Page 91 of See You Soon
Danny closes his car door with such force I flinch at the impact. His demeanor hasn't changed since the wedding. He walks over to my side and opens it for me, helping me out of his truck. I hit the gravel with my heels.
His grip on my hand makes me question the night I'm about to endure. I'm slowly getting disappointed at the sudden change in his behavior. Tonight was supposed to be pure bliss. His return was something we both dreamed about, but something changed in him when I caught him staring at the fire. The hot and cold Danny was back, and I didn't know how to handle it.
I stand there fixing my dress, next to his truck. The sound of crickets is the only thing that fills the silent tension. Danny's porch lights are on, and the moon is still glowing bright with no clouds in the sky. It’s a beautiful night, stars twinkling in the sky and it reminds me of the helicopter ride.
I peek at Danny through my short hair tucking it behind my ear. He has his hands in his pockets, looking at his ranch home that's behind me. His nostrils flared and eyes mysterious. We stand there in silence, and I so badly want to throw questions at him even though he's shutting me down.
What happened during the rest of his deployment? How'd he get the new scar on his bottom lip?It wasn't there when he left.
"Go inside. I'll meet you there in a bit, I'm going to burn one." Danny's still as the words roll out. His eyes never meet mine.
"Danny," I call out for him, leaning on one side of my body, hand on my hip.
He doesn't respond. He doesn't move. The anxiety cripples me.
"Yes, Cherry?"
My heart flutters and my Danny is back.
"Is something wrong?"
He finally looks towards me. He gives me a smile that disguises what he's truly feeling. It's forceful but I'll take it. Just by the way he looks at me, I'm sent to a different realm of intense emotion. He takes his hands out of his pocket, walking to me with purpose. I hold my breath, while I watch him get closer. Every step has me stunned.
When he gets to me, he cups my face into his hands and kisses my lips, hard. Our lips move together perfectly and so passionately they fit so well together and never miss a beat.
"Go inside." He breaks our kiss, leaving me breathless and wanting more. It takes a minute for me to open them, and I manage to whisper.
“Okay.”
He drops his house keys in my hand, and I walk away, leaving him reaching into his pocket for smokes.
* * *
His house looks the same as when I left it. Rustic wooden floors and there's a cozy scent filling my nose. I walk towards the living room, letting myself get comfortable. I take off my heels and sit down on the couch.
I experience deja vu as the memories of our first date come back to me. I'm rubbing my feet with my hands as I sit, massaging the soreness from wearing heels. When my hands touch the fabric of his cushions, I remember the first time he obliterated me with his mouth.
So much has changed since then.
I sit in front of his fireplace staring at it contemplating my next move. Something inside of me clicks and my heart takes over. I turn off all of the lights on the first floor. The kitchen. The living room. The hallway to get inside the house. The back porch. Everything is dark like the way I want it to be.
I turn on his fireplace, starting a small fire. Staring at the wood burning I start unzipping the back of my dress. I wanted him to walk in on me.
The fear of him taking notice of my pregnancy sends my nerves flaring. Still, I'm hoping he won't notice. I wasn't showing yet. My baby bump was just that. A small bump.
My zipper goes all the way down and I reach for my shoulder strap.
Suddenly, I feel Danny's breath on my neck.
Whiskey and smoke.
The smell sends my heart pounding. The fact that I didn’t hear him enter his home isn’t surprising.
I would have jumped out of fear, but his presence sends me back into comfort. No worries about Shane creeping in knowing I was right beside Danny. No worries about anything when I'm around him. I'm in my own world when he's nearby.
"Don't let me stop you.I want to watch.I can get off just by watching you undress."
I continue to undress myself. Still facing the fireplace, I can feel his eyes burning into my back, loving the attention I'm receiving.
