A Winter Romance

[SAM HOLDER]

Sam felt silly for asking and wanted to just disappear into the couch. He was glad Dani wasn't turned off by his inquiry, kissing him hard once their mouths met again. He held her loosely, still unsure what direction they were going to take but deciding he didn't care too much now. He was content with their make out session, which was hot and more than stimulating enough. He'd been sincere when he said it would be enough. He didn't need to go further with her, not tonight anyway. There would come a time when he'd want to, and at that point he wasn't sure what he would do, but it wasn't tonight. She liked him, and she was kissing him, and it was hot. He wasn't sure how much more he could handle anyway.

Dani's nimble fingers came up to his tie and she tugged gently, undoing it as her mouth pulled away. His eyes opened and looked into hers, nervousness etched across her beautiful, youthful face. “I don’t really want to stop.” Sam felt his cheeks heat, unsure what she meant by that exactly, but he didn't have the courage to ask, nor the time as her lips moved over his once more. She finished undoing his tie and pulled it off, his body tensing in excitement as the tie got lost somewhere in the office, his neck feeling strangely vulnerable to the vixen straddling him. “Is that okay?” she asked gently as her nose brushed his. "Yeah.." His voice squeaked like a prepubescent teenager and he cleared his throat and said "Yes." Again in a deeper voice, blushing at how stupid he must have sounded. She smiled and kissed him again, a whimper escaping her lips as Sam sighed into her soft, plush lips. Did that mean what he thought it meant? Sam decided he wouldn't think too much on it and let Dani lead. She would let him know how far to go, or when to stop.

With her new permission to continue in a forward direction, Sam let his hands begin to wander a little more freely. He slid his hands up her sides and down her back, groaning softly against her mouth as her own hands slid up his torso setting his body on fire. Was this actually happening? The way she pulled herself closer told him it definitely was! She pulled back again and his mouth followed for a second, his eyes opening to see why she was stopping him again. Panting, he felt her fingers moving down his body, slipping each button of his shirt open. His eyes locked on hers, his heart hammering in his chest. She was undressing him! She gave silent permission for him to do the same. Nervously he tugged at her blouse, freeing it from the tight skirt it was tucked into, though his hands didn't reach for the tender skin beneath, afraid of going too far. She leaned in and kissed him again, her hands stretching over his chest. He held her hips gently, keeping her body close as she lightly pawed at him, something he hadn't felt in a long time. When was the last time he'd even been with a woman? It had been a couple years. Yikes.. and even then he was much more interested in Dani than he had been with that girl. Sam tried to push that thought from him mind, an easy task considering the way the girl on his lap was stroking his chest. His hands seemed to dance at the hem of her blouse, unsure where to go though his tongue knew exactly what to do. Sam was surprised when Dani took one of his hands in her own, his eyes opening as she pulled her mouth away once more. Dani slipped his hand beneath her shirt, his eyes widening ever so slightly as he gasped, his boner raging suddenly in his pants like a pathetic high schooler. “Touch me, Sam.” Her words sent chills down his spine, his body refusing to hesitate again. His hand pressed into her skin, squeezing the delicate flesh as he closed the gap between their mouths, kissing her hard once more. The hand in her shirt slowly trailed up her body, feeling the slight bump of each rib as he moved north. His hand slid over the lacy fabric of her bra, but he didn't move his hand to cup the soft mound of flesh, still too nervous to do that, but instead it slipped up to her shoulder and then down again over her back this time and finally ending at the hem of her skirt. He slipped his fingers into her skirt, this time feeling the thin strap of her panties which seemed to be made of the same material as her bra. He used that hand to pull her closer to him, not caring if she felt how hard he was. Let her feel it.. let her know what she was doing to him. His other hand got more adventurous, moving over the front of her body, above her shirt. That hand did wander over her two perky mountains, gently squeezing the flesh. He could feel her hard nipples through the layers of fabric and it made him groan gently into her mouth, his thumb gliding back and forth over her left nipple. He desperately wanted to feel it between his fingers, but didn't dare to go for it. His hand pulled back down her body, trailing all the way down to her thigh feeling where her skirt ended. He slipped his hand beneath the tight material, sliding his hand up her stocking covered thigh, feeling the heat from the apex radiate outwardly. He gulped, pulling his hands back towards her knee before moving back up again. Sam took a deep breath through his nose, deciding to test his boundaries. When he felt her heat he let his hand gravitate closer until his hand could move no further. Being so close to her womanhood got him hotter and he tested his limits by letting his thumb graze over her crotch. He had no idea if she would slap him or encourage him further..

