#daniel Wagner

[readyforthegarden]

oh to take a shot with backwards hat danny 😩

[ghostly-personn]

WHAT THE FUCK DANIEL

[hailthegodsong]

LOVE IS OLD, LOVE IS NEW

Two-Shot Part 1 ~ Daniel Wagner / Female Reader 𓅪

Word Count: + 10.6k

AN: This is a comfort fic! Danny is not the cheater! This fic changed a lot from when I started writing it to when it ended, so I hope you enjoy wherever my mind went while I wrote this…

Content Warnings: Hurt/comfort heartbreak, crying, cheating, insecurity, nudity, deprecating thoughts, intense sadness, self-isolation, boner, mentions of sexual situations, lots of skin touching including breasts (but in a non-sexual way), love confessions, mentions of sex, considerate Danny.

𓅪

“You alright?” Danny asked, pausing the movement of his fingers and ripping his intense attention from the melodic chords he had been working on, letting his acoustic guitar falter in his hands.

You looked up from your phone, “What? Oh, yeah, fine.”

You weren’t really fine. It was your boyfriend, Otis’s birthday, and you hadn’t been able to get a hold of him all day. You swiped through your text chain, seeing that your message at 7am wishing him a happy birthday was followed by an embarrassing amount of messages almost once an hour asking what he was doing, how he was doing, and if he was okay.

You had grown unbelievably restless, your anxiety bordering between genuine concern for his well being, and fear that he was shutting you out for some reason.

Though, this wasn’t completely unusual for Otis. He had always been distant, emotionally elusive in a way that left you second guessing your every move. Sometimes, he would go an entire day without a word, shutting down for reasons you could never quite figure out. You attributed it to the way he must’ve been raised, but often, and without warning, he would go into a mood. You had tried to understand, tried to make excuses for it. Maybe he just needed space. Maybe you were overreacting.

It was terribly confusing, but you’d grown used to it, trying your hardest to take note of anything that may be a consistent trigger in his moods.

Danny, who was by far your closest friend, did not approve of his behaviour at all. In fact, he didn’t approve of Otis full stop. You had grown up together, graduated together, and were now splitting the rent of some small, shitty apartment in Nashville together, and it was hard for you to conceal the faults in your relationship when Danny seemed to always be there.

“You sure? You’ve been staring at that phone all afternoon,” he argued pointedly.

You huffed and ran a hand down the side of your face, “It’s just Otis…it’s his birthday but he hasn’t texted me back all day.” You paused, and Danny set his guitar down, its neck leaning against the arm of the couch you were both seated on. “I’m getting kinda worried,” you added.

Danny’s jaw tightened at the mention of Otis, a familiar tension brewing in his stance. You knew what he thought of your boyfriend, he had never been shy about it. As your best friend since childhood, Danny had always been protective of you, and he couldn’t stand how Otis treated you. To Danny, Otis was an undeserving ghost, always there, but never really present.

But it wasn’t as if Otis treated you poorly. No, you wouldn’t be dating him if he was. He just was a bit flaky sometimes- physically and emotionally.

Danny’s brows furrowed, “That is weird. Maybe he’s just busy with friends or something?” he suggested.

You shook your head, “No, he told me he was celebrating with them on the weekend. Told me he would see me today too,” you said anxiously, biting at the corners of your nails.

“Stop that,” Danny warned, pulling your hands away from your mouth.

It was a habit you seemed to have only picked up only recently, and Danny was always quick to stop it as soon as he saw you begin to nibble at the uneven edges of the nail.

“You’re right, ‘s a bit worrying. I would be pretty worried as well. Did he go out last night?” Danny asked.

“No.” You were beginning to feel more and more nervous, anxiety flooding through your body as you wondered what was going on.

You suddenly stood, “I think I’m gonna go over to his place. Maybe he’s just been sleeping all day.”

Danny glanced at his watch and grimaced when he saw that it was 5pm. He refrained from telling you he highly doubted it, not wanting to worry you any further.

“Shit,” you cursed as you looked out the window and saw that it was absolutely pouring with rain. You hurried to your bedroom to find a raincoat.

“Let me drive you,” Danny suggested, his voice now coming from his own room as he grabbed himself a sweater. You both emerged from your rooms and met in the hallway, and before you could protest he added, “Please. I don’t feel good knowing you’re driving in this weather.”

You scoffed, “Underestimating my driving skills, Wagner?” You carried the gifts you had bought Otis, including the bouquet of flowers into the living room with you and placed them on the table next to your handbag.

“Maybe,” Danny teased and you rolled your eyes at him playfully.

It took less than five minutes to gather your things. The bouquet of flowers, a few small wrapped gifts, and your handbag. Once you had hastily gotten your things in order, Danny grabbed his car keys off the table and opened the front door for you.

“Need me to hold anything?” he asked, watching in amusement as you fumbled with the flowers, presents, your bag and your phone.

You laughed, “Yes please.”

He took the flowers and a few gifts from your arms and you both descended the long, winding stairs wordlessly until you were in the shared car park.

“I’m sure it’s all fine,” Danny assured he held the door open for you to get into the car.

“Yeah me too. Just really wanna see him, you know?” You immediately regretted saying it once the words left your mouth.

You usually tried to keep the Otis conversation minimal with Danny, knowing that he didn’t really like him. Danny hummed anyway, despite his disagreement, and started the car before reversing out of the garage. He handed you your favourite Beatles CD for you to put into the stereo while he drove, and you felt overwhelmingly appreciative of his attentiveness.

You wanted to believe that nothing was wrong, and that Otis just hadn't had a chance to look at his phone yet. But with each mile closer to Otis’s apartment, the pit in your stomach grew heavier, and the knot in your chest tighter. Each time you checked your phone, there was no new message. No missed calls. Nothing.

Throughout the drive, it was clear to you that Danny was trying his hardest to keep you from overthinking. You felt like he didn’t stop talking for the majority of the ride, telling you about the latest disagreement between Josh and Jake and how he, like usual, had to save the day with his mediation skills. He managed to make you laugh too, always knowing just what you needed when you weren’t feeling your absolute best.

You had to direct Danny the way there, which was quite difficult thanks to the bucketing rain that restricted visibility of anything twenty metres in front of you. 

Eventually you made it to his apartment, and Danny pulled over on the side of the road to drop you off, seeing as there was no carpark for him to stop in.

“Alright, be safe please. Text if you need anything,” Danny recited, the words he told you each time you parted. It had been that way since you could remember.

“I will! Thanks for the lift!”

Balancing your things in your arms, you quickly jumped out of the car to not hold up and more traffic.

Danny drove off when one of the impatient cars behind him gave him a beep for taking so long. You rushed up to Otis’s apartment building front door, bullets of rain almost soaking you completely as you covered the short distance.

Your shoes splashed heavily on the street which had become one big puddle. You sighed when you finally reached the building, protected from the rain by the large overhang that wrapped around the large building.

As you made your way into the apartment and climbed the levels to his, you glanced at your phone once more to check if he had messaged you, and frowned when there was nothing. A little puffed, you finally reached his unit. Before you knocked, you peeked a glance at the crack at the bottom of the door where a light was beaming through. So he was home.

You bit back a shiver as you raised your hand and pressed the doorbell. You always liked the tune Otis’s doorbell made. It was quite unconventional, not the normal tune they made and not a jarring ring either, but a nice melody all the same.

You hugged yourself tightly in the cold as you awaited a response, and when you didn’t get one, you rang the doorbell again. Finally, the front door swung open, and you were met with Otis, his slim figure on full display as only a pair of white and blue striped boxers hung low on his hips.

You smiled brightly, despite his state of undress and the fact that he had neglected speaking to you all day. “Happy birthday!” you exclaimed.

He shot you a quick, tight smile, before his face turned serious, eyes scanning the scene behind you. “Thank you Baby, but uh… what are you doing here?” he asked.

You faltered, “What do you mean?”

He looked at you as if you had done something ridiculous, “Well we didn’t plan anything. I hadn’t exactly said you could come over.”

You took a step back into the hallway, “Oh, I just thought that…”

You were mortified. But you were also incredibly upset. It was his birthday, but you had still felt some kind of obligation that he at least see you on the special day. He was your boyfriend after all.

“I got worried. You weren’t responding,” you explained, feeling a deep set frown fall to your face.

He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, and you suddenly became very aware of his positioning. He was standing in the doorway, hands on either side of the frame and letting the door hang almost closed behind him while he stepped marginally closer in each moment and effectively backed you further away from the entrance.

“Yeah well, I just got caught up in something.”

Just as you were about to ask what, a slender hand, adorning deep red acrylic nails raked across his bare abdomen.

“Baby, what’s taking you so long?” a sultry voice asked, and you could see longer dark hair peeking behind his body.

Unable to believe your eyes, your mouth parted in silent shock, face dropping in realisation, and you peered over his shoulder to see the most beautiful woman you had ever seen, clad in only her underwear behind him.

Blinking, you watched as his face morphed into course red embarrassment, and his eyes widened in fear.

“Oh,” you stated.

“No Baby, it’s not what it-” he started, moving towards you to take your arm.

“Stop it. Don’t,” you shook his hands off you, “Don’t touch me.”

Tears instantly welled in your eyes and the lump in your throat felt like it was going to choke you.

“Wha- why?” you managed to choke out. He looked at you sympathetically, but before he could open his mouth, the woman behind him appeared at his side.

If you thought her face was gorgeous, her body was bound to make you pass out. Her breasts were full and round, and her slim, toned waist was a beautiful compliment. Her hips widened at just the right spot, and were void of dips or stretch marks, and it suddenly became glaringly obvious to you where everything had gone wrong.

She gave you a harsh look up and down, assessing your clothing and you could only assume your body. Your arms crossed over your front in insecurely, now regretting the old coat, faded jeans and casual shoes you had thrown on in your state of worry and anticipation.

You hiccuped a sob back when she placed a hand on his chest and leaned up to whisper something in his ear. Otis, to his credit, looked wildly uncomfortable by her actions and tried to shrug her off, looking at you pleadingly.

You couldn’t see any more. You couldn’t stand there for another second longer or you were going to explode.

You wished you were more angry. You should have been furious, yelling at him and ripping your keys out to key his car. But instead, you felt a deep pit of sadness in your belly. The type of pit that drags everything down with it. The type of pit that consumes all it can from its host just to continue its relentless torment.

You needed to get the fuck out of there.

Breathing turned shakey, you turned and walked so quickly down the hallway that you thought you were going to pull a hamstring.

Otis called your name from behind you, and you thanked the Gods that he was too naked to follow you. You descended the stairs in a daze, hot tears running down your cheeks, but you were too focused on getting out that you knew you needed to hold them back.

Once you made it to the building's exit, you realised that you were still cradling the birthday presents you had bought him. In an act of anger, you stormed out of the complex and threw them in a heap onto the grass beside the door, letting all the money you had wasted on him get destroyed under the unforgiving downpour of rain.

Then you realised you were also in the rain. And you were getting soaked. You quickly pulled your phone out and pulled up Danny’s contact to call him.

Restricted sobs began to shake your body, and you were having an incredibly hard time maintaining your composure, if you could even call it that anymore.

The phone only rang twice before Danny’s voice spoke through the speakers.

“Hey, what’s up,” he answered casually. You could hear his car keys hitting the little key bowl you had by the front door, indicating he had quite literally just gotten home, making you feel even worse about asking him to come and pick you up.

He called your name in question when you didn’t respond.

“Did you- did you just get home?” you asked, trying feebly to conceal the emotion in your voice, but the sobs and sharp inhales did close to nothing in helping.

“Fuck, are you okay? What’s happened? What’s wrong?” he asked frantically, and you could hear the keys jingle again, accompanied by the front door slamming shut.

“I’m,” you tried to say through broken sobs, “I’m okay. I just need- can you come and pick me up? Ple- please?”

“I’m already on my way.” True to his word, you could hear the engine vibrating in the background of the call. “Please tell me what happened. Are you safe?” he asked frantically.

You nodded, before realising that he couldn’t actually see you, “I’m- I’m okay. Just cold,” you began scanning the area, looking for a spot you could stand that was concealed from the rain.

There was no way you were going back inside the complex building, and you quickly realised that your best bet was a tree nearby. You hastily made your way over, sneakers getting ruined in the dirt, each step accompanied by a squelch. The rain wasn’t as relentless under the cover in the tree, but thick drops still fell and coated your skin, hair and clothes. You were shivering violently now, wondering why on earth you hadn’t brought an umbrella.

"Where are you?" Danny's voice was soft but laced with concern.

"Same place you dropped me off," you muttered, feeling the hot flush of embarrassment rise to your cheeks. It wasn't hard to guess that Danny probably knew something had gone wrong with Otis. But you could bet he'd never imagine the full extent of it.

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and you could sense Danny was biting his tongue, holding back from asking the questions swirling in his mind. He knew better than to press you when you were like this, though. Whatever had happened, it wasn't good. That much was obvious.

"Okay, honey, I’m nearly there. Can you try taking some deep breaths while you wait for me, please?" His voice was steady, trying to ground you through the phone. It was only then that you became aware of the sound of your own ragged, gasping sobs.

"Ye-yes... okay." You forced yourself to breathe deeply, letting the air fill your lungs, but each inhale felt heavy, the weight of your chest pressing down harder with every beat of your racing heart. You tried to follow Danny's request, but every time your pulse began to slow, your mind betrayed you. You couldn't stop the image from flashing in your head, those sharp red acrylic nails raking across his chest.

Your stomach churned, nausea rising as you cursed your vivid imagination. What would those hands look like wrapped around his neck, or worse, holding his hand? What would those nails look like tracing against his skin, trailing down his back in the heat of the moment as she whispered his name in his ear? The thought made your blood run cold, and tears welled up in your eyes once again.

You squeezed your eyes shut, willing the thoughts to vanish. But they clung to you, persistent and cruel, reminding you of everything you were afraid to face. It wasn’t just the physical imagery, either. It was the emotional betrayal of the way his eyes might soften when he looked at her, the way he might laugh at her jokes. She probably made him feel something you couldn’t. And he had probably been slipping away for quite some time.

A broken sob escaped your lips, and you clenched your fists at your sides, wishing you could stop thinking about it, wishing you could stop hurting. You knew Danny was close, but the minutes felt like hours. You hated how powerless you felt, sitting there, cold and waiting, suffocated by your own thoughts.

“It’s okay. Whatever it is it’s okay it’ll be okay. I’m nearly there, just hang on a little longer for me, okay?” Danny repeated, hearing your breathing pick up again.

You crouched on the dirt to hug some warmth into you, humming in response to his question. “Danny, can you- can you put the heat on in the car… please. I’m really cold,” you asked and you immediately heard him shuffle with the knobs on the dashboard.

“Are you- are you in the rain?” he asked with urgency.

“I was… I’m standing under a tree now.”

He sighed, “Okay I’m rounding the corner now, can you see me?” he asked and you looked up at the road. True to his word, you could see his black car nearing you as it sped down the road.

“Yes.” You got up and quickly walked to the edge of the street. The rain soaked you again, and you abandoned even attempting to cover your head from its assault.

He pulled up to you at record breaking speed, and breaked harshly beside you on the road. You swung the door open and practically fell into the passenger seat, being immediately engulfed by the warmth of the car.

You slammed the door shut, and muttered a small ‘sorry’ through your shudders as you did up your seat belt.

Being a busy street, Danny had to take off as soon as you were buckled up, and you looked down at the water dripping off your shoes into the car.

“Fuck, you’re soaked,” he commented, as you tried to take off your top jacket to avoid completely soaking his seats. 

“I’m sorry,” you apologised, trying to keep your back from the seat to not soak the interior of his car. He had already given you a lift to and from Otis’s house, and the least you could do was not ruin his car in the process. You were trying your hardest to withhold the sobs, but hot tears mixed with the wetness of your face as the lump in your throat began to burn.

“Honey…” Danny comforted when he saw your emotional state. He found the closest quiet street and pulled over on the side of the road. 

As soon as the handbrake was on and the car was in neutral, Danny turned to you, clipping off his seatbelt to reach you better. He reached to unclip your seatbelt too, and without hesitation, he pulled you into his arms. 

Though it had been steadily trickling since you left Otis’s house, the dam completely broke when you felt the familiar and comforting embrace of Danny. He rubbed soothing strokes up and down your soaked back with a soft flat palm, his hand shuddering against each shaky breath you took. 

“Are you hurt? I need to know you’re okay, physically,” he asked, still keeping you tight in his arms. 

“I’m not hurt. I’m okay,” you sobbed, clutching at his shirt behind his back. 

“Shhh,” he cooed as your sobs continued, “What’s going on? What happened?”

You pulled away from him, slipping back into your seat and wiping furiously at your red and wet eyes. “There was,” you shuddered, “There was a woman,” you explained, eyes now trained on the window wipers that feebly tried to push away the waves of water that fell from the sky, “They were both naked.”

“What?” The volume of his voice was jarring in the otherwise silence of the car. You dared not speak, feeling embarrassed and ashamed. Danny had warned you that Otis wasn’t a good person, but you had ignored him, and you were now putting the weighted burden of your mistake on his shoulders. 

Danny ran a frustrated hand through his hair and you kept your eyes before you, silent tears now running down your cheeks. 

“She’s really pretty,” you added, and Danny eyed you carefully. He stared at you for a long time, as if trying to see through your skin and into your brain to read every thought that was running through your mind. When he couldn't find anything other than self-loathing and depreciation, he ran a hand through his hair. 

“I- fuck I don’t even know what to say. I’m so sorry.” 

You shook in the cold as you stared out the window, unspeaking as silent tears rolled down your cheeks. When he realised you weren’t going to respond, he turned in his seat again and popped the car back into gear before he continued the drive home. He was watching your body shake violently from the cold and knew that as much as he wanted to hold you until you were better, you needed to get out of your wet clothes and into something warm and dry.

“Don't do that,” Danny said, pulling your thumb away from your mouth as you attacked the skin around it. 

“‘M sorry,” you muttered with a sniffle, pulling your hands to your lap and fiddling with your fingers instead. 

“Don’t need to apologise.”

You were quiet for the rest of the ride. You replayed the moment over and over in your mind, looking back on how he had blatantly told you that he didn't want you there, that you weren’t invited. All because there was another woman. Had she always been there? Was she just a one night stand or had he been cheating on you for longer?

Danny bit his cheek each time he heard you sniffle, every small sound cutting through him like a knife. He glanced over at you, watching as you hastily wiped your eyes, your fingers trembling with the effort of holding yourself together. The sight of you in pain made his chest ache, and every time your hand darted up to your face, he wished he could reach out, pull you close, and wipe your tears away for you. But he didn’t want to push, didn’t want to smother you when you were clearly teetering on the edge.

His fingers tightened around the steering wheel as he navigated the darkening streets, the quiet hum of the car engine doing nothing to soothe the thick tension in the air. You sat next to him, staring out the window, barely moving, but he could see the steady stream of tears that continued to roll down your cheeks. They glistened in the streetlights as you passed them, and he wanted to say something, anything, but he knew no words could fix what you were feeling.

The ride home felt agonisingly long, each second dragging on as Danny tried to focus on the road and not the heart-wrenching sight of you unravelling beside him. He kept biting his cheek, hard enough to taste blood now, but he couldn’t stop himself from glancing over at you every few seconds, praying you’d somehow find a little bit of peace before they made it home.

When Danny finally rolled into the parking spot, the familiarity of your apartment complex looming ahead caused the tears that had slowed for a brief moment on the drive started to pour again, the sight of home making everything worse. The thought of being so close to your bed, to the space where you could collapse and let yourself fully break was overwhelming.

Your breath hitched, and you hugged your arms around yourself, trying to stop the shivering that had taken over your body. The cold had seeped into your bones, making you shake uncontrollably, but you couldn’t tell if it was from the freezing rain that had soaked through your clothes or the sadness that seemed to settle deep in your chest.

Danny killed the engine and turned to you, eyes soft and full of worry. “Let’s get you inside, okay?” His voice was gentle, but the concern was clear. He didn’t wait for you to respond, opening his door quickly and jogging around to your side, pulling open the passenger door.

“Come on, I’ve got you,” he murmured, offering his hand to help you out of the car. You hesitated for just a second, but the exhaustion in your body won out, and you took his hand, letting him guide you. As you stepped out, your legs wobbled beneath you, and without a second thought, Danny wrapped his arm around you, pulling you into his side.

You leaned against him, your sobs becoming louder now that you were out of the confined space of the car. His warmth was comforting, but it wasn’t enough to stop the tidal wave of emotion that had hit you. As he helped you up the steps to the apartment, you clung to his sweater, your cold fingers digging into the fabric as if you could hold onto him and stop yourself from spiralling.

Each step felt heavy, the weight of your sadness pressing down on you like a physical force, and you stumbled a little as you climbed. Danny tightened his grip on you, steadying you with every step, whispering quiet reassurances even though he wasn’t sure you could hear them over the sound of your own sobbing.

You weren’t crying for any reason now, yet it felt like your emotional capacity was a heavy ball that had been pushed off a hill. Once it started rolling, you couldn't stop. 

Once inside, the warmth of the apartment hit you, but it did nothing to thaw the ice in your bones. You barely registered Danny closing the door behind you, his arm still around your shoulders as he led you deeper into your apartment. Despite his support, your mind had already begun its familiar descent into destructive thoughts. If Otis didn’t want you, then who would? The rejection felt like a punch to the gut, and the more you thought about it, the more it hurt.

Without a word, you pulled away from Danny, feeling the loss of his warmth immediately but ignoring it as you left him standing in the middle of the living room alone. You made a beeline for your bedroom, your body moving on autopilot. The door clicked shut behind you, and even though there wasn’t a lock, you knew Danny wouldn’t come in. He respected your space, your boundaries, but that knowledge only made the ache in your chest deepen. The loneliness pressed in harder, suffocating.

Inside the sanctuary of your room, you didn’t care that you were drenched to the bone, or that your clothes clinging to your body uncomfortably. The cold had long since numbed your skin, and now it was creeping into your muscles, making your limbs ache with a dull, persistent throb. You shivered violently, your teeth chattering so hard they ached, but it was a distant sensation compared to the emotional storm raging inside you.

You toed off your soaked shoes, not even bothering to untie them properly. Normally, the thought of tracking dirt or water onto your bed would have horrified you as your bed was your sacred space, always spotless, always prepared for sleep in clean pyjamas after a long shower. But tonight, none of that mattered. Your mind was too far gone, too consumed by the thoughts that swirled around relentlessly.

You crawled onto the bed without a second thought, the damp sheets immediately sticking to your wet clothes. The fabric clung to your skin, cold and uncomfortable, but it didn’t register. All you could think about was curling into the tightest ball possible, as if making yourself small enough would somehow make the pain disappear.

The sobs wracked your body violently, each one more painful than the last. You pressed your face into the pillow, muffling the sound, but it didn’t stop the flood of tears from soaking the fabric. Your whole body trembled, not just from the cold, but from the anguish that had taken over.

And still, despite the physical discomfort, despite the relentless sobbing, your mind couldn’t stop fixating on Otis. You kept replaying every word he’d said, every look, every action that made you feel like you weren’t enough. You kept thinking about how he didn’t want you, how he didn’t choose you. That gut wrenching feeling of rejection echoed through you like a broken record, and no matter how much you tried to push it away, it lingered.

But it wasn't the loss of Otis that hurt you so much as the feeling of being left behind for someone better. Your self esteem had plummeted, all feelings of security and trust torn apart with no remorse. 

Minutes passed, maybe longer, until you were dimly aware of the soft knock on your door, Danny’s voice drifting through the wood gently.

"Hey… I'm just gonna leave some dry clothes outside your door, okay?" he said, his voice calm but clearly worried. You didn’t respond, too lost in the flood of emotions, but you heard him shuffle around outside before retreating.

A little while later, Danny returned, seeing the pile of clothes left outside untouched. He called your name gently with a brush of his knuckles against the wood, “Can I come in?” he asked cautiously. 

“No,” you called out, muffled in the pillows your face was buried in. 

He hesitated in the silence. “I don’t— I think you need to get out of your wet clothes,” he commented, voice still quiet behind the door. “You might get sick.”

“Don’t tell me what to do. I’m an adult, I’ll do what I want,” you snapped. 

You had no idea where that outburst had come from. You immediately felt guilty as you imagined how Danny would have recoiled at your words and tone of voice. It was glaringly obvious to both you and Danny that you were only acting hostile as a way to protect yourself. Protect the fragile feeling of trust you had so carefully maintained throughout your life.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said that… you can come in,” you said so quietly, that Danny may not have even heard you. 

Though with heavy caution, Danny reached down to twist the handle. He knew you didn't mean what you were saying. You were hurt, and had been betrayed in arguably the worst way someone could be. He knew you just needed someone to be in your corner. 

You didn't dare look behind you at Danny as he entered your room, and instead kept your head buried in your pillows. 

“Hey,” he whispered, and you felt the edge of your bed dip as he sat down. He reached out hesitantly, and put his warm palm on your bare arm. He flinched the feeling of your skin, chilled from your still soaked clothes. “Shit, you’re freezing,” he commented. 

With your back still turned, you stared blankly into the plush pillows in front of you, your eyes fixated on the growing wet stain spreading across the fabric. You couldn’t distinguish if it was from your soaked hair or the relentless flow of tears that you had cried. Your pillowcase, usually soft and comforting, now felt cold and uninviting, just another reminder of the misery that clung to you like the dampness in your clothes.

Your chest rose and fell with uneven breaths, each one laboured as you tried to suppress the sobs that threatened to rise again. The wet patch in front of you seemed to expand with every tear, but you couldn’t muster the energy to wipe your face or even shift positions. 

Everything felt heavy. Your body, your heart, your thoughts. It was as though the weight of everything Otis had said, everything you felt, was sinking into that single spot on the pillow, and no matter how long you stared, it wouldn’t disappear.

“Hey,” he carefully pulled you away from your thoughts. Sniffling, you rolled over to face him, and his heart ached at the sight of you. Eyes and lips swollen, red and raw from your crying, and incessant rubbing. 

“Will you please change into something warmer?” he asked, eyes soft and genuine as he stared at you, his thumb stroking against the cold skin of your arm, “I can help you if you need,” he added. You sighed, hard and long before pushing yourself up from your bed into a sitting position. 

“Fuckkk,” you groaned, letting your head fall into your hands as you groaned, “This is such a mess.”

You looked back up again, assessing the damage you had done to your bed, which carried the consequences of you collapsing in it while still wet. Danny got up quickly, taking the clothes he had left for you outside of your bedroom door and bringing them to you at the bed. 

“I think a warm shower would do you good,” he suggested, “It’ll help you warm up quicker.” The thought of the warm water pouring over your tired and cold muscles seemed like heaven, but now that he was here, you didn't want Danny to leave. 

“Yeah, you’re right,” you agreed, moving to get up from your bed. Danny rushed out of your bedroom and searched through your shared hallway cupboard for the softest towel he could find. 

He watched as you slowly emerged from your bedroom, posture slumped and insecure, arms wrapped securely around your body. Your jeans and top clung to your body tightly from the slick, and your hair left a wet residue on your neck. 

“I can put the towel in the dryer for you while you shower. That way when you get out it’ll be nice and warm,” he suggested. His attention to detail made you smile. 

Though his offer was kind, you knew what you wanted more than a warm towel. The thought that came into your mind was absurd, and could very possibly make Danny uncomfortable by crossing the boundaries of your friendship that you had both treaded in all those years. But you didn’t want— you couldn’t be left alone, or you feared you would curl up onto the cold tile floors and cry until you died. 

“What's up?” he asked, hand raising to the side of your face to thumb away the remaining tears left on your cheeks. You glanced up at him shyly, trying to reign the confidence to ask him the question.

He frowned at the look of conflict on your face as you debated with yourself, “Hey. Whatever it is, you can tell me. You can tell me anything, you know that,” he offered with a kind smile. That same smile that had dried your tears too many times over the years, “��S only me.”

You took a deep breath, “I just… I don’t know how to say this. I don’t want you to leave me alone. I want— I’m scared of being left alone again,” you admitted though still skirting around the truth of your sudden discomfort. 

“I won't ever leave you alone, you know that. I’m always here for you,” he comforted, stroking your wet hair away from your face in a way that felt so intimate, so domestic, that you nearly began to cry again. 

“That’s not… that’s not what I mean.” You took a deep, steadying breath, “Will— um, will you come with me?” you added in a mumble, cheeks heating at your question. 

He cocked his head in confusion, “Come with you where?” 

You swallowed thickly in embarrassment, physically unable to say the words. You were ready to dismiss it, and tell him it didn't matter when realisation struck his face. 

“You mean… come with you to shower?” he asked quietly, surprise reigning his features at your admittance. 

You were a fool. You had just ruined the relationship you had with your boyfriend, and you were already on track to do the same with your best friend.

“I— I’m so sorry. I don’t even know why I suggested that, seriously, just forget it, I—”

“No, no, stop. I… I’m happy to… if uh, if that’s what you need,” Danny answered, his heart thumping in his chest at your suggestion. This was a boundary that neither of you had ever crossed. Sure you had seen each other close to nakedness before, but only by pure accident or in the form of skimpy swimwear. 

Both of you knew that doing this was different. Even suggesting it had changed something between the two of you, and it had brought to life the truth that you had both been hiding beneath platonic smiles for your whole lives.

You couldn't look at him, and instead looked at the towel he held tightly in his hands, “Are you sure?” you asked quietly. 

Jaw tight and eyes cautious, he nodded silently. “You go and get started, and I’ll uh, join you in a minute, okay?” he suggested and you tucked a tuft of hair behind your ear. 

“Okay,” you whispered. As you turned to walk away, nerves swelling in your stomach at your decision, Danny cleared his throat again. 

"Are you... do you want me to keep my... um, boxers on?" Danny’s voice was as gentle as ever, like slow dripping honey that coated each word with the tenderness you had come to depend on. It was just Danny, always so considerate, always thinking of how to make you feel comfortable, especially in moments as vulnerable as this.

The question, though spoken with the utmost care, still startled you. Your heart skipped, and you felt a small flutter of uncertainty rise in your chest. You feared that whatever answer you gave might lead to discomfort, but there was a deep, aching need inside you to be close to him. Closer than you had ever been before. Something unspoken tugged at you, a silent yearning to connect with him in a way that transcended the physical.

"If you want. But I don't mind if you don't," you murmured, your voice softer than you intended, as if afraid the wrong words might break the fragile atmosphere.

Before he could respond, you turned and made your way down the hallway to the bathroom, the soft patter of your footsteps against the floor the only sound echoing in the quiet apartment. You gently swung the bathroom door shut, leaving it ajar just enough to let him know that he was welcome. You twisted the shower tap, letting the heavy stream of hot water fill the shower, the sound of it pounding against the tile, a soothing background hum that drowned out the noise in your mind.

Your clothes clung stubbornly to your body as you peeled them off, each article of fabric a reminder of the evening's cold and the emotions that had seeped into your bones. The chill in the air bit at your exposed skin, and a violent shiver wracked your body, leaving you trembling as you stood naked in the dim bathroom. You barely spared a glance in the mirror, catching only a fleeting, distorted reflection of yourself, a body that tonight, felt uglier than it ever had. The blotchy redness from your sobs clashed with the paleness of your cold skin, and you looked away quickly, unable to face the image.

