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~ Tales of Romance ~
Whispered Promises
Chapter 8
Dani sat curled up on her window seat, a silken throw, the color of garnet, draped over her shoulders, pensively staring down into her mother's garden below, now glazed with mist and moonlight. A gentle push had the window swinging open silently, and her breathing in the chill November air. Less than two weeks until Thanksgiving, she thought to herself, wishing she could bring forth a bit more enthusiasm for the approaching holiday. She loved the holiday season, especially Christmas, and normally would have been driving everyone crazy with her off-key singing of carols, and asking who wanted what. But in quiet moments, like these, she had too much time to think about why she was off the ice and ponder if she was ever going to go back. Other than tomorrow, of course, which, she realized with a bubble of real excitement, was when she planned to show Matt that figure skaters weren't slouches, by any means, and give him a taste of his own arrogance. If there was one thing that flowed thickly through the Rocmanov's veins, it was arrogance; they had simply learned to generally keep it in check. But even the Rocmanov's had their moments when arrogance ran wild and pushed aside common sense. Dani figured tomorrow was as good a day, as any, to throw her weight around, and show Matt he didn't know as much as he thought he did!
A wistful sigh escaped her, and left a little puff of mist in the cold air. Her mother's garden lay sleeping beneath her window, gone dormant for the approaching winter. In her mind's eye, she could still see the glory and riot of colors and fragrances that had welcomed her each day when she'd opened her window to the morning's gentle breezes and took comfort in the knowledge they would return in the spring.
Her phone ringing, had her jolting pounding in surprise and a quick look at the clock had her heart pounding in trepidation; eleven-thirty five. For as long as she lived, she would remember her mother's words: 'Don't makes calls after nine o'clock at night! Between nine p.m. and seven a.m. is the time reserved for those calls you don't want to get; the ones telling you someone's died.' Dani closed her eyes and tried to slow her raging heart, whimpering when Emily's image came to mind. "Not yet!" she murmured to herself, reaching for the phone and steeling herself for what was to come.
"Hello," she answered tentatively, holding her breath.
"Danielle?" Hunter's voice reached through the line.
She released her held breath with a shaky sigh and ran one hand through her hair. "Hi." A gentle smile curved her lips, then slowly faded as silence filled the line. "Hunter?"
"I'm here," he answered back, his tone flat and tired.
"Are you okay?"
"It's been a long day."
"It's been a long week," Dani corrected softly, thinking of everything that had transpired over the last seven days, culminating in the article in the paper yesterday.
"If you hadn't kissed that man, that picture wouldn't have ever been taken, let alone appeared in the paper, and I wouldn't have to be dealing with the fall-out," Hunter growled suddenly, his tone hurtful.
"What 'fall-out' are you having to deal with, Hunter? I don't remember seeing your name anywhere in that article. I'm the one they're accusing of having a lover, not you!" Dani fired back.
"Everyone knows we're involved," Hunter argued.
Dani's inelegant snort said otherwise. "Who, Hunter? Who knows we're involved? To be involved with someone you have to be - well - involved with them. Seeing someone once every few months does not constitute an involvement; it's an acquaintance! We were more involved when you were dealing with Andrew Manning!"
"Are you saying there's nothing between us?"
Dani closed her eyes, fighting the urge to scream in frustration. With a deep sigh, she tried to explain how things looked to her. "Hunter, from all I've seen in the last few months, the only thing between us is distance. I had to plead with you to come to the Gala, and I won't remind you what a bust that turned out to be. I never saw you at the skating benefit, and correct me if I'm mistaken, but I don't remember seeing you at the hospital either," she finished, her voice filled with emotion.
"I had to get back; there was an important meeting that couldn't be rescheduled," he stated flatly.
"And I'm not important?" she asked timidly.
She could almost see Hunter running his hands through his tawny colored hair in exasperation. "Of course you are, but you don't understand the pressure I'm under. The amount of busy work that's involved with keeping Andrew Manning in jail and getting everything ready for his trial is monumental. I don't have time to be baby-sitting someone perfectly capable of taking care of herself," Hunter stated thoughtlessly, his tone brusque and business-like.
