Page 35 of The Crush
“Mark—my college boyfriend—said the only reason a girl would want to without a condom is because they’re trying to get pregnant. To, uh, trap him. Which, as if I would want a life with him either.” I look at Daniel again, the unreadable expression on his face, and I clasp my fingers together tight in front of me. “I mean, it was good in the end that I didn’t ever with him, because he was definitely cheating on me.”God, stop rambling.“And it wasn’t the same as it is with you.Notthat I’m trying to say that we, um…” My voice is growing smaller, running out of steam, and my eyes fall to the carpet. “You always seem to like to feel me when I, um…I thought it would feel good to feel you, too. Sorry, if this is… We can forget the whole thing if you want.”
Daniel moves forward again, not stopping until his body is pressing into mine and the edge of the desk is hitting the back of my thighs. His arms cage me in on either side, and I’m alreadyreadybefore he stops himself with a grunt of frustration.
“Get back on the bed.” His voice is a low command that makes my knees want to give out, and he makes it even worse when he adds, “Please.”
“Danny—”
“Get back on the bed, Isabel.” His eyes are locked on mine, his voice tinged with a desperate edge. “Or I’ll fuck you on this desk.”
Is that supposed to be a warning? Because that doesn’t seem so…
“Go.”
Excitement races up my spine as I duck underneath his arm, climbing back up onto the bed to kneel in the center. Daniel takes another few breaths before he walks—no, more likestalks—toward me. My eyes sweep over his broad chest when he comes to the side of the bed, then I crawl forward and reach for his belt.
His hand wraps around my wrists, pinning them to his chest. “Listen to me. I want this.Fuck, do I want this. But if you change your mind, you just have to tell me. I got a physical not long before they sent me home, and I’m clear, but if you change your mind—”
I reach up, still kneeling, still with my hands pinned, my mouth close enough to his that he can’t mistake it for anything other than an offering.
He takes it. His mouth meeting mine as his hands release my wrists and rush for the bow at my back. He tugs it loose easily, his palm and fingers spanning the width of my back.
My own hands slide back down to his waistband, hooking into his belt loops before I start to slip the leather belt free. I’m still fumbling with it as Daniel leans into me, one hand cradling as he guides me down to the bed. He pulls away only long enough to finish taking off his jeans and to hastily strip me the rest of the way.
He settles himself over me again then, a bit rougher with his touch as the tether of his control slips too loose. Far less composed than the man who’d shown up with flowers to take me to dinner.
I like them both. I want to keep them both.
I wrap my legs around his waist as Daniel lines up and pushes inside me in one smooth stroke, and itdoesfeel good.Soamazingly good knowing it’s only him. I moan, not remotely worried about staying quiet, shifting as I try to take even more of him.
“Stay still, Isabel.” Daniel’s breathing hard above me as he holds a hand against my stomach. “Fuck. Give me a minute.”
I purposefully roll my hips, reveling in the power I feel when his grip on me tightens and he groans.
“So fucking perfect.” His slow rock inside me gradually turns deeper, faster, and he places a hand on my hip to guide me into moving with him. “That’s it. Stay with me, just like that.”
I match his pace while I hold myself close, my face in the crook of his neck and my lips against his racing pulse as I listen to him say it again. “Stay with me.”
I was never the one who left.
Twenty-Nine
Isabel
The bed is empty next to me when I wake this time. The room cold and dark.
“Danny?” I get up, grabbing his shirt from the chair and pulling it on as I follow the sound of running water to the bathroom door. I knock, receive no response, but I push in anyway, my worry only temporarily easing when I find him in the shower.
“Danny?” The more the spell of sleep lifts, the more I’m convinced something really is wrong. “Danny?”
He doesn’t look at me, only continues to stand facing away from me under the spray. His head down, eyes closed, his hands bracing against the walls. Every muscle in his back and shoulders is taut with strain.
“I’m…I’m okay.” He’s panting, like he’s been running. “You can go back to bed.”
The shirt I stole falls to the floor as I open the glass door, and I can see now that he’s shivering. When I step in, I gasp at the icy water, wondering if he’d tried to shock himself out of it.How long has he been in here?
“I said I’m good.”
“I heard you.” I step forward, closing the distance and pressing myself firmly against his back, my arms reaching aroundso I can lay my hands flat against his chest. He jumps at the contact, but he doesn’t push me away.