Stepping into the shower, you sighed deeply as the hot water cascaded over your head, the sensation washing away the lingering chill. It was a simple pleasure, the heat sinking into your scalp, down your neck, and through your entire body. You tipped your head back, allowing the water to flow over your face, burning just enough to be distracting, before it slid down your shoulders and over the curve of your breasts. For a brief, blissful moment, you forgot about Otis, the heartbreak, the insecurity, everything.

Danny's soft footsteps padding into the bathroom snapped you back to reality, and your heart gave a nervous flutter as you saw his silhouette through the thin shower curtain. You turned your back to him, yet could still feel his presence as he shuffled with his things by the countertop, your senses heightened by the silence in the room. As he approached, the shower curtain shifted slightly, letting in a sliver of cool air that made you shiver again, but this time not entirely from the cold.

Wordlessly, you stepped forward, making room for him under the stream of water, and you heard his deep, contented exhale as the warmth enveloped him. You felt a shy smile tug at your lips, though you didn’t dare turn around. The thought of exposing yourself fully to him was daunting, even though you had never felt safer with anyone else.

Reaching up, you grabbed the bottle of vanilla shampoo, your fingers trembling slightly as you struggled to maintain your composure. But before you could open the bottle, you felt Danny’s warmth behind you, not close enough to touch, but enough for you to feel his steady, comforting force and hot, heavy breath by your ear. He reached over your shoulder, his hand brushing yours as he gently took the bottle from you. The touch was brief, but electric, sending a ripple of warmth through your chest.

"Let me," he offered, his breath tickling the skin beside your ear. The shampoo bottle clicked open, the scent of vanilla filling the air as Danny lathered up the shampoo by rubbing it between his large hands.

You stood still, your heart pounding in your chest as his hands moved to your head, slowly threading into your locks and pressing to your scalp. His fingers were strong but somehow gentle as ever, working the shampoo into your scalp in slow, deliberate motions, in a way that made your knees weak. You let out a whispered groan, the sound escaping before you could stop it as your body relaxed under his touch.

You closed your eyes, leaning into his touch as he continued to wash your hair. His fingers traced soothing patterns against your scalp, moving with such care that you felt your chest ache with emotion. This wasn’t just an act of kindness. It was love. Pure, unspoken, and unconditional.

This was no longer just about getting clean either, you realised; this was something else entirely. The both of you, stood there, completely exposed, completely vulnerable, and yet there was no awkwardness and no sense of pressure or expectation. It wasn’t sexual, but it wasn’t entirely platonic either. It was something deeper, something built on years of quiet affection, of love that had been waiting patiently for the right moment to reveal itself.

He soon rinsed his hands under the water, and touched your shoulder gently as he pulled you back under the stream. He aided with washing the shampoo out of your hair with his hands, running through your scalp and squeezing at your hair as the soapy suds travelled down your hair and down to his feet. 

You had completely forgotten about Otis, you realised, as Danny reached up to grab the bottle of conditioner, doing the same as before but only raking the product through the ends of your hair. 

Your breathing was heavy, and you suddenly felt the urge to cry again, but not out of sadness this time. You turned around to face him, feeling no insecurity over the exposure of your bare body when his burning gaze remained on your face. 

“Danny…” you started, frowning at the overwhelming feeling of your new realisation. Your face told him everything he needed to know, eyebrows pinched in desperation, and tears brimming at your eyes.

To your lack of knowledge, Danny had always felt a way for you that he shouldn’t have, loving you silently in the shadows under platonic guise. After years of yearning, only now did he see that you could finally feel it too. Be it only an inkling of affection, it was enough to make his heart skip.

He reached up and cupped your cheek, “I know, sweet girl.” He nodded, his thumb stroking the apple of your cheek lovingly, and you leaned into his touch. When he let go, you dropped your head, hanging it low between your bodies, your eyes closed in exhaustion. 

Danny stepped forward slowly, his feet splashing against the pool of water at your feet, and he engulfed you in the embrace of his long arms. Your head fell into the spot between his arm and chest, and that same arm came up to cradle your head. You could feel his other bare arm on your back, your breasts pressed against his chest and you flushed at the proximity. 

You desperately tried to hold him too, arms wrapped around his abdomen and folded up to hook your hands over his shoulders. You didn't notice the tears that flowed from your eyes, as they became one with the water that flowed between you both. 

“Danny,” you whispered. He nuzzled into your hair, a comforting gesture that made your heart race. 

“Hmm?” he replied softly, encouraging you to continue. The moment hung heavy in the air, filled with unspoken feelings. 

The feeling was so overwhelming, that you realised you could no longer pretend to be just friends, as the desire to love him loudly completely consumed you. 

Finally, you spoke, your confession bursting forth like a long held secret, “I think I love you.” The words tumbled out, raw and unfiltered, a rush of emotion that felt both exhilarating and terrifying. 

You felt his stomach tighten at your words, and he pulled back slightly to gaze down at you. You raised your head from his chest to meet his eyes to see them pleading in wonder. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. For so long, he had admired the beauty of your soul in silence, waited in suppressed agony, fearing that revealing his feelings would push you away. Your company was always enough for him to keep his feelings hidden, as just being near you to hear your laughter, your mind and your soul, had been more than enough. 

But now, you were uttering the words he had dreamt of telling you for what felt like his whole life. 

“Always,” he whispered, shaking his head in disbelief. His sincerity washed over you like a warm embrace. He tucked your wet hair behind your ear, his fingers brushing your skin gently. “I always have.”

Your eyes widened in disbelief, searching his for confirmation. “What?” you managed to ask, your voice breaking. Instead of answering, Danny leaned down, closing the distance between you, and held his face close to yours. He lingered for a moment, as if giving you time to pull away, before he brought his lips to yours in a gentle caress.

His lips were soft and slow against yours, hesitant and testing at the new sensation. Neither of you could believe what was happening, and you marvelled at the intimacy of the moment, the tenderness. Never would you have thought this would be how you ended up, and now that it was happening, there was no going back. 

Danny's hands rested hesitantly beside you, ghosting your skin as he resisted the urge to touch you, as he was painfully aware of your state of undress and didn't want to cross any boundaries. You took them into your own hands, and pulled them to rest on the sides of your waist. He gripped the skin softly at the sensation. 

Your mouths explored each other, and you reached your hands up to tangle in his hair as you revelled in the new feeling. It felt as if you had searched every corner of Danny, as your years of friendship had taught you things about him even his family didn't know, yet this was unexplored territory. 

Danny pulled away with a deep inhale, and he took in the sight of your flushed face, mouth slightly agape and eyes wide. A small smile crept onto his face at his realisation of what had just happened. 

“You’re so beautiful, d’ you know that?” he whispered, hand gliding up and down the curve of your waist. You looked down shyly, at both the compliment and your own understanding of what had just happened.

“You are too,” you mumbled quietly, a blush tinting your cheeks. You could no longer look at Danny without your heart exploding, and when he smiled a bit wider at your words, you turned back around, reaching for the body wash and fiddling with the cap. 

Danny was more hesitant to offer helping you clean your body than he was your hair, ever considerate of your boundaries. You had both taken huge steps in mere minutes, and the last thing he wanted was for you to feel rushed. 

You of course knew this, and decided that your bold streak hadn’t ended yet. “Would you… help me with this one too?” you asked quietly, turning to look up at Danny through your lashes.

“Anything,” he answered with a nod, taking the bottle from your hands gently and pouring the soapy substance over his hands. You could tell he was still hesitant, the act of touching you was clearly daunting for him, and you tried your best to show him you were okay. You nodded at him to go ahead, and he gingerly reached his hands to your shoulders, massaging the product over them, pulling your arms out horizontally so that he could lather it across them too. 

Avoiding the obvious, his hands dragged back up your arms and to your back. You turned for him, letting his strong fingers knead into your muscles, making you hum in approval, head dropping forward at the feeling. He tucked your hair over your right shoulder to move it out of his way. His hands travelled over the expanse of your back, fingers dipping into your dimples of venus, but not treading any further before he pulled them back up, running long stripes either side of your spine.

His hands travelled around your waist then, and you turned again for him as the warmth of his hands spread over your stomach, sides and ribs, hesitating just below your breasts. 

Your stomach flipped as you became aware now that his gaze was not holding its respectful attachment to your face, and was now all over your chest, trying to touch you anywhere but there. 

You bit your cheek, and slowly reached up to take his hand that was settled on your ribs into yours. His eyes zoned in on your own as you dragged his hand up your body and rested it on your breast. 

“It’s okay,” you told him. To say that these moments were not entirely sexual anymore would be untrue. And you’d be lying if you said that you hadn’t caught glimpses of his situation down below, despite your efforts to keep your gaze above his waist.

Breath heavy, and feeling like he would pass out any moment, Danny tenderly ran his hands over your breasts, rounding at the swell and dipping in the valley as he lathered them in the soap. He wasn't hasty to move on, but he didn’t linger for too long, letting you know that he did not expect anything sexual from you. As he washed your upper half, you scrubbed at your bottom, running the soap in your hands over your legs and behind, to speed up the process. 

Danny pulled you back under the stream, and quickly rejected your offer to wash him the same. 

“You’re exhausted, and I’m worried if you spend another minute in the steam you’ll pass out,” he said with a teasing smile, half joking. You frowned at his words. 

“I’m not exhausted, I can do it.”

“Honey…” he started, lifting your arm and showcasing your hands which were trembling without support.

You huffed at his consideration. “Okay, fine… if you’re sure.”

He smiled at you, his hand on your hip squeezing gently, “I am.” He dipped down and gave you a quick peck on the lips, the act startling you, as you had almost forgotten the events that just occurred between the two of you. As if you weren't just guiding his hand to your breasts. As if he weren’t standing before you in those moments, with an obviously painful erection.

You gave him one last smile before you pulled the shower curtain open and stepped out. The cold slapped you in the face and you were quick to shut the curtain behind you to keep Danny warm. Picking up your towel and wrapping it around your body was a beautiful reprieve from the biting cold, and when you looked out of the fogged glass of the bathroom window, you could tell that the rain outside was just as relentless as it was before. 

You listened to foamy soap hit the floor as Danny washed through his own hair while you collected your hairbrush and other essentials, before you silently slipped out of the bathroom door, not bothering to close it all the way behind you. 

Your mood now soaring at heights unimaginable, you padded to your bedroom, a small smile on your face as you thought back on the intimacy of the moments you had just shared. When you stepped into your bedroom though, you were reminded of the mess that was your life. 

Your bed was soaked, sheets and pillows bore big wet patches and you were sure the moisture had soaked through to your mattress too. You shut your eyes and took a deep breath, before deciding what to do. You shuffled through your pyjama drawers and picked out some long plaid pants along with a white singlet and a hoodie. You changed quickly, not wanting the warmth of your body to succumb to the cold again, and once you were changed, you walked back out of your room and into the living room, where you set up camp on the couch. 

Meanwhile, Danny was running his hands through his wet locks, the water cascading down his face as he replayed those moments over and over again in his mind. He had waited for you for so long. Loved you in silence for so long. And it was all worth it. 

Once he left the shower he wrapped the last towel around his waist, squeezing the wetness out of his hair and leaving it otherwise to air dry. 

As he left the bathroom, he could hear you humming softly in the living room, and he passed his room to see you again. Danny watched in admiration at you, dressed comfortably while you typed and scrolled on your phone, cross legged on the couch, Your wet hair hung down your back, but your sweater protected you from the cold this time. 

He frowned when he saw the couch, set up in a way he could only assume was your attempt to sleep on it. 

The sound of his arrival got your attention, “Hey, I’m ordering Thai delivery,” you said, eyes still trained on your phone as you typed in your card details.

Danny smiled warmly at you, “Great, thanks… um, what’s all this?” he asked, hands gesturing to the makeshift bed you had set up on the couch. Although just seeing him completely naked, and having that naked body pressed against your own, you stifled at the sight of him with only a towel around his waist.

You cleared your throat and averted your gaze, “Oh, my bed is really wet from… you know, lying on it earlier.”

He shook his head, “No, you aren’t sleeping on the couch. I have a double, you can sleep with me.” He immediately blushed at the alternate innuendo his words held, “Not like sleep together, just, you know, go to sleep,” he tripped over his words anxiously, making you force back a smile. 

“Are you sure? I’m fine to—” 

“Yes I’m sure. One hundred percent,” he assured quickly before he reached up to scratch the back of his neck, “I mean, we did just shower together.”

Now it was your turn to blush, and you looked back to your phone to hide your face, agreeing quietly. 

Danny retreated to his room to get into his pyjamas, and quickly tidied the space up, feeling self conscious at the state his room was in, shoving his clothes into his drawers haphazardly, and others he took to the laundry basket. Once he was satisfied, he returned to the living room. 

He sat down beside you, his thigh brushing yours and you suddenly became insecure of where you both stood. Usually, it would be normal to sit so close together, laughing and chatting through movies, but now, things were different. You didn't want to come across as pushy and rushed, but similarly didn't want to do the opposite, act cold or distant after the moments you had shared. 

If Danny was having the same fears, he didn’t let it show, as he wrapped his arm around you and tugged you closer to him while he leaned over to reach for the TV remote with a grunt. 

“Watcha wanna watch?” 

You and Danny settled on the first movie you could, only pausing to get your takeout delivery from the door, before you returned to your position, which seemed to be steadily moving closer to Danny with each reposition or shuffle. 

By the time the film was over and your bellies were full, you were exhausted. You had been emotionally wrecked throughout the day, ranging from betrayal and heartbreak, to renewal and love. 

Danny steadied you by your elbow as you stood, helping you gather your things to take to his room. You were too sleepy to feel nervous. 

“Which side do you sleep on?” you asked as you stood by the doorway. 

Danny scratched the back of his head, “Usually the right, but I don't mind. I move around a lot when I sleep anyway.” Truth be told, Danny rathered that you slept on his side, as he knew that his pillow would smell like you by morning.

It apparently didn't matter though, as when you slipped under the covers of the left side of the bed beside him, his senses were overwhelmed with you. Your smell, your energy and your heat. It also wasn’t long before the two of you closed the distance between you, arms and legs tangled in your attempts to be impossibly closer to one another, your fronts pressed together just like the moments you shared in the shower. 

It all felt so normal. You attributed it to being friends for your whole lives, giving you the ability to close emotional distance without second thought, but it was still startling nonetheless. 

“Thanks again for letting me sleep here, it’s definitely more comfortable than the couch,” you whispered, and he reached behind him to turn off the bedside lamp.

Now cloaked in darkness, you relied only on your hearing to navigate Danny beside you. The rain was still pouring outside the window, and in a way, it felt fitting as a reminder of your day. While a disastrous storm brewed outside, you were safe and warm with Danny at home. 

“Maybe… maybe we could make it a regular thing?” Danny asked nervously. “You know, since you love me and all that,” he teased, trying to ease the tension of his suggestion. You groaned in embarrassment and buried your head into his chest, hearing his chuckles vibrate in his chest. 

“I would like that very much, thank you.”

“Don't thank me. You have no idea how happy I am to have you with me like this.”

You sighed deeply, and decided it was your turn to tease. “And just how long have you felt this way for me, hm?” 

Danny chuckled dryly but swallowed, hesitating to tell you in case it made things weird. He didn’t want you to feel that his friendship had ever been false, or as a ruse to gain your attention in that way. 

His nose brushed against your forehead, “I’ve known for sure since eighth grade.” His statement was heavy, yet honest, and it hung in the air wearily as he waited for you to respond. 

You pulled your head away from him, “Eighth grade?! Danny… what— why didn’t you say anything?”

He sighed, “I didn’t want to ruin what we had.” 

You understood, but wished he had told you sooner, as though you hadn’t ever realised it was quite love, you knew that you never would have turned away the idea of being with Danny like that. 

“We wasted so much time,” you sighed. 

“What? You mean you felt the same?” he asked, shock lacing his words as his hand tightened around your frame. 

You nodded, “You’ve always treated me better than any boy I ever went out with. I just didn't think that— I didn't think that this was a possibility. I thought you were too good for that. Too—”

“Too good for what?” 

“You know, like with your band and stuff. I don't know, I guess I thought you had more important people to see than me. I didn’t ever think you would— could actually see me like that,” you tried to explain. 

Danny groaned, “Oh God. I’m never gonna live this down.”

Your brow creased in confusion, “What do you mean?”

“Sammy knew I liked you before I even did, used to tease me about it all the time. The three of them have watched me act like an idiot around you for years. I can't believe you thought that I was ‘too cool’ for you.” He chuckled, though regret laced the dry laugh. 

You felt mild embarrassment at the thought that the boys, who you’d become close with the years that you knew Danny, were keeping the secret from you that would ultimately change your life indefinitely. 

He whispered your name, pulling you from your thoughts, “I have always loved you. Nothing will ever change that.”

“I love you too,” you whispered, the words feeling new and foreign on your lips, yet somehow just right. You clutched his shirt in your hands and shuffled incredibly closer to him. He smelt like Danny, the comfort you had grown to turn to after many years of safekeeping your heart. 

“Goodnight, sweet girl.” You felt him kiss the top of your head, followed by the feeling of his nose nuzzling into your hair and sighing deeply. 

“Goodnight Danny.”

As you welcomed the blankets of exhaustion over your spent body, Danny began to hum a familiar tune, his voice sounding distant in your haze of sleep. Soon, the song became unmistakably recognisable. 

Because, by The Beatles. Your favourite song.

𓅪

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Part 2

[builtbybrokenbells]

Sharpshooter | DRW

Be careful what you bet for.

Pairing: Daniel Wagner x f!reader

Word count: 20k

Warnings: SMUT 18+ (minors dni), unprotected sex, fingering (f!receiving), oral (f!receiving), teasing, name calling, biting, praise, multiple orgasm, simultaneous orgasm, hair pulling, a criminal amount of flirting, drinking, swearing, gambling, parent loss, poverty?, sorry if I miss any!

Well hello. It sure has been a while, hasn’t it? This is a surprise to probably everyone, but here we are. I was going through my old drafts, because I miss you all so very terribly, and I stumbled across this one, which happened to be completely finished and waiting for some attention. I figured what the hell—why leave it hidden when you wonderful people could get some entertainment out of it. Inspired by bandanny (our fav), and some crazy events that occurred what seemed like a lifetime ago, my brain couldn’t help but make a story, ‘cause that’s just what writers do. Anyway. I love and miss you all so much, and I hope you enjoy. As always, be kind, enjoy, and don’t mind any grammar mistakes (barely edited) 🫶🏻

and of course, a huge thank you to @jakeyt, just for being you. i have no idea where i would be without you. i love you so very much, american me 🫶🏻

Disclaimer: this is fiction, not real, and not based on ANY actual events. this also is not me coming back, even though I do miss you all so much, but just because I found a fully finished fic I never got around to publishing, thanks to life’s constant craziness. I love you all very much, and I am still kickin’ around for anyone who wants to chat 🫶🏻

“You’re sure you don’t want to tap out?” The voice over your shoulder barely phased you, your eyes focused on the pool cue so delicately aimed at a solid ball and never wavering as your opponent made their shot.

“Tap out?” You laughed, the sound a bit more condescending than you intended. “Baby, I’m just getting started.” You felt a smirk tug at the corner of your lips as the green ball rolled so closely to the corner pocket, but ultimately tapped against the side and fell off course.

“This is a lot of money on the line… like a lot.” Your friend warned, sounding nervous as she gazed over your shoulder at the table. You were in the lead, only two striped balls left before the 8-ball, but the man you were up against wasn’t far behind. If he’d knocked the green ball in, you would be neck and neck. “If you back out now, you can both walk away with the same amount.”

“Maybe the same amount of money, but definitely not the same amount of pride.” You explained, taking a slow step towards the table, lining yourself up with the cue ball. “Besides, this is the longest streak yet, and I’m not about to give it up because I’m scared.” You continued, leaning down just enough to line your cue up with the blue striped ball.

Your eyes flickered across the green, your head cocked to the side ever so slightly as you tried your best to picture the shot in your mind. If you hit it at just the right angle, you could knock it into the striped burgundy ball and get them both in corner pockets. It was risky, but with such a tight race, risk was your only option. You lowered your top half down a little further, your stomach grazing the wooden trim on the table. The cool surface sent a shock to your skin even through the thin material of your dress, but you did not let it deter you.

You swallowed hard, keeping your hands steady and your goal at the front of your mind. You let out a long breath, the warm air rushing past the gloss shining your lips and calming your nerves. You’d done this before, and you could do it again. You continued to repeat that in your head as you scanned over the table one last time, making sure nothing was out of place. When you were confident you were in the right position, your gaze flickered to meet the eyes of your opponent. His blazing blue stare was meant to intimidate you, but it only seemed to motivate you further.

“15 in left corner pocket.” You called your shot, holding his eyes as you let him digest the words. “14 in right corner pocket.”

Quickly looking back down at the cue ball, you drew your arm back halfway, then lurched it forward with a fair amount of force. It rolled forward, striking the striped green ball and causing it to barrel ahead and slam into the striped burgundy ball. The speed that transferred to the third ball caused it to sink straight into the left pocket with no resistance. Feeling a slight pressure in your chest, you focused on the green ball, still rolling but much slower. You held your breath, afraid you misjudged your ability for a fleeting moment in time. It was rolling so slowly you began to lose all hope of it making it to the target.

The growing crowd around you seemed to be on the edge of their seats, watching intently and not daring to move or speak a word. Your stomach twisted and turned, your palms clammy as the green ball slowed even further, just inches away from the pocket you so desperately needed it to reach.

“Come on.” You whispered, your jaw hard set as you stared it down. You didn’t move, still in the position you held when you made the shot. The wooden cue was resting on the table and your hands were clamped tightly around it, your grip nearly strong enough to break it.

Then, a round of gasps sounded from the crowd, followed by a clinking noise of two balls hitting together inside of the pocket. The green striped ball disappeared completely, and the cocky smile returned to your lips. Raising an eyebrow, you looked to your best friend, tapping her heeled foot against the floor in anticipation. She shook her head, a ghost of a laugh on her lips as she bowed her head to you. Both of you knew there was no need to doubt your ability, but her anxiety seemed to get the best of her.

You straightened up, tapping the handle of your cue against the floor as you stepped back from the table. You lined up your next shot, but decided to take the piss out of him before you won. You aimed for the eight ball, knocking it very carefully in front of his purple ball and making it near impossible for him to sink that one without hitting the eight ball to a better position. If you were going to win, you wanted him to guide you to it, just to teach him a lesson about being so foolish with his money. The smile on your face was infuriating to the man across the table, and his doubt of his own talent was clear in his expression. Even if you all knew he would lose, you had to admire his dedication.

“Good shot.” Your best friend gave your arm a squeeze as you walked within reach, a soft smile on her face as her hopefulness was restored.

“Aren’t I always?” You grinned, trying your best not to let anyone see that you had even a sliver of doubt about yourself.

“You’re too cocky for your own good.” She whispered, leaning back against the pool table behind her as she watched your opponent slowly aim his next shot.

“Just cocky enough, Iz.” You corrected, taking the same lax position as your counterpart. “Look where it got us.”

You motioned one hand around the room, your eyes drifting over the amassed patrons of the bar, all gathered round just to watch you win yet another game. Many men had their hands resting on their wallets in their pockets, wondering if they should take their own chances on a game with you or save the trouble. You knew that the longer your opponent put up a fight, the more likely people would be to challenge you, making them think they had a chance to beat you. It was all part of the strategy, letting people get ahead to make others think they had a chance, until you got down to the very last balls and the heat was turned up.

This was a regular Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and sometimes even Sunday night routine for you. Dressed to the nines, you and your best friend would walk to your favorite bar where you would take post at the same pool table and await a new challenge. A long time ago, when you first started this specific routine, it was only ever for fun. Never once did you expect it to snowball into what it was now, but as the months dragged on and turned into years, you realized just how much money you could make off the poor insecure men who frequented the establishment.

You had a talent, and they had a superiority complex, unable to believe that a young woman could beat them at a game they had been playing since they turned eighteen. It wasn’t your fault that you could capitalize off their stupidity, nor would someone else in your shoes turn down the offer. If they were willing to throw away hundreds of dollars for a chance at bragging rights, you would take the opportunity every single time.

“Besides, it’s their fault for being so cocky when they shouldn’t be. Nothing wrong with being proud of your own talent.”

“S’pose you’re right.” She let out a breathy chuckle, still not fully reassured but unwilling to argue with you. Most of your success was accredited to her lack of fight, hesitant about your crazy ideas but fully supportive of the person she loved most.

Izzy, your best friend in the entire world, also served as your biggest supporter. From the very beginning, even when money wasn’t a factor, she sat on a stool and watched you play all night just to pass the time, never interested in picking up a cue and content to keep you company. When there was nothing in life to be excited about, the two of you worked hard for a long time to find something to look forward to, and it just so happened to be in a little dive bar just off of Main Street. More specifically, at a pool table in the very back corner of the building, which seemed to offer the two of you far more opportunities than just something to be excited about thus far, and especially right now.

You watched the man lean down close to the table, really taking in the sight of him as he tried his best to catch up to you. His hair was turning gray at the roots and his eyes looked tired, but determined. He was tall, drinking top shelf liquor, and clad in expensive looking clothes, which only made you feel better about your anticipated victory. He could afford the loss, or he wouldn’t have offered such a large sum of money in the first place. You weren’t foolish for taking him up on it, and you were certain anyone would have done the same if they were as confident in their abilities as you were.

He drew his arm back and took his shot, causing the crowd to let out a collective groan when the cue ball knocked his purple ball into the eight ball by mistake.

A fatal mistake.

If he had half a brain, he would have shot for the green ball. Luckily for you, he wanted to show off similarly to how you did, and because of that, he did exactly as you hoped.

With a little pep in your step, you lazily aimed for the cue ball, barely looking upwards at the man when you spoke aloud. “Eight ball, corner pocket.” You announced, swinging your cue forward and knocking it straight into the solid white ball. It barrelled down the table hitting the black one and transferring the energy with ease. With nothing standing in its way, it plopped straight in the pocket you aimed for and won you the game.

A booming chorus of cheers sounded around the room, the entire group crowded around the table unable to believe you’d snagged yet another victory that night. Your head dropped downwards towards the table, the smile on your face blinding as you digested the rush of emotion that filled you. Any win was worth celebrating, but this one was huge. It far exceeded anything you had ever done, and it was beyond anything you ever thought you would do. You squeezed your eyes shut, holding back a few threatening tears as you laughed quietly to yourself.

Eventually, you straightened up, all of your teeth showing as an ever-growing grin ate away at your cheeks. The cheers were warbled, the buzz of excitement barely heard over your racing thoughts and pounding heart. You felt Izzy’s hands on your shoulders, her excitement bleeding from her as she shook you gently, literally jumping for joy as your opponent pulled out his wallet. If you were less stunned, you likely would have joined her, but in the moment your excitement was so large it was making your head spin and your vision blur.

You only came to when the man stepped in your direction, offering his hand to shake to commend you for your talent. You accepted, flashing him a thankful expression for giving you the opportunity in the first place.

“Great game, darlin’. Guess I got what was comin’ to me.” You couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, all of your previous competitiveness fleeing you entirely. Instead of a rival, you stood before your hero (albeit, a very stupid one). The man shaking your hand had just single-handedly paid over three months of your regular rent, easily reminding you exactly why you started playing for money in the first place.

“You put up a good fight. Don’t sell yourself short.” You replied, watching as he lowered his hand from yours and extended his opposite one. Clutched between his fingers was your rightful winnings—fifty crisp, beautiful hundred dollar bills.

When you reached to grab them, you felt a firm piece of cardstock underneath them, catching your attention much more than the huge sum of money in your hand. You flipped the thick stack over, noticing what looked to be a business card underneath the bills and furrowing your eyebrows in confusion. You held it with your free hand, reading the name and number on the other side, embossed with a company logo you had never seen before.

“If you ever want to go further than betting in bars, you have my number.” He said quietly, sending you a subtle wink. Your heart skipped a beat, making your mind flood with questions and concerns about his ambiguous offers.

“As in?” You pressed further, looking up to meet his eyes.

“As in, playing games with much bigger stakes than this.” He smiled, reaching up and giving your arm a gentle squeeze. “If you want to know more, you can always give me a call. Nothing has to be official unless you want it to be.”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving you more confused than ever before, with questions you weren’t even sure he had answers to. You turned to Izzy, shocked and surprised as you processed the interaction that just unfolded. You swallowed hard, giving her the money to put in your wallet, then gave your head a good shake to bring yourself back to reality.

“What was that about?” She asked, doing exactly what you needed without any verbal instruction. She clasped your wallet shut and buried it at the very bottom of her bag before looking back up at you.

“Think I just got invited to an underground gambling club.” You chuckled, a bit wooed at the thought. You ran your hand through your hair, pushing it back from your face as Izzy snatched the card from your hand to see for herself.

“That’s crazy, right? You’re not going to call him, are you?” She asked, her gaze flickering between you and the card. When her questions went unanswered, her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open in shock. “You’re not actually going to call him, right?” She asked again, this time expecting a verbal answer from you.

Your head turned to the table, noticing that most of the crowd filtered away by now. The night was drawing to a close, last call about an hour out and most of the patrons were ready to retire after spending too much money and having nothing to show for it. There were a few people lingering by the bar, willing to indulge in a few more drinks before heading home, but the pool tables were near deserted aside from you and a few stragglers finishing games on the other side of the room.

“No,” you scoffed a small laugh, a far-away look in your eyes as you forced a smile on your lips. “F’course not. That’s crazy, right?”

“Right…” she nodded, wanting to be the voice of reason but stuck thinking about how good it felt to hold that much cash in her hand. “Would you be winning that every time?”

“Ah,” you chuckled, tapping your manicured nails on the wood grain framing the pool table. Your tried-and-true, the very reason behind your success and the only reason you even stood there with that much money in your pockets. When the room went quiet and all you could hear was your own breathing and heartbeat, it felt like she was whispering to you, imploring you to consider the benefits of his offer, imploring you to trust in her. “Think the winnings are a lot better than the one we’re leaving with tonight.” You cleared your throat, kicking your high heel against the floor to rid yourself of some of the anxiety plaguing you.

“Holy shit, Y/N.” She whispered, almost unable to believe you were telling her the truth.

“Yeah.” You replied, closing your eyes for a moment to bargain with the thought. “You know how much that could help us?”

“Is it worth it, though? It could hurt us, too. Maybe even a lot more than it could help.” She seemed hesitant, but you could see the green flashing before her eyes, motivating her to keep considering the possibility. Money was a wicked motivator, and the two of you had been chasing it your entire lives. Now, faced with the opportunity to never have to worry again, you couldn’t help but consider it.

“When has she ever let me down before?” You gave a ghost of a smirk, the feeling of the pool cue in your hand sending your ego through the roof. “I mean look at what she did for us tonight. All weekend.” Your tongue traced the inside of your bottom lip, the simple thought of thousands making your mouth water and that hunger grow even worse. “Haven’t been on a win streak this long in ages.”

“I know, babe.” She huffed, giving a single nod of agreement. “You know I’ll support you no matter what, but don’t jump right in. At least talk to him first, find out what you’re really signing up for, okay?”

“Always.” You caught her eye, the warmth in her stare reminding you of everything you already had and telling you that everything would be okay no matter what you chose.

Did money matter when you had love like that? Kinship like that?

Izzy was everything; your only constant, and the most comfortable part of your life. From the very beginning, tripping over your own feet in pre-k and learning how to spell your own name, she was right there beside you. No matter if it was falling with you or helping you up, she would do it in a heartbeat, even if it were no gain to her. She stuck by your side for every crazy decision and reckless act, and never once held it over your head or punished you for your stupidity. You would never make a thoughtless choice that would affect her directly, and you would never punish her with ignorance or incompetence. The whole reason you were offered the gig tonight stemmed from your desire to do better for her, to take away the struggle and ease the weight upon her shoulders. If not for her, you would still be wandering aimlessly and struggling often.

