Sexy Berkeley (1) (17 page)

"Baby," Daniel whispers against my mouth.

I drop my head onto his shoulder, eyes closed.
Please don't look at me.

"Baby, what's wrong?"
Oh no.

I shake my head against Daniel's shoulder and keep moving against him, I'm seconds away.

"Please, don't cry, Bea."

"Shh, please, don't," I whisper, gently.

Daniel holds my face and kisses me deeply, his concern, so sweet in my most fragile of moments.

"Daniel," I whisper quietly against
his lips, resting my forehead against his, still clenching my eyes shut, "Oh, Daniel... oh..." It's here, the whirlwind of electricity, exploding around him. The tears pour down my face and I throw my head back, still holding Daniel's neck tightly and moan loudly. "Oh god, Daniel, make love to me."

"Oh, baby," he says with a smooth, velvety voice, soothing my throbbing head. "I want to, always."
 

A sob escapes my throat as I wind down from an incredibly, emotionally charged orgasm. Daniel's arms wrap tightly around me and I'm pressed against his chest. My hands around his back, under his arms, holding onto him for dear life.

"Baby, are you ok?" His voice is so soothing, I could drift off to sleep, listening to him.

I nod against his chest, "Mmm hmm."

"Ok, will you tell me why you're upset?"

I shake my head, I don't want to get into all the girly emotional shit.

"Ok. If you want to talk, I'm listening."

"Thank you, Daniel. You're wonderful, I will miss you."

"Shall we make the bed up? I want you in my arms, properly."

I wipe my face dry and nod, pulling away from him.

"Are you sure you're ok?"

"I'm fine Daniel, it's just a combination of emotions and wine."

He raises an eyebrow. "Whatever you say, sweetheart."

I smile a very small, shy smile and look to the floor.

"What?”

"Nothing, you called me sweetheart, it's nice."

Daniel appears to blush a little as he removes the cushions from the sofa.

CHAPTER TEN

WEDNESDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER

That damn beeping is waking me up again, I'm so cosy and sleepy, I need sleep.
 
Shh
. I attempt to move and feel myself familiarly wrapped in Daniel's gorgeous, naked body. I'm reminded of our amazing evening last night.

After the 'emotional sex', we spent the rest of the night, wrapped tightly in each other's arms, talking, kissing and making real, less emotionally-charged, love. It was the most delectable, romantic evening I think I have ever had. I'm sure it'll be etched in my memory, forever.

I don't want to wake Daniel, I don't want him to leave. I have to though, or he'll be late for work. I wonder how on earth he gets himself up when he's alone, his alarm clearly doesn't do much for him.

"Daniel, it's time to get up now," I whisper, gently, kissing the smooth chest that I'm pressed up against.

"No," he grumbles, sleepily, cuddling me, tighter.

"I don't want you to go, but you'll be late for work."

"I want to stay with you."

"Me too." I squeeze him tightly and snuggle into his warm, welcoming body.

"What time is it?" he groans.

"I don't know, Daniel."

"Let's stay here forever? Please?"

I grin, lazily. "As much as I'd love to, you have to work today, and I have to return to England in a few days." Back to reality.

"No," he says in a cute, stubborn voice.

I groan, laying soft kisses all over his chest.

"I'd better turn that fucking irritating alarm off," Daniel grumbles with a loud sigh. He slides away from me, and I feel empty already, watching as he walks over to switch the alarm off, before sitting on the side of the bed to pull his polo shirt over his head.

"Oh, I was enjoying the view, I want to remember it." I pout.

"Baby, I will remember last night for a very long time, you're one very special girl. It pains me to have to let you go."

"Daniel, you're sweet. I don't want this either."

"I know. I think it's best if I just get dressed and go. No lingering or tea, I'll only find some excuse not to leave and it'll make it harder."

"Like ripping off a plaster."

"Plaster?"

"Sorry, Band Aid."

"Oh," Daniel chuckles, "yes, like that. Would you like help to make the bed, sweetheart?"
He said it again!

I smile. "No thank you, Sexy. I think I'll probably want to get back in it once you're gone."

"Don't say that!" Daniel says, putting his face in his hands.

"Daniel, I suggest you put your trousers on and clean your teeth so I can have a good, long kiss."

"Yes, ma'am!" he responds and gets right to it.

While he's in the bathroom, I get out of bed and find the lovely nightie that Daniel bought me and my long, silk dressing gown. I finish tying the bow just as Daniel walks out of the bathroom.

