Kiss Me Slowly/CH 4
As Betty opened her eyes, she saw Daniel's opening to reveal his startling blue ones, as he smirked, "THAT was...even more intense than last time! Geez, Betty! You're going to wear me out, woman! Are you out to prove just HOW wrong doodle boy was about your lack of passion or something, honey? Cause, remember, I AM ten years older than you and my old man did have a heart condition!"
Her eyes widened with concern as she slid off his lap, "Oh my goodness, are you alright?"
He laughed, "I'm just messing with you, Betty. I'm fine! My heart is good, I promise, nice and strong, no worries. Hell, you know that. You used to schedule my checkups, remember?"
She hit his arm, "Don't scare me like that!"
He chuckled, kissing her shoulder gently as he casually rested his hand on her thigh, "Sorry! Actually, I'm hoping not to kick the bucket for at least another fifty or sixty years or so, but after having sex with you would definitely be my favorite WAY to go!"
"Are you sure you're feeling alright? Why are you even talking about this? Is it because your birthday made you sad about getting older or something?"
"Well, it sort of did at the time, since you were still with the young Hartley asshole and my mom was with the older model asshole and he still had his hand in my company! And I wasn't dating anybody. Plus, I was still broke! Which is kind of one more star for you, Betty. The fact that you came over here to hit on me when you thought I was poor goes to prove that you could care less about my money. You honestly just love me...for me!
So, anyway, I'm totally considering this as my do-over birthday! Today is a new day, and it's been totally fantastic so far! It makes thirty-six not seem so bad."
As they were starting to kiss again, Betty's phone rang and she fell, trying to get to it, tripping over her clothing, strewn across the floor. Daniel watched her, adoringly, grinning at how damn cute she was.
"Hello? Yes! This is Betty Suarez. I tried to reach you before to find out about moving back into my old apartment as soon as possible. I was subletting it to Amanda Tannen and Marc...yes, that's right. WHAT? Are you kidding me? Of course not. Right, I understand. Yes, I will definitely be contacting them. I'll do that. Thank you!"
Her eyes watered and she got up, grabbing her things and running to the bathroom, "Excuse me!"
Daniel pulled on his pants and shirt, following her to stand outside the door, knocking softly, "Betty? Honey, what's wrong? What did those idiots do? Stiff you or something?"
She tried not to cry, but the landlord had been furious with her and threatened to sue her, because it was a lot of money. "YES! They didn't pay the rent on my apartment! For the past three months! My landlord was really upset with me.
He said that Amanda and Marc moved to a different apartment but the lease was still in my name, so…I owe him all that money before I could even think about moving back in and he didn't sound like he was willing to let me even do that with being so past due! I thought they were paying the rent! I'm going to KILL those two! Why didn't they tell me? I should never have trusted them!"
Daniel shook his head, and whispered softly, "Betty, I know you're going to give me a hard time for saying this, but I really want to help you figure this out. I could pay it for you, but I know you need to get those two dummies to pay up to teach them a lesson not to screw you over. But just say the word, okay? And as far as a place for you to stay...well...if you need a break from Queens, you know you can stay here with me. I mean...I really WANT you to stay here, regardless."
"Daniel, no! You're so sweet, but I can't accept your money. And I don't NEED to live in Manhattan."
"Yes, you do. It's crazy for you to commute from Queens. Besides, you know I'm actually being selfish. Because I want to be able to do this anytime you're in the mood. Which I hope will be often." he kissed her in a breathtakingly tender kiss.
After he let her step away, she reached up and smiled, "Okay, you convinced me to stay with you."
He smirked, "That was easy!"
She kissed him again, "You're a very good kisser! But I still need to find another job, Daniel."
"What? You mean, because of what we were talking about before or…"
"Because! I can't stay at Mode and sleep with my boss! You know that."
He looked at her with a hopeful grin, "So, does that mean you WANT to… stay...together, then?"
She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down to her level to give him another slow, sensual kiss, "What do you think? You were more important than my job as a friend, when you were grieving. YES, Daniel! I love you. Of course I choose you over my job! I can get another job. There is only one you! You're right about my career goals. I NEED to get a new one, anyway! I have to stop clinging to things that are just holding me back. In my personal life and with my career."
He continued to kiss her softly grinning like a kid, "I love you, too, Betty! So much! That's good, I'm happy for you and I know you need to be challenged more. I'm VERY happy we'll be together personally now, but I am going to miss you at work! We do make a great team!"
She smiled, shrugging, as she ran her hand up his chest, reaching under his shirt, "True, but we make a really, really good team outside of work, too!"
He took her hands and kissed them, then hugged her tightly, before grabbing her hand and leading her back out to the living room, "That's even better; you're right. So, what, you're going to give your notice at Mode, then? And I'll step down as Editor-in-chief there."
He laughed, "Shit, Willy really WILL have a heart attack when she finds out we're both leaving! You can stay here while you look for another job or something as long as you need to. But you know, I COULD find you another job at a different magazine at Meade. Do you really have to leave the building altogether?"
