DanielsSurrender (23 page)

Rumors?
He was floored by the idea. He’d thought the
three of them had been very careful, very discreet. But people talked.
Employees at Worthington, and even at Daniel’s own office, were not blind to
the fact that he, Shannon and Matt shared serious alone time together behind
closed doors at the office.

It didn’t bother him at all that people were speculating
about his sex life, but it
did
disturb him that people were speculating
about Matthew and Shannon. More, it disturbed him that he was disturbed in the
first place.

The little brunette clasped Daniel’s hand, pulling him back
through the casino. Her small ass, encased in a clingy red dress, swayed from
perfect practice. She knew how to entice a man with her body language.

She opened a small door near the back marked employees only.
They walked down a short hall and she opened another door. It was an empty
conference room of some sort. Daniel shoved the door shut and pushed her up
against it. She reached back, fumbled behind herself and flipped the lock.

He slid his hand up her side, tracing the lower curve of one
ballooning breast, and she leaned into his body, shiny red lips parted for his
kiss. Bending down, Daniel prepared to fuck her up against the door to relieve
some of the ache tormenting him.

His lips were a breath away from hers when he stopped. He
looked into her eyes, but they weren’t melting chocolate or smoky blue. They
were a hard shade of blue near to his own. He breathed her in, and her skin
didn’t smell like orange blossoms, or clean soap mixed with musk that was so
unique to Matt. There was nothing soft on her at all. Her tan was fake, as were
her tits and lips.

Daniel sucked in a deep breath as reality slapped him in the
face. This woman wasn’t Shannon. She wasn’t natural and she wasn’t real. She
was merely out to impress—she would never tremble in his arms. She’d never sing
out of tune in his kitchen, or throw soapy sponges at him. No other woman would
ever come close to his angel. Just like no man would ever take the place of
Matthew.

His body shut down. There was no arousal, no animal
attraction. The woman in his arms was indeed beautiful by society’s standards,
but not by Daniel’s.

He felt as if he’d been punched in the gut. For a moment he
couldn’t breathe as he faced the enormity of what he’d done, what he’d given
up, and the tension he hadn’t realized he was carrying seemed to flow off him
in wave after wave.

Then the hurt started. Real hurt. It wasn’t the kind that
time would ever be able to heal. It was like a huge pit had opened up and was
trying to swallow him from the inside out.

Was this what he’d done to Matty and his angel? Oh fuck,
what the hell had he done?

The panic rushed in again, worse than ever before. Marcus,
the asshole, was right. He was a coward. He’d allowed two unhappy, bitter
people, both long dead, to control his entire adult life.

Now he’d had the realization that he was not his father,
destined to drink himself to death rather than dealing with disappointment. He
wasn’t his mother either, to run off at the first flirtatious glance from a
pretty face. Daniel was himself, and he’d thrown away the best thing that had
ever happened to him.

He set the model gently away from him. Suddenly her name
came to him in a rush.

“Torrie, sweetheart, I’m sorry but I’ve got to go.” He tried
to smile, but he was torn between elation at his discovery and terror at the
rejection he deserved.

“Daniel,” she whined, “I thought we were going to play.” The
woman tried again to approach him.

“Not going to happen, sweetheart. I guess the rumors were
right. I
am
off the market.” He unlocked the door, stepping around her.
He strode out, leaving Torrie with her mouth gaping and her body shaking in
disbelief.

He checked his watch—it was a little past ten. He jogged to
the front of the casino and as the valet went to get his car, he pulled out his
cell phone.

After two phone calls and some serious begging, Daniel
jumped into his car and took off down Woodward Avenue. He had two important
stops to make, and then he’d be free.

* * * * *

Daniel stood in front of the simple headstone in the ground.
Robert and Sarah Ellis were buried side by side. His mother had returned soon
after his father’s death, ill and desperate. Cancer had ravaged her body, and
she’d begged Daniel to let her rest next to her husband. Daniel never
understood why she wanted that, especially when she’d left them. She’d tried to
apologize to him over and over, but it had fallen on deaf ears. His anger and
resentment had been too strong to grant her forgiveness. He thought her excuse
that she was afraid to love his father had been just that—a lousy excuse to
explain her adultery.

He saw the truth now as he stood before them looking through
the eyes of a man who had grown to be a carbon copy of them. Oh, he wasn’t an
alcoholic and he’d never been in a relationship long enough to cheat. Instead
he was cold, emotionless through and through.

