Fade - Fighting Fate #3

by Maree Green

  I felt my cheeks heat instantly with his smoldering look. “Thanks.” Clearing my throat, I tried to get the topic off me. “So, are you going to tell me where we’re going yet?”

  Giving me a knowing smile, he redirected his attention back to the road. “I’m taking you on a picnic.” He glanced at me, suddenly appearing nervous. “Is that okay?”

  Ryan had never done anything like that for me. “That’s perfect.”

  His shoulders relaxed, and he gave me a sheepish grin. “Mom helped me pack it.”

  I tensed. “Oh, I thought she went to San Francisco,” I said. I wasn’t sure why, but I suddenly wondered what Daniel’s mom thought of us going on a date.

  “Stop it,” Daniel said.

  I didn’t even pretend not to know what he was talking about. We’d had this discussion many times over the last week. After growing up extremely conscious of other people’s perception of me, it was hard to let go and not worry about what people thought.

  “Did she think it was weird that we were going on a date?”

  “I said, stop it, but no, she didn’t. She seemed happy about it.”

  That surprised me. Every time I saw her when I was with Ryan, she appeared as though she didn’t like me being with her son. “She did?”

  “Yeah, she said she didn’t think Ryan was right for you.” He grinned widely.

  I laughed. How right she was.

  “And yeah, she’s gone to San Francisco. She’ll be back tomorrow. And Ryan’s gone up to Redding—he said something about a party with Corey.”

  “Okay.”

  He gave me an anxious look. “I thought this was a good idea, but now I’m not so sure . . . ”

  My breath stuck in my throat.

  He frowned at me, then his eyes widened. “Not the date,” he said quickly. “The date was the most brilliant idea I’ve ever had. I meant the picnic.” He hesitated. “I thought because the house was empty, we could make use of it, you know, watch that movie we missed the other day, but I don’t want you to think I’m just trying to get you alone, which I’m not—I mean, I am, but . . . ”

  I laughed. I couldn’t help it. He was literally rambling. It was so cute.

  He gave me a sardonic look before sighing. “Are you okay with us being alone at the house? I’m sorry. I should’ve asked before now.”

  “It’s fine. I’m actually really looking forward to it. It sounds nice.”

  He exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. “Okay, good.”

  I was nervous when we reached the house a few short minutes later, and I couldn’t help but notice it was a different kind of nervousness to what I’d had when I knew I was going to be alone with Ryan. With Ryan, it was a kind of dread. Trailing Daniel into the house, I was filled with nerves bordering on anticipation. It was exciting yet confusing at the same time.

  Taking me into the den, he spread a blanket out on the carpet and placed a few pillows on top. “There you are. Make yourself comfortable and I’ll just go get the food.”

  “Do you need a hand?”

  “Nope. I’ll just be a minute.”

  I watched him disappear out the door before sinking down onto the pillows. He returned a few minutes later with a basket in hand, the sight so contradictory to the big, muscly guy he was, I had to giggle.

  Giving me a mock glare, he folded himself down opposite me and began unpacking. The food looked amazing. It was just a big assortment of appetizers, from mini quiches to spinach pastries and beyond. There was even an assortment of desserts.

  “Oh my God, this looks incredible,” I said, my stomach already growling at me to hurry up and eat.

  Daniel laughed, obviously hearing my stomach’s protest. “Eat.”

  Not waiting to be asked twice, I started from one side and tried everything that was on offer. By the time I’d tried it all, I was perfectly full.

  Slouching back against the pillows, I sighed with contentment.

  “Is that all you’re eating?” he asked, sounding skeptical.

  I closed my eyes and sighed again. “Mmm-hmmm . . . ”

  “That couldn’t possibly be enough to sustain you.”

  I opened one eye and rolled my head so I could see him. “Are we having popcorn and candy?”

  He frowned. “Of course.”

  “Then I’m perfect. Just enough room for popcorn and candy . . . ”

  The sound of him chuckling brought a smile to my lips. It was a nice sound. I wished I heard it more often.

  “All right. Let me just clear this away and I’ll put a movie on. What do you feel like watching?”

  I went to sit up, but he was suddenly there, his face only inches away from mine.

  “Don’t,” he said, pressing his lips to mine, soft and slow. “I don’t need help. Stay there.”

  Slightly mute with clouds in my head, I watched him stack it all back into the basket and carry it out to the kitchen, my heart thumping out an excited rhythm.

  When he came back, he moved us up onto the sofa and started flicking through our movie options. I giggled when he stopped to check out one of Joshua Emerson’s movies.

  “You know this guy, right?” Daniel asked, reading through the blurb.

  “Yeah, he’s kind of an assumed part of our gang, even though he’s never here.”

  Daniel gave me an impressed look. “That’s pretty freaking cool.”

  Laughing, I shrugged. I never really thought about it, but I guessed it was pretty cool being friends with a movie star. I was just glad Josh chose to keep his roots grounded when he moved to L.A.

