A/N: This is my 150th story, and I'd like to thank Baroness Blixen for writing the wonderful story "The Greatest Mistake" and giving me her blessing to write this continuation. I'm honored to 'follow' such an amazing writer! I sincerely appreciate the support and encouragement!
Also a huge thank you to Kristen for her endless support as I worked to get this story written. Had it not been for her wonderful writing and her story; A Night With Daphne, I would never have dreamed that I would ever get to this point. *hugs*
It was dreadfully hot; almost unbearable, were it not for the oscillating fan that hummed quietly in the large master bedroom. However, the breeze did little to cool her sweltering body.
His gentle hands, soothed her heated skin as they explored and caressed her with a sense of tenderness and urgency. Their lips met in a fiery embrace and instantly she was swept up in the moment; the one where nothing else mattered but the passion and burning desire she felt for this man.
And she knew that the heat was not to blame.
She wanted him, so badly... and there was no denying that he wanted her.
She could feel it every time he touched her. No man had ever made her feel this way before; so loved, so desired,so beautiful.
It all seemed so strange, being in his arms like this. Strange and wonderful.
Suddenly he was kissing her again; his demanding lips soft and warm on hers; and she could feel herself trembling beneath his touch.
"I love you, Daphne..." He breathed into her hair as he inhaled the scent of her lavender and rosemary shampoo.
The mere sound of her name ignited a new passion from deep within her and she kissed him with a hunger that she had no idea existed.
But it wasn't supposed to be this way. They were friends; she and Dr. Crane... "Niles", as he'd asked her to call him.
This was wrong... so wrong...
And yet it felt so right.
Sighing contentedly she rolled over, wanting so desperately to kiss him once more.
Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around, dismayed to find that she was alone.
She'd fallen asleep reading her romance novel again,right in the middle of the afternoon.
It was a common occurrence, one that often led to dreams like this one.A fantasy that she knew would never come true.
But now reality had found its way into her dreams.
His handsome face came into view and suddenly she longed to touch him; to feel his skin next to hers.
To relive that night of passion just once more.
The guilt that followed was unbearable; consuming her like a tidal wave. And suddenly she could no longer hide the tears that so seldom came, but now were surfacing more frequently since that fateful night.
She thought she'd gotten past this; the guilt she felt over what they had done. So why was she unable to stop thinking about him?
A glance at the clock told her that she was still hours away from her first official date with Dr. Crane... Niles, and she couldn't help but feel some anxiety when she remembered his words...
"I will take you out on a date every night for the rest of my life."
It was so like him to want to treat her with respect; to show her that he was capable of making a woman feel like a goddess.
But she knew that she hardly deserved it. Not after what she had done.
After all, just days before they had been friends; best friends... Two people who shared heartfelt conversation, laughs and even some tears.
Now everything had changed. And even though they had agreed to start over she feared that their relationship would never be the same.