Something passes through his eyes. A flicker of disappointment, maybe? “You got it, little lady. Go put a pair of my sweats on, and I’ll grab a shirt and my keys.”
Nodding, I walk through the hallway, my bare feet rushing down the warm hardwood floor. I don’t need to grab a pair of his sweatpants because I have clothes already here in his closet and folded in his drawers. I never told him this and I never will because he already knows, but I’ve slept in his bed for the past four years. Danny gave me the key to his cozy one-story, four-bedroom brick house when I turned sixteen, and I’ve had it since. But I started to use it when he left.
Pulling up a pair of jeans and slipping into worn leather boots, I vaguely wonder where my silver dress went. Danny probably threw it in the trash. It’s fine by me. I’m more of a casual jean-T-shirt-and-boots kind of girl. I only wore the dress because January bought it especially for me, and she would be upset if I didn’t at least wear it once. I will never upset my sisters. I love them way too much.
“You ready?” Danny asks.
I risk a glance at him just as he pulls a black shirt over his powerfully-ripped chest. My temperature rises. The muscles this man has are out of control. He looks up at me, and my heart trips over itself. Shit. I’ve been caught gawking.
He stares at me through his lashes, smiling slowly. “You see something you like?”
“I’m sure you’re aware you have a nice body, Danny. No need to be smug about it.”
“My body is your body,” he says with a low purr to his voice that affects me like a physical touch. “You can do more than look at it, December.” He takes a few tentative steps toward me as if not to frighten me. He doesn’t have to worry about me running anywhere. His darkened eyes keep me captive, and I can’t seem to move. “I am yours. You can touch my body. Like this.” He grabs my hand, guiding me to his hard-as-steel erection. He presses my palm over the impressive bulge in his sweats, and I gasp like the inexperienced dweeb I am.
His eyes become hooded, his lashes fluttering. His gaze lands on my mouth. “You can touch me, December. Now touch me.”
On a curious impulse, I squeeze him hard enough that a dusky blush floods his cheeks and his supple lips part. And I don’t stop until I become familiar with his length. Danny really is a big guy. My hand travels south, and I come in contact with his balls, giving them an experimental squeeze.
His body sharply jerks, and he grunts. “Fuck.” He swiftly pulls away and goes to grab another pair of pants from his drawer. “You almost brought me to my knees with your hand alone. You have curious fingers. To not have any experience, you know exactly what you’re doing. You made me come in my sweats. I would be embarrassed, but I’m not. Haven’t been touched in years.”
Concealing my shudder, I shake it off because a woman can experience a real power trip from Danny’s confession. “I’ll wait for you outside,” I mumble in a hurry, walking away and tugging my jacket on. I made him come in his pants? I have no idea what to say to that. When I’m outside, I breathe in the frosty air and lean against the passenger door of Danny’s glossy black Yukon. Kicking a hunk of powder-white snow into the air, I shut my eyes and tilt my face toward the overcast sky.
What the hell am I going to do with Danny Oliver?
I hear him shuffle through the thick snow a second later. He unlocks the doors, and we climb into his chilly SUV. I take in a huge lungful of his intoxicating fragrance that’s smothered all over his vehicle. He revs the engine, blasting the heat. The warm air shooting out of the vents warms my cold cheeks, the heated leather seats pleasantly warming my backside. He stares out the snow-covered windshield as the wipers move back and forth. “Strap up.”
Reaching over, I grab the seatbelt and buckle up. Once the click registers, we’re off on the main road back to town. I fixate on the snowy wonderland outside the windows and the pine trees sprinkled with what looks like white down.
The ride to my mother’s house is silent for the most part. I don’t know where Danny’s head is at, but I know where mine is. There is no way I want to be sucked into the Danny vortex again. I’ve spent so much of my life trailing behind him like the lovesick puppy I was. Not anymore. Nope. That chapter of my life is over with. I am a grown woman now, and I refuse to have my world revolve around a man.