"And I'm not under any pressure here?" Dani countered.
"If you're incapable of dealing with everything, I would suggest you decide what's really important to you and give up the peripheral activities that are obviously hurting your focus."
"Exactly which 'peripheral activities' are you referring to, Hunter?" Dani asked, sitting up straight, a slow rage beginning to boil.
"Why do you put yourself at risk working with children with AIDS? Are you trying to kill yourself?" His tone filled with derision.
Dani covered her mouth with her hand, in an effort to keep from saying things she knew she could never take back. Rage swirled in a red haze around her and the urge to simply scream coursed through her body. "You're a snob, Hunter James, but I didn't realized, just how big a snob, until this moment," she ground out slowly, her voice low. "For the record, I am not trying to kill myself. You might not be able to believe this, but I've read up on the disease. Yes, there are ways it can be passed, but with the children I'm working with, we are not having sex, sharing needles, or trading blood!"
"Danielle..."
"I work with those children because it gives me greater pleasure than I ever thought possible and it gives those angels a chance to have a little time away from hospitals and wondering if they'll wake up tomorrow, or if this is their last day on earth!"
"You're better than they are. You're risking your life for people you don't know and shouldn't mean anything to you," Hunter interrupted irrationally, fury in his deep voice.
"Hunter, unlike you, I'm not afraid to let people within arms reach. I'm not afraid to hug them, or kiss them, or even hold a Kleenex while they blow their nose. These children have taught me more about courage and determination and faith than you'll ever dream of knowing, and I'm a better person because of them. If that upsets your little apple cart, well that's just too damn bad!"
"Danielle, you're being irrational," he stated without emotion. "I can't even discuss this with you if you're going to act like a child."
Rage exploded through her and it took every ounce of control she could muster, not to scream, into the receiver, at the top of her lungs, at him. "You're wrong, Hunter. I've sat here listening to you berate me, for the last few minutes, with so much patience and control I've surprised myself, but my time as an adult is at an end. Now I'm going to act like the 'child' you've accused me of being!"
Without another word, she slammed the receiver down into the cradle, frowning as she heard the sound of plastic cracking.
The phone rang almost immediately, and with a murderous look, she snatched up the phone. "Hunter, if you know what's good for you, you'll hang up before you say anything else that lends itself to thinking of ways to slowly torture you!" Dani snarled dangerously; her eyes filled with fury.
"As much fun as being slowly tortured by you sounds, Darlin', I prefer my love making a bit more on the gentle side," Matt's low, sexy voice drawled.
"Oh, God&ldots;" Dani murmured, embarrassment sending waves of heat to her face. "I'm sorry, Matt," she offered quickly, trying to stem the still seething emotions that Hunter had brought forth.
"No problem. In fact, it's been a while since I've been threatened with torture. It's always good to feel wanted," he teased lightly, smiling when he heard a light chuckle escape her.
"I'll remember that," Dani stated quietly, remembering his saying those exact words to her at the restaurant.
"You do that."
With a sudden dawning, she realized she was talking to him on her private line; a number she rarely shared with anyone. "Matt, how'd you get this number?"
"It wasn't hard. Did you know Cynthia can be bribed with chocolate?" he asked on a deep chuckle.
The sound sent currents of warmth through Dani and she smiled in understanding. "Cynthia gave you my number?"
"Hell no. That woman's got more ethics when it comes to business than I think half of the CEO's on the planet have. I asked her for it, but she said it was private and unless she heard from you that she could give your number to me, I wasn't going to get it,"
"She did?" Dani asked, a little smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"I told her you had told me I could get it from her, but she wouldn't budge," Matt complained.
"You did?" Dani was almost getting dizzy trying to keep up with the trail of his conversation. That, and the fact, his voice seemed to be thicker, more seductive, didn't help her concentration when she could imagine watching that beautiful mouth of his move, and knew the magic it could create against her own.
"So I did what any determined man would do, I bribed her with five pounds of chocolate and two dozen yellow roses," he stated proudly.
