Layers (18 page)

“So, you’re here,” I murmur, looking at Daniel, hoping my face is not revealing any of the emotions I have raging inside.

“I wanted to see you,” he says. His eyes settle on mine. “So, why are you upset with the psycho?” he asks, combing his fingers through his hair, leaving them there.

I stare at him, unsure.
What do I tell you? That I am head over heels for you after the shortest time? That you drive me crazy in a way no one ever has before, that you are reckless and short tempered, that you turn from sweet and warm to mad and exasperated in no time, that you are overbearing? That I am deeply afraid to fall for you because I know you’ll shatter my heart into a million pieces?

He tilts his head, deepening his stare. “What is it, Hayley? What aren’t you telling me?”

Everything. Nothing.
I open my mouth to speak and pause, trying to choose the right words, figure out what I want to tell him. He first looks at me, assessing, and then stands. He walks toward me, minimizing the distance between us, then he hugs me tight, wrapping me in a cage of his firmness and warmth; I rest my forehead on his chest. I force out the tight air in my lungs, upset at him and most of all with myself that this is exactly what I wanted since that call. He slightly tips his shoulder so I will raise my head to look at him.

“What aren’t you telling me?” he whispers, releasing a thousand butterflies from my core to flicker inside my stomach in a tornado.

“I’m upset with you.”

He bends his head, pressing his forehead to mine. “Keep going,” he coaxes gently.

“I didn’t appreciate the way our call was conducted. You didn’t listen to what I had to say.”

He exhales and says, “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“I am not at your beck and call, you know.”

“Why would you say something like that?”

I inhale deeply. “You just act that way.”

“What do you mean?”

“If I tell you that I can’t talk, then I can’t. The main point is listening to what I have to say; also, including me in your plans would be a good start.”

As an answer he pulls me closer to him squeezing me tight, my cheek against his chest. I inhale his sedating scent and relax. I wrap my arms around his waist and lean myself closer, deeper into him.
You’re half way to heartbreakville, Hales. Look how affected you are by him, and in such a short time.

“Look at me,” he whispers to my head, nuzzling it tenderly. “You smell so good,” he adds, breathing me in. I raise my head for our eyes to meet; he bends to kiss me, one sincere, warm kiss. A kiss that tells me he is sorry to have made me feel that way.

“Come home with me, sleep over tonight.”

“Okay,” I answer with no hesitation. I want him. I want him and don’t want to let go. Reluctantly I detach from his embrace to pack an overnight bag.

Knocking on the bathroom door, I enter, not even waiting for Tasha to reply, and sit at the edge of the bath.

“You look troubled, I don’t like it. Are you okay?”

“I’m okay now.”

“I didn’t know something was wrong when I let him in,” she apologizes.

“It’s fine, it really is. I was upset with him and all I wanted was him. Does that even make any sense? It doesn’t to me …” I loop my watchband around my wrist.

She puts her wet hand on mine, I shift my eyes to level with hers. “It makes sense, Hales, it makes crystal clear sense. You’re falling for him …”

I think for a minute about what she just said and tell her that I’m leaving now to spend the night at Daniel’s, pushing away the thought of her observation.

“Go, but do take care of that heart of yours that I adore so much.” And to lift my spirits she adds, “And like I said before, I still stand behind my words. If he hurts you, regardless of the fact that he’s the god of Stark Software and could have me fired in no time, I will still kick his butt.”

I chuckle. “‘God’? Really?”

She laughs.

“Bye.” I kiss her head and go to the “god” that lifts me up and drops me down without out any visible effort.

“Let’s go,” I say, and he takes my bag from me then takes my hand in his as we walk to his car. This time it’s a black Alfa spider.

“Nice car.” I admire the slick vehicle.

“Thanks,” he smiles.

“Speaking about cars, I should return yours.”

“Keep it for now; I want you to drive a safe vehicle,” he declares

I let it pass; I’ve had enough arguing for one day.

As soon as we buckle up he pushes the gas pedal and the car roars, jumping ahead. Daniel switches on the iPod.
Does he have a different one in each of the cars?
Forwarding some songs he pauses on U2, singing “All I want Is You.” He reaches over to me and takes my hand, laces our fingers together and squeezes softly. I look at him, mouthing the words, eyes focused on the road ahead, and my heart tightens.

