Chapter Twenty One

"You mind your manners, Daniel Rohan" Emma said, getting up and helping him clear the table. "I'm not afraid of you". "I know you are not" He said as he poured out two glasses of wine and handed it to her. They went back to the living room. Emma looked at the newspaper strewn couch, gathered the papers together, and stacked them neatly on the floor. "I know you are not afraid of me" he said softly as he handed her a glass of wine. "But I wonder if you know how much you scare me. Here sit down". He patted the couch cushion next to him. "The moon is bright enough tonight. We don't need this." He clicked off the lamp. Emma took a quick swallow of the wine and sat down on the end of the couch. She watched shadowy leaf patterns play on the carpeting, highlighted by the glow of the moon, and took another sip of wine. " Take it easy on the wine, my lady. We don't want you getting amorous." he said She sipped more slowly. "Relax.." she said. "You have nothing to worry about." One corner of his mouth lifted a fraction. "So I'm safe, am I? I am so glad you are here, you know" She almost said, I'm here because you made me. But she didn't. Instead she said. "You could have simply asked me you know.. to come over... Like a gentleman should " He smiled then. "I am a gentleman.. Well... Sometimes." he said. "The office paperwork is a mess... I have been burning the midnight oil trying to update it." He downed the wine, then set the glass on the floor. He swung his body around, propped his legs over the end of the couch, and placed his head on her lap. He looked steadily up at her, his hands folded across his stomach." I haven't slept properly since I met you, love. So drink your wine, let me lie here for a while, and then tomorrow you can go home unharmed" Emma raised her eyebrows. "really?" she said playfully. "I am grateful, m'lord". "On second thought, let me have that". He took the glass from her and drank the wine. I can't chance your being amorous, since I am too tired to to defend myself " He found her hand and placed it on his chest. His eyes closed." that is good. Just don't move, Emma. " Her fingers itched to forage through his hair, to smooth the rumpled strands. " Are you going to sleep? "she asked " Uh uh. Not a chance. I am luxuriating in my lady's presence " he murmured, and turned his face into her stomach. He muzzled the softness there, and she felt his grin. " You have the cutest gasps of outrage " he said." You are good for me, Emma. Come here " In a lithe motion, he slid from the couch onto the floor and drew her down on top of him on the area rug. "Daniel" she protested "Shh, my own... Don't fight me now" It sounded like a plea. He lifted her hair over his arm as he cradled her to him. His feet found hers and went gently up and down. "There, that is better, love" Lifted by the easy rise and fall of his chest, Emma felt the roughness of the chest hair beneath the shirt on her cheek and admitted for the moment that Daniel Rohan had his possibilities. His arm around her waist, he shook her gently. "what are you thinking?" he whispered against her hair. "I can hear the cogs go round." "I'm thinking that you are too hard for a pillow" she said He smiled, then turned to his side and pulled her to him, a heavy thigh weighting her legs. "are you going to let me kiss you, baby?" he whispered against her mouth. "can I stop you?" "you may not believe this, but yes, you can stop me easily tonight. I had planned to storm your defenses, but you have been so sweet since you came here that I have lost my will to fight. I will even forgive you for that little trick at the party with your dress." His kiss was just a taste, a touch of his lips on hers before he pulled back."I don't think you realize what something like that can do to a man... To me" Emma expected more than the light touch of his lips. She wanted more, and moved restlessly against him. "uncomfortable?" he rumbled over her head. "here". He shifted and, in doing so, brushed his mouth across hers again. "that is not fair" she said and he laughed. Her lips parted, her eyes closed, as the butterfly light kiss deepened.. Daniel's mouth slanted against hers, his groan of hunger entering her mouth just before his tongue slid inside it. She pressed against him, urged him closer with her hands, met the thrust of his tongue with her own, and sucked out into her moist mouth. At the same time, her hips rose toward the thrusting hardness of his. Daniel's tongue flicked at the tender corners of her mouth, then traced the outline of her full lips. His breath stroked her cheek, coming fast and ragged. He unfastened the buttons of her shirt.. His shirt. He moved lower, his lips prowling the fullness of a breast, his palm urging it higher. Emma's smooth feet pushed up his pant leg and slid up and down his rough skin, her instep following the bulky lines of his calves. Trembling, she slid her hands beneath the shirt to the male chest below. He caught the softness of her lower lip gently between his teeth before moving back to her neck. "honey" he groaned. "you're so sweet". He licked the hollow at the base of her throat, then blew on it lightly. Emma's hand slipped inside his waistband and trailed around his lean waist until he trapped it with his own. "sweetheart, don't" "why not?" "I think you're a little too suspectible tonight, my lady. Your inhibitions might ressurect