Chapter 19 Daniel
Daniel
Date night comes around quickly. I’m buzzing as I get ready, but I am having trouble deciding what to wear. Thankfully, Molly is around and helps me pick.
“You look stunning,” she says, looking at me with wishful eyes. “Are you sure about this? It’s one thing to fuck, but going on a date…”
Worry worms its way into my stomach. She’s right. This is not ideal. I never planned to get involved with a taken man, but no matter what mental gymnastics I try, my heart just won’t listen. It wants what it wants, even if it means I’m turning into a bad, shitty person.
“You know, Jesse is a nice guy. He’s hot, too. You were all smiles after the class yesterday.”
I called her because otherwise I’d have called Derek and begged him to come fuck me.
I crave him like mad, but that doesn’t mean I have to give into that need every time.
Or at least this time. I want to confront him about us, and for that I need to be thinking straight, not with my dick. Hence, my two days of abstaining.
“We are just friends who are helping each other grow as artists.” I wave her off. “He’s super nice, sure, but he’s like that with everyone.”
She rolls her eyes, flopping dramatically onto my bed. “Yeah, right. Don’t give me that shit. I saw the way he was looking at you. Don’t pretend you are clueless.”
Okay, maybe I’ve noticed, too. But there really isn’t anything between us, nor am I interested in changing that. Derek is the only man I want.
“Fine. I have a suspicion. But I’m not interested.”
“Maybe you should rethink that?” She sits up, tilting her head to the side. “He’s hot. Single. You get along.”
“Molly.”
She raises her arms. “I’m just saying. I don’t want you to end up with a broken heart, that’s all. Derek is a walking red flag, and don’t get me started on your sex lessons…”
Ugh. Why does she have to be right? But knowing what’s right doesn’t always mean you can stop going down the wrong path. Besides, she doesn’t know him the way I do, she hasn’t seen the real Derek. Only I have, and that has to count for something. Right?
“I got this. And I’ll confront him about Adam.”
“But—”
I halt her with my hand. “This is my mess. Let me deal with it myself.”
She sighs, stands and hugs me. “I just don’t want you to get hurt. That’s all.”
“I know and I love you for that.”
“Ugh! Fine, I’ll shut up. But promise you’ll ask about Adam. Don’t let Derek’s shiny dick distract you from your objective.”
I laugh, nodding as I head for the door. “I promise.”
“And bring me some sushi. I want the extra deluxe set. If he’s not willing to pay, dump his ass and—”
“A fellow opportunist, I see,” Derek’s smooth voice interrupts Molly, making her eyes go wide. “I can’t say I disagree with that way of thinking.”
I flush even if it wasn’t me who said it. He’s standing at the door, smiling like he’s having the time of his life.
“Why are you here?” Molly demands, placing her hands on her hips.
“The security guy let me in. I was about to knock when Daniel opened the door.”
Talk about perfect timing. I smile to myself and study him.
He’s not wearing a suit today, but instead jeans and a dark green shirt which is peeking from beneath his long coat.
His hair is a little messier than usual too, as if he’s not bothered to slick it in place.
I like this look, it makes him feel more approachable, more like he can be part of my world.
“I suppose that makes sense,” Molly concludes, giving him a hard look before she turns back to me and gives me a roll of her eyes. “Have fun, Dan.” She levels another warning look at him and brushes past us. “I like combo sets with a little bit of everything in them. The fancier the better.”
It sounds a lot like a threat, but Derek just chuckles. “I’ll make sure to pick the one with the biggest variety.”
With a slight twitch of her lips that betrays she’s hiding a grin, she leaves us. Nerves swamp my stomach. I hope Derek doesn’t think she’s an asshole, because she’s my favorite person in the world.
“Your friend is quite the character,” he muses, breaking the silence that settles over us with her departure.
“She was joking about the takeout.” I scrunch my eyebrows, staring in the direction of the stairwell. “I think.” I grab the keys from the table so I can lock up.
“Hmm…”
I turn around once I’ve checked that it’s actually locked, catching his gaze observing me with intent. “What?”
He motions with his chin to get going. “You didn’t sound so sure. I rather not risk it, so I think I’ll have to fulfill her request.”
“It won’t go to waste if you did, that much I can guarantee.”
“It’s decided then. Your friend gets to reap the benefits of you having dinner with Derek Salinger.”
He’s so casual about it, like it’s no big deal. It almost sounds like he’s proud or happy even, which warms my heart. Maybe he and Molly could get along, down the line. If things between us worked out.
“Let’s go,” I prompt him, leading the way.
He drives his black SUV in quiet focus to a famous sushi restaurant in town.
Even I know it. The prices are way out of my range, but since it’s his treat, instead of apprehension, I feel excited to be here and try the amazing food that they offer.
The place is gorgeous with its bamboo-decorated walls, flower pots and koi fish aquariums. Laid out like a Japanese pub, it offers private small rooms with low tables and floor seating.
I’ve only ever seen this in anime or TV shows, and the thought of experiencing it myself before I embark on my dream world tour at some point in the far future has never even crossed my mind.
“You like it?” Derek asks behind me, knocking me back to reality.