As the car accelerates, he shifts to sixth gear with his left hand, letting go of the wheel for a split second, but not letting go of my hand. I look at him and think about how drastically he makes my feelings change from complete rage to complete fondness and then again to uncontrollable lust, and all in a few short hours. Like a collision between a hurricane and a volcano with my emotions in between.

~~~

“There is a call I have to make, shouldn’t take long.” Daniel excuses himself as we step in, resting my overnight bag on the sofa.

“Go ahead,” I say with an encouraging smile.

“You can have a bath if you’d like.”

“Guess I’ll go with a shower.”

“So I’ll be in my office, use the shower in the master bedroom,” he says, and steps over to kiss me. He next wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him.

His soft kiss makes my inner butterflies revive. I kiss him back, with resolve, deeper. He counters, framing my face with his hands. Gradually, we are both drawn to the connection with greater impulse, pushing and tasting, seeking more. I move my hand to his firm back and pull him closer, feeling him hard against me. My other hand finds its way to the gap between his jeans and his back; his firm muscles counter my grip. His hand reaches under my shirt, fondling my breasts, tugging down the cups of my bra. His direct touch makes me gasp. I help him get his shirt off, pulling it from its hem up over his head. Our mouths detach for that instant, after which our charged stares lock. He’s flushed; the side of his forehead twinkles with a thin layer of sweat. He looks so wild, making my lower body tighten in the sweetest possible way.

Intent narrow eyes observe me closely; his mouth hastily finds mine again, consuming it with growing hunger. With his body’s weight he pushes me slowly toward the couch behind us. As we get near he gently lays me down. Staring at me, radiating desire through his hazel eyes, he unbuckles his belt and gets rid of his jeans and underwear. I stare at him, mesmerized, aching for his union with me. He attends to my jeans and helps me out of them. My shirt follows.

“You are so hot,” he murmurs. He slowly takes off my thong, but stays to gaze at me, fire in his eyes. I am burning with blistering heat, my breath heavy, my mouth dry.

He says, “The results are okay, we’re good to go.” With a pleased, naughty smile he lays on me, in between my legs. I find it hard to inhale to the tightness of yearning in my chest that releases once we unite. Sinking in me, he stops to stare into my eyes and kiss me. He pulls my leg to hold it bent against me and resumes his slow thrusting dance in me, changing his pace to fit my motions. I grab his lower back, pulling him closer to me; he takes it as a cue to accelerate his rhythm, quickly making me shatter shakily. I lay my head back and close my eyes, letting the serenity reach every part of my body as I hear him exhale heavily; he falls on me as he does. Daniel kisses me and I open my eyes to look at him. His look sincere and warm.

To my complete surprise he says, “I felt disturbed after our call. Hayley, I never feel that way.”

I stare at him and my heart skips a beat.

“I don’t do obsessing; I just move on. This is a first for me.”

“That’s why you came to the apartment?”

“Yes.” His expression morphs muddled, pensive.

I am speechless. I reach to hold his face with both hands and pull him next to me, kissing him so deeply, breathing him in.
Who is this guy and what did he do with Daniel?
The moment we just had leaves me utterly dazed.

“Oh fuck, what’s the time?” He looks at his watch. “For fuck’s sake, I missed the call.”
And Daniel is back
. He stands up, hastily putting on his boxers. “I need to make that call.”

As he starts striding toward his office cursing under his breath, I call after him, amused, “It was indeed due to fuck’s sake that you missed that call.”

I hear him chuckle. “Good one,” he shouts back.

“I’m gonna take that shower now,” I say to myself, still laughing.

~~~

“Hayley, are you done?” Daniel calls for me behind the closed door as I step out of the shower.

“Missed me?” I open the door with a towel wrapped around my head.

“Insanely.” He lets out a short chuckle, looking at me as I take off the towel and start brushing my hair.
Good word choice
.

“Are you hungry?”

“Not extremely.” He sighs and his scarred lip arches.

“And that would mean?”

Giggling, I elaborate, “I could eat, but not too much.”

