HAPPY FOREVER AFTER

Daniel held her tighter than he should. Kissed her as if it was his last kiss.

Reluctantly, he broke the kiss, looked deeply into her dark, lovely eyes. “Dance with me,” he whispered. “One last dance before we head home.”

Emma nodded, and then she put her head on his shoulder while he circled her with his arms. They moved slowly, weaving together, him rubbing her back, wallowing in the softness of her skin. When she sighed, he let himself relax a bit. Damn, but she felt good.

He touched the back of Emma’s neck, once again drowning in her warm, soft skin. She looked up at him, smiling, then snuggled back to the crook of his shoulder.

Was it possible he deserved her? Dammit, he hoped so. But not because he had money or power. Because he liked her. A lot. More than he’d counted on, that’s for sure. She’d done something no other woman had. She had made him open up again. What she didn’t know was that she wasn’t the only one scared of getting hurt. After his last relationship he hadn’t thought he would ever get close to anyone again.

And now there was this woman. Emma. He didn’t understand this strong attraction to her, this need to protect her. Have her all to himself. Beautiful Emma who wanted so very much to be strong and do things her way.

Maybe that was it. He thought. Why did he feel such a pull toward her? He liked her spirit, her abandon.

On the other hand, he might just be crazy about her lips. The thought spurred him into action, and he lifted her chin so he could taste her again.

His eyes closed and his feet stopped, but the swaying didn’t. Holding her close, her scent, was actually rather exciting.

He stepped back as the song ended.

————

“It’s late,” Daniel said after the newly married couple left. said. “We should think about going home.”

She nodded. “That’s a pretty good idea.”

“I will take you home,” he said.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

“Thanks,” Emma said. “Let me talk to Monica first. I will meet you outside.”

“Fair enough. I’ll go get the car”.

He kissed the tip of her nose, wanting to do far more. Instead, he winked, then headed toward the doors.

Emma sighed. In an hour, he would drop her off at her place. She would go back to being the girl who worked for him, and he would go back to being the boss. Damn pity the two couldn’t mix.

————-

“You know I used to be engaged” Daniel said as the car sped through the night.

She gaped at him, no doubt stunned by what he had said. “Why didn’t you get married?” she asked.

“She cheated on me”

“She did?” Emma asked, unable to believe that any woman would. He was perfect.

He nodded, and the smile on his mouth felt savage. “We had been together a year and a half, engaged to be married. Gorgeous, fun, witty, exciting-I didn’t care about anything else. All I wanted was her. And all she wanted was what I could give her. At least, until she found someone else who could give her more.”

“I’m so sorry, Daniel,” Emma said.

“It’s fine. I came home early from a business trip and stopped by her place. I had the key, so I went in and found them together in bed. It hadn’t been the first time they had been together. The next day, when giving me back my ring, She informed me that it’d been going on for some time-six months.”

Sorrow flashed in her eyes, and for a second, he resented her for it. He didn’t want her pity.

“I just told you that so you would know that I understand. I understand why you pushed me away so much. I understand the need for control over your emotions. I have been there. And I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to. And that’s why I try to be completely honest about what I want. Because the last thing I want to do is hurt you. I admire you not just for your beauty but for who you are-successful, brilliant, esteemed. You don’t have to try to grab someone’s attention. You are cool and so beautiful. Men can’t help but notice you. I’m so drawn to you for some reason I can’t explain. Ever since the first time I saw you. And I just knew I had to know you… Because that doesn’t happen to me a lot.

Only the harsh grating of their breaths filled the back of the car. Part of him demanded he rescind those too revealing words. But the other part-the greedy, desperate part-refused to, instead waiting to see what she would do with them.

“What game are you playing now, Daniel?” she whispered, her eyes wide…vulnerable. “First of all you are a jerk… ”

He smiled. And Emma continued. “….. And now you are saying all these things. Confusing the hell out of me. I can’t seem to make a decision when it comes to you. I don’t know how to play this, Daniel”

“Then set the rules,” he said, just as softly.

Unable not to touch her any longer, he cupped her deceptively delicate jaw, stroked the pad of his thumb over the elegant jut of her cheekbone. “Set the rules, and I will follow them.”

It was a dangerous allowance. But that knowledge didn’t stop him from shifting closer to her, from tipping her head back and brushing a caress over her parted lips. From staring down into those beautiful eyes and letting her see the desire that hurtled through his veins.

“Just one. Make…” She paused, briefly closed her eyes, but then her lashes lifted. “Make me forget.”

“Forget what, baby?” he asked.

The answer was already yes. He would surrender anything to her if she’d permit him to continue touching her.

One hand rose to his wrist, the slender fingers wrapping around and hanging on to him. The other slipped inside his jacket and settled on his chest before sliding up to his neck, her thumb resting on his pulse.

“Forget everything” she whispered. “Forget that you could hurt me. And I’m going to let you.”

A vise gripped his chest and tightened until the barest of breaths passed through his lungs.

If he was a good man, he would release her, promise not to touch her again. She was right; he would probably end up hurting her, and if he had a conscience, he would warn her to protect herself from him.

But he’d never claimed to be good.

Still, he could do what she asked. He could make her forget.