Money meant little when you realized you held more of the world in your hands than most people ever got to touch. Suffering and struggle was bearable with her always bearing half the burden, and a friend like her gave you hope that you could face any pain and make it out unscathed.

“I’ll think about it, Iz. I’ll make sure it’s worth it, first.”

“That’s all I want.” She confirmed her stance, knowing that turning down that kind of money was crazier than never chasing it at all. “Do you want to head home? Can talk about it in the morning—I’m fuckin’ wiped.”

“You go get some sleep. Call a cab and get home safe. Think’m gonna stay here and clear my head.” You explained, reaching in the pockets of the pool table and beginning to re-rack the balls.

Not that you didn’t want to hear her voice of reason, but because you needed some time to come to terms with it yourself. You’d learned that although it was your biggest money maker, the pool table in the very back corner was also your biggest confidant and your favorite escape. A quick solo game would make you feel better, and hopefully make your choice a hell of a lot easier.

“You sure? I don’t mind stayin’ with ya.” She gave you a cheeky smile, nudging you with her elbow. You chuckled at her unwillingness to leave you on your lonesome, always wanting to keep you safe even if there was no need for it.

“I’m sure. Go get some sleep, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

“If you insist.” She sang, knocking back the last of her drink and lingering for a moment, wanting to see if you would change your mind. When you blew her a kiss as you rounded the corner of the table, she took that as a gesture of finality. She gave you a wave, silent and slow as she stepped backwards, keeping her eyes on you as well as she could until she was completely out of sight.

When you were alone, you finally felt the full force of the night’s whirlwind of events. You grabbed the small cube of blue chalk sitting on the edge of the table, inspecting it carefully as you raised it to the tip of your cue. Closing your eyes as you circled it round the wooden stick, you let out a long breath. Your shoulders slumped slightly, the stress and adrenaline from your last game fleeing you alongside the anxiety you carried to the bar with you that night. The chatter had died down, the lull of rock sounding over the crackling speakers filling your ears and soothing the swarm of incessant thoughts in your brain.

All those years ago, did you ever imagine you would be put in such a position?

What would she think, the freshly eighteen year old who stepped out into the world alone for the first time, wondering how the hell she would make it?

What would your dad think? The man who put the cue in your hand back home, laughing as he snapped a picture of the little girl who was half its size? Would he be proud, remembering where you started, shooting at balls and never truly understanding what the game meant or how you were supposed to play? Or would he be disappointed, saddened to see you struggle so bad you had to bet your way to paying the bills?

Ah, what did it matter?

Tough decisions and trusting the universe had not led you astray yet, and even if it wasn’t the most honest way to earn a living, it sure did what you intended it to do.

“Hey Chuck,” you called from the table, catching the attention of the bartender wiping counters. His eyes cut to you, a glimmer of light in his eye that only ever shined when you were the subject of his attention. “Can I get another bottle?” You asked, tapping your empty beer against your cue as you gave him a smile.

“One or two?” He asked, half-twisting towards the cooler to retrieve your drink.

“Two should do the trick.” You chuckled, barely embarrassed that he knew you so well. He grabbed the necks of two brown bottles in one hand, setting them on the ledge of the half wall separating the drinking area from the game room. You removed the black triangle from the racked balls, lining the cue ball at an angle and taking the shot to break it. As the balls spun out of control, twisting and turning, knocking into each other with ringing clacks, you stepped towards the bar. He used his bottle opener to free the caps, tossing them in the trash can by his feet as you picked up the first drink.

“You played well tonight.” He noted, slinging an old towel over his shoulder. “Busiest I’ve seen here all month.”

“Yeah, probably why I did so well.” You laughed, your eyes studying his face. His ginger hair curled at the ends, laying over the nape of his neck. His fair skin was slightly blushed and heavily freckled, and he was still as full of life as he was when the doors opened that night. “Had lots of time to practice over the last few weeks.”

“Paid off, it seems.” He commended you, giving you a verbal pat on the back for all he witnessed.

Chuck wasn’t much older than you were, and over your many years of frequenting the bar, you had gotten to know him fairly well. Starting in the military at eighteen, he decided school wasn’t for him and he should put his strength still remaining from high school football to some good use. For a long time, he worked high end security gigs between deployments, which kept him busy in the meantime and still gave him some sort of purpose when he couldn’t do the job he originally signed up for. At twenty four, he got a pretty nasty injury that left him with a medical discharge and a lot more mental turmoil than physical.

After a year of recovery, his slow start back into the regular world landed him as a bouncer at the very bar you were in now, and then eventually a bartender when needed. Despite all the shit life threw at him, he was still the most friendly man you’d ever met, and he was just happy to be wherever he went. After so many nights of getting to know each other, you considered him a friend, and a good one at that. To Izzy, sometimes he seemed to be a little bit more than her favorite bartender. You didn’t ask, and she never told, but the nights she didn’t come home, you could only assume that she found company in the redhead who often made her singles into doubles without any charge.

“If you’re still here when I lock up, I want my turn.” He grinned, both of you knowing that was your price for staying past last call.

“You know where I’ll be.” You grinned, tapping your bottle against the ledge before taking a swig. With that, he returned to cleaning the counters and you walked back to your game. “Why don’t you play some good music while you’re at it?” You teased, shooting the quip over your shoulder that you knew he would agree with. Without any hesitation, he queued up a different playlist and turned it up.

Setting both drinks on a nearby table, you didn’t waste much time lining up your first shot. When you watched the striped balls scatter across the green top, all of your troubles ceased to exist. Hearing the resin balls knock against the pockets and roll inside was the greatest sound in the world. When you played, everything else seemed to disappear, leaving you alone with only one goal in mind.

Well, most of the time, at least.

Other times, you could still feel your father leaning over your shoulder, whispering bits of advice you would hold close to your heart for the rest of your life. You could feel the weight of his presence, the energy of his applause when you made a perfect play, and the joy of being with him all wrapped into one.

It was haunting just the same as it was comforting.

“Excuse me,” a gentle voice sounded from behind you, catching your attention just before you leaned down to take another shot. You would have been startled if not for the sweetness behind the words. You turned, still stuck in thought about the man who taught you everything you knew, wondering who would be approaching you so late in the night.

When you were turned completely, you thought the man standing before you was some twisted trick from the universe, baiting you with perfection to lure you to danger. His long curls dusted his shoulders, complimented by a patterned bandana folded neatly and settled atop his head. A short sleeved, ribbed knit shirt that hugged his torso like it was made just for him, tucked into jeans that hugged his legs. Gold chains paired perfectly with a pendant necklace hung around his neck, glimmering under the minimal light. You didn’t recognize the symbol on the chain, but you felt compelled to ask, to know before you lost your chance. His skin tanned, his brown eyes warm, and his smile soft and sweet. He held a pool cue in his large hand, and his expression was curious.

You hated to admit that he had you completely flustered by simply existing.

“Hey,” you eventually breathed out, the bridge of your nose burning as the skin turned red with a blush. You wondered if he noticed under the low light, or if he even cared. Looking like he did, you were certain you weren’t the only person who had a hard time finding words when speaking to him. “What’s up?”

“Sorry if this is weird, or whatever…” he raised a hand to the back of his neck, sheepish as his eyes raked over you with the same intensity you held in your own. “I was watching you play earlier. Would have introduced myself sooner, but you seemed a bit busy.”

“S’all good. Not weird at all.” You smiled, almost flattered by the fact that he seemed nervous to talk to you.

“You play a mean game. I’m Danny.” He seemed to shake off his nerves at your reassurance, his eyes flickering to the balls scattered on the tabletop to break the burning stare shared between you.

“Y/N.” You replied, extending your hand to shake. He responded enthusiastically, the warmth of his skin sending shivers down your spine and goosebumps raising across your arms.

‘Damn, Y/N. Get it together.’ You thought to yourself, but still found your chest tight and your mouth dry from the sheer beauty of the man standing before you. Did he want to play, or did he want to talk to you? You were too afraid to ask, but whatever it was, you knew you would be compliant with it. If it meant getting an extra moment to admire him, you would be more than happy to do so.

“You play a lot?” He asked, his attention back on your face as he asked.

“Think that’s putting it lightly.” You grinned, knowing that his assumption barely even scratched the surface. “I guess it’s my thing, as some would say.” You quoted the word with one hand, your eyes glazing over with pride at the fact.

“There’s worse things to have.” He joked back, easing up as he understood you weren’t as intimidating as he thought moments before.

“To what do I owe the pleasure, Daniel?” At the sound of his name on your lips, his breath caught in his chest and his words in his throat. “Come on, now. Don’t be shy.” You pried a little further, noticing the red dusting his cheeks, too.

“You caught my eye, that's all.” He conceded, shifting his weight onto his heels as a gentle grin decorated his lips. “Curious about the pretty girl who was wiping the floor with every pool player in here. Wanted to talk to you before someone else stepped in and ruined my chances.” At that, you couldn’t help but laugh, honored that your talent struck him so well, and even more curious about him.

“So is this about me being good at pool, or you thinking I’m pretty?” You found yourself going along with the bit, entertaining whatever he was thinking and enjoying making him sweat. Normally, you didn’t entertain wandering eyes and flirtation, but from him, it felt different. It felt like something you wanted to get used to, and you barely knew a thing about him.

“Can’t it be both?” He raised an eyebrow, realizing that he wasn’t coming off too strong for you.

“S’pose it can, yeah.” You nodded, a cheeky grin on your lips.

“Have time to entertain a poor guy like me, or are you too busy training for the championship?”

“I think I could fit you in,” you smiled, nodding your head. “Might be nice to have some company, anyway, s’long as you don’t get in the way of the championship.” You pointed your index finger, a faux warning with playfulness in your eyes.

“You only play for money, or is fun allowed too?” He stepped towards the table, watching as you shot the white ball at a group of striped ones.

“Mostly for money, but I know how to have fun.” You explained, straightening up as you scanned for the next best move. “Usually just with friends, though. Can I consider you my friend, Daniel?” Your eyes cut to his face, your head cocking to the side ever so slightly.

“That’s up to you, Y/N.” He said your name with the same kind of conviction in his tone, like the simple idea of speaking your name would send him to his knees. You had no idea how you failed to notice him sooner, how he flew right under the radar and managed to stay there until he wanted to be seen. A small part of you was grateful for the fact, because had your eyes landed on him while you were playing, he would have thrown off your entire game. You didn’t like distractions, and from all you had seen so far, that appeared to be exactly what he was, even if he was a good one.

“All or nothing, or is there something else on the table you’re too afraid to say out loud?” You smirked, leaning down and shooting at another striped ball. It landed in the corner pocket, even when your eyes were barely focused on the table. Your forwardness seemed to take him by surprise, but it did not deter him.

“Like what, sharpshooter?” The nickname piqued your interest, causing another blush to appear on your cheeks.

“I don’t know, Daniel. That’s why I asked you.” At that, it was his turn to laugh, a beautiful and breathtaking laugh that nearly sent you straight to the grave.

You met plenty of men at bars, some just as beautiful and many more who took their chances with you, but none of them had any effect on you, and if they did, it was never like this. You had no idea what spell he casted on you, but it was more powerful than any force you had ever encountered before. The small game of cat and mouse had already begun, but you were both chasing each other equally as much. It was fun, lighthearted, and you believed that if you were to back out, he would leave it at that. His beauty matched his charm, and he was as sweet as he was hot. If more than friends was on the table, you certainly would not be opposed to the idea.

Even so, you would not be the first to say it.

No matter how attractive he was, you would cling to the last sliver of pride you could.

“Where are you from, honey?” He asked, switching the topic with ease and getting himself out of the spotlight.

“Ohio.” You responded, deciding not to pay any mind to his sudden shift in direction. “You?”

“Michigan.” He replied, his eyes following your game, only glancing at you when he thought you weren’t looking.

“Ah,” You chuckled, a twinkle in your eye at the thought. “Natural enemies. Should we even try to be friends, darlin’?”

“Maybe a little competition will do us some good.” He theorized, still holding his pool cue tightly. “Seems like you’re a fan of it, anyway.” A sneaking glance your way left you to believe his intent was much stronger than friendly, and you couldn’t ignore the twisting of your stomach at the thought. “What are you doing so far from home?” He posed another question, not letting you focus on his previous comments for too long.

“I’m a firm believer that home is the people, not the place.” You finished off the striped balls, taking a long sip of beer before moving on to the solids. “The only person I had left wanted to leave, and I sure as hell wasn’t letting her leave me behind.” You didn’t know why you wanted to answer him with so much honesty. You could have sugar coated it, or come up with a simple lie to evade the question, but you didn’t want to. For some strange reason, you felt a type of solace in Daniel’s company you had never found in another, and him knowing you certainly wasn’t the worst thing in the world. “What about you?”

“I’m a musician.” Although his response was short, it was not dry. He seemed to be vying for a reaction before he delved too deep.

“A musician in Nashville… never heard of that one before.” You grinned, already getting down to the last few balls on the table. “Any good?”

“I mean, we’re alright.” He shrugged, chuckling quietly.

“I’ll have to take your word for it. Your very convincing word.” You found another laugh stuck in your teeth, wondering how it was so easy for him to cause them. “Just you?”

“Nah, me and my best friends. More like brothers, really.” He said, one hand stuffed in his pocket as he watched you take another shot.

“That’s cool.” You conceded, sending him a smile as you straightened back up.

“So, how did you get this gig?” He asked, more apt to get to know you than anything else.

“Wouldn’t really say it’s a gig.” You chalked the end of your cue again, thinking back to the very beginning. “When I first moved here, life was… not what we thought it would be. My best friend enrolled in university, and I looked into a few classes for community college, but never ended up pursuing it. I couldn’t take a full time program and work to support the both of us, and since she moved here for school and I tagged along, I prioritized money.”

“A valiant woman… I can appreciate that.”

“Well it was that, or drown. Someone had to pay the bills, and I couldn’t force her to do both. She’ll take care of me when the time comes. Just the way we work.” You didn’t expect him to understand, but you wanted him to, even if you did not know why.

Until that moment, you were fine having Izzy as your person, the only one who would ever truly get you, and you never needed more. Until he showed up, you were happy with it, but he carried some external energy that drew you to him, making you hang off every word and hope he would be willing to give more. You wanted to talk to him, to tell him the things you most often kept quiet about. He was interested, radiated kindness and exuded a type of peace you hadn’t felt in a really long time. Being in his company was refreshing, something very different than what you had grown used to since moving to Nashville, and he barely even had to try. You didn’t want him to leave, and you never wanted him to stop talking. Men never interested you much unless you could get a couple dollars off a game, but he didn’t seem like any regular guy.

“It’s nice having someone that you can lean on no matter what.” He explained, a twinkle in his soft brown eyes caught your attention almost instantly. “No matter how far away from home, you always get to bring a piece with you. Even if you’re lost, you always know you’ll find your way with them by your side.” He tapped his foot against the ground while he spoke, like he was trying his best to put such profound emotions into a legible message. Slowly, you nodded your head, agreeing with everything he said.

Maybe he did get it, and more than you ever would have believed.

“I have Sam.” He continued, a small smile stretching his lips. “Been my friend for as long as I can remember. Wouldn’t know where I’m going or what I was doing without him by my side.”

“Yeah, exactly.” You squeaked a response, your heart racing as you shot at another ball. Something about the topic of conversation made it all feel real, and as much as you were enjoying it, it also scared you. Being perceived as a person with depth did not usually bode well with you; you much preferred to be the heartless snake that could kill a game of pool, especially to strangers. It was nice being understood, but hard to swallow all the same. “When things were really rough, I guess we were desperate to find a distraction. Something to look forward to that wouldn’t hurt us any more.” You cleared your throat, watching the last colored ball fall into a pocket, leaving you with just the eight ball.

“And that was playing pool?”

“Sort of.” You nodded, deciding to take a break before finishing the game against yourself. For a topic so heavy, you thought it best to give him all of your attention. “I always loved the game. Been playing it since I was this big.” You held your hand out a few feet above the floor, giving a vague estimate to accompany your words. “When we found this bar, it wasn’t very popular, which was good. Lots of tables and none were ever filled, so we spent a lot of nights at this one. I played and Iz watched—she was never much of a pool player, but she loved to spend time with me. It worked for us.”

“How did you start playing for money?” His questions were endless, and you didn’t mind. You enjoyed his intrigue, happy that he wanted to know you as much as you wanted to know him.

“After about a year or so of playing for fun, we made pretty good friends with the bartender.” You nodded your head towards Chuck. “Great guy, but too cocky for his own good. He bet twenty bucks, and lost it in less than ten minutes.” At that, Daniel let out a bellowing laugh, causing an unfamiliar flutter in the pit of your stomach. How could one man be so perfect? “A few guys watching caught wind, and I s’pose they all thought they’d try their luck. I went home with a bit of extra pep in my step and a hell of a lot more confidence. Didn’t win very much, but when you don’t have it in the first place, it’s a lot. Was different than winning the slots, or something like that. Made me feel good, like I was good at something.”

“From what I’ve seen, you’re a lot better than good.” You weren’t sure why the compliment struck you with so much force, especially considering so many people often spoke the same sentiment, but you held it close to your heart. With blushing cheeks and a racing heart, you muttered a small thank you.

“After that, I realized I could keep making money off of it. Instead of wasting hours on nothing, we came down here with a purpose. Word went around, and everybody wanted to take their chances. It took a little while to win anything substantial, but it eventually started paying some of the bills and even more than that. Now people come here just to play against me.” You couldn’t help the smirk that formed, proud of yourself for creating something from nothing. As you bargained with the idea, you leaned down and shot the eight ball, effortless and confident as it rolled into the side pocket.

“That’s pretty damn impressive.” He took a step closer to the table, inspecting the clear top after you sunk all of the shoes without a hitch. “You’re pretty damn impressive.” Your cheeks burned again, but you looked to the ground so he did not notice. You wished you could understand why he had such a big effect on you, how he rivaled every other man you had ever met and all he had to do was talk to you, but you understood that not all things need an answer. Sometimes, it’s just nice to appreciate it while it lasts. “I think my biggest question is how did you get so good at it?”

You caught his eye for a moment, his face lucent even in the near darkness of the bar. It knocked the breath from your lungs, his burning stare and unwavering commitment to knowing you. You wondered if it was just because of curiosity, or if he had a hidden agenda that he would only share at the perfect moment. Either way, it did not matter; you would be overjoyed to go along with whatever plans he wanted to make for the night, and you would be even happier if you ended up in his bed. For a single moment, you debated whether you should bring it up yourself or see what tricks he had up his sleeve.

You opted to make him sweat a bit, knowing that every extra minute spent in his company would be worth it.

“Is that your biggest question, Daniel?” You raised an eyebrow, a knowing expression on your face as you saw his eyes flicker down to your lips. Silently answering the question for you, you felt a slight bit of satisfaction at his miniscule action.

“One of them.” He replied, nonchalant as he began to place the balls back on the green.

“Well, get to askin’, then.” You decided to help him out with his task, wondering if his curiosity really did lie in the game and you were reading too far into it. “I don’t have all night.” A lie, but he didn’t need to know that.

“I was asking—you were avoiding.” He caught your eye again, each time his stare landed on you the effect far worse than the last.

“Maybe I don’t like that one.” You weren’t being dishonest; that question, above all, was your least favorite of any one that anybody could ask you. To answer, you would have to talk about your dad, and that was best left as a memory rather than a story. “I want to hear what else you’ve got.”

“Alright,” he conceded, racking the balls in the middle of the table. He did not outright say it, but you could see his desire for a game hidden deep in his features. You wondered how long it would take for him to place his wagers. “Are you going home with anyone tonight?”

You thought about it for a moment, the ghost of a smile on your lips as your silence led him astray. You weren’t going home with anyone, nor did you ever have any intent to. In fact, you had been looking forward to walking home to find Izzy curled up on the couch (because that’s where she always fell asleep when she was drunk), all of the lights on and the television playing loudly in the background. You would sit with her until your mind stopped racing, and eventually you would crawl up to your bedroom and sleep off the night's excitement while planning for tomorrow.

Now, you weren’t sure how much you liked that idea. With him standing so close, the fresh scent of his cologne distracting you and the warmth of his presence more persuasive than anything else, you didn’t want to go home alone. His gentle smile and burning gaze sent the hair on the back of your neck raising and goosebumps littering your skin. For a brief moment, you wondered what it would be like to touch him, to put the conversation to rest and explore more pleasurable, fulfilling alternatives. He made it so easy to ignore everything else and focus your attention solely on him, and since he joined you at the table, you hadn’t been able to think of anything but him.

If you went home alone, would you regret it?

If you went home with him, would you regret it?

For some reason, you believed that you would never regret a night spent with someone as compelling as him, but the fear still remained. You barely knew him, nor his intentions. You were rightfully concerned, but something deep in your heart told you that you could trust him and that he would not do you wrong.

You hoped so, anyway.

“Not unless I meet someone worth my time, no.” You shook your head, giving him a lingering stare as he processed your words. The corner of his lips quirked upwards, not necessarily into a smile, but a response to you nonetheless.

“How do your games work, sharpshooter?” He asked, removing the plastic triangle and hanging it on the hook on the side of the table.

“Depends.” You chalked the end of your cue, gearing up for another game you would inevitably win. “Usually, you pick the price, and I tell you if it’s worth my time.”

“Only money worth your time?” He grabbed the second block of chalk, catching your attention as he reached up to do the same to his cue. You noticed the veins in the back of his hand, leading to the same prominent feature in his forearms. Your stomach fluttered with curiosity, studying him closely as the muscles in his biceps flexed. For a brief moment, you imagined what it would feel like for his hands to be on you, his flexing muscles under your touch as he offered you much more than a challenge.

“What do you have in mind?” You finished off the last of your beer, discarding the bottle on the ledge by the bar and making quick work sipping at your second. He seemed hesitant to answer, but his eyes were glimmering with mischief. You wished it didn’t intrigue you as much as it did, but you felt yourself leaning into him as you awaited your answer, showing your own desperation for him to speak. “Out with it.” You pressed, smiling again as he rocked back onto his heels.

“How about…” he sucked in a breath through his perfectly straight and white teeth, his eyes darting from you to the table. You raised an eyebrow, cocking your head to the side as you waited for him to continue. “If I win, I get to take you home for the night.”

You froze momentarily, your heartbeat and breathing included. Your cheeks, burning red under the dim pot lights overhead, giving away your feelings on the matter almost instantly. Could you agree to such personal terms? Even if you wanted to go home with him, you still weren’t quite sure if it was a good idea. You hardly knew him, and could barely comprehend his boldness even if it did turn you on. If you turned him down, you felt that there was a possibility of regret, and you certainly didn’t want to see him turn and walk away, especially after how much you enjoyed talking to him.

Then again, you barely even believed he could beat you in the first place. At the very core of it, the very beautiful, polished man that stood before you didn’t seem to have a competitive bone in his body, nor did he seem to be as well versed in the game as you were. Even if he had skill, you couldn’t imagine he would be as committed to beating you as you were to beating him. That was most of the reason you won as often as you did. If you agreed, the chances of his desired outcome happening were slim to none. That made you feel worlds better, and your cockiness gave you the extra push to agree with his crazy idea.

Maybe by the time the game was over, you would know for sure if you wanted to go home with him or not. An extra hour spent getting to know him definitely wouldn’t hurt, and then you would be able to join him on your own accord if you so wished. With a dry mouth, you swallowed back your surprise, bargaining with the fluttering of your heart as you understood he definitely found you as attractive as you found him. To bet on something so forward, you really must have caught his eye.

“And what if I win?” You asked, trying your best to keep your cool and remain confident.

“Guess that’s up to you, is it not?” He flashed you a smile, and for a split second you wanted to abandon the game entirely and accompany him home then and there. Whatever he was doing to you, he was doing it incredibly well, and you began to fear he would get what he wanted no matter who won the game.

“S’pose it is.” You pursed your lips slightly, running the tip of your tongue over the back of your teeth as you brainstormed your stipulations. Then, an idea struck you, working for you in more ways than one. “If I win, I want two tickets to your next show, rockstar.” You pointed in his direction, knowing that your offer would send the subliminal message that you did in fact want to see him again, even if you did not end up in his bed.

“I’ll even throw in a backstage pass, just because. Best view in the whole house.” He sent a wink in your direction, forcing you to look away as your breath caught in your throat. You could feel a dull ache begin to bother you between your legs, and you knew if you let yourself focus on it, the game would be his before it even started.

“Mr. Important, or whatever.” You teased, your finger tracing the wood grain on the table as you reached for the coin sitting on the very corner. “Didn’t realize I was in the presence of such a big celebrity.” You took the cool metal coin between your middle and index finger, flashing it in his direction so he could see what you were up to.

“So, we have a deal?” He asked for clarification, wanting to ensure there were no blurred lines.

“I think we do.” You nodded, turning back towards him only to notice he had stepped closer. “Shake on it?” You asked, extending your hand towards him. He reached forward, his palm landing against yours as his fingers closed around it. You hated the fact that something as simple as a handshake from him had you weak in the knees, but you bargained with the lack of strength in your legs as you focused on the warmth he provided.

“Game on, sharpshooter.” He said, his hand lingering on yours for a moment longer than it should have. He was close, much closer than a friendly opponent should be. You could see the rise and fall of his chest, just inches from your own, and when you looked upwards to meet his eyes, his face wasn’t much further away. The two of you stayed locked in the same position for what seemed like an eternity, both of you understanding the pull of your heartstrings as you admired each other up close.

“I flip a coin for start, but if you have something better in mind, please do tell.” You explained, your voice barely above a whisper because it did not need to be. He was close enough you were sure he could hear your racing heart and shallow breaths. The smell of his cologne was intoxicating, and you felt more drunk the longer he stood near. If this was how the whole game was going to go, you understood you were in for a wild ride.

“Sounds good to me.” He finally dropped his hand, but much slower than normal, like he was hesitant to let you go. You placed the coin on the back of your thumb, hoping he did not notice the slight trembling of your fingers.

“Heads or tails, Daniel?” You held his gaze, finally getting the chance to appreciate the sea of brown in his irises, the flecks of near blackness and the golden streaks that accentuated the already beautiful chestnut color. Soft and warm and kind, something you felt like you could get lost in forever and never yearn to be found.

“Tails.” He said, seemingly studying the intricacies of you.

You tossed the coin in the air, barely looking down as you guided it to the back of your hand with your palm. For a few seconds, you stood still once more, not ready to part from the closeness the moment granted. His skin was soft like wind in the reeds, the ends of his curly hair tickling his cheek ever so gently. For once, you did not feel uncomfortable under another’s stare—you did not want to hide, nor to turn away or dissolve into nothing to avoid the attention from another. This time, you felt appreciated, seen for everything rather than just something, and you thought it a crime to never be on the receiving end of his attention.

Eventually, you withdrew your hand covering the coin, looking down to see it showing heads.

“Looks like luck is on my side, tonight.” You mumbled, knowing that if you truly wanted to be a dick, you could take the game out in one play. He let out a small huff of air, similar to a laugh but not quite, like he was amused by your response.

“We’ll see.” He replied, taking a small step back from you. Your eyebrows furrowed together, your eyes lingering on his face as he stood stationary beside the table.

What did that mean?

Opting to ignore his attempt at undermining your ability, you shook off your nerves and realized that it would affect your game if you focused on it for too long. Instead, you decided to show him that luck had little to do with it, and going home with him would not be your punishment for loss, but a choice you made on your own accord. You had never bet on something so extreme, and especially never something sex-related. You would be lying if you said it didn’t put any extra pressure on you, but your win streak from that night alone led you to believe that you wouldn’t have to suffer any consequences. Beating him would be as easy as any other game, and that fact played a huge part in agreeing to his terms.

Well, that, and the fact that going home with him would be an option even if pool wasn’t a factor.

You placed the cue ball on the green, leaning down and settling the tip of your cue in the groove between your thumb and forefinger. You placed your four fingertips against the felt below, and lifted your thumb slightly to give yourself better control of the cue. Aiming and faking your shot a few times, you let yourself get a feel for the position without following through. Eventually, you withdrew your arm and spring forward with an ample amount of force, sending the white ball rolling forward and crashing into the racked balls.

Your eyes stayed glued on the table as all of the balls scattered across the top. A few rolled into the rails, then you watched as two striped balls rolled to the side and into a corner pocket, back-to-back. A triumphant smile on your face, you scanned for the next best move, noting that the white ball rolled to a stop near the middle of the table. You straightened up, taking a few steps to the side of the table before leaning down again and repositioning yourself.

You shot at the yellow striped ball, calling the side pocket just before you slid the wooden stick forward into the cue ball. Just as you expected, it rolled straight in without a hiccup. Since starting, you hadn’t looked anywhere but at the game, and as you stood to shoot for the third time, you made the mistake of casting your gaze in the direction of your opponent.

For the first time ever since playing a game of pool, you made a mistake classified as fatal, and you did so without second thought or any inkling that it would be a mistake at all.

You froze in place, noticing his eyes burning into you as you leaned down over the table, but they were no longer warm and kind. Instead, his gaze was fixated on the pull of your dress from your skin, gravity giving him a bit more of a show than you intended, and the sweetness in his stare had dissolved into a hunger you could only imagine was felt by a man starved. You felt a rush of emotion straight to the pit of your stomach, only worsened as his tongue delicately traced his lower lip. Your skin tingled with desire. And for a fleeting moment you considered forfeiting the game and sinking the eight ball just to get to his house faster.

“Nice shot, beautiful.” He whispered, his tone much more gravelly than it was when he was speaking to you before. He knew what he was doing, and he was unashamed to admit it.

Without responding, you brought your shaky hands back to the table, your stomach twisting and your mind flooded with all kinds of thoughts that had little to do with the task at hand. You were committed to winning, and you would make it a point to do so, but he was making it incredibly hard to prioritize that.

Trying to push the thought of him far from your mind, you zoned back in on the game. As you pulled your arm back to shoot, a quick flash of his darkened eyes flooded your vision, pointed at you like a predator in search of prey. As you shot at the cue ball, you did not even notice that it hit a striped ball against the rail and nowhere near the pocket. Squeezing your eyes shut, you tried to shake the memory away, but it seemed permanently seared into your brain. You could feel your heartbeat in your toes, your own arousal pulsing under your skin and forcing you to feel it when his perfectly sculpted features flashed before your eyes.

For the first time in your entire career, losing the game was more plausible than winning, and the fact only became more pertinent every time you remembered what it felt like to be under his burning gaze.

You had to get ahold of yourself, to shake off the very thing that would lead you to your demise, but you couldn’t. Whatever he was doing was working, because the man that stood before you now was much different than the one who challenged you to begin with. Being near him was to be one step away from insanity, and focusing on anything other than him was impossible. Knowing that he was watching you with the same intensity, imagining what you would look like out of your dress and underneath him when he won the game, was sending you down a rabbit hole that was far too steep to climb out of.

But you had to win.

It wasn’t an option, nor a question.

Winning was the only thing you knew how to do.

You stood, eyes casted to the floor and a blush across your cheeks as you stepped back from the table, not daring to look in his direction as you bargained with your own embarrassment. Had you ever shot so poorly before? You couldn’t recall a time in which you missed your target so entirely, and your entire body was ablaze with disappointment at your own actions.