"She gave you my private number for five pounds of chocolate and two dozen roses?"
"No, she left her office for five minutes and told me not to touch anything," he laughed, remembering the knowing light that had lit Cynthia's eyes when she'd walked out of her office. "I just hope I didn't get her in trouble by rifling through her Rolodex and borrowing a piece of paper."
"Cynthia owns the ice house, she's been a friend of the family's for years and she's one of the most intuitive women I've ever known. No one gets anything from Cynthia unless she wants them to," Dani offered knowledgeably.
"I hope you're not mad I did it," Matt said quietly.
"Do I sound mad?" Dani countered with a soft sigh.
"No, you sound sad; a bit defeated; alone."
Dani closed her eyes, and fought back tears. "How do you see so much, when you can't even see me?" she whispered.
"I look." His statement was heartfelt and filled her with a warm glow.
"Thank you for looking," Dani murmured, turning her gaze back to the moonlit garden.
"Believe me, it's my pleasure!" he answered huskily.
For several seconds, they simply listened to each other breathe, connected by modern technology and an emotion as old as time itself, content in simply knowing the other was within hearing range.
"Do you want to skate?" Dani asked quietly, finally breaking the silence.
"We're going to skate in only a few hours," Matt answered, glancing at his clock and noting the time: twelve o'clock, the bewitching hour. Appropriate, considering Dani had bewitched him!
"No, I mean now," she stated, her voice filled with determination, suddenly needing to feel the ice beneath her, and needing Matt there when she did.
"Don't tell me you have a key to Cynthia's rink?"
"I've got something even better; I've got my own ice!"
"Give me the directions and twenty minutes and I'll be there," he stated nonchalantly, trying to ignore the way his body reacted to the anticipation he was feeling and that very soon she would, in all likelihood, be in his arms again.
"Hurry, Matt." Her voice was a sultry plea that sent jolts of electricity through his already energized body.
"I'm coming," he murmured softly, hung up the phone and made his way through his small cottage house, his mind swirling with images of Dani.
* * * * *
Dani sat on the front porch swing, wrapped in an ivory fleece jacket, her arms hugging her drawn up knees, surrounded by the dark night and chilly breeze. The subtle lights that lined the brick walkway glowed softly; adding to the mystical quality the moon lent everything it touched. All was quiet and calm around her, but an underlying expectancy seemed to quiver in the air, growing stronger with every beat of her heart.
The low, deep hum of a powerful motor, not far away, caught her attention and had her gazing through the darkness, searching for the source. A single headlight blinked into view as the vehicle turned onto their property and then disappeared, as a powerful motorcycle slowly traversed the long driveway with only soft moonlight to guide it forward.
Dani watched in fascination as the huge machine slowly meandered up the drive; its driver swathed in black leather. The powerful engine vibrated the ground beneath her feet, a powerful animal barely restrained. She glanced toward her still dark home, hoping not to disturb those sleeping inside, and wished them all peaceful dreams, before walking quietly down the stairs, and crossing the lawn, to meet the man in the shadows.
Matt ran his hands through his hair in a half-hearted attempt to tame the wind-tossed waves, and watched Dani appear from the shadows, making her way slowly toward him. Like a fairy drifting up from the mist, each footstep scattered dewdrops into the air, like glitter, as her feet sank down in the deep grass. Her skin looked alabaster in the moonlight, and stardust glittered in her shining auburn air. Her eyes reflected the stars in the dark sky and appeared fathomless. She simply took his breath away.
"Hi," he murmured in a husky voice, his eyes absorbing every inch of her face.
"Hi, yourself," she countered, her eyes practically caressing his motorcycle. "You didn't tell me you had a bike," she stated breathlessly.
Matt's arms lifted from where he had had his wrists draped over the handlebars. "Ta-da," he sang deeply. "You know what they say about men and their toys?" he offered, a boyish smile on his face.
"Yeah, I know," she nodded, her eyes filled with yearning as she looked at the monstrous motorcycle, felt the powerful vibration that still rumbled the ground and wondered what it would be like to ride such a creature.