He puts the SUV in gear while he parks in front of my mom’s house, and turns to face me. The severe determination in his expression takes my breath away. “You’re pissed. I get it, December. Just know I’ll do what I have to do to make it up to you, to make you mine. Whatever I have to prove, I’ll do it.”
“You don’t know me anymore, Danny.”
He leans toward me, his eyelids lowered. “Well, I can’t wait to get familiar.”
I scuttle back against the window, my erratic heart beating in my throat. “Friends. That’s all I want. We can be friends.”
“I want more. I want dinner with you tonight.”
My eyes dart to the clock on his dashboard. It’s already past noon. “Fine.”
“Good. Now give me a kiss.”
I lean forward as if possessed by his command. He stays perfectly still, letting me come to him. His blazing gaze drops to my mouth. I press my lips to the mole on his chin, and then the compelling urge to mark him as mine takes over. Skimming my lips down the side of his neck, I run my tongue over the bulging veins under his skin and bite him where his neck and shoulders meet. Danny loves to bite. He has a thing for it when he gets aroused. But he’s not the only one who knows how to use his teeth. He gets a little breathless. His body is strung so tightly I’m surprised he hasn’t lost control.
“December.” My name sounds like a warning.
I pull away quickly, swinging the door open and hopping down from his SUV. “See you tonight.”
“I’ll be here at eight. Pack an overnight bag. I want you in my bed after.”
“I have to work tomorrow.”
“Then pack your uniform. I’ll drive you to work in the morning.”
“Fine.”
He gives me a slow smile. “Good.”
Turning my back to him, I release the pent-up breath I’ve kept inside of me since I woke to him giving me an orgasm this morning. I carefully mount the steps of the porch, my thoughts racing through my head. My fingers tremble when I reach into my jacket and pull out my key. What am I getting myself into? I sense his intense eyes burning holes into the back of my skull now.
After unlocking the lock, I give Danny a little wave and shut the door. Breathing heavily, I sag against the wooden door and drop to my butt on the floor.
I think back on what he said.
Just know I’ll do what I have to do to make it up to you, to make you mine. Whatever I have to prove, I’ll do it.
Damn Danny Oliver.
CHAPTER THREE
THE PAST
Danny, age twenty-four
December, age fourteen
I frown at Danny when he pulls up to the curb of my school. He waves me over, but I can’t seem to move. I’m spellbound. The other girls stop and stare as well, especially Jessica. She’s been starting nasty rumors about me. Jessica doesn’t like me, and I have no idea why. I’m not competing for her popularity. She can have that title. I don’t want her boyfriend. I’m not interested in the catty gossip or becoming one of the plastic dolls in her clique. I don’t want anything she has, but maybe that’s the problem.
My attention turns back to Danny. He’s totally picking me up from practice right now. I don’t know how long I stare at him, but it’s long enough for him to laugh and smile at me.
Taking a step forward, I finally begin to make my way to his truck. My belly is full of nerves as I climb into the cab.
“You’re picking me up today?”
“Looks like it.”
I place my tennis bag over my lap, suddenly insecure and self-conscious in my tennis uniform. The white tennis skirt feels way too small now. My body has the appeal of a string bean. Gray tells me so every cha
nce he gets. And I don’t want Danny to notice all the womanly curves I lack in my small tennis skirt. Damn it. I would have packed a change of clothes if I knew he was coming.
Slowing my breathing, I remind myself how glad I am to see him. I haven’t been alone with Danny since I was locked out on Football Night. He makes me nervous when I’m around him. And it doesn’t help that he has this certain type of intense look on his face, like he’s waiting for something to happen every time we’re together.
I sense the heat of his gaze on the side of my face, direct and annoying. I turn to him, wrinkling my nose when I meet his eyes.
“What?” I snap.
“Strap up.”
“Oh,” I mumble, pulling the seatbelt over my chest. I laugh inwardly at my teammates’ shocked faces, especially when Jessica’s mouth falls open. Like I said, she’s been starting rumors about me, ridiculous rumors that aren’t true.
I wave to my fellow classmates, a big grin spread across my face. That’s right, girls.