  “Did you want to watch it?”

  Snuggling in closer, I shook my head. “Nah, I’ve already seen it like six times. Let’s watch the Thor one.” I figured the second Thor movie was a fool-proof option. I mean, what guy didn’t like the Marvel movies? And, let’s face it, Thor was just hot. It was a definite win-win for both of us.

  I wasn’t sure how far into the movie we were when I started to get distracted. It may have been when he wrapped his arm around me to pull me against his side, or it could’ve been when he started to lightly run his fingers up and down my arm, but I think maybe it was around the time he leaned his cheek against the top of my head and started to breathe me in.

  Oh, who was I kidding? I didn’t think I could remember the opening sequence if I tried.

  Deciding to throw caution to the wind, I tilted my head back until my gaze met his. I felt his whole body still. I knew exactly what my eyes would be showing him, and I didn’t care. I actually hoped he could read them loud and clear.

  It was as though the air around us suddenly exploded with tension. Daniel’s gaze dropped to my mouth. and his eyes darkened.

  With a confidence I’d never known before, I reached up and cupped the back of his neck, then gently pulled him down to me, arching up to kiss his soft, full lips.

  It surprised me to realize this was the first time I’d actually initiated a kiss. Ever. It made me feel bold, and to be honest, a little proud of myself. Especially when he growled and started to kiss me back.

  My hand automatically clenched tighter and my body shifted, twisting to be more in line with his. Daniel’s body moved in response, and as our kisses turned more forceful, I lay back on the sofa, pulling him on top of me as I went.

  The weight of his body on mine did strange things to me. Wave after wave of tiny little thrills surged through every part of me. I moaned at the intense feel of it, the sound making Daniel kiss me even harder.

  But the pleasure of it soon turned into an ache I’d never experienced. It wasn’t painful, but it wasn’t entirely blissful either. It was a need—like an itch that had to be scratched, but I had no idea how to do it.

  Parting my legs, I wriggled so Daniel’s weight settled right where I needed it. I couldn’t control how tightly I was clinging to him. It was a compulsion. A need to have him closer. To make us one. The feeling of it bordered on desperation.

  Pushing my hips up, I felt the hard r
idge of his cock through his shorts. A deep tingling erupted low in my stomach. I whimpered and Daniel growled.

  “Amy,” Daniel said against my lips. His voice sounded a little choked, the broken timbre of it making me clutch his hair even tighter.

  Sucking in a harsh breath, I pushed my hips up once more, desperate to feel that tingling in my stomach again.

  “Daniel,” I whimpered, not caring how desperate I sounded. I wanted to ask him to help me bring that feeling back, but I didn’t know how.

  Daniel’s hand moved under my shirt, stroking over my ribs. I arched into his touch, wanting this feeling to go on forever. His mouth moved over my neck, his tongue lapping, his lips sucking.

  Holy mother of mercy!

  The tingling started again. I gasped. Daniel stilled, breathing heavy. A tiny whimper escaped me.

  “We need to stop,” Daniel said in a pained voice.

  Oh, God, no! I couldn’t live with this ache. I needed him to fix it. My hands tensed against him, and I shook my head. “Please, Daniel. I need . . .” Oh, God. I didn’t know! What the hell did I need?! “I need you to do something.” I pushed my hips up again. “It aches.”

  Daniel’s hands gripped me tighter, and he growled against my neck. “Fuck.”

  In a move that was too fast for my foggy brain to keep up with, Daniel’s mouth came crashing down on mine. His tongue thrust deep inside, stroking against mine with complete abandonment, while he pressed himself harder against my aching center. The aching intensified.

  Breaking the kiss, he breathed heavily against my cheek before pulling back to look me in the eyes. “You want me to make you feel better?” he asked, sounding a little disbelieving.

  “God, yes,” I answered, unable to stop myself from writhing underneath him.

  “Can I touch you?”

  I pulled myself up to kiss him. “Yes! Please touch me, Daniel.”

  Hearing those words coming out of my mouth was an incredible rush. For the first time in my life, I felt wanton. It was liberating.

  This time I was prepared for Daniel’s crushing kiss. I took it and gave it straight back to him, but when he shifted off me, sliding his body to the side, I whimpered with disappointment. I needed him. There.

  I was just thinking about pulling him back on top of me, or even climbing on top of him, when I felt his fingers at the button of my shorts. Oh my God, yes! That’s what I needed. Frantically trying to catch my breath between kisses, I painfully waited for him to finish opening the zipper.

  As I felt the teeth loosening, the ache inside me instantly became more intense, everything surging straight between my legs. I was sure every muscle in my body was coiled so tight I was about to explode.

  I knew what would come next. I was mad with want for it, but nothing I could’ve done would’ve prepared me for how incredible it felt when his fingers began sliding inside my panties.

