by Amari, Nina
"Roman, it was kinda great. Us working together I mean," she said, before admitting, "A woman could get used to this. No doubt about it." Danielle shook her head and muttered, "Although I have to admit... a little time on a mega yacht wasn't all that bad."
She arched a brow at him. It was hard not to take him into her arms and kiss him right there on the tufted leather with a sultry passion. It was even harder to suppress the desire to rip open his crisp shirt down to the slight hair dusting his chest. She could have unwrapped every last inch of silken amethyst and kissed a trail down his neck.
She watched him try to grin, just before he'd said, "God, you're beautiful!" And then he suddenly stood up, "I'll be back in a minute."
Watching him come and go... and come back again had her oiling her makeup. Tiny droplets were starting to percolate her collarbone watching his suave swagger, and the titillating way his arms swayed back and forth as he strutted a smooth rhythm. Danielle popped up and moved toward a wall of shimmering opulence. That same kinky blend of mirrors she'd sat in awe of that first Sunday evening at his apartment, had the memories pouring back.
But after she'd double backed from her purse glittering on the table, she was standing painting a fresh coat of carmine bursting a succulent strawberry across her lips. His voice rumbled a deep, sultry waterfall flooding her soul when he said, "I'm back." His tall, dark and handsome mirrored the ultimate portrait from her perspective, as he bowed his biceps pulsing her heart towards the sensual pleasure she'd been craving.
He'd slipped a bottle of bubbly into the ice bucket he'd brought to the table, crushing it deep between the cubes alongside two gold-rimmed flutes.
Glasses clanged apart from the scent that was still trailing a fresh and richly fragrant blend of passionate exotics from the kitchen towards the living room. The very moment he slid to the sofa, he gestured to the nearby vestibule, "One of my absolute favorites." And then he leaned toward her as he kissed her softly, once on the lips, before saying, "Only the finest vintage... For the finest woman."
Threading her fingers through her hair brought back all sorts of memories to him, just before she'd smoothed the hem of her dress ruffling at its edge. She could feel his eyes stream toward her legs crossed, finessed so sensual, inching her hem up the more she'd shifted into a more comfortable position. Roman could barely curb the fact that his amethyst tie had nearly sifted a patch of burgundy.
Looking at her like she was the most gorgeous woman on earth brought him to wanting her all to himself. He could barely keep himself from pouncing straight over to her. But he knew he'd had to tame himself for what he had planned. But the way she'd looked at him, feathering her luscious lashes would make the task nearly impossible.
Given the way the scarlet shantung clung to her, he could tell her curves were even more luscious that he'd first thought. With the walls of sunlight circling the sofa, it was no surprise that she'd glowed even more lovely than before. Honestly, the way she sat looking at him with those pout red lips said exactly the words he wanted to know... Take Me Now.
And then he was kissing her.
Kissing her with that same passion from their spa rendezvous.
Just the thought of knowing Danielle loved the man behind the charisma, was more than he could say of any woman he'd ever met. He had a way with words, but from now on, his hands would be doing most of the talking.
"Roman, don't stop."
Her groans overwhelmed his action, but then he'd pulled back, straightening his tie in the process, "I've got something special planned." He smiled at her. "This time, I didn't pull back because I wanted to. Believe me, we'll definitely pick right back up from where we left off."
She gave him a tawdry look, before she'd grabbed a cube of ice from the bucket and rubbed it against her chest in sensuous little circles. The morsel was melting faster than her heart was beating as it slid down her chest the second she'd said, "Looking forward to it."
"You can count on it," he added.
"Danielle, what were you saying?" he asked, as his gaze shifted back in focus. "About it being great, our working together."
"Yeah, about that." Danielle straightened against the toffee leather and tossed her curls over her shoulder springing a naturally luscious waterfall. "I've had some time to think, I mean about everything... about life... and us. Flirting with danger, I stopped to realize life is more important than career. So much more important. I could've missed out on the most special thing life could ever have offered me... beyond six-figures and a corner office atop the big city.”
