by Vivien Dean
"You're hopeless, Holly, completely hopeless."
They pushed against the flow of the oncoming crowd to get into the station, pausing at the top of the marble staircase to get their bearings. “So where is he?” Holly asked, looking around.
"Over there.” Dani pointed through the crowd to the hallway leading back to the subway entrance. “He always meets me in the same spot."
"Well, come on, then.” Holly led the way down the steps, shouldering people aside without thought. Dani followed, making note of every police officer between here and there.
He wasn't there.
To her surprise, Dani found herself disappointed. “Well, maybe he took the hint yesterday and went off to stalk someone else."
"Or maybe he wasn't stalking you at all and we just missed him."
"It doesn't matter. I'm not going to see him again either way."
"Dani—"
"No, Holly,” she forestalled her friend. “I did what you said. I tried. There just isn't time in my life for romance. Things will settle down in a year or two, and then I'll start thinking about meeting a nice, safe man to share my life with."
"That's the whole point, Dani. You share your life with someone when it's hard, to make it easier to do what you have to. If you wait until things are easier, then why bother? You won't need him then."
"Then maybe I just won't bother.” She shoved her coffee back into Holly's hand. “I have to get to work. I'll see you for dinner on Friday."
"Dani, wait!"
She didn't stop, letting the flow of humanity carry her back out into the city.
* * * *
She tried to forget about him. There was enough work to do to keep her busy. But every morning when she had to deliberately turn her feet away from her old familiar route through the main concourse, she remembered. Remembered the hurt in his face when she'd run off. Remembered the pang of loss when he hadn't been there the next day. Every time she shook it off. It was stupid and dangerous. He could be anyone. It was better just to avoid the whole situation.
The Armingazha account was her undoing.
She was so immersed in going over the presentation slides, mastering all the company details and how Hermes could most creatively fill their needs for the pitch meeting that morning, that she didn't even think where she was going. Nose down in her notes, laptop bag slung crosswise across her chest, she trudged up the stairs from the platform.
"Good morning, Dani."
The rich, velvet voice stopped her in her tracks. He was there, right where he always was, watching her with uncertain eyes. The vulnerability only added to his good looks, and Dani had to look away again to keep from getting lost in him. “I thought I told you to leave me alone.” Too late to backtrack, she tried to slip around him instead.
He reached for her arm. “Dani, please wait."
Reflexively she jerked away from him, but in doing so she spilled the file she'd been studying all over the floor at their feet. “Damn it!” She crouched down to sweep the pages up before they could get walked on. “See what you made me do?"
He knelt next to her to gather up the papers closest to him. “You don't have to flinch away from me whenever you come near, you know.” He offered her the papers. “I'm not going to hurt you."
"How am I supposed to know that? I don't know anything about you. Hell, I don't even know your name!"
He grinned. “Do you want to?"
"No!” He was getting to her, damn it. She had to get away from him. “I don't want to know anything about you. I just want you to leave me alone!"
"Fine.” His jaw tightened in resolution. “In that case..."
Before she could react, he caught her arm, knocking her papers to the floor again as he jerked her to him, crushing her mouth with a demanding, searing kiss that drove everything from her mind. She struggled briefly, but he was unrelenting, his arms banding around her to trap her against his solid chest, his mouth coaxing and demanding by turns until she weakened. She relaxed into him, easing her mouth open just enough to invite him in. He took the invitation, tongue teasing at the swell of her lip before slipping inside.
She must be losing her mind. That was all there was to it. She was standing in the middle of Grand Central Station making out with a man she didn't know, and all she could think was how she wanted more. His beard was soft against her cheek as he turned his mouth to probe deeper, his hand broad and strong when he palmed the back of her head, guiding and encouraging her on. The world around her had turned thick and slow, clinging to her, adding layers of sensation to their contact, making every brush and breath feel like an eternity. She should have been ashamed that he was the one to pull away first, but she seemed to have lost all ability at rational thought.
His pale eyes turned dark as he brushed a loose strand off her cheek. “Trev."
"What?"
"That's my name. Trevalyn Sutcliffe. But everyone calls me Trev."
Sanity started to bleed into passion. “I didn't ask."
"I know. I wanted to tell you anyway.” He glanced at her watch, her wrist still close to his face as her hands rested on his shoulders. “You're going to be late for your meeting."
It was the last thing she'd expected him to say, a bucket of cold water on her overheated psyche. “Shit!” She was back down in an instant, gathering up her papers yet again, still half crouched as she broke in a sprint across the concourse.
"Good luck!"
She glanced back for a last look at that brilliant smile of his, but he was already gone.
* * * *
She didn't tell Holly. That would have been awkward and embarrassing, and it really wouldn't have accomplished anything. Dani didn't want to be lectured, but she also didn't want to be encouraged. This was all so complicated, she needed to figure it out herself.
