Authors: MG Braden

Snowbound (15 page)

BOOK: Snowbound

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Opening the door, she found Daniel holding a small bunch of lilacs. Dressed in a suit, he looked amazing. Her heart leapt and thumped so loudly she swore he could probably hear it beating. He looked so good. Still, where had he been all day? Why did all these guys think that bringing or sending flowers made up for them being jerks?
Maybe he was busy, Cass, you ever think of that? Life doesn’t revolve around you.
No, it didn’t, but a phone call would’ve been courteous. While the thoughts warred inside her head, all she did was stand there and look at him.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hi.”

“These are for you.” He handed her the lilacs. “I remember you saying they were your favourite.”

“Thank you, they are.” Touched, she was surprised he’d remembered.

“Um, can I come in? Or would you prefer to leave me in the hallway?” He tilted his head as a smile lit his face. His eyes crinkled at the edges when he smiled, and she could see nothing but kindness in their depths.

“Oh, sure, sorry, come in.” The words rushed out of her, and she stood back to let him in. As he passed she tugged her shirt down trying to cover the gap between it and her leggings. Not planning on seeing anyone tonight, she’d dressed in what she called her comfies. They were just an old long sleeved, crop t-shirt worn with some waffle leggings. The shirt was so old the bottom was quite raggedy.

“Are you leaving?” he asked, indicating the luggage set to the side of the bed.

“Tomorrow morning. I actually thought you were the bellboy coming to pick it up.”

“Nope, I’m not the bellboy. Would you like me to be?” He teased.

She smiled. “Well you are pretty cute, a uniform would only help.”

“Whatever works.” He looked at her so intently, she felt a blush start to warm her cheeks.

“Daniel, I’m not sure what’s going on. You sent me breakfast and then I didn’t hear from you all day. I know you owe me nothing, but I guess I just don’t know what you want, or if you want anything.”

“Listen, Cass. I’m sorry, I just needed to think about some things.” He grabbed her hands and held them. “Please understand that I’m not normally an emotional guy. Yet, the things I have felt for you this week have really rocked my world. When Natasha died I put that part of myself away. I was fine with that. Then I met you and now I don’t know anything anymore.”

“Okay.” She wasn’t really sure how to react or what to say, but a tiny glimmer of hope flared to life. He stepped closer to her, still holding her hands.

“From the minute I met you I wanted to protect you. I wanted to take that sadness away from your eyes. To make you see that you were so much more than you believed yourself to be. So much more than that jerk made you out to be. Better than him.” He cleared his throat. “I’m...I’m not so good with words, but I hope you can hear what I’m clumsily trying to tell you.”

Tears filled her eyes at how sweet he was being. “I think you’re doing just fine. Your words are perfect.”

“Do you think...I mean, would you mind staying on a few days more? Maybe we can take the time to figure things out a little more?”

She warred with herself about agreeing to this too soon. To just jump at the chance that he was offering seemed hasty, but what would come of it if she didn’t? She could go home tomorrow and wonder or she could stay a few more days and see if there was something real between them. Everything this week had been so fast and so surreal, but maybe they could give it a chance.

“Cass?” His eyes searched hers.

She nodded. “Okay, that’d be good.”

He let go of her hands, bringing one of his up to brush away the tear running down her face. Then he tilted her chin and brought his lips down on top of hers. The kiss was gentle at first, almost tentative then, as she responded to him, it became more fierce. She wrapped her arms around him, her fingers sliding into his hair, urging his head down harder as if they could get their mouths even closer. As his kisses trailed away from her mouth toward her ear and down her neck, she shivered in delight. She arched her body ever closer to his, desperate to feel more of him against her. Feeling the bed behind her knees, she knew they must have been inching back toward it, so she let her body fall backwards, pulling him with her. They each shifted upward, but their bodies somehow managed to stay aligned. His head came up, the look in his eyes full of desire. Desire she knew emanated from her as well.

In the process of working their way up the bed her shirt had twisted around, leaving a bare expanse of skin. Daniel took advantage of that and trailed his fingers around her navel, then they slowly travelled upwards under her shirt. Not expecting to have company, she hadn’t put a bra on under her top. Slightly embarrassed, she wondered what he would think when he discovered that but then let it go, his touch felt too good. As his fingers reached her breast an electric current travelled between them and she gasped. He pulled back and seemed to search her eyes for something.

“I don’t want to do anything you don’t want to do.”

“Trust me, I’m fine.”

He smiled lazily. “Yes, you are.” His head bent toward her breast, his tongue snaking out around the nipple which became achingly taut.

Arching, she needed to feel more of him against her and she wrestled to get his shirt off of him. The feeling of chest on chest only fuelled her desire further. Daniel cupped one breast, while suckling on the other. His free hand worked its way under the waistband of her leggings and found the point of her desire. She sucked in a quick breath. “Oh, God, yes.”