"Care to take a ride with me, Princess?" Matt asked daringly. Knowing he was simply asking for trouble, he wondered if he would be able to keep his mind on the road. With Dani plastered against him, her full breasts melting into his back, her thighs squeezing his, her hands wrapped around his waist, those nimble fingers only inches from where he wanted them to be, he questioned his own sanity.
Dani gazed into his eyes, and saw the raw, sensual emotions that raged through his body. She recognized them as the same feelings that thundered through hers, and briefly considered walking away. God knew it would have been the smart thing to do. But tonight, with the wind starting to build and clouds rolling in, it was a night to tempt fate and taunt the unknown; a night to taste wicked delights and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.
"Is it safe?" Dani finally asked, her eyes glittering brightly, her pulse suddenly racing in anticipation.
"We won't go any faster than you want," he offered deeply, unable to believe his wording and then wondering if the double entendre was intentional or simply wishful thinking, one hand held out to her in welcome.
Dani thought about the wisdom of her foolishness for all of two seconds, before she slipped her hand into his, and allowed him to pull her forward. A quick kick with his heel had the back foot-pegs snapping into position. With a nonchalance he didn't feel, he calmly told her how to mount the bike, and swallowed a groan as he felt her body slide in behind his. Her warmth and softness made him jerk in reaction and her hands sliding around his side, and settling loosely at his waist, had his body going rock hard.
"Ready?" He questioned sharply, her affirmative reply a warm whisper of mist against his cheek.
A gentle twist of his wrist had the engine flaring to life, the low rumble a steady vibration that sent jolts of energy through Dani, and had her tightening her hold on Matt's waist, as he slowly turned the motorcycle around and started down the long drive. A flick of a switch, and the headlight flashed back to life, its bright glow lighting their way through the ever darkening night as the moon disappeared behind another cloud and the air grew heavy with an approaching storm. When Matt reached the main road, he hit the gas, the engine roaring to life beneath their spread thighs.
Dani closed her eyes and threw her head back. The wind tore through her hair, sent it dancing haphazardly, and she laughed in delight and sensual abandon. Her thighs tightened against Matt's, and she snuggled closer against his back, her hands splayed against his waist, her fingers looping in the belt loops of his pants.
Matt's body screamed with need and groaned in sexual agony, the deep sound stolen in the wind that rushed around them. He wondered, for a brief second, if this was the torture Dani had had in mind for Hunter - whoever he was - and silently swore against the possibility.
On and on they roared through the night, the miles disappearing like sands through an hour-glass, connected in a way neither had ever felt before and both were wary to examine. Time seemed to cease and when they finally stopped at the top of a hill, overlooking the city beneath them, Dani sighed at the beauty before them and sent Matt a dazzling smile. A twist of the key had silence surrounding them.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Dani asked reverently, her gaze sweeping slowly across the glitter of lights that sparkled softly in the sleeping town beneath them.
He twisted slightly on the seat to look at her. "Amazing," he murmured softly, his voice a husky whisper that caressed her cheek, his eyes never left her face.
"You're not even looking," Dani countered, feeling suddenly self-conscious and sending him a shy glance.
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I happen to be beholdin' you at the moment," he stated quietly, his eyes fathomless in the shadowed light of the moon. "In fact," he complained lightly, "Come around here so I can properly behold you," he demanded softly, his voice wickedly delicious. Reaching for her ankles, he pulled them up to encircle his waist and then with one quick twist, had her settling between his spread legs, her thighs draped over the tops of his.
Before she even realized his intent, she was up and around and pressed against the front of him, her hips pressed against his wantonly, the heat of him a beguiling torture. A soft, "Well&ldots;" was the best she could do.
Matt smiled at her befuddlement and blushing cheeks and ran his knuckles along her jaw line, relishing the silken warmth of her skin. The thought that he could simply sit here gazing at her all night, and never grow tired of the sight, crossed his mind and had him shaking his head in disbelief at the train of his thoughts. If someone had told him a week ago he'd be mooning over a figure skater, he would have told them they were out of their mind and to sit on a spike and twist. Instead, he was doing just that, mooning over a figure skater, in the moonlight, in the middle of the night, and loving every second of it!
