"It's morning," Danny's sleepy voice filled his ears.
Nick smiled against her head, "Yeah, you've slept the night away, I'm afraid."
"Oh dear," Danny suddenly sounded very worried. She twisted around, forcing Nick to raise his head and look down at her anxious, still half-asleep face. "I didn't fall asleep on you did I? I mean..." she chewed on her bottom lip, not able meeting Nick's amused blue eyes.
"As a matter of fact, you did. I'm horribly upset that you found my kisses so sadly lacking that you actually fell asleep." He teased.
Danny flushed, "I'm sorry Nick, I think that being a nervous wreak all day took its toll on me, but I can't believe that I fell asleep in the middle of your kisses." She was wringing her hands, feeling absolutely mortified. What must he think of her? How could she be so dumb as to fall asleep while he was giving her her first ever lessons on kissing. It was so so thrilling and she felt so safe and warm and tingly right down to her toes, she still couldn't comprehend how she could fall asleep.
Nick chuckled, hugging her to him tightly, "Dumbbell," he called good-naturedly, "you fell asleep afterwards, while you were snuggling in my arms. Obviously, I wore you out. Boy, a few kisses and you're that satisfied and tired, I wonder what would happen if I were to make lov-"
Danny clapped a hand over his mouth, muffling the rest of his words, "Nick!" she squeaked, her expression chagrined and a little shy. "Behave yourself!"
"Why? There's only you and me around, what are you afraid of?" He wriggled his blond brows suggestively at her and grinned wickedly.
"You're not supposed to say and do things like that to me, it's so sinful it should be outlawed," she grumbled, reaching out a hand to smooth his wind-blown blond hair, a smile teasing the corners of her sexy, oh-so-kissable mouth.
"I usually don't," Nick admitted, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he smiled tenderly down at her, "but you," he kissed her lingerly, " you make me want to do the most outrageous and impossible things in the world. Do you know that, I want to run myself ragged making your every dream comes true? I want to make you so happy that you'll never stop smiling again." Nick laughed self-consiously, unaware of the answering glistening tears in Danny's eyes. "That must sound extremely silly."
"No!" Danny protested violently, her hand stealing up to cup his cheek, making Nick looked at her in surprise. "That was the most beautiful thing anyone ever said to me, ever offered to do for me. Thank you." She leaned up and pressed a kiss to his jaw, "Thank you." Her eyes shinning brilliantly up at Nick, making him feel as though he had just single-handedly slain a ferocious, fire-breathing dragon for her. When she looked at him like that, it made him want to straighten his act and be the hero she seemed to think he was.
"Danny," Nick swallowed, knowing that this is the perfect moment to tell her what he felt for her. "I have something important to tell you, I-"
Danny silenced Nick with a finger laid on his lips, the lips she found so delicious. She shook her head lightly, "No, don't say it. Once you say those words, you can't take it back. Don't say it unless you're absolutely sure of what you're feeling. Don't say it until this mess is over, until you decide you want Jade more or me."
Nick kissed her finger and held it tightly in his hand, "Listen to me, you little fool, I do know for sure what I'm feeling and I do know who I want. You. Only you. Not Jade, not any other women, just you, ugly, pathetic you, did I say that loud enough for you?" He glowered down fiercely with her.
Danny choked back tears at those words. No one ever said that to her, no one ever told her they wanted her, just her and not her father's influence and wealth. Even with Jade, she wanted Danny because Danny was a perfect companion. Because Danny would do whatever Jade wanted because she cared for Jade. No one ever wanted Danny for herself, not until Nick had stumbled upon her and tripped into her heart one wintry night.
"Yes, that was loud enough," she smoothed her fingers over Nick's creased forehead. "But I want you to think about what you're giving up, to give myself and yourself time to get use to this. Honestly, I'm not used to doing this," Danny squirmed uncomfortably. "I feel like a worm, stealing my friend's boyfriend like that, it's beyond low. Give me time to accustom to the fact that I'm not as nice a person as I first thought. Give yourself time to let Jade down gently, to let me be sure Jade's all right, let me have a chance to make her understand, she's my best friend, I won't let anything ruin our friendship."
Nick looked away from her earnest stare to hide the hurt expression in his eyes, "Not even for me?" He asked softly.
"I'll give up even my family for you, Nick, you should know that. But I want to have a chance to try to make her understand. If she doesn't want to, then," Danny let Nick see in her silver gaze what could never be put into words, the pain, the loneliness. "It will be you if I have to choose, always you."
Nick groaned in desperation. "You shouldn't be allowed to say things like that to be. It makes me want to do all kinds of stupid, heroic things to prove to you that I'm at the very least a quarter of the man you think I am. Don't look at me like that, Danette," Nick warned when he stared, caught by the beguiling glaze in her silver eyes. "Not unless you want me to kiss you."
Danny let her gaze lowered to his mouth and gazed at them in fascination when his tongue darted out to wet his suddenly dry lips. "How do you know that is not what I want?"
Nick didn't have to think twice before giving in to temptation.
Chapter Eight
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