by Juniper Hart
She typed her reply. It’s okay. See you in a few minutes.
She leaned back against the plush gray couch, looking down at her outfit. Daisy had decided on a blush pink, short-sleeved dress that fell mid-thigh. The matching ballet slipper flats put the finishing touch on her outfit. Even though she looked nice, she felt underdressed.
Daisy lied to herself to make her feel better, thinking that it was ‘just drinks’ when it was far from it. It was hard for her to wrap her head around Nyle feeling the same connection she felt. The feeling was almost chemical, or dare she say spiritual. It was indescribable and ludicrous all at once. How could there be such a connection when she knew very little about him? But that’s what the date was all about; getting to know each other, trying to make sense of the insane attraction.
Lost in her thoughts, Daisy was pulled back to the present moment when the doors to the lobby opened. Already, she could sense it was him, the same sort of electricity hung in the air between her and man walking towards her. Nyle sauntered over with a smile on his face, the sensation of his presence getting stronger and stronger with every step.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting. Dinner ran a little late,” he apologized as he fished his keys from his pocket.
“It’s all right. Did your meeting go well, at least?” she asked sweetly.
He shrugged as he walked Daisy to the elevator and used his fob to open the elevator. “It went about as well as I anticipated it to go.”
After arriving on the penthouse level, they walked down the hallway. Nyle unlocked the door and gestured for her to step inside. With a shy smile, she walked into his home. She wasn’t sure why it impressed her so much since she knew the empire his family owned, but she was once again in awe. It was a two-story apartment, with a metal staircase off to the side of the room. The hallway from the second story overlooked the main floor. The furniture was modern and minimalist, everything in shades of gray and cream, and the entire left wall of the room was glass, giving a pristine and breathtaking view of the bustling urban jungle surrounding them. Sliding glass doors led to a terrace, complete with a private pool and lounge chairs.
“You have a beautiful home,” Daisy said as her eyes still scanned the expanse of his apartment.
“Thank you. It’s actually my home away from home,” he told her, closing the door behind him before moving across the living area.
“You don’t live here full-time?” Daisy blinked, unable to believe that he would live anywhere else.
“Well, I’ve stayed here quite a bit lately, but my primary home is the family estate outside the city.” Nyle then disappeared for a moment before returning with a bottle of red wine and two stemless wine glasses. “Come have a seat,” he called to her, sitting on a couch facing the glass wall.
Daisy paced over, sitting next to him as he poured them each a glass.
Handing her one, Nyle held his in the air, “Cheers.”
Daisy let out a nervous laugh before clinking her glass to his. “Cheers.”
They both took sips of the wine. Daisy was amazed by the taste. It was sweet and smooth, and she couldn’t even taste a hint of alcohol. Delicious cherries, sugary plums, and hints of citrus tantalized her taste buds. She took another sip before resting the cool glass against her lap, her gaze landing on Nyle, butterflies returning to her stomach.
“Tell me a little about yourself,” he said.
She swirled her wine around, watching the burgundy legs trail down the glass.
“What do you want to know?” she asked meekly, unsure of where to begin.
“Everything.”
That’s so helpful, she thought sarcastically. “Uh, well… I’m twenty-two. I live on my own. My two best friends are my mom and my Aunt Chanel. She’s the one who got me the job at Winslow Events. And… uh… I don’t know. I live kind of a boring life,” Daisy said nervously, looking back up to him.
His gaze was intense, but not uncomfortable. She had the urge to look away, but at the same time, she didn’t want his eyes off her.
“I don’t believe that for a moment,” Nyle said, shaking his head. “Your boredom comes from modesty, which is beautiful. Not many can claim that trait.” His arm stretched across the back of the couch.
“I don’t know about that… but, what about you? Tell me about yourself,” Daisy challenged him, wanting to show him how difficult it was to respond to such a vague question.
