Redemption

Chapter Thirty-Three

Waking up in Bobby's arms was what Danni loved most. It felt so comforting to have his strong arms draped possessively and protectively over her as they slept. Yesterday was mostly a blur to her. She remembered the funeral and falling to pieces in Bobby's arms. She even remembered giving him his watch and receiving Luna who was most likely curled up in her bed which was near the couch. The rest of the day was a haze of lovemaking. She didn't know why, but being with Bobby always did that to her and she loved it.

A soft chuckle escaped her as she thought about what her mother would say if she knew how "close" she and Bobby were. Of course, Charlene would have had enough self-control to save herself for marriage, but Danni wasn't like her; there was no possible way she could be. Every time she looked at Bobby, she thought about all of the things she and he had done together and still had yet to do. All of her inhibitions were thrown out the window with one kiss from him and she knew he felt the same.

He'd already said that he wouldn't be able to live without her, though maybe not in so many words. Yet, the meaning was there. He loved her with every fiber of his being and would love her until the end of time. He'd shown her that yesterday afternoon and well into the middle of the night.

A light flush covered her cheeks as she nibbled on her lower lip and gently let her fingertips glide over his bare chest. She felt him give an involuntary shudder and smiled. Any normal woman would be embarrassed at the way a man like him made her feel, but there was no reason to be ashamed. Her feelings were only natural. Lesser women had fallen head over heels for a man like Bobby Manning. She was no different. Yet, the images would not leave her mind. She could still taste him on her lips as she lightly glided her tongue over them. Her skin still tingled from his caresses and kisses as she remembered how he'd gladly explored every inch of her. God, this man was perfect. If only he wanted to marry her.

Sure, he'd said that he wanted to, but that didn't necessarily mean that he did. It didn't really matter to her, either way. In her mind and heart, they were already married. She just wanted to make it official. She wanted to stand before her family and friends and proclaim her love for this man. She wanted everyone to know that she was his.

She couldn't help but think back to before she met Bobby. Marriage had never crossed her mind with any of her other boyfriends, but the moment her eyes had landed on the Aussie, she had fallen in love. It wasn't those gorgeous dimples, that amazing smile, or that sexy body of his that made her fall head-over-heels—they were merely perks. It was his eyes. They'd showed so much sincerity that she couldn't help herself. Even before he had said a word, she knew that there was something special about this man. It turns out that she was right.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you it's not nice to stare?" he grumbled sleepily as his arms tightened around her. Her head was resting upon his chest as she stared up at the man of her dreams. It was obvious that she hadn't realized she'd been staring and he thought he'd remedy that. He'd felt her shift when she awoke and her fingertips drawing a searing pattern upon his flesh, which caused him to awaken as well.

"Sorry," she apologized, sheepishly as she took her gaze away from his and placed a gentle kiss upon his chest. "I was just thinking and I got lost in thought."

"I hope you were thinking about me." He saw the blush on her cheeks deepen and knew she had been. He gave a cheeky grin as she tried to avoid his gaze. It amazed him that after so long, he still had the ability to turn her three shades of red with one thought. "What were you thinking about?"

"Yesterday," was all she said. If she got too much into detail, she knew there would be no containing what she was feeling. At the first rumble of his sexy voice, her stomach twisted into knots and her pulse quickened. She knew the slightest touch of his lips upon her skin would send her over the edge and cause her to become lost in the haze again.

A contented sigh escaped her as she snuggled closer to him by wrapping her leg around his, letting their limbs tangle of their own accord. This was where she wanted to be for the rest of her life. Only in his arms did she show weakness and her inner being at the same time. She never wanted to leave those arms.

"I suppose that smile on your face is any indication that it was a good day, despite the morning's activities." He slightly shifted his weight underneath her to let his fingers dance through her hair. He placed a kiss on the top of her head as she nodded.

"It was a very good day," she reassured him. Her eyes lit up in a mischievous expression before she lightly bit down on his bare chest and smoothed it with her tongue.

He gave a surprised yelp, but an inward moan quickly followed when he felt her tongue dance over his flesh. "You're insatiable," he teased as he felt her lightly trail kisses higher. Her teeth lightly grazed the crook of his neck, which made him inhale sharply.

"You'd better believe it," she murmured breathlessly into his neck as she continued her attack. She knew every sensitive spot on him and she was more than happy to taunt him with that knowledge.

In fact, she knew him better than most people—except, maybe Sparky. He had revealed his entire life to her and she had accepted him for it. She'd told him that she didn't care about the man he was in the past; all that mattered was the man he was in the present. He'd fallen deeply that day and he'd never resurfaced. Even Darcy wouldn't have let him live it down if she had known. Maybe it was because Danni had a past like he did that made her so accepting. Whatever it was, it proved that no one would love him more and he would do the same.

He felt her lips gently cover his lower one and gave a start. His brain had taken control over everything that he'd completely lost track of reality for a moment. He was more than pleased to be thrust back in by her kiss, though. The fact that he had his old Danni back now was a godsend. Stern's death had definitely taken its toll on both of their lives, but now it was time to get back into the groove of things.

If only it hadn't happened this week. Bobby had had so much planned for the both of them, which he still did. He had had a wonderful, romantic plan for their anniversary, but the funeral certainly had put a damper on things. But, he wouldn't let that stop him. He still had one more present to give her and figure out the right time and place. That was wherein the problem lay, though. Planning it was so different than acting on it. Now he understood Jack's turmoil every time he wanted to tell Sue how he felt. Being turned down was never a good feeling and he didn't know if he would be able to handle it; especially if Danni turned him down. He wanted her in his life until the end of time and if he hadn't shown her that enough, he certainly wasn't doing his job. If she turned him down, he would consider himself a failure.

