X-Treme Measure (18 page)

I didn’t know if it was love, but I did feel protective over her and wanted her to be happy. We might have rushed into the sex department, but I wasn’t going to rush her. She wasn’t a virgin, but she wasn’t experienced either. It had been a while for her and she felt so fucking perfect wrapped around me that I could only want to make it just right for her.

“Sleep, Mo. I’ll watch over you.”

Her eyes became heavy once again. The medicine helping lull her back into peaceful slumber. And I did. I watched over her. I wasn’t all that tired, but looking over her, I settled her body into my chest and steadied my hand underneath her supple breasts, letting the heavy weight lay on my arm.

Before I let sleep take me, I whispered, “My precious Mo. All mine.”

I didn’t know how I felt about Daniel buying me a new phone, but he told me to not worry about it. Asking me to let him take care of it and while I hated it, he didn’t let me think I was obligated to him in return. I asked if it was under my name and he just gave me this look. A look that told me not to question him. His alpha tendencies grated on the nerves sometimes, but that was how he was. It was easy to tell he was used to getting his way; even with his mother.

He had taken care of a lot of things the next few days while I was recovering since I made it clear I wasn’t going to go to the hospital. His mother, Diana, made me stay at her house. But she didn’t treat me like a patient; cold and clinical. She was the type of mother I wish I could’ve had growing up. She only worked part-time, so she was there at the house with me with Reighlyn a lot.

Reighlyn was such a strong girl. Diana nursed me like I was an actual patient until I was able to walk straight without my hip hurting. But after four days of resting and healing, I was able to go watch Reighlyn at her karate class and it was like this girl transformed into this tough as hell warrior. She had fun too. And the way she was with weapons? It was amazing. I couldn’t believe they taught some of those weapons that young?

Hell if I knew what kind they were but looking at her wield them was like watching someone battle to the death. It was like a dance. Precise and stunning.

I had to go get a new pair of glasses when wearing my contacts began to bother me. My face was still a little puffy and my eyes hurt like hell. Daniel said I look beautiful with my glasses on. He kept telling me how beautiful I looked as the swelling and bruises began to fade.

The entire time I stayed at Diana’s healing, Daniel and Reighlyn stayed too. Reighlyn was very active, she played a lot outside. She read a ton, which I loved, because I liked reading, too. Diana was a great influence on her and I could see how Daniel was very gentleman-like around me and Reighlyn. He didn’t put on a show in front of his mother, which I loved. He was so genuine. Reighlyn stayed in the guest room while Daniel kept me in his room. He had worked a few nights, but when he came to the house, he would shower, change and snuggle up behind me.

I didn’t know what to think about our situation—our relationship. I had forgiven him. It just wasn’t in my nature to stay mad. He rescued me from my parents. He listened to me when I told him I didn’t want to go to the hospital, but he took me somewhere I could get care. It was sheer dumb luck his mother was a nurse. When I felt him lie against me, it felt so warm and secure. I felt safe with him in a way I’ve never felt before and a sense of rightness came over me.

How I could feel that way with a guy I haven’t known for very long baffled me.

He’d pull me into his body, wiggle one of his legs between mine, brush my hair aside so he could nuzzle into the groove of my neck and I’d feel his rock hard dick against my bottom. It drove me crazy. My body almost fully was healed, only butterfly strips on my face where the skin was split and my side felt better. His mother said the bruises on my stomach and ribs were healing nicely. Three days of him laying behind me, wiggling himself up against me and feeling his hardness against me made me just want to wiggle back. I was afraid he might turn me away though.

We hadn’t talked about our argument, so I didn’t know if that meant we’d just forget it and move on or he was waiting until I got back to one hundred percent. I wanted to talk about why he said the things he said. I meant, weren’t we moving fast? Even now?

Although we haven’t done anything sexually intimate since that night, he was very careful with me since he rescued me that night. Even lay with me when he was here. What did Reighlyn think about all this?

She hasn’t said anything to me, or asked me about being with her dad. Not that I was technically with her dad. Ugh.

I hated this uncertainty. We talked and hung out but he really hasn’t talked to me. Not about his feelings. Not about being with me. Not about anything regarding him or me. Did he naturally assume we were together? Ugh. I didn’t like this. Not at all.

I hadn’t heard anything from my parents and I doubt I ever would. Daniel scared them pretty bad. I prayed they didn’t try pressing charges. They would be the type to try and get money out of anyone.

When I finally went to work, I was asked all these questions by the girls. I was touched by their concern and thankful they thought about me while I was out. They were a nice group of women.

When my shift was over, I hadn't even thought about a ride home. I didn't want to keep intruding on Diana's hospitality so I asked Christa for a ride home.

After thanking her and taking the elevator up to the apartment, I was thankful I didn't have to climb up so many stairs. I was dead on my feet after an eight hour shift. I went inside and locked up when I heard Ashley talking on the phone from the living room.

I waved at him and raised his hand for me to come over.

“Yeah, yeah. I'll talk with you soon. Bye Drake.” He looked to me and motioned for me to come over and have a seat. “Heard you had a nasty run-in with your folks. You okay?”

The concern in his voice melted me. I slumped back, not caring if I got his expensive couch smelling like Chili’s. I didn't know if Daniel had told him, but I was glad to think he worried about me. He's been such a great roommate and guy the past few months.

And he was totally easy on the eyes. That sparkling blue with that milky chocolate skin? Sigh.

“Yes. I am. I guess Daniel told you?”

“Yes. When you didn't come home, and neither did Daniel I thought it wise to get in touch when you didn't answer your phone. I see that cut on your head is healing nicely. Any lingering pains?”