“You know, you never actually told me…” Danny started, snapping your thoughts away from your bad play, as if he knew that’s what you were brooding about. You finally looked at him, the entire world in slow motion as your eyes landed on him again. He was tall, slim but muscular. His shoulders were broad, not noticeable from afar but very much so once you were up close and personal with him. His lips were plush, smooth and soft as your mind begged you to get a taste. “How did you get so good at pool?” Your eyes cut to his own, nervous for a moment that he was judging you for your oblivious admiration of him.

“It’s a long story.” You said, your gaze flickering to the table. He didn’t seem keen on taking his turn, though. Instead, he wanted to know you, which was as sweet as it was aggravating.

“I have time.” He assured you, stuffing one hand into the pocket of his tight jeans. You let out a huff of laughter, almost shocked at how interested he was in you. Nobody had ever cared this much—well, aside from Izzy, but never a man. Certainly not one as breathtakingly beautiful as him.

“My dad.” You responded, swallowing down a mouthful of beer so you would not choke up at the thought. You didn’t know why it was so easy to tell the truth. You could have lied, brushed it off and moved on, or ignored him completely. Instead, you wanted him to know, wanted to take solace in his heart and mind. It was a new feeling, but something you wouldn’t mind getting used to. “Had an old bar in Perrysburg, left to him by my grandfather when he died. I was six or so when he packed up and trucked us across the state so he could take over. Dad didn’t know it was as run down as it really was… thought maybe we could make some money out of it, or whatever.” You paused, feeling your throat begin to close as you recalled the memories you kept locked up tight for so long.

“We moved into an’ old fixer upper, something cheap so he could afford to fix the damn dive without us suffering because of it. We spent every day at that bar. I’d do my times tables sittin’ on the old bar top, ‘till he tore it out f’course.” You chuckled, swiping your stray hairs away from your forehead. “We’d eat takeaway on the squeaky barstools, throw the garbage in the big dumpster he rented when he tore out the old floors, and then he’d shoot some pool before we went home. Back then, I was curious, and annoying. I didn’t let up until he let me try, and wouldn’t give up until he forced me out the door.” Danny laughed at that, picturing it in his mind as he listened intently.

“Was some sort of routine we got going, you know? Get home from school, do my homework, eat, and play pool. Once he knew I wasn’t gonna give it up, he actually taught me how to play. Took a while, but by the time the bar opened I could play a game ‘till the end. Even when the reno’s were finished, we kept at it. Was our thing, you know?” You let the butt of your cue fall to the vinyl floor, the weight of the memory like cement poured atop your bones. Missing him was violent, painful and torturous. It didn’t get easier with time, nor did it ease when you recounted the beautiful years you spent with him. Worst part was, it didn’t even help if you stayed silent on the matter. The whole damn thing hurt, and it would for the rest of your life.

“Just you and him?” He asked, noticing your sudden withdrawal. Your eyes fluttered closed as you gave a small nod of your head.

“Yeah, was just us.” You hummed. From the very beginning until the very end, it was the two of you against the world. Some would say it was still the same, now. “And Izzy, sometimes.” You couldn’t leave her out, knowing it was not fair when she spent so much time with the two of you. “Her dad met mine when we were redoing the plumbing. Contracted him for it… didn’t realize he also signed us both up for lifelong friends.” A smile crossed your lips. At the end of the day, no matter how sad the situation was, you were thankful it gave you Izzy. You were always thankful for her.

“Where’s your dad now? Still at home, playing pool?” His question was innocent, but you couldn’t help but feel the stab in your chest. You wished it was that simple, but it rarely ever was.

“Not sure he can play pool where he is, honestly. Heaven’s got a wicked reputation, but I’ve never heard of angels playin’ shitty ol’ bar games.” You tried to make light of the fact, but the words came out with a wheeze as they knocked the air from your lungs. “If I’m lucky, I’ll find out someday.”

“Oh,” he whispered, shocked at the fact but trying his best not to make you feel worse about it. The impact was lessened at his soft tone, like he was breathing life straight back into you as he spoke. “He must’ve been one hell of a guy to raise someone as fantastic as you.” Your cheeks burned red at the sound of his words and all you could manage was a small shake of your head.

“You hardly know me, rockstar.”

“I know enough.” He whispered, his tone still strong despite the volume. At that, you had to look at his face, just to catch a glimpse of the conviction that he held in his features.

“He was a pretty great guy.” You agreed, smiling softly at the thought. “The best, actually.”

“I believe it.” He offered a smile of his own, cheering you up ever so slightly. “So you play for him now… that’s why you’re so damn good at it.”

“S’pose so, yeah.” You nodded, watching him lean down to take his shot. “Always feel like he’s looking over my shoulder, telling me exactly what to do. Not sure if he’d be proud of the name I made for myself, but I know he’d love me regardless.”

“What’s there not to be proud of?” Daniel asked, barely exerting any effort as he shot at a solid ball and called the pocket. When it rolled inside, he moved positions to continue his play. “You learned how to make money off of something you’re really good at. That’s smart, if you ask me.” He shrugged a bit before calling another pocket. You watched as the ball rolled across the table, knocking into the solid blue ball. It bounced off the rail and hit the green one in front of the side pocket, and both rolled in effortlessly. You felt your stomach sink, watching and understanding such a strategic move, and wondered if you had finally met your match.

How was he so good at pool, and why the hell did you take him for innocent?

You were too trusting of the man that stood before you, who once seemed humble and shy. Now, you knew he was far more than that—talented, a tad cocky, and sneaky. Thankfully, in no way did he showcase those traits in a bad way, but you had underestimated him, betting on something so grand and risky.

Had he done that on purpose? Had he approached you with the desire for you to underestimate him?

And if he did, why did that turn you on more than it turned you off of him?

“Looks like you have some hidden talents of your own.” You commented, crossing your arms over your chest as you pursed your lips slightly. He peeked back at you from over his shoulder, a sly little smile decorating his annoyingly perfect face.

“Not really hidden,” he replied, his stick settled in the same space between his thumb and index finger, but he had his finger clasped overtop it for support. You hated how much it kept your attention, the intricacies of the very simple action making your heart thrum in your chest. You had no idea why you found it so attractive, no idea why you couldn’t care about anything else. “You never asked.”

“My mistake.” Your words came out breathy, embarrassing you further as he sank another ball effortlessly. When he aimed for his fifth ball, he was a bit short on the draw, his ball stopping just before it fell into a pocket. “Where’d you learn to play like that?”

“Picked up a few tricks here and there.” He shrugged, a sly smile on his lips as he turned towards you.

“Nuh-uh,” you shook your head, stepping towards him instinctively. You yearned to feel close to him again, desperate to feel his hand in yours and longing to breathe in time with him, wondering if your hearts could beat in sync for long enough to become one. He welcomed your advance, staying still as you gradually creeped towards him. “If I told you my dirty secrets, you have to tell me yours, too.”

“Oh, I have to, huh?” He raised an eyebrow, his Adam’s apple bobbing gently as he spoke. It sent a shiver down your spine, the entire sight of him before you sent your body into overdrive. “What makes you think that?”

“It’s only fair, Daniel.” You looked upwards, feeling the closeness of your face to his as gravity continued to force you towards him. “Unless you’re not a very generous person, in which case would make our little arrangement much less intriguing for me.”

“Now you’re jumping to conclusions, baby.” He grinned, almost amused that you would pin him with such a crime. The pet name sent your already racing mind spiraling even further, making you want to jump straight into his arms and figure out the truth of the matter yourself. You let your tongue run over your bottom lip, your mouth watering from the smell of his cologne and the intoxicating look in his eye. The tension between the two of you was immeasurable, and it was growing worse by the second.

You wanted to drop the act and touch him, uncaring of how he obtained his skills and eager to see his talents in other areas. Still, you stood your ground, cue gripped tightly in your hand as you stared him down. You were annoyed that he deceived you, but more annoyed at yourself for letting him.

You let out a huff of frustration, understanding he would not answer your question right away, and turned on your heel to continue the game. With intent, you barely stepped out of the way as you leaned down to aim at the white ball, making sure to push your hips back far enough that you were just inches away from where he stood. So far, both of you had done incredibly well in ignoring the temptation of each other, but you knew his willpower was cracking when you heard him suck in a sharp breath through his teeth.

Admiring you from a distance was very different than having you bent over in front of him, within arms reach and with intent to bother him.

It certainly didn’t help that he had been picturing what you looked like underneath your clothes all night, and the tight dress you were wearing gave him an even better idea than he had before.

His eyes were fixated on the slight sway of your hips as you took aim, never daring to look away as you took your shot at a striped ball. You managed to land two balls in one shot, speeding up the process and leaving you just a bit further ahead than he was.

Before you shot again, you looked back over your shoulder, keeping your position as you locked eyes with him. You noticed the rise and fall of his chest a little more aggressive than it was moments before. The same animalistic look was shining in his eye, and his knuckles had turned white from the grip on his pool stick. You felt your core aching, desperate for relief as the two of you continued your tyrant without letting up. To rub a little extra salt in the wound, you gave a subtle wink and blew a kiss at him.

“I might need help with my next shot.” Your lower lip jutted outwards into a slight pout, playing on his already worn nerves. “Could you teach me how to shoot like you do?”

Both of you knew you didn’t need any help, but part of your teasing came from a place of desperation, unsure if you could handle another minute without his hands on you. Intoxication had become you, and the many beers you had finished off that night were finally beginning to catch up. He stood stoic for a moment, knowing if he turned down the offer, he would be an idiot. Still, the simple thought of you beating him and him not getting to take you home was wearing on him.

Confident in his own abilities, he decided to take the risk.

Leaning his cue on the wall nearby, he stepped closer to you, slow and gentle as he realized just how intimate the position was. You felt his hips press against your ass, his upper half leaning down to meet yours. Your chest was already low to the table, nearly pressing against it as his chest fit flush against your back. Ever so slightly, he let his chin rest on your shoulder and his arm wrap around yours.

“You don’t need help at all, baby.” He hummed, the warmth of his breath tickling the skin of your neck. His lips hovered just above your ear, making your heart race and your palms break out into a sweat.

“Maybe I just wanted you close to me.” You offered, feeling his heartbeat racing just as fast as your own. “Good luck charm, or whatever.”

More like a distraction, but you couldn’t seem to care. Feeling him fit so snug against you was better than winning a thousand games.

His large hand landed on your hip, his skin searing with heat and felt like it was burning straight through the fabric of your skirt. Immediately, without hesitation, you pushed your hips back into him a little further, hearing that same strained breath catch in his throat.

“Take the shot, then.” His tone was firm, challenging you as he spoke. His mouth was grazing your skin now, the man completely overtaken by desire and unable to think of anything else.

“What if I want to enjoy it for a little bit?” You bit back a smile, but knew you were feeling the effects of it too.

“Can enjoy me all you want when I win the damn game.” He growled, his low tone sending a shiver down your spine.

“Is that so?” You asked, ignoring the throbbing between your legs as you drew your arm back and prepared to take your shot. He did not respond, instead watching your movements carefully and staying as still as possible so he did not interfere with your play. When he did not reply, you followed through and knocked the cue ball forward, watching as it hit one of your last two balls into the side pocket. “Don’t be so sure of yourself, honey.” You turned your head to the side, the tip of your nose brushing his as you did so. You felt his fingers tighten on your hip, gently guiding you closer to him as he resisted the urge to close the gap between your mouths.

“Game’s not over yet, sharpshooter.” He reminded you, his brown eyes heavy lidded as he seemingly stared straight into your soul. As he straightened up, pulling away from you so you could not bewitch him any further, his palm grazed the curve of your ass, only worsening your growing need for him. Still, as badly as you wanted him, you were half tempted to win and leave him behind, just to teach him a lesson about his egotistical ways.

Still feeling your skin tingling from his earlier touch, you were vibrating as you leaned down to shoot at your last colored ball. You noticed Daniel had not moved from his place, nor had he moved his eyes from you. The thought alone had you reeling, and the longer he stared the more nervous you felt. You had to close your eyes to focus your thoughts before making any moves, but it seemingly did nothing to help when you misjudged the strength in which you shot. Your striped ball ricocheted off the rail and rolled all the way back down the table, nowhere near any pocket at all, let alone the one you called.

“Fuck,” you whispered to yourself, stressed as you studied the table and digested the very real possibility of him winning the game.

“To answer your question,” he started, breaking you free from your internal brooding. Your eyes snapped to him, immediately relieved of your stress once you remembered how alluring and enchanting he was. “When you spend so much time on the road, you start to look for things to pass the time.” He continued, ignoring the game waiting to be played and focused only on you, clad in a little black dress that would ultimately be his demise.

“Rockstar lifestyle not enough to please you?” You raised an eyebrow, reading him as he stepped towards you.

“No, it is.” He corrected, his eyes casted down over your face as he closed in on you again. “But when your biggest responsibility is getting on stage and playing music, the rest of the world seems a little boring. We spend a lot of time at bars, which usually leaves us standing in front of a pool table.” He shrugged, his eyes flickering to the green felt. “Those guys are my best friends… my brothers, and you aren’t really siblings without friendly competition, right?”

“Right.” You chuckled, finding yourself completely enamored with him as he spoke. You wanted to know everything, to hear every story and share every memory. You hoped he was willing to give as much as you yearned to take.

“We bet on lots of stuff… twenty bucks doesn’t mean much when the same bill gets passed around to everyone. Pool just happened to be one of ‘em.” He seemed to grip his cue tighter as he stood before you, resisting the urge to reach out and touch you. The temptation seemed to be wearing on him, but he was doing his best to withstand it. “We played so much that we never kept that twenty for more than a game or two, so I decided to put some extra effort in. Never cared much about the money, but it gave me something to do.”

“So you made it your life’s goal to master pool… for a twenty you don’t even give a shit about?” You giggled, feeling the heat of his body start to take a toll on you. You wanted to bring him closer, to close the gap between you for good and forget about the stupid bet that got you here.

“For something worth a lot more than twenty dollars, baby.” He corrected, grinning as he noticed the slight blush on your cheeks. “For bragging rights.”

“A humble man.” Sarcasm dripped from your tone, but you weren’t put off by the thought at all. If anything, you were just desperate to keep the conversation alive.

“No, but seriously.” He chuckled, leaning down and taking a shot at the cue ball. As he sank the last coloured ball and called his pocket, you both realized he had little chance at sinking the eight ball with the position in which the cue ball landed. Taking his loss, he made a quick move to block your next shot, figuring if he could not win he could at least make it harder for you. “At first, I just played ‘cause it was fun. It really does get boring… or monotonous on the road sometimes, and I think we all agreed on that. We all started playing against each other, and at first, we sucked. Like, so bad one game would take us all night.” He smiled to himself, finding the memory as funny as you did.

“We all start somewhere, huh?” You completely ignored the fact it was your turn, too enthralled in his voice to care about anything else.

“Yeah, that’s for sure.” He agreed, raising a hand to the back of his neck as he nodded. “Once we started to get better, I realized just how annoying it was to lose against them, because they were insufferable about it. So I started to practice more… went to bars on my own, played against myself and whoever else was around… watched a few videos. I really was determined to get better, just so I wouldn’t have to hear them brag about beating me anymore.” At that, you couldn’t help but giggle, finding that the funniest bit of all.

“So it’s an ego thing? Couldn’t handle it?”

“No, I don’t think you understand.” He laughed, his shoulders shaking and his eyes glistening with joy for being able to share this moment with you. “I’m okay with losing, but they’re the type of guys to never let you forget it. You’ll get it, when you meet them.”

When you meet them.

Whatever was going on between you two, he wanted it to last. He wanted you to meet his friends, to be a part of the inside jokes and share the sentiments instead of just hearing a retelling of them.

You weren’t sure why, but it touched your heart much more than you thought it should.

“After a while, they caught on to me.” He confessed, his lips still holding the ghost of a smile as he watched your expression. “That’s when it really became a competition. With Sam especially, ‘cause we’ve been friends forever. Just a rite of passage for us to do shit like that.” He continued to explain himself, but you were no longer listening or caring about how he acquired his talents. Instead, you were already daydreaming about what would happen when you stepped out of the bar, what the rest of the night would hold.

You liked him, and there was no doubt about it. Everything about him, the curl of his hair and the sparkle in his eye, the slight Midwest accent still lingering in his tone and the sweetness dripping from every word. There was a kind of light, a sense of wonder and warmth that radiated from him as he stood, and you couldn’t seem to keep your eyes off of him. Worse yet, you were so attracted to him that you could barely keep your hands to yourself, and for the first time in your entire career, you were ready to throw the game and take the loss with pride.

“I like you, Danny.” You confessed, the words tumbling from your lips before you could stop them. The confident facade shattered in an instant, leaving your cheeks stained red and your lower lip caught between your teeth, embarrassed about your own blunt nature.

“Yeah?” He raised an eyebrow, a sheepish smile on his face as he processed your words. “I like you too, sharpshooter.”

“You’re not going to win this game, though.” You continued, trying to regain your composure as your heart raced in your chest. At that, he gave a playful roll of his eyes, motioning to the table.

“If you’re so sure of that, why don’t you win, then?”

“Good idea.” You hummed, giving a curt nod. Your head was swimming, making you realize you were much more intoxicated than you thought, but you would not let it get in your way. “Tell me about your music, rockstar.”

“Not much to tell.” He shrugged, one hand in the pocket of his jeans and the other holding his cue close to his body. He watched as you leaned down towards the table, gravity pulling the fabric of your dress away from your chest ever so slightly and causing his breath to catch in his throat. Shifting on his feet, he tried his best not to let it distract him, but he couldn’t help but fix his gaze directly on the skin where the fabric used to lay. “It’s a rock band… started it a long time ago, when we were in high school. Released a few albums and we’re about to go on tour for another one.”

“Jeez, don’t sound so enthusiastic about it.” You smiled, noticing his trailing eyes and understanding he was no better than you were, for your gaze was stuck on him just the same. Particularly where his shirt met his jeans, how when he moved just right, it shifted and exposed the smallest flash of skin.

“I am enthusiastic, but I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging. That never leaves a good impression, now does it?” He raised an eyebrow, noticing your eyes fixated on him but nowhere near his face. Smug and cocky, he waited until you looked away.

“I asked, didn’t I?” You challenged, finally looking up to meet his eye and noticing he was no longer fixated on your chest. Your stomach filled with lead, but the look in his eye did not lead you to believe he was judging you for your actions. Instead, it was curious, inviting you in for more without having to say a word.

“I play the drums.” He continued, giving in a little bit as he realized you truly did want to know and weren’t just asking as a formality. At that, the definition of the muscles in his arms suddenly made a whole lot more sense.

Then, behind your eyes, a vision of him using that strength for nothing innocent derailed your train of thought completely. You felt your thighs squeeze together instinctively, the arousal pooling beginning to soak straight through your underwear.

‘Fuck, Y/N. Get it together.’ You thought to yourself, almost appalled at how distracted he had you. You gave your head a slight shake, refocusing your eyes on the table as you drew your arm back, calling for a corner pocket and taking your shot.

“Son of a bitch.” You hissed through your teeth, all of the factors working together to frustrate you further. The ball bounced off the corner of the pocket and rolled backwards, close but not close enough. The throbbing between your legs and the twist of your stomach was driving you mad, making your palms clammy and your mouth dry.

“We won a Grammy, too.” He added, smirking at your obvious disappointment.

Hold on—Grammy?

“What?” You asked, eyebrows raised in surprise as you forgot about your previous annoyance. “That’s like… a big deal, Daniel. Usually an opening line.” You informed him, watching as he approached the table. You were still leaning downwards over the table, eye level with his waist as he towered over the opposite side. You tried your best to ignore the racing thoughts and sinful ideas flooding your mind, but it was proving impossible.

“Some would disagree.” He brushed it off, clearly proud of the achievement but doing whatever he could to get under your skin.

“Take your shot, rockstar.” You rolled your eyes, carefully raising yourself from the table as he lined himself up. You couldn’t help but notice how ethereal he seemed under the dim pot lights, how his hair hung over his shoulder and framed his perfectly crafted face, how the muscles in his arms flecked with every move. The chains around his neck hung low to the table, the watch on his wrist twinkling under the light, and that damn bandana on his head made him all the more charming.

You could feel every beat of your heart under your skin and behind your eyes. The flutter of your stomach as you watched him was nearly unbearable, and you wondered how in the hell one man could have such an intoxicating effect on you. Typically, you did not fall for the charm of regular bar patrons, but he was no regular guy. Everything about him was intriguing and intense, so overwhelming in the best possible way. You wanted him in every way you could have him, and you couldn’t bear to wait another moment.

“—sharpshooter!” Your attention was drawn to his smiling face, his expression delicately laced with glee as he looked down at the velvet tabletop. You furrowed your brows, hesitant to admit you missed the first part of his statement because you were too busy daydreaming about him.

Shit.

He won.

Effortlessly, he sank the eight ball and left the table clear of all but the cue ball. His words were not that of conversation, but of celebration. Your shock and upset did not come from regret on behalf of your wager, but simply because you lost. It had been a long time since you had fumbled so badly, and it was much harder to swallow than you previously thought it would be.

Trying your best to push that aside, you realized the other side of the coin was not any better. The burgeoning nervousness growing in the pit of your stomach was nearly sickening, forcing you to understand that it wasn’t just play anymore. You had been waiting to get his clothes off all night, but what if you were less than he expected? What if you disappointed him?

“Hey,” Danny’s sweet tone cut you loose from your endless stream of dread. As soon as your eyes connected with his, you understood you had nothing to be worried about. After everything you had seen from him, learned about him, you knew deep down he would never be that kind of person even if he tried. Goodness surrounded him, and you could not refute his kindness, not even for a single moment. “If you’re having second thoughts, we don’t have to do this, you know. I’m happy to have another beer and maybe take you for dinner tomorrow, if you’re free.”

God, why did he have to be so unbelievably perfect?

You felt guilty that your expression led him to believe you did not want to follow through, because that could not have been further from the truth. In fact, the longer you stared back at him, the more the ache between your legs pestered you. Quickly, it had become the only thing you could think about, much more pressing than your loss and much more important than your feeble insecurities. Without a second thought, you placed your cue down on the table with much less grace than usual and closed the space between you. He turned to face you, shocked at your suddenness but receptive to the change. You reached upwards, your arms snaking around his neck as your fingers tangled in the hair laying on the nape of his neck. Instantly, his large hands found your hips, pulling your body closer until you were flush against him, the beat of his heart as strong and fast as your own.

He tasted sweet, a hint of beer still lingering on his lips as you finally leaned forward and captured him in a kiss. The warmth of his body was inviting, his touch seemingly burning holes straight through the fabric of your dress. Your head was spinning, filled with thoughts only pertaining to him, and suddenly the bar in which you normally found solace was no longer where you wanted to be. His tongue traced your lower lip, his hands sliding backwards and settling just over the curve of your ass as he pulled your hips further into him. You let out a hum of pleasure, elated at his forwardness and tempting him to take it a step further.

The scent of his cologne had invaded every one of your senses, suffocating you in the most beautiful ways as you pleaded with him for more. The feeling of kissing him was beyond anything you had imagined that night, and now that you started, you couldn’t make yourself stop.

“Fuck, baby.” He muttered, his lips still grazing yours as he spoke. Now that he had a taste of the sweetness

“A deal is a deal, rockstar.” You murmured, eyes heavy as the tip of your nose brushed his. For a moment, you forgot where you were—the only thing that existed was you and Daniel, and the surge of emotion hanging so heavily between you.

“Don’t have to tell me twice.” He replied, keeping one arm around you as he pulled his wallet out with the other.

Without complaint, you let him lead you towards the door, throwing a bill on the counter as you passed by Chuck, who was too amused at your appearance to utter a goodbye. Within minutes, you were in the backseat of a cab and on your way to Daniel’s house, which you didn’t even thing twice about. Feeling his hands on you, burning into the skin of your thigh as you drove in near silence, nothing else mattered.

When the cab pulled into his driveway, you were blinded by need for him. Any other day, in your right might, you may have marvelled at the beauty of his home, or perhaps felt nervous that your apartment could never compare. As Daniel helped you out of the back of the cab, you didn’t even have time to think of it, your head swimming with excitement for what was to come next.

Soon after, you were inside, the openness of his entry way leading to the living room unable to be marvelled at, because his lips were on your own again. The taste of him on your tongue, the sweetness of his skin, was almost too much to withstand. The ache between your legs grew stronger with every second that passed, and your stomach twisted in knots as your fingers wrapped around his bicep, pulling him closer than he could possibly get. His hands were on your hips, strong and firm as he held you to him, similar to how he touched you at the bar but with so much more intent. You could feel him through his jeans, his need for you showcased in the most beautiful way as all of the pent up tension bled both of you dry.

The faintest of whimpers fell from your lips as you kissed him, and he drank in the sound like it was necessary for survival. His hand slid backwards, over your ass as your hearts began to beat in time. Your head was spinning, filled with filth and sin as you craved more. You weren’t sure what came over you, the carnal desire so consuming you weren’t sure you had ever felt it so strongly before.

Never breaking from the kiss, he led you towards his couch, slow and cautious so that you would not get hurt. Soon enough, you felt the back of your legs knock against the leather surface, the chill shooting straight through you and sending you further into him. Taking the initiative, you sat yourself down, using your hands on his arms to pull you with him. The whole scene was primal, rushed and desperate. All night, the two of you had been dying to get to someone’s house to pursue the very act you were engaging in then.

Daniel lowered himself with you, but used his strength to push you further back, not stopping until your back was flush against the cushions and he was kneeling in front of you. Feeling a rush of adrenaline coursing through your veins, you finally pulled away to admire him. His lips were swollen, pink and slick with saliva. His eyes were dark, his pupils blown and engulfing his irises. You wished to sit and admire him all day, but he had different plans. His hands were snaking up your thighs, his fingers under the skirt of your dress and pushing it upwards, stopping only when the fabric was bunched at your hips and exposing your lower half.

He sucked in a sharp breath, overcome with emotion at the sight, but did not wait to hook his fingers beneath the lace of your panties. Lifting yourself from the couch, you helped him as he slipped them off, tossing them behind him and out of sight. Returning his hands to you, your entire body was electrified with arousal, your stomach in knots as he lowered his head to your thighs.

His lips dusted over the soft skin, the attention new and exciting after months of going without. Even so, what he was doing then paled in comparison to anyone who came before, and you knew it would always be that way. There was something so special about Daniel, so enthralling and enchanting, and in a single night you knew that you never wanted anyone or anything else.

As his tongue traced over the inside of your thigh, he used his hand to push your legs further apart, exposing you completely. Your hands raised to his head, your fingers snaking through his hair as it curled around your hands. It was soft, perfect, the light tickling sensation adding to the overwhelming stimulation you were already experiencing. Just as you grew comfortable in your new position, feeling the gentle suction of his mouth on the inside of your legs, leaving marks for days to come, you felt the gentle pinch of his teeth closing around the supple flesh. Your hips raised off the couch, shocked at the new feeling, but definitely not opposed to it.

Looking down at him, admiring the sight of him between your legs, you wondered what parts of your soul necessary to sell in order to enjoy the sin forever. As his tongue connected with your core, your head falling back on your shoulders, you knew it did not matter—you would give anything, no matter how dark or dangerous, in order to have him in such a way whenever you wanted. The warmth of his mouth, the slight movement of his tongue as it traced over your aching clit was addicting, more intense than anything you had ever felt, and exactly what you had been dreaming of since you first laid eyes on him.

The muscles in your abdomen tensed, pulling with the wave of pleasure that washed over you. Your fingers tightened in his hair, pulling him closer as you casted a leg over his shoulder. Your shoulders shook with the ragged breath you drew in, knowing that it would not take long for him to get you exactly where he wanted you. A breathy moan filled the air surrounding you, loud and obscene as it made home in the walls, cementing the memory of your entanglement forever. As he flattened his tongue against you, repeating the same motion, your hips raised from the couch to meet his time, your body begging for more when your lips could not do it for you.

The need was throbbing under your skin, taking over your entire body and turning you into a mess below him. He hummed against you, showing his appreciation for the show you were putting on. Feeling your nipples harden, the slight friction against the rough fabric of your dress sent you even further down the spiral. A shiver went down your spine as he suctioned his lips around your clit, the slight pressure overwhelming and pushing you closer to the steep edge.

You were nearly embarrassed, humiliated that it took so little for him to get such a reaction. You wanted to blame it on how long it had been since you fell into bed with a man, how focused you were on everything but romance, but you knew it was all because of him. From the minute you laid eyes on him, you knew he was the very thing you were waiting for, the only reason to break your unintentional spell of abstinence, because he was worth it. He wasn’t just in it for himself, nor was he pretending to be something he was not. He was just a man, undeniably capable of things many others weren’t, and he wanted to use the skill with you. He was different, and you knew it from the minute you met him, and you hoped he felt the same about you.

“Oh, fuck.” You whined, the breath knocked straight from your lungs as he slipped his hand between your leg, the tip of his middle finger collecting wetness by your entrance. “Please, Danny—need more.” You choked out, the desire pulsing behind your eyes as you wondered if you could even handle more.

Obliging to the request, he slipped his middle finger inside of you, slow as he curled it ever so slightly. The feeling was euphoric paired with the movement of his tongue, and the cry of desperation that forced its way through you only encouraged him further.

“I guess my biggest question, sharpshooter,” he said, breathless as he pulled his mouth away from you. The loss was debilitating, but he slipped his thumb in place, just so he did not lose the momentum. You looked down, the cockiness written clear across his expression agitating just as well as it was enticing. “Is if I’m making you feel good?”

“Fuck you.” You muttered, my cheeks blazing as you held his gaze. For some reason, the eye contact was even more intense than anything else he was doing, making it seem like he had stripped you down to bare bones and wisps of soul, seeing the very things that made you, you.

“Yeah, that was my intention.” He teased, adding his index finger as he kept a steady pace, the slight curl of his fingers pushing you closer to a climax. “But that's not an answer.”

“God, yes.” You seethed, unsure why you were irritated when he was doing so much for you. Perhaps you were still brooding about your loss, about how he had many tricks up his sleeve he’d kept well hidden. Though his deceit paid off for both of you, you were a sore loser.

“Don’t sound so sure of yourself.” He echoed your earlier words, taunting me as the pull of pleasure threatened you. You were balancing on a delicate line, and it wouldn’t take much more to push you over the edge.

“What, you couldn’t see for yourself?” You tried your hardest to give it back to him, but your strength was wavering. Your eyes fluttered closed as your head fell back again. A gutteral sound left your lips, tainting the room with sin as your back arched off the couch.

“I could, but hearing you say it is so much better.” He confirmed, clearly seeing the state you were in, knowing exactly what he was doing to you. He had little remorse, little care, and he was intent to follow through until the very end. “Come on, baby. Tell me all about it.”

With that, he returned his mouth to you, his tongue taking the place of his fingers. The switch was lethal, the soft, warm wetness of his mouth overwhelming in the best possible way. Paired with the curl of his fingers, still moving inside you with that same, perfect pace, he did not miss a single movement. Feeling the tension in your belly reach a peak, you choked on the breath trying to force its way to your lungs.

The intensity grew as his tongue traced over the sensitive bundle of nerves, and soon after, you came crashing down. Spewing obscenities, your hands held his head in place as your hips raised to meet the time of his tongue, the orgasm so intense you felt like you were floating. For a few, unbearable seconds, your joints locked and your whole body ached from the sensation, your throat raw as you cried his name, pleading for something you knew you could not handle.