"I'll just get my bits together, ok?" he asks, looking me up and down, hungrily.

"Of course, I'll go and clean my teeth." I
need
to kiss him.

When I get back, Daniel is standing by the door, holding his over-night bag. "Baby, I've got to go." He frowns and pouts. I walk directly over to him and kiss him, hard. He drops his bag to wrap his arms around me, needy, strong and fervent. His hands pressing against my body, he makes me feel so cherished. I touch every part of him that I can reach, his shoulders, his gorgeous neck, his soft hair, buttocks, chest, big strong arms... I need to know that I made the most of this last contact with my lovely, California man.

Eventually, the kiss fades and we gaze at each other for a moment.

"If you ever decide to re-locate, please, please come here and be with me?"

I smile, gosh how this man has captured me. "I promise, and if you ever decide to re-locate, call me, I know a great place where you could crash for a really long time."

"I promise
."

"Well, I can see how this is going to go, so let's just get it over and done with, I'll walk you out."

We stroll slowly around to the front of the house, and as we approach Daniel's car, I feel as though I've had a swift kick in the ribs. This is it.

He opens the passenger door and tosses his bag in before leaning up against the side of the car.
"Come here, baby." 

I rest against him and hold him tight. "I'm going to miss you, so much, Daniel. You mean an awful lot to me, even in such a short space of time."

"Bea, you have no idea... Un jour, je viendrai à vous et vous faire le mien. Cela ne peut pas être pour toujours. Un jour, vous et moi serons ensemble et vous m'aimez comme je pense que je suis en amour avec vous, ma beau dame."

"That sounded beautiful. What did you say?"

"You really should learn to speak French, Bea."

"Ok, I'll get right to it."

"I really don't want to go, but I have to." He slides his fingers around my waist, inadvertently pulling my gown open a little, revealing the nightie. "Oh, god, Bea! What are you wearing that for? Don't you know what this is going to do to me?" 

I giggle, god bless this gorgeous man. "Sorry, Daniel, at least you can remember me in this." I grin.

"I'll remember you in it, out of it, in hot bikinis, in a white dress and boots, in tight jeans and a baggy sweater in upper class... I'll remember everything, baby."

He makes my smile broaden further. "You'd better get going, before I get in that car with you."

"You, in my car, with that on? I'll have an erection all day."

I laugh, leaning to kiss him slowly and gently on the lips, before brushing his pecks with my fingertips, and reluctantly stepping back.

"I'll miss you, baby. Whoever gets to be with you is the luckiest guy on the planet."

"Same goes for you, sexy."

He climbs into his car and puts the roof down. "And try not to call anyone 'sexy', that's my name."

"Are you going to stop calling girls 'baby'?"

"I don't want to call anyone else, 'baby'. Only you."

"Ok, then. 'Sexy' is yours."

"Bye bye, baby."

I don't want to say it. "Bye, Daniel. Take care."

He waves, and before I know it, he's gone. I stand on Gemma’s front garden in my dressing gown, staring at the spot where, just a moment ago, Daniel's car was parked. The tears tumble down my cheeks as I turn to walk back to the pool-house. Miserable, lost and empty. I'll never see that beautiful man, again. How can I never see him again? He's everything I could ever want, and so much more.

Entering the pool-house, I completely ignore Tilly making tea in the kitchen, walk over to my bed and flop down, face first, weeping like a child.

A hand rests softly on my head. "Bea, what's the matter, love? Come here." Tilly's voice is gentle and soothing. I sit up and lean against her as she puts her arm around me. "What's happened?"

"He's gone."

"Daniel? Right, to work?"

"Yes, Til, he's gone to work, but I mean he's gone, for good. We said goodbye." I sniff loudly and wipe the tears from my cheeks.

"But we're not going home for another four days, did you fight?"

"No. We decided to end it, we can't have a relationship and are starting to have strong feelings for one another. So we thought we'd stop now, you know? Like ripping off a plaster... Band Aid..." and as I say those last words, I drop my face into my hands. "Oh... Tilly, I like him so much," I mutter through my hands.

"I know you do, darling. Anyone can see that you have feelings for each other."

"He's so kind, Tilly, and he's genuine, you know? He's not bull-shitting me all the time, or playing games like men usually do. He says he has strong feelings for me and I automatically believe him, instead of questioning his motives. How can I have found my perfect man over five thousand bloody miles away? It's not fair."

