Baby, It's Cold Outside, CH 3
A/N: It occurs to me, as I re-post this story from 2013, that when I originally wrote it nine years ago, things were VERY different as far as what is considered appropriate! So, please don't automatically dismiss this story, simply because of the unfortunate controversy regarding its title and the associations with THAT SONG! Personally, I always rather liked the song, and actually was reminded of it being sung by of all people, Lauren Bacall, and her "grand-daugther" in a cute Christmas movie I watched with my daughter. Or, since I'm so old, "back in the day" by Eartha Kitt, or Frank Sinatra. In any case, I hope you still can enjoy this story, set between two best friends, turned more than friends in the spirit it was written, with love. Because love never goes out of style!
Daniel couldn't help but watch Betty with seemingly new eyes as she laughed on the phone with her family. Up till now, she had always just been his sweet little assistant. He never really looked at her as a woman.
Well, okay, almost never. He had to admit, there had been a few times he had noticed she might have had a few nice curves under the interesting wardrobe choices she made.
And the braces didn't really bother him. He always loved her smile. It lit up whatever room she walked into, he thought, as he poured another glass of wine for them both.
After the Sofia fiasco, he knew well his weakness for latina curves.
And seeing her silhouetted against the light he could see that Betty actually had those in spades. He could now see for sure just how amazing her body really was as she stood in the moonlight of the window, with the snow falling heavily behind her in the form-fitting dark green silk dress, that had come slightly undone, revealing her amazing breasts far more than she probably realized.
Her hair had fallen down as they had been dancing earlier, so it was messy but shone like black silk in the light.
He took a sip of the wine and smiled, thinking this was nuts. He was seriously going to make a play for Betty now?
He must have been reading too much of that damn romance book if he somehow saw himself as the lead character in it, that Darcy guy, the sort of rude, smart alec-y rich guy that the girl, the main character, Elizabeth was obviously into.
His heart started beating furiously for some reason as Betty turned and smiled at him, as she reassured her father one last time that she was inside, safe from the storm.
Obviously, Betty's father was not one to believe the stories about him on Fashion Buzz, or he couldn't imagine how the man could feel comfortable having his youngest daughter alone all night with New York's most notorious bachelor.
He couldn't help but grin as he saw Betty giggling when she tripped on the mistletoe he had insisted on buying and absently picked it up.
"Well, okay, then. Goodnight, papi. Merry Christmas! I'll call you tomorrow and let you know as soon as it lets up enough for me to get home. Love you!"
Daniel saw his opportunity and took a quick drink for courage, then walked purposefully over to her, taking the mistletoe from her and holding it over her head.
She looked up, puzzled, "Daniel? What are you…" He smiled, then put his other arm around her waist, placing his hand on her back as he leaned down and kissed her.
Tenderly, almost hesitantly at first, but as she somewhat surprisingly to Daniel responded enthusiastically and passionately, he deepened the kiss.
Eventually, he dropped the mistletoe, and put his other hand on the back of her head, running his fingers gently through her hair.
Betty's soft moans were spurring him on to continue, as she, too, seemed to get completely lost in his kiss. She placed her hands first on his chest, feeling his firm pecs, and running her hands over them.
Then as he slowly but surely, backed her over to the sofa, both of them falling onto it, but still not breaking the kiss, he moaned into her lips, "Betty...mmm...baby"
She giggled, and leaned her forehead against his, taking a breath, "Um...Daniel?"
"Uh huh?"
"What was THAT all about? That must be some powerful mistletoe!"
"Uh huh". He smiled, still kissing her softly, as she tried to talk, and push away, but he held onto her waist tightly. "Daniel! What are we doing? We...don't do this!"
"I hate to argue, sweetie, but I think we just did. And if I'm not mistaken, I think you kind of like it. Don't you?"
He grinned, as his hands continued running over her body and made their way to her breasts, while he started kissing her neck simultaneously.
Her mouth fell open when he found her 'sweet spot', breathing into her ear, and biting it softly.
She squirmed a bit, trying to pull away, but was finding herself extremely tempted to succumb to his charms. "Daniel...I...uh...I"
"You what?"
Her eyes closed again and she melted into his kisses, moaning and losing herself temporarily. "Huh? I...oh...I mean. What was I saying?"
He just shook his head, "I don't know. I wasn't listening. Your boobs distracted me."
She opened her eyes, pushing him, and causing him to almost fall off of her, "DANIEL!"
He laughed, "Sorry. But they're...nice."
She blushed, "Thank you. But...this is…"
He allowed her to push him to arm's length.
"This is...what? Fun? Feels good? Feels ...right? Like something we probably should have done a long time ago? What's wrong with that?"
"Daniel, it's not really...you know, good timing right now."
"Hey, don't you think I know that, Betty? I can't help it that I realized I'm in love with my best friend right after that dufus finally rode off into the sunset with his baby mama! It stinks; I know. But...that's life."
"Daniel, I know you're hurting about Renee still, but you can't just use me like this. And I would feel like I'm just using you since Hen...wait, what did you just say? You're in LOVE with me?"
He laughed lightly, "Took you long enough, girl. Yes, I said I'm in love with you. It seems Renee got the crushes confused.
I know you may still have had your little heart go pitter pat after tall, dark, and dorky but it seems I am the one with the crush here.
And I admit, my timing sucks. But it is what it is. You may not feel the same. At least, not until you do whatever you need to in order to stop wasting your energy on that idiotic accountant.
