Layers(56)

“What’s with the look, Hales, not so happy to see me?” he questions, his face abruptly fallen at my reaction. Oh no, it is not because of you, well yes it is, but not on my account. I push him back to the hall with my body pinning him against the wall as I kick shut the door. Daniel looks at me under raised eyebrows with wide eyes. He probably thinks I’ve lost it.

Lifting my hands to wrap them around his neck, stretching my body on flexed feet against him, I reach his mouth and press a wholehearted kiss on his slightly parted, stunned lips. Passionately, I kiss him with all possible seductive maneuvers I can incorporate into one kiss.

As we part, he questions, “This is more than welcome, but what’s going on here? What’s with the sudden need to sexually attack me outside your door? Can’t do it inside?”

I hold his handsome face with both hands making sure his eyes are aligned with mine. “Can you please set aside your feelings? For me? Just this once? Please?” Pressing my lips against his again, I envelope him, caressing his lower back. “Please,” I repeat in a pleading tone.

“Seriously, what’s up with you today, Hales? What the hell are you talking about? You’re acting weirder than usual.” He watches me with a frown. “What’s going on, for f**k’s sake?” His body stiffens.

“Look past what you see, for me. That’s all I ask,” I whisper as I take his hand and lead him inside to where Ian, Tasha and Rob are. My heartbeat quickens as I wait, dreading the unavoidable encounter. I silently pray to the gods of mental sanity to for once help with this cureless case. D, please don’t lose it. I bite my lip, fidgeting, in anticipation of Daniel’s reaction.

“Hey,” he salutes everyone in the room. His lips are pressed to a very thin line, his look nothing but readable. Glancing my way, his eyes dart daggers. I notice the vein in his tanned neck begin to pulse. Don’t lose it, sweet psycho. I try to smile.

Rob, realizing who just arrived, yanks his hands from Tasha’s shoulders as if he just found out she was infected with an incurable, highly contagious plague.

“Hmm, Dan … Mr. hmm, Stark.” He nods in sheer discomfort.

Daniel reciprocates with a blank face and a hint of a nod, his expression speaks volumes. This doesn’t look even remotely fine.

Jumping from his position on the floor, Ian takes Daniel’s palm in both hands. “Well, hello Daniel. Great to finally meet you. I’ve heard so many bad things about you.”

As Daniel takes in Ian, many expressions run through his face; none seem even relatively close to positive. Then without any prior notice, Ian turns to me and plants a rich kiss on my mouth. I notice Daniel’s knuckles turning white in his fisted palms as he gapes at us. I shoot Ian a warning gaze.

Elegantly ignoring my threatening look, Ian says to me, as though Daniel isn’t standing inches from us, ticking. “He’s just as hot as you said, gorgeous.”

Oh no, it’s only minutes before volcano D will erupt, I can already see it, everybody duck, shit’s about to hit the fan. Blood is frantically pulsing in my veins and I can literally feel my face losing its vital shade.

“Daniel,” I try, gliding an uncertain hand to his chest, drawing his attention to me. “This is the Ian, I told you all about.” I send him a reassuring look, willing him to remember the gay factor. Daniel smiles at Ian, though there isn’t evidence of the smile in his eyes. He looks exasperated as only he can under smile.

“Are you hungry?” I ask, leaving my hand on him, sliding it to his waist as I position myself closer to face him; he looks at me impassively and murmurs, “I could eat.”

“Great,” I smile my most adorable, sweeter-than-Nutella smile. “We’re expecting the food any minute now.” Right as the words leave my mouth the doorbell rings. “Be back in a sec.” I stretch to kiss his cheek and gladly leave to get the food.




Returning with two large brown bags I check on the gathering from the protective shelter of the kitchen counter. Ian is sitting next to Daniel chatting. Daniel appears to be cooperative, splitting his attention between the phone in his hands and Ian.

Tasha is taken with Rob. I know that look and body language of hers. She’s working on distracting him from his tenseness, rubbing his hand and engaging him in conversation; the quiet ceasefire brings a smile to my face. So far so good, no casualties yet. But hey, the night is still young.

Setting the clear food containers on the counter, I place five plates next to each other and a matching number of silverware and glasses. Doing that, I hear a beep of an incoming message from the phone tucked in the back pocket of my jeans. I stop what I’m doing to check who it’s from. The message reads:

Daniel: Looking past. The things I do for you, H …

I turn to where he is sitting and meet his glinting eyes above his heart-melting askew smile, which swells my insides with pure adoration. I stop messing around with the food and walk toward where he is seated, my stare not straying from his. As I reach his side I bend to press a lengthy, chaste kiss to his lips. Brushing my fingers through his honeyed hair, I whisper in his ear, “You are so going to be rewarded for this.”

He smirks at me, winks, and murmurs, “Looking forward to it.”

Content, I turn back to setting up dinner.

“Kids, food is ready!” I call out moments later.