Danny turned and stopped short, almost chest to chest with Lacey, the girl behind him unable to stop in time and running into Danny's backside. Danny didn't budge, body frozen in the exact moment that Phoebe had told him would hurt Lacey. He straightened up tall and watched her face.
Lacey was no stranger to awkward moments. She also knew this moment would come and she refused to let it upset her. She knew the situation, she forced her face to remain neutral, happy in fact.
"Whoops! Sorry, didn't see you there." Lacey held up her empty cup and gave it a wiggle, pointing to the kegs, "Just heading for a refill!" She smiled at him before continuing by the two of them.
Danny knew how strong she was. He debated if she was acting or if she was really okay seeing him doing what appeared to be the walk of shame down the stairs. He stepped toward the keg station, pulling his friend along behind him.
"Want a drink?" He asked his friend, eyes on Lacey as he spoke.
"No, I should get going. Have a good night, D, see you around." She leaned up and slapped a quick kiss on his cheek before walking out.
Danny made his way over to Lacey, stepping up beside her as they waited for refills. Lacey acknowledged him with a nod and handed her cup over to the beer master for more.
"Great game." Lacey said, not looking at him, "Scouts find you?"
"Yep."
"Dude—"
Danny sighed, "They're watching me. It's just, not my time yet."
"I see."
Danny rested his back against the counter so he could face her. He leaned in closer and nudged her with his shoulder to get her attention. Lacey looked over at him after accepting her cup back.
"Can we talk?" Danny asked, eyes soft, kind.
"Yeah, what's up?" Lacey tried to keep her emotions even, her mood upbeat.
"How many drinks is this?" Danny nodded to her new beer.
"Three. You?"
"This is my first, actually." Danny accepted a beer, chugging it in one gulp, "Upstairs?"
Lacey bit her lip. She was starting to let her sadness leak out, Danny could see. Lacey took a moment to chug her new beer before Danny took her hand and pulled her toward the stairs.
"C'mon, it's quieter up there."
Lacey followed Danny up to the second floor, expecting to head into one of the many bedrooms. Danny walked them down the hall making no move to enter any of them. Instead, Danny led them straight to the giant window at the end of the hallway and pulled it open. He stepped out onto the fire escape, turning to hold his hand out for her.
Lacey looked out and down at the narrow, rusted steps.
"It's safe, I wanna show you something." Danny coaxed.
Lacey hesitated climbing out.
"What is there to see out there?"
Danny pointed up. Lacey leaned her head out and looked up at the ladder that extended up and over the top of the house.
"Um—what?!"
"I won't let anything happen to you."
Danny extended his hand again and Lacey reluctantly slid out the window and onto the rickety structure. He moved her in front of him and guided them up and onto the roof.
The sun had set by this time and the flat roof was illuminated by some soft string lights. It gave the space a warm, comforting feel.
"This is nice—"
Danny nodded, "Yeah, I lived in this house last year, I still come up here a lot to think."
"You lived here? I thought you weren't a frat boy—"
"I'm not, but most of the team is and I didn't have housing lined up so they adopted me." Danny smiled, "Anyway, check this out—"
Danny pointed to the sky before he flipped the lights off, the rooftop proving to be the most amazing spot to see the stars. Lacey knew stars existed, but seeing them while buzzed on a romantic rooftop with Danny made her eyes twinkle with wonder like a little kid.
"Wow—" She couldn't remember the last time she had appreciated seeing the stars at night.
The music was thumping below them and they could hear lots of different conversations mixing together from outside the house and along the street. The gentle buzz of life below and the quiet twinkling from the stars above made Lacey feel like she was floating peacefully somewhere in between. Of course the alcohol may have been a factor too.
Danny watched Lacey smile and close her eyes, the soft lights from the street creating the most amazing under-glow to her face. She was radiant and he decided right then that he'd do anything to keep her smiling.
"I'm not trying to hurt you." Danny offered softly, breaking Lacey out of her spell.