His fear of being like them, of inflicting that kind of pain
on another, had cemented his destiny to follow in their footsteps. In the end,
his parents’ sins were truly laid on their son. But it ended tonight, and no matter
what happened in the future, Daniel would never be the same again.

“This is the last time I will ever come here,” he stated
grimly, staring down at their shared stone. “But I’ve come to tell you both
that I forgive you. I don’t understand your choices. I never will. But I
forgive you.” Daniel swallowed back the tears threatening to spill.

“You were wrong, old man. Love doesn’t make you weak.
Running from it does, denying it does, breaking someone’s heart does. I won’t
be like you anymore. And I won’t be like you either, Mom. I won’t live my life
going from one warm body to the next. I want more. I want it all, and if it’s
not too late, I’m going to get it.”

He ran his hand across the top of the stone and whispered
his good-byes. Back in his car he raced to his second destination. He had to
hurry; Marcus and Carrie’s wedding was tomorrow, and he was ready to fight to
get his family back.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Shannon caught Matthew’s eye across the courtyard of
Greenfield Village’s Martha Mary Chapel. He looked healthy and strong, and so
mouthwateringly gorgeous she had to forcibly keep herself from pouncing on him
in front of God and all of Marcus and Carrie’s wedding guests. He sent her a
naughty wink, proving he really
could
read her mind. She thought wistfully
of their near miss in the shower—they’d been running late and he’d said he
wanted to take his time with her—and began planning just how long she’d make
him wait to come when they were alone tonight.

Chatting idly with Carrie’s mom and sister, two women with
wits as sharp as her new friend’s, she stood admiring her man and his older
brother. Set against the backdrop of the beautifully restored chapel, the men
looked severe and sexy in their ultra-traditional ebony tuxes. The only thing
to relieve the picture was the deep flame-colored tapestry of Matthew’s
cummerbund. Marcus had opted for all black.

She was pulled out of her musings by an odd prickling at the
back of her neck. She knew that sensation. Matthew stiffened slightly and his
eyes flew back to hers before flicking over her shoulder. Taking a deep breath,
she slowly turned to face Daniel.

She hadn’t seen him since the night he’d ended things. She
might have hoped the intervening weeks would have lessened his impact on her
senses. She’d have been doomed to disappointment. He stood, as golden and
beautiful as a fallen angel.

If she’d ever doubted his feelings, the way his eyes moved
from her to Matthew and back, as if starved for the sight of them, would have
ended it in a hurry. He looked tired, she decided. And as if he’d lost weight.
And he’d made it clear that it was none of her business, and certainly not her
job to baby him.

For a moment he met her eyes, his intent and glittering. She
actually thought he might approach her, and with a sharp breath she
deliberately turned away. He was too achingly beautiful, and too unattainable.
She couldn’t stand and make small talk with him when his mere presence made her
feel as if she was bleeding to death. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

Daniel tried to ignore the little dagger of pain he felt as
Shannon turned her back on him. He knew he had no right to expect anything
else. He’d hurt her too badly to fix everything with a mere glance across a
flower-strewn courtyard. Still, the dominant instinct in him almost had him
crossing the way to drag her to his side. She was his woman, and he’d been
without her too long. It was only Matthew’s sharp look, and the even sharper
shake of his head, that stopped him.

Not the time, Danny-boy. Not the place.

But damn they were gorgeous, these lovers of his. Shannon,
in a floaty yellow dress splashed with scarlet and fire-colored flowers, looked
like a garden pixie. Matthew, in severe black and with his hair loose around
his shoulders, could have stepped out of another century.

Marcus and Carrie had opted not to have a rehearsal, Carrie
insisting that they were all reasonably intelligent and could manage to walk
and stand without direction, so he hadn’t seen Matt or Shannon since that grim
night at his house. Hadn’t been able to prepare himself to control his
response.

He’d missed them.

More than even he’d realized. Now he feasted his eyes on
them, filling up at least some of the emptiness with the knowledge that they
were almost within touching distance.

* * * * *

The wedding was perfect. Simple, elegant and so very like
Carrie and Marcus that it made Shannon smile through her tears. As Marcus
reached for his bride, she let her eyes connect with Matthew’s. She had no
doubt that he loved her just as intently as Marcus loved Carrie, and the
knowledge left her eyes glowing with unshed tears.

When Marcus began making his vows in his low, masterful
voice, she watched Matthew’s eyes kindle on hers. He was making those same vows
to her silently, and she felt every word down to her soul. Then, to her
surprise, he started and looked away from her, to the man at his side.

