by Jess Dee
She had a bone-deep need to know what Daniel had been about to say before Leona interrupted them.
When she could bear the ignorance no more, she swore out loud and grabbed the phone.
“What did Vicky inspire you to tell me?” she demanded as soon as Daniel answered.
“Eating away at you, is it?” His chuckle made her fingers curl into fists. How could he be so relaxed when her thoughts were spinning out of control?
“I thought you were miserable after your visit to the hospital,” she snapped.
His tone remained upbeat. “I was miserable after seeing Vicky. But it’s hard to stay down when I know she and all the other kids are so comfortable in their newly refurbished ward.”
“Oh…good point,” she conceded. Daniel had a lot to be proud and happy about. She was proud and happy for him. But she was also an emotional, confused wreck, and she needed answers. “So back to the reason for my call, what did you want to tell me?”
“That I’m making dinner for you tonight, at your place? How does pasta sound?”
“Like a terrible idea. You can’t cook.”
“You told Leona I was cooking last night.”
“Stop changing the subject. That whole act was for Leona’s benefit.”
“Was it?” His voice drifted over the phone like a low, sensual hum. “Your kiss didn’t seem like an act.”
She froze and then resumed her agitated finger tapping. That kiss wasn’t an act. Yes, she’d used Leona as an excuse, but that’s all Leona was. An excuse. She’d kissed Daniel because she’d wanted to, because everything inside her had told her it would be the right thing to do. “What were you and Vicky talking about?”
His sigh was her answer.
“Please, Danny. Lay it on the line for me.”
There was a moment’s hesitation. “Not over the phone. Come round tomorrow, about fourish. We can chat then.”
Chapter Ten
The unseasonably warm weather did nothing to improve Amy’s mood. It was a sweltering spring day, and the heat and her agitation combined to raise her body temperature a good few degrees above normal.
She stood in Daniel’s apartment, determined to get him to talk. Thanks to her friend, she’d suffered yet another sleepless night. The sense of rightness she’d experienced yesterday had inspired an innocent bedtime fantasy about their last kiss.
Unfortunately, the fantasy hadn’t remained innocent. It had morphed into a longing to touch him. All over. Explore every inch of his body with her hands and her mouth. And with the longing came the deepest desire for him to touch her in return. All over.
Bloody hell, she’d had erotic fantasies about her best friend all through the night. Dirty, sexy, hot fantasies that had left her panting and unfulfilled. And the fantasies only covered the physical frustrations of the night. They didn’t hint at her confusion about her changing feelings for Daniel. Or the questions that plagued her. What the hell was he so guarded about? What had he discussed with Vicky? More importantly, what did it have to do with her?
She’d get it out of him even if she had to use a crowbar to pry open his mouth. Today, he would reveal his secret.
If she had any hope of remaining calm and rational while wedging that crowbar into his mouth, she had to cool off first. Tamp down on her emotions and reduce her core temperature. She needed a swim, and there was a pool at the back of Daniel’s building. Hot and flushed, she slipped on her swimsuit in the bathroom.
She studied her reflection in the mirror, eyeing the tiny black bikini she wore. It was so flimsy it barely covered the essential bits. Why hadn’t she brought her sensible one-piece?
Because those darn erotic fantasies were still tumbling through her head, messing with her mind, and demanding Daniel take notice of her like she’d been taking notice of him these last twenty-four hours. That’s why. Because she wanted him as hot and bothered as she was.
She was fed up with denying her attraction. At some point soon, she was going to give in and admit it to Daniel. Her tiny scrap of a bikini was just the beginning. A tiny hint of the feelings that were growing every day.
Amy grasped the edge of the basin, closed her eyes, and took several deep breaths.
She didn’t just want Daniel hot and bothered. She wanted him naked and sweaty above her. And below her. And behind her. God, she wanted him inside her in every conceivable position.
The problem was, Amy’s irrepressible need to fuck her best friend didn’t change her fundamental beliefs about men. She couldn’t fall in love with Daniel, couldn’t have a relationship with him, because men left, and she wanted Daniel in her life forever.
And that left only one available option. An option where Amy could have it all—her best friend and her best friend’s body.
The friends-with-benefits option.
So long as their friendship remained strong and intact, they might just weather the storm of a physical relationship. And with that option settling into her head, Amy made her way back to the lounge room.
Daniel sat on a couch, browsing through a photography magazine. He wore a pair of navy swimming shorts that rode low on his hips. They looked good on him. They’d probably look better packed away in a drawer somewhere—leaving him buck naked.
She mentally shook her head. “I’m ready.”
He gave her a slow once-over. “Nice suit.”
“Thank you.” Her bland smile hid her disappointment at his mild response.
With a wide and not-so-innocent grin, he added, “My five-year-old niece has one like it.”
Typical.
“Same size, too.”
Amy studied her nails. How did he do it? Insult her and get her all hot at the same time?
“But,” he continued, unfazed by her apparent lack of interest, “Michelle has a problem with hers. Every time she jumps in the pool, the top slips off.”
She rolled her eyes. “Isn’t it lucky I have something to hold my top in place?”