Sometimes fate had a funny sense of humor.
Dani was saved from any further response, when the storm clouds that had been steadily building opened up, and rain began to fall; sparingly at first, but then more determinedly.
With a quiet oath of frustration, Matt twisted the key, and brought the motorcycle back to life with a powerful roar. With a dark scowl and an abrupt, "Hold on," Hunter toed the motorcycle into gear and sped off into the stormy night.
Within moments, Dani was thoroughly drenched and chilled to the bone, the vibration of her teeth chattering a steady hum against his chest, where her cheek rested, her head tucked beneath his chin. His leather jacket and pants kept the majority of the rain and cold away, except for the small trickles of water than seeped down the front of his neck and onto his chest from her wet hair.
"Unzip my jacket and put your arms around me," Matt called against her ear, hoping the wind didn't carry his words completely away, his lips cold and uncooperative.
It took her several tries before her numb fingers worked well enough to open the stubborn zipper, and heat seemed to radiate from him when she separated the soft leather. An ecstatic sigh of anticipation blew a warm caress against his chest as she struggled to open the wet front of her coat, slipped out of the sleeves and slid her arms within the warm cocoon of leather and around his waist.
Matt's breath caught in his chest as the sensation of warm full breasts, encased in a cold wet shirt, melted against him, and he shifted a little further forward, hoping to bring her closer and keep her warmer.
Surprised gasps echoed in the night as the cold, wet discomfort they felt dissolved into a sensual awareness that flooded them with heat. Dani's head fell back and she looked into Matt's eyes. He returned her gaze for but a brief moment, but in them, she saw the same raw need she felt reflected back at her. The sudden rasp of his teeth tracing a sharp path along her exposed neck sent fire racing through her body, while the cold rain that continued to fall upon her upturned face did nothing to quench the inferno that slowly consumed her.
The powerful engine vibrated beneath them, fueling a fire that was quickly spreading, and threatening to become uncontrollable. Dani's fingers tugged relentlessly at Matt's shirt, freeing in from his pants, and her sharp nails scored tingling trails against his skin. Tightening her thighs, she tilted her hips forward, taunting his manhood and stretched to place a nipping kiss at the base of his neck, her tongue slowly lapping at the water trail that seeped down to his chest. His deep growl of need had a sultry laugh escaping her parted lips. The feel of his left hand, suddenly splaying against her bottom and pulling her hard against his surging manhood, had the laugh dying in her throat and her breathing in shallow little pants.
On through the dark night they sped, the storm dousing them with cold rain, energy radiating around them; through them, as they absorbed the wrath of the storm and their bodies reacted in like. Matt's hand held her firmly against his body, each small bump in the road a tingling reminder of what ecstasy could bring.
Dani's eyes rolled back in her head as Matt sped faster, the vibration suddenly centered where their hips met, their hearts thundering together. Tiny flashes of light sparkled beneath her closed eyes and she felt a tightness deep within her flicker to life, like a coil slowly twisting, urging her forward, pushing her toward a sweetness she'd never tasted, promising her fulfillment.
"Matt&ldots;" she whispered breathlessly, the tips and her fingers beginning to tingle, like tiny bubbles surging through her veins and moving relentlessly toward the center of her body, daring her to taste ecstasy.
Matt gritted his teeth as they hit a pothole in the road, and tried to focus on anything but Dani's warm body pressed against his so tightly, and the tremors that made her vibrate against him. Her sweet, sensual whimpers, that escaped her opened mouth, tormented him and pushed him ever closer to the same, dark edge Dani's body raced toward. His fingers flexed against her bottom; a hot brand against the wet cloth that covered her rounded derriere, and a dangerous growl sounded deep in his throat as he imagined her naked beneath him.
Despite his best efforts, Dani's subtle squirming against his manhood, her sensual whimpers and grasping hands, Matt felt himself slipping ever closer to fulfillment and roared a denial into the air, his voice echoing through the darkness; a feral sound filled with torment. A twist of his wrist had the motorcycle surging forward, as if shot from a cannon, the energy of the engine encouraging the two on, taunting them with its power, and daring them to endure the torture that could only end in sweetness.