"No, it's not, Bea. Listen, you'll find it at home, you'll see. You'll find someone just like Daniel who lives just down the road."

"I don't want someone 'like' Daniel, I want Daniel. Oh god," I say, wiping my face and trying to compose myself, "where's Luke?"

"Oh, he's still asleep, don't worry."

"Phew. Are you seeing him again before we go?"

"I don't know, love, we haven't talked about it, might do. I'll defo see him next time I come though, phwoar!"

I laugh, but a pang of jealousy hits me in the gut. She can see Luke whenever she wants, without getting caught up, emotionally. She can come back to LA and experience this again. She'll probably see Daniel again, too... but I won't. She might see Daniel with another girl, they might double date. The thought is too depressing.

"Til, promise me something?"

"Anything, doll."

"Next time you come, when you see Luke, can you not go on a double date with Daniel and some other girl?"

She chuckles and gives me a big hug. "Of course I won't, darling. If I see Luke next time, we won't be going on 'dates' anyway, we're fuck buddies."

"How can you be so casual about it? Aren't you getting any feelings for him? You look like you're made for each other."

"Yes, I really like him, I think he's funny and sweet, not to mention wild in the bedroom, but I am keeping my emotional distance. I won't fall for someone like Luke. We all know he wouldn't do the same for me."

"He might, Tilly, you don't know how special you are."

"That's sweet, Bea, but he likes his ladies and I am not '
special
' enough to change that. I'm aware of that, so that's how I can keep my distance, emotionally. It's different for you and Daniel, you both want each other, you both want a relationship. Luke doesn't and neither do I." 

I nod, although I'm not sure she's being entirely honest. If Luke vowed to become a one woman man and asked Tilly to be his girlfriend, I think she'd go for it (if they lived near each other, that is). I think he hides behind his womanising reputation to keep himself from getting hurt, and I think Tilly's reluctance to admit that she'd like a relationship, is her cushion against the blow of rejection.

But that's my humble opinion and I might be completely wrong. Maybe I think that because I cannot comprehend why two compatible people don't want to feel love for one another.

"Now, take some deep breaths, I'm making tea, would you like one?"
 

"Yes, please Til. What are you doing today?"

"Ooh, well, I thought we could do the theme park?"

"That sounds fun."

"Yes, and you need to do something fun to take your mind off it."

Tilly goes to make the tea and I decide that it's time to make my bed and get ready, try to enjoy my holiday, post Daniel. I don't really want to go to a theme park, I don't want to do anything, but I'm in glorious Los Angeles and I only have a few days left, I need to make the most of it.

~~~~~~~

About an hour later, I have showered, dressed and tidied the lounge. I make myself another cup of tea and sit on the sofa, reading the first part of the trilogy I was supposed to start reading on the aeroplane, before I got distracted.

I hear the click of Tilly's bedroom door, and turn to see Luke strolling towards me. "Hey, sweet lips!"

His greeting makes me smile.

He sits next to me on the sofa, making himself very comfortable, resting his ankle on top of one knee and spreading his arms along the back.

"Hi Luke, do you want tea or breakfast?"

"No, I'm good, thanks. Tilly made some earlier. So, she says Daniel's gone?"

"Yes, he left earlier."

"And you're not seeing each other again?"

I look down. This feels awkward, having this conversation with Tilly's fuck buddy, Daniel's best friend.
"Um, no. We're not planning on seeing each other anymore."

"That's such a shame, Bea. You know, he really likes you. A lot."

My heart thumps violently, thinking about him feeling that way for me. "Thank you, Luke, I like him a lot, too."

"Bea, I've known Danny for over ten years, you know we're like brothers."

"Uh huh?" Where's he going with this?

"The thing is, I've never known him to like anyone, as much as he likes you, Bea. I know I'm breaking some brotherly 'code' or whatever, by telling you this, but honestly, I think he'd probably tell you himself, given the chance."

"Luke, please, I can't hear this right now. I want to see him, believe me, but it can't happen."

"Tilly told me why you're not seeing each other again, and I get it - I do - it makes sense, but I think you're both crazy. You two are so good together."

"Not when I'm in England and Daniel is here."

"Hey, it's not my place to get involved, but if you want him or need him, he'll be there in a shot. He's a good guy. Just saying." He holds his hands up in his
defense.