Page 33 of Whimsical Ink
“It doesn’t explain why you wanted me there and why your whole family lied.” The burning sensation of embarrassment floods my body.
Daniel shifts until our knees rest against each other. He breathes deeply, lets it out slowly and says, “I’m sorry. For everything. It was never meant to hurt you. I love you. I’m in love with you. Have been for as long as I can remember, but I didn’t know what to do. You’re Ollie’s sister, and you’re younger, and I could never tell if you liked me or if you tolerated me because of your brother.” He rubs a hand over his jaw. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want you to be alone on your birthday, and I thought maybe if we pretended to date for my family I’d be able to tell if you had feelings for me. If you were even attracted to me. Ella said something that made me think you might be.”
My breath catches, and I roll my eyes and finally allow the seed of hope to grow in my chest to a warmth that spreads through my body. “Of course she did.”
“Was she wrong?” he asks in a whisper.
“Why didn’t you tell me? Why all the lies?”
“Because I’m stupid, okay. I’m stupid and your friendship means everything to me. Whenever I see you, it’s a good day, and I didn’t want to risk it. I want you in my life. However you want me. Even if it means you don’t love me.”
“Of course I love you.” I clasp his hand and run mindless circles on his fingers. “How could I not? I told you a few days ago when you said it, but I thought you meant as friends. I’ve never meant it as friends.” My nose burns and I scrunch it a few times to banish the feeling. “Ella’s right. She always is. I’ve hoped all week that the kissing and touching could be real, thatit was real. I convinced myself it was this morning, and then I heard you talking to Emma and… I didn’t know what to think.”
He covers my hand. “I’m an idiot.”
“Kinda. But I never said anything either because I didn’t think you would feel the same. Maybe we both are.”
“So we’re both in love with each other, both wished what was happening this week was real, and have loved each other for a while,” he recaps and tugs me closer until our sides press together.
“Sounds like it.”
“Does that mean I can kiss you?”
Instead of replying, I launch myself at him and wrap my arms around his neck, and his arms loop around my waist.
He’s warm and smells like home. Citrus surrounds me, as does the heat from his lips. I straddle him and melt against him so I can feel him everywhere. His body flush with mine. My hands shake from the onslaught of emotions, but it doesn’t stop me from gripping his hair and angling it to the side to get closer to him. My tongue darts out to taste his lips, and he opens his mouth for me to lick into.
He groans when our tongues brush and his hands grip my hips tightly. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s forceful, tight. He hasn’t done anything like it before and it causes me to shift my hips to feel his grip, and I grind against his erection. His hips twitch and he rolls up, using more force and hitting my clit through my shorts perfectly. I gasp and pull away to chase the feeling, but he stops.
He cups my cheek and when he catches his breath asks, “You’re okay with everything? You’re sure you don’t want to think about it more?” His voice is cautious, and his eyes flicker uncertainly. I can’t help kissing him gently.
“Everything’s fine. So we started on a strange note. At least we started.” My thumb brushes his bottom lip, which he kisses.“And hey, we already have traditions.” I wrap my arms around him and press my forehead to his. “I will be teasing you for all eternity about how this happened, though. I mean, fancy fake dating someone to see if they have feelings instead of asking them out.”
He swats my ass and I squeak, but he rubs a hand over the sting and nudges my nose with his. “I’ll allow the teasing because it means I have you.”
“Good. Now take your clothes off.” I yank his T-shirt off and throw it behind me. “Last time you kept your clothes on. Do you know how hard it was not touching you on the beach?”
His hands slip beneath my top and drag up towards my breasts. “About as hard as it was for me when I could see your nipples pushing against wet fabric.”
He throws my top away and tries to unclasp my bra, but I grab his hands before he can and settle them on my hips. “I want to touch you first. You got to see things last time, but I didn’t.”
“My love, you weren’t naked either. I felt things.” He rubs a finger over my covered nipple, and I bite my lip.
The endearment I love coming from him, mixed with the sensation of his fingers on me and his erection between my legs, is a lot for my mind. I love it.
“True.” I push his hand back to my hip, remove my bra and throw it to join his T-shirt. My hands catch his before he can cup my breasts. “I want to touch first.”
He squeezes my hands and releases me. Hands land below my breasts and drag down my ribs to rest on my thighs. My eyes narrow at him.
“What? I didn’t do anything.”
“Stay there,” I demand. Lifting my hands slowly, I start on his bare shoulders and run my hands across his collarbones,down his biceps, and over to his pecs. Running my hands across warm skin.
On Daniel.
Finally.
My thumbs brush his nipples, and his hands tighten on my thighs, and he flinches below me. His hips lift to grind against me. My brows raise, and I circle his nipples. The same reaction with the addition of his teeth biting his lip as he sucks in a long breath. His eyes dilate, and his cheeks stain a faint pink.