"Excuse me."
Lacey closed the door gently and stepped back so Danny could slide the chain lock off. Danny paused and gave her a nod.
Lacey took off running as best she could with Danny's huge duvet wrapped around her. He waited until she made it upstairs before finally opening the door.
"Morning mother. Thank you as always for calling before you come for a visit."
"It's about time." Danny's mother stormed in, eyes obviously looking for the woman who had answered the door, "And don't talk to me like that, I will come as I please."
Danny took a deep cleansing breath in and out as he watched his mother drag in her overnight bag along with her.
"Coffee?" He asked, not even trying to continue this losing battle.
"Fun night?"
"Mum—"
"She's charming." She said sarcastically.
Lacey was listening intently, her door wide open as she dressed as fast as possible.
"Lacey's wonderful." Danny smiled as he prepared two cups of coffee and one cup of tea.
"Lacey. Sounds like trash."
"Well, mother, your name is Karen." Danny reminded her.
Karen sighed, defeated by the stigma now attached to her name, "Yes well, I can see your point."
Danny slid the fresh coffee to his mother and let Lacey's tea steep. Karen watched him intently.
"You're always up by five to practice."
"I slept in today." Danny shrugged.
"That's not like you. You need to keep putting in the work. Was this Lacey's idea?"
"Mum, leave her be."
Lacey was frustrated that Danny was staying so neutral with her. She understood that all he wanted was to absorb her love and let the rest lie, but Lacey wasn't about to let anyone walk all over her like that.
Lacey shook out her curls and adjusted her outfit, a cream colored sweater and black leggings. She looked comfy, bright and wholesome. Fuck Karen if she thought she was trash.
"Good morning." Lacey greeted with a neutral face. She meant the sentiment but wasn't going to fake being happy for anyone.
"Morning." Danny smiled.
Lacey skimmed by him and gave him a quick peck before Danny would release the cup of tea he was holding hostage for her.
"Mmm, thanks Danny." Lacey took a healthy sip.
"Lacey, this is my mother, Karen. Mum, this is my girlfriend, Lacey."
"I believe we met briefly—" Lacey smiled, hoping to start again.
"Girlfriend?" Karen looked to Danny for clarification.
"It's new." Danny answered simply.
"It must be, I talked to you a couple days ago—"
Lacey checked her bare wrist for the time and looked at Karen, "Like seven hours ago new." She smiled.
"I thought you were working things out with Regina—"
"Is that what she said?" Danny looked at his mother like she should know better, "When's the last time you spoke with her?"
"She's such a nice girl."
"Mum, Regina is my dance partner at work. Lacey is my girlfriend. That's it."
"I'm curious, what does Regina's name sound like?" Lacey asked.
"I'm sorry?" Karen acted like she was so lost.
"Well, Lacey sounds like trash to you, I was just curious what you thought Regina sounded like."
Danny lifted his mug to hide his smile and took a few well-timed sips, it was coffee, but it was also tea.
"Regina sounds like an old worn out horse's name." Karen shrugged before she sipped her coffee too, "But since she's not, I know you're not trash either. I shouldn't have said that, I'm sorry." Karen said sincerely.
"Okay. Danny, I'm going to get some things prepared for when Clara comes home, I know she'll be starving." Lacey announced as she rummaged around the kitchen, surprised she just got an apology from Danny's mom.
"Want help?"
"I'm just cutting up fruit, I think I'm good."
Karen looked between the two of them, waiting for more elaboration
"Lacey moved in a little while ago."
"Moved in?" Karen was stunned.
"Danny was so kind to open up his home for us. I had to be out of my rental and didn't have enough time to close on a new property before Christmas."
"Who's us? Do you have a child?"
"No ma'am, Clara is my little sister."
"She lives with you?"
"Yes."
"Clara is a star in the youth program at the theatre. She's truly such a talented dancer."
As Lacey pulled out some produce she could feel Karen's eyes all over her. Didn't Danny say she was an event planner? She must have more interpersonal skills than this. Lacey was used to dealing with lots of bitchy people in her profession and knew the best way to handle this was head on.
"I apologize for being rude at the door, Mrs. Desai. I didn't realize—"
"That I was Danny's mom? Yeah, we don't really look alike do we." Karen smiled at her son, "Danny looks just like his father." She gushed.
An awkward silence grew as they all thought about Danny's father in different ways.
"Anyway, it's fine. I suppose we all judge a little too quickly sometimes." Karen gave Lacey a small smile.
"Mum, you brought a bag?"
"Well my schedule cleared up and I thought I'd come stay through Christmas. I didn't realize you had a full house."
"You would have known that if you had called first." Danny shrugged.
Clara burst through the door surprising them all, her friend right behind her helping to drag in her overnight stuff and then running back out to her waiting mom.
"Hey, Danny!" Clara gave him a squeeze since he was the closest.
"Hey, CC!" He hugged her back, "Have a good time?"
