Chapter 5
danielle
First dates are nerve-racking. I hadn’t been on one in a couple of years. Since I started graduate school, I’d been so focused on every class, every project, every single show I’d performed in, I didn’t make any time for me. Raine oh-so-helpfully pointed out that Graduate Student Danielle was not nearly as fun as Undergraduate Student Danielle.
She wasn’t wrong.
Now I was in the final semester of my master’s program, and my fate rested on the role I got in our spring musical as well as my thesis. Perhaps I could squeeze some fun into a couple hours a week. I was vying for the role of Marian the Librarian in The Music Man, and if I got it, I would need to act like I was falling in love. That might be hard for me to do when I hadn’t even been kissed in over two years.
I needed some inspiration.
Aris seemed to fit the bill.
And when his face lit up at seeing me nestled in the back booth at the local coffee shop a couple of blocks from campus, the butterflies in my stomach made me hope he’d fill any role I decided to give him. Or any hole, for that matter.
Oh my god, what is wrong with me?!
“Danielle, hi!” he greeted me. He continued to stand by the table as if he expected me to get up.
So I slid across the booth, my bare thighs sticking to the pleather seat—great, didn’t need those skin cells apparently—and pushed to my feet. He wrapped his arms around me and brought me in for an honest-to-goodness hug. Not one of those wimpy hugs where your torsos don’t even meet, and there’s enough space between your bodies to plant a garden. No, he crushed me to his firm chest, and I was so close that the scent of his cologne was going to be in my nose for the entire day.
Not that I minded because he smelled incredible—an intoxicating combination of leather and sandalwood.
“Thanks for coming all the way over to campus,” I said as I slid back into the seat. It only took a microsecond for my bare skin to re-adhere to the upholstery.
“Yeah, of course. I have a half-day today anyway. My boss had some seminar to attend.” He reached up and adjusted his man bun. I couldn’t help but wonder what his hair looked like down.
“So you’re free all afternoon…?” I blurted without the slightest bit of sense.
Aris didn’t miss a beat. “I am… Why, you wanna do something together?” His smile was like the sun parting the clouds and chasing them all away. His lips were full and kissable, his teeth straight and white. How could anyone in their right mind resist him, male or female?
“I should probably get to my practice with my accompanist so I can polish up my audition piece for the spring musical.” I rolled my eyes. “Adulting sucks, you know?”
“I hear you. What show are you auditioning for?”
“The Music Man. Nothing crazy—just have my eye on the Marian the Librarian role.” I couldn’t think of a better way to finish up my grad school career than having a lead in my final show. And, despite my weight, I thought this was one lead role I had a shot at.
“Ah, how…traditional.” Aris grinned.
“It is definitely not the most modern choice they could make. But I’ll have opportunities for more contemporary shows when I get to New York. I’m sure I’ll start off-Broadway.” I was already tired of small talk. I was still thinking of how it felt to be squeezed against his firm chest.
His eyes widened in surprise. “Wow, so you’re moving right after graduation, then?”
“I might stick around and see if I can get some regional theater experience. Chicago maybe, since it’s close to where I grew up. I don’t know, but I’m not getting any younger, and—” I cleared my throat, which was still scratchy and raw from all the drainage, “my voice isn’t getting any younger either.”
“Is that why you saw Noah?” he questioned, then immediately shook his head, and his hand flew to his mouth. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business why you saw Noah. I shouldn’t have asked that.”
“Actually, yes. I’m going back tomorrow for an endoscopy actually—it’s right after my audition. Hopefully he can figure out why I can’t seem to get over this sinus infection. My throat has been a mess all semester!” I took a sip of my coffee. “Warm drinks help. They’re soothing.”
“Well, I’ll buy you coffee anytime.” He laughed as he mirrored me, taking a drink of his coffee as well.
“What about you? I don’t know much about you at all. I feel like I’m only talking about myself.” I supposed we had to get through the talking phase to get to whatever came next.
A thrill danced up my spine when I imagined what “whatever came next” might entail.
“Well,” he leaned forward, his hazel eyes sparkling in the late afternoon sun coming in through the window, “I’m an open book. Willing to share anything and everything with you.”
The innuendo was clear. He was not in the least bit subtle, but it worked for him. Any man who looked the way he did could be as forward as they wanted—at least in my book. And it seemed like we were on the same page.
“I trust you to tell me the…um…pertinent information.” I emphasized the word “pert” for some reason, then my cheeks flushed in embarrassment. I was definitely not a pro when it came to flirting. Maybe Aris could teach me a thing or two.
He reached across the table and covered my hand with his. It was warm, felt like a heater, and made me feel all toasty inside. “I already told you the most interesting things—that I’m bi and poly. But I’m a nurse in an orthopedic surgeon’s office in the same building as Noah’s office. I’ve been a nurse for four years. I’m almost thirty, and I grew up in New York before my family relocated to Florida when I was a teen.”
My eyes widened. “Really? Where in New York?”
“Long Island.”
