Page 48 of Where She Is
“Why not? It’s the truth. When we were younger, Freya and I had some of the best times and then, I don’t know. I suppose we weren't as close once I got married. I should have realised then.” He leans over me, grabs his beer and takes an enormous mouthful before he says, “I spent too much time avoiding both her and Joe. It was a total nightmare, and to make things worse, she didn’t stop trying. She tried kissing me again and again untilI lost it. I was so damn mad I reminded her she was married to my brother and threw a whole heap of abuse her way. That’s when I found out she’d been the one to drive Josie away.”
My hand cups my mouth, “Oh my God.”
He stares into space. “I could see in her eyes how much she wanted to hurt me so it all came out. How she’d befriended Josie, told her I was no good, a womaniser, how I’d cheated. Freya wore her down and drove her to the brink. When I asked about the photo, she admitted she hired a private investigator to take the photos months before. Even when I was single, she kept track of what I was doing.”
“She what?”
“Yep. She was tracking me way before I met Josie. It was convenient she had so called evidence to use against me. After that, I was done with her and had to come clean with Joe. It was bloody hard, but I couldn’t go on without him knowing and didn’t want him to look like an idiot. I risked losing him permanently, but it was a chance I had to take. After that, I did what I do best. I went off the rails again, but harder this time. I wanted to hurt Freya in the same way she was hurting Joe.” Daniel looks up. Our eyes connect and his Adam’s apple visibly slides down his throat as I brush my fingers along his jawline. “The worst of it is, she hasn’t given up, Han. She just keeps causing scenes and ruining any happiness I find.”
My thoughts and feelings are all over the shop. Part of me has to swallow the pang of pure hatred that rises through my body. She needs to keep away from him. He is mine. But in the next moment, it all sinks in. Freya wanted to be his lover and he rejected her. What a bloody mess. To go to those lengths, she must have been desperate and devastated all at once. I understand her resentment towards me, but I also see the pain she causes everyone around her. I want to protect him; he is my man. I take in a deep breath, “I’m here now. She can’t hurt you again.”
I’m unsure of how to help, but I will do whatever it takes toshield him. Daniel smiles and rubs the pad of his thumb against my cheek. He sighs and drops his hand to my knee where he keeps his focus.
“Joe and I didn’t talk for a long time and I put my parents through hell. I had the worst reputation, and the papers loved it. They were on the doors of every club and inside every event. They got their money’s worth out of me and I didn’t give a shit.”
“Jesus, Daniel. Your poor family have been through the mill.”
“They have, and it was my mum who finally brought me to my senses. One night, I was walking past her room and dad was telling her it would be all right; that they’d help me find my way back somehow. Her tears were because of me, because of what I’d become. I hated how much I’d hurt them both. It was a huge reality check, and I realised I had to put my life back together, for the sake of my family.”
I rub the palm of my hand to the side of his cheek and look into his beautiful, desperate eyes.
“I cut myself off from our so-called friends. They’d let me down, but more than that, they’d, let Lou down by keeping her secret.
I kept away from anywhere the press might be. Joe and I, we had a tough time of it, but we soon realised Freya was tearing us apart and neither of us would let that happen,” He strokes my face, “and I won’t let her come between us either.”
“She never could. Not now.”
I can’t help wondering why Joe is still with his wife. There has to be more to this, but I’m too exhausted to take any more in. Our firm hold of one another has never eased this whole time and I’m scared to let him go in case he crumbles. “Let’s get out of here, we can pick up a takeaway or something.”
He breathes in deeply through his nose. “Yeah, let’s go home.”
All thoughts of food have left our minds as we head straight to bed. We hold each other as if our lives depend on it and as we lay skin to skin, I realise something. All my adult life, I’ve been looking for someone to protect me, but right now, I want nothing more than to protect my man.
