Dangerous to Know & Love

by Jane Harvey-Berrick

  A slow smile spread over Daniel’s face.

  “Fuck, yeah!” he muttered.

  Lisanne swallowed nervously. It was one thing to sound like she was fearless…

  They drove in silence, the car’s lights throwing a yellow beam into the trees that fled past in the forest. Daniel’s hand dropped to her knee, where his fingers drew mindless patterns on her pale skin.

  Finally, she pulled over, and stopped at the side of a lonely, secluded dirt road – one of many that fringed the lake.

  They stared at each other for a long moment. Daniel spoke first.

  “It’s dark, baby. I can’t read you right now. But just… we only ever do what you want to do, okay? You want me to stop, you know how.”

  The sound as she unclipped first her own then his seatbelt was loud in her ears.

  She didn’t think she was the kind of girl who had sex in cars, but since meeting Daniel her views had broadened to the point of shifting seismically.

  And yet, there was no pressure. His touch was gentle and reassuring, not frenzied or demanding. He was letting her lead.

  She brought his hand up to her lips and kissed it.

  “Thank you,” she said, even though she knew he couldn’t hear her. “Thank you for everything.”

  She sucked his fingers into her mouth and bit them gently, making him laugh lightly.

  “Baby doll, are you trying to lead me astray?”

  She crawled across the seat divide and settled herself on his lap. He hummed happily into her neck, then licked her skin slowly.

  “You taste good, baby.”

  She mirrored his actions, breathing in the scent of his hair, his skin, kissing his cheeks, his eyelids, his lips.

  He shifted beneath her and she could feel that he was hard, but he seemed to be content, sprinkling soft kisses across her chest and neck.

  When she made her decision, it took her by surprise. He might be content to just make out, but she wanted to make love to him.

  And she did love him. She loved his quiet strength and his patient softness, his humor and his sincerity, his sudden flares of anger, the passion and intelligence he hid behind his hazel eyes and lazy smirk: she loved him skin to core, and the weight of that feeling grounded her and freed her in ways she didn’t yet understand.

  “I’m going to make love to you, Daniel Colton. I’m going to make love to you here and now because I love everything about you, and I don’t care that you can’t hear me and I don’t care that you’ll never hear me sing or play my violin. I’ll hear for both of us. I want to share it with you – all of it. I want to share myself with you.”

  He didn’t hear her. He couldn’t hear her. And she didn’t care.

  He was still nuzzling her neck and rubbing the tops of her arms against the coolness of the night air, when she reached down and brushed her fingers between his legs, teasing the hardness.

  His hands fell still and she heard him take a deep breath. He waited, wondering what she was going to do next.

  She shifted back on his knees, giving herself more room, and reached down to stroke him again. She felt his stomach tense, but he didn’t try to encourage her or stop her – he simply waited.

  She unbuttoned his pants and pulled the zipper down. His breaths became more uneven and he couldn’t help lifting his hips into her hands.

  She pulled his cock free and ran her fingers over its smooth hardness. Daniel groaned and leaned back against the headrest.

  “Lis…”

  She laid one finger over his lips and continued to stroke him with her other hand. He lifted her off so she was hovering above him, and carefully pushed two fingers inside her, groaning again when he found her wet. With his free hand, he pulled a packet of condoms out of his pocket.

  “I don’t know what you’ve got in mind, baby. Do I need these?”

  She nodded as he looked up at her.

  “Yes,” she breathed.

  He saw her nod, and quickly unwrapped a condom, sliding it on with expert hands.

  She was going to climb off him to remove her panties, but he gripped her hips and shook his head. He pushed the delicate material to one side and lowered her onto him, hissing with pleasure as she sank down.

  Lisanne felt powerful and adventurous and so damn turned on she barely knew what to do with herself. Even in the dark she could see the adoration on his face as he pushed up inside of her.

  They moved together, finding their rhythm in the cramped confines of the car. Even without using his fingers Daniel seemed to know exactly how to move to pull streams of sensation from her. She felt the now familiar trembling inside herself.