To her embarrassment, she found she couldn't face him, so she continued her avoidance as she tried to work out what in the hell she was doing with this guy. He was a complete stranger, but there was something about him that just made her respond, made her feel alive in a way she never had before. If she were honest, she was a bit worried about how she might react if she saw him again. She woke up shaking from dreams of that kiss and where it could have gone. If the reality was even half as good as her fantasies...
She didn't trust herself enough to risk finding out.
Five days passed without seeing him. The dreams started to fade, the flutter in her stomach easing with each day she turned away from the main concourse to go out into the street instead. This obsession couldn't be healthy. Everyday she went without, she was a little bit better. Maybe in a few days, she could go by, see if he was still there.
Waiting for her.
Another late night had her racing through the station at quarter of midnight, hoping to catch one of the last trains home. She had just passed the place where they always met—where they had kissed—when she remembered she'd left her jump drive plugged into her desk top back in the office. With a frustrated sigh, she stopped and turned around, resigning herself to a cab ride home instead.
Trev was standing there. Right where he always was.
She froze. “What are you doing here?"
One eyebrow rose. “What if I said I was waiting for you?"
"I wouldn't believe you.” She crossed her arms protectively over her chest. “You couldn't have known I'd be coming through here now."
He grinned. “You're right. It was just my shift. Guess I got lucky tonight."
"Your shift?” She ignored his innuendo. “So standing here really is your job?"
"Did you think I was lying to you?"
"Yes, frankly. Who the hell makes a living standing around in a train station?” She thought about it a moment. “Are you guarding the station? Homeland security or something?"
"Something like that."
"And this is a vulnerable point in the station? Are there other guys like you standing around waiting for something to happen?"
"Nope, ju
st me and my team. Just here."
"But where did you come from? You weren't here a second ago."
"Yes, I was."
"No, you weren't.” She stepped closer, challenging him. “I just walked past there and the hallway was empty."
"Nope, I was standing right here. You must have just not noticed me."
"Believe me, I would have noticed you."
He grinned, teeth white behind his beard. “Well, that's good to hear."
"I mean,” she corrected, forestalling his reaction, “that the station isn't exactly busy right now. It would have been hard to miss you."
"I was kind of noticing that myself. Funny how quiet a busy place like this gets at night.” He glanced around before turning his devastating eyes back on her. “It's almost romantic."
"Trev, don't—"
He stopped her, catching her arm to draw her closer. “I like the way you say my name."
She knew she should resist. “I didn't say it anyway special."
"I know.” She was close enough now for their hips to rest against each other. His arms curled around her waist almost affectionately to hold her close. The sense of softness was back, of the world clinging to her, enclosing her, wrapping her in an embrace almost as comforting as his. “Makes me wonder how you'd say it in the middle of a blinding orgasm."
Now she did struggle, but that only made her more aware of the solid lines of his body pressing against her. “Don't do me any favors."
One hand shifted up to the middle of her back, staving off her resistance. “Maybe I'd be doing myself a favor."
"You aren't helping your case any, mister."
"What's the matter? Haven't you ever had a man express sexual interest in you before?” He lowered his head closer to hers, and she started having a hard time breathing. “Where I come from, when one person is interested in another, they tell them. There's no shame in it."
"And if I say no?"
"Then I'll stop."
He released her so fast she almost fell on her ass, grabbing at his arms to keep her balance. Grinning, he pulled her back into his arms. “But you don't really want me to, do you?"
It was too easy, too comforting to resist. For the first time she allowed herself to look up into those pale eyes and see the storm within them. “I don't know what I want anymore,” she forced herself to admit.
"How about we start with this."
It was a gentle kiss, teasing softly around the edges of her mouth before tenderly encouraging her to open up to him. She tried to resist, but it felt too good, the sense of danger only adding to the attraction. When his tongue traced along her teeth, hers hesitantly met it. His reaction was emphatic, pulling her closer to him so she could feel the line of his erection growing against her belly. He wanted her, and it sent a heady rush to her head.
A low, crystalline chime broke through the pounding blood in her ears and the hungry sighs they made together. A moment later there was a heavy whump that reverberated off stone walls, followed by a rising hum that seemed to suck all the air away. Dani broke away from Trev to look around the empty station. “What was that?"
It took a moment for her words to register, his expression tightening, whether in anger or frustration, Dani wasn't sure. “A wake-up call,” he said tersely. “Dani, I..."
Puzzled at his hesitation, she studied his face. “What is it?"
He seemed to be fighting some sort of war with himself. When he pulled her tight against him, she wasn't sure if he'd won or lost. “Nothing,” his insisted, his mouth on her skin yet again, making her whimper in pleasure. “I don't care. I just want you so much, Dani."
His mouth on hers stifled any reply. He pushed her back until the cold marble wall pressed against her back. The world clinging to her stretched and pulled as though trying to keep hold of her, until finally she could have sworn she felt something tear. Suddenly everything was brighter, clearer, Trev's body harder and more insistent as he ground into her. One hand slipped under her blouse, coming up to cup her breast through the fine lace of her bra, thumb toying with her nipple as he nipped his way down the side of her neck.
