by Dani Lovell
"I want you, too," I say in a deep, wanton tone, keeping my hand firmly pressed against him. "I always do," I add as I lay a soft, slow kiss on his lips. "If Tilly and Luke weren't coming back, I'd ask you to take me to your office."
"What?"
"Uh huh." I kiss him again. "I want you to fuck me in your office."
"Oh, baby. I want that so bad! Can we ditch those two?"
I laugh. "No. We'll just have to imagine what it would be like."
"We'll see." At that moment, we hear Tilly and Luke laughing as they open the front door, Tilly's dirty cackle making me giggle. "We'll continue the pashing, later, baby," he says as he kisses my nose and stands to get some more champagne flutes from the kitchen.
"Hey love monkeys, what've you been up to, huh? You pair of dirty bastards," Luke asks with an amused grin as he rests against the kitchen cupboards next to Daniel. I bite my lip and look down with a shy smile. Funny, but embarrassing!
"You two 'got it awn' again," Tilly sings in her best American accent. She saunters over to the sofa to join me. "Whoa, look at you in your boy clothes," she teases.
"I happen to think Bea looks hot in my clothes, Tilly, don't you?" Daniel calls from the kitchen.
"Well, I can't say it 'tickles my pickle', I'm not that way inclined, but I will agree that Bea looks hot in just about anything, Daniel."
"I'd like you to tickle my pickle, sugar lips," Luke says with a wink and I gasp, amused by his outrageous innuendo.
"Ok, if you two want to do any 'pickle tickling', you can take it into the guest room, thanks." Daniel says, laughing.
Luke sits on one of the Barcelona chairs and pats his lap, gesturing for Tilly to sit, which she does. Daniel joins me, as we were, on the sofa. "So, are you guys hungry? What shall I get to eat?" he asks, absently stroking my neck.
"I'm starving," Tilly responds, "and I have a real craving for pizza, anyone else fancy pizza?"
"Mmm, sounds good!" I enthuse.
Daniel calls to get some pizzas sent up and we all chat about the 'W' and what's it's like to live here. I'm having a great evening, but all that's important, is being curled up next to my man, knowing I'm staying the night, in his bed, with him.
~~~~~~~
We eat a load of pizza, and talk for hours about everything and anything. We've gotten through two bottles of ice cold champagne and I've definitely had enough now. I am not totally drunk anymore, but I am squiffy and really tired, I could do with a nice cuppa. I'm still sitting, tucked under Daniel's arm with my hand resting on his toned stomach, trying to get used to the fact that I think I love him. No, I know I love him. Fuck, I'm in love with someone I met last week.
I look up at his lovely face while he's deep in conversation with Tilly and Luke about skiing in Aspen, and I want to run my fingers down his cheek and kiss that beautiful mouth. The fine stubble covering his jaw is sexy as hell, god, I could look at him for hours on end.
He looks down and sees me gazing at him with a silly, contented smile on my face and he grins. "Hello, baby," he murmurs, quietly.
"Hello, baby," I repeat. Tilly and Luke still talking Aspen in the background.
"Are you looking at something?"
"Only my holiday boyfriend. You are so handsome."
Daniel grins, shyly and I want to gobble him up. "You are so much more beautiful, than I am handsome, Bea. And I don't think I'll ever get enough of you calling me your boyfriend, give or take the 'holiday' bit."
"I wish I didn't have to say the 'holiday' bit."
"Me too, baby. Would you like another drink?"
"Actually, I was going to ask if I could make a cuppa?"
"Cuppa? Tea?"
"Yes, sorry. Tea."
"Of course, I'll make it," he says as he takes his arm from around me and stands up.
"I can do it, Daniel, just show me where everything is."
"Ok, baby, I want you to feel at home. I'll show you," he says, holding out his hand and I take it, following him to the kitchen.
"Tilly, Luke, do you want tea?"
"Mmm, I'd love a cuppa," Tilly says with a thumbs up.
"Not for me, thanks. Dan, can I have a beer, dude?"
"Sure, help yourself, and grab me one too."
Luke stands, effortlessly lifting Tilly and placing her back down on the chair with an affectionate kiss to her forehead. He heads to a fridge specifically for beer... well; I assume it must be considering there's nothing inside but shelves full of perfectly aligned beer bottles.
