They talked and kissed sweetly, but every time he moved closer, and touched her, Daniel noticed Betty moved away or started talking nervously fast.
He tried to brush off her behavior, knowing how nervous Betty sometimes got when she was in a situation that was unfamiliar to her. He told her, "Hey, sweetie, why don't you stand up for a minute while I unzip you?
That's a great dress, but if you keep me waiting much longer to get you out of it, I swear I'm going to get some scissors or hell, just rip it off you with my teeth!"
She smiled, blushing as she bit her lip, and did as he asked, standing next to the bed. As soon as he began unzipping the back of her dress, Betty started giggling. He smiled at first, and continued kissing her neck.
But after the third time, he looked at her in frustration, "Uh, okay, please let me in on the joke, huh?
Are you...not really ready, honey? Because I get it if you aren't. It's okay. I understand. I know this seems sudden for us, maybe. It's just…been such a magic night and it's Christmas Eve, but…I totally understand if you're not ready."
She looked slightly disappointed, and concerned, "Do you not want to now? Did you change your mind?"
Daniel was having a hard time hiding his frustration or arousal, "Hell, no! I'm definitely up for it, as you can see, Betty! Just like I have been all night!
I just don't want you to do anything you're not comfortable doing, that's all. I know you've been through a lot and...I"
She kissed him tenderly for several minutes, and his hands went to her rear, after he unzipped her dress finally, and slid it down the length of her body, without breaking his kiss, while she lay back down with him.
When they finally parted, he smiled at her, "What was that for? Not that I minded. Did I finally stop tickling your funny bone?"
She nodded, running her hand up his chest, causing him to shudder slightly, "I just kept thinking, I can't believe I'm in Daniel's bed. I'M in Daniel's bed! You know, I mean…well, it really made me nervous.
And you know me, when I get nervous, sometimes I laugh. But then, I decided to just shut off my brain and go with my feelings. Sort of like I have been all night. And that kiss felt…"
"Amazing." they both said simultaneously, then laughed. Betty nodded and smiled, as she continued stroking his chest with her hand. He looked at it, and put his hand on hers, then grabbed it and kissed it.
"That feels really good. I'm glad you got over your nervousness. Just relax, Betty. There's no pressure. I love you. You're not being graded here, you know. Neither of us is. We have all night, with nowhere to go. It's just you and me.
I mean, if anything, I'd say I'm the one who has to make you forget about your...ex."
She shook her head, "No you don't, Daniel. Honestly, even without the baby mama drama, he and I never had what you and I do when I think about it. I was always such a total spaz around him.
With you, well except for just now, I'm usually really comfortable; at ease. Like we were meant to be together. Just like you said earlier. Like…" She smiled, "Peanut butter and jelly."
He laughed, "Yeah? I know, me, too. I normally feel so much pressure to show off, be all impressive or something. But with you, I feel like I can really be myself. Give you my heart, my soul. Now, do you prefer the missionary position or doggy style?"
She looked at him, shocked as her eyes widened, "What?"
He laughed, "I was just joking, Betty! You know, to break the ice. Ease the tension. Calm down. Well, sort of...I mean...it is a valid question, though, I guess. Not to mention...you know, protection, that sort of thing. Are you?…"
She nodded, "Yes, I am. And about the other thing...I'm totally flexible. I'd say, both at some point, maybe? If you're up to it."She teased, enjoying watching him flush slightly.
He caught on to her teasing, and 'attacked' her neck enthusiastically, causing her to burst into a fit of giggles, "Very funny, Betty! You bet your ass I'm up to both, you crazy woman!
Come here, I'll teach you to tease me!" He sucked on her collarbone till she pulled away, rubbing it, "Ow! That's going to leave a hickey, you know, Daniel! Anyway, you started it! Missionary position or doggy-style!"
He laughed, looking at the mark on her neck he had made, "Good, I want to mark you with a little sign that says, 'Daniel's girl'! Nobody touch! Off limits! If anybody messes with this woman, they better be prepared to mess with me!"
He got on his knees on the bed, and pretended to yell, as Betty collapsed in another fit of laughter. "I'd like to see that! You punching guys out, Daniel! Over me! That'll be the day. Anyway, you know you suck at fighting, honey. No offense."
"No offense?" He grabbed his heart as if she had 'wounded' his ego, "You cut me to the core, sweet lady Elizabeth Bennett, I mean, Beatriz Suarez! It is Beatriz, right? Forsooth, you do not credit my skills in weaponry or um...what did they call boxing back then, anyway?"
She shrugged at first, too busy laughing at his fake English accent to breathe, but then remembered, "I don't know. Oh,wait, um, I think…pugilism, maybe?"
He crossed his eyes, making a face of disbelief, "Pugilism? Is that even a real word, Betty? Or did you make it up to sound smart? I know you do that when we play Scrabble, sometimes, you little cheater!"
She shoved him gently, not realizing he was close to the edge of the bed, and knocking him off.