She looked at him for a long moment. Danny was the most attractive person she had ever seen in her whole life. He always seemed to put her at ease, to reduce her anxiety. Lacey had never felt like he was out of her league, but if she compared this handsome, athletic, team-oriented man to her experiences with the same in high school, they would never have been friends.
Lacey was a major art geek. She loved painting, music, photography, writing, movies. If they had known each other two years ago, she was certain they would have never interacted. Danny was different though. Lacey wasn't sure if it was a matter of being more mature now, or if he had always been the way he is, but Danny seemed to pay attention to whole beings.
Danny found people and their passions in general very interesting and realized he connected with everyone in different ways. He could learn new things and share his love. Lacey found that combination compelling and something she didn't realize she needed in her life.
"I know. I've been thinking about things a lot."
"What things?"
"About your lifestyle, and mine up until now. It's hard to just flip the switch and be okay with it all—"
"I understand." Danny said, remembering how difficult it was for him at first to unlearn some toxic traps he had thought were just the way things were supposed to be.
"Anyway, I'm—" Lacey stopped and smiled again, trying to swallow her raging jealousy as she thought about this perfect guy sleeping with other people.
"That girl, the one with me on the stairs—" Danny paused to push some pieces of hair out of Lacey's face.
Lacey shook her head no, "I don't—I don't need to know." Lacey took a step away from him.
"Wait, wait—please?" Danny took a step forward for every one she took backward.
"I should get back—" Lacey so desperately wanted to run away and hide to cry and protect her aching heart.
Danny walked away and flipped the string lights back on. Lacey had made her way back toward the ladder, Danny chasing after her.
"Hang on, please?" He pleaded with her.
He turned her around and pointed to the far corner of the rooftop where Danny had set up an enormous canvas, paints, brushes, palette knives—everything Lacey could dream of for creating a piece of art.
"What—what is all this?" Lacey walked over to the canvas and checked out all the paint supplies.
"That girl was Jo, she's an art major too. A sophomore like me. We met during orientation last year and she's part of the sorority down the street. I just—I wanted to do something for you but I—" Danny picked up one of the brushes, "I have no idea—"
Lacey walked over to Danny and took the brush from his hand, pulling him close and pushing a kiss against his lips.
"This is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me—"
Danny smiled and looked down, so happy he could surprise her.
"I was hoping you could show me how to paint? Maybe we can do something together?"
Lacey looked through all the different paints, smiling at Danny's thoughtfulness, "I'd like that."
Lacey happily prepared them each a simple palette and handed him a brush.
"What should we paint?" Danny held the palette awkwardly, "I could probably do emojis or something—"
Lacey giggled, "I'm an abstract painter, D. It's about feeling, you should be good at this."
"Feeling."
"Yeah, look at the colors, connect with how you're feeling and show it on the canvas."
Lacey mixed orange and red, making a rich warm heat before painting in large circles toward the top of the six foot tall canvas. Danny watched for a few minutes before mixing pinks and purples into horizontal lines toward the bottom. The pair worked together in silence, their thoughts and feelings eventually touching in the middle of the canvas before they crossed sides and continued on in the opposite direction.
Danny stepped back first and watched Lacey in her element as she went back through to highlight and rework details. She used her talents to enhance the bones they had created together. Danny was in awe watching Lacey's process, watching her work.
Lacey finally took a few steps back, turning around to find Danny sitting behind her with an open bottle of wine. He poured her a cup as she wiped her hands and plopped down next to him.
"Ooo, yes please—" Lacey accepted the solo cup of wine and took a big swig.
"Lacey, you're incredibly talented—" He held his hand out in obvious appreciation of their painting.
"You did so good, I love what you did there." Lacey pointed, "Your instincts are lovely."
Danny took a long sip of the wine and stretched his arms up and over his head.
"You must be sore—" Lacey said, watching Danny's incredible body stretch under his SU t-shirt.
Danny smirked as he watched Lacey shamelessly check him out, blaming it completely on her alcohol consumption. Even so, he'd take anything she was willing to give him. He was ready for phase two of their night.