  Daniel felt it, too, and he started to move faster, harder, his breaths louder in the still air.

  Lisanne came first, collapsing onto his neck, and Daniel followed soon after, a strangled moan rolling up his throat.

  They sat, joined together, for some minutes before he shifted her away and snapped off the used condom, tying a secure knot around it and shoving it in his pocket. Then he tucked his now limp dick back inside his jeans and pulled the zipper up.

  Lisanne crawled onto her own seat, feeling drained but oddly energized. She felt like she could sleep for a week, or run a marathon.

  She looked across to Daniel. He was leaning back with his eyes open, a faint smile illuminated by the moonlight that crept through the trees.

  He looked over and picked up her hand, kissing each finger one by one.

  “Thank you,” he whispered.

  He laid her hand back in her lap, then touched the locket around her neck and smiled.

  Rolling down the car’s window, he pulled out a smoke.

  Lisanne almost told him that her mom would be mad if he smoked in her car, but decided that one cigarette was pretty low down on her list of sins, particularly considering they’d just fucked on the passenger seat.

  She drove home with the windows open.

  Chapter 17

  As before, Daniel woke up with his girl in his arms.

  He knew he was pushing his luck spending another night with her, but he hadn’t been able to bring himself to let her go.

  It had been some evening, what with dancing so hot and heavy that his balls were aching by the time they’d gone to chill out by the pool. Then that ape with the dirty mouth had insulted his girl. His knuckles stung slightly as he remembered that the fucker had gone down with one punch. Pussy. And then the surprising and unexpected car sex that Lisanne had initiated.

  He could definitely have gone for round two when they’d arrived back, but he’d been happy to settle for just sleeping together.

  Sighing, he glanced at the Mickey Mouse clock and eased himself out of bed. Lisanne was sleeping soundly. She was wearing his gray t-shirt, but he could still see the locket’s chain. He’d had that in his pocket ever since the day after the beach, and he’d been waiting for the right moment to give it to her. He rubbed his chest, surprised by the ache he felt when he thought about it.

  Shaking his head, he pulled on his pants and scooped up his t-shirt, heading for Harry’s room. It was only when he’d closed her door that he remembered he’d left his socks and sneakers with Lisanne.

  To hell with it – he’d get them later.

  He opened the door and slipped inside, only to meet Harry’s curious face.

  “Did you just get back from the party?”

  Daniel smiled. “Yeah, great party.”

  He dropped his jeans again and stretched out on the cot, falling into a light sleep.

  Twenty minutes, later he woke up with a start.

  Monica was standing over him with a cup of coffee in her hand.

  He nearly tipped the cot over as he struggled to sit up.

  “Sorry!” she said, obviously trying not to laugh. “I need all hands on deck this morning, so I thought I’d better wake you boys.”

  Harry was sitting up, scowling at his mom.

  “Mom! It’s only 7 AM!”

  “I know, honey, but we
’ve got a lot to do.” She passed Daniel the coffee. “Three sugars,” she said with a wink.”

  “Thanks,” he mumbled.

  “Breakfast in 10 minutes,” she said, too cheerfully. “If you’re not there, you’ll have to wait until lunchtime. Happy Thanksgiving!”

  Harry lay back, bur Daniel was wide awake. Jeez, that had been close. Thank fuck he’d woken up when he had. If Monica had found him with Lisanne, Thanksgiving would have more closely resembled the Valentine’s Day Massacre.

  At least Monica could report back to Ernie that all bodies were present and correct.

  He drank down the coffee and wandered off to the shower, absentmindedly jerking off. As he’d told Harry, it was part of the routine.

  He decided against shaving: twice in two days was bordering on fanatical. He ambled back to the room, where Harry was still apparently unconscious. He rooted through his bag, but no t-shirt had miraculously leapt out, washed itself, and scurried back in, neatly folded. He swore to himself softly and decided to see if yesterday’s t-shirt would pass the sniff test.

