Her head fell back against the pillows.
“So you want to cuddle?” she laughed.
“First time for everything, I guess,” Daniel said and lay back down beside her. She turned into him, and their legs entwined.
“What, you’ve never cuddled?”
“No, Harper, I don’t cuddle,” he said, brushing hair off her face. “I work. I fuck. I work out. I eat. I work. I fuck...repeat. I don’t cuddle.”
She frowned. “Everyone needs cuddles.”
“Then show me.”
Harper nestled into his chest, and Daniel wrapped his arms around her. They wriggled until they both found comfort, despite his erection between them, and she let out a little sigh. “Look at that. You’re an expert.”
“Go to sleep before I change my mind,” he groaned.
Harper smiled and felt herself doze off. The lights and hurricane woke her a handful of times, but when Daniel tightened his arm around her, she’d fall back asleep.
The man she swore she’d run away from.
The man, despite who and what he was, seemed to melt her walls. She knew she’d pay the price for it, eventually, but right now it felt perfect.
––––––––
HARPER WOKE WITH A sore head and dry mouth. She realized she’d left the bottles of water inside the hotel suite. The moment she moved, Daniel roused beside her.
“I’m just going to get some water,” she whispered.
Daniel opened his eyes and stared at her.
Oh god, please tell me he’s not going to regret last night. I couldn’t handle another rejection.
His eyes blinked and heat filled them. His fingers, where they lay on her body, pressed firmer and she was pulled into him as he took her mouth. “Good morning.”
His voice was all gravel, causing a shiver through her body.
“How are you this beautiful, even in the morning?” Daniel asked, his eyes roaming over her.
“Clearly you need glasses.”
Daniel sat up, forcing her onto her back, and moaned. “I’m going to get that water for you. Stay there.”
“So bossy,” she said, then coughed.
Daniel crawled off the mattress and grabbed the swipe card, then disappeared inside her hotel suite.
Harper pulled her phone out of her bag and saw it was eight in the morning. She read the three messages from her mother, who was concerned about the hurricane. She’d replied to a few messages during the evening but ignored one of her calls.
Harper would pay for that.
Ping.
Hey girl. You’re online!
What are you doing awake so early on a Saturday?
She replied to Kristen. New Zealand was twenty-three hours ahead, making it seven in the morning.