She smiled, kissing him and patting his cheek, "That's sweet, but it would still make you my boss, Daniel."
He wasn't ready to give her up yet, "Not if you're my partner. We can be colleagues. There's nothing wrong with co-workers sleeping together. I mean, yeah, it can be tricky, too. But it's not nearly as bad. We would be equals. Hell, Betty, you were the one who found Connor's embezzlement in the first place! I trust you…"
She kissed him again, "You are incredibly generous and kind, Daniel. But don't you see? I HAVE to work somewhere away from Meade Publications for a while at least!"
But Daniel wasn't taking no for an answer completely. He set his jaw, "Fine, Miss stubborn! I get it. You need to prove you can do your own thing and you don't want to be considered "Daniel's girl" who slept her way to her job, even though everybody always accused us of that, no matter what we told them!
I do want you to consider working at another magazine at Meade, but if you absolutely insist you won't, I respect that. Hell, if we can't come up with some other solution, I'll more than gladly walk away from Meade and come work for you somewhere as YOUR assistant, and start over completely!
I just really miss seeing you everyday. And yeah, okay, I admit, a big part of why I don't want you to go work for another company altogether is because I want us to meet somewhere and fool around.
But I guess I can settle for seeing you every night, instead! That's not a bad trade off at all actually! Besides, I definitely don't want to have you think I 'miss you much' and get sick of me! I can't have you running back to nerd boy!"
She giggled, "I will never get sick of spending time with you, Daniel! We've been together so much over the past few years and you keep getting better and better! You've grown so much since I first met you! You're not that same…"
"Asshole you first met?" he smirked, "Why thank you, Miss Suarez! I'll take that as a compliment! And who knew under all those...crazy patterns was a total knockout sex goddess, just waiting to jump into my bed! I mean my arms...my heart?"
She laughed, as he chased her onto his sofa, their kisses becoming sweeter as they made love tenderly, taking more time to explore and tease one another before they both collapsed, with Betty lying in his arms as he kissed the top of her head, "Wow!"
"Uh huh! Just...WOW! Thank you!"
He laughed, "No, Betty, thank YOU! I can honestly say, I have NEVER lasted that long before!"
"Really?" she seemed shocked.
He raised an eyebrow, "What, you don't believe me? I mean, I've never timed myself or anything, but...SHIT! Do you know we were ...um...we started...it's been all day and now it's night! Not that I'm complaining! It was...amazing! YOU were amazing...ARE amazing!"
"You too, but…"
"My butt is amazing? Thanks, Betty! The feeling is mutual!" He ran his hands over her bottom appreciatively.
She shoved him off the sofa, laughing, then put her hand up, "Oops! Sorry!"
He shook his head, jumping up and offered his hand to help her up, "It's a good thing I'm still young and in my prime! You could have broken a hip or something if I really WAS an old man! Are you as hungry as I am?"
"I'm STARVED!"
"Yeah, me, too! Pizza?"
"I really do love you, Daniel!"
He laughed, "Love you, too, sweetie! I guess great stomachs think alike, huh? Go ahead and order some for us please. I'm going to jump in the shower. You might want to bring some other clothes over tomorrow. Although I'm totally fine with naked weekdays and every other Sunday, maybe?
Whatever works for you. How about you at least let me take you shopping tomorrow, okay Betty? To celebrate getting my money back. I missed being rich! I'll pick you up from Queens and we'll make a few retail stops on the way back here. Besides, I'd love some input into the clothes I'll be taking off you. You can bring your poncho as long as you don't wear anything else except shoes!"
The weekend flew by for Betty. She could scarcely believe she had made so many changes in such a short time. But she felt good about making the choice to turn to Daniel and she had never felt so sure about a man before.
With Walter, he was the first guy who even looked at her, but he cheated on her! With Henry, she felt breathless and happy that he loved her, too. But he broke her heart when he slept with Charlie and all that entailed. Him coming back over and over, never letting her heal was exhausting. Maybe she would always be a little in love with the guy. But he had put a scar on her heart that she didn't want to open again. She couldn't. Their time was in the past.
And because of the problem she seemed to have with letting go of Henry, it had made what might have been better with Matt turn into...that horror show that was her bright idea of helping him "find his passion'.
She wasn't happy with the way he couldn't find what he liked and stick to it and she actually agreed with his mother (as horrible as the woman was), that Matt needed to stop jumping from job to job! Besides, him essentially "dumping" her over voicemail to run off to Africa was not okay! What a jerk! She knew she deserved better.
And Daniel was...SO much better! In every possible way. He was kind, and thoughtful, and sensitive to her every need. She never realized how much having a man like him truly love her boosted her own confidence. Heck, just being friends with him and working with him these past few years had given her so many more opportunities and made her more self-assured because he listened to her and valued her opinions.
And now that they were actually lovers? The man was insatiable. And frankly, with him, so was she!