  “Problem, Daniel?”

  Ernie realized too late that he was speaking to Daniel’s back.

  He tapped him on the shoulder, and the younger man jumped.

  “Fuck!” he said loudly, waking Harry with a start.

  “Sorry,” said Ernie, looking slightly sheepish. “Just wondering if everything’s okay in here. Have you lost something?”

  “Yeah,” said Daniel, irritated that Lisanne’s father had been creeping around like some weirdo stalker and scared the shit out of him. “Baby d… Lis stole my t-shirt to sleep in. I was just checking out the alternatives.”

  He shrugged. He didn’t care whether or not Ernie knew that Lisanne wore his clothes.

  “Oh, I see. Right, well… fine. Breakfast is ready. Harry – up, now.”

  Harry finally hauled his skinny ass out of bed, and Daniel sat back to check his phone messages.

  There was one from Zef.

  * How’s life in Hicksville, you sad fucker?

  Happy Thanksgiving. *

  And three from Cori.

  * Where are you? Answer your damn messages *

  He hadn’t felt the need to contact her, especially since she told him he was selling out by dating Lisanne.

  * Zef says you out of town but won’t say where.

  Are you ok? *

  And most recently:

  * text me, asshole! *

  He tapped out a short reply:

  * I’m fine. Happy TG *

  And pressed ‘send’ before he regretted acting like a pussy.

  Monica interrupted him by tossing a shirt onto his bed.

  “Here, wear this today – you don’t want to frighten my mother. And tell my daughter to do some darn laundry.”

  She disappeared before he could say anything.

  The shirt was soft, brushed cotton, very white. It smelled of clean linen and for a moment Daniel was taken back two years, to a time when his parents were still alive. His mother yelling at him to put his clothes in the hamper… the way she used to stand in the kitchen while she was ironing… the way she’d sing when she was happy.

  He pulled on the shirt with mixed feelings. And it was obviously too big to be Harry’s.

  Daniel shrugged. Clothes were clothes.

  He headed downstairs and made his way to the kitchen. Alluring aromas were already drifting through the house and his stomach rumbled appreciatively.

  “Oh my,” said Monica, “you do look handsome. Pancakes okay for you?”

  “Um, yeah, thanks,” said Daniel, his cheeks tinged with a faint pink.

  Monica glanced over her shoulder and smiled. He really was a very good looking boy. Ernie’s button down shirt suited him. Pity about that ridiculous ring in his eyebrow. Thank goodness his other piercings were covered up – however many of them he had.

  Daniel focused on eating the pancakes Monica placed in front of him, and wondered what the day would bring.

  Lisanne had said her family made a big deal out of Thanksgiving, so he was apprehensive about how he’d fit in – meeting new people like that was something he generally avoided.

  He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He guessed it was from Cori so he didn’t bother to look at it.

  He was relieved when Lisanne wandered into the room, looking soft and sleepy, despite having showered. She looked cute in her pale yellow sweater and sensible skirt. He smiled to see that she was wearing the locket.

  “Hey, baby doll,” he grinned at her. “Sleep well?”

  “Uh-huh. Nice shirt!”

  “Thanks. Your mom took pity on me – after you stole my t-shirt.”

  “Oh! I didn’t think you’d mind.”

  “I don’t,” he said quietly. “It fucking turns me on to think of you wearing it.”

  Lisanne smiled happily, glancing at her mom, who was beating more pancake mix with unnecessary violence.

  “Good!” and she leaned down to kiss him.

  He circled his hands around her waist and returned her kiss enthusiastically.

  “Did you finish your breakfast?” she said, fingering the collar of his shirt.

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Dad says could you help him in the living room? He’s shifting the table around to make more room – he could use a hand.”

  “Sure,” he said helpfully, and kissed her hair before heading for the living room.

  Soon, the sound of heavy furniture being moved reached the kitchen. Lisanne heard a thud and Daniel cursed loudly. She held back a giggle as her mom’s eyebrows shot up.