[DANI DRAKE]

Sam’s hand tightened on her waist and Dani’s breath caught momentarily in her throat. He pulled her into another hard kiss and she whimpered into his lips. His hand traveled higher, softly running over her ribs and towards her lacey black bra. But just as she held her breath in anticipation of his hot touch on her breasts, his hand slid to her back and down. She sighed into his mouth, her own hands sliding down his abs, resting against his hard stomach as his hand found the hem of her skirt. Their tongue twined together and she felt his hand creeping higher under her skirt, feeling up her thigh to her panty line. That hand on her hip pulled her down closer and she distinctly felt the hard mass of his length on her thigh. It made her flush crimson, the heat of his excitement rushing to her head and making her a little dizzy. She whimpered into his lips, one of her hands coming up to rest on the side of his neck. His other hand crept up her front over her green silky blouse, feeling over her breasts. It sent chills down her spine and she inadvertently leaned into his touch. He groaned and she sucked in a small, sharp intake of breath through her nose. Her nipples were puckered and hard with excitement and she blushed deeply when she realized he could feel them. His thumb grazed back and forth over her left bud and she moaned in return, dew forming between her legs at her pleasure. But when she thought maybe his hand would venture into her shirt, it instead dropped down to join the other beneath her skirt. The touch of his hand sliding up her thigh made her whimper, butterflies causing her stomach to clench tightly. But as he reached the apex of her legs he turned back, again making her dizzy with unrealized caresses while his hands slipped down to her knees. He was fueling the fire in her and she had to wonder if he was doing it intentionally.

Dani leaned into Sam’s kisses, trying to assure him silently that she wanted him to continue. His hands made their way up again, but this time they continued to the treasure between her thighs and rested there. One hand hovered close and Dani could hardly stand the anticipation. When his thumb grazed over the crotch of her panties, she gasped against his lips and shuddered internally. Her lips hovered over his momentarily before kissing him deeply again. His other fingers took the opportunity to touch the heat between her legs and she moaned softly, feeling her body ignite with arousal. Her own hands slid up to his chest again beneath his undershirt, slowly memorizing the beautiful body beneath. She felt hot all over and knew exactly how to cool off.

Pulling back from Sam’s mouth, she bit her lip and gave a small, coy smile. She removed her hands from his body, realizing just how hot she was as the cooler air of her office slipped between them. Leaning up, she took both ends of her blouse in hand and pulled them over her head. She was left her black lacey bra, throwing the green top onto the floor of her office. It was her fire magic reacting to her arousal that was making her just a little hotter than most would be. Even her hands felt warmer as they slid Sam’s shirt from his shoulders. It was harder to control her magic when she was distracted emotionally, but thankfully she had learned to tame it. Now it was just a slightly elevated body temperature when it did manifest. Sam got out of his shirt with her help and Dani tossed his shirt aside like she had her own. He was still in an undershirt and she took the opportunity to remove that too, leaving his freckled skin bare and revealing the strong body beneath. It excited her even further. “You’re beautiful…” she said softly, leaning in to kiss him again. Her fingers slipped into his hair and pressed her body against his once more. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d wanted someone so much.

[SAM HOLDER]

Her moaning excited him further and he was beginning to lose his ability to hold back. He knew where this was headed, she hadn't stopped him yet and if anything she was encouraging him further with her words and noises. He would deal with the consequences later. For now he wanted her, wanted this.. she clearly didn't think he was taking advantage of her, and if she thought it for a moment in the future he would do whatever it took to get her to see the truth; that he would never do that. Dani pulled back suddenly, giving him a coy smile that made his groin throb with need. He smiled back, not sure why, but not knowing what else to do as he looked her over. Suddenly she was removing her blouse and Sam felt his throat go dry. All he could do was stare at her body, right there for him to enjoy visually. God was she gorgeous.. She wasted no time undressing him as well, pushing his shirt from his shoulders and then tugging his undershirt off. He gulped, helping her undress him as his breath quickened. Her hands were practically on fire as they ran over his chest in the undressing process, the shirts both landing somewhere in the office he didn't dare to try and see, not when he had such an amazing visual. Her eyes were wandering over his freckled torso, something he'd always been a bit embarrassed about, but tried not to think about at the moment. “You’re beautiful…” she said softly, making him laugh a little. "That's my line." He teased before her lips melted into his once more.