Waking you through it, he did not slow until you relaxed against the cushions. You barely noticed as he pulled away, still high from the pleasure and trying to come down. Finally cracking your eyes open, you noticed he was standing over you, undoing the buckle of his belt as he pulled it free from the loops of his denim jeans. He was painfully hard, strained against the zipper and desperate for relief himself. Your mouth watered at the thought, so eager to feel him inside of you that you did not wait until he directed you further.

With shaky limbs, you sat up, holding eye contact as he freed himself from his jeans and his boxers. Switching positions, he could not seem to pry his gaze from your fucked our expression, your flushed cheeks and plush lips the only thing on his mind until you turned away, not taking the time to rid yourself of your dress as you faced the back of the couch on your knees. Planting one firm hand on the frame, you looked back over your shoulders as you pushed your hips backward, towards him as you offered the very thing he’d been thinking of all night.

With a hiss of joy staining his teeth, his large palms landed on your hips, pulling you back a little further to make it easier for him. Stepping forward at the same time, you felt his cock against you, the tip gliding through the pooling arousal at your entrance. If possible, the sensation sent you further over the edge, so animalistic that you could barely recognize yourself.

“Is this what you wanted, rockstar?” You asked, your knuckles white as you felt him glide through your folds. The tip of his cock brushed over your sensitive clit, your legs twitching from the intense feeling.

“Bet on it, didn’t I?” He asked, knowing he was only teasing both of you further by refusing to fuck you.

“You could’ve just asked, you know.” You pointed out, sucking in a sharp breath as he repeated the same action over again. Your legs were trembling, barely holding you up, but you refused to give in. “Or were you too scared I’d turn you down?”

“Scared isn’t quite the word.” He corrected you, finally settling his tip just over your entrance. You felt yourself clench around nothing, wanting him so badly but refusing to give him any more gratification to fuel his ego. “No shame in earning something. You’d know something about that, wouldn’t you, sharpshooter?”

“You really would have gone home alone if you lost?” You asked, curious more than anything, wondering if he had wanted you just as badly, or if it really was a game to him.

“Fuck no.” He nearly laughed, slamming his hips forward at the same time as he spoke, catching you off guard and knocking the air from your lungs. Gasping at the feeling of him filling you completely, the stretch as you accommodated his size was addicting, irresistible. “We both knew I was always going to win.”

Before you could respond, he withdrew his hips and slammed forward with the same, bruising force. As the tip of his cock brushed against your cervix, your whole body reacted, your walls squeezing around him and pulling him in further. Drunk off him and eager for him to keep going, you still couldn’t keep your mouth shut, unwilling to go down without a fight.

“So you weren’t amazed by my skill.” You called him on the white lie, forcing the words through gritted teeth while pushing yourself back on him. He began a steady pace as you tried so hard to keep your mind straight to not give him the satisfaction. You looked back over your shoulder, catching his eye and locking him in a stare. He raised his hand to your head, gathering your hair in his palm and wrapping it around his fist. Pulling your head back ever so slightly, the new leverage he had over you sent your head spinning.

“It had nothing to do with skill, beautiful.” He replied, giving you a soft smile. The small expression sent your stomach fluttering with nerves for a whole new reason, making you fear that it only took a single night for you to fall head over heels for him.

“Then what would you call it, darlin’?” You asked, your breath hitching in your throat as a wave of pleasure washed over you. Tightening his grip on your hair, he pulled your head back a little further as he leaned down, his lips settled just over your ear as his warm breath tickled your burning skin. You couldn’t help but arch your back further, feeling the curve of your ass fit nicely against the groove of his hip.

You wondered, if you weren’t meant to go home with him, why the hell did the two of you fit so perfectly together?

“How the hell were you supposed to win when you couldn’t keep your eyes off of me?” He asked, making your mouth run dry as the vibration of his words ran straight through you. Swallowing hard, you felt his teeth close around your earlobe, applying slight pressure and sending you over the edge.

Taking it upon yourself, you moved your head to the side against the strength of his hand, unable to resist as you pressed your lips against his own. The taste of him was intoxicating, even more so with the taste of you still lingering on his lips. You felt his tongue graze your skin, your heartbeat so agonizingly strong it was all you could hear. It was messy, heated, and perfectly fitting for the two of you thus far. You weren’t sure anything else would work. Two seemingly strong personalities with no intent to back down, it was a battle from the minute you locked eyes across the pool table, and you had no intent of stopping.

He continued to move inside of you, the feeling even more intense after your last orgasm, and you knew you weren’t far out from a second. The sharpness of his tongue, always having a comeback, and the witty yet playful nature of his responses did more for you than his hands or his mouth did. It was a struggle to find someone who balanced you out, which was a big reason why you neglected to give in to the other men who tried to do as he did that night. For some reason, you knew, without doubt, that Daniel was the type of person you had been looking for all along. Exciting, challenging, and fun, but still sweet and kind. You wondered why he picked you, a burn-out adrenaline junkie who only ever paid rent on a whim.

It was easy to ask why, but as he moved against you, the answer was right before your very eyes. The chemistry between you was undeniable, something that could not be faked, and something that could not be ignored. Some things are just right, no matter how hard you try to fight it, and as it seemed, the stars aligned perfectly for you without you even realizing it.

Breaking from the kiss, you tried to catch your breath, finding it difficult as he moved inside of you. The pleasure was undeniable, bordering on painful as your body begged him for more. More he could not give, and more you could not handle, but god you wanted it. Everything about him made you want more, even if it was an impossible task, and as you verged on the edge of a second orgasm, you knew letting him go wasn’t an option. Not only had he amazed you with his ability to beat you at your own game, but he amazed you in every other sense. Disappointment was a far away feeling when with him, and that was something you wanted to get used to.

“Fuck, Danny.” You whined, his face still close to yours. The words vibrated through both of you, the feeling of him pressed against you exhilarating as you stared that same innate desire in the eye.

“That’s it, baby. Tell me how good it feels.” His words forced the knot in your belly tighter, fraying and threatening as it pleaded with you to let go.

“You fill me so fucking good.” You confessed, your whole body covered in a sheen layer of sweat as you tried to keep up with him. “M’gonna cum.” You confessed, knowing that you couldn’t take it any longer. Your mascara was running down your cheeks, blazing red and warm. Your throat was raw, your body aching with need, and you knew he was the only answer.

“Cum for me, baby. Being such a good girl.” You gasped at the sound of the praise, washing over you like summer rain and coercing you to let go. “Show me how good I make you feel.”

That seemed to be all you needed to give in to the feeling, submitting to the torturous pressure as your posture faltered, leaving you a mess again underneath him. The pathetic cries falling from your lips coerced him to do the same, his hips faltering and his pace slowing as the pleasure took over. The two of you, finally giving in to what you wanted so badly, experiencing a euphoric high together. He spilled his release inside of you, the sensation drawing out your orgasm just a bit longer as your body begged you to draw in a breath. Keeping a slow roll of his hips, he ensured you got the most pleasure possible, only slowing to a stop when the curses falling from your lips turned into desperate cries, pleading for mercy.

Both of you drew in a ragged breath as your composure faltered, your body trying to relax against the couch as you attempted to come back to. Carefully, Danny withdrew from you, making sure you were alright before sitting next to you. He wrapped his arms around you, pulling you into him as he laid back against the arm, caring little for the mess and more about being near you.

The entire night had been a whirlwind of events, the adrenaline so high you barely had a moment to catch up with it. Laying there with him, silent and calm, you knew that what came before could not even compare to it. The strong arms holding you close, keeping you secure as you processed the rapid pace that led you there. You wondered, was it normal to feel so comfortable with someone you had just met? Was it normal to feel like you had known him your entire life?

You had let him in beyond what many others could comprehend, telling him about your father and allowing him to beat you at a game of pool, and not even that scared you. If anything, you were happy you did, and your only thought was when it could happen again. You wanted to keep getting to know him, to keep telling him things you never before cared to tell, and you wanted him to meet Izzy, because you knew she would love him. It was strange to be so open to letting someone in, but deep in your heart you felt it was the only thing you could do. Forcing him out seemed more painful than allowing him in.

“You okay, sharpshooter?” He asked, his voice so soft and different than it had been all night, so doting and caring. It was nice to be seen, nice to be known, and you wanted to know what it was like with him.

“Yeah, I’m good.” You nodded, smiling to yourself. “Just thinking.”

“About?” He chuckled, his long fingers toying with the ends of your hair. The slight tickle on your skin was soothing. You never wanted him to stop.

“You, I guess.” You shrugged. “I guess this means I lost out on backstage passes.” Laughing to himself, he raised a free hand to your face, turning your head to look at him. He admired you for a moment, the redness of your cheeks and the shine of your eyes, finding himself feeling all the same ways.

“I’m sure we could work something out.” He assured you, swiping away flecks of fallen mascara with his thumb.

“Guess that would mean I didn’t earn it.” You teased, exhausted yet still energized by his company. A blinding smile on his face, you couldn’t help but notice the tugging of your heartstrings.

“So, what? You want a rematch?” He raised an eyebrow, wondering if that’s really what you were asking of him.

“I guess so.” You shrugged, giggling to yourself as you stared up at his beautiful face. “Unless you’re scared it was beginners luck?”

“No, not scared.” He reiterated his earlier claim, his thumb still tracing your cheek. “You think you can handle the stakes?”

“I think I could manage.” You nodded, the same stupid smile still pulling your lips. It seemed permanent so long as he was around. “I suppose losing isn’t all that bad… especially if it’s to the right person.”

Against everything you ever believed, you knew for a fact the loss resulted in a bigger gain than ever before, and you would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant he was the prize.

[luagvf]

Jake in purple coded 💀

©Images credits to the owners 👑

[wildbluesorbit]

DADDY. BEEFY. ARMS. 👁️🫦👁️

original footage @joshskittytickler

[whollyfree]

Let's Talk

Summary – You have a hard time watching Jake be ogled, and he has a remedy to remind you what's yours.

Pairings – Jake Kiszka x F!Reader

Word Count – 3.1k

Warnings – 18+ MINORS DNI!!! oral (f!receiving), face-riding, unprotected sex, dumbification, LOTS of dirty talk, cockwarming if you squint, spanking, mentions of alcohol

You had really fucking had it this time.

Was it a normal thing for Jake to be ogled? Yes! How could he not be? 

It was far too easy to find yourself staring at him; so you truly couldn’t blame anyone else for doing so. With an air of confidence, he enters a room and every eye falls onto him. 

He is an enigma to all (except you, of course) and it felt like damn near every girl at that godforsaken bar was on a mission to have his eyes so much as glance their way. He knows this, of course. How could he not?

But behind his mysterious, debonair exterior, he’s Jake. Your Jake. Your soft, sweet Jake who raids your pantry to make you breakfast in bed and fills your car with gas because “why do you ever let your tank run that low?! It’s not safe!” he had argued (but he still fills it up every time). 

He’s your loving, tender Jake who litters you with kisses at any given moment and nuzzles his face in the crook of your neck when the poor thing feels as if he isn’t getting enough of your attention. That, and he can’t stand not to be touching you in any form or fashion. He’s just like a little lovesick puppy!

And no matter how hard you try to remind yourself of these things, to be rational, you can’t help but have to bite your tongue. The jealousy eats away at you and it infuriates you to no end. You hate yourself for it.

Which is why tonight at the bar, you bit your tongue so hard you’re sure small trickles of blood had seeped their way into your mouth. Jake stood by the bar; an arm securely wrapped around your waist as he beckons the bartender over with a simple raise of his fingers. 

Of course, when it’s Jake, it’s not hard to get anyone’s attention; unwanted or not. And that was abundantly clear from the blonde at the end of the bar, twirling her straw in her cocktail as she eyed your boyfriend. 

Her eyes moved up and down, and you notice they became stuck on his exposed chest and silver necklaces dangling against his tanned skin. And, oh god, do you hate her for it.

Stop it. Your conscience pleads with you to (for lack of a better phrase) chill the fuck out!

Jake could tell you were a bit pouty. He knows you all too well. And just as assumed, he knew he was being eye-fucked by the blonde at the end of the bar (and one hidden away in a booth in the back, but like hell he was planning on telling you that).

Part of him hates himself for finding your jealousy so amusing. And in all honesty, if he saw a man looking at you the way that women have looked at him, he’d be raising hell.

“You okay, baby?” He grins as the two of you walk into your home after your excursion to the bar, tossing his car keys on the kitchen counter.

“Mhm.” You hum. Short and sweet. He won’t expect a thing, right?

You’re kidding yourself and you know it.

“Yeah?” He replies, crowding your space immediately from behind. He takes the curves of your hips in each of his palms, his breath tinted with the Maker’s Mark he had a glass of at the bar. Top shelf only for him, of course. “You were awfully quiet tonight. Getting shy on me all of a sudden, princess?”

You can hear the subtle teasing in his voice, and you’re sure he knows exactly what you were sulking for. But you simply answer, not ready to give yourself away too quickly. “No, just tired is all.”

“Just tired is all,” he mocks you with a low chuckle. You’re a terrible liar, always have been. “It’s cute that you think you could ever lie to me.” He adds, lips grazing over the sensitive skin of your neck – it already feels too much but not enough. 

And when his lips ghost over the shell of your ear, you feel a rush of heat between your thighs, and you swear your knees may give out. How he’s able to turn you into a puddle of yourself so quickly? You’ll never know.

“Come on, princess,” he sounds, and just like that it’s over. His hands are removed from your hips and he moves in front of you, his arm outstretched to you and his body facing the stairs. “Let’s go to bed then if you’re so tired.”

You try to hide your huff of annoyance, aching to have his touch again after being subjected to watch women drool over him all night. So you decide, no, you’re not going upstairs. Your arms cross over your chest like an insolent child who didn’t get what they wanted. Stubborn and spoiled. And your act of defiance is certainly not lost on him.

“No?” He quirks up an eyebrow at you, “Is the princess suddenly not tired? Sure are moody, though. What’s that about?”

God, you hate him. You hate that he’s finding your frustration the slightest bit entertaining. He’s taunting you, dangling the carrot in your face just to see you bite back.

He huffs out a laugh at your silence. “Oh, so we don’t wanna talk now, hm? That’s alright. We’ll see how long that lasts.”

Before you can even blink, you’re thrown over his shoulder like a rag doll. A surprised shriek slips out of you as he trudges up the stairs and in the direction of your bedroom. Smaller in stature he may be, but weak is not a way you would ever describe him.

“Jake!” You scold him, not having any of his shit right now. “Put me down!”

“Oh, so we are talking now?” He muses, depositing you on the neatly made bed. He hovers over you, standing at the foot of the bed where he practically threw you on it. 

“How about this then, princess?” He taunts, “Since you’re suddenly in the mood to talk, I say we play a little game. You talk, I listen.”

Seems easy enough…a little too easy. 

“Everything off.” There it is.

He strides over to the bed, climbing on before laying on his back. His head rests against the pillow as you continue eyeing him, slowly peeling your clothes off your body until your stark naked and sitting on your heels on the bed.

“So obedient, my pretty girl. And so fucking beautiful when you listen, aren’t you?” He coos. “Come have a seat, princess,” he beckons, still fully clothed, “talk to me.”

With a bite to the inside of your cheek, you rise from your sitting position to straddle his lap. And just as you begin to settle yourself – 

“Uh-uh,” he tuts. “Not quite, baby.”

Your incredulous look makes him laugh. What else could he have wanted?

“Come on,” he encourages, placing his hands on your hips. “Up you go, princess.”

With a quick slap to your ass, he hoists you up further. Your eyes go wide and you yelp at the crack of his hand hitting your skin, your heart racing as your knees straddle either side of his head. 

“Good girl,” he praises, his hands trailing up the sides of your thighs and to your hips to keep you steady. “Go on, princess. Tell me what’s got you so pouty. Wanna help.”

Considering you’re at a loss for words and can’t think straight with him eye-level with your cunt, you suddenly don’t even know why you were upset to begin with. But another swat to your ass quickly brings you back to consciousness.

“F-fuck,” you whimper, your head falling down and fingers gripping his hair. “They were staring at you…at the bar.” You manage out.

“Yeah? Who was, princess?” He’s teasing you even more now, pressing the gentlest of kisses to your clit until you choke out his name and begin tugging on the roots of his hair. He knows you can’t answer; you’re already too far gone and he’s hardly started.

But your impending fear that he would stop has you rushing out the words through uneven breaths.

“The girls at the bar,” you croak out as his lips continue pressing small kisses to your bundle of nerves. “Hated the way they looked at you. I was fucking jealous. I’m sorry.”

Pleased with your answer (even if he already knew it), he grins. And you can feel it against you before he presses one final kiss to your pearl.

“But you see, princess,” he says, smoothing his hands over your hips. “No one else gets to have this. Just because they see my face, doesn’t mean they get to fuck it like you do, do they?”

“N-no.” You reply, desperate to feel his mouth on you again.

“Good girl,” he croons. “And what they don’t know is that I get to have my face fucked by the prettiest little pussy whenever I please. Get to have your scent all over me. ‘Cause it’s yours, isn’t it, princess?” 

“Yes, sir.” You peep, unable to form another word if your life depended on it. 

Not only were you insanely turned on and dripping because his face was buried between your thighs, but it’s also due to how he speaks to you with such dominance and authority. He could have you on your knees (both literally and figuratively) with the snap of his fingers.

With one more praise of good girl, he dives back in, immediately sucking your clit into his mouth and flicking against it like a man starved. You feel your eyes roll back, a whining desperate mess above him. The tugging on his hair only gets tighter as he grips your hips to keep you against him.

You’re sure there will be marks, and you aren’t mad about it either. You need him tethered to you in every way possible.

He expertly licks through your folds, tongue gently prodding at your entrance as his nose brushes your clit. You can’t fight the whimper that leaves your lips, your pussy fluttering around the tip of his tongue. And when he groans at the feeling, you swear you’re done for.

“Jake,” you gasp, tightening your hold on his hair. He doesn’t seem to mind, though. He hums against your cunt, flicking your arousal against your clit before sucking it past his lips once more. 

“Yeah, princess? Feel that sweet little cunt fucking squeezing my tongue. That feel good? Feel good to take what’s yours?”

And before you have time to catch your breath, his tongue finds your entrance again. He wastes no time going harder, faster this time. His tongue fucks into you relentlessly, nose nudging your clit in perfect timing. It’s sloppy and wet and downright sinful.

You can hardly register when it happens, you’re so far gone, but you cum hard against his tongue. Grinding your hips against his tongue to chase the feeling for as long as your body will allow while you cry out his name like a hymn.

And he can’t get enough of it either, ravaging you and swallowing every bit he can muster until you pry yourself off of him. 

You look him over, his mouth, chin, and nose glistening with remnants of you. It’s enough to stir you back up again, your overstimulation be damned. Your lips crash into his, and he’s eager to capture them with his own, maneuvering you to straddle his lap. 

“Fuck, my sweet girl,” he breathes out. “Did so fucking good. Came so hard for me. Could eat that pussy until it suffocates me, I swear.”

You gasp when you feel his hardened cock through his jeans that he wore out make contact with your swollen clit. 

Grinding against him, you whimper against his lips at the new feeling bubbling within your tummy. He groans, feeling the slightest bit of relief as you grind against him. With the amount of wetness you felt between your thighs even after your orgasm, you’re sure that you’re absolutely soaking the fabric.

“This what you want, baby?” He murmurs. “Want my cock? Wanna fuck what’s yours?”

“Please.” You whimper, grinding down against him with a bit more force this time before moving your hips upwards to allow him to undress.

He practically moans when he sees the wet splotch of your arousal on the crotch of his jeans. “Fuck, princess. So fucking wet for me.”

“Jake, please,” you whine, tugging at his pants in an effort to make him move faster. 

“Oh, my needy little thing.” He teases, resuming pulling his pants down along with his boxers. “Just had her pussy fucked with my tongue and can’t wait for more, can you?”

You shake your head no, trying to will yourself to calm down. You don’t want him to think he has the power, even though he knows all too well that he already does.

“I know, princess.” He soothes you with his tone, tossing his pants and boxers on the floor along with your clothes. 

His dick stands tall, pressed against his stomach as precome leaks from the slit on the swollen head. He gives himself two languid strokes with his fist, hissing at the feeling. “Can’t wait to have you wrapped up around me…all tight and sweet and warm- fuck, come here, baby. Take it. Take what’s yours.” 

You’re quick to crawl back to him, desperate to have him inside of you as you grasp his shoulders for balance. Using one hand, you grasp him, whimpering when you feel his crown just lining up with your weeping hole. 

Jake holds your waist, patiently waiting for you to sink down around him. And when you do, you could cry from how good and full you feel already. You keen as you feel the familiar and pleasurable sting that only happens when he’s this deep inside you. 

“Shit,” He hisses, fighting the urge to fuck upwards into you. “Feels so good, princess. This cock is yours, baby. Everything is yours.”

And that’s more than enough to encourage you to begin riding him, rolling your hips back and forth at an even pace. You whine and mewl from above him as he holds your waist, encouraging you with each movement you make.

You’re both a complete wreck already. Jake is already so close to coming and you’d hardly started moving your hips against him.

“Whose cock is this?”

You hated when he made you talk. You could listen to him go on and on all day about nothing that truly mattered (especially in bed). But you hate having to talk as well. You feel like you were nowhere near as good at it as he is.

In hopes that he’ll somehow forget what he asked, you resume your movements and peel your eyes away, beginning to go faster in hopes that you’ll truly distract him. But that sure as hell doesn’t work.

“Uh-uh,” He scolds, using his free hand to take your chin and turn it to face him. Eye-to-eye. “Eyes on me, princess. Now tell me whose cock this is. Wanna hear you, sweet girl. Tell me nice and loud.”

You’re embarrassed. If your cheeks could turn any darker in this moment, you’re sure they would. And you don’t want to answer him, suddenly bashful even when he’s buried inside of you as you bounce on his cock. 

Displeased with your lack of a response, he angles his hips upwards, meeting you halfway to send himself deeper into the depths of your cunt. It catches you off guard to say the least, but only causes you to move faster, further onto him to chase that feeling again.

“It’s mine, sir,” you whine, words rushed and breathless. “It’s mineit’smineit’smine!” You continue, drunk off his cock and so close to coming you can’t hardly stand it.

Jake groans, continuing to push his hips upwards. “Yes, princess. My good fucking girl. It’s fucking yours.”

You want him to come harder than he ever has; want his cum deep inside you because it really is yours. He’s yours.

“Taking me so well, princess.” He pants. “Riding me so fucking good. Go on, baby. Want you to come again. Soak my cock, baby.”

Your words become mush, incoherent babbles as you continue fucking yourself on him. You can’t hardly breathe anymore, your chest heaving for breath as you feel the knot inside of you threatening to snap.

“Oh, princess…” he coos, “My dumb little baby. Can’t even get a word out when my cock’s buried inside you. Can’t even help it, can you?” He snaps his hips upwards more forcefully than before, an unforgiving pace that allows you some sort of reprieve from the burning in your thighs.

The moan that rips from your chest would have caused you to curl in on yourself in embarrassment, but right now you can’t seem to care. The way he’s fucking into you, the way he’s speaking to you…it’s too much for your already fucked-out brain to handle.

“Gonna come!” You muster out, your voice cracking as you grip his shoulders tighter.

“Yeah?” Jake taunts, still snapping into you as your pussy contracts around him. “Do it, princess. I can feel you fucking squeezing me so tight- fuck, baby. Gonna make me fucking come, aren’t you?”

You want to answer him; you really do. But all you can muster is a nod as your orgasm rips through you, your mouth dropping open and your cunt locking down around Jake as it fights to keep him inside. Your ears ring as you pulse around him, unsure if you’re making noise or not at this point. 

Jake’s orgasm washes over him, choking out a moan of your name as he buries himself as far as he can. He spills inside of you, cum spurting from his swollen tip and into you. You feel him coating your walls as your vision returns to you, his eyebrows furrowed and sweat glimmering his forehead. 

God, he’s beautiful all the time, but especially like this.

The two of you are a breathless mess, feeling the his cum mixing with yours as it seeps down your inner thighs. You breathe out a laugh, your forehead falling against his as he wraps his arm around you.

“I’m yours, princess.” His voice is as soft as silk as he traces his fingertips along your spine. “You know that don’t you?”

You smile, lashes fluttering as you wrap your arms around his neck. He makes your heart feel warm – even when you don’t deserve it; even when you’re acting like a brat.

“I do now.” You tease, attempting to bite back a smile but ultimately failing when you hear him giggle.

“Oh, princess,” He tightens his arms around you. “What are we gonna do with you?”

Share your thoughts/feedback! | Masterlist

[thehallowedshore]

he’s evil for this

[jacketkiszka]

Only You Can Set Me Free

Female Reader x Danny Wagner

Word Count: 5.3K

WARNINGS: Explicit Sexual Content 18+, angst, alcohol consumption, drinking to the point of memory loss, oral m receiving, best friends to lovers, DIG setlist at a SCWT show (sorry not sorry)

*Thursday night, 10 pm*

*Your POV*

“Can I get two beers? Whatever you have is fine.” You shout to the bartender over the noisy Nashville bar. You return to your group with two canned beers in tow, and pass one to your best friend, Danny. You are out celebrating tonight as Danny has a show in town tomorrow, but will be leaving for tour the following day. This will be your last chance to spend quality time with him for a while, until they have a break. You clink your beers together, as you always do, and you both take a drink. 

After a couple beers and a lot of talking, you head to the restroom. When you return, Danny is talking to a girl you’ve never seen before. She seems really excited to talk to him, so you think you know what’s going on. 

“Thank you, yeah… It means a lot.” Danny replies. You approach the two and grab your beer from the table behind him. 

“Oh! And you must be the girlfriend!” The girl asks. You practically spit out your beer in surprise. “Girlfriend?” You look at the girl and then to Danny. The question was genuine, and you’re taken off guard, so you just introduce yourself, avoiding the ‘girlfriend’ comment as a way to end the conversation quickly. The fan eventually leaves you two alone and you make your way back to the rest of your group. 

“Did you tell her we were together?” You ask. Danny busts out laughing. “No! I don’t know where that came from! Do people really think that?!” He responds as you approach the group.

“What’s that? Y/N and Danny are dating?” One of your friends says, loud enough to get the rest of the group’s attention. They chuckle. “Congratulations! Took you long enough.” Another friend teases. You both roll your eyes. You hope it stops there, but of course it does not. 

Deeper into the night, the music gets louder and the alcohol percentages get higher. One of the friends in your group comes back to the table with a tray of shots. Everybody grabs a shot and holds them up when someone in the group shouts “To Y/N and Danny!” 

Great. Clearly you two have been chosen as the butt of all jokes tonight. “Fuck you guys” You mumble after taking the shot. You know they’re joking, but the more they talk about it, the more you think about it… and you’d been trying not to think about it for a long time. Of course you liked Danny, everyone did. But you left it at that. It would not, and could not, ever be more than that. You realize that this will be a long night of trying to repress those feelings if they don’t stop picking on you. You clear your throat and stand to go back to the bar. You need a distraction, and another drink. Danny follows suit. You should have expected that, the man is practically chained to your ankle. You offer to buy him a drink but he’s already ordering his own and putting yours on his tab. He does that when he feels like something is wrong. You know it’s coming, so you brace yourself. 

“Is everything okay?” He asks, quiet enough that nobody else can hear. You nod, and do your best to look confused while doing it as if you don’t know what he’s talking about. You do, though, and he knows that you do. Sometimes you wonder if he knows because he feels it too, but you try not to think too hard about that. 

“They’re just messing with you, y’know.” He says, now sounding concerned. 

“Oh, I know… It’s not about them, I’m just tired and… well, I’m not looking forward to you being gone. That’s all.” You hope he doesn’t see through your excuse, but you know he probably does. 

His facial expression softens, and he smiles a little. “I know. I’m going to miss you too.” 

You smile back and you both stand there in silence. This is the side of Danny that made your heart melt. This side of him was tender, and reserved for only a select few. You were lucky enough to be one of them. 

After a moment he breaks the silence. “Man, no wonder they think we’re dating.” He laughs quietly to himself. 

The drinks he ordered arrive and he slides one to you. “Drink up, get out of your head. Let’s have fun tonight.” 

He was right. There was no sense in letting a good night go to waste. After all, you would miss him greatly after he leaves for tour. The two of you make your way back to the group and plop down on one of the couches in the corner of the bar that you all had claimed as yours for the night. In typical Danny fashion, he sits entirely way too close to you on the couch. Again, chained to your ankle. You hope to god you’re not blushing, but you try not to care. 

As the night goes on, the alcohol starts catching up to everybody. You and Danny have gotten pretty comfortable on the couch, talking about the upcoming tour and pretty much anything else that comes to your mind. You loved to talk and he loved to listen to you. You hadn’t noticed yourself leaning more and more into Danny the more that you talked, but your friends did. 

They’d asked you about it before but you always denied having any feelings. They knew, though. Everyone did. You could deny it all you wanted, but there was no questioning the way that the two of you looked at each other. The way that he listened to you, the way that he was the only one who could calm you down if you were upset. In fact, the only two people who couldn’t tell, were you and Danny. The way you both managed to ignore your own feelings as well as the possibility of each other’s feelings was extraordinary. You had both become so jaded by the need to preserve your friendship that you ignored the fact that you knew it was right. Maybe that’s why they teased you about it so often, maybe they thought if they badgered you for long enough, you’d see. And maybe they were right. Whether it was that, or the impending sadness that would be coming with your best friend going on tour without you, you’d not been able to stop thinking about him. 

You had just barely started to let the thought creep back into your brain when one of your friends approached the two of you. She’d already had plenty - if not too much - to drink and brought a polaroid camera with her to document the night. As quickly as she approached, there was a camera being pointed at your faces. 

“Say cheese!!” She shouted.

You and Danny sit up straight and smile for the camera. He puts his arm around you to bring you closer. You don’t mind. She snaps the picture and sets the developing photo on the table. She points the camera at you again. 

“Give us a kiss, lovebirds!” Another one of your friends yells. The others giggle and shush him. “Come onnn, just a little peck. It’ll be funny!”

The next few seconds are fuzzy.

Was it the copious amounts of alcohol? Was it the peer pressure? You’re not sure, but the next thing you know, you’re kissing Danny Wagner.

As quickly as it began, it was over. Everyone laughed and then continued on as if nothing had happened, and the girl set the new photo next to the first one to continue developing. You and Danny laughed it off immediately, making comments about what assholes your friends were. Nothing he said registered in your ears. In fact, nothing for the rest of the night did. Your brain was mush and your skin was hot. What just happened? 

*Thursday night, 3 am*

You made it back home and you’re lying in bed, rethinking the night's events. Your head is swirling thinking about the way Danny’s lips felt against yours. You felt stupid for thinking about it still. It was nothing, just a silly joke to appease your friends. You’re not even sure how it happened, you can’t recall leaning in. All you remember is his lips, a flash, and then it was over. You lie there thinking about it for longer than you should. The thought replaying in your head over and over again, preventing you from falling asleep despite how tired and drunk you are. You can’t stop wondering how Danny may have felt about it. Was it more than a joke to him? Was he still thinking about you the way you were still thinking about him? Suddenly, you remember something. 

“The picture!” You whisper to yourself with a small gasp, and you jump out of bed to find your wallet. 

You had quickly snagged the picture from the table when no one else was looking. The last thing you two needed was rumors starting, and perhaps there was a small part of you that just wanted to keep it… it didn’t matter. You needed to see it. 