"OW! Well, geez, you don't have to be such a bad sport about it, Betty!"
She hurried to help him up, "Oh, Daniel, I'm so sorry! I didn't realize...I didn't mean to do that! Did I...um hurt...anything?"
He looked down, "Well it didn't fall off, if that's what you mean. I bet you did that on purpose!" He looked himself over, making a face.
"No, I didn't! I promise you, Daniel! Don't be such a baby! I said I was sorry. I swear it was an accident."
"Fine. But you question my ability to defend you with...what was it? Oh yeah, pugilism.
Oh ye of little faith. I swear to you, I would most definitely punch any guy who ever questioned your honor in any way, Lady Beatriz." He kissed her hand, slowly this time, looking up at her.
As their eyes met, they both began kissing again, until they couldn't breathe, He helped her lay back down, crawling over her, and again things quickly heated up between them.
When they finished, he explored her body slowly, and commented, "You really are very pretty. You know that, Betty? I think you just need a little confidence to feel that way in public sometimes. Remember how cute you looked at the fashion show? I was so proud of you!"
She smiled, remembering how loudly Daniel had cheered her on. "I remember. You were so sweet then, Daniel. I can't believe you did that show for me. Just to make me happy."
"Of course to make you happy! But also, I did it to make you proud of me, Betty. Because I like the look in your eyes when you are. I wanted you to know I can do the right thing once in a while."
She whispered, as she pulled him down to her, running her hands over him slowly, "You do the right thing more than you know. There's a lot you can do, Daniel. I believe in you.
For one thing, you do such a great job at Mode. You're getting better and better."
He murmured against her lips as he began to slip inside her, "Mmm...yeah, talk about getting better and better!"
"Were we?" She mumbled, as her eyes popped open.
"We are now. Oh, babe...you feel...so... indescribably...delicious!"
She smiled, seeing how affected he was, and could't resist teasing him, "Oh yeah? Like...peanut butter and jelly?"
He tried to speak, but just nodded, "Sure. Uh huh….oh yeah! Absolutely! Wow!"
They tenderly explored each other's bodies and made love intensely throughout the night, while the snow fell outside, and the world gradually welcomed Christmas morning.
They continued to talk and laugh, just like they always did; only this time, instead of their usual friendly hug, they punctuated their conversations with kisses and love-making.
He lay beside her, as they took a break, watching the snow starting to finally taper off out his window.
He brushed back a strand of her hair, "Do you remember that one crazy night, Betty? When you came to rescue me…"
"Which time?" she teased.
"Ha ha, very funny! The time when you said you had supposedly set me up with Giselle, telling me the press would call us Gisanelle, then you showed up!
Now I wonder if you lied about that whole Giselle thing just to get me to take you out, you tricky girl! You must have secretly had a crush on me even back then!"
She blushed, and hit his chest, "I did not! I told you, her press agent said someone called and cancelled the date, claiming to be me.
I figure it was either Amanda or...maybe Marc. He imitates me pretty well when he wants to sometimes."
"Marc! Yeah, likely story, Betty. Anyway, that was a really fun night, wasn't it? Crashing that wedding, and talking on the bridge like that, and singing bad karaoke!
That was probably the most fun I've ever had on a date. Well, until now, anyway!" He ran his hand down her backside and smiled, raising his eyebrows.
She blushed, "I had fun, too. I mean, well, you know both times, but that night was really amazing. I don't think I've had more fun on a date than that night either. Well, like you said, at least until tonight.
You're a really good singer. We should do that again sometime. We never did make it back out to the bridge, either."
He took a breath and as a song came on the radio that he recognized, and smiled at her,
"I guess we could do something like that night. It was pretty special."
He began to sing along softly, touching her cheek,
You'll never find, as long as you live
Someone who loves you tender like I do
You'll never find, no matter where you search
Someone who cares about you the way I do
I'm not braggin' on myself, baby
But I'm the one who loves you
And there's no one else! No one else!
You'll never find, it'll take the end of all time
Someone to understand you like I do
You'll never find the rhythm, the rhyme
All the magic we shared, just us two…"
He 'hammed it up' a bit at the end, along with the singer making her laugh. She smiled and clapped when he finished, "That was great, Daniel. You really have a beautiful voice, you know that?"
He shrugged, looking a little embarrassed, "Only for you, Betty. You bring it out of me. My rock and roll phase is out of my system ever since junior high, and for good reason, trust me! We got booed off the stage back then! So now do you want to go stand on our bridge and watch the city during the snowstorm, too?"
She rolled on her stomach for a moment, looking out the window, then shivered slightly, and shook her head, "Nope. It's way too cold out there. Anyway, I don't need to. There is nowhere else I'd rather be now than right here with you."
She turned over, and reached out for him, as he grinned at her, leaning down to kiss her, "Sounds good to me. I know I can't think of a better place to be than with you, either, Betty."