'But, she won't,' he told himself as he took the opportunity to switch their positions. 'She won't turn you down—she loves you—she wants to be with you.' He hovered over her and committed every single detail of her face at that moment. He never wanted to forget what she looked like, just in case things didn't pan out the way he wanted them to.

'What if it's too late? What if the opportunity has already passed?' he asked his whatever little voice was trying to reassure him. That certainly was a good point. If only he could read Danni's thoughts. A few days ago she had wanted to marry him, but now that so much had happened, would she still feel the same?

'You're being ridiculous! Look at her! Look at the love in her eyes and tell yourself that she doesn't want the same things you do.' Bobby couldn't help but to appease the voice. He wasn't disappointed by what he saw. The gorgeous blue orbs he saw still had sleep in them, but even that couldn't conceal what she was feeling at that exact moment. It wasn't passion or desire; it was love. It was pure, unadulterated love, and nothing—not even this case—could compete with. 'Now, how can you say the opportunity has passed?'

In his mind, Bobby rolled his eyes at the wise words that voice had said. He stifled the laugh that wanted to escape him. Even he didn't know how wise he could be. It just showed that he didn't let that side show too often. "I love you," he whispered as he rested his forehead against hers and nudged her nose with his own.

They stared into each others' eyes for a moment, but the tension was rising between them. While their heads and lips remained stationary, their hands were not exactly behaving in the same manner. Her breathing was becoming labored as she nibbled on her lower lip to keep whatever noise was about to pour out of her, at bay. She was waiting for him to kiss her, yet he was waiting for a reply and wouldn't move a muscle until she said what he wanted to hear.

It took her a moment to figure out what was making him stall, but it finally clicked when his lips lightly grazed her cheek. She rolled her eyes in amusement and gave in. "I love you too," she finally replied, "you big, handsome jerk," she added for her own delight with a playful slap to his strong chest.

He heard her giggle as his lips claimed hers, once again. It was a wonderful sound to hear and it only gave him more incentive to continue. One hand ran haphazardly through her silky locks while the other ran smoothly over her hip and higher. When he felt her arms wrap tightly around his neck and her legs lock with his, all fear and worry flew out the window. There was nothing for him to worry about. 'She would say "yes",' he reassured himself before he got lost in the haze.

He lightly nibbled on her neck, which caused her to let out a squeal of delight. He felt her fingers running through his dark mane as his own danced upon the bare skin of her décolletage. With his tongue, his traced a path up her neck and chin until his lips connected with hers. Her light moan gave him access and let him delve deeper, which she allowed. She would allow him to do whatever he wanted right now, as long as he didn't stop.

The tank top she had put on some time in the middle of the night was almost removed and he only needed one good tug to discard the barrier. He placed a kiss upon her stomach and he slowly inched the soft fabric up the rest of her torso, but stopped suddenly. He glanced at the clock and groaned.

It was still early, but the morning's light was filtering in through their window to show the start of the new day. Apart from that hindrance, someone was at the door. "Ignore it," she said as if to beg him to continue. She let her tongue gently run across his top lip before she raised her arms up to allow him an easier time to relieve her of the hassle, but—much to her displeasure—he didn't finish what he'd started. He leaned back on his haunches as he stared at her. She sat up, letting the tank fall back to its original position on her body and lightly race her fingertip across his jaw line. "Ignore it," she said again. "Whoever it is, it isn't important." She placed light, butterfly kisses upon the stubble on his upper lip to show him that she wanted him to continue. She could have done so many different things to him at that point, but that was what she found the most desirable for her.

He grinned at her initiative and took her lead as he kissed her once more. The light waves of her hair flow through his fingers as he let the tips of them glide across her cheek, until they arrived at their destination. His mouth attacked hers with more vigor as his thoughts faded far away from the visitor. His free hand, once again, found its way to the hem of her camisole and began to lift it again.

BZZ BZZ!

A loud groan escaped him as he rolled his eyes in frustration. "Just hold that thought," he said, kissing her once more as he scrambled to find a shirt and answer the door, despite her loud moan of protest.

She groaned in frustration as well and fell back onto the pillows. This was not going to end the way she'd wanted it to; she could see it already. All she wanted was some time for the two of them to recover from the tragedy in their life and people would just not leave them alone. Of course, what did she expect? The case was most important and she was starting to put her own needs before those of everyone else. She'd made a promise to Marie, but she was being so selfish.

It still didn't mean that she and Bobby had to be interrupted.

She crossed her arms over her chest in a huff and waited whatever bad news was coming her way. At least she didn't have to wait long. Bobby entered the room only a moment later with a look of frustration mixed with worry. Danni had never seen that expression before, so she couldn't help but be curious. "What is it?" She was ready for the worst. Had something happened to a member of one of their teams? Had something happened to her parents during their visit? Whatever it was, she was sure she wasn't going to like it.

"It's Sue," he said as he ruffled his hair so it somewhat cooperated with him. It looked like someone had run their hands through it in a wild fit of passion… which was the truth. He saw her give a smile at the thought of her being the one to do that to his dazzling brown locks, but as soon as he let a frown fall upon his gaze, the grin fell. "She needs to talk to you."