You find the picture and pull it out. You gasp at the sight, because this was not how you remembered it. Your arms wrapped around each other, his hand on your thigh and a smirk on his face as you kissed. What?! You must have been too blindsided by the kiss to notice. Did this mean he felt the same way…? Surely not, but this picture was making you think otherwise. You decide against your better judgment to text him. 

3:12 am

You: I had fun tonight. Thanks for talking to me earlier, I get too much into my own head sometimes. What time should I be at the venue tomorrow?

A text bubble popped up almost immediately showing that Danny was typing. It quickly disappeared and you felt your heart sink a little. 

3:13 am

Danny: soudnchck at 2 im being there 1. any time.

Oh, he is still drunk. He went pretty hard tonight. You chuckle, reading the message again, trying to decipher it.

3:13 am

Danny: always have. funwith u :):)

Smiling, you clutch the phone to your chest and fall asleep without a response. 

*Friday Afternoon, 1:48 pm*

*Danny’s POV*

You open your eyes for the first time today and are immediately assaulted by the dogpiling combination of dizziness, nausea, and a migraine. The sun is too bright, the fan in the corner of the room is too loud. Everything is too much. What time is it? You turn over to face the clock on your bedside table, trying not to make yourself sick in the process. The clock reads 1:48.

“Fuck!” You shout, but you’re so exhausted it comes out more as an angry groan. 

You force yourself out of bed against your body’s will and make your way to the bathroom to get ready. You are certain you’ve never looked worse in your life. You’re certain that nobody has ever looked worse in their life. You brush your teeth and put your hair in a claw clip, just to get yourself out the door. You decided you’d freshen up after sound check. Trying to minimize the damage of how late you were going to be, you just grab your keys and head out the door, not even considering grabbing something caffeinated on your way out. 

Upon getting to the venue, it’s clear that everyone is upset with you, and rightfully so. You were not only holding everybody up, but in a funky mood on top of it. You slam your keys down and get to the stage to do your soundcheck. Everything sounds fine, except for you. You can barely think straight and keep missing the beat. What is wrong with you today? 

After soundcheck, you’re making your way back to the dressing room to get your shit together when you spot Y/N running through the halls. She is always doing what she can to help the band, despite not being a part of the crew. You appreciate her more than she’ll ever know. She’s clearly busy right now, so you dip into your dressing room instead of saying anything.

Shortly after, you hear a knock at your door. You open it to find your best friend, holding a box full of miscellaneous equipment and wires. 

“Hey,” she starts, “You okay? I didn’t see you earlier, you’re usually the first one here so I got concerned.”

You laugh and rub your hand on the back of your neck. “Oh, yeah… Sorry… I guess I drank a little too much last night. I slept until almost 2. I woke up with a violent hangover, I don’t even remember most of the night.”

“Oh..” Her expression drops.

What was that? What is that face? Why does she look disappointed? You furrow your brow in response. 

“Umm, maybe you should get a coffee?” She suggests. You agree. That would make you feel a lot better right now. You offer to get her one, as well. She appreciated that. 

She disappears into the hallway to go distribute the box of gear and you start to gather your keys and wallet… Shit. Your wallet. In your hungover haze this morning you completely forgot to grab it. 

You debate if the coffee is even worth it, but ultimately it is, plus you had offered to get one for Y/N. You couldn’t possibly let her down. You roll your eyes and leave the dressing room, finding her in the hallway and asking if you can borrow her card for the coffees. She agrees and hands you her wallet. You thank her with a hug, now setting off towards the coffee shop down the road. 

You order yourself the largest coffee they can offer you, and a regular sized one for Y/N. She didn’t have to tell you what she wanted, you already knew her order. In fact, you knew everything about your best friend… or at least you thought you did. 

Reaching into your pocket to pay, you pull out her wallet. When you open it, you stop in your tracks. The barista is staring at you with a confused look on their face, and you feel just as confused. When did you kiss her? Who took this picture? And why was it in her wallet? You try your best to shake it off long enough to pay for the drinks but on the ride back to the venue you can’t stop thinking about it. Is this why she looked disappointed to hear you hadn’t remembered anything about last night? You feel like your heart is going to break in half thinking about that. 

You’ve always liked Y/N. How could you not? You had always hoped if you ever kissed her it would be special. This wasn’t special. You couldn’t even remember it. You wondered how she felt, if she had thought it was special. If she wanted you to feel the same. Had you unknowingly ruined any chance you had with her by drinking too much to remember it? Maybe she doesn’t remember it either. Would that make it better or worse? You don’t know. Fuck.

You sit in the parking lot for a moment too long, trying to rack your brain. You force yourself to go back inside so that the coffee doesn’t get too cold. Somehow you managed to make handing off her coffee and wallet the most awkward experience of your life, barely looking her in the eye when you saw the corner of the polaroid still poking out of the wallet. You felt bad, but you didn’t know how to talk about this. You weren’t sure if you’d be able to find the words to say. 

She felt it, too. She felt the tension, she noticed the way that you looked at her as if she was fragile. You were terrified to say the wrong thing, and push her away. 

It wasn’t the fact that you’d kissed her. It was the way that you kissed her. It was the way your hand was gripping her thigh, the way you smiled against her lips. It was the fact that you couldn’t remember it, and it was the fact that she’d kept it in her wallet. 

*Friday Night, 9:23 pm*

The arena fills with cheers and screams as Safari Song comes to a close. You feel the anticipation building as you prepare for your moment. You start your solo as Josh exits the stage, and you catch a glimpse of Y/N standing side stage. She was always there for your solos, at the very least. Even if she didn’t catch the rest of the show, she made sure to watch you have your moment. You knew she’d be staying for the entire show tonight though. This was going to be a special one. You smile and get focused, trying to give this solo everything you had. If you were one thing, it was a perfectionist. Maybe the fans wouldn’t notice if you missed a beat every once in a while, some of them used your solo as a bathroom opportunity anyways, but you would know. Once you were in the zone, nothing could stop you. Well, almost nothing. 

Your time in the spotlight flies by and Josh comes back on stage, rambling his usual stage banter and more importantly giving you a breather before you transition your solo into the next song. 

“Better than sex!” Josh exclaims to the crowd.

You press your tongue to the inside of your cheek and shake your head, mouthing “I don’t know about that” to him before looking back to your left and watching the color flush in Y/N’s cheeks. 

“Well, how about a climax, Daniel?” Josh shouts. 

From the corner of your eye you see her turn and abruptly walk away from the stage.

What was that about? Was she- No. Daniel, focus. 

You try to push it to the back of your mind but you keep finding yourself thinking about last night, the photo you saw, and how flustered she looked as she ran off. Fuck, it was getting hard to stay in the moment. 

As the show goes on, you find it creeping back into your head more and more. Y/N still hasn’t returned and as you start Light My Love, you feel yourself getting more and more wrapped up in the thoughts of her. 

The music is swelling, the fans are holding each other tight in anticipation, singing along to Josh’s oohs. He throws his hand in the air and as the music stops, the lights go out. You give the drum two solid hits and right before the big moment, the photo of last night flashes in your mind again. 

You miss. 

You were late. 

The pyro goes off before you can crack your symbols and your heart sinks. What the fuck was that? You’d never been late like that at a show. Especially not for this song that you’ve played a hundred times now. You had to be better than that, right? You know you’re better than that. How could you let this distract you so much? You hoped you could recover and move on, but it was fucked from that point forward. Whether you were playing too fast, too slow, skipping a beat, hitting the wrong drum. It didn’t matter, you were struggling and everyone could tell.

Finally the main part of the show comes to a close and you run off stage before quickly being berated by the other boys. The worst part is you knew they were right. This was by far your worst performance and as the timekeeper of the band, you were screwing everybody else in the process. Thinking there was only one way to solve your problem and hopefully do better for the encore, you run to the mini bar in your dressing room where you spot half of the drinks had already been gone. You knew it was from Y/N, since nobody else ever helped themselves to your dressing room, but you didn’t see her anywhere. After downing a couple tequila shots, you slam the mini fridge door shut and turn around to see her standing awkwardly in the back of the room. 

“You’re not watching the show anymore.” Is all you say. 

“I’m sorry- I-” She tries to find the words but you can see in her eyes there’s far too much she wants to say, and now’s not the time to say it. 

“I fucked up. I fucked up so bad.”

“I’m sure it wasn’t that bad…” She tries to console you.

“I ruined the entire show! Everyone is off and they’re all pissed at me and it’s all because of your stupid-” you stop. 

The tension is palpable. 

“…Stupid what?” She says sheepishly, fidgeting with the hem of her Greta Van Fleet t-shirt.

Your eyes flick down to the pocket of her jeans against your will and she adjusts her forearm, as if a half-assed attempt to prevent you from looking for the wallet. She knows you know.

“Why do you have that picture in your wallet?” You step closer. She steps backwards but is quickly met with a wall. Your in-ear monitor pings to let you know it’s time to return to the stage.

“I didn’t want anyone else to see it..”

“You didn’t want anyone to see it, so you put it in your wallet… and then gave it to me to pay for coffee.” You scoff. “This shouldn’t have happened. This is all-” You stop yourself before you can say something you’ll regret. With a shake of your head you start to walk away. 

A hand reaches out and grabs your arm just as you’re about to step out of the room. You look back, feeling the rage build up inside you. You knew none of this would have happened if it weren’t for her. You were just about to bite back at her when you’re met with the saddest, kindest eyes. The eyes you’d always had a soft spot for. For just a moment, everything you were mad about seems to fade away. 

“I’m sorry, Danny… I didn’t mean to upset you… I think we should talk about last night…”

Fuck, she makes your heart ache. 

You look into her eyes and she bites her lip, scared of what you’re going to say. You know exactly what she’s thinking, and you’re thinking it too. You get another ping on your in-ear urging you to hurry up. Without another word, you reach up to grab the sides of her face and pull her into a soft, quick kiss. With that, you turn away and head back to the stage, pulling another mini tequila bottle out of your pocket and taking it. 

*Your POV*

What the fuck just happened? It was like one second he wanted to tear your head off, and the next he’s kissing you in his dressing room? Trying to wrap your head around the events of the last few minutes, you make a mental note to have him work on his mixed signals. The warm and dramatic intro of Age of Man begins and like a magnet, you’re drawn back to the side stage. Sammy starts the song off with a hauntingly beautiful piano number and you watch as Daniel, now shirtless, settles into his drum kit. The dark blue lights mixed with the warm amber glow of the fire pits around the stage define every muscle in his arms and back in the most delicious way. Danny looks over to catch you staring him down and smiles. His demeanor is much lighter than before and although it could be from the tequila, something told you it had more to do with you. 

You watch the boys finish out their encore and as soon as you see Danny stand from the drum kit and Jake start throwing his spare picks into the crowd, you make your way back to the dressing room. Danny is usually the last one off the stage as he is always getting caught up handing out drumsticks and taking shots with the front row, but tonight wasn’t a normal night. That much was obvious. You make it back to Danny’s dressing room and within seconds he’s behind you, drumsticks still in hand, pulling you further into the room. 

Your bodies collide and he pulls you into him, your face in his hands as he presses his forehead to yours. 

“Danny…” You whisper, looking up into his eyes, your breath stuttering. “I think… I think we should talk about-”

He cuts you off.

“We have all night to talk about it. You don’t know how long I’ve wanted- needed to do this.”

He presses his lips against yours. Cautiously at first, but increasingly more passionate when he feels you melt into him. The hands around your face find their way backwards into your hair, holding you in place and even though this is the third time you’ve kissed Danny, you’ve never felt anything like it. You feel like putty in his embrace and he feels like heaven. You’re suddenly being pushed backwards against the wall of the dressing room, the same place you stood the last time he graced your lips with his.

Your hands run down his sides and rest at the waistband of his pants. He kisses you harder. It’s blissful. His tongue feels like everything you imagined and more. It’s all happening so fast, yet time moves so slow. You swear you could stay here for hours, days even, pinned between the wall and his body. With your fingers hooking into the waistband of the boxers that poke out just above his belt, you draw a sigh out of him. You snap the button of his jeans and close the sliver of a gap between your torsos with your hand snaking down to feel him. You pull away from his lips, looking into his eyes for his consent and he ruts into your palm, making his answer clear. He feverishly presses his lips back into yours, like he’s been made hungry in their absence. Starved. He lets you explore the feeling of him for the first time and you let him trail hot kisses from your jaw to your collarbone. 

“Please take these off,” you whisper, pulling at his jeans.

Danny looks down at you, and with a gentle bite to his bottom lip he guides you away from the wall and quickly rids himself of his denim before sitting back on the couch. You can’t stop your eyes from trailing down his body, inspecting every inch of his skin, parts of him you’d only imagined before. He was just as beautiful as you thought he would be, built like a Greek god and splayed out just for you. He looks up at you expectantly as he strokes himself gently. You sink to your knees before him and take him into your hand.

You drag your fingers down the length of him, he hisses through his teeth. His head rolls back and you watch his Adam's apple bob through the mess of his long curly hair. You lean in, your breath hot against his skin, and press a soft kiss to the sensitive tip. He groans, and his hips buck slightly, encouraging you to take more of him into your mouth. You part your lips and slowly take him in, swirling your tongue around the sensitive tip. His hands tangle in your hair, guiding you as you bob your head, taking more of him each time. His breath grows ragged as you pick up the pace. The sound of your mouth working him fills the room, accompanied by his desperate gasps. You’re addicted to the taste of him, the feeling of him throbbing against your tongue. 

Danny's grip on your hair tightens as his body tenses. "Look at me, baby," he rasps. 

You pull back just enough to look up at him, his length glistening with your saliva, as you continue to work him with your hand. He pulls you up into him for a sloppy kiss, mixing your spit and the little bit of precum on your tongue. He pulls away with a strained whimper. 

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted this… Wanted to feel your lips wrapped around me… Watch your eyes tear up when you take me… You’re a fucking dream, baby, are you gonna let me fuck you?”

You smile at him, still pumping his length in your hand. Your grip tightens. 

“Mmm, next time,” You peck him on the lips before returning to your knees before him. “I’ve always wanted to know how you taste… You gonna cum for me?”

You take him back in your mouth, sucking him in all the way to the back of your throat. His hips jerk forward at the feeling.

“Fuck!” His head rolls back against the couch and his chest heaves, your hair still wrapped tight around his knuckles. He pushes further into your mouth causing a gag to rip from your throat. He hesitantly lets go of your hair, afraid he’s pushed you too far, but you pick up the pace, bobbing your head faster and faster. He writhes and his nails dig into the soft gray fabric of the couch beneath him. Your free hand finds its way to the heat between your legs. You moan around him as you grind against your palm, searching for friction. The vibration of your groan rattles through him bringing out a loud gasp. The sweetest sound you’d ever heard.

"You look so good like this, just like that, baby, just like that… just…” He praises, his voice growing desperate. 

You look up to meet his eyes and his brows furrow tightly. His cock throbs against your tongue and you’re hit with a sudden rush of warmth. Danny lets out a groan so strained you’d think he was in pain. You’ve never heard anything more beautiful. Danny consumed all of your senses. The taste of him, the sound of him, the feeling, the warmth. 

You pull off of him with a loud pop! He looks down at you and everything feels… different. He’s looking at you like you hung the moon, a way you’ve never been looked at before. Not by him, anyways.

He leans down to place a gentle kiss to your forehead, and then your lips. 

“So… did you still want to talk about it?” He whispers, smiling against your lips. 

You smile back up at your best friend. “Maybe we can talk about it at your place. I know you have a long drive tomorrow but maybe-“

He interrupts you enthusiastically. “I’ll pull the car around. This is long overdue.” 

He hops up from the couch, pulling his pants back up and grabbing his car keys. You start to gather your things from the dressing room but before he opens the door, he looks back to you. “Y/N?”

You look up, meeting his gaze. 

“I’m glad you kept that picture… Really glad.” He smiles and steps out of the dressing room. 

You didn’t know what your future with Danny would look like, but you knew one thing.

You were glad you’d kept it, too.

[so-sangthearcher]

I think each of the boys would have a different way of greeting you after getting off stage:

I think Jake would put his arm around you, ask "how'd you like it?" and then drag you into the shower with him. He'd tell you that he was thinking about you the whole show, and make the bathroom a little extra steamy.

Josh would plant a wet kiss right on your forehead and snuggle into your neck before taking you to his dressing room and changing whilst you make him a throat coat tea. (He'd definitely save you a rose).

Sam would just flop down on the green room couch, practically laying on top of you, koala-ing himself onto you and thank you for coming. He'd absolutely pass out until it was time to go, and then coerce you into "helping" him change.

Danny, I think, would make the biggest deal, wrapping you in a tight hug, maybe even picking you up off the ground and spinning you around. He would most definitely kiss you and make you shower with him. He'd also ALWAYS ask what your favorite part was.

[artificialstardust]

I’m really thinking about sweet, silly boyfriend Danny

He makes me want to sob sometimes

[asacredthebread]

After Work Affections •☽────✧˖°˖☆˖°˖✧────☾•

Danny Wagner x Reader - 18+ 𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚊𝚢, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝙳𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚢, 𝚒𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍. Warnings/Themes: Thigh Riding, Praise, Sexual Themes. WC; 769

You walked through the front door, the familiar scent of home wrapping around you like a comforting blanket. The day had been long, and the thought of being with Danny—the man with the long, brown curly hair and warm brown eyes—was all that had kept you going. He was sitting on the couch, casually relaxed, a warm smile spreading across his face as he looked up at you.

“Hey there, you,” he greeted, his voice honeyed and inviting. You felt your heart lift at the sight of him. He always had that effect on you, making the weight of the day melt away with just a smile.

“Hi, Danny,” you replied, your voice softer than usual. You could feel the tension in your body slowly dissipating, but something else stirred within you—a growing need that you hadn’t fully acknowledged until now.

“How was your day?” he asked, leaning back slightly, his gaze locking onto yours with that familiar intensity. You could see the way his interest piqued, those brown eyes sparking with curiosity and warmth.

“It was okay,” you said, trying to shake off the remnants of the day. But as he continued to speak about his own day, detailing the little things that made him smile, you felt that need deepen. Each word he uttered seemed to resonate inside of you, stirring something more primal.

You moved closer, the space between you feeling both comforting and charged. It was like a magnet pulling you in. You were drawn to him, to that easy confidence he exuded, the warmth radiating from his body. Without fully thinking it through, you decided to sit on his lap, straddling him as you felt the weight of his presence envelop you.

He looked surprised for just a moment, his eyebrows lifting in delight. “Well, look at you, all cozy,” he said, his voice playful and rich with affection. You shifted slightly, feeling the warmth of his thigh beneath you, the heat between your bodies igniting a spark of need that surged through you.

“Danny…” you breathed, looking into his eyes. You could see the spark of desire flickering there, and it fueled the fire within you. You began to rock your hips against him, seeking that elusive release, your body craving more.

“God, you’re beautiful,” he praised, his hands coming to rest on your waist, fingers tightening slightly as he encouraged your movements. “You know exactly what you want, don’t you?”

“Yes,” you whispered. You felt both vulnerable and empowered, each movement drawing you closer to the edge you craved. His praise washed over you, coaxing you further into bliss.

“Just like that,” he murmured, his voice low and husky. “You ride that thigh, baby. You feel incredible.” His words wrapped around you, spurring on your rhythm as you found your groove, lost in the dance of pleasure. With every thrust, you could see the way his eyes darkened with desire, the way he leaned toward you as if he could take in every bit of you.

“You make me feel so good,” you confessed, breathless.

He responded with an appreciative chuckle, “And you make me feel even better. There’s nothing like seeing you like this, all worked up, just for me.” His hold on you tightened, and something about his unwavering gaze made you feel utterly seen. It was as if he could feel the urgency radiating from you, matching it with his own need.

“Just keep going,” Danny encouraged, his voice a sultry whisper. “You’re doing amazing. I love watching you let go like this.”

With every word of affirmation, every ounce of encouragement, you felt yourself teeter closer to the edge. Danny had a way of making you feel not just desired but cherished—each moment shared felt like a sacred space between the two of you.

As you moved faster, riding his thigh, you felt the tension coiling within you, ready to snap. “Danny, I’m so close,” you gasped, and his response was immediate.

“Just a little more, baby,” he urged, his voice full of warmth and reverence.

With one final push, everything inside you released, a wave of pleasure rolling through you that left you breathless. You could feel Danny’s steady chuckle vibrating through his chest, the way he leaned in closer, holding you tightly as you came down from the high.

“You did so well,” he praised, his voice tender as you collapsed against him, the warmth of his body enveloping you. “There’s a good girl.” You melted against him, the weight of the day replaced by the gentle warmth of contentment and love in that intimate moment.

[binarysunset17]

It was scary but sooooo worth colouring

[hailthegodsong]

LOVE IS OLD, LOVE IS NEW

Two Shot Part 2 ~ Daniel Wagner / Female Reader 𓅪 Link to Part 1

AN: Part 2 is finally here! It is way longer than I intended, but oh well. This is also my first time ever writing smut so... hopefully it isn't terrible. Hope you like the story!!

Word Count: + 15.7k (sorry)

Content Warnings: tooth rotting fluff, anxiety, stress, catastrophising thoughts, mild drinking, pining, self doubt, insecurity, jealousy (if you squint), mentions of STD's, kissing, pushy ex, unwanted digital contact, arguing, profanities, yelling, threats, physical violence, SMUT 18+ INCLUDING: grinding, first time oral (f! receiving), hand job, blow job, fingering, unprotected p in v, cockwarming, slight hair pulling, nipple play, a little bit of pain, multiple orgasms, dirty talk, squirting, sensitivity/ overstimulation, hickeys/ neck kissing, plain old sex, use of the birth control pill, teasing, peeing with someone else there?, talk of money and financial situations, mentions of moving out/ in together, mentions of financial dependence, and of course: Danny being a sweetheart ♡

𓅪

As you stared into the circular mirror perched above Danny’s record player, your hands moved restlessly through your hair, fluffing and smoothing with a kind of desperation. No matter how many times your fingers combed through the strands, it wouldn’t settle, either lying limp and lifeless or rebelling with fluff and frizz.

A frustrated sigh escaped your lips as you stepped away, your reflection an unsatisfying blur of anxiety and imperfection. The room seemed to close in on you, the air thick with the tension that had been building ever since the evening plans were set. You wandered around Danny’s room, half-heartedly searching for a hair tie, as if taming your hair might somehow calm the chaos in your mind.

It had been three days since your world had flipped on its axis. Three days since Otis’s betrayal had cracked open a fault line in your heart, only for Danny to gently step in, filling the fissures with his tender love and care that had always been simmering just beneath the surface. Three days since your quiet friendship had shifted into something more, something that felt inevitable in hindsight. You and Danny had always been close, but the way you’d fallen into each other– how quickly the kisses and whispered “I love you’s” had come, felt like the most natural thing in the world.

Ignoring the pleading messages Otis had bombarded you with, you blocked him on every platform you could think of, eager to erase his existence from your life. Reluctantly, you made the dreaded visit to the doctor, fearing the absolute worst, at the prospect that the woman he had been sleeping with was a long-term partner and may have harboured STDs. To your immense relief, you were given the all-clear, completely clean.

With that chapter behind you, you returned to your new life with Danny, basking in the warmth of his loving presence. On the first day, he greeted you with flowers, and the next, it was coffee and pastries. Your favourites, of course, because Danny seemed to know absolutely everything about you, even when it came down to your flavour profiles. By the third day, it was the compliments. Genuine, thoughtful words that melted the remnants of insecurity you had left over from Otis.

Danny made everything feel different. He wasn’t trying to win you over with grand gestures; he was simply there, day in and day out, showing you what it meant to be cared for. It was the small things that got to you. The way he listened when you talked, the way he seemed to notice every little detail about your behaviour– he was perfect. He was everything you hadn’t known you needed. Attentive, patient, and a steady anchor when your own thoughts spiralled out of control. 

He had this way of watching you, knowing exactly when to step in, when to hold you, when to simply let you breathe. His love was this soft, unspoken force, always there, always giving. Since that night, it was as though his entire world had shifted; the way he looked at you and touched you felt like you had become his new centre of gravity.

But tonight, the bubble of quiet intimacy you’d built was about to be burst. Sam’s birthday meant an evening at the bar with himself, Jake, Josh, and the rest of your close-knit circle of friends. It meant the privacy of your shared love was about to be exposed to your little world, and that thought filled you with a kind of nervous dread that clenched your stomach into knots. 

You had known the boys for years, grown up with them practically, but now that things had changed, you were terrified of what they might think. What if they didn’t approve? What if they thought you were a poor match for Danny, that you weren’t good enough? He was, after all, a rockstar.

You knew that he had spent years on the road, meeting countless beautiful, glamorous women. Women who could capture his attention in ways you couldn’t. That insidious doubt gnawed at the edges of your mind, making your palms clammy and your heartbeat uneven.

It was as if you had already made up your mind. It had become definitive to you that Danny was going to leave you by the end of the night. You should’ve really been looking for a new place to stay instead of a silly hair tie. 

Your search felt increasingly futile as you rifled through Danny’s drawers, met only with the sight of tangled cords, loose change, guitar picks, drum gels and other random trinkets. The anxiety built until you could hardly focus, your hands shaking slightly as they sifted through the clutter. You blew out a long, slow breath, trying to expel the nerves, but they clung to you, tight and suffocating.

Just as your frustration reached its peak, you felt a sudden warmth at your waist. Startled, you jumped, a gasp slipping from your lips and Danny’s hands quickly parted from your skin to give you space. Spinning around, you met his wide-eyed expression of surprise, concern etched into the soft lines of his face.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” Danny said quietly, his voice a low murmur that wrapped around you like a balm. He stepped back slightly, though his hand remained hesitantly offering in the air for you to take, fingers curling and straightening in a wordless offer of support. He slowly reached forward to slide his hand into yours. His touch was warm, familiar. But tonight, even that wasn’t enough to quell the storm inside you.

“It’s fine,” you mumbled, a little too quickly, before taking your hand from his and turning away to continue your frantic search. Drawers opened and closed with sharp movements, your hands still trembling slightly as you tried and failed to focus on the task at hand. It wasn’t about the hair tie anymore. You knew that. This was about the weight of what tonight would mean.

“What’re you looking for?” Danny asked, his voice soft and steady. He watched you carefully, the crease between his brows deepening with every anxious movement you made. He could see the tension radiating from you, though you had been trying to hide it all day. Now, it seemed the walls were crumbling.

“A hair tie,” you muttered, running a hand through your hair again. “I can’t get my hair right. It’s just... bothering me. And I can’t go out with it like this.” The words spilled out in a rush, barely making sense, your frustration evident in every syllable. “Do you not have a single hair tie anywhere in this room?”

Danny blinked, momentarily thrown by your frazzled state. Then, without a word, he raised his wrist, revealing the brown hair tie wrapped beside his bracelets. “Here,” he offered quietly, slipping it off and motioning for you to spin around with a small, patient smile.

You sighed, feeling a mix of gratitude and exhaustion as you turned around. He stepped in close behind you, his presence warm and steadying as his hands moved gently, gathering your hair with practised ease. His fingers brushed softly against your scalp, and you found yourself melting slightly into his touch, the tension beginning to drain from your body as he smoothed away the stray strands.

“What’s really going on?” Danny’s voice was low, intimate, his breath warm against the back of your neck as he continued to gently pull your hair back. You could feel the tenderness in every movement, the way he seemed to know exactly how to calm you, even when words escaped you.

A soft sigh slipped from your lips, and you crossed your arms protectively over your chest, looking down at the floor. “I’m just… really nervous.”

“Nervous about tonight?” he asked, already knowing the answer but needing to hear it from you.

You nodded, biting your lip as you struggled to find the words. “Yeah, I don’t know... I’m– I guess I’m just scared that none of them will approve, or that they’ll think you deserve better. I mean, you’ve been all over the world, Danny. You’ve met so many people. So many women. I just... I don’t know how I can compare to any of them.”

He paused, the gentle tugging on your hair stopping as his fingers stilled. You could almost feel his frown. “Deserve better? Baby, what—”

You shook your head quickly, feeling the heat of embarrassment rise in your cheeks. “Just forget it. It’s stupid. Thanks for the hair tie.”

But before you could take a step away, Danny’s arms slipped around your waist again, pulling you back into the warmth of his embrace. His chest pressed against your back as he buried his face in your hair, his breath a soft, steady rhythm against your skin.

“No,” he murmured firmly, his voice laced with quiet determination. “That’s not how this works. You’re not just gonna bottle this up. Tell me what’s going on, and we’ll figure it out together. ‘Kay?”

Your heart swelled at his words, the gentle pressure of his arms around you grounding you in a way that nothing else could. You nodded like an idiot, and let Danny lead you over to the edge of the bed that you had been sharing for the past few nights. 

You picked at a stray piece of wool that had escaped the hemline of your sweater as Danny's gaze burned into the side of your face.

He was the first to break the short silence, “Where is this coming from? You never doubt yourself like this.” 

He was right. You, like probably every other person on the planet, had insecurities, yet you had an ability to never let them hold you back. It was something that Danny loved about you– the way that you could be unabashedly yourself, despite what others thought about it. That was until your douchebag of a boyfriend cheated on you with possibly the most beautiful woman you’d ever seen. 

You hesitated, not wanting to come across as fragile or jealous. You shrugged one of your shoulders and nuzzled your cheek into the bone, “I dunno, I guess after Otis… I just– I-,” you stumbled, trying to find the wording. Danny was patient with you, his arm stroking your back with ease and cation in silence as he gave you the time to spit the words out. “I’m worried it’ll all happen again. I mean, I know you would never do that. But next time on tour you might see or meet someone and I– what if I can’t be good enough for you?”

Your lips pressed into a tight line as you stared at your hands, revealing the underlying thoughts that had been pressing in on you for the past few days. 

“I don’t think you truly understand how long I’ve waited for you. How much I love you. I don’t want all those other people, I want you. And as for the boys… they’ve known for quite some time about my feelings. If anything they’ll have a word with me about treating you right,” he chuckled and tucked one of your baby hairs away from your face, “Just watch, I’m sure they’ll embarrass the shit out of me tonight talking about how much of an idiot I’ve been all these years.”

You sighed, “Okay.” You knew he was right, he had done nothing to make you expect anything different, but it had been hard nonetheless to accept treatment different than to what you were used to. 

His large fingers reached to your chin, almost engulfing it between his thumb and forefinger as he guided your gaze to his. He looked at you with such gentleness, such softness that you felt as if you were floating in his love. He leaned in and pressed his lips to yours lovingly. 

You hummed into the kiss, your body gravitating to him as you succumbed to the familiarity of Danny. Whether you realised it or not, he had always safekept your heart, and only now was he able to show it off. He was proud to have you walk into the room on his arm, and had been nothing but excited at the prospect of showing you off. 

But, as always, Danny cared about you more. Always put you first, and he didn’t want you to be forced into a situation that made you uncomfortable. 

Danny pulled back only slightly, separating your lips but hovering still that you shared the same breath. “We can stay home tonight if you’re feeling anxious. I’d hate for you to feel forced to do something that you don’t want to do,” he offered. 

You were quick to shake your head, and you brought your hand up to stroke his cheek, “No. I’m fine, just a bit nervous. I want to go out, promise,” you assured. “Plus, I’m feeling much better now,” you said with a flirtatious bat of your eyelashes, bringing him in for another kiss. 

You felt him smile into it, and one of his hands travelled from your back down to your hip, leaving a wave of vibrations in its wake.