Chapter Fourteen
I wake spoonedagainst Daniel and tight in his arms. His heavy breaths caress my neck while his gentle kisses cause my skin to prickle. The back of his hand runs over my body, to the top of my thigh and between my legs. His fingertips stroke over my entrance and discover I’m already wet and I can’t wait for him to delve deeper. My bare flesh ignites to his every touch and my body aches for him while he teases me. I grind my arse against him. I need him to move closer if that’s possible. I reach for his face and cup my palm against his stubbled cheek while he continues to kiss the length of my neck. My natural reaction is to arch my back into his front while his other hand curls round to squeeze my breast. Sparks fly as our bodies heat. I slide my hand up through his hair, then my palm smooths back over to his firm bicep, reaching all the way down his body until I discover what I’m searching for. I take him in my hand, moving up and down the hard pulse of his arousal until I guide his erection towards me from behind. I rub the head along my slick entrance; I knew it wouldn’t take much for him to slip into me, although I don’t want him to, not yet. I need this buzz, this electrified charge between us to last as long as we can bear. Suddenly, he flips meover so I’m flat on my back. He parts my legs with his knee and kneels between them. I get a full view of his beautiful body. Holy shit! He. Is. Gorgeous.
“Daniel, I—”
“Shh baby, don’t speak. Just feel me.”
He uses both of his huge hands to rub over my hips, causing a rush of goosebumps. This man is driving me wild with just his touch.
His finger and thumb capture my nipple, rolling the bud gently while I squirm in an ecstatic trance. His lips fall to my stomach before he licks a long trail down. His eyes appear darker than before as they lock with mine. He looks up with a half-cocked grin and blows cool air between my legs. My eyelids flutter and my senses heighten with the sensation of his tongue deep inside me, causing ripples through my core. I roll my lips together in an attempt to hold the sound of pure pleasure. I’m not sure how much longer I can last. I’m at odds internally. I don’t want this to stop, but I need to reach my climax.
His tongue moves quicker within me. While his hands trace slowly from my breasts and over my body, I tug my fingers through his hair and attempt to pull him towards me, but he is buried deep and stronger than me. He doesn’t budge. I catch his devil eyes again and watch him enjoy the control. His palm glides to my arse, gently kneading my cheeks, before lifting my hips to meet him. I didn’t think he could get any deeper. I’m done for.
“Daniel… I… Daniel… Oh God yes.” Exquisite knots tangle in my groin. I sit up, but immediately buckle. I can’t hold back for a minute more.Jesus Christ! This is it!I reach my climax while I scream his name, collapsing in an exhausted heap.
I try to even my breathing and open my eyes.I want to do thatagain!I think Daniel can read my thoughts because he looks up frombetween my legs with the most enormous grin. His body slides over mine until his mouth is level with my own. Hecaptures my lips completely while his finger trails along my cheek. Slow, tender kisses fill our time. His eyes explore my body while his fingertips brush my skin with feather light touches. I giggle at my sensitivity. One touch jerks a chain reaction of goosebumps to my spine before he pulls me to sit upright. Then I take control. My hands glide over his chest before I push him backwards so he’s lying flat on the bed. Our eyes lock when I straddle his hips and his lips curl as if he knows what I have in mind. He has no idea.
I lean forward, running one finger from his shoulder, down his chest and gently along his stomach. I’m about to reach for his cock when I slide my finger from him to me and towards my middle. I sit up on my knees so he has an unrestricted view. As a little teaser, my finger slips inside my opening repeatedly, and I note his pupils contract. His gaze stays focused between my legs and I sense his erection harden further beneath me. Placing myself over him, I lean forward so my breasts rest against his chest and I steal a kiss before I make my move. Without warning, I sit up and turn my body in the opposite direction. Now facing his feet, I take him in my mouth and glide my lips over him, my swirling tongue teasing the tip. I use my hand briefly, glancing behind me. His eyes are closed. He is lost in my touch. I lean forward and suck the tip of his length while simultaneously running my hand up and down. My other hand reaches under his balls, my gentle strokes causing him to release a guttural groan and remind me how much he loves to be touched there. I taste his pre-come as it spills on my tongue, so I’m getting all the right signals.
“Hannah… Jesus…”
I love how he reacts, as if absolutely nobody else exists but us. With rapid motion, I explore his length with my tongue; speeding up my movements while his hand smooths over the warmth of my skin.
“Fuck.... Han… I need to be inside you…”