“None of these heights, none of these pinnacles matter without love. Without a love to share all the success with... The ups and the downs. Only I didn't even realize it until crisis mode. My life threaded on a string that was unraveling, and now I'm intent on having every fiber of my being strengthened in love-- my love for you, nature, just any and everything that makes me feel like a soul surviving for optimal living."
Roman's eyes widened as she spoke, "I hadn't ploughed into one of those stress balls, well, since that day you said-- BREATHE. And I'd been following your sentiment ever since.” She swallowed. "I've had my times. I was tempted. But overall, I can say that I am a new woman." His smile told her that he was pleased with her evolution.
Add to that, she wasn't even close to putting into words her devotion to him-- Just every little thing that had made her fall in love with him from the very beginning.
"Roman, you make a huge difference in my life. Having you in my life is a breath of fresh air. You've taught me to let loose and relax." She took one deep breath for measure. "I didn't need to be so uptight about everything. But then again, I would have had an excuse for another one of your sexy massages-- which we never did finish by the way."
She flitted him a quick lure before she said, "I feel so much more at peace now, I just don't know what to do with myself sometimes. You've opened my eyes to... Clarity."
But just then, when she was about to tell him how she'd wanted him even since that first day in the garage, her gaze shifted towards the dining room. Zooming in on the collage of historic New York climbing the alcove brought back even more memories. Suddenly, she could hardly believe how far they'd come in their relationship.
When her gaze turned back to his face, she'd realized just how far they'd come in such a short amount of time. It had been days in fact, since she'd nearly lost everything, or at least what truly mattered in her life.
Roman watched the glow pouring in from the walled glass, softening a gorgeously sparkling silhouette to her bodice.
Her gaze moved to the fluted glasses and the sparkling wine perched on the coffee table, and then back to his eyes with the image crystallized in her mind. Two empty glasses, now we can't have that can we? Her murmuring was bound to catch on when she'd popped from her musings.
"By the way, aren't we going to have some of that special vintage you touted for me?" Her voice was soft, like a calm meadow breeze wafting over the loft, cascading a world of antiques tucked along every niche and pedestal.
Roman shifted close to her. He pressed his finger over her lips. "Sssh. Now you don't want to spoil the surprise do you?" She blinked and then nodded, the moment he'd returned his hand to his side.
Roman slipped his arm around her waist and gave her a soft kiss, his strong body nestling hers in cuddled warmth. Despite how deeply he wanted her. How badly he wanted to continue what he had started. Despite the fact he had to control his heat, he bridled the passion into a smile when he said, "We should go out... Celebrate."
"Is that the surprise, we're going out?"
"There's no fooling you Danielle, now is there?"
"Well, I should freshen up first. Some more rose lychee should just about do it."
"From where I sit. You don't need anything." Roman had the very excuse he needed to sate his mounting hunger. His mouth moved behind her hair as he whispered against her earlobe, Beautiful. She shivered a bit as he kissed her all the way down to the nape of h
er neck, bowing her into the sofa cushion.
But he knew better than to pick up the journey now, because he knew once it started, it wouldn't end anytime soon. There'd be no turning back-- for either one of them. But apart from that, he was surprised to know that she'd come a long way from where she had started.
Coming up for a breath he said, "Um. You're just as lovely as ever." Her breath was still hiking, but she'd managed to bring the level to a calmer meadow. His muscles penetrating her figure, pressing into her breasts, pushing and squeezing against his hands. His body could barely curb the hypnotic trance. The feel of her arousal was starting to conjure a vision of the beauty behind the shantung.
The leather puckered as they mashed more and more with every second that ticked on. Earthy infusions rubbed against his palms, melting her craving into a pool of satiation.
Until he stopped, just before he'd eased out of her with the most beautiful smile that had her reeling in anticipation of later on. But apart from it all, she hadn't time to climb towards unrepressed delight as pushed her hair out of her face, and sat up.