You and Danny hadn’t been intimate yet, nothing apart from the not-so-innocent touches in your shared shower had occurred between the two of you. You were both teetering around the prospect on your tiptoes, never wanting to be the one to cross the line and make distance on such new territory.

And to be completely honest, you were absolutely terrified. You had only slept with a few others in your life, so it was safe to say that you were fairly inexperienced. Danny however, you were sure had slept around. You had seen firsthand the types of girls that left your shared apartment in the early hours of the mornings, and it petrified you.

You felt like a virgin all over again– what if you didn’t know what you were doing? What if you did something wrong? You would be lying to yourself if you said you weren’t worried about the physicalities of it all too. You had seen how… large he was and truly feared that things might not work out the way you’d hope. But worst of all, what if he didn't like your body? What if, after being sexually intimate, Danny realised that he didn’t like you so much after all?

It was silly, seeing as you'd shared a shower with him only days before; a shower where he fondled your breasts and touched you in ways more intimate than you'd ever been touched, yet the fear still crept into your mind like cancer.

“C’mon then, if we don’t leave soon we might actually be later than them,” Danny remarked and he pulled away from the kiss, simultaneously pulling you from your racing thoughts too. 

Danny watched mostly silently from the edge of the bed as you gathered your things, seeing as he was already ready and you had wasted most of your time picking at your appearance. 

“You look beautiful,” he complimented once you had finally packed your purse with essentials and deemed you looked good enough. He took your hand and walked you to the front door, and you leaned into him, smiling at his complement. “Like always,” he added, leaning in and pressing a chaste kiss to your forehead. 

You didn't have time to blush before he was rushing you out the front door, claiming you were going to ruin his punctual reputation with your record breaking slowness. You were hurried out in tufts of laughter as he expertly directed you from any impending thoughts that may sabotage this night from going well. And you were too blinded by his humour to even notice. 

It was a beautiful night, you realised as you stepped out of the car after the short drive to the bar. There wasn't a cloud in the sky to obscure the gorgeous view of stars overhead, and although a cool breeze drifted by, the air was warm. 

Danny extended his forearm and you wrapped your arms around it tightly, letting him anchor you amidst your floods of anxiety. He kissed the side of your head and led you through the front door. You were stopped at the door briefly by the bouncer to provide ID, before you were engulfed in the loud atmosphere of your friend's favourite bar. 

A live band was performing in the back corner, a small crowd circled around them as they swayed to the melody of the loud acoustics. The hum of the music was infectious, the energy almost tangible as it rippled through the room. You let Danny lead you into the bar, his hand wrapped tightly around yours, holding it in a way that made your heart flutter.

There was something so grounding about his touch, steady in the chaos of the thick mass of bodies. The smell of beer and perfume lingered in the air, mingling with the low murmur of conversations and the clinking of glasses.

“Here they are!” a voice as recognizably distinct as Josh’s yelled, somehow reaching volumes far higher than the music, causing a few heads to turn at the sound. You spotted him immediately, standing with the rest of the group who had all turned to watch your entrance.

Your heart gave a nervous kick, and you fought to keep your hand still in Danny’s as warmth flooded your cheeks. It wasn’t unusual for you two to show up places together, seeing as you shared an apartment. But holding hands? That was new. Unfamiliar. And definitely not something anyone had seen before tonight.

You reluctantly separated as you approached everyone individually, greeting your friends with hugs and hellos, the usual pleasantries exchanged with an underlying buzz of anticipation. 

“Happy birthday, Sam!” you exclaimed when you reached him, your arms automatically wrapping around him in a familiar embrace. He hugged you back, squeezing you tightly like the old friend he was. Sam was nearly as close to you as Danny, the three of you forming an inseparable trio since middle school, your bond running deep from shared experiences through the awkward teen years into high school.

“Thank you, I’m glad you could make it… Danny told me about, you know, what happened.” He stuffed his hands into his front pockets, rocking back on his heels with a slightly awkward, sympathetic smile. There was a depth to his words, a weight behind the casual tone, and it caught you off guard.

Heat rushed to your face, embarrassment washing over you. You couldn’t help but feel a stab of betrayal that Danny had already told Sam about your new relationship. It wasn’t as if it were a secret, you were planning on telling everyone tonight anyway, but it still felt wrong, like something had been taken from you before you were ready.

“But don’t let it get you down, ‘kay? He’s an idiot. We always knew you could do better than him. What was his name again anyways? Otto?” Sam added.

Relief hit you like a wave, your body relaxing as you realised Danny hadn’t been telling everyone your business. Of course he hadn’t. He promised he wouldn’t, and Danny was nothing if not true to his word. Guilt bubbled up inside you for doubting him in the first place, and you offered a small, apologetic smile to Sam as you tucked a few stray hairs behind your ear.

“Otis. But yeah, I know, he was a dick…” Your voice trailed off as your thoughts wandered back to the night’s real purpose. When would be the best time to reveal your relationship? You mentally kicked yourself for not rehearsing this with Danny beforehand, feeling woefully unprepared.

“Hah! That’s one way to put it!” Sam was clearly a few drinks in already, his smile lazy and lopsided. He slung a heavy arm over your shoulders, pulling you into his side with a little too much force as he spun you both around until you were facing Danny, who was deep in conversation with Jake, a beer in hand.

Sam extended his arm, motioning toward where Danny stood. “Now, my dear. It’s been a while since Daniel’s gotten any,” Sam started with a wiggle of his eyebrows for emphasis. “So I invited some of my lovely lady friends over there to help him out,” he said, nodding his head toward a group of four or five girls. All of them stunning, hair pin-straight, dresses tight and short, their eyes scanning the room, stood in a small circle as they chatted amongst themselves. “Josh and I have made bets on which one will be the lucky lady, what d’ya think?” He nudged you playfully, clearly unaware of the impact his words were having on you.

Your heart dropped, the weight of his words settling heavily in your chest as you watched one of the taller girls flip her hair over her sharp shoulders, her full and unnaturally large lips puckering slightly as she spoke to her friends. The knot in your stomach tightened, twisting uncomfortably.

“Oh, um, I don’t know,” you murmured, your voice small as you tried to mask the growing discomfort. You shifted uneasily under Sam’s arm, feeling the pressure of his intoxicated weight and the sting of his ignorance. It was becoming too much, too fast. You weren’t prepared for this level of emotional turbulence tonight.

“You alright?” Sam’s voice cut through your thoughts, concern lacing his words as he loosened his grip on you slightly. You nodded, but it wasn’t convincing. You could feel the heat rising to your cheeks, and you swallowed thickly, wishing more than anything that you had taken Danny’s offer to stay home. This was supposed to be a celebration, but the tension in your chest told you otherwise.

The sound of your name broke through the fog of your thoughts, and when you looked up, there was Danny, standing right in front of you, his presence like a balm to your nerves. Relief flooded through you as you met his eyes, those warm, steady eyes that always seemed to ground you when you needed it most.

“Hey, you okay?” he asked, his brow furrowed in concern as he took in your pale expression. “I was about to head to the bar, but didn’t know what you’d like to drink.”

Before you could respond, Sam butted in with his usual boisterous charm. “Daniel, brother! How are you?”

Danny offered a polite smile. “Good, good, Sam. Want me to grab you something from the bar too?”

Sam’s attention shifted momentarily as he waved a hand toward the group of girls again, his voice lowering conspiratorially. “No, thank you. But I think one of those lovely ladies over there would be delighted to get a drink…” He wiggled his eyebrows, the innuendo unmistakable. 

Danny’s shoulders sagged slightly in understanding, his eyes darting to yours. You could see the apology written all over his face, the unspoken ‘I’m sorry this is happening’ lingering between you.

“No, Sam,” Danny said, stepping closer to you, his hand gently brushing against your back as he subtly unhooked Sam’s arm from your shoulders. His touch was protective but soft, like he always knew how to comfort you without making a scene. “I’m actually… not looking for anyone. I'm not single anymore,” there was a pause, “We’re not single anymore.”

Sam blinked, his drunken mind clearly struggling to keep up with the sudden shift in conversation. “No? Since when? Who’re you dating?”

You couldn’t help the small laugh that bubbled up, a mix of amusement and nervousness. Danny’s hand settled on your waist, pulling you closer to him as he pressed a kiss to the side of your head, his lips lingering just long enough to make the meaning clear.

Sam’s eyes went wide, realisation dawning on him in slow motion. “Oh my God! Finally! It’s finally happening!” he yelled, drawing even more attention from the nearby crowd. Before you had a chance to react, Sam had taken off, rushing through the bar to find his brothers, you assumed.

When he returned, both twins in tow, their faces a mixture of confusion and mild irritation, Sam was still buzzing with excitement. “Danny, tell them! Tell them!” His voice was loud, his enthusiasm infectious, and you couldn’t help but smile despite the chaos.

Neither of you had to say a word, though. The way Danny held you, his arm secure around your waist, told them everything they needed to know.

“It’s about fucking time,” Josh exclaimed, walking forward to pull you into a hug, which felt incredibly unnecessary. His embrace was strong, almost squeezing the breath out of you, but you could sense his genuine excitement through his tight grip. You let out a small laugh, feeling the warmth of the moment despite the slight awkwardness of the hug.

Jake whooped from the side, clearly several drinks in, his face flushed from both alcohol and excitement. It made you wonder how much he had been drinking with Sam before this. 

“Well, who made the first move?” Jake asked, grinning mischievously as his voice rose over the noise of the party. He looked from you to Danny, eyes gleaming as he added, “We’ve placed bets on this, you see.”

You couldn't help but burst into laughter at that, the absurdity of them betting on something like this catching you off guard. When you looked up, you saw Danny blushing deeply, his face redder than you'd ever seen before. It was a rare sight to see him so flustered.

You decided to move to a nearby open booth to talk, grateful for a chance to settle your nerves a bit, and Danny’s hand, warm and steady against your back, was the only thing keeping you grounded.

For a brief moment, you’d almost forgotten about the girls who had been invited to keep Danny company, their presence now completely irrelevant.

“Well,” you started once you were all seated in the booth, the comfortable leather seats making everything feel much more intimate, “It all kind of came out three days ago, after… you know.” You shifted slightly, feeling the familiar unease at the memory of Otis. The weight of that situation still hung in the air, but Jake’s quick nod of understanding helped ease the tension. He then raised his brow expectantly, waiting for you to spill the details.

You looked up at Danny, silently asking him to take over. You trusted him to handle this, and as always, Danny seemed to read your mind. He gave you a small nod before speaking, his voice calm and reassuring. “Well, before we tell you, we’ve gotta hear the bets first.”

The boys laughed, all leaning back in their seats, their playful energy filling the booth. “Well, I always thought Danny was too much of a pussy to admit anything,” Josh said with a grin, throwing his arms lazily over the back of the booth chair. “Bet a hundred and fifty on it.” The casual way he tossed out the number surprised you, and you raised your brows at the high price. You heard Danny chuckle softly beside you, clearly amused.

“I agreed,” Sam chimed in, his voice carrying the same lightheartedness. “Danny’s been talking about you for so long, and I knew the longer he waited, the harder it’d be for him to actually say anything. Jake’s the only one who believed in him, it seems.”

You turned to look at Danny, raising a brow, silently acknowledging the truth in their words. As much as you loved Danny, you had to admit that the majority guessed right.

“Well? Who was it? Who made the first move?” Sam asked again, his eagerness even more evident now, eyes bright with anticipation.

You bit your lip nervously, feeling a flutter of nerves before you perked up in your seat a little. “Me.” Your voice came out stronger than you expected, but the truth felt freeing.

As you spoke, Danny’s hand rested on your thigh, his thumb gently rubbing smooth circles over the fabric of your jeans. The subtle, comforting motion grounded you, and you felt him give your thigh a small squeeze as if in recognition of how thankful he was that you did make that first move. 

“Ha ha! Pay up, son of a bitch,” Josh crowed, swivelling in his seat to look at Jake, his face lit up with victory. Jake let out a laugh, but it was tinged with defeat. He lifted his hips slightly to retrieve his wallet from his back pocket, his expression exaggeratedly pained as he sifted through the bills before reluctantly handing over one hundred and fifty dollars to both Josh and Sam.

“I’m just happy it finally happened,” Jake said, shaking his head as he stuffed his wallet back into his pocket. “Danny’s talked our ears off enough about you.” His words were spoken with affection, and you felt the warmth of his teasing radiate through the group.

“Or is this just gonna make it worse?” Sam added, and the others groaned in unison, making it clear that Danny’s affection for you was something they’d all heard about more times than they could count.

You laughed along with them, a lightness settling over you, feeling utterly flattered. Knowing that Danny had been just as in love with you all this time, just as much as you had been with him, made you feel warm and bubbly inside.

“Alright, that’s enough,” Danny said, standing up from the booth with a mock groan. “You want anything from the bar, beautiful?” he asked, turning to you with a soft smile. 

There was a collective ‘ooh’ at the casual use of the pet name and you bit your lip to hold back your laugh. 

“I’ll have whatever you’re having,” you said with a smile. Danny leaned back in to press a kiss to your cheek before leaving to get you drinks from the bar. You sighed, leaning back in your chair and smiling lightly at what had happened. You weren't sure what had you doubting their reactions so much. You knew them, and they loved you and Danny both. Just as Danny had said, they were completely expecting it, even surprising you with the ridiculous bets they had made. 

At one point in the night, Sam and Josh caught Danny giving you a rather chaste kiss as you waited for Josh to play his round of pool.

“Eugh! It’s like seeing your parents kiss,” Sam complained, raising his hands to try and block the sight. You both laughed, knowing that his jokes were all in good humour.

“Yeah, get a room!” Josh yelled drunkenly, waving his arms around dramatically.

The rest of the evening went by smoothly, all of you feeling a slight buzz from drinking, apart from Danny who had sworn off any more after his second drink as he was driving you both home.

As he expected, Jake, Josh and Sam had delved into stories and recollections of Danny's pining. Their words made you blush significantly, but nowhere near as much as Danny.

He would groan in embarrassment, begging them to stop, yet he truly wanted them to keep going, knowing that you’d feel more confident in the fact that Danny wanted you. 

Sam and Jake became familiar with some of the girls who had been invited for Danny's sake, and you watched in amusement as they tried to charm them drunkenly. The rest of them branched off to the rest of the party, thankfully, leaving Danny and you alone completely to be at ease. 

When the night came to an end, and you found yourself so exhausted that you felt like you could sleep on the bartop, Danny took it upon himself to call it a night. You bidded your goodbyes and a happy birthday to Sam, and wandered out of the bar to Danny's parked car. His forearm was offered to you at his side, and you slinked your arm over him, hugging your body as close to him as you could as you walked. 

“Thank you for tonight, Danny,” you said, your words a mere whisper, but otherwise loud in the silence of the night. 

“Thank you. How do you feel about everything?” he asked, hoping your nerves were diminished after the night's events. 

You smiled up at him lazily, “So good, I don't know what I was so worried about. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

𓅪

The next day was spent at home. Danny and you meandered around aimlessly, doing your usual Sunday shores, and revelling in the domesticity that was the love you harboured for one another.

Whether it be the gentle touch of his fingers on your waist when he passed you in the hallway, or the fleeting kisses he left on your skin before you moved past, you felt like you were melting in his love. 

Danny insisted on cooking you your favourite meal for dinner, spanish fideuà. It was something you didn't have often, but it reminded you of home, and Danny was more than eager to do whatever it took to make you smile. 

He was absolutely shameless in his love for you now, despite you showing him in any and all ways how happy you were, he always went one step above, offering you help, complimenting you and anything else that came to his mind to float you higher and higher in the throws of his love. 

“Danny, this is delicious,” you hummed, as you got the first taste of the seafood dish he had spent the last few hours preparing. 

His eyes lit up at your words, “Really? I know it's nowhere near as good as your moms, but–”

“It’s amazing Danny, thank you,” you interrupted, unable to hear him doubt himself for another moment. You shuffled closer to him from your spot on the floor. You both regularly ate on the floor from the coffee table, being a casual and comfortable position that let you watch a movie while you ate. 

You snuggled into his side, letting your body press into his and absorb most of his warmth, and his heart fluttered at the action. 

“Alright, what movie are we gonna watch tonight?” you asked through a full mouth, setting your fork down on your bowl and reaching over Danny for the remote on the other side of the coffee table. Your phone buzzed too, so you picked it up with the remote and brought them both to your lap. 

“Hmmm,” he hummed through his own full mouth, “I’m feeling like a classic tonight, maybe… The Notebook?”

You looked up at him with a smile, to see him smirking down at you, “Now, are you just saying that cause you know it’s my favourite?”

He looked up in faux thought, “Maybe… or maybe I’m just happy to watch anything, as long as it’s with you.”

You blushed and looked down, pursing your lips as you bit back a smile. He laughed lightly at your response, and pulled you in impossibly closer by his arm. 

Your phone buzzed again in your lap, and you reluctantly reached down to pick it up. You had three new messages from an unknown number. Frowning in confusion, you unlocked your phone and read the messages. 

Your heart sunk when you read them. Despite blocking Otis after telling him to leave you alone, he was absolutely relentless. 

The first message was just your name, alone in its own message bubble, and it made your stomach twist. The next message read, ‘You can’t just cut me out. You haven't even heard me out yet, I never meant to hurt you.’ You didn’t even let yourself read the last, clicking your phone off and shuffling uncomfortably as you sat up straight, pulling yourself away from Danny.

Danny called your name, but his voice sounded distant through the fog of panic that surrounded you. “Baby? Hey, what’s wrong?” he moved closer to you again, resting his hand softly on your back. You looked up at him and were welcomed by his soft expression of concern. You wordlessly handed him your phone to read himself. 

He took the phone carefully, and as he read the messages his expression morphed into one unreadable. Angry, concerned, or annoyed? You weren't sure. 

“Is this.. This is Otis right? I thought you blocked him.”

“I did, this is from an unknown number. I don't know, he must be using a friend's phone or something,” you mumbled weakly, feeling yourself shrink into yourself. 

Danny shook his head, breathing a frustrated breath from his nose, “Look, you don't owe him anything. We’ll just block this one too, and he’ll get the hint.” He took your hand and squeezed tightly. 

“I don’t know… he’s stubborn,” you explained. 

“I can talk to him then,” Danny suggested. 

You quickly turned to him, shaking your head quickly, “No, no don’t do that. It’ll only make things worse. I don't want to get you involved.” He looked at you with a deep frown on his face. “It’s fine, I’ll just tell him to leave me alone again,” you assured, though your tone sounded anything but.

Your stomach began to boil with anger rather than fear. How dare he interrupt you during your quiet movie night of dinner with Danny. How dare he think he had the right to speak with you after the way you had ended things. 

With a sigh, you threw your phone to the other side of the coffee table and returned to your nook by Danny's body. He held you tightly, protectively, and it almost made you forget the messages existed at all. He lifted the remote and put on The Notebook, as he tried his hardest to get your mind off of Otis, tracing patterns into your skin by your hip with the blunt tip of his finger. You sighed as you sank deeper into him. 

About halfway through the movie, once you had practically forgotten about everything apart from the characters on the screen and Danny's warmth beside you, there was a firm knock on the front door. You jumped, startled from the noise as you looked up at Danny questioningly.

With furrowed brows, he moved to get up, but you placed a hand on his chest, not wanting to worry him anymore after the busy hours he had spent in the kitchen for you. 

“It’s alright, I got it,” you said, giving him a quick peck before climbing over him and walking to the front door, the only sound in the silence of the apartment being your bare feet padding against the floorboards. 

Once you approached the door, you raised to your tiptoes to peer through the peephole, knowing better than to open the door to an unknown guest. Your heart sank when you saw Otis. 

You sighed frustratedly and swung the door open. “What do you want?” you asked sternly, your tone coming across just as harsh as you intended. 

His eyes shot to yours as he realised that you actually opened the door and said your name pleadingly, taking a step towards you. “I– we need to talk,” he pleaded, reaching a hand out to you. 

You recoiled from his touch, “We don’t have anything to talk about. We aren’t together anymore, don’t come back,” you responded, stepping back and out of the way of the door as you swung it shut. Otis desperately launched forward and caught it before it closed completely. 

Danny, who had been listening from the couch, stood. He had wanted to give you space to fight your own battles, but as soon as he saw Otis forcing the door open against your wishes, he knew that he needed to intervene.

“Let go,” you ordered, trying to pry him away from the door. 

“Baby, you haven’t heard me out, please. It was a mistake and…” Otis trailed off, mouth agape as he searched for the words. His attention was caught when Danny's figure approached from behind you. You turned to look at him, eyes blown in frustration and conflict. “Oh,” Otis said, eyes narrowing and clearly taken aback. There was a moment of silence where he tried to articulate his next words, his face morphing from apologetic to distaste in a mere second. “So I didn’t actually do anything wrong? You just needed an excuse to fuck your roomate?” he spat. 

Danny stepped forward, took your arm in his hand and pushed you behind him gently. 

“Excuse me?” he seethed. You couldn't see his expression from behind him, yet you could only imagine the anger in his eyes. Danny was significantly taller than Otis, and loomed from what you could guess was about eight inches above him. 

Otis, clearly caught off guard by the confrontation, fell back to insults to save his pride. “Don't worry man, you can have your slut,” he taunted and you flinched at the vulgarity of his words. Otis had never spoken to you like that.

Danny stepped forward, but you quickly grabbed his wrist. He looked back and down at you, the look on his face frightening, but softening slightly when he saw you, shaking your head. 

Danny tuned back to Otis, “You better watch your fucking mouth. Now go, I don’t want to see you back here–”

“Or what?” Otis challenged, taking a step closer to Danny threateningly. You felt completely helpless, guilty that Danny was fighting your battles for you, but angry at Otis's awfulness. 

You tried to diffuse the situation, frustration and aggression hanging heavily in the air, “Both of you, please can we jus–”

“I’m serious. Leave,” Danny seethed, his shoulders squaring as he stepped to the side, blocking your body from Otis completely. By this point, all you could see with the contracting muscles in Danny's back from beneath his shirt as he breathed deeply. You tried your best to peer over his shoulder to prevent whatever mess was to unfold, but it was to no avail.

“Fine,” you heard Otis say, “But you’ll get tired of her, just like I did. Call me if you’ve got any questions on how to get her to shut the fuck up,” he spat with a snicker. 

In an instant, Danny lunged forward, grabbing Otis by the collar and slamming him against the wall beside your door. Otis’s head struck the surface with a dull thud, shock flashing across his face as he tried to regain his bearings.

The heels of your palms flew to your temples as you gasped, “Oh shit.”

“I told you to watch your fuckin’ mouth,” Danny shoved him further into the wall, teeth bared as anger fumed off of his skin like steam. Otis’s cocky demeanour was long gone, and now stood the image of an innocent and afraid victim. 

Despite the chaos of the moment, you couldn’t help but be drawn to Danny. His muscles were taut as he held Otis firmly against the wall, and his eyes burned with fierce intensity. The way he stood up for you during your most difficult moments ignited a fire within you, making it almost impossible to ignore the rush of desire that surged at the sight of him. So, you stood there and watched like a complete idiot.

“I’m– fuck I– I’m sorry, okay?!” Otis sputtered out, trying to rip Danny's hands off him. 

“Danny,” you called worriedly, knowing that if he didnt let go now, he was going to have an assault charge on his hands. He didn't look your way, but his shoulders relaxed at the sound of your voice, and he reluctantly let go, watching as Otis’s body sagged against the wall. 

Otis ran an antsy hand through his hair, “You’re fucking crazy man,” he then turned and looked at you, a crazed frustration in his eye, “Not worth the fuckin’ trouble anyways,” he muttered, before turning and storming down the hallway. Danny's head lifted at his words but you reached for him before he could make any irrational decisions, grabbing his arm, dragging him inside and slamming the door shut behind him. 

You stood by the door, watching as Danny ran his hands through his hair, pacing on the spot with his eyes trained on the ground. He breathed deeply, trying his hardest to regulate his temper before he addressed you. Just as you were about to reach for him, take his hand in yours and tell him that everything would be okay, he moved towards you, eyes searching yours desperately for some kind of refuge.

“Baby, I– I’m so sorry, I got carried away, I just– he said all those things and…” Danny rushed, his hands searching your own, gripping tightly as if your strength would keep him from falling off the face of the earth. His head dropped down in shame, “I’m so sorry, honey. Please forgi–”

Unable to hear him apologise any longer, you crashed your lips against his. He was still for a moment, processing your movements in silent shock, until, like a switch, he moved his lips against your own hungrily. You separated your hands, letting your fingers roam upwards and grip his hair and jaw, as his own hands fell to your waist, running his palms up and down your curves and squeezing at the hip. The kiss became needy and rushed, and you let out a quiet moan when Danny's tongue slipped into your mouth. You gravitated backwards, Danny leading you until your back hit the wall. 

Danny moved forward, the warmth of his body pressing against your own. Unknowingly or not, his knee slotted between your legs, and your thoughts went hazy as you ground your hips against it. Danny groaned at the feeling, revelling in the knowledge that you were enjoying him as much as he was you. 

His hot breath came out in huffs through his nose, drifting over your skin as his mouth explored yours desperately. Reluctantly, he pulled away, face flushed and panting heavily as his eyes searched yours. 

“So, you aren’t mad?” he asked. You looked up at him through your lashes, an undeniable need flowing through your body. You took his hand in yours and shook your head earnestly, slipping away from the wall and walking him away from the livingroom and towards the hallway to your bedrooms. 

Danny's brain short circuited when he realised what you were doing– where you were taking him. Nevertheless, he followed eagerly on your heels, blood rushing from his head and straight to his crotch as he tried to keep himself sane.

You walked into his dark bedroom, and Danny switched the light on by the door as he followed you to the bed. He clenched his jaw, trying his hardest to control himself and not explode from the anticipation. You turned around and kissed him again, this time shying slightly from the control. You were undoubtedly nervous, no matter how badly you wanted this, you couldn't shake the anxiety of doing something wrong from your head. 

Always in tune with everything that was you, Danny took the lead, edging you closer and closer to the bed until the back of your knees made contact with the mattress. Dannys lips stayed connected to yours as you lowered yourself down, leading you further onto the bed, your hearts beating in rapid synchronicity. 

Moments of pause to catch your breaths were quickly ended as you both searched for one another, hands wandering across your bodies while you brought forward the feelings that had lingered in you both, sat dormant for too long.

Soon, your back was flat on the bed, and Danny hovered over you, having crawled his way up on top in your crazed hypnosis. You shivered when the hand resting on your waist travelled up your ribs, his knuckles brushing the underside of your breast from beneath your tank top. 

Danny broke from your lips and looked up at you, “Is this okay?” he asked, his knuckles dragging back and forth. He was a sight to see, lips plump and swollen, eyes blown out and cheeks red hot. 

“Yes,” you whispered breathlessly with a frantic nod. You threaded one hand back into his curly hair to bring him back down to your lips, while the other rested on his side. At your permission, Danny's large hand cupped your right breast, and squeezed just tight enough that the soft skin morphed under his imprint. You moaned at the sensation, but before you had time to feel embarrassed, Danny groaned back, grinding his hips into yours. 

Your mind went haywire as you felt the bulge pressing against you through his sweatpants, mixed with the feeling of him fondling your breasts. 

Parting from you again, you realised Danny was panting now. He swallowed nervously, his nose brushing against yours as his hand reached for the strap of your tank top, “Can I take this off?” he asked, eyes boring into your own with such intensity.

“Please,” you responded pathetically. Your core had begun to ache, his groin only brushing against yours briefly now, and your skin was ablaze with the need of his touch. Danny smiled at your words, eyes drifting back down your top as his fingers nimbly took the hem of the top and slid it upward. 

You sat up as he slipped it off your body, raising your arms to let him fully remove it. He discarded it with a toss somewhere behind him, and when his eyes returned to you, they were blown out and wide. He had seen your breasts already, but not like this. This was different, just as tender, but with lust heavy in the air. 

Danny's lips found yours again as his hand reached up to cup your breast again, this time completely bare. The heat of his palm pressed into your nipple as he squeezed, your flesh pooling around his fingers. His sloppy kisses began to change pace, drifting from your mouth to your jaw. Down past your jaw to the tender skin of your neck. 

The sensations were completely overwhelming, yet not nearly enough. The pad of his thumb flicked over your nipple, before pinching it against his pointer finger while he sucked into the tender spot beneath your ear. You breathed loudly, the hint of a moan breaking free at the feeling. 

Once Danny felt satisfied with his work on your neck, his lips continued their assault downward, until they too met the crest of your breasts. Taking one in his mouth, he played with the bud of the other while he licked and sucked at the flesh, making you writhe beneath him, hips grinding upward for relief. 

“Danny,” you whispered breathlessly, “Please.” 

He looked up at you from his place on your chest. “Are you– are you sure? I don't want you to feel like you have to repay me or anything after… after what just happened with Otis. I need you to be sure.”

Your heart ached at his kind words and consideration, but your core ached more, “I promise, I’m sure.” You nodded frantically, reaching down to stroke his cheek, and he leaned into your touch.

Slowly, he dipped his head back to your chest, and he pressed a firm kiss to your sternum. The wet warmth of his lips travelled downward, the kisses turning sloppier the further he moved. Once his lips passed your belly button and were interrupted by the hem of your knitted lounge pants, his fingers traced the hemline as he looked back up at you again, asking for your silent permission with his needy eyes. 

You nodded again, eagerly lifting your hips to help him as he hooked his thumbs under the waistband and pulled them down your legs and over your feet, discarding them somewhere on the floor near your top. 

You tensed as his lips continued their descent, “Wait– what are you doing?” you asked, closing your legs and bending your knees slightly to give yourself space. Danny pulled away immediately, a soft hand coming down your thigh to stroke the skin gently. 

His brows furrowed, “What do you mean?” You only stared at him, eyes wide and biting your lip. Nobody had even gone down on you before. Your friends and sometimes commented on it, making you feel slightly left out from the experience, but no partner you’d ever been with had gone there– had ever wanted to go there. 

When Danny realised you weren't going to say anything, he stroked his hand down your thigh to your bent knee, “I want to touch you and… taste you, if you’ll let me.”

Your cheeks flamed at his words, and you became suddenly aware of the warm wetness that had accumulated below. 

“I… nobody’s ever done that to me before,” you explained, picking at the edges of your nails nervously, sitting up slightly. 

Danny frowned deeply, “What do you– nobody’s ever gone down on you before?” he asked incredulously. Your face flushed, all confidence completely gone as you regretted ever going this far with Danny at all. He probably thought you were a complete prude. 

“Hey, don’t be embarrassed,” he ordered, “It’s just me.” He reached a hand up to cup your face, his body shifting slightly to bring himself closer to you and further from your lower half. “We don’t have to if you don't want to. But, I want to show you what it feels like, if you’d like that?”

Your stomach flipped, and you struggled to hold the burning eye contact Danny was staring at you with. “Okay.”

“Okay? You wanna try it?” he asked, hands rubbing against your bare sides comfortingly. 

You nodded your head, “Yes.”

Danny smiled at you softly and slid his body back down so that his face was hovering over your public bone. “Okay, just tell me if you want me to stop.”

With that, he looked back at your centre, eyes zeroing in on the wet patch that had soaked through your panites by your entrance. His mouth parted and he breathed deeply at the sight, eyes only catching yours for another moment before he tenderly took the sides of your underwear and tugged them downward. 

