01 Winters Thaw (18 page)

He pushed her toward the bathroom and slapped the sign on the door. Luckily, the tape was still sticky. It opened as Hope emerged, her gaze widening when she spotted Daniel and Sienna.

Daniel pointed down the hall. “Direct people to the other bathroom, Hope.”

Hope’s gaze took in the sign, then she nodded.

“What the f—” Sienna didn’t have time to finish her statement as he shoved her inside. The last thing he saw before he closed and locked the door was Hope’s astonished look dissolving as an amused smile crept to her lips.

“What the hell are you doing?” She started to push by him, intent on leaving. He pressed her back until her thighs hit the sink.

“I’m having a hard time keeping track of my date tonight. Decided it might be easier if I kept her in a contained place.”

She glowered at him. “I’m not a fucking dog you can put in a cage. Let go of me.”

“No.”

She waited for him to elaborate, to say more. He didn’t.

“God dammit, Daniel. You have no right to act like—”

“Don’t,” he interrupted. “Don’t say anything else.” He was teetering on the edge of a cliff as it was. One push from her and he’d make damn sure they both went tumbling into the abyss.

“What’s wrong with you?” Her voice was quieter, confused. If he wasn’t mistaken, there was a bit of fear mixed in as well.

She needed to be afraid. Deserved to feel the pulse-pounding terror that was coursing through his own veins right now.

He gripped her shoulders and turned her away from him. Forced her gaze to the mirror in front of them. “You, Sienna. You’re what’s wrong with me.”

She winced.

“You’re also what’s right with me.”

Her eyes closed, sadness creeping onto her face. “No. Daniel. Please. Please don’t say anything else.”

Jesus. She was tearing his guts out. He could hate her just as easily as he loved her right now, but he could see she was taking no pleasure in any of this. She was in pain too. He’d vowed to erase Josh from her mind. Promised her sex without strings. Fun without commitment.

It wasn’t her fault he’d changed his mind.

Truth was, she made him long for things he’d never wanted before. Roots, a home without wheels, love. He’d been a drifter and a loner for so long, he’d convinced himself it was enough. Maybe he and Sienna were more alike than they realized. They’d spent years lying to themselves and others about their true desires.

He was tired of the lies. But Sienna…she wasn’t ready to let go yet.

“Fine,” he said at last.

Sienna’s eyes lifted, her gaze finding his in the reflection.

“Nothing changes, Sienna. You will come to my trailer every night. You will sleep in my arms. And you will find me if you ever need me. No matter what it’s for—sex, a laugh, to talk. Hell, I don’t care if you just need someone to sit and be quiet with. I’m the man who will give you all of that.”

And then he took a chance and added the two words that truly mattered. “Only me.”

She never looked away as he issued his demands. He wouldn’t change their status, wouldn’t force her into calling this what it was. But she was going to make those concessions.

“Agree?”

She nodded.

“Say it. Out loud.”

“I agree,” she whispered.

He pressed on her shoulders, forcing her to lean forward. She didn’t resist. She continued until her elbows rested on the rim of the sink.

The position gave him a bird’s eye view of her cleavage, her breasts spilling out of the top of her tight blouse. He reached beneath her, cupping the flesh roughly. A soft moan escaped Sienna’s lips. Her nipples peaked as he pinched them, despite the clothing in his way.

He should walk away right now. Should get the hell out of here and calm down. His emotions were raw, his gut ached. He’d never be able to take her gently. Never.

“Don’t leave.”

He jerked. Surprised.

She didn’t lower her eyes, didn’t offer him the chance to escape. “Don’t leave.”

“Sienna—” His voice broke on her name.

“Please.”

Fuck. It was the one word he’d never been able to resist from her. Regardless, he owed her an explanation. A warning.

“I can’t…” he started. The words wouldn’t come.

“I don’t care. Don’t go.”

He lifted her skirt and fought back the wave of lightheadedness that attacked when he caught sight of her thong.