His eyes widened with fright, smile dropping into a straight line and his body tensing slightly. “Touché,” he grumbled. “Well, I’m twenty-five. My parents are Thalydias and Asalei Flamme. I’ve lived in this city my entire life, and my family has been here for generations. I have three younger sisters, all of which hate me and love me about the same amount. I went to a private college in New York and got a bachelor’s degree in war studies, which is useless at a company like my family’s,” he let out a chuckle and gave a shrug. “I don’t work that much, though. So, it’s all right.”
“War studies?” Daisy repeated, her brow furrowed a bit. “That’s an interesting field of study.”
Nyle looked at her from the corner of his eye as he took a sip of wine. Lowering his glass, he cleared his throat, “The subject has always fascinated me. I knew it would be useless, but I have always planned to work for my family’s business, no matter what I studied. I couldn’t bear the thought of dragging myself through four years of business school. I would rather study something that kept my attention.” He let out a sigh, swirling his glass before taking another sip. “What about you? Did you go to school?”
Daisy shrugged. “I tried it. I went to a state school for about two years, but I had a hard time deciding what to study.”
“Didn’t find anything that interested you?” he questioned.
“Just the opposite. I found everything too interesting. One day I wanted to be a psychologist, the next a historian or an author, or even an architect. I couldn’t choose just one. Honestly, I could have gone to school forever, as stupid as that sounds, but, of course, I couldn’t afford to do that. So, I dropped out until I figured out what I really wanted to do. That’s when my aunt put in a good word for me with her boss at Winslow Events. Just been doing this ever since.”
Nyle gave a warm smile, which confused her given what she had just said.
“You have a beautiful soul, don’t you?” he questioned, his tone amused and sultry all at once. “I think it’s wonderful that you found passion in everything, not willing to devote your life to just one. I only hope that one day you get to study the things you want to, rather than having to work at a job just to make a living.”
“It’s not so bad. Working at that job lets me earn money to buy the books I want to study. Though, I definitely agree that I’m not passionate about event planning.”
“So, you’re a bookworm,” he grinned. “Excellent. Now I know how to win you over.” Nyle wiggled his brow at her, making her giggle like a schoolgirl. “Any particular areas of interest right now?”
“Space,” she admitted, a gleam in her eye. “I’ve been on the kick since NASA announced the discovery of those seven Earth-sized planets in the Trappist-1 system. It blows my mind that they can tell the gas compositions of planets with telescopes. And all of it has led me to read about some crazy things out there. Quasars, hot Jupiters, tidally locked planets… Some of it is beyond my comprehension, but it’s still fascinating to read about and imagine what else is out there.”
A mischievous smile flashed onto Nyle’s face before the look quickly disappeared. “I’ve never met someone like you. You’re so peculiar… I love it.”
Daisy didn’t know what to say, but she mustered up a simple response. “Well, thank you…”
“Don’t mention it,” Nyle replied as he scooted a little closer to her, letting his arm fall about her shoulders. “This doesn’t make you uncomfortable, does it?”
She shook her head. “Not at all.”
Daisy drank a few calming gulps of the wine bef
ore leaning forward and setting the glass on the coffee table. When she sat back, his fingers brushed against the skin of her bicep. The same static feeling rushed through her limbs at his touch as her heart pounded in her chest. How was it possible for someone to make her feel that way? To cause such a physical reaction in her body? They locked eyes, and Daisy noticed their faces were much closer than before.
“Did you feel that?” she asked in a whisper, meaning the static.
Nyle nodded.
“What… what do you think is going on between us?” she asked.
He was hesitant to reply, and his eyes continuously fell to her lips before looking back into her eyes. “I think something that may be a little hard to understand, but undeniable. The fact that you feel it too…feels magical.”
Daisy noticed her eyes going to his lips as well as she nodded in response. The tension in the air left her winded, unable to process her emotions. There was no real way to describe what was happening to her; it felt supernatural. Daisy had always laughed at the notion of love at first sight or instantaneous love. And while she wasn’t sure what she was feeling was love, it was a strong and unequivocal emotion. Her heart was trying to tell her not to question it, but her mind tried to reason with her. However, when she looked into those honey-gold eyes, it was impossible for her heart not to win.