And then the motorcycle jerked and sputtered, and coughed, and denied of its life fluid, fell silent and calm, steadily slowing as it coasted along the rain slick road.
Upon the first small jerk, Matt's hand had left Dani's bottom and returned to the handlebar, easily controlling the monstrous machine as it silently coasted to a stop. Dani's initial gasp of surprise turned into an exasperated groan as the sharp edge of ecstasy faded away, and she was left frustrated, unfulfilled and strangely edgy. Her whispered, "Damn!" and her forehead dropping forlornly against his chest said it all.
"Well&ldots;" Matt offered, heaved his own sigh of frustration, and took in his surroundings.
Dani lifted her head, her eyes glazed and luminous, arched one brow and snapped, "My feelings exactly!"
His deep laugh had her gasping as his body vibrated against her, small sparks of electricity flashing within her and taunting her with sensual delight. A quick peek upward showed her Matt had felt the same powerful draw and sat as still as a statue, as if waiting for her to make the next move.
It was so tempting! The energy still coursed through their systems, like a volcano on the brink of erupting, requiring only a little more heat to nudge exploding into the air. And what an explosion they would make together; instinctively she felt it, and perhaps that's what made her slip her arms from beneath his jacket, and scoot away from the source of her desire.
"Any idea where we are?" she asked as casually as she could, frowning when her voice betrayed her and sounded shaky. Pushing wet strands of her auburn hair off her face, she looked about her.
Vaguely surprised to find himself in familiar territory, and closer to home than he had realized, the fact his mind had been working on auto-pilot, and yet didn't register the familiar surroundings, made him mad with himself. Not only had he risked his own safety, he'd risked Dani's, and he vowed it would never happen again.
"Not too far from your house. In fact, probably within walking distance," he offered, heeling down the kick-stand, and swinging his right leg over the back of the bike. His low groan of discomfort as he moved, and the way he turned his back on her and tugged at the front of his pants, as he sought to adjust himself, had her smiling at his consideration.
"What happened?" Dani asked, her voice suddenly breathless as she watched his muscular bottom flex in the leather pants. His arched look had her blushing furiously. "To the bike, I mean&ldots;" she stuttered, her hands fluttering nervously.
"Ah&ldots;" he murmured wickedly, enjoying the fact he was able to fluster her so easily; a simple look had her stammering like they'd first met, when only moments before, they had been close to sharing one of the most intimate acts a man and a woman could share. "I'd say, we ran out of gas," he offered sardonically.
"You're kidding?" Her lilting laugh filled the air.
Matt's hands circled her waist, and with a quick lift, she was up and off the bike, and settled on the ground. "I'm afraid not," he countered, nudging the motorcycle into neutral, and pushing it further off the road, and beneath a large tree.
"So what do we do now?" Dani asked, her eyes following Matt's every move as he pushed the huge machine along, thoroughly appreciating the play of his muscles beneath his leather clothes. Her fingers itched to follow each sinewy line, and bulging muscle in his body.
"We walk," he answered simply, looking over his shoulder, and smiling wolfishly when he caught her staring at his back side with a hungry look on her face. "See anything you like?" he asked wickedly, his dark eyes flashing with devilment.
"Not particularly," she countered flippantly, lifting her chin haughtily and breezing by him with determined steps.
Matt watched her sashay away from him, her hips swaying seductively from side to side. He allowed her to take ten steps before he let loose a sharp whistle that had her turning to look at him in question. Jerking his thumb in the opposite direction, he quipped, "That way, Darlin'."
He couldn't exactly hear what she was mumbling as she brushed past him, but judging from her tone, and the glaring look she shared with him as she stalked by, he thought it was probably better that he couldn't!
* * * * *
The storm clouds dissipated as the pair trudged along the side of the road, Dani a few steps ahead of Matt, where he contentedly enjoyed the view of her swaying bottom, and determined stride. Less contented, was the battle he fought with himself as he resisted the urge to rush her, sweep her into his arms and kiss away her stubborn streak. Still, there was something mighty sexy about a woman in a temper; maybe it was the thought of making up afterwards that had him smiling foolishly.
