Chapter 8

8

MADDY

December 26th: Boxing Day.

My hand reaches for the warmth beside me but doesn’t find a body. I crack my eyes open to find an empty room and rumpled sheets. Instead of going back to sleep, I sit up and rub my eyes until I see stars.

He’s woken up before me each day and brought me coffee in bed. The least I can do is help him make it today.

I get ready, grab my phone, and head downstairs to find him.

If today’s as good as the last few days, I’ll owe him for forcing me here. I’ve caught up on sleep, eaten good food, relaxed for the first time in ages, and kissed Daniel.

Done more with him than I thought possible.

I know it’s not real. Know it will change when we go home, but for now, I’m enjoying his kisses, enjoying when he wraps his arm around my shoulders and tugs me close.

Trying to stop the hope welling inside my chest has been fruitless.

When we’re back to our real lives and everything settles, then I’ll bring up the possibility of dating with him. Will ask if he would consider continuing the new side of our relationship, where he touches me and I don’t have to feel guilty about touching him back or putting my tongue in his mouth. Where I can say I love him without worrying and can watch his eyes soften and his lips spread into a grin.

The door to the kitchen is closed, which is unusual. Maybe they close it at night? I pause outside when I hear murmurs.

Emma’s hissed whisper comes through the door. “You need to tell her.”

“I will. But not yet.”

My body tenses when I realise Daniel is the one who responded.

“You’re lying to her. It’s not fair to her. You’re taking advantage.”

Are they talking about me? Blood pounds in my ears, and I inch closer to the door.

“I know I’m lying, but I don’t know how to tell her.” Something bangs on the bench. “What if she’s only responding because she’s on holiday? What if she doesn’t want anything with me?”

“It’s her decision, Danny. You can’t keep doing this. You need to tell her. And you might be surprised. Maybe she’s in love with you too and everything will be fine?”

I suck in a breath and rub a trembling hand over my racing heart. Love me? Lying to me? What’s happening?

The door flies open in front of me, and I jump. My eyes lock with Daniel’s, and I notice numbly the cups of coffee he’s holding. The coffee he was going to bring me in bed.

I swallow harshly and my eyes scan the cautious look in his eyes and the grimace on Emma’s face behind him. “You’re lying to me? About what?”

Daniel inhales sharply and opens his mouth, but doesn’t say anything.

“Daniel? Is everything okay?” I watch his face pale. “Are you okay?”

He shakes himself. “I’m fine, sweetheart. Nothing’s wrong.” He turns and puts the coffee down, and I follow him into the kitchen. Daniel breathes deeply. “I wasn’t entirely honest about getting you here.”

“Okay.” I frown and try to remember what he said to convince me to come here, and my eyes narrow when I remember what he told his family. My eyes dart to Emma, who’s making tea and pretending to ignore us, and back to Daniel rubbing a hand over his jaw. “Do you have an explanation?” My voice is hard and brittle.

“My family doesn’t think we’ve been dating for six months. They didn’t know you were coming until we showed up,” he says in a rush.

I blink at him and take a step back. Thoughts race through my mind as I try to reorder everything that’s happened since he appeared at my studio a few days ago.

My chest tightens, and heat races through my body and stains my cheeks with red. Fury runs through me, bright and hot with a tinge of betrayal making everything worse. “You lied to me. You lied to get me here and what? What was the goal?”

“No, I?—”

“But you did lie. You lied, so I’d come with you. Why?” I demand. “And I showed up here and imposed on your family for no reason? They had to spend their holiday with me because you felt like dragging me along? What the fuck, Daniel?”

He stands in front of me silently, not attempting to defend himself or give me context for the last few days. I glance at Emma, whose lip curls staring at Daniel.

My hands tremble as embarrassment floods me, as I remember everything that’s happened. The cricket and the touching and the kissing and his fingers inside me after the best day I’ve had in years.

But it was all a lie. And he won’t tell me why.

“Give me your keys.” I hold my hand out and ignore the shaking.

“What? What do you need my keys for?” He runs a hand through his hair.