How’s this for an older guy?
Eat your fucking hearts out.
“Why do you do that?” I ask as we drive away.
“Do what?”
“You’re always staring at me like I’m crazy or like you’re waiting for something to happen, waiting for me to do something. What are you waiting for?”
He’s silent for a long moment. I shift my gaze to him. He’s focused on the street and driving. I don’t think he’s going to answer, but he eventually does. “I am waiting for you to do something, December.”
My heart leaps in my chest, my eyes widening. “What are you waiting for me to do?”
We stop at a red light, and he turns to face me. His butter-toffee-colored eyes are serious. My heart goes into overdrive. “I’m waiting for you to grow up.”
“Why?”
He gives me a small smile like he has a secret he’s not willing to share, and then he shakes his head. “You can ask me that again when you have grown up.”
“But that’ll be years from now.”
“That’s perfect.”
“It’s not perfect.” I groan. “It sucks. That’s forever from now.”
He flashes me another smile, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. “Why are you in such a rush?”
“I don’t know. A lack of patience, maybe? You make it seem like I get a prize when I come into adulthood.”
His brown eyes gleam with something dark and foreign to me. It makes me a little lightheaded. “Maybe we both get prizes when you come into adulthood. Do you like cupcakes?”
“Umm . . . yeah.”
“Good. I know this nice little shop uptown. You’ll love it.”
Danny takes me to a really girly bakery called Sprinkles and Beyond. Everything is pink and glittery. The wallpaper is infested with bows and flowers. It’s like Hello Kitty farted on every square inch of this place. It’s pretty to look at, though. The baked treats on display are an even better sight.
“Well, hello.” A pretty woman dressed in a pink and white retro dress greets us from behind the granite counter. She has skin the color of golden wheat and long blonde hair tied into a ponytail, curling over her shoulder. She also has the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. They’re so bright and vivid, almost popping out of her head.
“Hey,” I say quietly.
She smiles at me and then at Danny. “Who’s this beautiful girl?”
“This is December.” He grins down at me. “She’s my neighbor. I picked her up from practice today.”
“That’s sweet,” the woman coos, nodding and smiling. Then she extends her arm toward me, and we shake hands over the counter. “I’m Piper. Do you see anything you like?”
“I don’t know.” I glance at the rows upon rows of sweet cupcakes swirled with frosting, dusted with sprinkles, and topped with candy. “I can’t choose. They all look really good.”
She laughs softly and agrees. “We get that a lot. How about a sample tray?”
I nod. “Sounds good.” She picks up several mini cupcakes of all varieties and places them in neat rows on a small silver and pink tray. She hands me the tray. I take it and look up at Danny.
“Do me a favor and pick somewhere for us to sit,” he says.
“Okay.” It’s clear he wants to be alone with gorgeous Piper. It’s cool. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be alone with her for any amount of time she can spare?
Whatever.
I pick a table in the back, sliding into the comfy bubblegum-pink booth alone. I stare down at the tray, and a vanilla cupcake with cream cheese frosting and confetti sprinkles calls to me first. I bite into a little slice of heaven and groan.
This cupcake is amazing.
I chew slowly and fast all at the same time. I want to savor each individual flavor, from the vanilla to the cream cheese, but in the end, I devour it. I’m about to bite into a triple chocolate creation when a boy sits in front of me. This boy is just as beautiful as the woman behind the counter. He also has the exact same features—the honey-wheat-colored skin, the golden-blond hair that hangs to his shoulders in soft, loose waves, and those eye-popping crystal-blue irises. Piper must be his sister. His gaze isn’t warm like his sister’s. His gaze is icy and cold. The blue in his eyes is more like glacial ice.
I smile at him. “Hey.”
He doesn’t smile at me at all. He has this look on his face. It’s the same look I have when I come across a lonely ant crawling on the sidewalk, deciding if I want to squash it or not. It’s a look of indifference. I know when he’s come to a decision. The resolve is in his eyes, and I swear I witness his irises freeze over like the lakes do when it’s too cold outside. This boy decides to squash me.