"Yep!" She beamed and then connected with Karen, "Oh, hello—" Clara smiled politely and looked over at Lacey. The last time a white lady sat in their house with a smile like that she was told her mother had died.
"Clara, this is Danny's mom, Mrs. Desai." Lacey introduced them and reduced Clara's anxiety by half.
"Oh, you can both call me Karen—"
"Nice to meet you." Clara smiled back, "Your mom's beautiful." Clara said quietly to Danny.
"I think so too." Danny gave her a nod.
"Can we have a Christmas party?" Clara asked all of the adults in her life at the same time.
"A party? That sounds like fun!" Karen agreed almost immediately upon the suggestion.
"Oh dear." Danny knew his mom would take this and run with it.
Lacey smiled to herself and continued cutting up the fruit.
"We'll decorate more!" Karen stood and looked around.
"Yeah! We can invite the Company and Archie and Whitney and all of my friends!" Clara and Karen's energy began feeding off of each other.
"That's a great idea! We could decorate cookies?" Karen suggested.
"Oh! Can we have a gingerbread house contest?!" Clara upped the stakes.
"Yes!" Karen pointed at her and the two of them high-fived in the middle of Danny's living room.
"Want to see my pirouettes?!" Clara asked Karen in a random bid for more of her motherly attention.
"Oh, absolutely!" Karen didn't hesitate and followed Clara down into Danny's finished basement dance studio.
"What just happened?" Lacey shook her head as Danny walked up to stand beside her.
"I think we're having a Christmas party." Danny chuckled.
"I like her. I like them both." Karen smiled softly at her only child.
"I do too."
Danny and his mom worked to remake the bed for Karen in the room Lacey had been staying in while Lacey dragged her stuff up to the loft to prepare to bunk with her sister for a few days.
"Is it serious?"
"For me it is, yes. I hope Lacey feels the same way."
"You're okay with raising a child?"
Danny shrugged, "You've met her, she's a pretty spectacular kid."
"I agree, she's an exceptional dancer too. She could learn a lot from you." Karen watched a flurry of thoughts cycle through Danny's head, "Why are you holding back?"
"Lacey's a very busy person." Danny said carefully, "Like you." He wasn't trying to hurt his mother he just wanted her to understand what a big thing that was for him.
Karen nodded, "She's goal oriented and she has the motivation to follow it through. Those are all wonderful traits to have."
"I'm worried we'll grow apart, or never fully grow together."
"Your father tried everything to get me to stop working, including embezzling all that money. He figured if we could afford to live a comfortable life I would finally stay home." Karen shook her head, "That's not who I am and his decision ended up ensuring we'd never be together again. I'm telling you, don't try to change her."
"You think it's worth trying?"
"That's a question for you. If you think so, you need to accept her the way she is. If what Clara has told me is true about her parents, you need to make sure that if you commit to being a part of her life, you better be prepared to stay there."
"You sure you're ready to be a grandmother because Clara might be it."
"I'm ready whenever you're ready, and I'd be very happy with that."
Danny nodded in deep thought as he fluffed the pillows.
"Why are you bringing your stuff up here?" Clara looked horrified.
"Karen is staying in my room while she's in town, I thought it would be fun to stay up here with you!" Lacey tried to sound excited.
"Nooo, no no. You know I need my own space, Lacey. It takes me forever to fall asleep—"
"Okay, okay, I get it. I'll figure something else out." Lacey refolded her blankets, "Danny and I are together now."
"Really?!" Clara seemed surprised.
"Yes. What do you think about it?" Lacey gnawed at the edge of her lip.
"I think it's awesome! Karen's the coolest, I have been really happy here. I'm happy for you." Clara hugged her sister, Lacey clinging to every word, not realizing how badly she needed to hear her say that.
"Thanks, C."
"Good night, Lacey."
Lacey tiptoed down the stairs and past the smaller bedroom. Sure she could have insisted on sleeping in the loft, but remembering how comfortable Danny's bed was last night sent her down to see what else they could come up with.
She knocked gently on his door.
"Come in." Lacey heard softly from the other side.
"Hey." Lacey smiled, watching Danny doing crunches on the floor.
"Hey." He kept going, watching as Lacey took a seat on the end of his bed, "Nine hundred ninety-niiiine, one thousand." He exhaled dramatically.
Lacey giggled at him and helped him off the floor. Danny grabbed the bottom edge of his shirt and yanked it off. Lacey reached for him, running her hands along his abs and behind him up his strong back.
"I like your body." Lacey said absently, her simple declaration making Danny's whole body react.
"Same." He smiled down at her.
"Sooo—" Lacey pulled him closer, his perfect abs at eye-level with her still sitting on the bed. Her hands went straight for them and then around to his ass.
"So?"
"I am homeless." She rested her cheek against his happy trail.
Danny ran his hands through her curls, adding more and more pressure to her scalp with the pads of his fingers. Lacey loved a good scalp massage and squeezed him tighter in appreciation.
"I'm aware."
