Finding Us

by Debra Presley

  She heard the door close behind her and knew Danny was outside because no one else would be allowed onto the balcony with her. But she didn’t turn around.

  He came up behind her and slid his arms around her waist. She tried to hold on to her anger for just a little longer, but couldn’t. Finally she leaned back and rested her head against his chest. She closed her eyes. She didn’t want to argue with him, but this had to be addressed now before they’d be able to move on. They needed to understand each other and establish some ground rules.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered and kissed the side of her head.

  “Me, too.” She turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I think we still need to talk about this. I know taking a step back is hard, but I don’t want another keeper. I’ve had too many years of that.”

  “I’m not your keeper, Abby. I just need you to be safe.”

  “You’re going to have to do a better job of not acting that way. I’ll work on figuring it out, too. Maybe you, me, Sophie, and King could sit down and talk it out. I don’t know. I’m so terrified of falling back into bad habits.”

  “That won’t happen, but I agree a sit-down is needed. This is new for me, and I need to make sure everyone on my team is all on the same page.”

  Abby tightened her hold around his waist and closed her eyes. It was a new situation for both of them, and she needed to show a little patience and understanding, and she was willing to do that. As long as Danny knew how she felt and was mindful of it, she was fine with whatever adjustments and meetings that had to take place to get them to a point where this wasn’t an issue.

  “Do you want to go back inside or are you ready to go?” Danny’s voice broke her reverie.

  “I’d like to stay for a little while longer.”

  “Okay, let’s go dance.” Danny sounded resigned.

  “Ha! If only.” Abby laughed at his tone.

  “Well, I might try some new things now and again.”

  “Oh, really?” She looked up at him and smiled.

  “Really.” He held out his hand. She took it and let him lead her inside.

  “Hey sleepyhead, we’re here.” Danny murmured in Abby’s ear.

  “Hmm?”

  “You’re home.”

  “Oh.” She opened her eyes and realized they were in her driveway. “I guess I fell asleep.” She turned to face Danny.

  “Let’s get you inside.” Danny helped Abby out of the car, took her hand, and she followed him to the door.

  “I had a great time tonight.”

  “Me, too.” After the “water incident,” the rest of the night had been a lot of fun. They danced, laughed, and even found a moment to just talk about things. It was a start. A very good one. And she felt like they could really make a go of this. She leaned into his hand as he tucked her hair behind her ear.

  “Good night, Abby.” Danny’s hand trailed down her neck.

  “Don’t go.” She didn’t want him to leave.

  “It’s late. I have a long drive home.”

  “Stay.” She tugged on his shirt to convince him to follow her inside.

  “You’ve had a few drinks tonight. I think I should—”

  “I’m not drunk. I know what I want.”

  “What do you want?” he asked.

  “You.” She held her breath waiting for a response. Her nerves were getting the best of her.

  She felt his feather light touch on her jaw, and her gaze immediately found his. His fingers continued their journey to her chin, and she instinctively stepped closer. His free hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her toward him until there was no space between them.

  “You’re sure?”

  Tingles traveled up her spine with his intense stare.

  “Yes,” she rasped; her voice was thick with need.

  “Come on.” He tugged on her hand, and she followed him inside, across the living room, and up the stairs. Once at the top of the landing, Abby directed him to her bedroom. Danny pulled her into his arms as soon as they crossed the threshold. His light touch on her overheated skin drove her crazy. She wanted him, and he hadn’t even kissed her yet.

  She relaxed into his body and let her hands make the long slow trip up his sculpted arms. She pulled him down into a kiss, and he growled when her teeth grazed his bottom lip. He slowly guided them toward her bed until her legs hit the mattress. He lifted her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he placed her gently on the bed. This was really happening.

  “Lift your arms up,” he whispered in her ear.

  She obliged. Slowly his hands traveled up her thighs, hips, sides, and breasts as he pulled her dress up and over her head. The thin fabric of her bra was the only barrier between his hands and her flesh, and soon that was gone, too.

