Layers(79)

“Drunk, half naked and on another guy’s bare chest, all Girls Gone Wild-style. What am I going to do with you, Hales?”

I bite my lip, blinking at him.

“Come over.” He lifts me up my hands hugging his wide neck.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, smirking, letting him carry me, enjoying his closeness.

“Too hard to be Hayleyless, I guess,” he says, his animated eyes deep in mine.

“I’m glad.” I blink at him again, this time adding a kiss, lingering on his addictive taste.

“Mmm, you smell so good.” I nuzzle his neck, indulging in his unique scent. “Where are we going?” I ask as we reach the kitchen.

“My house,” he says in a voice that doesn’t leave any room to object. “How much did you have to drink?” he asks.

That obvious?

“Not too much, we didn’t let her,” Tasha answers flatly from her place on the sofa, watching something on the National Geographic channel.

“Thanks.” Daniel acknowledges her with a nod.

“Here.” He settles me to one of the kitchen stools. “Drink this.” He hands me a large glass of ice cold water. I take some sips and am rewarded with a scowl ordering me to finish the entire glass. Okay, okay, ugh.

“Now go get some stuff for a sleepover.”

“Hey, am I allowed to say anything here? Oh mighty puppeteer, please release the grip on my strings, would ya?”

Daniel lets out a short raspy chuckle. “I’ve been called all sorts of names before, most far from being positive, but puppeteer’s a new one. I got to give it to you for originality, Hales,” he says, amused. “And no, you don’t have any say. Nothing will stop me from taking you back to my place, not even you,” he says with a blank expression and as a smile sneaks onto the side of his mouth he pulls me closer, tugging me by my hand. Pinning me against him, he leans his head close to mine. “No, you don’t have any autonomy whatsoever.” He slaps my butt and adds, “And I love you crazy.” He kisses my forehead. That’s the perfect way to describe your love, D.




“Well since you put it that way, Mr. Stark … though, for the millionth time, I do not take orders.” I seal a fleshy kiss on his lips and wink before heading to my room to get dressed and pack an overnight bag, like the obedient puppet I am.

~~~

I get a double shot of espresso, hoping it will dissolve the last dose of alcohol still flowing in my bloodstream, before heading to visit Daniel who’s training at his mini gym, if mini would be a suitable description given its size and equipment variety.

“Hey.” A flushed and smiling face, covered with sweat, welcomes me from under a pushed-up barbell. His taut, muscled body lies firmly flat against the bench holding the overhead barbell arm’s length above his carved chest, two large weights balanced at each side. He inhales loudly, descending; his biceps strain so alluringly as he places the pole back at its rack. His grey tank top is moist from excessive exertion. His blond waves are pulled back in a black hair band. I watch him, mesmerized. Steaming hot. In between aligning his breath, he mutters, “I’ll have a quick shower and come find you.” He pulls up the hem of his tank top to wipe his face, revealing his tan abs. I swallow the next sip hard. Resting my cup of coffee on the floor I say, “Oh no, you don’t.”

“I don’t?” he repeats, turning his head, his eyes questioning.

“Most definitely not, so help me god if you do,” I say, stepping toward him.

“Hales?” He watches me, trying to figure out where I’m going with this, though a hint of a smile buds on his lips. Nearing him, I lift one leg over the bench and turn to sit astride him, settling myself on his pelvis. “You look so incredibly hot this way.”

“Sweaty and stinking?” he asks, side smile intact.

“Carnal and flushed.” I correct him with a suggestive rise of my brow, feasting my eyes with his body from my closer position above him. He could seriously give me a heart condition looking like this.

I lean to kiss him and the saltiness of his perspiration mixed with the divine taste of his mouth turns my blood to magma. I help him lose his top and his just-worked-out, chiseled body teases me, making my nerves spike with pleasure.

“By all means, baby, don’t hold back.” He grins at me and I can already feel his excitement against me. And there’s no holding back, not here at the bench and not when we hit the shower together.

~~~

“I am so f**king grateful for your caffeine addiction and reckless abandon,” Daniel says, kissing my lips as we lie in bed, closely, parallel each other, heads resting on our hands.

“Wow, thanks, I guess …” I return his stare with a dubious one.

“Without these great attributes of yours we would have never met …”

“I love you too.” I kiss him and snort, giggling.

“Hales,” he strokes my cheek and briefly flutters his lips on mine. “I’ll take the risk of sounding impulsive and irrational but …”

Like that is something that ever stopped you before! “What is it, Daniel?” I ask, smiling at him in the weak light of the room, my eyes level with his.

“I think you should move in with me.”

I guess Miss Taylor is a bonafide prophet.