Daphne kisses Niles with all her passion, riding the most joyous moment of her life. It's everything she's dreamed. Somehow she senses that to him it's a similar experience, and she shivers with the anticipation of what's to come. If this is how being with Niles promises to be, then she's ready to sign wherever necessary to keep up with it. Why have we wasted so much time?
The song finishes and she's ended up in the same position than the previous time with that tango, kneeling at his feet. He gently helps her stand up again, and the look of love in his eyes makes her heart skip several beats.
This time it's her who seeks his lips and he reacts promptly, without the slightest restraint or hesitation. The applause of their audience still goes on loudly and enthusiastically. It's like being in a romantic movie which finishes with the main couple kissing in the middle of a cheering crowd.
"Wow, Daphne...," he pants, with his arms still wrapped around her waist and breathing hard after the vigorous dance. "That's been... That's been... incredible."
"Yes. I see you haven't forgotten your dance lessons," she teases, aware that all the people are watching them. She must be as flushed as Niles as a result of their physical exertion, the attention they've drawn to themselves and their shared passion.
"As if I could. You're an excellent teacher," he compliments with a smile. The spectators are scattering already, some of them congratulating them for their performance, and she and Niles thank them. She feels disappointed and relieved at the same time. Disappointed because the amazing moment has passed, and relieved because she's never enjoyed much being in the spotlight. It's been thrilling in the heyday of their exhibition, but afterwards, it feels awkward to her, when the adrenaline starts to fade.
"And you're an excellent student," she compliments in return. She doesn't care one bit that she's being almost ridiculously cheesy. Niles brings out all her tender and romantic side.
At once, they lean forward and kiss again, deepening the caresses and relishing the sensations. His lips are so soft and they fit so well with hers.
When they break apart, panting with desire, they stare into each other's eyes. "Do you want a drink, Daphne?"
She nods, not tearing her gaze from his. "Yes, thanks. But a soft one. I don't want to waste the chance to drive your Mercedes back."
He chuckles and kisses her knuckles. "You look so sexy when you drive it. You're free to invite yourself behind the steering wheel anytime you wish." He lifts a suggestive eyebrow and she chuckles too. He rests his hand on the small of her back. "Behind you, my lady."
She rolls her eyes and leads the way to the counter.
After a few more dances and a lot of smooching, Daphne decides that there's no point in denying the evidence and delaying the inevitable. She and Niles want each other badly and are perfectly comfortable with each other. To hell with her first date rule. What she and Niles have is special.
But she has to make sure that they're both on the same page and ready to take that step. She breathes deeply. "Would you like to go to a more private place?," she asks, with her heart racing.
Niles searches her eyes intensely and stops swaying with her on the floor. "I would. Very much. That's... That's truly what you want, Daphne?" He swallows hard and his Adam's apple bobs.
"I'm completely sure. What about a nightcap at your place?," she suggests with a provocative tone of voice. She feels him tremble. "I quite like your house. It has so many promising rooms and surfaces." She feels naughty and for an instant fears that she's overdoing it, but then she senses that he's in. So in. The evidence is pressing against her hip. Her face heats up.
Niles kisses her neck, and it's her turn to tremble. "Then who am I to deprive you of testing and enjoying them?," he murmurs against her skin.
Daphne grabs his hand and, silently and with an excited smile, leads the way to the exit of the Starlight Room.
The drive back to Niles's apartment is full of promise, innuendo and sexual tension. Everything is like foreplay. Even the feel and smell of the soft leather of the seats add to the heightened sensations. Niles, emboldened, is now caressing her thigh. Never before has she been so glad of wearing a dress with a slit. Her silk stockings (which have lace on the top and don't need a garter belt to stay in place) don't diminish one bit the touch of his hand on her skin. She's burning and, even if her eyes are intent on the road, all her senses are focused on his actions.
"You're so beautiful, Daphne. The most beasutiful woman I've ever seen," he says hoarsely. From the corner of her eye, she glimpses his ardent stare.
She decides to play a bit. "And what about the beauties I've often seen at yours and Frasier's parties and at other events?"
Niles makes a dismissive gesture with his free hand, not stopping his caresses with the other one. "They all pale in comparison." He squeezes her flesh a bit and she jumps slightly, nearly moaning in pleasure.
"Have you let any other woman drive your Mercedes? Well, apart from the former Mrs. Crane, of course." She ignores where that question is coming from; it's quite silly. But for some reason, the fact that he's completely content with her being behind the steering wheel strikes a chord.
"You're the only woman that has driven it. And Maris never drives. She has chauffeurs at her disposal," Niles informs, and Daphne catches the slight scorn in his voice at the mention of his ex-wife.
Daphne smiles from ear to ear. "So your car was virgin to a woman's touch before today. Unless, of course, there hasn't been driving involved on their part," she can't help prying with an intense blush.
He rushes to deny it. "Oh, no, no. It was genuinely virgin in all sense. Should I be jealous of my own car? You seem to be taking a great interest in it," he accuses in feigned indignation.
She laughs, and is secretly thrilled by his admission that she's the first woman in his Mercedes towards whom he harbors more than friendship and who in return feels the same for him; or, more accurately expressed, he hasn't had sex in his car. "Maybe you should be, a little. But I don't usually date cars. For as much heavenly the leather of these seats is, I still prefer living tissue." She's in the mood for being cheeky. The sexual tension is rising several more degrees, if that's possible.
His hand reaches further and he gasps audibly when his fingers find the delicate lace of the stocking. "What am I going to do with that sassy mouth of yours?"
"I'm sure you'll come up with something," she provides, placing her own hand on his probing one and guiding his movements over her skin. Niles's chest heaves and his breathing becomes slightly ragged. The effect she has on him is very addictive, but she would never use it to take advantage of him or to coax him into doing her bidding. In short, she wouldn't fall so low as to manipulate him, like she knows too well his ex had done. She doesn't want to turn into another manipulative bitch in Niles's life, but she's certain that that will never happen, because it isn't in her nature. Niles's sense of self-value had been seriously damaged by Maris, but he's come a long way into rebuilding his self-esteem and Daphne is proud of his resilience.
"Some ideas are coming to my mind, indeed," he announces, venturing his touch into her inner thigh.
It's her turn to gasp. "Niles," she moans, flushed to the roots of her hair. If she weren't driving, she would have closed her eyes in pleasure. His bold fingers are so close to the area where she needs him the most...
"Oh, Daphne, sweetheart." She shudders in delight at the tender name. It sounds so sensual in his lips. By then he's kissing her shoulder, equally enraptured. It's a good thing that the Montana is finally in view, because her self-control is on the verge of vanishing completely and she's about to straddle him and have her way with him in the Mercedes. But deep inside she knows that she doesn't wish for her first time with Niles to be a quickie in a car. She wants it to be truly special. And although she has no doubt that even a quick tryst with him in his Mercedes would be much more satisfying than any sexual encounter she's had in cars in the past, there will be time for that in the near future.
Right now, she's eager to be naked with him in the privacy of his house and have the whole night at their disposal, making love until they're fully and thoroughly sated.