"What's so funny?" Dani snarled, having looked back to see him grinning at her with dangerous spark in his eyes.
"Nothing," he replied nonchalantly.
"That's not how it looked to me," Dani argued, sending him another look filled with enough heat to turn him to dust.
"Oh? Then tell me, Princess. How did it look to you?"
Dani's chin lifted in challenge. "You were ogling me!"
Matt stifled the smile that longed to curve his lips. "You're right, Darlin', I was," he agreed lightly. "In fact, I take great pleasure in 'ogling' you," he countered, unable to keep the sexy smile from his lips any longer.
Warmth rushed through her and sent her senses swimming at his declaration. She so wanted to believe his seemingly sincere words and melt beneath the warm glow of his eyes. But did she dare risk it? What if his words were nothing more than empty compliments designed with an ulterior motive? A quick shake of her head pushed his words aside and with a frown, she demanded of him, "Well, knock it off. I don't like it!"
Matt heard the hurt in her voice, could see the pain in her eyes, even from the feet that separated them, and softly agreed, "As you wish."
Dani blinked in surprise at his phrase, astonished because, other than her parents, and brother, and now Chloe, she rarely heard it used. It had been a phrase used within her family; like a secret code, that was a promise; a vow, made to one that could never be taken back, or broken. Now, to be surrounded by the chill night air, and the sparkling stars, and hear Matt's deep voice uttering words that had been a haven for her, she found herself wondering how long the small cracks in the wall she'd erected around her heart would hold Matt out. But worse, she wondered if she really wanted him on the outside.
A small animal dashing in front of her, had a small scream of surprise echoing through the night and Matt racing toward her, only to find her laughing nervously, her hand on her heart as she struggled to catch her breath.
"What the hell was that?" he asked, peering through the darkness and catching the faint glow of something white dashing through the wet grass.
"Sasha; our neighbor's cat. I know where we are," Dani answered raggedly, pointing in the direction Sasha had disappeared, and leaving the road to follow the trail the cat had left.
"Are you sure?" Matt as skeptically, uncertain if he should follow her lead, considering she'd started their walk home in the wrong direction to begin with.
"Trust me; this leads to the back of our property. All we'll have to do is shimmy over the wall and we'll be home free. Then we can take some gas to your bike, and you can be on your way home," Dani stated decisively, urging him forward with a hurry-up wave.
Matt's steps were reluctant, but throwing caution to the wind, and with a what-the-hell shrug, he followed her through the wet grass.
* * * * *
Somewhere along the line, the pace quickened from a strolling walk, to a serious jog, and suddenly they were standing in front of the eight-foot high, brick wall that surrounded the Rocmanov property.
"This is the wall we're just going to shimmy over?" Matt asked skeptically, leaning one hand against the cold brick as he caught his breath. With a frown he realized Dani was barely out of breath.
"It'll be easy!" Dani proclaimed.
Matt's dark expression said he didn't believe her.
"Fine. Watch," she stated, and backing up a few feet, dashed forward. Her arms swung upward, as her left toe pushed against the wall, in less than two seconds, she was sitting atop the brick barrier, her legs dangling on either side. "Ta-da!" she sang out, her arms spread wide. "See? I told you it was easy."
Too easy, if you asked him. Shaking his head in disbelief and amazement, he sent her a knowing look and softly asked, "That's not the first time you've done that, is it?"
Dani looked down from her high perch, her eyes filled with mirth and excitement, and quipped, "I plead the fifth!"
Matt nodded in understanding, backing up and preparing to take his own run at the wall. "You don't have to hit me in the head with a brick; I get it. How many times have you snuck back over this wall?" He asked, running forward and making a leap for the top, only to have his foot lose its grip and his hands slap painfully against the brick. With a solid thud, and a muffled curse, he landed in a heap on the ground.
"Ouch," Dani mumbled under her breath. "Are you okay?"
