Chapter 33
DANI
Without me knowing, Tyrell arranged for my Saturday night shift to be covered so that he could finally take me out on a date.
It was the sweetest thing and the nicest surprise.
I got a text from him on Saturday morning, letting me know that I was all his for the night.
A thrill skipped through me. And Tobin, who had bounced back from his cold, went into full fashionista mode. He dragged me out shopping, and we argued over dresses and a freaking sparkly pink onesie thing that no one on the planet should ever actually wear in public.
Finally, I found a top that paired perfectly with the jeans I was already wearing, and he relented and let me settle on just that one item, plus a pair of heels.
I swear, that man is going to make me broke.
But he does make me look good.
And when Tyrell arrives and his eyes rove over me like I’m a supermodel, it makes me grateful for Tobin’s help.
He gives me a wink and mouths, “I told you!” just before I walk out the door, tucking up against Tyrell’s side.
I love how tall he is.
How strong he is.
How safe I feel when I’m beside him.
We drive toward Denver, and I keep asking him where we’re going, but he seems set on surprising me.
And he does.
We start with a super-fun escape room that has us working together beautifully.
I swear, his brain is awesome, and we totally nailed the puzzles, getting out of there in forty-three minutes and making it onto the leaderboard.
We celebrated with gelato ice creams, and then he took me to an obscure secondhand bookstore he’d researched online.
It was so cool! We spent ages in there roaming the shelves.
I ended up buying some picture books for my nephews, a chapter book for my seven-year-old niece, and a baby book for the latest addition to the family.
Kiara is one, and she’s the cutest thing on the planet.
I tell Tyrell all about my growing family, showing him photos.
“I bet you’re their favorite aunt.”
I blush, knowing he’s right but not wanting to say it. Those kids adore me, and it shows every time I walk in one of their front doors.
My older brother, Jesse, had his little Elsa when he was only eighteen.
His girlfriend moved in with us while she was pregnant, and the entire family stepped up to support them so they could still graduate from high school and attend college.
I was on babysitting duty a lot, and Elsa and I are really close now.
She’s an avid reader and top of her class, so finding books that are advanced enough for her, yet still cover appropriate topics for a seven-year-old, can be challenging. But she’s mad about horses, and she’ll love this one.
I read the back again, excited to give it to her and wondering when I’ll make it back to Colorado Springs.
Man, what will my family say when they know I’m dating Tyrell Jackson? I still haven’t told them I’ve been dating anyone yet. They saw me fall apart after Atlas died, and I bet some of them think I’ll be single forever.
I really should give them a heads-up that my move to Nolan has been a real gamechanger, but I just want to see how things play out with Tyrell first. I don’t want to jump the gun.
Oh, you mean like you did on Tuesday night?
I blush, biting my lips together to hide my smile. A shiver races down my body, pooling between my legs as I wonder if I’ll get to experience the wonder that is Tyrell Jackson all over again tonight.
I glance at him, my lips twitching as I try to guess where we’re off to next. It’s been an epic date, and we’ve had so much fun together.
“You hungry?” He looks at me and I nod, feeling my body swell with a different kind of hunger as he turns onto a new street and I watch his bicep curl, study the muscles in his forearm, and relive those large hands skimming over my body, cupping my breasts, my butt…
And I’m getting wet again.
Part of me wants to blurt, “Forget food! Just feed my insatiable hunger for you!”
But I hold my tongue and force myself to sit in the restaurant, order off the menu, and engage in civilized conversation.
Actually, it’s pretty important conversation.
Tyrell’s trying to figure out what he wants to do after graduation.
His family is really putting the pressure on, and I remind him that Cyrus has been coping just fine without him for four years.
And although it’s good to be there for your family, you also need to weigh up the cost of living your best life.
“I’ll probably head back for the summer, make sure everyone is really settled, and then…” He shrugs.
“Get a job?” I tease.
“Yeah. Of course. Dad’s already got a potential interview lined up with me for the civil engineering company he works for. I’d be starting at the bottom, but that’s how these things work. I just…” He tuts.
“What?”
“Well… ultimately, I just want to save my pennies so I can head off and see the world. I’m happy to live on a dime to do it, so maybe just a year of hard work and then I can be off.”
