It was no surprise that Kayden followed her at a safe distance. He kept an eye on everyone around her, still in warrior mode. Hopefully, between himself and Darren, who was also going to be casing the joint for trouble, they could get her through the night with no incidents.
Danielle descended the stairs in a graceful sweep of sheer fabric and natural fluidity. The room stopped to watch her, and the crowd hushed a little. Most of those people hadn't met her yet. She was an oddity and the core of a lot of rumors. She had power people didn't understand, and the death of a warrior at her hand didn't help any. Ignorance bred prejudice, and it was an ignorant crowd. She and her date reached the table, and he pulled out her chair for her. Before sitting, she bent to kiss his check and made the unflappable little guy blush bright red.
"Good evening, everyone." She addressed the whole table and was met with smiles and happy greetings from all but Sarah, who was oddly reserved. Normally she would flit from table to table, gossiping with the rest of the Stepford wives.
Casual conversation went around the table, until Chase could no longer stand the wait. He had to speak with her. He rounded the table and asked J. R. if he would allow him to speak to his date for a few moments. Griffin and Mason shook their heads, and there was an exchange of cash. It seemed as though a friendly wager had been placed on how long it would take Chase to lose his composure and approach her. J. R. looked at Dani to see if she was okay with it before responding. She nodded her agreement.
"Don't keep her away too long, because she needs to relax and have fun, not worry about people who make her sad." J. R. eyed Chase cautiously.
"Well said, J. R. Very well said." Griffin patted his boy on the back.
"I promise to return her to you promptly." Chase bowed politely to her little protector.
As Chase put his arm out for Dani, she rose from her seat with the grace of a goddess and followed his lead to a room overlooking a garden with a view of the city lights off in the distance. She said nothing. She crossed the room and looked out over the scenery, as he knew she would. It was why he had picked that room.
"I'm sorry for the pain you've suffered," he started, but she cut him off.
"I don't want to talk about Kayden. I already had a run-in with him outside, and I've reached my bullshit quota for the week," she quipped.
"I don't want to talk about him, Lovely. I want to talk about you and me."
She didn't say anything, but she rolled her eyes in a way that showed she had heard that line before, too.
"I just need you to hear me out."
She huffed out a reluctant agreement.
"The other night, I realized what an ass I have been. I have wasted precious time and caused us both undue sorrows. I listened to my sense of duty instead of my heart. I can't stand being away from you, and I want the chance to repair the damage I've done. I know that you may need time to get over the past, and I am willing to wait as long as it will take for you to allow me into your heart again." He was quiet for a moment, expecting her to respond. He paced behind her, unable to keep still.
"That isn't going to go over very well with the family. Your newest fiancée may not appreciate the gesture. Nothing has changed, Chase," she said flatly.
"Oh, but it has, my Lovely. After the nightmare of the other night, I met with Griffin and my father. I told them I'm in love with you and will not take a mate I don't love to satisfy their need to fulfill a prophecy. I told them to disown me if they must, but my heart belongs to you. I refuse to suffer without you any longer, unless you don't want me. But I won't bond to one of the Vaughn girls. I want you and only you for my mate."
"How did they take it?" she asked quietly.
"Better than I thought they would, actually. I was expecting Griffin to lose his mind and my dad to disown me, but they didn't. My dad hugged me like he was proud of me, and Griffin asked if I am as big a fool as Kayden. I told them that there was nothing about you that could change my heart. Griffin said that's what Kayden thought, too. He said if you accepted me, it wouldn't be long before you tested my sincerity. I just wish you guys would let me in on the big secret," he pleaded.
"It isn't just mine to tell, Chase. There are other people I have to think about."
"Just like me, you have worried about others for too long. When will you allow yourself to focus on your future happiness?" he encouraged.
She was still looking out the window into the distance. He couldn't take the silence, the rejection, not again. Chase grabbed Danielle's slender shoulders and jerked her impeccably styled body back against his raging heat. She gasped. She was his, damn it! His! And he wouldn't lose her again! He refused to accept no this time. His ingrained sense of propriety, his responsibility to his house, be damned. This female, his female, was worth the loss of his title, his future position on the council, and everything that came with it.
"You can deny me now, but I will have you, Lovely." Chase couldn't resist running his lips up the slender column of her exposed neck. His gums ached with the need to penetrate that delicate skin and claim her forever. "Tonight." He paused to taste the tender lobe of her ear. She shivered and squirmed in his hold, breathing hard. "I'll give you a choice. After this I won't be held responsible for what I do, Danielle. You've held me off for long enough."
She began to sputter a protest and fight his hold, but he cut her off and tightened his arm around her waist, pinning her length to his. The last thing he wanted was to give her reason to rehash his sins.
Chase was slightly embarrassed by his quickly hardening shaft. Damn it, this was a serious discussion, but he couldn't stop his body from reacting to her nearness. The smell of her was an aphrodisiac. He knew she could feel his solid length pressed into her ass through the thin material of her elegant gown.
"I know. I know you had valid reasons for turning away from me, but that's all over now. This is about now, today, tomorrow … always. I'll give it all up. I have given it all up. For you, my Lovely. I don't want this life, not anymore. Not if I can't have you."
Danielle turned in his arms, and Chase saw the tears in her eyes. He took her face in his hands. "Lovely, please don't cry."
"Shut up and kiss me. I will be your mate, if you can love me for who I am. It's all up to you now, Chase." She pulled his head down to hers.
"I know who you are already. You are my Lovely, and I wouldn't have you any other way." Chase growled. He felt her passion for him pierce him deeper than he ever thought possible. All of the pent-up emotions flowed between them. Chase gasped when he felt her open the mental block she'd built between them, and she began to pour all of her longing and need for him through the connection. He hadn't expected such an immediate physical response from her. Hell, he'd just hoped she would listen to his plea for forgiveness, but she was rubbing against him and purring softly. The sheer fabric of her gown slid sensually over her luscious curves. How could he not respond to her passion and obvious need?
"Damn, Lovely. I've been dreaming about feasting on this mouth and claiming these sweet curves."
He was overwhelmed and a bit dizzy when she pushed him against the wall and began to unbutton his pants. She was ferocious in her need.
"You don't need to do this now, Lovely. We have plenty of time to love each other." Dani slid her hand down to cup him, and hummed appreciatively. Like a starving man, he devoured her lips, her jawline, her neck and back up to the spot where he desperately wanted to sink his fangs and lap at her blood.
"I may not live to see tomorrow, Chase. Just being here is dangerous for me and everyone around me. You want to talk about the future, but I need your love today, right now. Love me now, Chase. You just gave me the one thing I've been waiting for. All this time I've been waiting for you to choose me. I needed to know you loved me enough to choose me over all the expectations others had of you. Now that you have, I need the rest of you. All of you." She panted and stroked him.
Dear God, yes, he wanted to have her here and now. He hadn't been able to think of much else. He gave in and let her have her way with him. Not a shy bone did she have when she slid his pants and underwear to his knees and forced him onto the sofa. She was so damn sexy, and the scent of her arousal made him dizzy with lust. She went down on her knees before him and wrapped her hand timidly around his shaft, examining him curiously. He panted and prayed for the power to resist spilling in her hand. Chase could tell she'd never done that before, and that somehow made it even hotter. Her head lowered, and that hot pink tongue lapped at him, exploring the flavor and texture of him, teasing, tracing the veins, but not quite giving him what he needed. She took him into her mouth, suckled shallowly at first, then deeply and slowly she bathed his shaft with her tongue until he begged for her mercy.