"Baby, the tea bags are here..." Daniel opens a cupboard door, "sugar is in this cupboard next to it and the milk and lemon are in the refrigerator. The kettle is right here," he points to the stainless steel, state of the art kettle. "Are you sure I can't make it for you?"
"No thank you, darling, I'll do it."
"Ok, baby. I'll watch," he says as he perches himself on the kitchen island and crosses his arms in front of him. I'm not sure what it is, but he looks incredibly sexy like this, sitting on the counter top, watching me with that gorgeous smile.
Throwing the second tea bag into the bin, I place the spoon in the sink and turn to Daniel, pressing up against him. "You're so sexy," I say, running my hands up and down his huge biceps. That Enigma song is on, and all I can think about, is making love to Daniel to it.
"Mmm, so are you. You know, baby, your nose is the most delicate little thing, it compliments your beautifully curved mouth perfectly, that's one of the first things I noticed about you, on the airplane," he says as he slides his hands around to the bottom of my back and pulls me closer, in between his legs.
I smile an awkward, shy smile. "Um, thank you."
"Don't be shy. You're beautiful. I can't wait to get you to myself again," he whispers into my ear.
"Me neither, let's go to bed after my tea. I think Til and Luke are half way there too." I nod over in their direction, Tilly straddling Luke on the Barcelona chair; they are whispering and gazing at each other, admiringly.
"I think Til likes him more than she lets on you know."
"That's funny because I was thinking that about Luke earlier. In all the years we've known each other, I've never seen him with the same girl more than twice and I've never known any girl to make him laugh so much. She's good for him."
"Really? Hasn't he had a girlfriend?"
"Not really, he's been happy, single. He's never had to try with girls before; they have always fallen at his feet. He does with Tilly, though."
"Um, Daniel?"
"Uh huh?"
"Can we take your iPod to bed?"
"This is the 'sex song' isn't it?"
"Uh, actually, Daniel, 'music to make love to'."
He grins and raises his eyebrows. "Why, yes, sweetheart, that's what I meant. And yes, let's do that."
I hand Tilly her tea and head back to the large sofa to sit down.
"Wait, baby," Daniel says as he strolls past me and sits first, patting his lap like Luke did, earlier. I hand him my tea and curl up on his lap, enjoying the feel of his body under mine. He hands me back my tea and I take a sip.
"Hey, you two... " Tilly calls and we both look over as she snaps a photo of us on her iPhone. Daniel kisses my cheek and makes me smile, as Tilly carries on taking pictures. A final one of us kissing is taken before she takes a few of her and Luke.
"Memories of our fun holiday in Hollywood," she says with a smile as she puts her phone down on the table.
I close my eyes and rest my head against Daniel's shoulder. "Mmm. This is lovely."
"Mmm..." Tilly says, "really nice, thanks for the tea, Bea, thanks for the hospitality Daniel and thanks for being a comfy chair, Luke," she says with a grin as she closes her eyes and mirrors my position. Luke wraps his arms around her, and rests his head on hers, eyes closed. It makes me smile, his affection towards her - given my earlier opinion of him as a serial philanderer - is really quite surprising. He clearly likes her, and she him. I wish they'd admit it.
I have another sip of tea a
nd close my eyes again. I'm so comfortable, I could nod off. Daniel's beer arm is wrapped around my chest, moving occasionally as he sips, and his other hand is stroking my legs, slowly. It's so relaxing.
"Bea, baby." He disturbs my near snooze.
"Mmm hmm?"
"Shall we go to bed? I don't want you to fall asleep here, you look tired."
"I am, really tired, and I'm not ready to fall asleep yet," I grin, eyes still closed, I can't see Daniel's face but I am pretty sure he's grinning too.
"Let's go. Hold your tea tight..." He sits forward with me and places his bottle on the table before standing with me in his arms, like a baby. Whoa! He's so god damned strong!
"We're going to bed guys, see you in the morning."
"See you later," I add.
They both bid us a sleepy goodnight and Daniel makes his way to the way to his bedroom, grabbing the iPod on the way. He lowers me onto the bed, careful not to spill my tea, and dims the light so we're almost in darkness. I sit on one side, drinking my tea and watching Daniel as he strolls around the bedroom, sorting out the iPod and beginning to undress.
