Why?
Why, Daniel?
Because he couldn’t stay away from her. Nothing was making sense anymore, and before he left, he had to have her one last time.
They both knew that’s why she was here.
He ran his hand over her forehead, brushing her long dark locks off her face, then his lips lowered to hers gently.
He felt Harper's reluctance and stopped.
“I hate how I’ve hurt you. I hate not being with you,” Daniel admitted. “I hate even more that I have to leave.”
Harper's eyes dropped, then returned to his. “I feel the same, but we knew this was inevitable.”
Was it?
Why was it?
God, nothing made sense. This woman, she’d turned everything he believed in, his well-structured life, into a kaleidoscope that didn’t make sense anymore. He was questioning everything.
But he had things to say and needed to get them out.
“I know you believed I was lying to you. I wish you hadn’t seen my father’s text, so we’d had more time together,” Daniel said. “I need you to know how much you mean to me, Harper. I’ve never spent time with another woman like we have. My bed, the sofa, the cars, they all feel empty without you.”
He watched her slowly swallow and her eyes began to glisten.
“I watched you with that man and wanted to rip you out of his arms,” Daniel growled, days of frustration rising up within him now.
Her mouth parted.
“Have you fucked him?” Harper tried to pull out of his arms, but he held her. “Answer me.”
“No! Goddamn you, Daniel. How could you ask that?”
How could he not ask?
He gripped her arms tighter. “Because I want to scream and tell the world you’re mine.”
A tear escaped and slid down her distraught face.
“You can’t do that. You can’t do this to me,” she cried. “You’re leaving. I am leaving. That’s the way it has to be.”
She wasn’t hearing him. He had to get her to understand. He needed her to know.
“Don’t you hear what I’m saying?” She shook her head, refusing to look at him, but he continued. “I’m falling in love with you, Harper.”
A guttural sound left her throat.
While tears poured down her face, Daniel slammed his mouth down on hers, taking complete possession.
One last time.
Harper responded, opening for him in surrender.
Daniel scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom, laying her down on the enormous bed. He kneeled over her, as her hair fanned out over the luxury linens, making her look like a powerful goddess.
She must be. She’d put a fucking spell on him.