He didn’t pronounce it in typical New Yorker fashion. “But you don’t have an accent?”
“God, no. I worked hard to get rid of that. You should hear my mom and sisters though.” He laughed and then did a little imitation of them. Hearing his smooth voice with a New York accent was hilarious.
I bet he was so good with his patients. His personality was so vibrant and energetic, with a hint of confidence and assertiveness. I couldn’t help but feel drawn to him as he continued to share a little more about himself.
“So what else should I know about you?” I asked, completely entranced. He wasn’t just beautiful on the surface—there was plenty of personality to match his good looks.
“Well…you already know I’m in a relationship with Noah. We live in a polycule with a triad. You’ll have to come over sometime—Cynda is the best cook, and when it warms up, they have a lovely deck for barbecuing and enjoying drinks. I like to stay active—you already saw my bike. I also like hiking, camping, outdoorsy stuff. It’s funny because Noah is kind of a city boy—even though I’m the one who grew up near the city. He isn’t into that stuff. How about you?”
“I like the outdoors,” I said, immediately envisioning getting lost in the woods with Aris and all the unbelievably sexy stuff that could ensue in such circumstances. “Not sure about camping…but maybe if I had a seasoned camper to show me the ropes.”
I hoped he’d get my flirt, and he seemed to as a grin spread across his face. “Mmm…that sounds like a lot of fun. I’d love to see you in a more natural setting…” His eyes darted between mine. “What else should I know about you, Ms. Delacroix?”
I loved the way he said my name. “You already can guess I’m obsessed with the theater,” I shared, “but I also play the piano. And I collect antique costume jewelry—it’s a bit of an obsession. I haven’t had time to go to antique stores and estate sales lately because I’ve been so busy with grad school.”
“I hate it when boring stuff gets in the way of having fun, don’t you? I guess you could say I’m a bit of a hedonist,” Aris admitted. “Noah can be a little uptight at times…so it would be fun to have someone to adventure with. Someone who likes and appreciates serendipity. I love Noah, but he likes to have everything planned out to the nth degree. Serendipity is where it’s at, ya know?”
“Serendipity like running into you in the elevator yesterday?” I cleared my throat again. It seemed like the more I spoke, the scratchier and more uncomfortable I felt. The idea of singing sounded painful right now.
“Exactly!” He finished his coffee. “You sure you don’t want to blow off your rehearsal this afternoon?”
God, she was just divine. She had absolutely zero idea how absolutely stunning she was, either. She wasn’t one of those girls who claimed to be clueless about their appeal but were secretly admiring themselves in every mirror they passed, either. Her long, chestnut hair fell around her shoulders in a silky waterfall. Her skin was so flawless, she didn’t need makeup. She had naturally long lashes and beautiful doe-brown eyes.
And don’t even get me started on her mouthwatering curves. Her breasts were full and created delectable cleavage in her low-cut sweater, and her thick thighs couldn’t be hidden by her short, flouncy skirt. She wore brown leather boots that came to just below her knees.
I hadn’t been with a woman in a while, and every cell in my body was calling out, begging me to bury myself in her softness and sensuality. Was there any way I could convince her to spend the afternoon with me?
Was it too early to seduce her? I used to have a pretty good track record…
Noah had given me the green light. I didn’t like to use the word “permission” because he wasn’t in charge of me. We were in a partnership, and we preferred to stay on the same page. He told me to pursue her if it would make me happy—and he didn’t tell me that in a snarky, I-dare-you-to kind of way, but out of genuine compersion.
“Okay, so I don’t want to corrupt you on our very first date,” I said, “but if you do want to hang out later, let me know.”
She cleared her throat for the fourth or fifth time, which made her cough. She lifted a napkin to cover her mouth while she hacked a little more. I flagged the server down and asked for some water for her.
“I’m okay,” she insisted. “This is why I saw Noah. I’m just having some sinus issues. I’m not contagious, I promise.” She sighed. “Sorry, I’m sure it’s not very sexy.”
“You’ll have to try a little harder than that not to be sexy,” I assured her as the server brought a tall glass of ice water with a lemon perched on the side and set it next to me. I scooted it toward her. “Here, have something to drink. I’m sure whatever Noah has prescribed will start kicking in soon.”
“Yeah, he gave me an antibiotic.” She took a long sip of water. “So unsexy…sorry, I?—”
“Don’t apologize.” I held up a hand. “Actually, that little rasp in your voice is super sexy.”
She giggled softly, then looked embarrassed that she’d laughed. “I’m sort of afraid to strain my voice, to tell you the truth. Maybe I shouldn’t risk it at rehearsal. I can text my coach and accompanist and let them know.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to ruin your chances at a good part in the show. You said auditions are tomorrow?”
“Yes, but I think resting my voice today is probably a better idea.” She cleared her throat again, then took another sip of water.
Hmm, that ruined my plan to make her scream my name repeatedly. “Resting your voice, eh? I can work with that.”
Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
“What I’m thinking of doesn’t require any talking at all…”
* * *
I texted Noah to let him know I was going to Danielle’s place. He texted back a thumbs-up and a smiley face. He was probably seeing patients and didn’t have a lot of time to respond. On the drive over, I thought about the fact that this would be my first time seeing another person since I’d met Noah.
I had considered myself to be poly for a long time, but I hadn’t really put it into practice. This would be a test of sorts. I asked Danielle if she was seeing anyone else, and she laughed.
“I wasn’t joking,” I clarified.
“I know,” she continued to giggle, “but it’s been so long since I’ve been with anyone at all that there might be cobwebs in my coochie!”
We both laughed about that. “Might be time for a spring cleaning?” I joked right back.
I parked next to her at her apartment complex and followed her up two flights of stairs to her door. We were both a little out of breath after our climb. “Are you sure about this? I don’t want you to feel like I’m pressuring you into anything.”
She smiled. “No, I think this is just what the doctor ordered.” Then she laughed again. “Well, not Dr. Evans. But the doctor voice in my head that is always telling me to relax and take time for me.”
She unlocked the door and paused in the entryway. I leaned into her, stroking a finger down her cheek. “Well, we can make it all about you then.”
Her skin heated under my touch. Bracing myself with one arm against the doorframe, I used my other hand to tuck her long hair behind one of her ears and grazed my lips against her neck. A breathy sigh slipped past her lips, and I didn’t waste another moment claiming them. I’d been staring at them all afternoon, wondering what she tasted like. Notes of cream and coffee and the coconut scent of her hair filtered into my senses.
“You wanna come all the way in?” she asked, eyelashes fluttering as she pulled away.
“Sure…” I followed her inside. It was a typical two-bedroom apartment with a spacious entryway that opened to a kitchen and living room with a balcony at the far end. Two hallways branched off from the main living area, and she pulled me down the one to the right. There were three doors: one for a closet, one for a bathroom, and the third one she opened to reveal her bedroom.
It was soft and feminine with plush beige carpeting and a lavender comforter on the queen-sized bed. The furniture was all dark cherry wood, very traditional-looking. A bookcase was filled with romance novels, and on top was a collection of tiaras, all different sizes, shapes and colors.
“Wow, that is an impressive collection!” I pointed toward them.
She looked over her shoulder at the bookcase and laughed. “I have a princess complex,” she said with a shrug. “Still interested?”
“I’d love to see you naked with nothing on but one of these.” I was getting hard just thinking about it.
“Not sure I’m ready for that quite yet…” She exhaled softly and shut the door. With the blinds drawn, it was dark, especially since clouds were gathering to blot out the sun.
Before she could say another word, lightning cracked, with thunder rumbling right on its heels. “Looks like we made it to shelter just in time,” I pointed out, lifting the blinds on one side so a bit of the sky was visible.
“Mmmm…I guess so.” She cleared her throat again. “Sorry…I really hope this frog in my throat goes away before tomorrow’s audition.”
“Me too.” I closed the distance between us. She seemed nervous, on edge. And then there was more lightning. “Wanna sit?” I gestured toward the bed, which was full of fluffy pillows and a stuffed unicorn and panda bear.
“Okay.” She plopped down and patted the space next to her.
I eased myself onto the mattress next to her. “We don’t have to do anything, you know. We could just lie down and cuddle.”
“Really?” Her eyes darted to mine quickly.
She was not ready for more than that. The vibes emanating from her were nothing but nervous energy, buzzing around her like a swarm of bees missing their queen. But I could tell she was trying to push herself to go farther.
I kicked off my shoes and swung around so I was lying with my head on one of the pillows. “Come here. Can I hold you?”
The sigh that puffed out of her lips sounded like relief as she crawled up beside me and reclined, laying her head right in the crook of my arm. That sweet coconut scent and something like wildflowers wafted up as she curled into my body. I rolled to my side, drawing her close to me so our torsos melted together. Her curves felt so nice against me, but my cock was straining against the zipper in my pants, wishing we were naked.
“I’m sorry I chickened out,” she whispered as she closed her eyes. Another lightning flash lit the sky, and a rumble of thunder followed.
I breathed in another deep whiff of her scent. “You’re not chickening out. You’re here. I’m here. This feels amazing.”
“You think so?”
“I absolutely do…”
She turned her wide doe eyes to mine. “You can kiss me if you’d like.”
“Yeah? I’d like that.” I leaned closer, cupping her cheek and jaw with my free hand. My lips brushed against hers, sending a zing through my body in time with the lightning show happening outside. With that last crack of lightning and thunder, rain began to pound against the roof, deafeningly loud since she was on the top floor of the building.
After she relaxed in my arms, I deepened the kiss, letting my tongue part the seam between her lips to delve inside. My tongue playfully explored as soft moans rose up her throat. She followed my lead in our dance, pressing closer to me until I was sure she could feel my erection through my pants.
“If I forget to tell you later,” she said, sounding breathless from our kiss, “this was the best first date I’ve ever had…”