Lacey watched as Danny stood and reached to pull her to her feet. She was a little disappointed, thinking maybe their night was coming to an end. Danny reached and picked up a tube of the acrylic paint and quickly read the label.
"Hey, so—do you know if this stuff is non-toxic?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
Lacey shrugged, "Yeah, probably shouldn't eat it though—" She giggled and finished her cup of wine.
Danny dropped the tube and stepped into Lacey's space, grabbing her hands and mirroring her face just a breath away from his own. Lacey was happy, warm and Danny pulling her close on this chilly evening was exactly what she wanted right now.
Lacey didn't wait for any invitations and kissed Danny because she desperately wanted to. Danny accepted and the two kissed slowly, their warm buzz and electric connection fueling the passion between them. Danny released her hands and moved his to the bottom hem of her sweatshirt.
Danny smiled, pulling back first, "Now that I've had some experience painting," Danny dragged his fingertips along her bare belly, "I was wondering if I could try painting something else?" He asked, his huge brown eyes flicking up to hers.
"What do you want to paint?" Lacey wrapped her arms around Danny's back, he smelled so good, she wanted to keep him close.
"You." Danny reached to pull her sweatshirt off, followed by the t-shirt below. No bra. Lacey wasn't shy, especially around Danny, but still looked around the rooftop, inspecting for peeping classmates.
"No one can see us, promise." He smiled before picking up his palette and brush.
Danny mixed up a light green, the perfect balance of softness and brightness. He dipped the brush in and stroked the bristles slowly in an arch around the top of her breast.
The paint was cold, the night air was growing increasingly cooler and as Danny continued painting, Lacey's nipples shrunk into rock hard nubs. Lacey's buzz actually made her feel Danny's brush strokes in high definition. The soft, tickling pressure and the glide of the paint turned his ministrations into something truly erotic. She had never felt this level of desire before.
"Oh my god—"
"I need more canvas." Danny said sweetly, dropping the brush and reaching to unbutton Lacey's pants.
He held eye contact with her and went slow to make sure she had time to stop him. Lacey smiled and helped to dance the pants off from around her ankles. Danny couldn't help his eyes lingering on her bright red thong and tried to tamp down his rising need for her knowing exactly what was beneath that tiny scrap of fabric.
"I think red is my favorite color." Danny said with so much purity it made Lacey's heart burst.
Danny picked up a new brush and dipped it into some bright red paint. He swirled his brush around the outside of Lacey's thighs, stopping just short of her center and trailing the strokes down each leg. He moved around her and worked on painting her exposed backside, up her back and down her arms.
"It's my turn." Lacey said and grabbed Danny's t-shirt, pulling it off in one smooth pull.
Lacey went for a mixture of rich, royal blues and a deep, velvety purple. Danny watched as she concentrated on actually painting on him and not painting for him. He didn't want to lose their steam and reached to grab her hand, pulling the brush from her and pressing their bodies together.
He kissed her, rubbing his now purple hands together before reaching around to squeeze her bare ass. He pulled her close and pushed his mouth against her neck. Lacey loved that and immediately reached for the button of his pants.
"I have news." He whispered against her throat as he ducked his way south.
"Right now?"
"It's important."
Danny's hand found its way to the puddle at the apex of Lacey's legs. He rubbed her through her soaking wet thong, a peace offering in advance of what he was about to reveal.
"Talk fast—" Lacey moved to rub herself against Danny's fingers.
"I don't have any condoms." He rubbed harder.
"Fuck—" She gripped his wrist, Danny wondering if that meant stop or don't stop. He kept going.
Lacey continued removing Danny's pants and boxers with zero objections from him.
"I use them, every time—" He pleaded a little on the pathetic side, still unfairly rubbing Lacey's juicy pussy given their current circumstances.
"Me too."
Danny crowded against Lacey now, his hips rutting against hers. He laid them down onto the cold rooftop, keeping her close, their fire blazing.
Lacey was buzzed and wanted him more than anything. Lacey reached for his cock, his warm, red tip now throbbing and impatient in her own hand.
