Chapter 10

In the dimly lit room,the end credits of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty rolled across the screen, casting a soft glow on Dan as they lounged on the sofa. Emma, still feeling the remnants of stiffness from the accident, was comfortably nestled against him.

They'd spent their day immersed in comfortable companionship that had begun with a leisurely walk, Dan adapting to Emma"s pace due to her soreness from the accident.

Later, while Emma relaxed in a soothing bath, Dan prepared sandwiches for lunch. Post-lunch, he insisted on cleaning up without her lifting a finger, insisting she rest.

As the day came to a close, Emma had ordered takeout for dinner, this time declining his offer to split the bill. Because fair was fair, right? She'd half expected him to leave after that, but he simply settled with her on the sofa and suggested a movie.

"Wow, that was quite an adventure! I didn"t expect Walter Mitty"s life to turn around like that," Emma mused, her voice tinged with a mix of surprise and admiration for the protagonist.

Dan, his gaze still fixed on the screen, replied with genuine enthusiasm, "I loved it, honestly. It"s amazing how he went from daydreaming about adventures to actually living them. It kind of makes you think about how much life is out there to explore, doesn't it?"

Emma nodded. "Absolutely, it"s inspiring. And the cinematography! The scenes in Iceland and the Himalayas were breathtaking. I've always wanted to travel more. Do you like to travel?"

"Yeah, the visuals were stunning. And I do enjoy traveling, though I haven"t done anything as adventurous as Walter. But this movie definitely gives me a few ideas," Dan said, his voice holding a hint of aspiration. "How about you? Any dream destinations?"

Emma"s face lit up at the question. "So many! I think seeing the Northern Lights is at the top of my list. The scene where Walter longboards in Iceland was so cool. It"s interesting how a simple thing like a lost photograph pushed him to go on such a journey."

Dan leaned in slightly. "That"s true. Sometimes, it"s the small things that push us out of our comfort zones. I also liked how the movie wasn"t just about adventure, but about self-discovery and courage. Walter was really brave to chase after what he wanted."

Emma"s lips curled as she pondered his words. "Definitely. And it"s not just about the physical journey, but also the emotional one. I liked how his relationship with Cheryl was a big motivation for him, but in the end, he found his own reasons to change his life."

"Yeah, I agree. It's a good reminder that sometimes you have to take the leap, not just for others, but for yourself. It makes me wonder what kind of "leap" I might need in my life. How about you, Emma?" Dan asked, his eyes searching hers for a glimpse into her thoughts.

Emma hesitated for a moment, her gaze drifting away. "Hmm, I think for me it would be about taking more risks, maybe trying things that are outside my comfort zone. This movie kind of makes you want to seize the day, doesn't it?"

"It really does. It"s inspiring in a way that makes you want to live more fully. Maybe we should both think of something adventurous to try out. It could be fun!" Dan suggested, a playful spark in his eyes.

Emma"s heart fluttered at the thought. "I like that idea."

The set of his mouth changed, and his pupils dilated. He twisted his upper body and set one hand on her thigh.

Before Emma could tense up or worry, he slanted his head and claimed her mouth in a kiss that was filled with contained passion and leashed power. She tasted a hint of beer and Chinese takeout as his tongue swiped out and teased her lips.

Feeling his other hand slip between her back and the sofa, Emma leaned forward and slipped her arms around his neck.

Without breaking the kiss, he dragged her over him until she was straddling his lap.

His sexual prowess and obvious strength should have worried and scared Emma, but it didn't. Instead, her lustometer started going crazy. Over her entire body, her nerve endings came alive. Her nipples tightened against a wall of hard male muscle.

The hands splayed on her back tugged her closer until she was plastered against him and touching him everywhere.

He broke the kiss. They were both breathing hard. Emma swallowed, unsure what to do. She wanted to continue, but she was afraid to. Sexual intimacy had never been an issue before, but recently, she'd struggled with even a simple touch. Was she ready to be with a man again? This man? Any man?