“That’s his wife, you know.”
I feel my face frown. “What?”
“He fucked her last night,” he says, ignoring what I’ve said altogether like I didn’t say anything. “I don’t know what he’s doing with you, and I really don’t care. I just thought you should know.”
I want to scream. I want to puke up that cupcake I just consumed, but I can’t let this boy see how much I hurt, because he wants me in pain too badly. I shrug unconcernedly and take a big bite of the chocolate goodness. “Why are you telling me this? Danny’s just my neighbor.”
He narrows his eyes at me, pursing his pink lips. This boy is clearly unconvinced. “He won’t only be your neighbor for long. Anyone with eyes can see that.” The pretty boy gets up, but I follow him down the hall. He knows I’m following him, and he doesn’t tell me to back off. He leads me into an office in the back of the bakery.
I close the door with evil intentions in my heart. He stares at me for a moment, and then he moves to the large window by the desk. He stares at the empty grass field that is now dusted with snow flurries. I stalk him.
He’s older than me.
He’s bigger than me.
I’m still going to hit him, anyway.
My mom tells me all the time that getting physical isn’t the answer. She tells me it’s never the answer, but it’s the only answer I have when someone hurts me. I like to fight. I like to hit.
My fists ball up tight as I stand to the side of him. He doesn’t look at me. His gaze is fixed on something outside the window. The sun is shining its golden halo on him. This pretty boy could pass as an angel standing here, flooded in the warmth of the sun. That’s not going to keep him from getting hit, though. Even angels need to be punished.
I strike fast, cracking his head against the window with a hard shove of my hand. He groans out in pain like he’s never been hit before. He sounds like a wounded baby animal. I’m really quick when I bring my arms forward, lifting my fists in front of my face. I’m in a fighter stance, ready for war. It helps that Gray and I have been fighting for years. I’m used to beating up guys.
He doesn’t hit me back. He stares at me, his blue eyes watering. He’s going to cry. What a freaking baby.
The unbelievable look he gives me makes me feel bad, but onl
y for a brief moment. “There are consequences for your actions. You can’t go around and say whatever you want to people without any repercussions.”
He places a hand into his thick locks and rubs, his other hand wiping at his wet eyes. “I can’t believe you hit me. That hurts.”
“Let me see.” I roll my eyes. I’m starting to feel bad again. Maybe this boy has never been hit before, or maybe this boy has been hit too many times.
He bends his head toward me. I’m surprised he trusts me as much, being that I just made him cry. I place my fingers into his soft hair and sift through until I feel the large lump growing on his scalp. He tenses when I trace it. I part his hair with my fingertips and look at the red bump.
“It’s not too bad.” I kiss it and gently pat his hair.
He lifts his head and stares at me again. My lips part, and I can barely breathe. This time he looks at me differently. He looks at me like the way I look at Danny, with so much awe and wonder.
“Josh, are you guys all right in here?” Piper asks, bursting through the door.
“Yeah,” he says, never taking his curious eyes off me. “We’re fine.”
“Yeah,” I add, eyeing him carefully. I smile at him, and he smiles back. “We’re friends.”
Danny squeezes into the doorframe with Piper, and he looks at Josh.
Josh’s smile sharpens when it’s aimed at Danny.
Today I have met Josh.
Josh is cold air.
I am warm air.
And together, we will collide.
Together, we will create thunderclouds.
CHAPTER FOUR
THE PRESENT
There’s nothing better than spending time with your family on lazy Sunday afternoons. Flopping down on the cushion next to July with a big plastic bowl of cheddar Ruffles in hand, I curl up next to my sister, who is completely engrossed with a music video. Chloe, a full-fledged purebred Rottweiler, jumps onto the couch and stretches her solid body across me and my sister’s lap. She looks up at me with those large chocolate-brown-colored eyes, begging for chips. Rubbing her massive head, I feed her a few. I’m a sucker when she begins to beg. Chloe knows this. She manipulates me with those big ol’ eyes, and she has me wrapped around her large doggy paw.
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