“Because I’m going home. Give me your fucking car keys, Daniel. I’m leaving so your family can enjoy a little peace without a random woman showing up.”

“You aren’t random, they’ve known you for years, Maddy?—”

“Give me your keys. You brought me here in your car, and I have no other way home. Give them to me.”

“Maddy.”

I whirl towards Emma’s voice and the sound of metal clinking together. She throws keys at me and I catch them. “I’m sorry for invading your holiday. Please apologise to your parents for me.” When she nods, I turn to Daniel. “I’ll see you around.”

I storm out of the kitchen, down the hall, out the front door, and into Daniel’s car.

He doesn’t try to stop me. Doesn’t follow me to the car, and before I know it, I’m on the motorway towards home.

The only stuff I have with me is my phone and handbag. I didn’t want to go to our room and pack everything, not when the room smells of citrus and I’d have to decide if I take the presents he gave me.

My hand clutches the necklace, but I can’t bring myself to remove it. Not yet.

The drive doesn’t distract me from the conversation. Or from dissecting it. But it’s not until I’m halfway home that I remember what Emma said before he opened the door. ‘Maybe she’s in love with you too and everything will be fine.’

Why would she say that?

Does Daniel love me?

Is Daniel in love with me?

If he truly wanted me to take a holiday and relax, he could have dragged me with him anyway. He didn’t gain anything from telling me his family thinks we’ve been dating for six months. No one gained anything from that.

Unless he’s in love with me and wanted me there but didn’t know how to ask me to come.

It doesn’t make sense.

Why would he do that? Why wouldn’t he tell me and avoid the awkwardness?

The stupid seed of hope won’t disappear and instead grows in my chest as I analyse the different angles.

The conclusion I come to is that he either took advantage of me and wanted to have sex with me but I left before we did, or he couldn’t figure out how to ask me out and decided to lie instead to see how I’d react.

The second idea makes more sense to me. Either because it’s the one I want the most or because I’m delusional. But I can’t imagine Daniel putting so much thought into me enjoying my time with his family, and his lovely presents, for it to be the first reason.

Stupid hope overtaking the embarrassment and anger. Even if it is the reason I want, he still got his family to lie with him, but do I care? If my conclusion’s right and he is in love with me, do I care about his idiotic way of figuring out my feelings?

I park at my building and enter my flat for the first time in days. First, I need food. Then I need to call Daniel. I should have gone for a walk on the beach instead of taking his car and driving home.

Did I overreact?

It didn’t seem like it at the time, but the glaring lights in my kitchen illuminate my fears while I fiddle with the necklace he gave me.

I should have stayed and talked with him. Heard him out. I left because I was scared it was all fake, and it still might be, but I should have listened.

Daniel won’t have done this without a reason.

I rub my forehead and sigh. I shouldn’t have left.

Someone knocks on my door, and I drag my feet opening it. I’m not in the mood to talk to any of my neighbours. All I want is to call Daniel, but I need to figure out what to say first.

The impatient knocks continue until I yank the door open and suck in a breath.

“Oh. Hi,” I say quietly.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Daniel responds, lips downturned instead of spread in a smile like usual.

His use of the endearment reassures me. Maybe I’m not wrong.

“You must have left right after I did if you’re here already.”

He gestures to the bags at his feet. “I did. I grabbed your stuff and left. I want to explain everything. Words failed me for the first time in my life.” He huffs and ruffles his hair. “For the most important part of my life, and I’m sorry.”

I nod, hold the door open wider, and grab one of the bags. He enters my home, carrying the bags I left behind, and puts them carefully beside the couch. I add the bag I took to the pile and sit on the couch, gesturing for him to sit beside me.

He collapses heavily and faces me. The drawn look on his face hurts my chest.

“I’m sorry I left without talking to you properly. And for taking your car.”

“No, don’t apologise. You had every right to leave. What I did was shitty. I shouldn’t have got you there like that.”

“Why did you?” I need to know his answer. To know if my theory’s right.

He scoffs. “Because I’m an idiot.”