  Her skin felt as if it were on fire. She was so turned on by his touch. Any lingering questions about if this was right vanished, and Abby surrendered.

  He kissed, sucked, and nipped his way down her body. Taking his time. He didn’t seem to be in any rush, but Abby was. She needed him…now.

  Abby reached for him. He was still dressed, and she needed to fix that. She pulled at his T-shirt and freed it from his pants, but that was as far as she got. Danny gave her a wicked smiled as he pulled his shirt over his head and then continued to torture her with his hot, patient descent down her body. She lifted up onto her elbows and watched as he slowly devoted himself to learning every inch of her over-heated skin. When he got to the apex of her thighs, he hooked his fingers around the thin string of her thong and pulled them down her legs.

  He stood at the foot of the bed, and her gaze raked his body as he took a condom from his pocket then removed his pants and boxers. A shiver of pleasure raced through her at the thought of what was to come. Abby licked her lips at the sight of his cock.

  Abby opened her legs for Danny, and he covered her body with his. She loved the feel of his weight on hers. She felt safe and adored.

  “Oh, God,” she said with a moan as his mouth covered her taut nipple. She pushed closer to him. She wanted—no, needed—more contact with him. He stopped and stared at her with hooded eyes. Tentatively she placed her fingertips on his face and traced the line of his jaw. She delighted in the texture of his skin beneath her touch. He let her explore, eyes closed, mouth partially opened. She leaned closer and captured his mouth with hers. It didn’t take long to get lost in him.

  “Please,” she begged.

  “All in due time.” His voice only added to Abby’s want. He was driving her crazy. She wanted this. She wanted him.

  She’d waited a long time, and she was ready. He lifted her pussy toward his mouth. His tongue skimmed over her clit, and she gasped. She arched into his touch, begging for more. He continued to lick and suck, and her arousal soared. He feasted on her pussy.

  “Oh God, Danny, more.”

  His tongue continued its maddening rhythm as his fingers glided through her wetness.

  “You’re so wet,” he said. “I love it.”

  “More.”

  She felt one, then two fingers slide inside, and her walls clamped down on them. His fingers glided in and out, stretching her, filling her. Her legs tightened around him as he continued to pump his fingers in and out. She was so close.

  “Danny.” She grabbed a fist full of his hair, and he stopped to look up at her. “Please don’t stop.”

  He dipped his head to blow lightly over her clit and send wonderful shivers through her body. All she needed was the slightest touch from his mouth and she’d come. He didn’t make her wait long until once again he was ravishing her, and she lost control completely. Her hips bucked, her legs stiffened, and the most wonderful wave of pleasure took over her body.

  “Danny…Oh God…”

  “Baby.” He waited a bit and then moved up to kiss her. She rested beneath him, gathering herself. She wanted more. Much more.

  “You okay?” he asked after a while.

  “So good.�
� She nuzzled his neck and felt another stirring deep inside. “I’m not done yet,” she said.

  “I’m not, either.” He sat up and tore open the condom wrapper with his teeth. She watched as he positioned it over the tip of himself and rolled it down. When he was done, he leaned down, and as he kissed her, another wave of passion engulfed her. He dominated her mouth, and she moved so that he could position himself before he drove into her pussy.

  Danny filled her, and a moan escaped her lips. It emerged from somewhere deep inside her to trip out her mouth without permission. He felt so good; pleasure coursed through her veins.

  “Oh, fuck.” He groaned against her neck as he rocked his hips. Her skin tingled as he plunged into her. She clutched his shoulders and met him thrust for thrust, digging her heels into the bed and panting.

  “You feel so fucking good, baby,” he said between gasps.

  “Harder.”

  He pounded into her, and she swore he was swelling inside her, and she clamped down on him as another orgasm tore through her. He groaned his own pleasure moments later and collapsed on top of her. She wrapped her limbs around him and held on tight, enjoying the feel of him.