"Trev, we can't,” she panted, saying the words with no conviction. She wanted this as much as he did. If they stopped, she thought she'd start crying. “Someone will see."
If they stopped, she might come to her senses.
"No one can see, love, I promise.” Her short business skirt rode up her thighs as he explored higher and higher, his fingertips brushing the damp panel of her underwear, making her gasp in anticipation. “And you don't want me to stop."
It wasn't a question. She shook her head anyway.
Shoving the fabric aside, his coarse fingertip traced along her labia, freeing the moisture there to dampen her thighs. “You want me, Dani,” he growled against her neck. “You want me almost as much as I want you. Tell me, Dani. Show me."
Now was the moment. She had to stop this, walk away, catch a cab, and go home for a cold shower and some quality time with her vibrator. It was the safe thing to do. The smart thing.
She slipped her hand into his pants.
"Oh, thank God,” he groaned in relief, pressing forward against her. Emboldened by his obvious desperation, she dared to wrap her hand around his cock, savoring the velvety rigidness of it, anticipating how good it was going to feel inside her. She whimpered softly at the thought.
He pushed her hand aside with a growl and yanked open his fly before shoving her up against the wall again, his bare cock hot and hard against her sex, shooting fire through her.
"Now, Dani."
Lifting one leg to twine around his hip, she guided him in, gasping at the first contact of his head with her sensitive pussy. He took over, pushing in relentlessly as she arched against him, his hand on the small of her back holding her close until he was fully sheathed. His forehead rested briefly against hers before he caught her mouth again, beginning a slow, intense rocking that left her mewling eagerly with each stroke.
"Knew you'd feel good,” he grunted against her neck, speeding up with each pulse. “God, Dani, you feel amazing."
"Good.” She couldn't bring herself to say more, the last lingering uncertainty making her unwilling to commit to more. But it felt amazing. The cool stone behind her, their hot skin meeting only along their thighs, his mouth hungry yet gentle as it searched out each sensitive spot along her throat, the risk of discovery at any moment, all combined to overwhelm her senses until she started trembling against him. “Oh, God, Trev, so good, so..."
"Dani!” he groaned as she came, bucking hard against him and the wall behind her. Lifting her, he shoved her back against the wall hard, pinning her there as he thrust through her orgasm, coming a moment later with a shuddering groan.
They held each other like that for a few moments afterwards, his arms tight around her, her legs tangled around his back. As reality slowly settled in, Dani lowered her legs back down, wobbly when she tried to put weight on them. Trev pulled back with obvious reluctance, withdrawing and tucking himself away in his pants before adjusting her skirt for her, never stepping far enough away to let her escape. “That was amazing, Dani,” he murmured almost reverently against her ear.
"Thanks.” It was so inane, but she couldn't think of anything else to say.
He didn't seem to mind. Pulling back, he smiled down at her. “You going to be okay getting home?"
She nodded. “I was going to get a cab,” she said slowly, amazed at how hard it was to get the words out.
"Smart girl.” He brushed his lips over hers. “Dream about me?"
"I...” She blushed fiercely.
His grin grew broader. “I wish I could walk you out. I've gone too far as it is. In more ways than one."
"I understand.” She gathered her bags, still flush from passion.
That irrepressible grin wavered. “Will I see you tomorrow?"
This must be what insanity felt like. Knowing something was completely crazy and doing it anyway. Leaning in, she
gave him a short, fierce kiss. “Yes."
* * * *
Trev greeted her that morning with a smile and a soft kiss. “No regrets?"
"I must be crazy,” she confessed, her arms curling around his neck, “but no, no regrets."
"Good.” This time the kiss was more intense, a reminder of the passion of last night. “Will I see you tonight?"
"I can't.” She softened the disappointment with a caress. “I have an appointment back in Queens this afternoon. Maybe you could come over tonight, though?"
"I would love that.” The regret on his face told her it wasn't going to happen even before he spoke. “But I can't get away."
She stroked his beard. “We can't keep meeting in the train station."
"I know.” If anything, he looked more frustrated. “But it's better than not at all."
She agreed with another long, languid kiss. “Then I'll see you here tomorrow morning. Bring coffee, we can make a real date of it."
"Promise. Have a good day, Dani."
His wistful smile didn't register until she had started into the concourse. By the time she turned around, he was gone.
* * * *
There was no coffee the next morning.
There was no Trev.
Instead, a heavyset older man stood in their spot, reading an oddly-sized newspaper and ignoring the world in general. Dani hung around, going so far as to stop at the coffee bar herself while she waited, but the older man never moved and Trev never came.
The next day was the same.
And the next.
She started to worry. What if something had happened to him? What if some terrorist or drug dealer had shot him and he was lying in a hospital somewhere? Or worse? No one knew her, so no one would think to let her know. She wasn't even sure if he had her phone number, although he had everything else, so most likely he did. But still he didn't call.
She hesitated in the corridor. That man was there again, reading that same odd newspaper. This time, though, he glanced over the top of it at her, his look almost menacing. Dani pulled her bags a little closer and hurried past.