Sam lost himself in Dani once more, his mind buzzing with ecstasy as her fingers massaged his scalp, her warm body pressed to his. She was like a furnace! He wrapped his left arm around her back, pulling her tight against him while the other hand boldly moved up to her chest, cupping her breast in his hand so he could give it a firm, but gentle squeeze. Her noises only encouraged him on, allowing him to feel safe in venturing over the new, sexy terrain of her body. The hand at her back flattened and moved upward. His hand stopped as he felt something strange on her back, like the skin was bubbled slightly. He felt a few of the pockmarks as his hand pushed up and his stomach twisted. He knew without asking they were signs of the abuse she'd endured at her brothers hands, which somehow managed to rile him up further. It was a strange sensation, wanting to keep her safe, protected, close, and somehow being this intimate with her would allow him those things which turned him on further. The blistered skin only made him want her more.

Sam brought both hands down to her legs again, each one sliding up her thigh, this time dragging the tight fabric of her skirt up with it until he'd managed to bunch it up around her waist. He allowed his hands to run over her ass, and when she didn't protest he slipped his fingers into the hem of her stockings. Still kissing her hard and panting, he pulled them down, her body easily moving to allow him to take them off, leaving her panties on. He wasn't sure he was ready to be exposed to her most intimate parts yet, not completely. Sam moved his lips from her mouth so they could wriggled the tights off completely, his mouth never leaving her body though. His kisses trailed down to her jaw and neck, Dani's head moving to accommodate his hungry lips. Once free of the tights, which ended up somewhere on the floor, Sam continued his venture with his hands. His fingers danced over the heated skin, moving over her sides and shoulder, down her back and across the scarred skin once more while his face nuzzled into the crook of her neck to deposit hungry, sucking kisses across the delicate skin, her moans a song to feed his desire for her. "I've tried for so long to deny the way I've felt.." He admitted into her tender flesh, his hand creeping over her ass once more, feeling the lacy black thong and then the tight flesh of her ass. "I never dreamt you'd like me. You're so.. God, you're so everything, Dani.." He hummed, his fingers creeping down over the heat between her legs from behind, surprising himself with how daring he was becoming. "I don't deserve you.. but God do I want to." His brows furrowed and he looked up at her, his hand pulling away from her crotch and wrapping around her small frame to keep her close along with his other hand, simply hugging her close. "I want to be worthy of you.." He admitted shyly, blushing a little, a light sheen of sweat building on his forehead, a stupid, sad smirk curling the corner of his lips. "I don't think anyone's worthy of you. And I think I've place you on an impossibly high pedestal." He teased with a nervous sort of laugh. His eyes met hers again as a hand crept up to her cheek, his thumb brushing under her eye before drawing her face down to his once more, his mouth finding hers again. He was falling way too hard for her..

[DANI DRAKE]

Sam laughed a little as she leaned in. "That's my line." Dani smiled wide, her lips hovering close to his. Then he kissed her again and she got lost in him. It was so strange and sweet how he could make her forget everything else in the world. His arm around her waist, the hand traveling up her front, the way his hand squeezed her breast gently…it made her dizzy and she moaned into his lips. It felt so safe right there in his arms. His hand flattened at her back and she sighed softly through her nose as it ran up her spine. As it climbed higher, however, she tensed. He would feel them…he would find them…the proof that what she had told him about her brother was true. As his fingers brushed over her blistered skin, then slowly back again, she knew he was aware of what they were. Her heart stuck in her throat and she felt sick at the idea that he would be turned off by her scars or want to see them. But just as she was fearing this, Sam’s lips felt more insistent on hers. He didn’t pull away or even stop what he was doing. For several seconds he simply touched over her scars gently and it brought tears to her eyes. He was so gentle and so good to her…the reminder set her blood on fire.