"I mean while your mom's here. Clara just kicked me out, she's a light sleeper." Lacey turned her face up and rested her chin on the edge of Danny's pants, her bottom lip jutting out in mock sadness.
Danny laughed, his hands moving to frame her face.
"Couch?"
He knew where he wanted her to stay, but also knew his chances were something close to zero. Lacey pulled back, Danny catching her hands and pulling her to her feet and into his arms.
"You want me to stay on the couch?"
"Nope." Danny said with so much certainty that Lacey's crotch erupted.
Danny smashed their lips together and devoured them passionately. Lacey was like a rabid animal, her tongue doing all kinds of things her tongue had never done before.
"Where do you want me then?" She asked innocently, watching Danny's eyes darken.
Danny pulled her head to the side and licked Lacey's neck, moving up until he sucked an earlobe into his mouth.
"You're in my bed." He marched her back until her legs hit the bed and they fell backward.
Danny wasted no time pulling their clothes off.
"Danny, we have to be quiet."
Danny held a finger to his own lips and grabbed Lacey's waist, pulling her to the edge.
"I can be quiet." He hushed against her lips, "Can you?"
Danny split Lacey's legs apart and got to work, his face happily licking and sucking his girlfriend's perfect V area. Lacey relaxed into Danny's bed, bringing her hands down to play with his beautiful hair.
She climaxed silently, her feet pushing Danny away from her sensitive nub by his shoulders when she finally came down. Danny bit her inner thigh playfully before bouncing up and rummaging for a condom from his bedside drawer.
"Belly."
"If they hear us—" Lacey shook her head.
Danny swirled his finger though the air, ignoring her anxiety and silently asking her again to roll over.
Lacey did and Danny crawled up behind her to straddle her thighs. He rolled the condom on and reached down to line himself up from behind.
Danny massaged her ass lovingly, rubbing down her curves a bit before laying on top of her and sliding his face in next to hers.
He pushed in slowly, his mouth hanging, eyes on hers.
"That curve—" Lacey whispered.
"You like that?"
Lacey nodded.
"Sex every day is healthy." Danny winked at her.
"What about twice a day?" Lacey whimpered as he pumped her faster.
"You want this dick twice a day?"
Danny squeezed her ass and slapped himself against her, his balls making a satisfying thwack with each impact.
"Yes, please." She said and Danny thought it was the sexiest thing he had ever heard leave her lips.
"Jesus—"
Lacey reached behind her and rubbed Danny's knees, his thighs, anything she could get her hands on. Danny lifted off of her a bit and held her shoulders, tugging her down against him in a perfect counter-rhythm.
Lacey liked that and threw her ass back, trying to reciprocate his intensity but having trouble since he had basically pinned her down.
"That's a beautiful thing—" Danny huffed quietly, loving watching her ass help bury his dick deeper.
Danny felt her pussy dance around him when she came. She was right, she could be quiet and he tried his best when his time arrived less than a minute later. He couldn't help the grunts, but at least he wasn't shouting.
"Shower?" Danny asked as he slid himself out.
Lacey rolled out of bed, her legs a little wobbly. Danny caught her and kissed her sweetly before they tried walking any further.
"You okay?" He asked, knowing full well her current handicap was all his fault.
"You're incredible in bed." Lacey admitted into Danny's ear.
Danny grabbed her naked ass and rubbed it lovingly, pulling her along behind him and into his shower.
He lathered her up and rinsed her off, Lacey taking over and doing the same for him. Ten minutes into their shower, Danny wanted nothing more than to be back inside of her.
Danny sucked her neck on the spot he knew she liked, careful not to leave marks. He grabbed her hands and stuck them to the glass shower wall in front of her and pulled her ass in closer to him..
Danny leaned forward and bit her shoulder and wrapped his hands around her waist tightly, his hips gently smacking into her backside and simulating what he wanted to do with her.
"Condom." Lacey reminded him.
Danny slid his slick hand down the front of Lacey's body, tweaking her nipple and then sliding in a straight path between her legs. He rubbed her clit and continued to pulse behind her, his curved cock tapping near her entrance, driving both of them insane.
"Danny—"
"Hmm?" Danny rubbed her harder, he knew exactly what he was doing.
"Please—"
"Please what?"
"Please—"
"I don't have condoms in here." He held her hip tight.
"We can't play, not like that." Lacey knew she had to be strong enough for the both of them.
"Some day I want you just like this." He kissed her lower back and reached to turn the water off.
Danny pulled her close, kissed her again.
"I'm freezing." He reached for a couple towels and the two of them dried off.
Lacey pulled on a set of Danny's pajamas and they snuggled in next to each other, their limbs and bodies finding new ways to intertwine.
"My mom likes you." Danny proclaimed, their faces inches apart, "Means a lot to me. You mean a lot to me." He squeezed her tight.
"This is going somewhere, isn't it." Lacey wondered out loud, still shocked by how easy and right it all felt.
"I know I'm headed somewhere, real quick." Danny's eyes twinkled and Lacey knew she was ready for all of it.