themselves tomorrow and leave you full of resentment, and I wouldn't be around to defend myself. Anyway, I might lose all my forward momentum on this seige, and I can't afford any loss with you " He lifted himself over her, rested the width of his chest lightly on hers, she took a strand of her hair on his fingers. He studied it so intently that Emma asked." what's wrong, Daniel? " " everything is so right, love. It's right for me and I want to make it right for you." he answered. "something is growing between us, something more than this." his palm lifted her right breast. Moonlight stroked his face and honed the rugged planes she traced with a fingertip. "it's right now". She whispered, longing for the full weight of him over her. "tonight, Daniel" He shook his head. "I'm leaving town on the morning, and I will be gone for a week, kitten" He said quietly. "I have business to take care of. You might regret tonight, and I can't chance that, love. What we have is too fragile" She lightly scratched the stubble on his jaw with a fingernail. "you haven't been exactly reticent until now" she said smiling. He trapped her hand between his shoulder and his jaw. "it's you I'm worried about. When we do this, I want you to be sure it's something you want. We should give each other some time. Understand?" "No I don't understand" she said. "you have made no effort to hide the fact that you want me. I'm here now" "sure-- and inexperienced in dealing with the complications of a night spent making love" "that's not true". She said "We will resume negotiations when I come back" "Negotiations? " she repeated. "you make it sound like some kind of business deal" "that's right.. It kinda is" his said He kissed her again. Stamping his possession, and when it ended Emma lifted her lips for more. "No my lady" he said. "that will have to wait till I return." "fine" she said surprised at how disappointed she felt. Maybe it was for the best. "your call" "I wanna take you out on a date.." he said suddenly. "I realize maybe I have been about this the wrong way.. So Emma... Will you let me?.. When I come back?" "I don't think that is a good idea" Emma said "Why not?" he asked and she thought for a moment she heard hurt in his voice. "We work together Daniel" "I don't care about that" "well I do" she said. "it's not right... And things could get complicated" "Do you always worry about things like that? He asked "things like what?" "you don't always have to worry about how things are going to work out. You know you could just live in the moment. Enjoy stuff while it lasts".. While she lasts.. How long would she last for him?. She thought. "That's just the way I am" "We are going to change that.." He said. "but right now, we should get some sleep"When Emma woke up the next morning, the first thing that registered was how comfortable she was. Too comfortable. And warm. They were in Daniel's room. On his bed. The second thing she realized was that she was on top of Daniel. Not just on top of him, but sprawled across him as if she owned him. Her cheek was plastered to his shoulder and her forehead pressed against the side of his neck. Appalled that she could betray herself like this, she started to ease away but Daniel tightened his arm around her. "Don't go." he said." This is nice." But Emma sat up anyways. She stared at him. "did we...?" she began to ask. But he interrupted. "No we didn't" he answered. "jeez... what do you take me for Emma?" "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to" "it's okay". He said. "I guess you should go get ready. So I can take you back home." "yeah". Emma said as she got up from the bed. Missing the feel of his body against hers.. And hating it. The man was gradually making her vulnerable. She walked into the room where her things were. She checked her phone. She had five missed calls and two messages from her sister. She had totally forgotten she had someone at home. She had forgotten to call to tell her she wasn't coming home. That was what Daniel did to her. She thought. He obliterated the thought of anyone and everything else from her head. She almost hated the effect he had on her. She didn't know if was a good thing that she felt that way with him. Definitely a bad thing. She told herself. "I'm ready" she called, walking into the living room after gathering her stuff. Daniel was already there waiting for her, dressed in a white t-shirt and trousers. "I guess I have to leave with your shirt" she said. "but I will make sure you get it back" "No don't". He replied. "You don't have to. I want you to keep it... Maybe as a reminder that I'm not always a jerk.. And like I said last night... It looks good on you" Emma smiled. "thanks" she said not knowing what else to say. --------------------------- When they got to Emma's apartment, Isabel was already up. "What the fuck, Emma!" she said as she opened the door. "Do you have any idea how worried about you i was? You couldn't call? I had to call Karen. She said she left with that Daniel guy..." She stopped talking when Daniel walked in after Emma. "And I'm guessing you are Daniel then". She said "Hello" Daniel greeted. "I'm sorry I kept her this long... It was totally my fault, believe me she would have called... Or come home" "If I could" Emma added, giving him a look. Daniel smiled "it's okay.. As long as my little sister is safe. That is all I was worried about" "little