Betty had to admit she somewhat enjoyed intimidating Amanda to return the money for not paying the past due rent she owed. Daniel had asked Betty if he could "shake down" Marc for his half on her behalf, just for fun, telling her he got a kick out of seeing the man take out his inhaler and run.
She had promised Justin she would pick him up from his drama class in the town car Sunday so he could ride in it (and she suspected, show off to his classmates).
There was a playwright who she spoke to after Justin's class, Zachary Boule, that she was somewhat inspired by his ideas about transformation. She felt as if he could have been talking about her. She tried to do an impromptu interview with him after his presentation, "Excuse me, Mr. Boule? I wanted to ask you some questions about your last play. Do you have a minute?"
"For you? I have ten!" He smiled and Betty shook his hand, "Thank you, Mr. Boule. My name is Betty Suarez. My nephew, Justin is a student here and I wanted to thank you for giving back to the community like this to inspire young people and also to tell you how inspirational your presentation was for me, personally."
He grinned, nodding, "You're more than welcome, Betty. It's just Zack! Actually, my real name is Ezra Patenski, but...my publicist matched me up with some models and actresses and got paparazzi to "catch me" with them on my motorcycle and suddenly my work is a lot more interesting!"
She didn't catch that he was flirting. She nodded, "I know what you mean. I've been working at Mode magazine for a long time and very few people there paid any attention to my ideas until I started dressing better and wearing more makeup, fixing my hair. It's all about image!"
"Well, I guess it makes sense. It is a fashion magazine. You really work at Mode, huh? How long have you been there?"
"Almost four years. I recently got promoted to junior editor. I'm thinking of making a big change. It's scary trying to start out as a writer, though. I mean, Mode may not be the path I intended, but...at least it's a path, right?"
"Yeah, trust me, I know what you mean. It's hard to make big changes." he smiled, and handed her a card with teeth on it, "I noticed your braces. I used to have them, too. Here, try my orthodontist, Dr. Frankl; she's fantastic! She's a miracle worker."
Betty smiled, holding up the card, "Cute! Actually, I am looking for a new ortho right now. Mine um...quit suddenly. Thanks, Zack! Oh, sorry, I need to go. Maybe I could interview you formally for an article on transformation or something?"
He smiled, "Sure, Betty! You're very cute! You know, one of the things I've learned is, sometimes you just have to go with your impulses!" He leaned forward to suddenly kiss her, causing her to back up and slap him.
"Excuse me? Where did THAT come from?"
She saw out of the corner of her eye that Daniel had been watching her, while he stood with Justin at the doorway talking.
He seemed to be slightly amused when he saw her slap Zack and when she walked over to him and Justin she rolled her eyes, "What? What are you grinning about?"
He shook his head, putting his arm around her, "Nothing! You! I was watching you talking to that poser and I could tell he was totally into you but you didn't have a clue he was planning on hitting on you. You have no idea how beautiful you really are, do you, Betty?
I started to go hit him for you when I saw his evil plan, but I could tell you could take care of yourself and I sort of wanted to see you lay the guy out. Sorry I butted in with Fartley before and robbed you of the chance. It did feel good to punch that dumbass, though!"
Justin grinned at the two, and chatted happily in the car, ignoring his aunt and Daniel, kissing and being all googly-eyed on the way back home, "Grandpa and Mom owe me and Marc two hundred dollars!"
Betty turned to her nephew, "Well, get in line with Marc, because that little goof owes ME his half of three months' rent! He and Amanda never paid the rent on my apartment! Apparently, it's been empty this whole time and neither of them bothered to let me know they had moved out across the hall! Wait, why do Papi and your mom owe you and Marc two hundred dollars, Justin?"
He shrugged, waving to her and Daniel, "You two! I predicted this years ago! Christina was in on it, too. And Mrs. M."
Daniel's eyes raised in amusement, "My mom? Really?"
The young man nodded, "It's SO obvious! She was always running off, day and night, 'Daniel NEEDS me!' Please, like you ever paid her enough to warrant that kind of devotion! The woman has it so bad for you!"
Betty blushed, "JUSTIN!"
Daniel laughed, putting his arm around Betty, who was slightly annoyed at her nephew, and embarrassed, "Cut it out!"
Justin stuck up for his aunt, "Well, you've been totally into my aunt for years, too, mister blue eyes and you know it! Having that fashion show just for her, being the loudest one to cheer for her, and always calling her all the time for silly stuff just so you could be with her. It's about time!
I knew I should have raised the pot! Marc was about ready to give up. But I knew when I heard about that fiasco at the art gallery and how Matt was such a jerk that might push you guys over the edge! Love is so cool! And two hundred bucks won't hurt!" He sighed, smiling.
Betty normally would have been concerned about them flaunting their new affair at Mode, but since they had both decided to step away from the magazine for their own professional reasons anyway, she was actually going to somewhat enjoy seeing the look on all the "Modees" faces when she and Daniel walked away together as a "power couple" as her nephew called them (Detty)!