“Sometimes I'm a little stiff but a warm bath with Epsom salts will do wonders with the soreness.”

“Does Daniel know you're here?”

That caught me off guard. And made everything I was stressing over right now to the forefront of my mind. And it angered me.

“He's not my boss, Ashley. He hasn't even asked me to be anything to him. And we haven't even talked about the argument that made me angry at him in the first place. I don't give second chances. He hurt me like no one ever has and he thinks rescuing me is going to wipe the slate clean? I am grateful—very, very grateful but that doesn't mean he gets allowances. He thinks buying me a phone makes me obligated to him? I can pay for my own shit. Does he think that he gets me because he white knighted me? O-damn-well. Even if I thought about giving him any other opportunities, he needs to understand that I'm not a girl that will be bought. I am not that girl. I mean, yes sleeping with him was like on the Richter scale of a hundred but does that automatically make me his girlfriend? No! We barely know each other. I wanna be wooed dammit!”

He threw up his hands in surrender as my voice became vehement.

My shoulders slumped, and my head fell back. “I'm sorry. It's just been a long day. I haven't been to work in several days, and my feet hurt real bad. I'm cramping like a tornado is twisting my guts and I'm just…just—over this day.”

A small smile lifts his lips. “Noted. Now go before you leave eau de Chili’s on the couch. Get some rest. Use the jets. Take some ibuprofen and chill.”

“That’s my plan.”

I got up and walked to my room. It felt good to be surrounded by my own things. I missed my books, my
My Little Pony
knick-knacks. I wanted to smell like my own scented soap and shampoo.

I went to the bathroom, stripped off my shirt and unclasped my bra, setting the girls free. Trust me, if you're a girl and you've been wearing a bra all day, when you take that thing off at the end of the night it's like oh. My. Jesus. Heaven. I flipped off my shoes and stripped off the rest of my clothes. The bruise on my ribs was fading and an ugly yellow color was there now. It looked weird against the pale peach of my skin. I've never been hit like that before. I touched it, and it didn't hurt as long as I didn't press too deeply.

I got my bath water ready, poured in some lavender Epsom salts and some drops of lavender oil and tossed some baking soda in and let it bubble up before getting in.

Yes. So good.

I did my best to let my nerves settle before he, once again, surfaced to my mind.

Would I give him a second chance? I thought I vowed to never let anyone in, to never give anybody a chance to hurt me and if that happened then I would make sure they would be eradicated from my life.

But somehow, Daniel broke those barriers down. He came when I had no one. Of course his mother played a big part but he nursed me back to better condition; without asking for anything in return.

Feeling him curled up next to me these past few nights had felt wonderful but he didn't really talk to me much.

I wanted a guy who at least talked to me. I didn't care if he worked at X-Treme Measure. I wasn't anyone's judge or jury. I hated that he thought he wasn't good enough or believed I thought less of him because of his job.

I loved how he opened up to me that night. He told me about his dreams and what he really wanted out of life. It was a beautiful goal and dream to have. I loved listening to him talk. His voice was deep and rough with a low cadence that rippled over my skin and burrowed deep.

He was so muscular and strong that his muscles rippled and grooved as he moved. But then when he walked, it was like he was a predator. Stalking with an animalistic purpose of a lion.

If he wanted another chance…ha. What was I thinking? Of course I would give him another chance. He didn't seem the type to play games.

Just thinking about that night and how he touched my body, sent an unwanted shiver down my spine. Lying in the hot water, covered in bubbles, could I? I was totally hidden. No one would even see me. Did I dare?

I've never touched myself down there before. Let alone use a sex toy. I didn't even own one.

I closed my eyes and slid my hands over my breasts, pulling at the taut peaks of my nipples. I squeezed my legs together when I pinched them upwards, ringing a gasp from my lips. I cupped the heavy swells, bringing them together; kneading. Massaging. Wishing it was his hands. My hands then slid beneath the water, and I opened my legs a little. I thought about how Daniel teased me at XM. The way his tongue delved between my thighs with voracious need. Sucking and licking over my slick bare folds before finding my clit and making me cry out.

“Daniel.” The sound of his name came unabridged. Damn I wanted him like nothing else before.

I could just feel his hands roaming over my body. Kneading, squeezing my behind before playing with my breasts. Tugging, licking, and sucking. My hand cupped my breast, rubbing the heavy underside before I took one hard nipple between my fingers and gave it soft pinches, then tugged, forcing a small gasp to rip free from my throat.

“Please.” I rubbed over my clit, trying to get that rhythm he used.

I found my center and pushed a finger inside, testing how far I could go.

“Oh, Danny.”

I could just picture him now, sweat beading his forehead. His slick, hard body over mine as he pushed in and out of me with hungry thrusts of his hips.

I heard wood rendering and I opened my eyes to see Daniel staring at me, his eyes dark with lust, his jaw clenched tight. He looked like a wild, hungry beast.

I took a deep breath and flew underneath the water. I knew I was able to hold my breath for at least two minutes. Maybe that would give him the hint that he should leave.

What was he doing
here
? How did he know I was home? He should be at work.

Ashley! That traitor!

“Moriah?”

I felt his hand form around my knee and give it a light squeeze.

Ugh. I slammed his fingers between my kneecaps, keeping him from venturing any lower.
Leave me alone
. I was embarrassed beyond anything imaginable. He saw me as I touched myself! And I said his name, too!

“You leave me no choice then.”

Wait. What?

I came up the same time he slid right in. Clothes and all. Holy shit! My face slid up the back of the tub, and with his was only inches from mine. Water had sloshed over the edge.

“What are you doing?! Now you’re all wet.”