Daniel placed one hand on Matthew’s shoulder, and he met the
other man’s eyes with a burning intensity that was riveting. Shannon felt her
lips part as her breath quickened. She could literally feel Matthew’s response
from twenty feet away. The way the blood rushed through his body. The way every
muscle went hard and ready.

Then Daniel turned his eyes to her, and her breath stopped
entirely. There was more naked emotion in his sapphire stare than she’d seen in
the entire time they’d been together. His hand still clenched on Matt’s
shoulder, his face was a mask of pain and regret. And something else. Something
like hope.

If she’d been into lying to herself, she’d have thought he
was making vows too.

* * * * *

They’d been separated after the obligatory pictures, and
once the toasts were made, Matthew left the bridal table and quickly swept
Shannon to the dance floor. They looked good together, Daniel thought, her
petite frame fitted to his tall, lean one. Her head nestled against his heart,
and Daniel knew that they were sharing the communion that was only shared by
people who were lovers in the truest sense of the word. And for the first time
in his life, he wanted to be a part of that.

It was indecently early when Marcus took the microphone from
the wedding singer to say his good-byes to the small group of celebrating
family and friends.

“I know you will all understand my rather,” he glanced at
his blushing wife, “urgent need for some time alone with my new bride.”

Friends from the Club smiled knowingly, while friends and
family from their regular life laughed innocently. Daniel caught sight of
Dorian on the far side of the dance floor, sending speculative looks at
Carrie’s younger sister. Her recent pregnancy had left her soft and blooming
with rich, fertile curves, and the cop couldn’t seem to look away.

He owed Dorian big time. The cop had convinced the drunk
driver to let Daniel pay for his hospital bills in exchange for dropping the
assault charges. The young man readily concurred, as well as agreeing to go
into rehab after his jail sentence was served. Turned out that he was a screwed
up nineteen-year-old kid with a messy past. Matthew had forgiven the younger
man, and Daniel discovered he could do no less.

“In the meantime,” Marcus continued over the laughter,
“Carrie and I would love for you to enjoy the beautiful night, the fabulous
band, and as our special treat to you, horse-drawn carriage rides around the
village.” A spatter of impromptu applause broke out at his announcement as a
line of glossy carriages drawn by even glossier horses clip-clopped up the
cobbled driveway.

The bride and groom ran to the first carriage in line,
ducking ceremonial gold coins and showers of birdseed along the way. The last
sight anyone had of them as they glided away was of Marcus, his strong hand
cupping Carrie’s face as he stared deeply into her eyes and pulled her in for
his kiss.

It felt as if he’d been stalking Matthew and Shannon forever
when he finally caught up with them as Matthew handed Shannon up into a
gorgeous cordovan-colored carriage drawn by a stunning bay gelding. Before
either realized his intent, he swung into the seat facing them and gestured for
the driver to go.

For a moment they both looked painfully vulnerable, then
Matthew just looked tired.

“Daniel.” His voice was low and weary. It was a tone Daniel
had associated with himself for years, but never with Matthew. “What is it you
want from us?” Shannon laid her hand over Matt’s, and Daniel could literally
see the other man draw strength from her touch.

“You’ve been teasing all day.” As Matt spoke, Shannon
nodded. Her eyes were that warm melted-chocolate color they sometimes got when
her emotions carried her away. It gave Daniel hope.

Matthew continued. “Long, significant looks.” His eyes
narrowed, smoky green and ready to spark with anger. “Meaningful touches.” He
shook his head, and Shannon finished for him.

“Daniel.” He knew she wanted to reach for him, saw her check
the motion, and all he wanted was her touch. “We offered you everything…” Her
eyes filled. “And it wasn’t something you could accept.”

He cleared his throat and dipped his head in
acknowledgement. Everything they said was true.

“Matty.” He dragged his eyes away from Shannon to meet
Matthew’s stormy gaze. “Nine months ago you sat in your brother’s office, and
you called me a coward.” Matt raised his chin in acknowledgement, obviously
expecting Daniel to argue the point. He was in for a surprise.

“You were right,” Daniel continued. “I have been. I let my
fear of becoming my father, of being broken by love, control my emotions.
Worse, I let my fear of becoming my mother, unable to be faithful, and ending
up destroying the very people I treasured most, control my actions.” He dropped
his eyes from Matthew’s and stared out at the beautiful, peaceful scenery
rolling by.

“I hurt you both, even though that was the last thing I
wanted to do.” He looked up again, meeting both sets of eyes in turn. “And in
hurting you, I hurt myself.”