“Sounds amazing.”
He stares at me, and for a second, I wonder if he’s about to ask me if I’d like to join him.
Eeeep! Too soon! Too fast! Too high of a risk that I’ll say yes, because the idea of traveling the world with Black Jack sounds pretty perfect to me.
The fact that I’m even thinking that makes my belly quake, but I keep it locked down, focusing instead on asking him where he’d go first.
We talk about Dubai, and then our meals are served as we daydream our way through Asia. By the time we’re done eating, we’re over in Europe, scoping out the sights and sounds of Austria and Switzerland, Belgium and Germany.
We drive back to my apartment, working our way down through Morocco and all the way to a safari in South Africa.
We’re both giddy as I walk him up to my apartment, sneaking into my room and stripping off each other’s clothes while we catch a cruise from Durban to Perth… and our imaginings of touring Australia are soon lost to exquisite kisses and hungry tongues.
I grip the back of Tyrell’s neck as he lifts me off the floor and walks me to my bed. His naked torso is pressed against mine, his hot kisses sending spikes of pleasure all the way through me.
When he kneels on the edge of the bed and gently lowers me down on the mattress, I bring him with me, loving his weight squishing me into the bed.
He nibbles a path along my jawline, lifting my arms above my head and locking my wrists in place with his hands. I tip my head back with a groan, relishing his attentive tongue, which is licking every spot and crevice.
My hips thrust upward, grinding into his erection as our underwear rubs together.
I moan, my eyes rolling back in my head when he gets to my breasts and savors each one—licking, sucking, teasing, igniting.
My body is a hub of pleasure as he takes his sweet time tasting me and sending my nerves into a frenzy.
“Ty, please…,” I whisper, a moan overriding my words when his fingers inch inside my underwear and quickly find my clit.
I lift my hips, scrambling to pull the fabric away as his digits start to dance.
He plays a sweet tune on my body, slipping his fingers inside me and working my G-spot like a pro.
“Holy shit,” I murmur, feeling the orgasm building with a force I wasn’t counting on.
It’s too quick! Too soon!
I want this to last all night, but my weak body gives in with only a few more strokes. His mouth suctioned over my nipple isn’t helping either, and I’m soon falling apart, shattering with a series of mewling whimpers.
He smiles against my skin, his fingers still inside me while I buck and strain.
“You like that, Dani Girl?”
“It’s the tits,” I groan, and he starts to laugh, his warm breath hitting my skin.
I snort and giggle with him as he kisses a trail up my body, lightly sucking my neck before capturing my laughter in his mouth. I drink from him, lashing my tongue against his and gripping the back of his shoulders.
His body is covering mine once more, his rock-hard dick resting against me, and the fire I’m feeling for this man is next-level.
My body yearns and pines, my hands shaking with desire and anticipation as I yank his boxer briefs down, just far enough so I can wrap my fingers around his glorious cock and start pumping.
He groans, pressing a kiss to the curve of my breast and quickly losing his breath as I tease and coax his… Excalibur. I grin, loving how big he is. Brushing my thumb over his head, I wipe the bead off, circling the moisture around his cock and drinking him in when he reaches up to kiss me again.
His lips claim mine, owning them with a heady passion as he once again grabs my arms and lifts them over my head. Nestling between my thighs, he nudges the tip of his cock against me.
“I want you,” he mumbles between kisses. “I want you so fucking bad.”
“Then take me.” I kiss him back.
He pulls away, glancing down at me. “You got protection?”
I smile up at him, and he grins back when I direct him to the top drawer of my nightstand.
Sitting up on my elbows, I watch him with hooded eyes as he suits up. Biting my bottom lip, I can’t fight my smile when he lies back over me, grabbing my arms for the third time tonight and locking my wrists in place.
It’s so fucking sexy, I’m weeping for him by the time he nudges inside me.
That first thrust is exquisite, and I can’t help a lusty cry as he once again owns me, just like he did on that stage.
Our bodies gyrate together, finding a heady rhythm that suits us. I work with him, meeting each of his plunging thrusts and threading my fingers between his when he releases my wrists and glides his palms over mine.
Opening his eyes, he stares down at me, his brown gaze filled with such tender affection… and maybe a touch of wonder. I smile up at him, lost in that gaze before he hits a sweet spot that has my eyes snapping shut in ecstasy.
