I’d snuck out of the nursery after putting Zara down for her afternoon nap, closing the door with a soft click so I didn’t wake her. When I turned around, I faced a wall of solid muscle, almost belting out a scream as my hand slapped over my heart. He appeared so fast I had never heard him make a sound.
Talk about freaky.
“Sure.” I followed Daniel into the room, unsure where I should sit until he began to pace, and I stood perfectly still, curious about why he brought me into his room. We could have discussed whatever he wanted anywhere in the Crossroads. But here? That was far too intimate.
His hand brushed the back of his neck as he cleared his throat. “I have a proposition for you.”
Blinking, I had no idea what he meant. “What kind? Is this about Zara?”
Please don’t take that sweet baby away from me.
“No, this is, uh, personal.”
A personal proposition? “I’m listening.”
“It’s not secret that I’ve struggled since Cindi’s death.” He turned his head, taking a deep breath before facing me again. “I have a daughter and I need to be cautious, careful. Her needs come before my own, and it’s been . . . challenging.”
“Yes,” I agreed, giving a small smile of encouragement. Maybe he wanted me to help in another way with Zara? Cleaning up the rooms? I already picked up often but was that enough?
“It’s not really about my daughter,” he explained slowly. “This is about me.”
Okay.
“Myneeds.”
Uh,okay.
“I lost my ol’ lady, and I don’t want another one.” He sighed, scrubbing a hand down his short beard. “I’m not looking to fuck any of the club girls either.”
Blinking, I tried to understand what he meant.
“You, Skyla. You’re who I want.” He closed the distance between us, tilting my chin and locking his dark sapphire eyes on me. “An arrangement. We fuck. We please one another. We get to set the pace and the rules.”
My eyes widened.He wanted me?
“I have conditions,” he continued. “When I want your pussy, you don’t hold back. I won’t interfere with your other obligations but I expect you to fall on your knees if I ask.”
“Uh, wow,” I whispered, knowing I’d probably worship his cock if he wanted that too.
“This is just sex, Skyla. Nothing else. That’s all I need. No feelings or complications or bullshit. Just an outlet for release.”
A hole. Or multiple holes. To fill with his dick and cum.
That was what he meant. That was all that I’d be to him. To be used as I had in the past, but with Daniel, it was different. He wouldn’t hurt me, but I needed to make it a rule anyway.
“No cruelty or degradation.” I was agreeing to this too quickly but couldn’t stop myself.
“Agreed. One final thing. The details of this agreement stay between you and me.”
I opened my mouth to answer, but he held up a hand.
“Think about it for a minute. Don’t rush to answer.”
I already knew I wanted this. There wasn’t a reason to delay, but I let him think I thought it over, remaining silent for several minutes. The parameters of the arrangement focused on his needs and desires, but they didn’t just benefit him.
Daniel’s need for secrecy provided protection for us both.
He didn’t want me to see beneath his scars. Keeping the pain close, he lived in the rage and need for vengeance, but lurking beneath that tough exterior, a passionate, caring man yearned for connection. He’d never admit that he felt deeply, gave selflessly, and made love harder than most. Those truths were a part of him, even if he denied them. I knew this because any man who was this haunted about losing someone he loved gave a bit of his soul in the process.