Matt pushed himself to his feet, rubbed his stinging palms against his thighs and sent a dark look toward Dani. With a scowl for the wall, he backed up again, and made another attempt to scale the wall.
The second attempt didn't work out any better, and he voiced his displeasure a little louder and with a lot more clarity.
Dani cringed as he voice echoed through the air. "Matt, there are people sleeping; namely my parents. Why don't you hang tight and I'll go get my car and pick you up. It won't take me ten minutes," she suggested, rolling her eyes at his less than agreeable attitude.
"If you can get up this damn wall, I'm going to. Even if it takes me all damn night!" he growled, his glare hot enough to cut a hole in the bricks.
"Fine, knock yourself out! Not literally, of course, but go for it. But if you'd drop your caveman attitude for three and a half seconds, I have a suggestion that might help," Dani offered calmly.
Matt's splayed hands and expectant expression was the best he could do.
"You need to use your arms for lift, throw them straight up as soon as your toe hits the wall. Otherwise, you might as well wait for me to get the car," she stated matter-of-factly, ignoring his snort of disbelief that something as simple as throwing up his arms could get him up this ridiculous wall.
Walking a little farther away from the wall that had become his enemy, he rolled his shoulders to relieve some of the tension that was bunching in his muscles, and scowled at Dani as she swept her arms upward, reminding him of her suggestion. With a final scowl, he raced forward.
His toe dug into the wall, his powerful arms swept upward, and suddenly he found himself at the top of the wall, and swinging one leg over it to sit facing Dani.
"Nicely done," she offered with a smile, just the tiniest bit smug. God she loved it when she was right!
Matt shook his head in defeat. "Go ahead, and say it," he suggested.
"Oh no!" Dani shook her head back and forth. "I want to hear it from your lips."
Matt rolled his eyes and sighed forlornly, and despite his basic instinct that screamed men know everything, he knew when to admit he was wrong. "You were right," he stated clearly.
"I usually am!" Dani countered tartly, swinging her let over the wall so she was sitting squarely on her bottom, her hands beside her hips as she prepared to push herself off the wall and into the garden below.
Matt's hand grabbing her wrist stopped her. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he growled.
"Going over the wall," she said easily.
"I'll go first and then you can jump and I'll catch you," Matt offered gallantly.
Dani cocked one eyebrow at him. "You'll catch me?"
"You don't think I can?"
Dani gave Matt a searching look and thoughtfully scratched behind her ear, pondering the best way to answer him without saying the wrong thing. "I think you're perfectly capable of carrying something that weighs what I do. But I think, catching a heavy, moving target is another thing."
Matt snorted in disgust. "Darlin', you might be movin', but heavy you aren't," he growled, pushing off the wall and landing on the semi-hard ground of the garden with a muffled oomph.
Turning around, he brushed the dirt from his hands on his thighs, and lifted his arms toward Dani. "Okay, Princess. Jump."
"Matt, I really don't think this is a good idea," Dani murmured, fully prepared to push off the wall, only to feel Matt's hand on her foot, tugging at her.
"Matt, don't!" Dani screamed as she felt him pull her forward, and she slid into the darkness. There wasn't even enough time for her to be frightened before she was snatched out of the air, and pulled against his muscular body, her legs wrapping instinctively around his waist, her arms twining around his neck. Her heart pounded erratically in her chest, its racing beat echoing the thud of his own heart beat and the warmth of her labored breath scorched his throat, while his own breath came in short pants.
"Are you okay?" he murmured breathlessly, gazing down into her pale face, the moonlight making her skin glow translucently.
Dani's affirmative nod had him breathing a sigh of relief, that was short lived when lights suddenly turned the darkened garden into the bright light of day.
There, standing before them, was Aleksei Rocmanov, his arms casually crossed against his broad chest, looking calm but for the fire that flashed in his obsidian eyes and the muscle that ticked in his jaw. "I understand the two of you are lovers, but would you mind taking your hands off my daughter's ass?" he asked sardonically.*
Copyright © 2001-2002 C.E. Moynihan
*All Rights Reserved