Chapter 12: Fanning the Flame
Lindsay turned in Danny's arms, trying to get as close as she could without hurting him. He could feel only the heat of her mouth on his, her body against his. This time, the groan that came from him had nothing to do with pain, and everything with frustrated longing.
Danny stood up, slowly, drawing her body up his until she was standing closely wrapped around him. It was awkward with only one arm, but he was determined to make the most of it. He slid his hand under her t-shirt to touch the soft, smooth skin, then up her back to draw her closer.
With a shudder he pulled away from her a little, and rested his forehead on hers. "God, Lindsay, if you aren't sure about this, you have to leave now."
Instead of answering, she raised her face to his again, opening her mouth under his. When she felt his tongue exploring her lips, it was her turn to shudder. The kiss deepened, and she felt the thrill pour through her body. She had always known that if she gave in to him at all, she would go up in flames.
They broke apart again, briefly, to move down the hall to Danny's bedroom. Danny pulled Lindsay's t-shirt over her head, smoothing her tumbled hair with his hands, kissing her mouth, her throat, the tops of her breasts. Slowly, she helped him take off his sweatshirt, hissing at the bruises on his sides and chest, kissing each darkening mark until he shook. It was slow, languorous, tortuous, but they had all the time in the world.
His mouth claimed hers again, and clothes continued to drop to the floor. They stood together in the middle of the room, rocking in each other's arms. Music drifted up from the street, as if a soundtrack had been provided by the city itself.
Lindsay moved to the bed, sliding in and holding out her arms for Danny. He tried to stop, to ask her one more time if this was what she wanted, afraid that his need for her would overwhelm her need for space and control. But she smiled, knowing what he was thinking, and dismissed his fears. This was what she wanted; he was what she wanted.
Together they slid into the dark velvet world of touch and sigh, of gasp and sob, of dreamy caress and languid movement. Danny drowned in her eyes, her wet heat, her loving arms. Lindsay was filled by his hunger and driven by desperation. Where one went, the other followed. It could have taken hours; it could have taken days, but when they came together, it was the beginning of a journey they knew could take them the rest of their lives.
Lindsay nestled against him silently, her head tucked under his chin. Danny could not close his eyes; he was dazed by his feelings. Sex had always been a relief in his life, a moment out of time. Tonight he felt as if the world had opened up, connecting him in some way to every person on the planet. He wanted to run, shout, scream out his passion from the rooftops. He wanted to stay in this bed, with this woman in his arms, and never leave. He couldn't keep his hands from roaming her body, touching the soft skin, running through her hair.
"Are you okay?" He felt completely tongue-tied. He wanted to write her sonnets, love songs, and play them to the moon and the stars, but all he had was the most basic of words left. She had stolen the rest from him while they kissed.
"Mmmmm." Lindsay felt drugged with pleasure, every inch of her skin loved and cherished. She could hardly contain her glee; she wanted to dance naked through the sky. Never had she felt anything like that, not with Peter, not with anyone. She turned her head to kiss his throat. "Are you? I tried to be careful, but then I forgot."
"Me, too." Other than trying not to whack her with the cast, Danny had not thought once about his injuries. When he did think about them, everything seemed to hurt, but nothing could stop the overwhelming joy he felt. "What's a few ribs between friends?" Teasingly, he spread his hand over her ribs, then tickled her.
She shrieked and giggled, struggling away from him, then changing tactics, grappled closer to him until with a growl he flipped her on her back and took her throat in his teeth.
This time it was fast and filled with mischief. This was what perhaps they had both expected the first time: a laughing, panting, glorious rush and release. But when he watched her come the first time, Danny saw stars in her eyes, and when they came together the second time, they could feel the earth turning under them.
When Danny woke in the morning, Lindsay was gone again.