“It doesn’t explain why you wanted me there and why your whole family lied.” The burning sensation of embarrassment floods my body.

Daniel shifts until our knees rest against each other. He breathes deeply, lets it out slowly and says, “I’m sorry. For everything. It was never meant to hurt you. I love you. I’m in love with you. Have been for as long as I can remember, but I didn’t know what to do. You’re Ollie’s sister, and you’re younger, and I could never tell if you liked me or if you tolerated me because of your brother.” He rubs a hand over his jaw. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want you to be alone on your birthday, and I thought maybe if we pretended to date for my family I’d be able to tell if you had feelings for me. If you were even attracted to me. Ella said something that made me think you might be.”

My breath catches, and I roll my eyes and finally allow the seed of hope to grow in my chest to a warmth that spreads through my body. “Of course she did.”

“Was she wrong?” he asks in a whisper.

“Why didn’t you tell me? Why all the lies?”

“Because I’m stupid, okay. I’m stupid and your friendship means everything to me. Whenever I see you, it’s a good day, and I didn’t want to risk it. I want you in my life. However you want me. Even if it means you don’t love me.”

“Of course I love you.” I clasp his hand and run mindless circles on his fingers. “How could I not? I told you a few days ago when you said it, but I thought you meant as friends. I’ve never meant it as friends.” My nose burns and I scrunch it a few times to banish the feeling. “Ella’s right. She always is. I’ve hoped all week that the kissing and touching could be real, that it was real. I convinced myself it was this morning, and then I heard you talking to Emma and… I didn’t know what to think.”

He covers my hand. “I’m an idiot.”

“Kinda. But I never said anything either because I didn’t think you would feel the same. Maybe we both are.”

“So we’re both in love with each other, both wished what was happening this week was real, and have loved each other for a while,” he recaps and tugs me closer until our sides press together.

“Sounds like it.”

“Does that mean I can kiss you?”

Instead of replying, I launch myself at him and wrap my arms around his neck, and his arms loop around my waist.

He’s warm and smells like home. Citrus surrounds me, as does the heat from his lips. I straddle him and melt against him so I can feel him everywhere. His body flush with mine. My hands shake from the onslaught of emotions, but it doesn’t stop me from gripping his hair and angling it to the side to get closer to him. My tongue darts out to taste his lips, and he opens his mouth for me to lick into.

He groans when our tongues brush and his hands grip my hips tightly. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s forceful, tight. He hasn’t done anything like it before and it causes me to shift my hips to feel his grip, and I grind against his erection. His hips twitch and he rolls up, using more force and hitting my clit through my shorts perfectly. I gasp and pull away to chase the feeling, but he stops.

He cups my cheek and when he catches his breath asks, “You’re okay with everything? You’re sure you don’t want to think about it more?” His voice is cautious, and his eyes flicker uncertainly. I can’t help kissing him gently.

“Everything’s fine. So we started on a strange note. At least we started.” My thumb brushes his bottom lip, which he kisses. “And hey, we already have traditions.” I wrap my arms around him and press my forehead to his. “I will be teasing you for all eternity about how this happened, though. I mean, fancy fake dating someone to see if they have feelings instead of asking them out.”

He swats my ass and I squeak, but he rubs a hand over the sting and nudges my nose with his. “I’ll allow the teasing because it means I have you.”

“Good. Now take your clothes off.” I yank his T-shirt off and throw it behind me. “Last time you kept your clothes on. Do you know how hard it was not touching you on the beach?”

His hands slip beneath my top and drag up towards my breasts. “About as hard as it was for me when I could see your nipples pushing against wet fabric.”

He throws my top away and tries to unclasp my bra, but I grab his hands before he can and settle them on my hips. “I want to touch you first. You got to see things last time, but I didn’t.”

“My love, you weren’t naked either. I felt things.” He rubs a finger over my covered nipple, and I bite my lip.

The endearment I love coming from him, mixed with the sensation of his fingers on me and his erection between my legs, is a lot for my mind. I love it.

