I knew I was supposed to clear things out with him, but that he didn’t take the first step for it was disheartening. I believed I should take charge of my life, my relationships, my dreams, and my projects. Yet deep down, I was hoping he’d be the one coming for me, not the other way around.
I had a lot to be thankful for. My father was getting healthier, my family was around me. But I missed my man and my little girl. I was still willing to fight for them and make him see we worked together. On the other hand, my hopes dwindled a little with every step he took away from us.
My family was wonderful enough not to bring it up. They were Team Danny all the way, yet they respected my silence and moodiness. My parents decided on a later dinner, and I was starting to wonder if they made that choice to give Danny the chance to get his head out of his ass.
No such luck on that front.
I gave props to myself for not succumbing to my sadness, and for putting on a brave face for my family. We were cleaning everything after dinner and getting ready for dessert when we heard a loud knock on the front door.
I’d checked my phone the whole afternoon, so I had zero hope of it being Danny. But when I opened the door, there he stood, filling the whole door frame, a worried look on his face, and a relieved smile forming on his lips.
Before I could say anything or handle my surprise, he framed my face in his hands and pressed his lips to mine. On instinct, I fisted his sweater and pulled him closer to me, both of us deepening our kiss. He laced one armaround my waist, and we all but fused, welcoming each other’s tongues into our mouths.
After a long time—yet not long enough—we came up for air, and he dropped light kisses on my lips and cheeks.
“I’m sorry,” he panted. “I’m sorry for taking away your decision to take a chance on us. I’m sorry for letting my fears get in the way. I’m sorry for being a jerk and not having dinner with you today or inviting you to have lunch with us. I’m sorry I didn’t bring Sofia with me, but I needed to clear things up with you first.” He was ranting nonstop, and I took that time to recover my breath and admire him.
“What made you change your mind?”
Danny caressed my face, staring at me in wonder. “I got tired of feeling sad and afraid. I’m tired of holding back and hiding behind my feelings.” He took in a deep breath. “Since today is Thanksgiving, I feel like I should say what I’m grateful for.”
He steadied himself in determination. “I’m thankful for my family. I’m thankful for my friends. I’m thankful that my baby is safe. And I’m thankful for having found you. I’m also thankful for the day we met. Of all the days I’ve lived, that’s one day I can’t forget. I’m thankful for having the chance to fall in love with someone as wonderful as you.” I gasped, but he wasn’t done. “I love you. I started falling for you a long time ago and never stopped. And I don’t want to stop. I want to chase this heady feeling and keep falling for you because you make my life better.”
His handsome face became blurry through my unshed tears. “I love you, too,” I said through the lump in my throat. “Meeting you and Sofia was a gift I’ll never take for granted. You both lighten my days, and I count the minutes until I get to be with you again. I used to hear about the all-consuming love some people get to experience, but even though I hoped for it, I’d never really believed in it until I met you. If there’s something I’m thankful for this year, it’s for having you and Sofia in my life.”
He kissed me again, harder this time, both of us forgetting—and not caring—that we were making out at the front door, where all the Holy Waterers (my parents included) could see.
When we broke the kiss again for air, I pulled him inside. “Where is Fee?”
“She’s having a sleepover with Gabe. They were beyond themselves. I’m almost sorry for Haley and Mia. Almost. I needed some time with only you.” I giggled, and he pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. “I love that sound.”
We were about to jump on each other again when my father walked to us to welcome Danny. I should be annoyed that he dismissed me so easily to talk to my boyfriend, but I loved that they got along so well. We sat at the table again for dessert, and I felt everything was right again.
---
After we said our goodbyes to my parents—not before they made Danny promise he’d take Sofia to spend the day with them—we headed straight to his place. My parents didn’t even question it.
We were barely inside the house when we jumped at each other again, throwing clothes along our way to his bedroom. It felt naughty not needing to care about keeping it quiet, so as not to scar our little girl. It also felt like a luxury being able to explore his bed, with his bedroom door open, while we loved each other.
Even so, having her around was the highlight of my day.
But at that moment, all my focus was on her father.
Despite our desperation to feel each other, there was a new reverence between us. A new understanding that it was more than sex. It was intimacy. Trust. Love. Promise.
He lay me down on his bed with care and devotion, right before he climbed onto it by my side. Claiming my mouth in a searing kiss, he touched me everywhere his hands could reach.
Still on our sides, and facing each other, he pulled me closer by the hips, and I placed one of my legs over his. Our bodies were molded together, not one space left untouched. His cock was trapped between us, and I was getting impatient. I needed to feel him, to reconnect under the new dynamic of our relationship.
Not waiting for him to finish his exploration—we had our whole lives to cherish each other—I palmed him and rubbed him on my slit, right before positioning him on my entrance.
He broke the kiss for a moment to look me in the eyes as he entered me slowly. We breathed each other, not once breaking eye contact, as he claimed me again. It’d never felt so intimate.
When I felt him deep to the root, I couldn’t help squeezing him inside me, making him groan. No words were necessary. Our bodies did the speaking.
Between moans and curses, we moved in sync, suddenly in a rush to get to the finish line. It was an overload of sensations, of emotions, of plans. I held on to him as he claimed my mouth again, and my hips started to work of their own volition when he roamed his hand down between us to rub my clit.
We were attached, and it felt like everything and not enough at the same time. Feeling my ecstasy growing, I squeezed him again, which served him to push even deeper inside me.