Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
DANIELLE
T he movie credits roll as rain drums against the windows.Scout snores softly by the fireplace, and I'm achingly aware of how Derek's arm has stretched along the back of the couch, fingers absently playing with a loose thread near my shoulder.Each brush sends tingles down my spine.
Empty wine glasses sit on the coffee table with evidence of our attempt to ease the tension.Not that it helped. If anything, the wine has made me more conscious of his cologne, the way his lips curve when he smiles, or how his eyes keep dropping to my mouth.
"I never watched this one again," Derek says quietly. "After..."
"Me neither." I tuck my legs under me, conscious of how we've gravitated closer during the past two hours. "Lots of things I stopped doing after."
His eyes find mine in the dim light. "Like what?"
"Baking sugar cookies. Dating guys who wear suits." I pause, then admit, "I even came to New York once."
He stills. "What?"
"About two years ago. I had a showing at a small gallery in Chelsea." I study my hands. "I stood outside your office building for an hour, trying to work up the courage to go in. When I finally did..." I swallow hard. "I saw you with her. Tall, blonde, elegant. The way she touched your arm, leaned into you. I figured you'd moved on, so I went back to Utah."
"Her?" His brow furrows, then clears. "Wait, you don’t mean…Rebecca? My personal assistant?"
"You don't have to explain-"
"I do, actually." He shifts to face me fully. "Rebecca got fired for harassment. She kept crossing professional boundaries and wouldn't take no for an answer. Danny..." His fingers brush my chin, turning my face to his. "There hasn't been anyone serious. How could there be? They all lacked your fire, your passion, that light in your eyes when you’re excited."
The raw honesty in his voice makes my heart stutter. "Why didn't you ever reach out?"
"After coming back to find you gone? After you blocked my number?" His thumb traces my cheek. "I figured I'd lost my chance. If I'd known you were in New York..."
My heart pounds as his breath mingles with mine. "Well, I’m here now. Prove it."
His lips crash into mine, and four years of denial ignite.I gasp into his mouth, and he takes advantage, deepening the kiss until I'm drowning in the taste of him.His hand slides into my hair, tugging lightly, and pleasure shoots down my spine.
I shift closer, then closer still, until I'm straddling his lap.His groan vibrates through my chest as I rock against him.His hands grip my hips, and the pressure of his fingers sends electricity crackling under my skin.
"Danny," he pants as I nip his lower lip."God, you feel..."
"Don't talk." I grab the hem of his sweater, desperate to feel his skin.He lifts his arms, letting me pull it off, and my hands roam greedily over the planes of his chest.He's more defined than in college, and I scratch lightly down his abs, savoring his sharp intake of breath.
His mouth trails fire down my neck, finding that spot behind my ear that always makes me melt.I arch into him as his hands slip under my sweater, rough palms skating up my ribs.His thumbs brush the undersides of my breasts, and I whimper.
"Missed these sounds," he murmurs against my throat, circling my nipples through the thin lace of my bra."Missed making you fall apart.Missed the way you say my name when you're close."
I grind down against him, feeling exactly how much he wants this.His hips buck up in response, and suddenly we're rocking together, chasing a rhythm we never forgot.The friction is maddening, perfect, not enough.
He captures my mouth again, and I lose myself in the slide of his tongue, the nip of his teeth, the perfect pressure of his--
The shrill ring of the cottage phone slices through the heated moment.
I scramble backward, nearly tripping over Scout, who's perked up at the noise.My lips tingle, and my body screams in protest as cool air replaces Derek's heat.
"I should..." I gesture toward the kitchen, where the phone continues its accusatory ring.My legs shake as I stand.
"Danny, wait--"
But I'm already fleeing, heartpounding.The ringing stops before I reach it, leaving me gripping the counter in the suddensilence.My skin still burns where he touched me, my body humming with unfulfilledneed.
What am I doing? I can't let myself fall back into him, no matter how right itfeels.No matter how perfectly we still fittogether.No matter how much I want to march back over there and finish what westarted.
"I'm going to bed," I call out, proud of how steady my voicesounds."It's late, and I... I should call the gallery about some details for theshow."
I don't wait for his response, practically running to my room with Scout on myheels.Only when the door is safely closed do I press trembling fingers to my swollen lips, still tasting him on mytongue.
"I'm in trouble, Scout," Iwhisper.
He tilts his head, giving me that knowing look that says I'm not foolinganyone.
Least of all myself.