“True.” I push his hand back to my hip, remove my bra and throw it to join his T-shirt. My hands catch his before he can cup my breasts. “I want to touch first.”

He squeezes my hands and releases me. Hands land below my breasts and drag down my ribs to rest on my thighs. My eyes narrow at him.

“What? I didn’t do anything.”

“Stay there,” I demand. Lifting my hands slowly, I start on his bare shoulders and run my hands across his collarbones, down his biceps, and over to his pecs. Running my hands across warm skin.

On Daniel.

Finally.

My thumbs brush his nipples, and his hands tighten on my thighs, and he flinches below me. His hips lift to grind against me. My brows raise, and I circle his nipples. The same reaction with the addition of his teeth biting his lip as he sucks in a long breath. His eyes dilate, and his cheeks stain a faint pink.

I lean forward slowly, eyes locked on his, and run my tongue over his nipple. My lips wrap around it and suck it into my mouth while my tongue runs circles around it.

His hands tighten, and he breaks eye contact when he throws his head back with a moan.

I release his nipple with a pop. “Can you come from nipple play?”

“Not often,” he pants.

My eyes widen. “We are definitely doing that.”

“Not today.”

“Why not?”

“Because I want to be inside you this time.” He runs his hands up my sides, thumbs nudging the bottom of my breasts.

I suck in a breath and nod. As much as I want to see what I can do with his nipples, the idea of having him inside me is more appealing. Today at least. Tomorrow he won’t get away so easily.

His hands slide up and he cups my breasts.

I shudder.

Thumbs brush the floral tattoos that follow the curve of my breasts.

He mirrors what I did, but I lock my lips to his and suck his bottom lip, nip it with my teeth and delve into his mouth. He tugs my nipples, and heat coils in my stomach and I pulse between my legs.

My hips roll unconsciously, following the feeling of heat and the release I know I’ll get if he keeps up what he’s doing.

I pull away from his lips and kiss down his throat, swirling my tongue on his skin and sucking lightly where his shoulder meets his neck. His stomach tenses and he groans. Hands fall from my breasts and clutch my waist when I bite his nipple carefully.

When his head falls back again and the sound of his breathing gets louder, I stop my torture and unzip his pants. My hand cups him, and his head flies up to look at me.

“What are you doing?”

I stroke him and watch his eyes grow heavy. His green eyes are dazed and dark, and I can’t wait to see him naked and hovering above me. To feel his flushed body on mine. “Well, I was gonna give you a blow job.”

He takes my hands away from his cock and holds them between us. “Nope. Absolutely not.”

I laugh. “What, you don’t want one?”

“Not today.”

“What do you want today?” I ask, amused.

“To go to the bedroom.” He stands and I shriek when I start to fall, but he catches me under the ass and hauls me over his shoulder. My hands scramble to find something to clutch onto. Good thing his ass is right there, and it’s a decent handful.

“Daniel!”

“I keep getting distracted by your hands. If you keep doing things to me, I won’t fulfil my wish and I’ll eat you out instead.” He slaps my ass and strides towards my bedroom.

“It’s like you think I don’t want that.” I slip my hands under his pants, into his boxers, and cup his ass without anything in the way. I squeeze him and make an appreciative noise. “How do you have a bum like this when you sit on it all day at the office?”

“Genetics.”

I laugh and push the rest of his clothes off until they tangle around his ankles and he has to stop walking. My eyes trace bare skin, and I lick him and graze my teeth over him. He tenses and I smirk when he holds still, waiting to see what I do next.

One hand massages an ass cheek and the other dips a finger between them and traces down to press against his hole. I pulse my finger on it and bite the top of his ass.

“Motherfucker,” Daniel gasps, and his arms clamp over my legs. He sets me on my feet, cups my cheeks and pulls me into a wet kiss, pushing me against the wall and stroking his tongue on mine, his hands running all over my body.

I can’t contain the excitement in my voice. “You liked that. You’re full of surprises, corporate boy.”

“Tomorrow I’ll discover your hidden desires, but I’m too far gone for you to keep finding mine. Wanna do it here?” he asks, voice desperate, and I take pity on him.