“Any cravings?”

I laugh again and declare, “One Daniel Stark under the covers.”

“One Daniel Stark coming up.” His eyes dance in humor as he approaches me, attacking my neck with moist, tender kisses. “You smell delicious.” Saying that, his hand finds its way under my white top.

“No bra, I like that.”

I blink suggestively at him.

“And these shorts, Hayley, these are a pair of indecently teasing shorts.” He moves his hand to caress me at the border of my shorts.

“I’m craving pizza,” I say.

“Pizza?” He looks at me with a smirk over the mirror in front of us.

“You’re definitely different from all those leaf-eating women I got to know. You actually eat. It’s very refreshing.” He plants another kiss on the nape of my neck. I know he means well, but the thought of him with other women is not something that makes me feel too good, especially when I recall the images I saw online.

“Bad different or good different?” I ask.

He looks at me with a straight face, holding me from behind, his palm under my shirt, spread over my stomach.

“They don’t even stand a chance. You overwhelm me in every possible way.”
Twice in less than an hour. What happened to my mixture of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? Careful there, D, I might get used to it and ask for more.

“What kind of pizza?”

“Daze me.”

“Dazed you’ll be. Your wish is my command, sweet, H.”

I already am dazed—purely by you. Though, you
and
a pizza, well … who can resist that?

He fetches his phone from his pocket and dials, his hand still under my top, holding me against him.

“Tony, what’s up?”

Of course he’d have a Tony for pizzas.

“Yes, I’m okay, my usual.” He looks at me over the mirror, moving his hand in circles around my navel. “That’d be great, thanks.” He nuzzles my hair. “Food will be here in thirty.” I turn to face him, inching up to kiss his chin.

“Great news.”

He smiles. “Would you like a drink?”

“Beer?” I mutter, and he rewards me with a tender, yet profound, gaze.

“What is it?” I ask.
What did I do now?

“You. You’re so, well, you.”

“Having troubles articulating? Do you need a moment?” I tease. “Is that good? To be me, I mean?”

“It is the best, the greatest thing, since coffee came in lidded cups,” he smirks, looking pleased with his reply, and kisses me behind my ear.

Is he high on euphoriant today? What’s with all these affection declarations?

“Let’s go get those beers.” He leaves his hand under my top as he walks us to the kitchen.

“Cheers.” He clinks his bottle with mine.

“Next you’ll tell me that you’re into console games and I will totally have a crush on you.”

“Well, regardless of your very promising words, I do happen to like console games and watching sports and riding motorcycles, and I love surfing.”

“You surf, Hayley?” His voice a tone lower, surprised. I’ve never seen him like that before. He has the most stunned, sweet, and gentle stare about him.

“What is it?” I ask, curious.

“You amaze me, Hayley, that’s what.”

“Come on.” He takes my hand. “Let’s go play.” A naughty happy stretch overtakes his lips.

Hmmm, play …

Daniel turns on the large TV and brings the console to life.

“Boxing?” he asks.

“I’m game,” I murmur.

He smiles and shakes his head.

“Sure, I’ll gladly kick your ass.”

Your extremely arousing butt!
I beam at him, stretching as though before a real fight.

He says dryly, “Keep that up and I’ll be playing
you
.”

I’m game
.
Sounds even better. Play me like you want.

As we face each other, the flat screen displays two boxers in the same stance. We look at each other with narrowed eyes just like two real opponents would, though the smirks plastered on our faces indicate just how amused we are by the situation. The referee on the TV blows the whistle and the match begins to enthusiastic roars from the animated crowd.

“Game on, baby.” Daniel sends his fists my way.

“Game on, D.” I meet his fists with mine, knocking his first swing away.

“And I wish you all the luck in the world. You’ll need it.” He grins in his signature arrogant manner.

“Cocky as ever.” I smile back at him as I swing my fist toward his bare stomach, taking him by surprise. It makes me inwardly chuckle thinking how this might look to an outside observer: me almost half his weight, barely tall enough to reach his shoulders, swinging so fiercely at him. Of course the fact that we’re two adults and that one of us is a respected businessman who appears on one of Forbes’ most-valued lists just adds that extra touch.