“Daniel.” This time Shannon
did
reach out for his
hand. Her touch was like sunlight after years of darkness. “What do you want
from us?”

The carriage was pulling back up at the reception as Matthew
answered for him. “Babe, he wants sex.” It killed Daniel to see the bitter
cynicism in the younger man’s eyes, which had bled into the pure green of
anger.

Matt jumped lithely from the carriage and turned to lift
Shannon down beside him. Daniel saw his future, his family, slipping from his
grasp and shot the coachman a furious, “Wait for us,” as he leapt down to
position himself in front of them.

“Of course I want sex,” he snapped, patience at an end. “But
I could get that anywhere.” He laid a hand on Shannon’s cheek and all but
growled in triumph as she pressed into his palm. “I want you, you ass.” He
continued, meeting Matthew’s eyes squarely. Matt’s mouth dropped open. “I
need
you. Both.”

Daniel took a step back, fumbling in his pocket for the
white satin box he’d been carrying since the night before. Facing the two
people who completed him, he did the most courageous thing he’d ever done in
his life. He flipped open the box.

* * * * *

Shannon was trembling at his side, and it looked as if Matt
was fighting hard not to join her. When Daniel opened the jeweler’s box, he
would have sworn the world stopped turning. He knew the party around them
suddenly went quiet, and saw the comprehension of that little fact in Matt’s
eyes too.

The box contained three rings. One boasted a flawless
cushion-cut emerald flanked by two diamonds. The other two were obviously men’s
rings. Solid, thick gold bands that proclaimed ownership to the world.

Daniel let his eyes slide from Matt’s to Shannon’s and back
again as he plucked the rings from the box before closing it and dropping it
into his pocket. Then, eyes glued to Matthew’s, he slid one of the men’s rings
onto his own finger.

“I belong to you.” Matt sucked in a breath at the blunt
announcement. Daniel turned to Shannon. “And, angel,” he took her hand, raising
it to his mouth before slipping the exquisite emerald ring on her left ring
finger, “we both belong to you.”

The tears in Shannon’s eyes spilled over as she stared at
her hand next to Daniel’s, the matching glimmer of their rings catching the
light of the candles being lit across the reception tables. Her answer was
clear in the glow of her eyes.

There was one ring left. One answer left. Matthew looked up
from their entwined hands and met Daniel’s eyes.

Daniel had never been so terrified, so exposed, in his life.
When he’d admitted that Matt and Shannon owned him, he’d felt every remaining
barrier inside him crumbling. He’d also felt every person at the reception
watching them curiously. None of that could lessen the sense of rightness he
felt when he slid the wedding band on his hand.

His relief when Shannon accepted her ring almost unmanned
him. But he’d known Shannon would be the easy one. As much as he’d hurt her
with his coldness and inability to express his love, he knew he’d hurt Matthew
even more.

Matt came from a history of cold, domineering men, and the
fact he’d let himself love Daniel at all was a miracle. By walking away from
that love, Daniel knew he’d rubbed salt in every wound that Old Man
Worthington, may the bastard rot in Hell, had left on his younger son’s heart.

Now, Daniel stood before them. His loves. His family. The
ones who made him whole. He knew if Matthew couldn’t forgive him, he would
never recover. Never love again. And he knew he didn’t deserve forgiveness if
he couldn’t be ruthlessly honest and go for broke.

“Matthew Worthington.” His voice was gruff with emotion.
Matt’s eyes flared smoky blue. “You are, without a doubt, the best man I know.”

He cleared his throat and heard Shannon sniffle as he paused
to collect his thoughts. “Your courage puts me to shame.” He looked away and
forced himself to look back, refusing to choke now. This was too important.

“You and Shannon exploded into my life at a time when I was
so trapped in my isolation I didn’t even know there was anything else out
there. You had the unmitigated gall to want me to be happy. Buddy, you knew I
didn’t do happy.” He gave a wry smile. “But you made me happy anyway.” His
smile faded. “And then you almost died, and I knew that if you had, I’d have
died right there with you.”

Matt’s eyes blazed with blue fire, and his expression
softened just a bit.

“And you were right, I was a coward. I couldn’t face the
pain of losing you that way, so I hurt us all by sending you away on my terms.”
He paused again, thoughtfully. “I thought if I controlled the loss, I could
control the pain.” He grinned at the two standing rapt, caught by his words.
“Here’s your chance to tell me I’m not only a coward, but a fool, too.” When
neither responded, he merely raised his brows and continued.