  A garbled kind of sound escaped me while my head swirled, trying without success to process the vast number of sensations it was receiving at one time.

  And then his fingers found my center.

  It was too much. His kisses, his breath, his touch. Tearing my mouth away from his, I pulled his lips down to my neck, gasping for breath, yet unable to catch it.

  He pressed the flat of his fingers against me and started to move them in a circular motion, the movement instantly bringing that wonderful tingling back into the pit of my stomach.

  I cried out, a desperate kind of sound that seemed to make Daniel’s fingers work even faster. Parting my legs wider, I pushed myself harder against his fingers while a constant stream of whimpering noises floated out from God knew where.

  Daniel’s breath came heavy against my neck, making the tingling intensify beyond anything I could possibly imagine. I whimpered again, my nails digging into his flesh. He groaned, and I was lost, the sound of his voice enough to tip me over the edge.

  The cry that escaped me was beyond my control. My body had completely taken over my mind. It was in some kind of celebratory death grip. It was crashing and burning, and spinning and floating, and I had never felt anything so completely satisfying in all my life.

  I clamped my legs together, trapping Daniel’s hand so he couldn’t take this away from me while I reveled in the continuous crashing waves.

  Then he was kissing me. It was the most perfect kiss ever. It started heavy and loaded with passion, and slowly grew softer and sweeter, until he was simply just resting his forehead against mine. It was like he was trying to softly bring me down from the crazy heights I’d managed to climb to.

  When the tingling finally reached a nice, warm buzz, I unclenched my legs, letting Daniel slowly slide his hand free.

  Now I’d had time to calm down, I became increasingly shy. My brain ran through everything I’d just done at breakneck speed.

  Daniel lifted his head to gaze down at me. His eyes were still dark with desire. I had no idea what to do from here. I knew I’d pretty much reached my limit as far as those things went, but he hadn’t reached a happy ending like I had. I was sure I was supposed to offer him something in return, but I didn’t think I could go there just yet.

  “Are you okay?” he asked hesitantly.

  I blushed. Even though I was still fully clothed, I felt naked—exposed. I nodded.

  Daniel tensed. “Tell me what’s wrong. Was that too soon? I thought that was what you wanted . . . ”

  “No,” I rushed, quickly shaking my head. “It was. I’m just not used to this. Being here like this . . . ” I bit my lip. “And . . . you know . . . you didn’t . . . ” I couldn’t finish the sentence. I felt so stupid and inexperienced.

  But Daniel’s body relaxed beside mine, and something warm came into his eyes. “You’re worried that I didn’t finish?”

  I bit the inside of my cheek and gave him a nervous look before nodding.

  The corners of his mouth turned up softly as he drew his thumb across my cheekbone. “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. I promise.”

  I gave him a skeptical look.

  “It’s true,” he said. “I’m actually better than fine. Seeing you like that . . . ” He drew in a long, deep breath. “I don’t need anything else than that right now.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked, uncertain. After seeing Ryan’s anger so many times over the last few months because he didn’t get what he claimed he needed, I found it a little difficult to believe.

  I caught the fleeting look that flashed through Daniel’s eyes, and I knew he knew what I was thinking. Leveling his gaze on me, he inhaled. “Let’s get something straight. I don’t mind waiting for you to be ready. I don’t care how long it takes, even if you decide you’ll never be ready. Same thing goes for reciprocating anything you might let me do for you. I consider myself fucking lucky that you’re even considering being with me, and even luckier that you just let me touch you like that. I love every minute I get to spend with you. Anything else is just a bonus.”

  I let his words sink in slowly. Damn, that boy did things to me. I no longer felt self-conscious about what’d just happened. It felt right. Perfect.

  “I loved what we just did,” I said shyly. “I’ve never gone that far before, been like that before . . . ”

  He inhaled, stretching out over me, sliding one leg in between mine, while taking my hands and raising them up above my head. “Amy unrestrained and abandoned is amazing,” he said, kissing me below my ear. “Beautiful, incredible, sexy . . . ” he continued as he kept nuzzling my neck.

  I giggled.

  “I loved watching you fall apart. I want to see it again. And again. I want to taste you. Everywhere.”

  My breath hitched. Oh, wow . . .

  “I bet you taste incredible,” he murmured against my skin.

  My skin flushed hot with his words, and my breath quickened.

  His hands smoothed over my skin. “If you think my fingers felt good, imagine what my tongue would feel like . . . ”

  Oh, God . . .
r />   “Is that . . . is that something you like to do?” I breathed, my brain already growing fuzzy.

  “With you? Definitely.”

  I melted. I finally felt like I was where I was supposed to be. Every part of me had been awoken by this deeply intense, beautiful boy. I was home.

  Chapter 10

  Daniel

  I was wrecked. After two weeks with Amy, I didn’t know if I would actually be able to breathe without knowing she was in my life in one way or another. It was a pretty fucking big realization. It worried me. A lot.