Her rambling, incoherent thoughts came to a screeching halt when he nuzzled her neck and kissed beneath her ear. So good. She cocked her head to give him easier access. There seemed to be a direct line between the spot he was kissing, nibbling, and suckling and her vagina. Because her clit pulsed like he was sucking on it. His cock hardened and lengthened. His shaft pressed right against her clit. It took all her willpower not to rock against his erection to create the friction she needed.

"Em," he mumbled against her neck. "We need…"

He didn't finish his sentence. An ache built inside her. She wiggled on his lap and rubbed her breasts against his chest.

"Sparks. We…" He groaned in her hair. "Need to stop. You're hurt."

Emma lifted her head. "Dan, no. I… I'm all right." She rocked her hips forward, gasping in delight as it sent zings of pleasure up her core. "I'm barely sore. The walk helped, as did the soak in the tub and the rest. I–" She swallowed, but then gave it to him straightforward. "I'm not very experienced and I've been…" She trailed off, not wanting to talk about the past right now. "Let's be like Walter Mitty and be a little adventurous."

She gasped as his mouth latched onto her earlobe and suckled as if that was the encouragement he'd been waiting for. Fingers knotted in her hair, holding her head in place. A frisson of worry made her stiffen, but when he smoothed his hand down her back, she remembered to breathe and enjoy herself.

* * *

Dan studied Emma's face as he skated his free hand over her hip and down her thigh. When he tangled his fingers in her hair, she almost melted in his arms.

She reacted well to a bit of dominance. However, she was a strange blend of enthusiasm and reserve. The way she kissed him back and swung her arms around his neck spoke of a passionate soul. The way she hesitated and stumbled when talking about her lack of experience hinted at something he couldn't pinpoint.

Dan was a patient man. He was also a Dominant. He wanted to get beneath that polished surface. It would take time for her to trust him. Until she did, he would proceed with caution. Luckily, he was used to handling high-voltage wiring. Careful was his middle name.

He grinned and nuzzled her neck. She smelled amazing.

Kissing his way to her mouth, he enjoyed the softness of her cheek and deliberately rubbed his stubble-roughened jaw against her. She let out a moan and pressed firmer against him. His mouth took hers, and he lifted his pelvis to grind against her. Her pussy rested snuggly against his raging erection.

His grip on her hair tightened as he ravished her mouth. Again, there was that slight hesitation before she kissed him back with urgency. He tried to slow down and think but fluttery sensations in his chest and stomach overwhelmed his senses.

He intended to pull back, but when she sucked on his bottom lip that idea flew out of the window. An overwhelming desire to join and become one had his cock twitching. He broke the kiss, panting for air and finding his gaze drawn to her heaving chest.

He pulled her sweatshirt over her head and cupped a soft breast with one hand. She was the perfect size for his large hand and her nipple pebbled against his palm. Dan shivered from pleasure when she arched into his touch.

So responsive!

His hands ached with the need to explore, but his mind won out.

"Do you want to continue? I could kiss you all night and be content." He nibbled on the juncture between her shoulder and neck. It wasn't a lie.

She moaned. "I can't think when you do that."

With a smile, he pulled back and made eye contact.

She swallowed. "Continue? Um, yes. I'd like more."

A sudden flush of warmth spread from his groin outward, but before his lust could override his senses, he picked up on her slight hesitation and narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure?"

"Uh-huh." She bit her lip.

Dan cocked his head. "You don't sound or look sure." He leaned back against the couch and studied her. "How about this: Me and a couple of my friends like to… roleplay. We have some safeguards in place when we do. One of them is a special word. A word you'd normally wouldn't use during sex."

She frowned. "Like BDSM and a safeword?"

"You know about that?"

She gave him a "are you kidding me" look. "I don't think that there is a single adult who doesn't know Fifty Shades of Grey. Besides, we get to see some pretty kinky things when working the ER, you know."

The mood between them lightened and Dan had to grin. "I bet you do." He cleared his throat. "Yes like BDSM, but what I was trying to say was this: moving forward we might engage in some play where "no" doesn"t necessarily mean "no". That's when a safeword comes in handy. Tonight, you can say "no" or "stop" at any moment and I will stop. No questions asked."

Her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed. "Even if… um… when…"

Delighted with her, he chuckled. "Yes, Sparks, even when my pants are off. Even when I'm balls-deep inside you."

