Page 38 of Ghost Note

“I’m crying because you’re back, and I know this week is going to be exhausting because apparently you can’t leave the past where it belongs,” I said honestly, too tired for more games. “I’m crying because I’m already worn out. I’m sad for Florence that you only came back once she’d gone. I’m sad for—”

“Don’t say it…” His jaw tensed.

“I’m sad for your parents, Danny.”

The words floated around, the air feeling as though it was becoming thinner because those words had been set free.

“I’m sad that Tim and Amie didn’t get what they deserved from you when they died.”

“Is that what you think?” he whispered, barely audible.

“I just want you to go away.”

“Is that what youreallywant, Zee?”

“Don’t call me that. You don’t get to call me that anymore.”

Danny dropped down beside me, copying my pose, his arm brushing up against mine. “You didn’t answer the question. Is that what you really want? For me to go away. Or are you crying because it would make sense for you to hate me, but you know you can’t?”

I turned to look at him through blurry eyes. He looked so fucking good, all fresh-faced and put together. Like he’d had no trouble sleeping. And there I was, a ragdoll of emotions, all tattered and torn, not stitched together quite right, as Ben had reminded me. The seams I didn’t dare pull at, Danny was pulling for me. Yet, despite that, all I could think about as I stared into his eyes were the hundreds of memories of the fun and heat we’d created together.

Singing in the car.

Screwing behind the bar of his first ever public performance before he joined the band, when he was solo and brave and delicious and mine.

Making love under the willow tree in Beechfield Park.

His tongue between my legs.

His hands…

His fingers…

His mouth.

Every wall I’d built over the last five years was blown to pieces on that stockroom floor, and I moved before I could stop myself, pushing myself up and over Danny until I was straddling his lap and staring down into his wide, stunned eyes.

“I really fucking hate you,” I whispered, right before I slammed my mouth against his, and I let Danny taste my devastation at his return.

Twelve

His hands froze against my back, his eyes wide as he looked up at me. I could see the question there—the bewilderment, too. ButscrewDanny Silver. He thought he was the only one who made the decisions here—he was wrong. It was my time to decide how to silence my own mind, and his warm lips and familiar kiss seemed like the perfect distraction.

I watched him watching me as I moved my tongue over his, massaging and teasing it the way he always used to love. My arse moved, riding into him… back, forth, back, forth, until I’d built a rhythm that was rubbing heat over his dick. It grew beneath me, the way it always had done. He may have left me behind, but his desire for my body was an old friend, and I knew how to build him up and up and up. My fingers curled around his neck, and I kissed that ex-love of mine like it was both the first and last time I ever would.

A low groan escaped him, and Danny was gone. His eyes slammed shut, his hands digging into my back and pulling me closer to him, his strength so prominent now. But close wasn’t close enough. I wanted to squeeze the last five years out of him and remind him what he’d walked away from, dragging his guitar case behind him like a fool.

“D-Daisy,” he mumbled, bumping against my mouth.

“Shh,” I ordered quickly before nipping down on his bottom lip and dragging it out, letting it go with a flair. “Isn’t this what you want?” I ran a hand through his hair, feeling the stirrings deep in my stomach as I rode his erection. “Me, willing to throw myself at you wheneveryoudecide it’s time?”

I dug my nails into his scalp, watching him before I tugged his head back and leaned in closer, my breaths mingling with his. “Come on, superstar. Play with me.”

“I…”

“What?” I pressed, my face turning colder as I turned him on. “You… what?”

“You’re so different now.”

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