"Oh my god, Lacey—" Danny inched himself forward and back in her hand, bowing his head and sucking on one of Lacey's painted nipples, "I want you so bad—"
Lacey was basically panting at this point, their sexual chemistry too good to pass up. She watched him suffer a few moments longer.
Lacey eventually opened her legs, Danny freezing and watching her face for any sign he could proceed. She shimmied her thong off and rubbed Danny's tip at her opening. Lacey left him notched there and reached for Danny's perfect ass, instructing him to penetrate her.
Danny groaned as he pushed in slow, "Oh. Fuck. Yes.—" His brow dropping low, "You let me in?" He asked her in shock, sexy as fuck.
Lacey nodded, breathing in time with his thrusts.
"You fucking let me in—" Danny's hips were slow, THANKFUL.
He kissed her, predatory, aggressive. He'd never been that way with her, her pussy was dripping. Danny worked her, his hips fluid. He had told her the truth, he'd always worn a condom with every single partner, although after tonight, he may never use one with her again.
Lacey wanted a turn to please him. Every experience they had up until this point was curated by Danny. He had planned all of them, pleased her every time. It was her turn to show this sweet man some love back.
"Time out—" Lacey said, unable to think of anything else to say to get him to stop his pursuit.
Danny stalled immediately, "You okay?" A little fear in his voice.
"Very." Lacey pushed Danny over and down onto his back before climbing aboard and settling on top of him.
Danny popped up on his elbows so he would not miss a second of this. Girls rode him all the time, over dramatic and lazy, like dirty porn stars. He never enjoyed it. Danny liked to showcase his talents in bed and would always lovingly redirect and finish the fucking job himself.
Tonight though, he knew Lacey would be different. She had been the only girl ever to not need him, to actively avoid chasing him. If she was deciding to be on top it wasn't to try to impress him, it was because she wanted to be up there and he was ready to see this.
Lacey's core slurped around Danny's cock, her wetness and her ass slapping soundly as she bounced away. Danny laid back down and rested his hands gently on her painted thighs, the dried swirls literally adding a layer of depth to their fun.
"Wow—" Danny muttered, his jaw hanging as he watched her go.
He had not planned on sleeping with her tonight. He really did just expect to make a painting with her and have a few drinks, relax. Something about Lacey Porter always surprised him though, he always wanted more.
Danny loved having sex and he had it, a lot. Every day if he wanted it. So Lacey taking his breath away was noteworthy. She wasn't loud, she wasn't fake. Lacey never tried to be anything other than herself. It was unfortunately rare to find and Danny cherished that.
He tried to return the favor and tried to think of things that he had never done before so the two of them could keep their connection unique, different. Painting naked with Lacey on a rooftop and then fucking bare, check.
In Lacey's experience, the guys she had been with were generally lazy with romance. Other than some flower bouquets and some dinner date nights, no one had ever tried as hard as Danny to do something for her that showed how much they were thinking of her and the things she loved and enjoyed about life. She had only known Danny for two weeks and he had already surpassed every other relationship she had ever had.
"You—" Lacey braced her hands on Danny's chest and really got her hips working, "are incredible." She tossed her head back and started a perfect rhythm.
Danny was thinking the exact same thing. He couldn't keep his hands polite anymore and grabbed Lacey's hips firmly, truly enjoying what she was offering him.
"Unreal—" Danny groaned out.
"Feel good?" She smiled down at him as she took a turn asking Danny his signature question.
"Where did you come from?" He asked himself in awe of the goddess above him.
Lacey knew Danny was always looking for confirmations that things were going well and she had told him she would work on being more vocal. Her fear was ever doing anything that didn't happen naturally. This wasn't a movie, this was her real life and Lacey intended to live it and feel it authentically.
Danny had awakened her thought process when it came to unlocking her voice during sex. After the last time she realized that she did swallow a lot of things, mostly as a habit from not wanting to get caught by her parents having sex while she was in high school.
Tonight, they were on a rooftop with numerous parties raging below them. No one would hear her climax, and even if they did, fucking congratulations on having some great sex.