  Danny rolled them over so Abby was on top. She nuzzled into his neck and kissed him right below his jaw. His grip around her waist tightened.

  “That was amazing.” Danny kissed her hair.

  “Mmm hmm.” Amazing didn’t even cover it, she thought, but she was too exhausted to clarify. Abby had spent many nights dreaming of this moment, and it was so much better than she’d imagined. Danny was so attentive and giving.

  He grinned, and the glint in his eyes told her he was quite pleased with himself. She wanted to roll her eyes at his smug look, but instead she snuggled closer. “I’ll be right back,” he whispered and then kissed her temple before moving her off him. Slowly she opened her eyes and admired his fine ass as he walked into the bathroom. A few minutes later he returned. He covered both of them and then wrapped his arms around her. She turned into him and tangled her legs with his and closed her eyes. Within a few minutes, she was sleeping securely in the arms of the man she was definitely, without a doubt, in love with.

  * * *

  “Hey,” Danny said, his gruff voice near her ear.

  “Mmm.”

  “Baby. Phone call.”

  Ugh. She took her phone from his hand. Danny’s stubble tickled her neck as he kissed her. “Hello?”

  “Girl, please tell me there’s a really good reason for Danny to be answering your phone at this hour,” Sophie asked.

  “Um. A very good one.” She held the phone away from her ear as Sophie whooped.

  “Shit, you’re going to blow out my eardrums.”

  “Oh my God, tell me I'm not imagining this. That I'm not still asleep and dreaming about my BFF and the man she's been secretly swooning over for nearly a year. Please God tell me this is reality.”

  “Swooning?”

  Danny laughed and then coughed to cover it up. She poked him in the gut.

  "Whatever. So this is for real?"

  “As real as it gets.” Abby was prepared this time for Sophie to start cheering again. She narrowed her eyes at Danny when he started to laugh again. “All right, the laughing at Abby’s expense is done. Why the hell are you calling me at,” she took the phone from her ear to check the time, “seven-thirty in the morning on a Saturday? Do you really have nothing else to do?”

  “I was excited and wanted to call.”

  “Excited?” She sat up. She heard Danny's light chuckle but chose to ignore him. “About what?”

  “Your offer.”

  Abby had been waiting on Sophie’s answer, and it looked as if she was finally going to get it. “So you thought about it? You want to be my manager?”

  “I did. I'm totally on board.”

  “Yes! This is going to be so amazing. I know it. You need to come here so we can celebrate. I have the entire day off.”

  “You sure you want company?” Sophie snorted into the phone with laughter.

  “Shut up.” And then Abby heard someone talking in the background. Someone who sounded a lot like Connor. “Mmm hmm. Kettle, I’d like my pot back please.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Tell Connor I said hi and get your annoying ass over here. We’ll have a barbeque and hang by the pool.”

  “I’m in, but I’ll have to call Connor because he’s not here.”

  “He totally is, so stop denying it.”

  “Whatever, see ya later.” She hung up before Abby could continue teasing her.

  Abby placed her phone on her bedside table and snuggled back below the covers with Danny.

  “Hey.” He tucked her hair behind her ear.

  “Hey.” She smiled.

  “So, barbeque with O’Brian and Sophie,” he said.

  “Mmm, seems so. We need to go shopping.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yes.”

  “Too bad. I had other plans for us this morning,” he said, trying to sound sad.

  “Really? What?”

  “Let me show you.”

  He rolled on top of her, and Abby let him show her exactly what plans he had in mind.

  The steaks were on the grill, Danny had a beer in his hand, and Abby was relaxing on a lounge chair by the pool. Life was pretty good. He closed the top of the grill and took a long swallow from his beer.

  “How are those steaks coming along?” Connor patted him on the back.

  “Another few minutes.”

  “Excellent. I think it’s time for a swim.” He discarded his shirt and cannonballed into the pool. He soaked both Abby and Sophie in the process.