“That’s it, baby,” he croons, repeating the move, his slow, deep thrust taking out my senses once more.
I squeeze his hands, gasping breaths punching out of me when he picks up his pace and starts a deep hammering that is all… things… right.
Each thrust is magic, our bodies slapping together like a drumbeat.
He feels so good I think I might explode.
This is so intense.
So…
It’s so…
“Ah!” I cry out, a flood of pleasure rippling through my body as he keeps plunging into me. I arch my back and he rises to his knees, grabbing my hips and supporting me as I’m taken out by a second orgasm.
He doesn’t let up, pistoning into me with short jerks that send me over the edge completely. At this new angle, I can’t control that next sob of passion that pops out of my mouth, my hands scrambling to squeeze his arm as I struggle to navigate this erotic minefield.
“Yes, baby. Yes.” He grips my hips, tucking my legs around him as I tip my head back and arch a little higher.
Panting and slick with sweat, I take each of his short thrusts, smiling in wonder at how fucking good this feels!
I drop down to my back and he covers me again, his movements turning slow and deep as he continues to ride me.
My pussy is a weeping mess, electrified and aching, wondering how much more it can take when his breaths turn deep and heavy. I can feel the shift, a groan rising in his throat as he presses his cheek against mine and starts to pick up his pace again.
His hips jerk with deep, fast movements just before he lets out a strangled groan and releases inside me. I wrap my arms and legs around him, holding him close as he orgasms on top of me.
He feels divine, his muscles quaking, his heart hammering.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
I close my eyes, reveling in his heartbeat, kissing his shoulder and clinging to him.
“I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to move again.” His voice softly rumbles in my ear, and I can’t help giggling in reply.
He pushes into me, grinding our hips together so I can’t laugh him right out of me.
I shift my body to accommodate him and open my eyes, smiling when I notice him gazing down at me again. As he gently traces my hairline with the tip of his finger, I notice this blooming sensation stirring in my chest.
I’ve felt it before.
But not for him.
I felt it for the first boy to steal my heart, the man I thought I was going to marry, the ghost who seems to linger still.
Before I can stop them, my eyes glass with tears.
“What is it?” Tyrell whispers, shifting off me. “Am I hurting you? Did I hurt you?”
“No,” I whisper, shifting my butt back and pulling my knees to my chest. “That was amazing. Even better than the first time, and that’s saying a lot.”
My smile is fleeting, which means Tyrell doesn’t even smile at all.
He’s now perched on the edge of the bed like he’s seconds away from getting dressed, from bolting out the door if I tell him this is too much and I’m not ready.
But that’s not the truth.
I sniff, swiping a finger under my nose.
“What is it?” Tyrell reaches for me, curling his large hand over my knee. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No.” I shake my head again and smile at him, resting my hand over his and tracing the length of his fingers. “It’s not that. I just…” Brushing my teeth over my bottom lip, I wonder how to word this or if I should even be saying it at all.
“Dani,” he softly begs. “Please, talk to me.”
I swallow, plucking up my flailing courage and whispering, “Are we doing the right thing?”
“What do you mean?” Tyrell eyes me cautiously.
And I force the words out. “By Atlas. Do you think he’d mind us… being together?”
He glances at the rumpled bedsheets, his fingers trailing down my leg and covering my foot before he lets out a soft sigh and asks, “Where’s this coming from?”
I shrug, not even sure, really. Why am I once again letting epic sex be ruined by these thoughts?
“You’re the only other man I’ve ever been with,” I finally say. “I guess I really am moving on, and I… I don’t know why I’m struggling with it.”
Tyrell’s eyebrows dip together, his expression downright wounded as he tries to accept what I just said.
Shit. I don’t want to hurt him.
Gliding his hand off my foot and across the mattress, I feel the loss instantly and have to fight the urge to beg him to touch me again.
“But, um…” He clears his throat. “That’s what you wanted, though, right? To move on?”
“Yes.” I wrap my arms tighter around my legs. “I really want to let go and move forward, but…” I bite my lips together, a shudder rolling through me before I find the courage to say, “He should be here, Ty. If it weren’t for me, he’d still be alive.”