You lifted your hips for him to take them off, and as he slid them down your legs, you immediately regretted not shaving that morning. You weren't particularly ‘hairy’, having shaved one or two days ago, but there was a little stubble, and you worried Danny was going to change his mind at the sight of it. Otis wouldn't have gotten within an inch near your body if you weren't freshly shaved, claiming that it ‘wasn’t very sexy’. But Danny was about to put his mouth on it, and the idea scared you to bits. 

Danny took no notice though, his own mind struggling to keep up with the reality of what was happening. If he could go back in time and tell himself at age fifteen what he was about to do, he was sure he would’ve had a stroke. 

Eyes catching yours briefly, his hand reached for your core, the tip of his middle finger sliding through the slick by your entrance and spreading it up through your folds to your clit. You breathed shakily at the feeling, pleasure coursing through you at the light touch. 

“So wet, sweet girl,” he mumbled, mostly to himself as he watched in awe as he coated you in your own arousal. His thumb joined soon after, rubbing slow, deliberate circles over the bud of your clit, and you clenched your stomach at the feeling, fighting the urge to buck your hips and arch your back. Your eyes squeezed shut as he stroked lazily over the sensitive spot, his other fingers probing gently at your entrance. 

His thumb left momentarily, and just as you were about to open your eyes to see where it had gone, an unfamiliar warmth enveloped you, pulling a moan from your chest. Your eyes shot open to see Danny's mouth on you, lips wrapped around your centre, eyes shut in gentle enjoyment. You felt his warm, wet tongue reach out and flick against your clit and you cried out, the sound making him smile against you. He continued relentlessly, revelling in the way you writhed beneath him in the throes of pleasure. One of his hands reached up to grab your breast, squeezing the flesh tightly and drawing another breathless moan from you.

“Feel okay?” he asked, pulling away slightly, the breath of his words ghosting over your wetness. 

“Ye– yes. So good,” you panted, struggling to maintain your composure. The cocky grin on his face only turned you on more, and when he brought his mouth back to you, mouth sucking on your clit tightly, you bucked your hips upward with a cry. Your hands flew to his hair, fingers threading through the curly locks. Through the haze of pleasure, you were briefly aware of his fingertips outlining your entrance. He broke away from you again, and you almost whined at the lack of contact. 

“Can I?” he asked, his middle finger pressing lighting into you. You bit your lips and nodded frantically. He smiled at your eagerness, bringing his lips down to you again and working a steady rhythm with his tongue. His middle finger slowly slipped inside you, and you groaned at the feeling mixed with his tongue against your most sensitive part. 

Slowly, he curled the same finger upward, pressing against your walls expertly, and you threw your head back in pleasure. 

“Ohh fuck,” you moaned, blind in the ecstacy of the motions. He continued with the movements, and your knees bent up around his head as you fought back the urge to crush him with your thighs. “Please, I need more,” you begged, and Danny slipped another finger inside you, his thick fingers stretching you lightly.

You moaned as he began to set a constant pace, his fingers pressing into your g-spot with every curl and his tongue flicking over your clit. Your hands tightened their grasp on his hair, tugging at the roots as you revelled in the pleasure.

He soon became relentless, starting off slow and gentle and building up a harsh and unapologetic pace against you. It didn't take you long to feel the tension build in your lower belly, and your thighs pressed into the sides of his head as it approached. 

Your stomach tightened, and your walls squeezed against his fingers. 

“Shit, Danny– Danny I’m gonna cum,” you cried out, giving him warning to move away, fearing finishing against his mouth would put him off.

Despite your fears, Danny grunted hungrily, the low sound vibrating against you and bringing you further to the edge. He pushed his body further into yours, suffocating himself in everything that was you. He took your nipple between his fingers and squeezed tightly as his fingers and tongue continued the steady pace against you. 

Eyes rolling back, your back arched off the bed as euphoria crashed over your body like a tidal wave. Your thighs locked against his head, keeping him in place as you ground your hips against his face, moaning loudly through your orgasm. Your fingers tugged at his hair, pressing him closer into you as all muscles in your body tensed, letting the magical feeling slip through your veins. 

Danny watched from between your legs, eyes trained on your face as you threw it back in pleasure. 

He held you through it, humming against you and jerking his fingers inside you despite the way your walls puslated and squeezed against him as you fell off the crest of the orgasm. 

Slowly, as not to overstimulate you, he eased his movements, wanting to draw out the orgasm for as long as he could, yet still keep the feeling as enjoyable for you, being especially aware that it was your first time. As the way you pulsed around him began to slow, he did too– his tongue merely dragging over your clit as you shuddered and his fingers only pressing lightly against the pillowy flesh of your g-spot. 

As your hands relaxed against his hair and your legs released him from their relentless grip, Danny took his mouth off you, and carefully slid his fingers out, leaving you feeling awfully empty. 

Eyes still shut, and head still limp against the mattress, you relied on your senses as you felt Danny crawl up your body. His hands took your jaw gently, and you fluttered your eyes open at the feeling, seeing him hovering just above you. Wetness glistened off his chin to his nose, and you whimpered pathetically at the sight of him wiping it off with the black of his hand. You were panting heavily still, chest rising and falling dramatically beneath him as you tried to calm yourself down. 

He leaned down and pressed a lingering, simple kiss to your lips. “How was that?”

You smiled lazily at him and hummed in approval, “So good, Danny.” You reached up and brought him into another kiss, deepening it as you traced your tongue along his lips. He opened his mouth to let you in, and hummed at your eagerness. Swiftly, you grabbed his shoulders and flipped him onto the bed, keeping your lips still connected so that you were straddling his waist. 

He made a sound of surprise at your movements, but you didn't stop kissing him. You ground your hips against his, feeling the bulge from beneath his sweatpants pressing into you, and you both groaned at the feeling.

“You’re too… dressed,” you complained against his lips in a whisper.

Slowly, you reached your hand under his shirt, and stroked your fingers over the skin of his chest. He shivered under your touch, his own hands reaching down to steady your hips as you ground against him. You took the hem of his shirt, and he instantly sat, pushing you up with him as he pulled the shirt off his body quickly, his muscles contracting in the movement. 

You reattached your lips to his as soon as you could, desire slapping you in the face as if you hadn’t already had an orgasm. Desperately, you reached your hand down to his sweatpants, feeling for him through the fabric. 

He moaned into your mouth when you held him, slowly grinding him into the heel of your palm as you began to rub him up and down. He pulled away from the kiss, unable to hold back the noises that escaped him as you touched him. He whispered your name in a moan, and at the encouraging noises, you let go of his bulge and slipped your hand under his sweatpants, watching his face intently to ensure you weren’t crossing any boundaries. 

He threw his head back when you touched him bare, taking a firm hold of his dick in your hand and stroking it lazily. He was huge, just as you’d seen days earlier while you showered with one another, but now that you held him, you understood his true size. You traced your thumb up the underside of his dick, until you reached the tip, which felt damp and swollen from strain and arousal. 

He moaned and bucked at the sensitivity, biting his lip painfully as he watched you watch him. You let yourself take some time to feel him, running your thumb over the ridge of his head, and around its circumference, before drifting your hand back down his shaft to the base. You watched carefully for his reactions, taking note of the particular sensitivity he felt when you slid his head between your pointer and middle fingers. 

Beads of precum had begun to trickle out of him, providing a slight amount of lubricant over the skin you rubbed against. But it wasn’t quite enough. 

Breaking your eye-contact, you looked down to where you held him, his pink tip resting against his abdomen and peeking out of the hem of his sweatpants while you stroked at the base of his cock. Slowly, you slipped down his body, smoothing your hands over his soft skin as you travelled down, and you watched in amusement as his eyes blew out widely. 

You took the hemline between your fingers and began pulling them down, but Danny's hand quickly rested on top of your own, halting your movements. 

“You don’t have to– just because I did for you. This isn’t tit for tat,” he assured, cradling your face and stroking the apple of your cheek. 

You looked up at him through your lashes, “I want to. Promise.” You reached under and gave him a long, slow stroke again and he fought to keep his eyes open at the feeling. You let go and reached for his sweatpants again, but he kept his hips still, looking conflicted and slightly unsure as he peered down at you. 

“Oh,” you faltered, “Unless you don’t want me to.” You reprimanded yourself for not asking him sooner, pulling away to sit upright and resting on his thighs. 

“No, no, I want you to. Of course I do. I just– stop that,” he reached up to take your thumb away from your mouth as you began to anxiously bite the skin around it. You put both hands in your lap with a huff. “It just might be… a bit hard for you to do. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

Though it sounded cocky, Danny was admittedly worried that you would push yourself for his own pleasure, and he knew that there was no way you could fit all of him in your mouth. He watched you carefully, taking note of the way you looked back down at him, hard and erect against his abdomen, before you made eye contact with him again. 

“Please, I want to try,” you asked, and he nodded without any further hesitation, giving you the go ahead. This time, he lifted his hips when you tugged at his sweatpants, and he breathed out a moan when you took him in your hand again. 

He watched you through hooded eyelids as, while maintaining eye contact, you leaned down to his cock and pressed a gentle kiss to the tip, a thin string of pre cum connecting to you for a moment as you pulled away. If you didn’t know otherwise, you'd think Danny was in pain by his expression, face taught with euphoria. 

You stuck out your tongue for him to see, and brought it to the bottom of his cock before slowly dragging up to the tip. He whimpered when you then took the tip into your mouth, letting your lips squeeze gently against him while your tongue rubbed against his frenulum. 

You knew your limits, and you knew you couldn't take all of him at once, not without gagging like an idiot, and you thought that activity would be best saved for another time. So instead, you wrapped your hand around the base of his cock, twisting slightly as you pumped him up and down. In synchronicity, you began to bob your head on his dick, bringing the head as deep into your mouth as you could reach before pulling back up again. 

Unable to control himself, his hands flew your head, gathering your hair away from your face into a makeshift ponytail. He watched you intently, brows furrowed in concentration and ecstasy, and he began to fear that the pleasure he was feeling already would have him finishing in the first few minutes. 

“Oh my– fuck,” he whimpered when you picked up your pace a little, getting more comfortable with the feeling of him in your mouth. You hummed in amusement as you felt him twitch against your tongue, his abdominal muscles spasming and hips shaking as not to thrust up into you, all while the pleasure completely overtook him. Danny didn’t care about being too loud, and his moans filled the silence of the room, eliciting a new wave of arousal to your core. 

Subtly, while keeping your movements steady and mouth still attached to him, you repositioned your lower half, throwing on knee over his leg so that you were straddling his left thigh. You sighed as you ground down against it, his bare skin and thick, coarse hair rubbing against you a feeling like no other. 

Danny popped his eyes open at the feeling of your wet warmth on his leg, and a deep groan fell from his mouth when he saw you rocking your hips back and forth against him, cock still in your mouth. 

“Ba– baby,” Danny stuttered, hips rocking gently against you in sync to meet you. 

“Hmm?” you hummed against him. 

“Ah– fuck. I need to have you… and if you– fuck, if you keep this up I'm gonna– shit baby, I'm gonna cum.” 

Reluctantly, you pulled your mouth away from him, not wanting the night to be over yet, and though Danny had been chasing the feeling of release, you could tell he wanted you to stop too. 

Without warning, Danny grabbed your underarms and pulled you up his body, making you squeal. Once you were chest to chest, he wiped away the spit that had spread across your lips and coated your chin, before pulling you in for a hungry kiss.

He flipped you over quickly, your back making contact with the warm sheets beneath you, and you were briefly aware that it had been dampened with his sweat. 

Danny kissed you again, but broke away soon this time, leaning over to reach for his nightstand. He pulled open the drawer and blindly shuffled around until he grabbed a box and pulled it out. He was still kneeled either side of your body, cock hanging in the air between the two of you as he took the box and sifted through with his fingers for a condom. 

“Wait, Danny,” you said, hand coming to meet him where he held the condom. He froze immediately, fearing that he may be moving too far, too fast. 

“What's wrong?” he asked, abandoning the box of condoms by his bedside table again, giving you his complete, undivided attention. 

“I’m uh… I’m on the pill, and I’m clean. I wanna feel you… without the condom,” you admitted, cheeks flushing red as you spoke. 

He blinked, brain clearly running a mile a minute, “Oh– Yeah, I– I’m clean too. Does that mean I can…?” he stammered, trailing off in caution. 

You nodded, “You can finish inside.” 

Danny's eyes nearly rolled back at the sound of your voice uttering those words, and he swallowed thickly, licking his lips before meeting your lips again. 

“I love you,” he whispered against your mouth. 

“I love you too.” You raised your hips slightly, making his tip brush against your lower belly, and he chuckled. 

“So needy,” he teased, learning down further on his knees and taking himself in his hand, pleasuring himself momentarily with a few languid strokes. 

Meeting your eyes again, he took your hip into his other hand, and brought his cock to your centre. He dragged his sensitive tip through your wetness, spreading it from your entrance to your clit, the stimulating feeling eliciting from you a moan. 

He repeated the motion a few more times, helping you relax at the pleasurable feeling against you, while coating you both with your own lubricant. When he returned to the entrance this time, he pressed the tip in lightly, eyes jumping back to your face to make sure you were okay. 

When he saw you were watching intently with your jaw hung slightly agape, he continued, pushing into you only slightly more. The stretch was overwhelming, but in the best way possible, and you spread your legs wider to give him space. He took his hand off your hip momentarily to use his fingers to spread you further, his cock slipping into you with much more ease. 

You jumped with a hiss when the stretch was almost painful, a stinging sensation sparking inside you.

He froze immediately. “You okay?”

You nodded, “Yep, just…” you wiggled your hips, letting yourself get used to the sheer size of him before you continued, “Keep moving, I’m okay.” 

With a quiet ‘okay’, he continued his push forward, watching your expression intently as he slipped further and further into you until he was finally completely bottomed out, his abdomen flush against your own. He sighed loudly at the sensation, leaning forward on his hands so that his head was hovering above your own. 

“Fuck, you feel so good. So warm,” he groaned. 

The sensation was indescribable. You felt so incredibly full, the feeling of him inside you like nothing you had experienced with anyone before. Though, you soon became too comfortable with the feeling, and were desperate for friction.

You began to slowly grind your hips, hoping he would get the hint to start moving, but his hand shot to the soft flesh of your hip, holding tightly to stop you from moving. 

“Just… give me a minute, please. You’re so fucking tight,” he breathed, eyes rolling back with his mouth hung open widely. 

You tried your hardest to relax for him, but the need for movement was overwhelming. You reached your hand down between your bodies and pressed your fingers against your clit, rubbing round in slow circles to give yourself some relief. Danny's eyes followed your hand and he huffed, neck straining as he saw what you were doing. 

Very slowly, and with a deep, contented sigh, Danny pulled back, and you bit back a moan at the feeling of him sliding from you, until just the tip was left. In a swift movement, he pushed back in, the two of you moaning at the feeling together. 

He repeated those movements a few more times, until he was used to the feeling, letting his movements gain more speed against you. You abandoned your clit when he began to speed things up, the feeling more than enough to throw you into the abyss of pleasure. 

“Oh Danny, that feels–” you moaned, latching your hand under his arm to grip his back, nails digging into his skin lightly. 

“How does it feel, pretty girl? Hm? Tell me,” he panted, hips now meeting yours quickly, the sound of your bodies slapping wetly mixing with your loud moans and pants. 

“Feels s’ good, Danny. I– Ah!” He picked up the speed again, and you got dizzy at the feeling of his cock slamming into your g-spot relentlessly. With one arm keeping himself steady against his mattress beside your head, Danny reached his other hand to your hip, fingers pressing into the muscle firmly as he kept you steady, his thrusts now hitting you impossibly deeper than before. 

Your moans sounded borderline pornographic, and when Danny leant down to attach his mouth to your nipple, you all but screamed. The familiar feeling of release crept up on you, and despite your efforts to push it away, it gripped you tightly, squeezing your core and making you shudder. 

“Oh fuck, I can feel you, Baby,” he heaved, abandoning your tit and pressing his forehead to yours, “Squeesing me so tight. You gonna cum again for me?” 

“Yes!” you squeaked out, and he chuckled at the sound. “Danny… Oh Jesus– fuck!” you exclaimed, succumbing to the overwhelming power of your orgasm. Your legs spasmed, flying up to lock around his behind, keeping him close as he fucked you through the orgasm. 

Both of your arms threw around his back, one of them wrapping up to hold the back of his neck, nails digging in harshly as you fought to keep conscious through the orgasm. 

“That's it, that’s– Oh God, there you go,” he cooed, talking you through the feeling as he slowed his thrusts in time with the rhythm of your fluttering walls. He came to a slow stop inside you, letting you come down from your high. 

You were a sight to see, Danny thought. Hair sprawled out around your head like some kind of religious halo, although nothing about these past few moments had been even slightly faithful. A stark flush had settled on your cheeks, spreading down your neck to your chest, and Danny couldn't help but compare them to the wet marks he had left behind with his mouth. A sheer layer of sweat had sunk into your hairline, and Danny knew he would have grown harder at the sight if it were possible. 

He stroked away some of the wet hairs that stuck to your temples, and you watched him intently as he did. 

“Roll over,” you told him, and you giggled at the surprised expression she bore. 

“Okay, bossy,” he teased, keeping you connected as he gripped your waist tightly, rolling onto his back so that you rested atop him. You leaned down and kissed him, threading your hands into his hair and he kissed you back with just as much passion, licking into your mouth and groaning. 

When you pulled away, you sat up properly, getting a full view of Danny laying below you, body on display and face fucked out. You smiled devilishly at the sight and sighed when you put all of your weight on his lap, ensuring his dick was as deep in you as it could be. 

His hands flew to your thighs, gripping tightly as he watched you. Not exactly knowing what to do with your hands, you placed them on his abdomen to stabilise you while you began to move, grinding your hips in agonisingly slow circles against him. 

The feeling, for you, was magical, and the attention to your clit made your head drop forward, hair falling over your face. 

Danny reached up and brushed the mass of your hair away from your face to look at you. He watched as you moved for a while, hands keeping your hips steady as he helped you roll them back and forth against him. 

Hearing him call your name broke you from your trance. You opened your eyes to look down at him, seeing his expression needy and pained, “Ple– please move,” he begged. You realised how you had been neglecting him, leaving him sitting still inside you while you shamelessly pleasured yourself on the gruff hair over his pubic bone. 

Maintaining eye contact, and your hands steady on his stomach, you rolled your hips forward, arching your back and letting him slip out through your folds, before you slammed back down with conviction. 

You bot cried out at the sensation, feeling one another deeper than you had all night. You repeated a few times, slowly pulling away from him, only to drop back onto him with weight and speed, until you got into a groove. You moaned as you slammed onto him, his cock pounding into your g-spot.

He reached his hand up to your face, slipping his thumb into your mouth. You took the digit into your mouth sloppily, unable to focus past the intoxicating way his hips bucked up into you. He slipped his thumb out of your mouth and dipped it below. 

You yelped when you felt it press over your clit, rubbing wet circles into the sensitive bud, and making you double over in pleasure. Fatigue began to grace your movements, and as your hips slowed with exhaustion and laziness, Danny grabbed your ass with one hand, hooking under the thigh slightly for stability. He squeezed tightly so that his fingers dug into the fat, and held your body still above his.

He didn't give you time to complain at the lack of movement, before his hips slammed up into you. He was erratic and relentless, fucking into you so quickly, that all of your thoughts fell apart in your mind. 

You chanted his name like a mantra, and when he began to lift and drop your hips to meet him halfway, your third orgasm of the night began to approach. 

“Fuck! Danny I’m– it’s…” your sentence fell off with a moan. 

He grunted into your ear, “Let go Baby, just feel it.”

Listening to him, you fell forward onto his chest completely, your breasts pressed up against him as he continued his assault. The feeling grew, burning hotter and hotter in your core, until a completely unfamiliar feeling joined it. 

You jerked slightly at the sensation, a new kind of warmth travelling down your body, and rendering you completely limp in the pleasure. 

“Oh my– fuck, Danny! I–” 

He didn't give you any rest, driving you closer and closer to the release of this feeling that had you under its complete control. You moaned aimlessly into his chest, sweat sticking your skin together while you focused on the way his dick slammed into your walls rhythmically. 

Finally, as if you had reached the crest of a mountain, you began your inevitable descent, pleasure coursing through you like a violent shock of electricity. You squeezed tightly around him while he continued to pump into you furiously, and at the feeling of his thumb still caressing your clit, that same new sensation took hold again. 

You were briefly aware of warmth and wetness below, but the feeling shot through you too powerfully for you to notice much else. You wailed through the orgasm, never having felt anything as intense in your whole life, the release feeling like just that– a release. 

“Oh shit,” Danny panted, his breath fanning across your ear as he continued to thrust into you. He flipped you over again, much less gently this time, so that your back was against the sheets and wrapped his body around yours tightly. His arms slipped under your back, letting him rest his head into the crook of your neck as he moaned. His legs hooked into yours, encircling your body like you gave him life, as he continued to thrust endlessly into you. 

Your high began to wear off, though you were still hazy as he came apart on top of you, hugging you tightly. You wrapped your arms around him and raked your nails over his back, trying to keep yourself from squeezing him too hard at the overstimulation. 

It was to no avail though, as even the slightest pulse from inside you was all he needed to completely unravel. Moaning loudly, you felt his hips stutter, grip tightening around your body as he chanted your name. 

“I– I love you,” he cried out. 

“I love you too,” you repeated, holding him tightly through the buildup to his orgasm. He seemed to falter even further at the sound of your words, his movements falling sloppier and moans crying louder.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he muttered, muffled by the pillows along with the other profanities he repeated through clenched teeth. You moaned as you felt his hot release spill into you, his cock twitching inside you before it stilled, unmoving in the deepest part he could reach. 

He thrusted slowly only a few more times, his breath shuddering at the after effects of the orgasm, until he went completely still. 

You both lay there for the next few moments in complete silence, save for your desperate attempts to catch your breaths. 

“That was incredible,” he breathed into your neck, planting a soft, lingering kiss to the skin. 

“It was,” you agreed, unable to find the words through the haze that still fogged your mind. You shifted slightly, his dick still tucked into you but softening slightly. 

“Wha– why is there so much…” you trailed off as you felt an unusual amount of wetness coat your legs and the skin on which he had his body pressed against. 

“Hmm?” he questioned lazily. You bent your knee to try and get a closer look, struggling to see past Danny's huge body, but managing to see the clear wetness glinting from your thighs. They were absolutely soaked, and as you craned your neck up to investigate further, the sheets around you were darkened with saturation too. 

“What is this?” you asked, sitting up slightly. Danny pulled his head from your neck reluctantly, slipping his arms from their tight grasp around your back to prop himself up against the mattress. He peered down at where you were both still connected, and smiled at the mess you had left behind. 

“What’s what?” he asked. 

You ran a hand through the slick that dripped off your stomach and onto the bed sheets. It wasn’t thick like cum, or like your arousal, and was almost like water. Danny smiled mischievously, placing his flat palm across his stomach to feel where the liquid coated his skin too. 

He cleared his throat, “You… um, I think you squirted.”

You went red hot, embarrassment settling deep into your stomach, “What?”

He chuckled at your expense, “Don’t be shy, was fucking hot.”

You covered your face with your hands, groaning. “Oh my god, I’ve never done that before,” you admitted.

“Really?” he asked, relaxing his body back against you and using his hands to remove yours from your face. “Wanna see you,” he mumbled. You reluctantly opened your eyes, and saw the smuggest look on his face. 

“What?” you asked, still slightly embarrassed. 

He bit his lip, sticking out his tongue through his teeth, “I made you squirt.” His smile was huge, and you groaned in embarrassment. 

“Ugh, stop,” you groaned, pushing his head away as if it would ease your embarrassment. 

He chuckled. “Did it feel good?” he asked. 

You hesitated for a moment, bringing your hand to his hair and tracing little patterns into his scalp, “Felt really different. But really good, I’ve never felt anything like it before,” you admitted, and you felt his smile against your shoulder. 

“Hmmm, guess we’ll have to try it again then, won’t we?” he asked, bringing his hands to your waist and squeezing teasingly. You yelped at the ticklish feeling, laughing as you ripped his hands off your waist playfully. 

Sighing, Danny reluctantly pushed himself off you, “Alright, let’s get cleaned up. You up for a shower or are you too tired?” he asked. 

“I think I can handle a shower,” you giggled at him for thinking you would be too fucked out to last a five minute shower. Danny smiled, quickly leaning down to kiss your forehead before he pulled back again.

He reached down to where you were both still connected, holding himself gently as he slowly slipped out of you, causing both of you to sigh at the tender feeling. 

He climbed off you, planting his feet onto the floor and taking your hands to help you sit up. You let him drag you from your spot to the edge of the bed, careful to not drip more liquid onto the sheets. 

When he pulled you up to stand, your knees quite literally buckled beneath you. Danny quickly caught you with a ‘woah’, and sat you back onto the bed. 

He raised his brow at you, “Okay Miss ‘I can handle a shower’, you stay here and I’ll go get something to clean you up,” he instructed. You bit your cheek in embarrassment not expecting yourself to be so weak. 

You watched your shaky legs— which were quite literally trembling— swing off the edge of the bed as Danny stepped out, heading to the bathroom. The room felt warm, quiet, and you couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly everything had fallen into place between you two. Despite having known each other for most of your lives, the shift had been sudden– unexpected but natural. You sat there, taking in the moment and realising that this was what it felt like to be truly cared for.

“Alright sweet thing, can you lean back for me?” he asked once he returned. You nodded and leaned back on your elbows, watching as Danny ran a warm, wet cloth over your legs and stomach, collecting your release from your skin and leaving you feeling clean and comfortable. 

He was far more gentle when he ran the cloth over your sensitive centre, playing close attention to the way his own release dripped out of you slowly. You flinched at the sensitivity when the fabric grazed over your clit, and he muttered a quiet apology, smoothing his warm palm over your thigh. 

Once you were clean, he returned to the bathroom, to wipe himself clean from yours and his release, and as he turned to leave the room, you caught sight of red scratch marks on his shoulders and neck.

When he returned to the bedroom, he smiled as he saw you, struggling to stay awake beside the mess you had made on the bed. 

“I’m sorry if I hurt you,” you muttered, leaning forward to reach for his shoulders.

“What?” he asked, craning his neck to try and look at his back.

“You’re all scratched up,” you explained, feeling guilty for causing him any type of pain. But when a toothy grin spread across his face, you recognised an expression of pride on his face.

“Don’t apologise, I love it,” he said, and you stared at him incredulously.

“You’re an idiot,” you joked and he giggled.

His eyes drifted over to the damp sheets beside you and he smiled. “I think we should sleep in your bed tonight. I’ll clean these sheets tomorrow morning,” Danny offered, sitting on the edge of the bed and picking up your foot, kneading the muscles between his strong hands. 

You hummed at the feeling, “Mmm you’re right. But ‘m too tired to move,” you complained dramatically, lifting and dropping a lazy arm for effect. 

He chuckled, letting go of your foot to reach around your body. Standing up, he slid his hands under your armpits and pulled your body flush against his front. You wrapped your arms around his neck instinctively, your legs hooking around his waist when you understood what he was doing. 

“Wait– Danny…” you started, worrying he wouldn’t be able to bear your weight. He ignored you, knowing exactly what you were about to say as he held you by your ass cheeks and lifted you from the bed with ease. He leaned down to rub his nose against yours as he walked out of the bedroom. 

“Light,” he said, nodding to the light switch by the side of the door, his hands preoccupied with holding you by your ass. You reached up and switched it off before bringing your arms back around his neck, fiddling with the hairs as the nape of his neck.

“Wait Danny!” you exclaimed, “I forgot, I need to pee.” 

“Oh shit, yeah,” Danny turned on his heel, taking you to the bathroom, kicking up the toilet lid and carefully sitting you on top of the seat. He casually stepped towards the sink, squirting toothpaste onto his toothbrush and running it under the tap. He put the brush into his mouth and leant against the counter as you sat there in disbelief. 

“Are you just gonna stand there?” you asked, not sure if you had the confidence to pee in front of him yet. 

“What? It's not like I wasn’t just inside you,” he joked, shooting you a foamy smile. 

You huffed, but knew he was right. That, and you didn’t actually really care, as he had already seen every part of you by now. In fact, he’d tasted it too. Danny got your toothbrush ready too and brought it to you, plopping it into your mouth for you. You were both quiet as you brushed your teeth and did your business, soaking up the experience that you had both shared moments before. 

When you were both done, despite your protests, Danny lifted you back up and carried you down the hallway to your bedroom. He hovered by the door of your bedroom for you to turn on the main light again, and walked you to the bed, throwing you into the plush cushions with a grunt. You giggled as you bounced against the sheets.

Danny switched on the bedside light and quickly turned off the main light, before hopping over to the bed and joining you. Both of you were still very naked, but neither of you minded, swimming in the comfort of the closeness you could have to one another. 

You searched for Danny's body in the dark, reaching for his warmth and wrapping yourself around him once you found him. You shifted closer, pressing your body against his, your head finding its place on his chest, right over his heartbeat. His hand traced gentle patterns along your back, while the other rested securely around your waist, pulling you even closer.

You draped a leg over his, tangling yourself in him as if you were meant to fit together that way. His warmth surrounded you, his steady breaths a calming rhythm that matched your own. With your arm across his chest, you could feel the rise and fall of his breathing, grounding you in the moment. His fingers moved to your hair, stroking through the strands in slow, soothing motions as he sighed into your hair contentedly.  

“Danny?” you asked, breaking the soft silence between you.

“Hmm?”

“Can I ask you something?”

He shrugged you closer to him, “Of course, anything.”

You sighed, the question having weighed on you for the past few months, only coming to surface now that you were comfortable enough to ask him. 

“How come you never moved out to get a better place?” The words hung heavy in the air, and you quickly regretted bringing it up. “I mean, Josh, Sam and Jake all bought those huge houses in the last year, and you’re still splitting the rent of some shitty flat with me,” you tried to explain.

Danny was quiet against you for a while– so long in fact, that you began to question if he had fallen asleep. 

“Isn’t it obvious?” he finally spoke, “I want to live with you. I knew you couldn’t afford another place, and you’d never let me pay for you. Why would I want to move out when everything I want is right here?” 

Everything I want. The words drifted over your skin and warmed your soul, melting into crevices of your heart that hadn’t even realised were so cold.

His fingers drifted along the length of your spine, and your heart exploded with love for him. “Do… do you want to move out? Get a new place together?” he added.

You pulled your head back to look at him in the dark, not expecting him to take the conversation that far. “Wha– Danny, I can’t afford anything more than this right now.”

He spoke quickly, “I’ll pay for it, all of it. I have enough, I promise,” he reassured, but your guilt held you back. You couldn't use his money like that.

“I don’t know…”

“Just… think about it. I’m happy to stay here with you, forever, if this is where you are. But I can give you a life better than this. We can have a house big enough for all of those cats you want. And it would have a thermostat that doesn't break every month,” he chuckled, and you laughed with him, melting against his words of affection and serious commitment to you. “It can be big or it can be small, it can be wherever you like. With a big garden for you to grow those pink flowers you like. Anything. I just… want you to be happy. And I want to be with you through it.”

You sighed, letting the love of his words envelope you just as tight as the arms wrapped around your body. You leaned in and pressed a kiss to his bare chest, keeping your lips there for a movement before nuzzling your face into the skin. You pocketed the conversation for another day, letting yourself feel him here and now, in the present with you.

“I love you, Danny,” you whispered.

He tucked your head under his chin, “I love you too, sweet girl.”

𓅪

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[stardustthread]

Greta needs to stop fucking around and just bust out the bagpipes already

[luagvf]

Can we talk about this