He lifts his shirt over his head, my attention is focused on his taut body again. In all of my ten, sexually-active years, I have never been with a man with a body like this. Dylan had an 'ok' body, but nothing like this. He walks, gorgeously naked, into the bathroom to clean his teeth. I can't wait to wrap myself around that naked body.
As he comes out, he stops and smiles at me. Oh, I love you, I love you, I love you, I LOVE YOU, you gorgeous man. I wish I could tell you.
"Nearly finished your tea, baby?"
"Uh, huh," I murmur, taking a last sip before putting it down on the bedside table. I sit up and slowly pull Daniel's jumper over my head before unclipping my bra and throwing it to the floor.
Daniel watches, intently, as I lie down, raise my hips and lower his boxers and my knickers together to my thighs. He pulls them down my legs before crawling up my body and kissing me. He tastes of toothpaste; delicious. He points a remote to his iPod and the song starts to play. He drops the control on the bedside table and brings his hand to my face, looking me in the eye. He whispers the French words that he translated for me, the other day. "Dit Moi."
What does that mean again? Tell me? Tell him what? I place both of my hands on the sides of his face and say what I think he wants. "Make love to me, Daniel. Please, I need you."
He closes his eyes and lowers his lips to mine again. I bend my legs either side of him automatically, hooking my feet around his legs, my body rippling underneath him in time to the music.
I'm still gripping his face, kissing him fervently, moaning and sighing in undiluted pleasure. I slide one hand around to the back of his neck, one of my favourite 'Daniel places' and I move the other to his side, pressing him against me. I can feel myself getting warmer and wetter, the buzzing feeling in my stomach getting stronger, moving down to my pubic bone as I moan loudly again.
"Bea, you're so beautiful," he murmurs before moving his head down to take my nipple into his mouth. I arch my back and groan as his tongue ripples against me, his other hand gently massaging my other breast.
"Oh, Daniel..." I moan as I bring my knees up to either side of his body again, and push my pelvis up against him.
"Baby," he whispers as he moves to caress the other nipple with his mouth, "your body, your skin..." he says against my breast, running his hand down to caress my thigh, firmly. He rises up my body again to kiss my lips, the pressure increasing with our need. Daniel's tongue elegantly entwines with mine and the deep, velvety groan that escapes his throat into my mouth, only increases my desire for this lovely man, whom I now know, I love. The thought makes me yearn for him even more, to feel him as close as he can be, deep inside me.
His fingers move slowly towards my inner thigh and rise until he's gently circling my clitoris, so gently he's barely touching me but it's agonisingly good. "Oh!" I cry, passionately, closing my eyes, pushing my head back into the pillow. "Daniel, I crave you, I am hungry for you all the time, I feel deprived when I don't have you."
"Oh, Bea, you don't know... you don't know," he whispers between soft, delectable kisses on my neck.
"What don't I know?" I ask, my hands in his hair. Tell me you love me...
He squeezes my buttocks before positioning himself at my entrance. He gazes deep into my eyes. "You just don't know." His voice mellifluous, he closes his eyes and shakes his head as he slowly fills me.
"Oh!" I cry, it's divine, so slow. "Oh, yes, deeper, oh god, it's..."
He kisses me and thrusts deep and hard. This feels so incredible, not just because he's seriously good at this, but also because he's Daniel, the man that I want nothing more than to spend all day, every day with... because I love him.
~~~~~~~
We lay, totally entangled, kissing gently as our breathing settles. Daniel smiles at me. "How can we make this work, Bea? I can't lose you."
"If I knew, Daniel, I would have suggested it already," I say, running my fingers down his darling face. "I want something with you, so much. Come and live with me?"
"Baby, I've thought about it, believe me. But I couldn't leave the business, I can't leave my family. My dad made this business for my sister and I, and it's my life. I can't turn my back on it, although I feel like I can't let you go either. Come and live with me?"
"I adore Los Angeles, I adore the people here, I adore where you live, I adore you. As much as I think that living here is a much more attractive option, you know why I just can't. I have fallen in love with Los Angeles." And you. "I want to come back here on holiday, but I can't up and leave everything I've worked so hard for. I wish I could, I wish I had a boring job that meant nothing to me."