sister?" Daniel repeated. "Emma didn't tell me that" "And since it's obvious that she won't introduce us now. We might as well do it ourselves" Emma rolled her eyes "Isabel Green" "Daniel Rohan" he said offering his hand for a handshake. "nice to meet you... I guess the beauty runs in the family then" Isabel blushed. "Oh... I like you" she said "You hear that". Daniel said to Emma. "she likes me" "Yeah... Must be the first time anyone has". Emma retorted. Daniel smiled. "wow" a voice interrupted from a doorway. It was Chip munching on a tuna cheese, and tomato sandwich which threatened to disassemble on the rug. "Aunt Emma, you are back". He said. "who owns that car in the driveway? I wonder how fast it goes" And before Emma could answer, he bolted out the front door, devoring his sandwich. The front door slammed behind him just as Emma said "don't slam the door" "That's my nephew" Emma said to Daniel. "Cute kid" Daniel said still smiling. "well.. I should get going... It was nice meeting you Isabel.. I guess we will see each other some other time." To Emma he said. "I will see you in a week." And with that he left. "Nice guy" Isabel said and Emma groaned. Isabel continued. "So you still gonna stand on that 'nothing is going on crap'? "It was just a little kissing" Emma said. "No big deal" Chip came back then. "That Mr Rohan is sure nice" he said Yeah... To everyone else but me. Emma thought as she went to her room. ---------------------------------- Emma was at Karen's office. They had agreed to meet during her break to talk about the wedding. "I'm sorry I left the party without telling you, Karen." Emma was saying it. "It was not part of the plan at all" "Uh uh" Karen said "And kudos on the dress.. Good choice" Emma said in a voice filled with sarcasm Karen laughed. "Hey... I didn't force you to wear it. It's all on you.. And judging from what you told me.. It worked out fine" "Okay" Emma said. "we don't have time for this.. Let's talk about the wedding" "alright" "Is it going to be a really big wedding?" Emma asked "Maybe" Karen said. "I have always wanted a big wedding. But now that I'm getting married, it just isn't a priority anymore. I just want the wedding to go well" "Oh... That's such a grown up thing to say" said Emma. "Are you guys going to buy a house after the wedding? Oh please don't move so far away. I can't imagine you leaving. Even if you are a meddling freak" she said "Chill" Karen said smiling. "Frank and I talked about it. We are going to stay where we are. For now.. Since we don't want to have kids right away" "Good...So we are both putting stuff together for the wedding.. What is Frank doing?" "Oh he has just one job" said Karen. "And I made him promise to stick to it". "So what is his job?" "Duh... Staying out of the way" Emma couldn't help laughing. "You know how guys are... Especially Frank.." Karen said. "he doesn't really care about the planning stuff. All he has to do is get dressed and show up" "So...what about the invitations?... Have you sent them out? "Ermm... Nah.. But soon. Damn... There's so much to do...there's the bridesmaids dresses and the groomsmen too, the food, the cake, honey moon, sitting arrangement... There is so many things" "Hey relax" Emma said. "that is why you have me. I'm here for you..." "alright.. But this weekend we are going wedding dress shopping. I want the perfect dress" "oh" Emma said. "you are going to be the most beautiful bride ever" Ben came in carrying a file to give to Karen. Emma hadn't seen him since their date, but they had talked on the phone a couple of times. "Hi" He said. "it's been a while, Emma" "yeah.. How are you Ben" "I'm fine . It's good to see you. You look good. Just as you always do." "Oh thanks. You look great too, Ben. " "Ermm.. Can you guys flirt on your own time?" Karen said. Emma slapped her on the shoulder with the magazine she was holding. "ignore her" she said. "she's being all cranky... wedding issues and stuff" "Yeah she is going off the market... Probably mad she is never going to be able to go out with me" Ben said dropping the file he was holding on Karen's table "in your dreams" said Karen playfully. Emma laughed. "You know... You and I should go out again some time Emma" Ben said talking her hand "Oh I don't think so Ben" Emma said trying to withdraw her hand "what?... You seeing someone" he asked "Yes Emma" Karen interrupted. "I was wondering the answer to that question too.. You seeing someone?" Emma replied by hitting her with the magazine again "Mind your business" she said To Ben she said. "I am not seeing anyone... But I just don't think it is a good idea" "Why not?" Emma opened her mouth but Ben said. "Fine.. We can just go out as friends. I enjoyed the last time and I think we should just go hang out" "Fine" Emma said "Great. We can do it on your own time. You just let me know" He said before he left. "What about Daniel?" Karen asked "What about him?" "You know he really likes you right?" "yeah... and you know that how.. He told you.. Or you are just doing your silly match making thing again?" "By the way he looks at you when you are not looking, you doofus." Karen said laughing. "It's so funny when he does it. Like he wants to eat you up with his eyes. And I know you want him too. So can you just get over yourself and go for what you want?" "easier said than done." said Emma. But maybe.. Just maybe.. It wasn't such a bad idea