Danny released her hips and rubbed a thumb over Lacey's clit. Lacey was close enough to reject the help and she grabbed his hands and slammed them over his head.
"Oh shit—" Danny loved this.
"Danny—" She was so close, she rubbed herself against him in a wave that Danny had never felt before.
"Fucking get it—" Danny kept his hands where Lacey put them.
"Mmh—I'm—" She tried to connect her body with her mouth, "Yesss—" it was the best she could do for now.
Danny watched Lacey come, rocking her clit in an abstract rhythm against Danny's lower abs. He pushed up slowly, careful not to disrupt her orgasm. Lacey was so far gone she hadn't even realized that Danny came the moment she let out her approval. Watching Lacey let go with him, her walls falling away, was something he found incredibly satisfying.
"Did you, I mean—" Lacey sat up straighter, trying to catch her breath, Danny's cock still sitting snugly inside of her.
"Did I finish?" Danny smiled, "I filled you the fuck up, Porter. I'm surprised you haven't floated away by now."
Lacey giggled and watched as she lifted herself up and Danny slid out, aided by a gush of his come.
"Sorry about that—" He hadn't meant to come inside of her, he hadn't planned for any sex with her at all tonight. Rookie move, he thought. What was she doing to him?
Lacey shrugged and grabbed some of the clean cloths from the pile of art supplies and cleaned herself up a bit before managing to wrangle her underwear and pants back on. She left her shirt off and poured them a fresh glass of wine.
"Thanks."
Danny smiled and accepted the wine. He had managed to get his bottoms on too, plopping down next to Lacey, both of them topless and still covered in paint.
"Thank you for the lesson." Danny tapped her cup with his.
"Any time. How did you know I would be here tonight though? We never made plans—"
Danny shrugged, "I guess I just assumed you'd follow the party flow here. I would have come to find you if you hadn't shown up."
"You missed it you know, I was dancing in a football player sandwich earlier. You would have been so proud!"
Danny's face fell, "With who?"
Lacey's eyebrows knit together, "Why does that matter?"
"You're off limits."
"I'm not yours. That reminds me, did Archie want to ask me out before we became….friends?" Lacey folded her arms across her chest.
"The guys know the rules."
"So, you have rules for them so you can have no rules for yourself? That sounds fair."
"I don't screw everyone."
"Archie pointed out like five girls that he can't pursue!"
"That's for their protection, not necessarily for my sexual gain. Ever think of that?"
"Their protection? I didn't realize the football team was filled with so many predators." Lacey grimaced.
"They're not predators. They're just, not what those girls need in their life and they're certainly not good enough for you."
"You know what's best for all of us, don't you." Lacey rolled her eyes, "There's your cocky side again. Gross. I think we're done here."
Lacey threw her shirt on and stood abruptly.
"Lacey, wait—"
"I think he's up here—"
Lacey and Danny turned to see Regina and another one of the Syracuse cheerleaders climbing up onto the roof.
"Oh, hey you two—" Regina greeted Lacey and a shirtless Danny, covered in paint, "Ooo, you've been painting!"
Regina walked right past Lacey and straight up to give Danny a kiss. One he returned without hesitation. For as free as Lacey had felt just ten minutes before now, she was suddenly closed up tighter than she ever had been before.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Regina giggled, "Danny wasn't answering his texts." She put her hands on her hips.
The other cheerleader walked up and hugged Danny, kissing him quickly as well.
"Not interrupting anything. Absolutely nothing is happening here." Lacey smiled, grabbing her sweatshirt and heading for the ladder back down.
"Lacey—"
Danny sighed and took a couple half-hearted steps toward her. He knew he had upset her past the point of reconciling on this roof, especially in front of two of his regular hook ups. He thought it would be better to just let her go for now and cool off.
He stood at the edge of the roof, watching as Lacey carefully climbed back down and into the window. As his attention was otherwise diverted, Regina tipped their giant canvas up with her toe and nudged it over the edge of the roof, sending it down into the disgusting alley two stories below.
"Oops!" She shrugged.