“You sure do.” Blue eyes shone with male interest as he gazed at the parts of her body holding said top in place.
“I was talking about the strap.” Her nipples beaded, but for once she did nothing to hide her response to him.
Let him stew over that one.
“Oh yeah. Sure. Me, too.”
If he thought interesting things were happening to the top half of her body, how would he react if he discovered what was going on in the lower half? The sweet tug of desire between her legs had her groin crying out for the same attention he gave her breasts. She toyed with the idea of stripping off her miniscule bikini, which felt more constrictive than a corset. But true to form, common sense got the better of her. Until Daniel told her what he and Vicky had been discussing, he wasn’t getting any of her.
After that, well…anything was possible.
She stalked to the door and yanked it open. “I’m going for a swim. Care to join me?”
“Of course. Someone has to make sure your top stays in place.” He fell in step beside her, singing softly to himself, “She wore an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny…”
She punched his arm before he could finish.
As they reached the pool, a man and two young children were leaving. The place was deserted. Daniel dropped his towel and dived in. She made out the words “yellow polka-dot bikini” before he hit the water.
She glared at him as he began to swim lengths. There appeared to be an awful lot of effort going into his strokes. Way more than necessary. Powerful arms sliced through the water as broad shoulders skimmed the surface. Long, toned legs and forceful kicks sent him racing as muscles rippled beneath his skin.
Amy swallowed, forgetting to be annoyed. He was magnificent. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. He was doing funny things to her insides. Her stomach flip-flopped and her breasts swelled in the useless restraint of her bikini top. Daniel was right. The scrap of cloth didn’t offer much cover. Her taut nipples threatened to pop right out if she became any more aroused.
; She dived in and swam the length of the pool underwater. When she surfaced in the deep end, Daniel was waiting for her, his arm hooked over the edge of the pool. They were so close they almost touched. The urge to press up against him was strong. Every nerve ending stood at attention, utterly aware of his proximity.
Drops of water beaded on his lashes, turning his eyes a shimmering aqua. He peered down into the water between them and furrowed his brow in concern. “Is your top still in place?”
“Very much so.”
“Oh.” Was that regret she heard? “Well, that’s a relief, I’m sure.”
“Your concern for my top is touching.” Maybe if she snagged the clasp on the pool wall, the top would stick to it as she swam off.
“Hey, there were little children running around here. I’m trying to keep things decent.”
She yawned. “Danny, my friend, you’re a bore.”
An evil glint appeared in his eyes. “I’ll show you boring.” He pushed away from the wall.
“No, don’t you dare! Don’t even—”
Too late. Daniel was underwater. She gasped in a breath as he grabbed her feet and pulled her under. Automatically, she pinched her nose closed before a gallon of water blew up it. He’d done that to her a thousand times when they were kids, and he caught her unprepared every time.
Arms flailing, she broke the surface, snorting and swearing, vowing to get revenge.
She flipped around to pummel him, but he’d swum off and was a few feet away. “Prepare to suffer for that.” She dived under the water and headed straight for him.
Daniel was a good swimmer, but she was faster. Always had been. Before long, she was behind him, plowing into his back, grabbing him by the shoulders and trying to force him down. It had never been a problem when they were kids. He’d go under as soon as she pushed. But he was bigger now. Much bigger.
When had his shoulders filled out like that?
They reached shallow water, and Daniel stood up with ease, laughing.
She clung to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, piggyback style.
Darn, he felt good. Would he mind if she rested there while she caught her breath? For the next hour or so?
His cold, wet skin rubbed against her breasts, sending shock waves coursing through her. Each time he laughed, his body shook with mirth and vibrated against her wildly sensitive clit.
It was a good thing she wasn’t thinking clearly enough to tell him a joke. She’d come the second he got the punch line.
“It’s payback time,” she whispered. “And be warned…I intend to play dirty.”
He twisted around to look at her. It was more luck than willpower that stopped her from coming undone at the movement.
“How dirty?”
She nibbled on his earlobe.
His soft moan encouraged her to flick her tongue into his ear and then out again.
“That’s not dirty.” His voice dropped a notch. “That’s below the belt.”
“That’s a long way from your belt.” She relaxed her legs and slid down his back, torturing her breasts in the process.
He turned around. His nipples were as hard as hers, but the water was cold, so it didn’t necessarily mean anything.
She ran a finger from his knee up along his thigh and over his shorts, lowering her voice seductively as she spoke. “Would you like to see me playing below the belt? Or would you rather I focus here?” She forced her hand out of the water and traced the outline of his right nipple.
“You’re treading on dangerous ground.” His chest rumbled as he growled.
Definitely not the cold. “So, I guess it’s below the belt then.” She flashed a smug smile and trailed her finger down his stomach to the band of his shorts.
He inhaled sharply, his eyes dilating.
She hooked a finger under his waistband and took a step backward, tugging him along with her. He followed willingly.
“Now we’re playing below the belt.” She took another step and the floor dipped away. She kicked once and floated up. Daniel floated with her. Releasing her hold on his shorts, she ran her hand over the nylon fabric and down his leg.
