“But I don’t feel that way,” I said in a rush. “I know I can say no to you. Hell, I’m the one who initiated the first kiss.”
“Regardless, HR would have my ass if anyone found out.”
I exhaled and slumped against the back of the chair as I did. “So. That’s it, then.”
The sadness in his eyes mirrored the feeling in my chest. “Let’s not think about it right now. We still have tonight. And I know just how to spend it.”
Daniel slid his arms around me and stood up. I wrapped my legs around his waist and kissed him as he guided us over to the bed. Neither of us said a thing as we kissed, touched, and got lost in the feel of each other. Words didn’t matter anyway. They wouldn’t change anything.
When he eased into me, I hooked my arms around his neck and kissed him over and over again, our lips melding just like our bodies.
Sex was how I expressed myself. Touch was my love language. But sex with Daniel was unlike anything I’d felt before. He took me to new heights and made me feel… safe. Cared for. I wasn’t just a hole to him. That was clear in the gentle way he kissed me and how he worshipped every inch of my skin.
How the fuck was I going to go back to the way things used to be?
Chapter Ten
Daniel
Sunday morning, I opened my eyes to see sunlight spilling into the room. The forecast had been right for once. The snow had stopped, and the roads should’ve been clear enough to pack up our things and head home—finally.
So why wasn’t I moving?
I pressed my face to Reed’s nape and tightened the arm around his slender waist. He released a sleepy sigh and scooted back against me, wiggling his ass. Even while asleep he couldn’t get enough. Neither could I. We’d had sex four—five?—times the day before and had kissed so much my lips felt swollen. But I wanted more.
“Are you awake?” Reed asked in an adorably sleepy voice that cracked a bit.
“Yes.”
“The sun’s out.” He entwined our fingers before bringing our joined hands up and kissing my knuckle. The action, along with the sad tone he’d used, tugged at my heart. “Guess we can go home today. I was starting to think we’d be stuck here forever.”
I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t find the right words to convey everything I felt when holding him in my arms and knowing it was probably the last time I’d be able to do so.
I’m being ridiculous.
Even though I’d known Reed for a year, I’d gotten to know him even more over the past three days. But it was way too soon to feel the kinds of things my heart was telling me to feel.
“We should get up,” I said, not moving from my spot.
“Yeah. We should.” He held my arm tighter.
Fuck it.
I rose up and hovered over him, my chest cracking when I saw his watery eyes. Our mouths then slammed together. I wasn’t sure who kissed who, but it didn’t matter. We both wanted that moment to last a little longer.
“Fuck me, Daniel,” Reed moaned as I kissed the hollow of his pale throat.
“Are you sure you’re not too sore?” I asked, settling between his legs.
In the past, I had bottomed a few times and was so sore after I could barely even walk.
“Mhm. I’m fine.” He dug his fingertips into my ass cheeks to tug me closer. “Need you. Need this.”
Our cocks glided together as we kissed. I was already rock hard, and he was getting there too. I took both of us into my hand and slowly stroked. He groaned when I dipped my tongue into his mouth. I loved the taste of him and how his soft hair smelled like woodsmoke.
Reed tore from my mouth and grabbed the box of condoms we’d placed on the nightstand, taking one out and unwrapping it. He rolled it on my dick as I retrieved the lubricant. His ass was still stretched from the night before and accepted me with little resistance as I pushed into his tight heat.
“Too damn good,” he muttered against my lips as I started a slow pace with my hips.
If this was the last time we’d get to do this, I wanted it to be memorable, not just a quick fuck to get off.
“Like this?” I asked before kissing his smooth jaw.
Reed nodded and clawed my shoulders, tilting his head back against the pillow. His light brown hair fanned out around him, the strands messy and wild. Even so, he was the most beautiful thing I’d ever laid eyes on. Minutes passed as I moved inside him, the bed creaking with each slow thrust.
“Daniel,” he breathily said a while later, opening his hazel eyes and peering up at me. “I… I’m gonna…”
I faltered in rhythm when his ass began to clench around me. He felt too goddamn amazing. After a few more thrusts, I joined him in orgasm, dropping my head to his shoulder. His fingers moved through my hair as white-hot pleasure crashed into me.
Afterward, I rolled off him and pulled him to my side. He nuzzled my arm.
“What do you say we make good use of that claw-foot tub before we go?” Reed said. “I’ve always wanted to take a bath in one of those.”
Was he delaying the inevitable just like I was? Finding any reason possible to stay there a little bit longer?
“I’ll go start the water,” I said, pulling from his embrace. His hand fell to the mattress, and he watched me get out of bed. I walked to the bathroom and knelt down by the tub before starting the water. Once it was warm, I put in the stopper.
After today, I had no choice but to return to my previous distant attitude and keep him at arm’s length. Because it wasn’t only my job on the line, but his as well.
“Hey, handsome,” a seductive voice said from behind me. I turned to see Reed leaning against the doorframe, the sheet draped around his thin shoulders and hanging sexily down his long, lean body. “Come here often?”
I snorted a laugh and went over to him, pulling him to my chest. The sheet fell off him, and I skimmed my hands down his naked body.
The right thing to do was hardly ever the easiest.
Walking away from him was going to be damn hard.
***
“Thank you for everything,” I said to Ian and Cole after returning the room key. “If not for your hospitality, we would’ve had to sleep in the car for the past three days.”
“It was a joy having you,” Ian said, shaking my hand. “If you ever find yourself in the area again, please stop by.”
Claire and Josh waved bye to us on their way to the dining room for lunch. Then we grabbed our things and walked outside.
“Kind of bittersweet to be leaving, isn’t it?” Reed asked, looking back at the manor as we moved down the narrow path toward the parking lot. “I know we didn’t stay long, but I’m gonna miss it.”
Me too, I wanted to say. However, it was best not to.
Once at the car, I loaded my laptop bag and briefcase into the back seat as Reed popped the trunk and tossed his bag inside. I got into the passenger seat and buckled my seat belt, staring at the courtyard we had looked at each morning with breakfast. I then shifted a gaze to the walking trail we’d taken yesterday morning where we’d had our first kiss—where everything had changed between us.
Yes. I’d miss it.