5
When Daisy’s eyes fell back down to his lips, he couldn’t hold himself back anymore. Setting his glass down, Nyle lifted her chin and locked eyes with her. Then, he leaned in slowly and brushed his lips against hers. Daisy let out a soft breath, her hand rested on his forearm that was raised toward her face. Cupping her cheek, he pressed his lips deeply into hers. Her lips were soft and plush, tasting like wine and strawberry lip balm. Their lips moved in a perfect, slow unison motion. He wanted to cherish every sensation and every moment of the kiss. When he finally began to peel away, reluctantly, he swore it felt like his lips were tingling. They met each other’s lusty gazes and shared shy smiles before they both leaned into one another.
Nyle wasn’t a virgin, but when he kissed her, it was like kissing for the first time. It was so different than it had been with the casual girlfriends and one-night stands he had over the years. Those had been mechanical in comparison, using skill to get to the next physical levels. With Daisy, it was passionate and intimate, sweet and heated. He never wanted to stop kissing her. Her hand found his chest as Nyle became aware of his pounding heart. Pulling her closer by the small of her back, he parted his lips and opened her mouth with his tongue. A fire erupted in him, instincts kicking into overdrive as his tongue grazed against the soft flesh of hers. Every touch drove him absolutely wild.
He wasn’t alone in that feeling, it appeared. As one of his hands drifted up her back and into her hair, Daisy pressed herself into him and climbed onto his lap. Such a bold move for a timid woman, proving to him just how much their connection was impacting her. Nyle was relieved she felt it too, unsure of how long he could have held himself back. Her sweet tongue caressed his in long, careful strokes, making a groan sound from deep within his throat. Daisy’s arms draped around his neck, keeping her frame held against him. Her soft body felt like paradise, like the way his teenage mind had daydreamed his love would feel. Daisy truly was more wonderful than he had ever hoped for in a mate, no matter the complications of her being human.
Tearing his mouth away from hers, he began to kiss along her jaw before starting down her neck. Soft sounds escaped her, while her breathing labored from her arousal. Letting out a growl into the skin of her neck, he carefully pushed her down onto the couch, hovering over her. She nuzzled her cheek to the top of his head, trying to get his attention away from her neck. When Nyle looked up to her, she stole his lips in a heated kiss. His hand hooked behind her knee, bringing it up to his waist before letting his fingertips glide up her thigh. Every touch felt like electricity, his body begging for it as though he were Frankenstein’s monster. Her hands slid over the shoulders of his jacket and pushed the coat from his body. Then her slender fingers found the top button of his shirt. He panicked. His markings…
Nyle calmed himself, hoping she would perceive them as tattoos even with the color being so close to his skin color. Pulling back from the kiss, he watched her face closely as she unbuttoned his shirt. Her stormy eyes filled with desire and bewilderment. He couldn’t even imagine what this was like for her, with her not knowing they were literally soulmates.
As the fabric parted, Daisy’s eyes fell to his chest, and her eyes widened at the sight of the intricate swirl pattern dominating his skin from his shoulders, all the way down his body. The only places that the markings didn’t cover were his face, neck, hands, and feet. She studied the details as she continued to unbutton his shirt, then pushed the fabric from his shoulders. Nyle dropped the shirt to the floor and looked back to her. Daisy placed a fingertip to his skin, tracing some of the markings.
“What are these?” she asked curiously.
“Tattoos. Strange choice, I know,” he said as he looked away. He wasn’t ready to explain the marks on his body he’d had since birth.
Daisy shook her head, eyes glued to Nyle’s skin. “It suits you. Now that I see them… I couldn’t picture you without them.”
Nyle grinned at her response. Every time he began to think she couldn’t be any more perfect, she did something to surprise him, such as giving an answer like that. Leaning his head down, he kissed her deeply, letting his hand push up the hem of her dress. Her hips instinctively moved into him, making him groan. She was killing his patience. Nyle’s hand slipped between her legs, his fingertips gingerly brushing across the fabric of her lacy thong. The delicate fabric was already damp from her arousal. His lips parted, taking in deep inhales as he inched underneath the fabric. His erection throbbed at the feel of her soft, heated flesh.