  “Goodness!” Monica said. “That was colorful.”

  Lisanne sighed. “I know. He’s trying to keep it down.”

  “Hmm, well. I hope he tries harder in front of the rest of the family!”

  “Don’t bet on it,” Lisanne muttered to herself, as she stood at the sink and started preparing vegetables.

  After a while she ran out of potatoes to peel.

  “What’s next, mom?”

  “Could you start taking the picnic chairs through and then you can set the table? Thanks, honey.”

  Lisanne carried in four of the folded up picnic chairs, while Daniel and her father fought with a trestle table. Then she returned to the kitchen for the next four.

  Daniel’s eyes widened slightly and Lisanne could see that he was counting the number of seats. A look of panic crossed his face.

  “Lis?” he said. “How many people are coming today?”

  “There’ll be 15 of us around the table, and the kids can go outside on the patio,” Ernie answered for her.

  Lisanne saw the blood draining from Daniel’s face.

  “I gotta…I can’t… I gotta go…”

  He was nearly at the front door when Lisanne caught up with him.

  She grabbed his arm and pulled him to face her.

  “I can’t,” he gasped, rubbing his hands over his face. “It’s too many people. I can’t do it, Lis. Fuck, I can’t do it.”

  “Ssh,” she said, stroking his cheek, and trying to quell her own panic at his obvious distress.

  “I’ve gotta go. I’ve gotta get out of here. I’m sorry, Lis. I can’t. I can’t.”

  “Just… just come and sit down for a minute. Come on. Come with me.”

  She tugged his arm and for a moment she thought he’d refuse and make a run for it, but with dragging steps he followed her upstairs.

  Even though her father had expressly forbidden her from having Daniel alone in her room, she drew him inside.

  He paced the small area, grabbing fistfuls of his hair and breathing heavily.

  “Daniel, it’ll be fine,” Lisanne said, trying to sound confident.

  In truth, his growing panic was infecting her so badly, her bones rattled.

  “It won’t be fine!” he gasped. “It’ll be a fucking nightmare. I can’t, Lis. Please, just let me go.”

  The desperation in his voice made her heart stutter.r />
  “Daniel, just… just sit with me. Come here… come and sit down.”

  Gently, she led him toward her bed and forced him to sit. He bent forward and rested his forearms on his knees, his breathing too fast.

  Lisanne sat next to him and rubbed his back, trying to let her touch calm him. She didn’t know what to say that would help him. She felt wretched. She should have realized how hard this would be. So selfish. The words throbbed through her, but they didn’t make one cent’s worth of difference.

  There was a knock at the door, followed immediately by Ernie’s entrance.

  “Fucking great,” muttered Daniel, knowing that the newest diktat decreed he wasn’t supposed to be alone in his girlfriend’s room.

  He stood up and wiped his hands over his eyes.

  Lisanne was devastated to see his fingers were wet with tears.

  “Lisanne,” said Ernie, “if you could wait downstairs, I’d like to have a word with Daniel.”

  “But, dad…”

  “Now, please, Lisanne.”

  There was no arguing with her father when he had that tone in his voice.

  As she closed the door, Daniel seemed so miserable, her heart ached.

  Daniel stared at Lisanne’s father, fully expecting to be kicked out and told not to come back.

  “Sit, please, Daniel,” Ernie said.

  “We weren’t doing anything,” said Daniel angrily.

  “I know. Please, just sit for a moment and hear what I have to say.”

  It had been two years since Daniel had had to endure a parental lecture – and this man was not his father. He felt angry and resentful as he sat on the edge of Lisanne’s bed.

  “Why are you here, Daniel?”

  “We were just talking. That’s all!”

  “No, I mean, why did you agree to come home with Lisanne for Thanksgiving?”

  Okay, so not the opening he’d expected.

  Daniel shrugged. “She invited me.”

  “Is that the only reason?”

  “Why do you care?” Daniel said rudely, already anxious, and irritated further by the interrogation.

  “I care because she’s my daughter,” said Ernie evenly.