked across the floor and locked his door. A fine tingle ran through her. Despite being all grown up, something about sneaking into his room felt so forbidden, and it shocked her how much that excited her.
“It’s a shrine,” he teased. “Mom left it the way it was, hoping I’d come back to it I guess.”
“Now her wish has come true. You’re staying here, aren’t you?”
He grinned. “Just temporarily.” Something strange passed over his eyes—it was the same look he’d given her earlier but one she didn’t recognize—when he went on to announce, “I bought the old Murphy house down by the lake. Now I’m just waiting for my goods to arrive. I never thought they’d sell it, but lucky for me, the Murphys recently retired and moved to Florida.”
“You bought the old Murphy place?” She widened her eyes in surprise. “I love that place.”
Again, there was that odd look. “I know you do.”
She pulled a face. “You suddenly seem to know an awful lot.”
He backed her up until her knees hit the bed, and something in his voice hitched. “I know a lot more about you than you think I do.”
Her heart raced, her body grew damp and needy, and her voice came out a little rough around the edges. “And I think you’re a sweet talker.”
He offered her a cocky grin, and she damn near wilted. “Is it working?”
“No.”
“Then why are your cheeks flushed?”
As his primal essence completely overwhelmed her, she responded, “Because it was cold out.”
“And your body, it’s trembling.”
“Like I said, it’s cold outside.”
In a move that took her by surprise, he pulled her close, anchoring her body to his and she could feel his arousal press against her midriff. His cock felt glorious, hard and primed to go, and it took all her willpower not to moan out loud and rub up against it. As her body burned with desire and pent-up passion, pleasure gathered between her legs. She placed her hands on his shoulders, and in a bold move that seemed to catch him off guard, she ran her fingers over his muscles and could feel strength radiating off him.
Daniel swallowed and his powerful hands shook like a juvenile on his first date as they slipped around her back. “And…what about…your nipples…?” His words came out a broken, choppy. “Are they hard because it’s cold out too?”
His cock pressed against her stomach. “I could be asking you the same question.”
“Is it my nipples you’re talking about, Anna? Or something else?” he teased, his voice a little rusty as he gave her a boyish grin that turned her inside out.
As she enjoyed the sexy banter, he dipped his head, the light from the lamp washing over his face and making him look so sweet and innocent. Angelic, even. When she parted her lips, he drew a deep, sharp breath. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to kiss you?”
She gave a needy sigh. “What are you waiting for?”
The muscles along his jaw tightened, and with the way his heart was crashing against his chest, she feared he might black out. He gave a tortured moan and stuttered when he tried to explain. “I don’t know. I guess I just want to get this right.” His confession immediately brought them to a deeper level of intimacy and everything inside her reached out to him.
Anna laughed lightly, sensing a new closeness between them. Clearly it was difficult to have divulged something that private. He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip, and seeing him flustered by their proximity bolstered her confidence. “No worries, Daniel. I have a feeling you’re going to get it right.”
His body quivered, and his gaze was dark, turbulent. His breath came in a low rush. “And if I don’t?”
Good God, he was nervous. Not only was it was written all over his face, it was in his body language and in his voice when he spoke. That same nervousness had always gotten to her, touched her deep and turned her to mush. But was it a ploy or was he sincere? Surely no man could fake distress like that.
The look on his face was so intense, it was both exhilarating and frightening and prompted her into action. She, in turn, gave him a look that conveyed her needs, still hardly able to believe she was here with him.
“Kiss me, Daniel,” she begged, her voice low and sultry. As desire clouded her thoughts, she opened herself up to him, giving herself to him the way she’d sworn she’d never do.
With that his lips closed over hers. At first touch her world tilted on its axis, making her feel heady and dizzy. His tongue moved into her mouth and tangled with hers, tasting, touching, teasing her, and fuelling her lust.
His kiss was deep and sensual, and had her aching to the core. She closed her eyes and pulled his tongue in deeper. As she pressed against him, he groaned and she writhed like a wanton woman in response, unable to assuage the need exploding inside her. From head to toe, her skin grew hot, and she was pretty certain if he didn’t soon throw her on that bed and take her—hard, deep and long—she’d go up in a burst of flames.
His hands slid over her body, shaping and palming her curves and leaving fire in their wake. As he pillaged her mouth with hunger and touched her intimately, she frantically tore at his shirt, not wanting to wait one more second to feel his naked skin on hers.
Daniel slipped his hands under the coat she still wore, and ran his fingers over her flesh. Little bumps of pleasure broke out on her skin. His scent enveloped her, and she inhaled deeply, pulling it into her lungs. Bloody hell she wanted him. And she was determined to finally have him, no matter what tomorrow brought.
He slipped his coat off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor. Just as he moved to pull her sweater over her head, a noise downstairs drew their attention and stopped them cold.
“Daniel, are you up there?” his mother asked.
“Oh fuck,” he murmured and pressed his lips to her forehead, his breathing labored and heavy.
Anna gripped him for support and rested her chin against his chest, as she tried to tamp down her lust.
“My parents,” he whispered, stating the obvious.
She nodded. “Party must be over.”
He shook his head. “Christ, I can’t wait until we take possession of our own place.”
Flustered, and barely able to understand his words, Anna inched back. His mind must be as lust-crazed as hers. Because surely he meant to say when he took possession of his own place. As she stood before him, all hot and bothered, and in desperate need of release she said nervously, “I should go.” She glanced at the window, her escape route. “I don’t want to be caught in here with you. It might give everyone the wrong idea.”
“Or the right idea,” he offered, stepping into her until their bodies collided.
Her brain was so passion rattled she didn’t even know what he meant by that. Did he want just one night of sex with her, or did he want more? Did she even dare hope for the latter? “Daniel—”
He cut her off and pointed to his window. “Okay, you go that way so no one sees you, and I’ll go downstairs to distract my parents.”
She nodded and appreciated that he respected her need for privacy. But she hated that this night had come to an end so abruptly. She’d spent numerous years fantasizing about this man and this moment, and just when she was about to experience the pleasure of his lovemaking, once and for all, forgetting about past hurts or even what the morning brought, their night had come to a grinding halt. Perhaps some things just weren’t meant to be.
She turned her back to him. “I’ll see you later then.” She tried to keep the disappointment from her voice but failed miserably.
He grabbed her, spun her around and meshed her groin to his. “You’re not getting off the hook that easily.”
“What do you mean?”
His grin turned wicked. “You still owe me.”
“Owe you?”
“A thank-you, remember.”
“Oh right. Th—”
He pressed his fingers to her lips to hush her. “You can thank me by coming back to the inn with me. I’ve been working hard and want to show you what I’ve accomplished.”
“I don’t think tonight…” Even though she was anxious to see his handiwork, as he’d been banging around in that room alone all day, she just needed to get home, jump into a cold shower and pull herself together.
