Layers(32)

“You remembered,” I say, hardly managing to properly inhale.

“It is a nice song,” he whispers back, and his eyes drop to my lips. My lips slightly tremble at the thought. I don’t want to read too much into his stare, so I just rest my head on his chest and close my eyes. I inhale his scent, listening to my favorite song, giving myself completely to the moment.

“Hayley, look at me,” Daniel asks, his voice low yet tender.

I slightly raise my head up to meet his eyes again. He then inclines his head toward me, his eyes absorbed with mine, and hesitantly his mouth approaches my lips. His look turns soft, his eyes seeking permission, and with the thrilled consent that my eyes return, slowly he bends, leaning further down my way, slightly twisting his head. I part my lips with a thudding heart, so does he, and the so-anticipated warmth of his lips gently flutters against mine.




I gasp as my stomach clenches and my lungs turn void at the first touch. His lips move back for a short instant, that look in his eyes again, and next his mouth claims mine, this time with greater determination. His tongue, so welcome, meets mine—at first tentatively, getting acquainted with the new territory. Delight of short, tender brushes. Soon our tongues are dancing together—tasting, lavishing, consuming each other enthusiastically.

We stop dancing, too absorbed in ourselves. Daniel lifts his hands to hold my face, pulling me deeper into his kiss; I reach my hands higher to slide my fingers in his soft hair. His hands move to cup my cheek, deepening the kiss. He pulls back to look at me and then kisses me again, soft, sensual little kisses. The touch of his lips makes my heart rate quicken and my body burn up inside. I press against him. How I longed for this kiss; now that I’ve finally tasted it, I know it was worth waiting for.

“Hayley, I think the music’s stopped,” Daniel smirks at me between kisses.

I blush and smile back. As I get back to my senses I realize it has stopped, and when I finally look around me I see that we’re the only ones left near the stage. At the same time noticing some very curious gazes observing us, turning away quickly and appearing embarrassed when I look back at them.

“Mr—” Miss Bally appears beside us, choking on her own words as she tries to get Daniel’s attention. She clears her throat and tries again, flustered, to bother her moody, intimidating boss.

“Mr. Stark,” she tries again, this time clearer and louder.

Daniel turns to look her way, I can’t see his expression but I can just imagine it from the terror mirrored in poor—just—doing—her—job Miss Bally’s face.

“Somebody better be dying, Anne. For f**k’s sake, what now?” Daniel says slowly, with cold disdain.

“Well,” she murmurs, fiddling with her fingers. “The hotel’s manager requested to talk to you.”

Wow, is she going to get it. My heart goes out to the poor girl. But it isn’t a life or death matter, or at least it doesn’t seem that way, unless the hotel manager is dying and his last wish is to talk to this person I don’t want to let go. Thinking about it I feel like giving her a piece of my mind. Daniel’s jaw clenches tighter under his skin. I notice a flush crawling up Miss Bally’s face. If looks could actually kill, we would be having a funeral rather than a party.

“Please, tell me. You did not. Come all the way here. To interrupt me for that,” he says icily, neck hair raising, chilling voice.

“Mr. Stark, I am deeply sorry, but he said it was an important matter.”

Feeling sorry for the poor semi-intelligent girl, I reach for Daniel’s hand. He turns to look at me as I do.

“I’ll go check up on Tasha. I’ll wait for you till you’re done,” I tell him quietly, then stretch, standing on my tiptoes, so I can reach his cheek and softly peck it. He looks down at me for a brief moment as though weighing his options then, sliding his hand underneath my hair, he cups my neck and tilts my head slightly up, then bends his own and slowly kisses me. He lingers, his alluring moisture on my mouth for a few long seconds, making my bones soften. As he draws back to my complete reluctance he tells me that he’ll be back as quickly as possible. I nod and look at Miss Bally, who is still beside us looking at anything else but us, her face bright crimson. I’m afraid she’ll tear her brown lock of hair off from the intensity with which she circles it around her finger. I need to bite my lips to stop my smile from widening.

As they walk toward the entrance I start looking for Tasha, finding her with Rob, by the same well we stood next to earlier. They seem to be deep in conversation as I approach, hardly noticing my presence.

“Well there she is, the star of the evening,” Tasha teases.

I fidget, smiling at her. “Quite the show you guys gave there, Miss Grace.” Tasha laughs, and Rob joins her.

Are you sure you want to laugh at that, Rob? I’ve heard of people packing up their belongings in cardboard boxes for less. I wonder if he would have laughed had Daniel been here.

“Where’s your boyfriend?” she asks, looking around.

“Drop it,” I snap at her, though with a friendly air.

“What’s the plan for the rest of the evening?” she asks, thankfully with all traces of cynicism gone.

“You tell me, I’m your plus one.”

“Oh Hales, the bait’s too tempting for me not to bite. You make it so hard.” I chuckle, knowing exactly where she’s heading with that; we both laugh once our eyes meet.