  Danny laughed as both women yelled at Connor for the unexpected shower.

  “I saw you laugh, Nucci.” Abby said as she came over and planted a kiss on his cheek. “I’m watching you.”

  Danny admired the view as she sashayed through the screen door and into the kitchen. Abby was wearing a pretty green halter-top bikini that accentuated all the positives. Danny particularly loved the bows that kept everything in its place.

  Connor splashed again, and Danny jumped out of the way. Connor nearly soaked Danny and the barbeque. “Connor, you done?”

  “I am now.”

  “Watch the steaks. I’m going to help Abby bring the rest of the food out.”

  “Yeah, sure you are.” Connor gave him a knowing smile.

  Danny looked back at Connor and narrowed his eyes at him.

  “Abby?” He called as he walked into the kitchen.

  “In here,” she called.

  Danny went into the living room where Abby was pulling on a beige cover up that was lined with silver beads and hugged her curves. He took a moment to admire her.

  “I can feel you ogling over there.”

  “I no longer have to hide my ogling anymore. I can ogle out in the open.” He chuckled.

  “Well then, ogle all you want.” She laughed and freed her hair from underneath the cover up.

  “Oh, I will,” he promised. He took Abby by the waist and pulled her down with him onto the couch.

  He turned them so that Abby’s back was against the pillows before he captured her mouth with his and got lost in her sweetness.

  “Ahem, am I interrupting anything here?” Connor asked.

  Abby froze in Danny’s arms.

  “No, not at all.” Danny added extra sarcasm.

  “Well, when you have a spare minute, dinner’s ready. Or I could get some popcorn and watch.”

  “Yeah, that’s not going to happen.” Danny got up and pulled Abby with him.

  “Can’t blame a man for trying,” Connor said as he left. “Stop necking like teenagers and come out and eat.”

  “Whose idea was it to invite him here?” Abby asked as she followed Danny out of the room.

  “Don’t make me come back in there and separate you two.” Connor poked his head out from the hallway.

  Danny sc
owled at his friend. Unaffected by Danny’s nasty look Connor laughed. At that Danny took off after him, and Abby decided she might have fallen for a teenager.

  * * *

  The rest of the day was filled with more childish antics that had Abby bent over in stitches from laughing so hard. She really enjoyed having Sophie and Connor over, and she was so excited for Sophie. Not only was her best friend about to start up her own management company, but she seemed happy with Connor.

  They had a few minutes alone while they put away all the leftover food from the barbeque.

  “Today was so much fun.” Abby hugged Sophie.

  “It was. We need to do this more often. It’s nice to relax.”

  “Relax? You, Miss Workaholic are talking about relaxing. Are you feeling okay? I think all that sun got to you today.”

  “Hey, even I need a day once in a while to chill out.”

  “You do, and we should do this again. Maybe next weekend?”

  “Sounds good. You know I love the beach.” She looked past Abby at Danny. “Good night, Danny.”

  “Night. Safe trip home.” Danny gave her a quick hug before she followed Connor to the car.

  “Alone at last.”

  “Mm hm.” Abby wrapped her arms around Danny and leaned her head on his chest. “Where are the guys? I don’t think I saw them all day.”

  “Their job is to be ghosts until it’s their job to not be one.”

  “I felt bad that I didn’t offer them anything to eat.”

  “They ate. Don’t worry.”

  “Okay.” She hugged him tighter.

  “It’s time for bed.”

  “You think?”

  “Oh, I know.” Danny lifted her over his shoulder and headed straight to her bedroom.

  * * *

  Monday morning came way too soon, and Danny had to leave for the city. Abby dove back into her work, and before she knew it, Wednesday was upon her and she was missing Danny something awful. They talked a lot and texted often, but it wasn’t the same. That night she went to sleep with her phone tucked close beside her because she hadn’t heard from him since he said he had had an emergency he needed to attend to. She reached over and turned off her bedside lamp and did her best to find sleep.