He rubbed her gently, paying close attention to the pressure of his touch. Nyle was so much stronger than her, he wanted to be sure to gauge his strength properly.
Her hot cheek pressed to his, hiding her face out of shyness as her hands reached down to unfasten his belt. Gradually, Nyle pushed his middle finger into her sex. A moan sounded from her like music to his ears as he moved his hand in a steady rhythm. Nyle yearned to hear more from her. He wanted to please her like no man had before, to feel every inch of her skin while listening to her respond with symphony of pleasure-filled sighs.
She pulled his belt off in one motion, tossing it on the floor next to the couch. After Daisy unbuttoned his pants, she pulled down the zipper painfully slow, causing his erection to press harder against the restricting material. Nyle’s breath came out ragged at the faint touch.
His hand went behind her and found the zipper to her dress. Daisy arched her back as he worked all the way down her back. He helped her shimmy the dress down around her ankles, taking her shoes off as well. When he moved to lay back over her, he took a moment to appreciate her form. Her body was perfect, as was each little dimple and line on her skin.
The two were lost in a heated kiss and letting their hands explore one another’s bodies. They finished undressing each other, pulling his slacks and boxers off, along with her bra and panties. Nyle was addicted to the feel of her skin and all the sparks and tingles that erupted when he touched her. Everything about Daisy felt right. His hand couldn’t leave her smooth legs, massaging and groping them as the other propped him up so that his entire weight wasn’t on her.
His eyes opened to look down into hers, wanting to be sure she was okay with everything, knowing they had just met and she could have changed her mind. But she hadn’t; a smile on her sweet face let Nyle know she wanted to keep going.
He pulled her legs to wrap around his torso, lowering his hips to hers. Grasping the hilt of his member, he pushed the tip into her lower lips. A gasp escaped her, Nyle’s eyes raced back to study her face. They held eye contact as he pushed his member all the way into her, losing his own breath at the sensation. So much energy hung in
the air around them, it was hard for Nyle to even think. None of it felt real, more like a fantasy or dream.
Their bodies felt alive as his hips dipped into hers repeatedly in passionate and deliberate motions. Her fingers combed through the hair on the back of his head, finally breaking the eye contact and kissing him passionately. Daisy’s hips flicked up into his as he pushed into her, his hands holding to her hipbones. She moaned into his lips, her legs tightening around him and her nails digging into his skin. Nyle pushed her thighs down toward the couch, angling her pelvis so that he had better access. With each thrust, his member hit deeper within her.
“Nyle,” she gasped.
“Daisy,” he growled, quickening his thrusts.
She rocked her hips into his, her swollen sex hugging his member deliciously. Nyle was overwhelmed by the conflicting emotions of wanting to fuck her brains out and make sweet love to her. His own carnal instincts scared him, afraid he would get too lost in it and end up hurting her. Acting quickly, he sat up and pulled her with him, positioning her on his lap. Her eyes popped open as she came face-to-face with Nyle.
He traced a finger over the delicate features of her face, outlining her bottom lip before pressing a tender kiss to them. His hands returned to her hips as Nyle helped her move up and down, wanting her to be comfortable while in control. Her breathing was uneven as she started to move her hips on her own, sliding up and down his erection. His toes curled as moans slipped past his lips.
Hungry hands inched their way to her bottom, groping her perky buttocks as he used it to push her pelvis into him in a faster motion. Her arms tightened around his neck, fingers grasping to his short locks of snowy hair. Then her walls grew tighter around him, both of their chests heaving. Her ample breasts bounced with each motion as her erect nipples grazed against his bare chest, causing his skin to tingle. As her hips continued to swivel and bounce on his member, he showered her neck and shoulder in wet kisses, his nails digging into her bottom. He felt her grow close to climaxing with her sex slick and swollen.