I whip my head at him, realizing I’m standing at the door to our room and thus blocking his way. “Oh. Sorry.” I enter and sit on one of the cushions, tucking my feet in the space under the table. It’s warm, which is nice since today is colder than usual.
Derek leaves the sliding door open and joins me. I expect him to sit across from me, but he plops on the pillow to my left and props his elbow on the table, resting his head in his palm. His proximity has my heart rate skyrocket. Prickles crawl down my neck, then across the rest of me.
This is so different from our usual time together. We’d be fucking by now, chasing after pleasure instead of getting to know each other. I like this change of pace.
“So, how was your week? Anything nice happen besides the deal?” I say, wanting to warm him up before I inquire about Adam.
He drums his fingers against his cheek, still watching me. “It was okay. A bit busier than usual, though.”
Something’s changed about him, I can feel it more so than see it. His vibe is not exactly the one I captured in the painting I did based on him and Adam. I don’t know when it happened, and it must have been very gradual, because I somehow missed it.
“Can you pose for me? I want to draw you,” I blurt out, detracted from my objective by his intense eyes. Against the backdrop of bamboo and amidst the interior, he looks otherworldly.
“Right now? And didn’t you draw me already? Without asking for permission,” he points out, not hiding his amusement.
“No. Yes. And I didn’t draw you, it’s more that I used you and your boyfriend strictly as references.”
He hums. A waiter comes in, giving us two menus. “Order whatever you like.”
“I’ll seriously go for the whole menu…”
He laughs. “Sure. Go for it.”
I wouldn’t. Even if he’s paying, I couldn’t eat that much food even if they packed it for home. It would be a waste.
I settle on a couple of starters and a delicious-looking sushi set, then order one for Molly. “So, that deal you made. Who was it with? If it’s not a secret.”
The waiter brings our starters and refills Derek’s sake. Once he’s left, Derek takes a sip and aims his gaze my way. “It’s not a secret, but the details aren’t available to the public yet. I’d appreciate it if you kept what I’m about to tell you to yourself for the time being.”
“Of course! I promise.”
He smiles. “Salinger Tech has partnered up with JE Pharma.”
JE Pharma… “Oh! They are researching paralysis treatments, aren’t they? It was in the news recently. They have some kind of an experimental program.”
“Yes.” He laces his fingers together. “Unfortunately, they’ve hit a bit of a dead end with that. Which is where Salinger Tech comes in.”
He runs me through an explanation of how and what they will be doing, keeping it simple and easy to follow.
Still, it sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi.
Also, it doesn’t seem very profitable, but I’m sure he knows what he is doing.
It’s no secret once you google it that Derek built Salinger Tech mostly from the ground up.
His parents did help, but he’s the one that turned their business and moderate savings into a billion-dollar empire.
“I hope it works out. Just imagine if so many people could walk again.”
“That would be nice, I suppose,” he agrees.
Our sushi comes then, and we both focus on it for a while. He asks me about my day and how the lesson with Jesse went. When the food is cleared and we are brought some matcha and mochi for dessert, I decide it’s time to strike.
“So, uh, I wanted to ask you something,” I start, twiddling my thumbs as I try to find the right words. “I… really enjoy our time together and the lessons, but—”
“This is about Adam, isn’t it?” he cuts in, his tone cold.
I flinch. Fuck, this is harder than I thought. What if he decides to end things between us because I’m overstepping? But I don’t want to be a sidekick, either. “Yes.”
“What about him, little artist?” he poses like it’s inconsequential. “Does it bother you that we are together even though I’ve been fucking you?”
His words stab me, making me regret the lovely dinner I had. “I don’t think it’s right… I never meant to come between you two, but…”
His lips curve up in dark satisfaction. “But?”
Fuck, Molly will hate me for this. “Even if it means we have to keep it a secret, I want to continue seeing you.”
What happens next is a blur. One moment I’m sitting across from him, trying and failing to look him in the eyes, and in the next, we are in some adjacent room with a spacious bed.
I’m lying on top of it, and he’s hovering over me, caging me under.
His eyes blaze and his expression is tense, like the fate of the world depends on what I say next.
“Yeah? Even though I’m cheating on my poor, unsuspecting boyfriend with you?”
I grit my teeth and take a deep breath, meeting his eyes. “I hate this. But I just want you too much, Derek. I don’t care how horrible a person it makes me.”
“Good.” He leans in and kisses me, his tongue pushing its way past my lips. It’s dominating and even hungrier than before, like I have awakened something dark inside him which can’t wait to get out. “Because Adam and I broke up. He found out.”
Pain stabs me, regret too. I never meant to hurt anybody. It just… happened, and I couldn’t stop it. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not.” He slips his hand inside my pants, clasping my cock. It reacts immediately, hardening by the second. “If you want me as much as you are saying, you must be willing to become part of my dirty world. To be a horrible person and do even worse.”
His fingers find my hole and press against it, rubbing with urgency. They are slicked with my pre-cum, but even so, I know the burn will be more than usual. Still, I spread my legs willingly, craving his touch.
“Good boy. That’s it. You are mine now, and you will do as I say.”
I knew this wouldn’t end well for me. I knew what I was getting into. He’s a force of nature, a dark storm on a dark, starless night, ready to swallow me. That’s not what I am afraid of.
What I am scared of is how much I like it.