Page 33 of Safe
Deep down, I knew the truth of how this was going to go.
The simple fact was that as soon as this was over, life went back to normal. She’d move on with her life, as would I. And I wasn’t ready to let go of Riley. How could I be so torn between the memory of my first love and the near stranger next to me? It should be a simple choice. She was my best friend’s sister, she’s been through extreme trauma, and she barely knew me. And yet, maybe it was time for me to let go of Riley. No matter how much I wanted it, she was never coming back, and I couldn’t spend my entire life alone.
It should be neither of them, Cody.
Before resigning myself to falling asleep, I took all my feelings for Riley and whatever was happening to me over Danielle and locked them away.
The morning sun hit my eyes through the blinds, accompanied by the sound of birds just outside. I squinted at the bedside clock. 10 AM already. Rolling over to check on Danielle, I found empty space, still warm. Then I heard it—the shower running behind the bathroom door.
My heart jumped into my throat. Had she really managed to get in there by herself without me knowing?
Despite her remarkable progress with walking, the thought of her navigating the slippery bathroom alone sent a spike of anxiety through me. I threw back the covers and crossed the room to the bathroom door, torn between respecting her privacy and ensuring her safety.
I tapped my knuckles against the door, careful not to push it open any farther.
“Danielle, do you need help?”
“Yes, please,” she replied.
I pushed the door open, and familiar clouds of steam billowed out around me. I already disliked these scorching showers of hers. This time, when I entered the room, things were different. Instead of finding her turned away, waiting for assistance as usual, Danielle stood facing me, the towel clutched around her body.
The air between us felt heavy with unspoken words. I stepped into the bathroom, expecting her to turn as she did before, ready for me to carry her. But she remained still, her eyes meeting mine with a look, both uncertain and determined, that rooted me to the spot. The whirring of the exhaust fan was the only sound breaking the loaded silence. Something had shifted, and we both knew it. Her eyes fixated on mine, challenging, questioning, waiting.
I drifted toward her, drawn in by something unspoken, until we were face to face, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from her steam-flushed skin, close enough to hear each shaky breath she drew. Still, she fixated on my eyes. The steam made the moment feel surreal, suspended in time. Her eyes never left mine, searching, as if asking questions I wasn't sure I could answer. There was nervousness in her expression, but something else too—a certainty, a decision made.
Before I could find words to break the tension between us, she let the towel fall. It pooled at her feet, and despite her absolutely perfect tits being inches away from me, I couldn't look away from her eyes. They held my focus with an intensity that seemed to reach my soul, daring me to trust this moment. The world beyond this bathroom ceased to exist; there was only this moment, this breath, and this connection neither of us had expected to find.
“Danielle, what—”
She cut me off.
“Don’t say anything. I don’t want a chance to change my mind about trusting you.”
I reached down while still looking deep into her eyes, and laced my fingers with hers, guiding her arms upward until they stretched above her head. Neither of us spoke, but I could feel her trembling.
As much as I tried, I couldn’t resist Danielle. She resonated with something deep inside me and found a connection I couldn't explain. Despite the brevity of our acquaintance, it felt like we'd shared lifetimes.
My fingers followed the curve of her arms, gliding down in measured strokes like they needed to map every inch. The second they let go, she reached for me, but I caught her wrists midair, pinning them back over her head with one hand, pressing them hard against the tile.
“Don’t move them.”
Her lips looked so inviting, drawing me closer until I could feel her breath on my skin. Our noses touched, like neither of us was ready to close the distance but couldn’t pull away either.
She remained silent as I leaned in, hesitating just enough to seek permission before my lips met hers. The kiss unleashed a feeling I didn’t want to come out. Every confused emotion, every inexplicable feeling I'd had around her suddenly made perfect sense. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced, and it was terrifying. It was as if my heart belonged to her, but my thoughts screamed warnings I was trying hard to ignore. Her hands slid down my chest, leaving goosebumps in their path, until they reached my waistband, tugging downward as my lips left hers in search of her neck.
The need to be closer to her was overwhelming. My hands traced every curve of her body from her breasts down to her hips. With a steady grip, I raised her legs and felt them wrap around me. The wall caught her weight as I leaned in, holding her there. The taste of her was intoxicating, and I lost myself in the perfection of her imperfect body.
My hand explored her body, making its way up to her chest, and eventually her throat, wrapping around it with the slightest pressure. Danielle’s breath shuddered, and I stepped back fast, as if distance could undo what I had just done.
“I’m sorry. I should have known better. I just… I can’t do this. I’m sorry.”
Danielle looked embarrassed, apologetic even.
She didn’t say another word as I helped her into the shower, then returned to the living room, trying to wrap my mind around what had just transpired. The reality of the situation that began to settle over me was oppressive andfrustrating, revealing the sinking ship I was destined to commit myself to.
After everything she’d been through, the last thing I should be doing is making her feel like I had some kind of control over her—no matter how free of malice my intentions were.
But that’s exactly what it felt like I’d done.