"We're having too much fun. Why do you keep on teasing me like that Roman? I'm supposed to be relaxed now. You're just turning me into a kinky, sultry ball of sexy every time you come at me with the spice in your smile, taking my breath away all over again."
Her panting all but stopped, but it didn't mean she was even close to gaining her composure. But then again, maybe she just needed a few more minutes.
Visions of his sexiness kept flocking to her mind. She should have been ready for whatever he had planned. But, she was still her shrewd self that had gone from a woman searching to a woman who had now found the road she was meant to follow.
They gazed at each other for a long moment. Emotion still pulsed, but never waned. And yet her lips pursed, still focused on his bronze aglow. But then, after another long moment, she'd felt her heart grappling with her evolution-- the new woman in her, yielding resolve.
"Accounting's been my life for so long. But maybe," she paused, "I've been thinking that I should try my hand at something else. Whatever that is, I'm not sure yet. But I do know that there's so much more to me that I haven't even discovered yet. I've just got to try some new things. Be open to educating myself. Finding something that's more fulfilling. Sitting behind a desk just isn't me anymore. I don't want to live my life wondering what or who I could have been."
"I was kind of thinking about us doing something together. If I'm going to wet my feet into new territory, what better way to do that than with the man I absolutely love," she said, just before her lips curved into a beautifully sweet smile.
She was silent for a long moment, long enough that her guileless eyes poured straight to his heart with a smile that no man could possibly resist.
"No pressure," she added.
His eyes had yet to resist her finesse. He tried to pull himself away from the deep vee swelling her perky breasts beyond her shiny hem. Remembering every last inch his hands arched over the curves just before his lips moved in to kiss it.
Roman surged past his mounting desire, at least for the moment, and shifted into focus.
"We do make a great team," he said. Pulling her into his lap, he added, "The two of us, Jules and Prentiss."
"No. You mean, Prentiss and Jules," she said, as her arms folded around him.
He leaned his head to hers, "How about Jules and Jules."
"Yes. I like the sound of that. Jules and Jules. Hey, wait a second." Her eyes widened, as her head bowed back from his. "Jules and Jules?" She paused, pursing her lips as she gazed at him lovingly. Roman lifted an eyebrow and then smiled back at her.
She liked the way the words rolled from his tongue, as if he'd already gotten used to the idea of working together. She knew he was thinking marriage but she had no idea this soon.
Danielle pointed her finger into his chest, "Now, you do realize that us working together means we'll be spending a lot of time side-by-side." He was smiling as she'd said, "Lots of sleeping late, breakfasts in bed..." Her finger slid down his chest, fanning out over his abs when she said, "All of those late hours having an excuse to, well, you know--"
She nestled her head in his chest, as she said, "You'll just have to get used to all of that."
Now isn't that a shame. She muttered, a second later.
Danielle arched a brow at Roman's polished suave, taking in his sleek black attire tied in an accent of amethyst. Her eyes were on him. Steady and intense. And his eyes were on her as he held her in the comfort of his warmth, releasing a similar sentiment.
"And I'll just have to get used to falling asleep in your arms, every single night... nestling next to the love of my life," he said.
Her head was still nestled against his chest when she looked up at him and said, "You're the one for me Roman. You've made me so happy." Her green eyes lit a twinkle to his subtle dimple.
Smoothing up and down his shirt, she'd felt every tendon of his muscle inflate against her palm, while he caressed her cheek and she nestled deeper in his tenderness.
Danielle slid her hand over his, pressing her warmth into his flesh. But then, she felt his hand shift as if he was going to fold her completely in his arms. As her hand moved from his, he slid his wrist from his sleeve to expose his watch glimmering the nearing of the hour.
Drifting his gaze to the terrace, he found his focus preoccupied just before he'd jolted his attention back to her gleaming eyes. It had been nearly an hour now when he suddenly said, "Now's just about the perfect time."
Was it essentially spot on that his passion could drive him towards the truth he'd been hiding from-- And the same truth that once had a man thinking and reacting in a way other than he truly was?
