“I’m glad, but before you left did you and he?”
“Luke, look at me,” she stated getting his full attention. “Chance and I never were that close, in fact there were no other lovers.”
“No other…Danielle!” he half shouted as the meaning filtered through his brain. “Are you telling me that…no…oh god baby, I’m such an ass.”
Dani shook her head with a grin wondering what he was talking about. “How are you an ass?”
“I was your first on our wedding night, and the way I…no wonder you hated me. Dani, I’m so sorry baby. If I’d known, I would never have done that—hurt you the way I did.”
“It was a tiny sting Luke and you’ve more than made up for it over the years.”
“But I never gave you the choice, and the way I handled all of this…can you really forgive me?”
“There’s no reason to beat yourself up over this Luke. I lied to you, and I knew what I was facing but even then, I’d rather it been you than Chance or Felix,” she said with a shudder sticking with the lies she’d created yet again. It wasn’t hard to be repulsed by the idea of either man putting their vile hands on her and she settled deeper into his embrace wondering what would happen to them when the truth finally came out.
“You slay me, Dani. I don’t deserve you but I’m going to make sure you never question us again. It will never be like then I promise,” he stated kissing her until they reached the plane.
Over the next three days, he showed her exactly how he should have made love to her and when Monday morning rolled around, he made no move to leave the beach house.
“Don’t you think people are going to start worrying around the office?” Dani asked as they sat outside enjoying the fresh morning air. She loved feeling his arms around her, the way he made her feel safe and loved even though he didn’t really love her, or if he did, she couldn’t accept it because it wasn’t real.
“Why would they do that?” he inquired kissing her neck.
“Oh, I don’t know, you skipped out after lunch on Thursday, didn’t make it in at all on Friday. No one’s seen or heard from us all weekend long and now Monday morning has come, is quickly slipping away, and we’re still here.”
“Let them wonder. I want to stay right here with you. No outside world or distractions getting between us, no misunderstandings that lead to arguments, just you and me. What do you say?”
“Sounds like heaven to me.” Dani sighed, giving him a small grin adding, “But I need to make two calls first or at least one to Brad to cancel my appointments.”
“Oh…do you want to go back to town for it?”
“No, I can say without a doubt there is nothing my therapist could say to me today that would make me feel better than being right here with you.”
Luke grabbed his cell and handed it over as she dialed Brad. She was smiling when she handed it back and slid her arms around his neck while he constructed an email to Lori. She peeked at it and grinned.
“Not sure when we’ll be back are you?” she teased leaning into his body.
“Not a clue, not when my beautiful wife is this happy. I’d gladly walk away from it all if it’d keep that smile on your face Dani. The money…it doesn’t matter anymore. None of it matters baby, just you and me, and this right here.”
Dani felt the tears prick at her eyes and buried her face in his neck not wanting him to see them because it would ruin this. She was selfish; she wanted this. She wanted him and she refused to let anything come between them right now. Who knew how long they’d have together, so for now she was going to simply live in the moment with him. She pushed away the tears and kissed his neck, dropping tiny touches all along it until he lifted her and carried her back inside the house.
“This is how it should have been from the start Dani,” he stated slowly undressing her, piece by piece until she was without any barriers. He pushed aside his desire to rush inside her and release his own need as he brought her to a peak and toppled her over it before building it back up again.
“Luke…please.” Dani gasped as his fingers sought out the hidden flesh and began to caress it sending her flying again. She was drowning in the feelings, and she didn’t want it to stop but she wanted more. She wanted him.
“Please what Dani?” he asked stroking her nub with his fingers while his mouth worshiped her breasts.
“Love me…now,” she pleaded reaching for him.
“I do Dani,” he blurted out causing her to tense. “Shit…” he muttered seeing the panic in her eyes. “Dani…baby…”
“Don’t Luke,” she said sitting up. “What does that mean?” she asked moving onto his lap when he tried to move away from her. “You love me? Or you’re going to make love to me?”
“Both baby,” he groaned running his hands down her bare skin until they cupped her butt. He pulled her tighter against him and held on. “I fell for you a long time ago Dani. I fought you because I didn’t want to admit the truth to you, that the money has never mattered baby. You could take it all and I’d still love you. It was the only thing I could think of to keep you though, I couldn’t ever let you go.”
“Luke…” Dani sighed wishing she could bask in the answer.
“It’s alright Dani, I know you don’t feel that way about me, but for me it’s only you. From the very start there was only you.”