"Well, that's blunt," she muttered, before giving him a tentative smile. "Thanks for your honesty. I'm not used to talking so openly about sex."

"You'll learn," he stated. "Now about your safeword. Although "no" and "stop" will work, I would like you to have the safeword, too. Do you have one in mind?"

"Cardioplegia."

"What?" His brows furrowed.

"Just like how you might need to switch off a circuit or a machine for repairs, sometimes doctors need to stop the heart for certain surgeries to work on it safely," she explained. "Cardioplegia is like the "off-switch" for the heart. It"s a special solution that we use during heart surgery. When this solution is put into the heart, it temporarily stops the heart"s electrical signals and muscle contractions. This is like turning off the power to make sure it"s safe to work on electrical equipment." Her face became livelier, and she became more animated as she continued, "With the heart "switched off", surgeons can operate on it without the heart moving or blood flowing through it. Once the surgery is done, the heart can be "switched on" again, and it starts beating like normal. This is similar to how you would turn the power back on after completing your electrical work."

"Okay, okay." He chuckled. "An on-and-off switch for the heart." He shook his head. "I'm stunned at what doctors can do, but cardioplegia it is. It's strangely appropriate." He leveled his gaze with hers. "Continue?"

She surprised him by pulling off her t-shirt and unclipping her bra.

"Well now." His gaze dropped to her pretty breasts.

* * *

Emma couldn't believe she'd just bared her breasts to him. Before she could let the embarrassment overtake her and make her cover herself with her arms, Dan pinned her hands behind her back with one huge palm and started to play with her breasts. Using his free hand, he cupped them, squeezed them, and teased the nipples between his callused thumb and fingers until they stood like rigid points and throbbed with the beat of her heart.

Every time she tried to move her hands, she was reminded that he had her pinned down. A moment of panic would follow the realization before she remembered she had the control and heat would shoot to her inner core.

And all the time, Dan played with her breast. His mouth would roam over the globes, overwhelming her senses with his lips, tongue, and teeth. He was careful, but not gentle. Emma liked it.

As his free hand alternated between cups and squeezes, his fingers bit into her throbbing nipples. Each time he inflicted a tiny hurt, he used his tongue and lips to sooth the area, and it fed her arousal tenfold over.

Highly aware of the massive erection against the V of her thighs, she ground against him. Her thigh muscles tensed, her breathing sped up, and her movements became more frantic as she neared her release.

He freed her wrists and lifted her from his lap. Confused, she allowed him to position her on her back on the coffee table. She sucked in a breath when he pulled off the clothing covering her lower half. He pulled her until her ass was at the edge of the coffee table.

Dan was still completely dressed, and she was bare-ass naked.

Before she could become self-conscious about that, he threw her legs over his shoulders and opened her up for his view.

Oh my god. Is he going to…?

Gripping her thighs, Dan leaned forward and kissed the inside of her left leg, sending shivers down her spine. His breath stroked her skin, and her heart raced. Her body came to life. A rush of pleasure spiked through her body as his lips lingered on her thigh followed by a tingling sensation as he made his way up her leg. She moaned softly. Her pulse quickened and her body trembled with anticipation. His lips moved higher, and her breathing quickened. She let out a gasp of pleasure as his tongue explored her curves. The gasp turned into a squeak when he fluttered his tongue over her labia and circled her clit.

Oh. My. God.

Her head dropped onto the table, and he clamped his mouth over her pussy where he began to feast. She gasped and squirmed as he licked and sucked, his tongue exploring every crevice. His mouth was like a well-oiled machine, sending waves of pleasure through her. She felt her body trembling with anticipation. Her back bowed, and her breathing stuttered like a heart in cardiac arrest. She was lost in the moment, her only thought being how amazing it felt. Her body rose higher and higher as lust coursed through her veins. She was overcome with desire as his lips and tongue continued their relentless assault on her pleasure center. He ate her out like a starving man. She could not last long with her orgasm hovering so close.

"Dan!" she shouted in a choked exclamation as she unraveled at the seams. A powerful orgasm filled her with sensations that arched her back and caused her thighs to tremble. Her body vibrated as she rode out the waves of pleasure that kept coming.