My eyes follow his chest to the newly revealed skin. When they land on his cock, my eyebrows lift as I take in the length of him.

“How close are you talking?”

“Like if you touch me, it’s over and I’ll get on my knees instead.” He brackets his arms on either side of me on the wall and doesn’t let our bodies touch.

“Tempting.” I lick a strip up his neck and murmur against his lips, “But not today.”

He nods and squeezes his eyes shut. I wait patiently, and when he opens his eyes, they’re less glazed.

Daniel traces his fingers across my thigh. “Let’s catch you up instead.”

I wrap a leg around his waist, opening myself for him. His hand drags up my thigh and doesn’t waste time. Fingers swirl at my entrance, and I sway closer to him.

“You’re already wet.”

“You sound surprised.” My breath hitches.

“I’ve been distracted and barely done anything for you.” His finger finds my clit and sets up camp. Back and forth, and I need to remind myself to answer him.

“Not true. You figured out how I like my nipples touched, and I like the sounds you make.” I end the sentence with a moan and throw my head back and barely register hitting the wall. I watch surprise creep into his face through my heavy eyes.

“Yeah? You like hearing the groans you pull from me? Hearing how you make me feel?” He puts a finger inside me. “And discovering new things about me, new ways for me to unravel. New ways to make me moan your name.”

“Yes! Oh—” I yank him closer with my leg and clutch his shoulders when he rubs the best spot. “You sound so sexy when I touch you. You make sure I know how I make you feel. I love it. I love you. Oh, shit.” My body tenses, and I pulse around him, but he stops moving before I can fall over the edge. I breathe harshly and gaze at him through blurry eyes.

He removes his fingers and grasps his cock, pumping it a few times and I watch him. Watch as he rubs himself through my arousal, swirls around my clit, and notches himself at my entrance. I clutch his shoulders and keep my leg around his waist, and he finally pushes inside me.

My breath comes in quick gasps, and he bites his lip hard when he bottoms out and holds himself still inside me. I’m full and completely surrounded by him. His hands are all over me and his cock’s inside me. Like I’ve dreamed about.

He pulls out and pushes inside again, slow and controlled. Sweat dots my body, and I dig my nails into him.

“Today is not the day for slow, sweetie.” I clench around him, and his low grunt sends a shiver through me.

“Are you sure?”

I nod and roll my hips against his pubic bone. “You know how you had to slow down? I’m there with you now. I’m right there.”

He places a hand on the wall beside my head, hikes my leg higher, and starts a rapid pace. In and out, and I quickly lose the rhythm and let him pound into me. His panting urges me on, and the hoarse groans rumbling his chest vibrate through me.

“Is this what you had in mind?” I whimper. “My wet heat surrounding you.”

“Yes. Yes, it’s so good, Maddy.”

The sound of skin slapping together echoes in the hallway.

My stomach tightens and I pulse around him again, and when his hand drops from my leg to my clit and rubs hard, my head flies back and hits the wall. My body tenses, and my mouth drops open in a moan as waves of pleasure wash over me.

His pace doesn’t change, but he grimaces and clutches me close, burying his head in my shoulder where I can feel his rapid breathing. My hands shift from his shoulders, and I drag my nails across his nipples.

“Oh shit, Maddy!” His rhythm falters, and he digs his head into my shoulder, muffling his long groan of pleasure in my skin.

I lift a weak hand and run it through his hair. We catch our breath, still connected, and he kisses up my throat until he captures my lips in a languid kiss.

Our foreheads press together, and all is right with our world.

“My love, why didn’t we do that years ago?” His arms wrap low on my back.

“Because we’re idiots and needed multiple people to interfere for us.”

He slips out of me and lifts me, guiding my legs around his waist. “Worth it.”

We enter my bedroom. Apparently we couldn’t wait another five steps to get there.

“It was absolutely worth it,” I say as he lowers me to the bed and we curl up together.

The road here wasn’t linear. Who cares?

We still ended up here. Wrapped around one another and making plans together for tomorrow.

It worked out in the end.