Despite the romance of the afternoon bowing towards evening, there'd first be a small matter he'd have to address. A man could only go so far without clearing up a few things saddling his chest.
Roman lifted her from his lap and held out a hand to her. Danielle's expression quickly shifted towards quizzical, the moment her heels tipped to the floor. He'd just grabbed the bottle of bubbly still chilling on ice, when she said, "Oh my God... What are you doing Roman, where are you taking me?"
She was blushing, grinning from ear to ear, a smile of pure pleasure glowed her features. As if she hadn't known what was coming.
The intoxicating fragrance of a summer garden leapt from the portico in wafting spurts, as his hand glided her onward with the champagne and glasses sweeping against his thigh. Moving steadily toward the floral bouquet calling.
Standing at the entryway, they could already feel the breeze the instant it flew his tie up over his shoulder when he opened the door. He smoothed the silky amethyst back into place before he'd said, "I had to run across town to find something to brighten things up a bit," he gestured toward the patio, "I hope you like it." Just before he slid the door shut behind him.
Roman placed the bottle and glasses on a small wrought iron table, while Danielle stood, taking in every delightful, breathtaking inch of the terrace. And then he moved behind her, slowly folding his arms around her waist.
The beauty was mesmerizing-- blissfully majestic and serene. Pink peony, amethyst and ivory, laced silvery urns of oleander out of season, with every petal reaching its hand toward the sun by the minute. Winter might have dulled urban senses, but nature certainly felt the warmth up here.
Danielle pulled out of his arms and looked around. Circling the terrace she said, "This is absolutely amazing."
"This is so--" tears welled her eyes, the second her fingertips feathered the delicate layers of pink peony. Her blush deepened in surprise.
It seemed like less than twenty-four hours ago since the yacht had spun another angle of super luxury, but looking at this terrace, indeed proved to be quite its rival.
It was an ample space for a loft high above SoHo's chic center. Floor-to-ceiling windows were the eyes to an impressive panorama that brought indoor luxury to outdoor private living.
Chaise lounges and container gardens made the outside feel like home. Premium comfort added to its special nature. It was absolutely stunning.
Even so, the terrace was blissfully private, except for Manhattan's lofty silhouette staring back at her, a horizon of golden amber streaked in bright rose. The setting was perfect for an unforgettable romantic evening.
"Where'd you, I mean how'd you ever--" Danielle was totally mesmerized and streamed a grin from ear to ear, barely parting the words of an ambience that had so clearly made her speechless.
The air smelled so fragrant, blooms of pink petals bursting large clusters alongside bright purple flowers and emerald vines that were a splitting image of her eyes.
She inhaled deeply, intoxicated by the rampant fragrance swirling a winter terrace veiled in summer. Danielle wouldn't have believed she was high atop a city terrace surrounded in the heart of winter so beautiful.
Still feathering the petals between her fingers, her eyes filled with breathtaking delight as she said, "Reminiscent of the day we first met." She'd quickly spun a vision of the rosy petals softening against pillowed silk.
Roman moved toward her slowly, watching her beauty mesmerized akin to the flower sweeping against her silken skin. His hand tapered her back as he pressed the words against her lips, "You're so beautiful."
Nearly a heartbeat later, his hand left her back for a moment as he angled his watch toward him. Clocking the seconds, Roman kept his eye on the dial ticking onward. Three. Two. One...
"Danielle, this is the exact moment, nearly to the second that I first kissed you. Remember that day, " he gestured back inside, "That day on the bench at the computer. I was so in love with you. Danielle, you just don't know how badly I wanted to take you in my arms and never let you go."
As his arms enfolded her again, he could feel her quiver when his warmth tightened against her flesh. Roman whispered against her ear, "I wanted to make this moment something special. A day we'd both never forget."
Such warmth made her feel like she could've stayed out there on the terrace for hours. Especially in his arms that she'd never wanted to leave hers.