“Amy—”
She shushed him with a finger to his lips. When she took a deep breath and ducked underwater, trailing her hands past his knees to his feet, she knew she had him.
Grabbing his ankles, she yanked him down, catching his shocked expression as he went under.
Quick as she could, she swam to the side of the pool and pulled herself out.
Daniel surfaced, coughing and spluttering, incredulity plastered on his face. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“I can’t believe you fell for that.” She picked up her towel.
“That was low.”
“You might say it was below the belt.” She laughed as she squeezed water from her hair. “I was good, wasn’t I?”
“You don’t have to be so damn smug about it.”
“Now, now…let’s not get bitter.”
“You stuck your tongue in my ear.”
“Yep.”
“And your finger in my pants.”
“You liked it.”
“You tricked me.”
“You were so easy.”
He climbed out of the pool, muttering under his breath.
Her revelry was short-lived. Dripping wet, Daniel stalked over and glared at her. “You will regret that.”
He stood close, and there was no water between them, dampening her awareness. Heat suffused her cheeks. Breathing became difficult.
Amy batted her eyelids. “Oh dear, I’m so scared.” Only it wasn’t fear coursing through her veins. It was full-blown, red-hot arousal.
“Good. Be afraid. Be very afraid.”
“Please, mister. Don’t hurt little ol’ me.”
“I intend to punish you, not hurt you.”
He was punishing her. His presence alone was punishment. Need pulsed through her. “Now, now. There’s no need to be a sore loser.” Amy dropped her towel to place a placating hand on his chest and instantly regretted it. Her palm burned at the contact. “Just because you lost at your own game doesn’t mean you have to take your anger out on me.”
“I never lose at my own games.”
Not noticing the lounger, she stepped back. It caught her behind her knees and she sat unexpectedly. A bubble of laughter escaped her, and the mischievous glint returned to Daniel’s eyes.
Strong, cool hands pushed against her shoulders, forcing her to lie back. She forgot to struggle against them.
“If memory serves me correctly, you have a ticklish spot just below your ribs.” He held up both hands.
“No!” She threw her arms out. “Please, no.”
Too late. His fingers were on her waist and under her arms, torturing her.
Amy shrieked in protest.
Relentless, Daniel threw a leg over her, climbed on the lounger, and tickled.
Instinctively, she rolled into a ball, but the protective maneuver only caused more problems. In this position, she rubbed against wet, rock-hard legs, sending tremors through her body. She didn’t know which torment was worse—his tickling or his touch.
A plan of attack was necessary, but what would she do—thump him or jump him? “Please…” She convulsed in laughter. “I can’t take it.”
“Admitting defeat?”
“Never.” Although she’d consider it if he kissed her.
Drops of water splashed onto her chest as he bent over her. “Defeat?” His breath was warm on her face.
If she arched her back, her breasts would press against him. “Uh-uh.”
He tickled again, his arm brushing against the side of her breast.
A flame ignited inside her. “Okay, okay. Defeat.”
“Good. Let that be a lesson to you.” He stared at her, exultant in his conquest, his mouth an inch from hers.
“Bully.” Her voice lacked conviction, the word coming out as a soft sigh.
He held her gaze for a second too long and blood roared in her ears. Nervously, she flicked her tongue out and ran it along her lower lip.
A knowing smile touched the corner of his mouth, an arrogant, sexy smile.
It caught Amy in her belly, sending shivers of awareness coursing through her. Swimming had done nothing to diminish her appetite for him. She was so aware of Daniel, his body and his closeness, she debated the wisdom of wrapping her legs around his waist, arching her hips, and pressing herself against his cock.
He didn’t give her a chance. With one last wicked smile, he pushed off the lounger and stood up.
What the…?
Disappointment coursed through her. She took a deep, steadying breath and got up. Much to her annoyance, her hands shook.
“Now who’s the sore loser?” Daniel stood behind her, murmuring in her ear. His breath tickled her skin, sending a shiver down her spine.
The towel she’d dropped earlier lay at her feet. Amy leaned over to pick it up, deliberately keeping her legs straight while pushing her ass back and pressing it into his groin.
Her mood perked up. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one affected by their antics. She straightened and handed him her towel. “You need this more than I do. Remember the children. We have to keep things decent.”
His smile vanished and the gleam in his eyes bordered on dangerous, making her heart pound. “Is that really what you want? To keep things decent?”
Hunger swept through her. Kissing him was no longer enough. She wanted to lie down and do downright indecent things with him.
And if the rigidity of the erection that had nestled against her buttocks was anything to go by, Daniel wanted the same thing.
Their relationship had reached a turning point. There was no going back now—only forward. But until she had some answers, they couldn’t go anywhere.
Amy grabbed his arms. Tiny jolts of electricity pulsed from his skin. “That day at Tamarama, you said you’d discovered something about yourself, something you weren’t ready to talk about. What was it?”
“You know the answer. I can see it in your eyes.”
“Spell it out for me.”
“There’s no need.” His eyes were dark, his gaze heated.