But, when you do, I'm your man. I'll be right here, waiting for you. Betty, for God's sakes, close your mouth! Why the hell are you so shocked?"
She shook her head, practically crossing her eyes, as she looked at him, "Daniel Meade, is this supposed to be some kind of joke? You are in love with me? Me?"
"Yes, Betty. You. Betty Suarez. My loving, sweet, slightly klutzy, but beautiful, amazing, and sexy assistant. My best friend in the world. The woman I'd do anything for and who would literally walk through fire for me, too.
You may have convinced yourself that Henry was your match or something, honey. But, I think once you really stop to consider everything, you'll come to the same conclusion I have."
"And what's that?"
He gave her his slightly lopsided grin, as he pulled back her hair from both sides of her face, holding it in his hands, then looked down at her, and leaned down to kiss her slowly, "That we're soul mates. You and I. We belong together."
She gulped, "Soul mates? Us? You really think…we do?"
He nodded, kissing her eyelids and cheeks. "Yes. We do. Think about it. When something goes wrong with either one of us, we call each other. Today, for example. You were upset, so you called me.
When I'm having a problem, I call you. We're always together. It's no wonder Renee thought we were sleeping together. We might as well be. We do everything else together!
Do you have any idea the stuff Marc writes about us in the men's room? Hell, I'll have to ask him for a diagram or something. As much as I've been around, I still have no idea how even some of it would be possible! Although, it really does sound kind of kinky!"
She rolled her eyes, "Daniel! Please!"
"Sorry. But don't you see, Betty? Everybody there already thinks we're together because we should be. We were meant for each other. It's so obvious.
It's taken us way too long to see what was right before our eyes. That we belong together. We're like...peanut butter and jelly. Or something fancier. How about steak and lobster? Caviar and champagne."
Betty made a face, "Ew, does that make you the champagne and me the fish eggs?"
He laughed, kissing her nose and her chin, "You're adorable, Betty. No. You can be the jelly. I'll be the peanut butter, okay? Is that better?"
She smiled, rolling her eyes, "I suppose so. But, Daniel, doesn't this feel...I don't know. Sudden? I mean, Henry just left yesterday, and you just had Renee...you know…"
"Carted away to a padded cell? Yeah...I know. Well, hey, so our lives are dramatic! It makes things interesting, right?
Maybe we could start things a little slow, I guess. We don't have to do anything you don't want to do, I promise, Betty.
I want you to be comfortable. But, does this mean, you...are at least open to the idea of you and me? Daniel and Betty, together?
You and me against the world...and Wilhelmina?" He grinned, leaning his head against hers again, then kissing her lips lightly.
She laughed, "Well, we've already had that! And it does. I am. But, Daniel, slowly means...you know, no…"
"Sex? Yeah. I figured that. Okay. But we can still...you know, do some stuff, right?"
"Such as?" She raised her eyebrows.
He laughed, "Well, obviously, kiss. You make me feel like a teenager again, kissing on the couch like this. It's fun, though."
She blushed, "Thanks. Yeah. I liked it, too. So, definitely yes to kissing. You're a really good kisser, by the way."
He smiled, "Thank you. So are you. So...where exactly am I allowed to touch you, Miss Suarez?"
She rolled her eyes, "Not to sound too much like a teenager, but um...how about nothng below the waist?"
He nodded, and took her hand as she extended it to shake his, then high five her.
But after a moment he smiled, and took her hand again, kissing it and looked up at her, winking, "You, Miss Suarez, have bewitched me, body and soul. And I wish never to be parted from you."
She smiled, looking down at him as he kissed her hand and pulled his face towards her, kissing him passionately, as his hands began eagerly exploring her body.
They got carried away rather quickly, both moaning as Daniel pulled her leg up against his hip, massaging her backside, then rolled on top of her. He looked down at her, and whispered, "God, I want you so much, Betty!"
"Mmmm….me, too, Daniel. Oh, God, I want you…SO MUCH! This feels….amazing! But...not yet. Not tonight. It's too soon. I need time to get used to this. I'm sorry. I really do want you, too. But…just….not now!"
He nodded, trying to calm himself down, "I understand. It's okay. I can wait as long as you need me to. But this feels so good. It feels so perfect. Tell me you feel the same thing I do, Betty. And I don't just mean…the wanting sex part! Although that's DEFINITELY part of what I feel. But more importantly, I really do love you!"
She nodded, her eyes slightly moist, "I...think maybe I do, too, Daniel. I mean, you're right.
You are the one I always think about, the man I always come to. But...I take back what I said earlier about you being such a gentleman. Watch those hands, Mister!"
He laughed, "Sorry! You really did "bewitch me" Hey, you can't blame a guy for trying, can you?"
She nodded, obviously still aroused, "It's okay. I got carried away, too. We both did. You're an insanely good kisser, Mr. Meade! Are you going to let me up now?"
He shook his head, teasingly, as he started to roll over then stopped and held her firmly in place, "Okay. Sure. Sorry, Betty! Wait a minute, though. I mean, I don't know. Hmmm….well, actually, now that you've insulted my um… gentlemanliness! Why should I, Miss Suarez? Now, you've besmirched my honour, good lady! Wait, gentlemanliness-that IS a word, isn't it?"
"Yes. But…why?"
He shrugged, smirking, "Because, I'll have to keep it in mind the next time we play Scrabble!'