“And virile, don’t forget virile.”
I raise my eyebrows. “How virile?” I ask as his mouth hovers over mine. He looks at me suggestively and then shows me. My God, he shows me.
I still can’t quite believe he managed it. It took him so long to build back up to it that I was completely wrung out by the time he reaches his second and I reached my fourth climax of the night. A record for both of us. Virile hardly covers it!
I’m actually aching from the things we’ve done to each other. I’m afraid to even calculate the number of orgasms. But if the average is once per new surface and at least twenty per hot tub, I’d say we were in the hundreds. Danny is behaving like we will never have sex again after today, I know we're staying ay Jen and Scotts but we don't have to stop, we just have to learn some restraint. I sigh as I cross my legs and feel the familiar tenderness from our overexertions this morning. Determined to have me while he still could, we had a lovely long shower. My fingers are still pruney.
Sitting in the departure lounge in Cabo, I hold his hand. I can feel the anxiety building in him. Heading back to LA to do his best to help his friends has begun to take its toll on him. The pressure he’s putting on himself is immense. Our flight is called and he gives me that ‘here-goes’ look as he stands and picks up our bags. His foot begins to tap as we push back from the stand and I touch his knee gently to steady it. I try to offer him a reassuring smile, but he’s lost in the tension. We’ve talked so much about it now, that I know his biggest fear is it never working. The odds are stacked against them, given the restrictions of time and distance and he just doesn’t want to let them down.
Jen wanted to pick us up from the airport, but Danny said we’d need a car anyway, so he has arranged a hire and we make our own way. I smirk at the Range Rover. Boys! It’s strange to be here again. Only five months since I fled, life looks a whole lot different cruising along the freeway today. I stroke Danny’s leg. He’s still tense, but being home seems to have settled him slightly and when we pull into the driveway at Jen and Scott’s and Jen bowls out to greet us, he visibly relaxes.
“Long time!” She teases.
It’s mid-afternoon on a Monday, so I’m surprised when Scott appears in the doorway to help us in with our luggage.
“What are you doing here? I was told you never stop working,” I say and kiss his cheek.
“Well, I don’t know how often I’ll see you two now, so I took a few days off.” He says and softly kisses me back.
“We’re honoured.” I grin.
“Come on, let’s get your things in the laundry,” says Jen. She had very helpfully suggested not packing too much for the long trip as we could use her washing machine. A genius idea and it prevented me from having packing melt-down.
“You’re a star!” I say, linking my arm through hers, leaving the boys to bring in the bags.
We round the corner into the open-plan living area and I’m stunned to find Max and Charlie relaxing on the large corner sofa.
“What the hell?”
Max laughs and jumps up and still holding his cold beer, he squeezes the life out of me.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, though my question gets lost, or ignored, amid the hugging and backslapping of our group. It’s obvious at once that I’m the only person not in on this surprise. I stand hands on hips, waiting for someone to fill me in and when everyone notices, they all laugh.
“Come and sit out in the garden, I’ll get you a drink and we’ll tell you everything.” Danny smirks.
“Hmm.” I huff.
I follow Max and Charlie into the garden and sit with them, looking between them, all I get are shrugs and grins.
“Okay,” says Danny, bringing a tray of cold drinks out, with Jen and Scott in tow. He hands them out and sits beside me. I look at him, waiting. He gets the message and spits it out. “I invited them,” Danny explains. “You and I still aren’t legally married and I wanted to put that right as soon as possible, so we’re all going to fly out to Vegas this weekend to make this thing official.” He shrugs. “I just thought it would mean more to you if our friends came too.”
I shake my head and laugh. “You are something else, do you know that?” I say looking at his perfect face. I lean over the arm of my chair and kiss him. I get up and hug everyone. “So this is what you meant by having plans?”
“Yeah,” he says lovingly, pulling me into his lap.
“It’s brilliant, thank you. And thank you guys for coming out here. It wouldn’t be the same without you.” I kiss the top of Danny’s head. I guess I’m growing accustomed to his constant surprises. It feels much easier to just go with the flow.
“Aren’t you going to fret about how I’ve covered us both being away?” Max teases.
“No!” I shoot back. “This is a new me, get used to it. You are the manager, I trust you. I’m relinquishing control.”
Max raises his eyebrows. “I’m very impressed.”
I did tell Max before we left for Mexico that Danny and I are trying for a baby and obviously once that happens, my Rottweiler-like grip on the business would have to ease. He knows he will be running the show, it’s why he’s on board. We’ve always been more of a partnership really and Danny and I are looking into ways to make it more rewarding for him, but I know he doesn’t expect it.
“Seriously though, is this it now? There’s nothing else you are keeping from me?” I ask Danny.
Danny really has to think about it. “Nope, I think then we’re done.”
“So no long-lost siblings I’m about to be reunited with? I’m not getting punked? This is really it?”
Danny laughs. “Yes, this is it, I swear. I’m done blindsiding you.” He strokes my shoulder.
“Good,” I say. I smile inwardly, the next time someone get blindsided, I can safely say it won’t be me and I’ll be the one holding all the cards…I can’t wait.
Chapter Twenty-six
Liv
I’m calling a meeting.
With Danny and the boys at the beach and Jen gone to check in on her shop, I’m grateful that the house is empty while I digest what I now know. We’ve only been here a day and it’s been lovely, but Danny can’t relax and I’ve been feeling it too. I know Jen is constantly thinking about Danny’s original offer and, to be honest, it’s become the elephant in the room. Danny talked to the clinic earlier and, when he’s ready, he just has to make an appointment for blood tests then he can donate. He wants to wait and come back to do that when we’re ready.
I’m just coming out of the bathroom when I hear Jen come home. I breathe deeply, my hands are shaking and I need to calm down before I go out there, or I could blow my cover. I can’t believe how it’s coming together. I’m virtually giddy and I would hug myself if I could.
“Hi.” I call out across the living room, to Jen in the kitchen. I hope I don’t sound like I feel.
“Oh, hi. I thought everyone was out.”
“I just got back.”
“I’m having a coffee, do you want one?” she asks.
“Actually, I was just going to have a juice, if that’s okay?”
“Orange?” I screw up my face and shake my head. Jen chuckles, reaching for the apple juice. “You and Danny are made for each other!”
“So how are things going now?” I ask casually. “You were saying at the airport that you’d have Scott on call twenty-four-seven after a couple of weeks.”
“Ha!” Jen blurts. “He’s wise to me. Do you see him anywhere around? He’s afraid to be left alone with me.”
“Hmm, it won’t be ideal for you with all of us here, just at the wrong time.” I look at my hands, suddenly feeling guilty for being so inconsiderate. “We could go to a hotel if you like.”