He lifted his hand and slapped her bare ass cheek. Sienna started to rise, but he placed his hand on her neck and held her down. Her retreat wasn’t based on fear or revulsion. He’d seen it in her face. She was aroused. The leash slipped, fell away.

He spanked her again. And then again.

Soon Sienna began to anticipate his strikes, tried to move into them, rather than away. Her thighs glistened with her arousal as she trembled with need.

She groaned as he painted her ass pink, then red. “More,” she pleaded.

Shoving her legs apart, he pulled the thin string of her thong to the side and drove two fingers into her hot pussy. She reared up, her hair falling across her face as she fought for breath, for release.

Daniel didn’t temper his movements, didn’t hold back as he took her hard. Removing his fingers, he used her body’s juices to his ease his way into her ass. She moaned when he pressed the same two fingers deep inside the tight portal.

He needed her to understand. Maybe she couldn’t hear the words yet, but she would know by his actions, he would possess her, every part of her—body, soul, heart. He’d give her time to adjust to that, but he wouldn’t halt the pursuit, wouldn’t wait patiently on the sidelines.

He reached beneath her, shoved his free hand under her thong and found her clit. He rubbed the sensitive nub quickly. She was soaking wet, her body making it far too easy. “Come, Sienna.”

She splintered in his arms, but he didn’t release her. He continued to fuck her ass with his fingers and stroke her clit until she tumbled again. Sweat gathered at her brow as her fists clenched. “Too much. God, Daniel.”

It wasn’t. It would never be enough. Dragging his fingers from her body, he reached for her blouse. Releasing the top two buttons, he reached into her bra and pulled her breasts free of the constricting lace. Her bent position, as well as the shirt and bra, framed her breasts perfectly. He cupped the flesh and squeezed.

She moaned, urging him on. He rolled her nipples between his fingers, teasing the taut nubs until they were large, hard peaks. He longed to suck them into his mouth, but he wasn’t willing to turn her around and lose the sight of her in the mirror.

Her face flushed. Her hair was a delicious mess, a sienna waterfall. He reached for the soft tresses, drawing them away from her face. Gathering the thick mass in his hand, he wrapped it around his palm, allowing the tension to grow slowly, twist by twist until he pulled her head back.

He swallowed heavily. “Do you see yourself?”

Could she? See how beautiful she was? How perfectly they fit together?

He hastily unfastened his pants and withdrew his cock.

“Yes,” she hissed.

Daniel placed the head at her opening, then froze. “Now look at me, Sienna.”

Her gaze met his in the mirror once more.

“Do you see?” he asked as he pressed inside. Her eyes held his as he filled her. They never wavered until he was lodged completely within her.

He ached to say the words. Three words. He couldn’t deny they were there. That he felt them. But she wasn’t ready.

He retreated, then returned. Retreated. Returned. His thrusts weren’t gentle. They weren’t easy. He released her hair and gripped her hips, pulling her back to meet him.

Sienna’s hands covered his, adding her own force to this incredible merging. Two bodies becoming one. Her fingers tightened, her nails scraping along the skin on his hands, red welts appearing. While he intended to leave his mark tonight, it was clear she wouldn’t be the only one wearing the memory.

He moved faster, while trying to hold off the inevitable. He’d never wanted to come more…or less. Daniel wasn’t anxious to see this end.

Grasping her wrists, he directed her hands to her breasts. Covering the flesh with her own palms, he held them in place.

“Squeeze,” he commanded.

She closed her fingers around her flesh, groaning as she did so. While Sienna pushed at her breasts, he pumped inside her pussy. Her muscles clenched against his. Tighter. So fucking tight.

His grip tensed against her hands, applying even more pressure to her breasts. Her body responded in kind. Her cunt clamping down on him once more.

“Fuck,” he said through gritted teeth.

It wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. He pulled out, stepped away. Sienna reacted like a scalded cat, her claws coming out to fight.

“No. Don’t st—”

He twisted her, lifting her ass to the sink. She winced slightly, and he recalled the spanking. He’d held nothing back and never would again. Sienna would have to learn to deal with that.

He spread her legs and returned, shoving into her pussy while gripping her heated ass in his hands.

Sienna’s back arched at his return, her hands clutching his shoulders with a painful, beautiful force. He continued to drive inside until they were both trembling, gasping for air.

Sienna reached up, cupping his face. She drew him toward her. They didn’t cease the relentless rhythm of his cock pounding into her pussy. He expected her to kiss him and was shocked when she bit his lip instead.

Her gaze dared him to take her to task. He hadn’t mistaken her intent. He’d set out to stake a claim tonight. Apparently Sienna was staking one of her own.

It was the catalyst. He couldn’t hold back a second longer. His cock throbbed with its release, spray after hot spray of come filling her. Sienna followed his lead, allowing the wave to crash over her as well.

Together they tumbled, tossed in the swirling vortex of emotions—happiness, confusion, fear, impatience. Daniel felt it. He saw it all reflected in Sienna’s face.

For several long minutes after, they never moved, never sought to break apart. Daniel’s cock softened within her body. Sienna’s hands rested on his shoulders, then—as exhaustion set in—they dropped lower until she was clinging lightly to his waist.

He kissed her softly when their hearts finally stopped racing. Kissing her had become as natural as breathing. And just as vital to him.

“I appreciate you breaking your no sex in a public bathroom rule for me,” he teased, trying to find some way to lighten the heaviness surrounding him.

She laughed softly. “God, I sounded like such a prude back then, didn’t I?”

“You never fooled me. I saw you for who you really are. Even then.”

She swallowed and he thought he saw the glint of a tear in her eye.

A ruckus from the dance reached them. Cheering. Then a countdown.

Loud voices yelled, “
Ten, nine, eight…”

“It’s almost the new year,” she whispered.

“
Seven, six, five…”

He nodded, ran his hand through her hair.

“
Four, three, two…
”

“Happy New Year, Daniel.”

“
One!
”

“Happy New Year, Sienna.”

And then he kissed her, telling her with his lips exactly what his resolution was.

Chapter Eleven

It was mid-morning. Sienna sat in the family room with Vivi and her cousins, trying to digest the doctor’s diagnosis. No one was speaking.

Dr. Spencer had called this morning with the results of his tests and the brain imaging. Vivi was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. While Sienna had suspected the problem for months, there was a big difference between thinking something and learning it for sure. According to Dr. Spencer, Vivi’s memory was failing unusually fast.

Sienna, Hope, Sterling and Jade had all accompanied her to the appointment last week, as they’d promised. They’d also kept the checkup a secret from their parents at Vivi’s request. Her grandmother refused to cause her boys any worry until they knew something for sure.

Well, now they knew. As soon as she heard the words, Sienna called the other girls. The Mothers had gone shopping this morning. Sienna wished her mom were here right now. She’d know exactly what to say, how to make it all better. Sienna had even suggested calling Jody, but Vivi said no. At this moment, there was quite simply nothing she wouldn’t give her grandmother.

“Well. I guess that’s it.” Vivi’s voice was surprisingly strong, laced with her matter-of-fact tone.

“We should call my mom,” Hope chimed in. “Maybe there are some other tests they can run. Dr. Spencer could be wrong.”

Vivi smiled kindly at Hope. “No, darlin’, he’s not wrong.”

“We should still call my mom,” Hope insisted.

Sienna suspected Hope’s face reflected her own. Surely someone could offer them some bit of hope, and failing that, they just needed comfort. Aunt Lucy’s hugs were the best when it came to consoling them when they’d been younger. Her aunt had always known the way to soothe away the pain of a skinned knee or headache. Maybe Lucy would have an answer for this too.