His warm hands dropped back down to her thighs and slid up her stockings once again. This time, however, he pushed her skirt up around her waist. Her hands gently tugged handfuls of his hair, whimpering as his hands explored her ass. He was growing bolder and it was making her ache with need. Soon he was pulling down her stockings, kissing her hard and panting against her lips with his own need, which only excited her further. She moved against him, doing what she needed to help him get her stockings off her legs. He had to break their kissing to finish the job, and she gasped for breath as his lips trailed seductively over her jaw and neck. Her head fell to the side, whimpering at how much his hungry kisses across her sensitive skin turned her on. He maneuvered the tights off her at last, but that didn’t stop him from planting his lustful kisses across her neck. His hands touched her everywhere he could as if they were trying to memorize her body, but not over her erogenous areas like most men in this situation would. He was simply adoring her in a way that made her feel like he was worshipping her. It took her breath away and she moaned softly, leaning her head down so she could rest the side of her face against his auburn locks. One hand stayed in his hair, holding his head just where it was, loving the feel of his face nuzzling into her neck. The other arm wrapped around his bare shoulders and held tight to him. "I've tried for so long to deny the way I've felt…” His hand slid down her ass again, forcing her to moan once more, her nose nuzzling into his hair. She’d tried to deny how she felt too…but God was she glad she gave in now. "I never dreamt you'd like me. You're so…God, you're so everything, Dani…" How could he think she wouldn’t fall for him? Didn’t he know how rare a man like him was? His fingers trailed low enough to touch her sex from behind and she gasped softly into his ear, whimpering at the shock his touch sent through her. "I don't deserve you…but God do I want to." Her brows furrowed now. Not deserve her? If anything she didn’t deserve him! She was tainted by what her brother had done to her, by the bad blood that ran through her veins, passed from a psychotic father who came from a long line of greedy, abusive men. Her eyes echoed the sad thoughts going through her mind as Sam leaned back and looked up at her. His arms came around her, simply holding her body close and Dani placed her hand on his cheek affectionately. "I want to be worthy of you…” Sam gave a sad smirk, the sweat dewing on his forehead beautiful against his freckled skin, his cheeks flushed and green eyes fixed on her. "I don't think anyone's worthy of you. And I think I've place you on an impossibly high pedestal." He laughed, but she only marveled sadly at him. She’d never felt so adored in all of her life. Tears were stinging her eyes as he looked up at her, his hand coming to her cheek again. As his thumb brushed beneath her eye, he caught a tear and smudged it before it trickled down her cheek. He pulled her in for another passionate kiss and Dani knew she was falling hard over him.

Her lips pulled back from his, hovering close as her hands rested on his cheeks, keeping his eyes on hers. “Don’t say you’re not worthy of me, Sam. If anything I’m not worthy of you.” The fingers of one hand pushed back into his slightly damp hair. “You’re so good, Sam. Right down to your core. From the day I met you, I could see that. I knew no matter what I said or did that you wouldn’t judge me. And you’re smart, funny, brave, caring…you’re everything I’ve ever wanted.” He looked doubtful and she leaned in a little closer to catch his attention. “I mean that. I’ve never met someone like you. But…” Her eyes were sad, filling with tears again. “I’m damaged. I’ve always been afraid that others could see how tainted I am. No matter what I did, I couldn’t feel clean. And how could I feel like a good person with so much bad blood in me?” A tear fell down her cheek but she smiled. “Until I met you. There’s something so pure and genuinely good about you, Sam…it makes me feel whole again. It makes me feel wanted and needed. More so than even my job. So how could you not be worthy of me?” She leaned in and kissed him, her hands sliding from his face back into his hair. “I’ve never met anyone worthier…” she said softly into his full lips. She kissed him again, both of her hands leaving his body to push at the skirt bunched up around her waist. It was tight, but she managed to slide it over her hips, pulling back from his mouth only to slip it past her knees. As her lips leaned into his again, she smiled and kicked her skirt to the ground leaving her in just her underwear on his lap. “So won’t you climb onto this pedestal with me? It’s a bit lonely up here.” She smiled wide before kissing him again, her hands running along his torso once more, letting his lithe, lean frame heat her up further. One of her hands slid even lower, finally feeling over the bulge in his pants. His reaction made her stomach squirm, a smile forming on her lips again. She broke away from his lips to kiss along his jaw, finding his ear and pressing her mouth to it as she whispered, “Make love to me, Sam. I want you more than anything.”

[SAM HOLDER]

Sam was embarrassed by what he'd said, and further by her teary reaction. He needed to never drink in front of his boss again! The verbal diarrhea that came out of his mouth was enough to make him want to bury himself alive, but he couldn't speak when his lips were pressed against hers, his tongue too busy twining with Dani's to spout more idiotic things. “Don’t say you’re not worthy of me, Sam." She pulled away and his eyes fluttered open, gazing into hers shyly. "If anything I’m not worthy of you.” He gulped as his brows rose slightly. Why the hell would she think that? How could she think that? “You’re so good, Sam. Right down to your core. From the day I met you, I could see that. I knew no matter what I said or did that you wouldn’t judge me." He knew that he was a kind person, and he thought that was what got him this apprenticeship. They were a firm that actually fought for good people. Most of the workers were good deep down, otherwise they wouldn't be interested in the cases she took on, not that all the lawyers there took on the same cases Dani did. "And you’re smart, funny, brave, caring…you’re everything I’ve ever wanted.” His throat felt dry. All she wanted? As in she wanted to be with him? Was Sam ready for that? He had no idea what she was actually telling him. Were they compliments? Her way of saying she wanted more than their simple friendship? And how could she think all those things about him? He wasn't funny.. and bravery wasn't a quality he really thought he had. Sure, he'd gone into the military and had risked a lot, but that wasn't necessarily bravery. His mind swam with thoughts, making him unsure what to think or feel, and the booze only clouded his mind further.