"I know, baby. Me too. We should stop having this conversation, it's depressing, huh?"
"Yeah, it really is. Will you send me the odd text?"
"Try and stop me. You'll be all I think about for a long time."
I smile and snuggle into him. "I draw the line at video-calling though, talking to you face to face will be far too painful. Ok?"
"Sure, baby. But don't you forget to send me a picture of you... in that nightgown."
I giggle. "Ok, baby, I'll remember."
"Do you need anything, sweetheart? A drink or anything?"
"No, thank you, Daniel. I'm fine and I don't want you to move, I'd like to stay like this until Sunday."
Daniel grins. "Ok, but I'd like to get out of bed tomorrow, if you'll let me, to take you out somewhere."
"Go on then, hopefully I won't be too hung-over." Doubtful. "Daniel...?"
"Beatrice...?"
"What did you mean when you said 'you don't know'?"
Daniel closes his eyes again, his mouth curling into a sad sort of a smile. "Don't worry about it, it's just what you mean to me, that's all."
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
SATURDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER
"Ugh," I groan as I roll onto my belly. I grab my pillow and bend it over my head. Hmm, smells nice...
I feel something touching me. No, I need sleep... oh... but that feels good, mmm... "Mmm," I murmur in appreciation, as the hand massages my neck, gently. "So good. Helping."
"You don't feel good, baby?" A surge of excitement runs through me when I realise where I am and who I'm with, but it quickly evaporates as the feeling of nausea returns.
"Daniel, I feel... ugh," I say with a whimper, my face still buried in my pillow.
"I'll keep rubbing your neck. I made you tea, too," Oh, he's amazing.
"Oh wow, I love you..." I mumble into my pillow before I realise what I'm saying. Fuck! What am I saying? "Oh, god, I mean... for making me tea.. um, thank you..."
Daniel chuckles, "Don't worry, baby, I knew what you meant. Can I get you anything else?"
"A new head?"
"Hmm, not sure I can do that, and besides, I like the one you've got. Shall I run you a bath?"
"Oh, Daniel." My voice still muffled in the pillow. "You are
amazing, how do you know what I need?"
"I'm just guessing, baby. I'll go turn on the faucet and come back and hold you for a while."
"You need to come back to England and live with me. That's an order."
I hear the lovely sound of Daniel's faint chuckle as he makes his way to the bathroom.
~~~~~~~
I am woken again, this time by strong, warm arms, wrapping around me, the feeling of comfort helps alleviate my nausea. I just want to tell him, all the fucking time.
"I could hold you all day, baby," he whispers.
"Yes, please," I murmur.
"But if you start to feel better, I really would like to take you out."
"I will, Daniel. Once I drink my tea and have a hot bath, I'll feel much better. Oh shag..."
"Shag?" Daniel laughs. "What's up?"
"I don't have any clothes or make-up..."
"That's already being sorted, just tell me specifics and I'll arrange for it to get here."
I slowly sit up and reach for my tea. "What do you mean?" I ask, taking a sip. He remembered how I like it from last night, I'm impressed.
"Baby, I have an assistant, she'll get what you need." He props himself on his elbow, iPhone in hand. "So, what do you need? Jeans? Top?"
"I need everything, Daniel, it's too much, we'll just have to go back to the pool-house."
"Bea, baby, she's getting stuff for Tilly too, Luke's taking her out straight from here. Tell me everything you need, she's there now."
I need a casual outfit and make-up. I reel a list of basics to Daniel, mascara, kohl liner and some concealer for under my eyes, if I look like I feel, I'm going to need a whole tube. A pair of jeans, a vest top and some flats. Christ, I hope she doesn't go over the top and buy a load of designer stuff, I can't afford to spend much more.
"Consider it done. Now, finish your tea, have a bath and I'll get some breakfast."
"Where did you come from? You're like some make-believe, ideal man, how are you real?"
Daniel laughs, "Baby, as long as I'm making you happy, then I'm happy. As for where I came from, that's a conversation you'll have to have with my parents, I'd like to stay out of the room for that one."