“I mean that. I’ve never met someone like you. But…” But? There was a but? Why did she look so damn sad? Sam braced himself for the rejection. They were half naked in her office and now he would need to dress and leave. He'd read all the signs wrong. He wondered how long the cab would take to arrive.. "I’m damaged. I’ve always been afraid that others could see how tainted I am. No matter what I did, I couldn’t feel clean. And how could I feel like a good person with so much bad blood in me?” It wasn't what he expected to hear and his lips parted. Damaged? She was in her mid twenties and had one of the most successful law firms in the city! She was leaps and bounds ahead of him and she was so much younger! He frowned, wiping the tear that trickled down her cheek, hating how poorly she viewed herself. “Until I met you. There’s something so pure and genuinely good about you, Sam…it makes me feel whole again. It makes me feel wanted and needed. More so than even my job. So how could you not be worthy of me?” Her lips found his as her words sank in. Not only had he placed her on a pedestal, she had done the same. Fear gripped him. What if he let her down? What if he hurt her after all she'd been through? “I’ve never met anyone worthier…” She breathed against his mouth and he sighed, whispering a hushed "Dani.." before she kissed him again. He felt her wriggle on his lap and knew she was pulling at her skirt, his mind spinning again as he desperately tried to cope with his situation. He had his boss, an abused girl, on his lap who found comfort in his very existence. It was a heavy weight to bear, one he was terrified of messing up. There was so much more than his career at stake here and he wasn't in the right mind to consider it fully. Before he knew it her skirt was on the ground and his hands moved back to her waist, the warm, soft skin much easier to feel now and causing electric to course through him. He had needs and desires and his fears were bounced around with his yearning for her body. “So won’t you climb onto this pedestal with me? It’s a bit lonely up here.” She smiled but he couldn't return it, feeling lost and excited and nervous all at once. His fingertips brushed down over her rear, his brows knitting considerably as he battled what to do. One of her hands slid over the bulge in his pants, tugging him sharply from his little reverie and back into the office with her. He sucked in a loud, sharp breath, his back arching as his body pushed into hers. He held the breath a moment before panting loudly, her mouth trailing sensual kisses over his jaw to his ear. “Make love to me, Sam. I want you more than anything.” His eyes shut and he gulped, deciding he could deal with all the details tomorrow. For now she wanted him, and he couldn't deny himself any longer.

---

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[SAM HOLDER]

Sam moved so he was lying beside her, one arm beneath her body and holding her close. "You're amazing…” He said softly, Dani's fingers gently brushing through his hair as he leaned down, kissing her clammy shoulder gently. “You’re wonderful…” she replied, her voice soft and sweet. She leaned in and pressed her mouth against his and he sighed against her lips. They lingered there in that sweet moment, enjoying each other, adoring one another. Her arm slipped to wrap around him, her leg doing the same and Sam moved his arms to hug her closer into his body. His hand slip up through her hair, enjoying the sweet taste of her lips while he could, unsure how long he had with her. Finally Dani pulled away and a gentle sigh came through his nose as he leaned his head down, his eyes locked on hers. Dani smiled, causing Sam to do the same, the moment so incredibly calm and serene and so unlike how their meeting began not thirty minutes ago.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy after sex before. Or this satisfied.” She bit her lip bashfully, blushing as her fingers gently sketched over his jaw. He blushed surprised she would be so satisfied after that. It was incredible, but surely she'd have plenty of good lovers. He silently chastised himself for thinking that. Dani wasn't the type to sleep around, why would she have had better lovers? What if the only other person she'd been with was.. His stomach twisted to think of it, his lips faltering a bit as he gazed into those sweet, innocent eyes. Her finger traced his face and Sam tried to truly appreciate every tiny stroke, unsure of what tomorrow held. Suddenly, she looked worried. “Will this change in the morning? Will…will you try to forget it?” His lips parted and his brows furrowed. Was she serious? “Because I…I don’t want to forget it.” Her voice was so soft and pleading that Sam couldn't help but feel awful.

"No, no.." He assured gently, the hand in her hair slipping to her cheek and cupping it. "Are you kidding? Who would ever want to forget this?" He gave a smile, but there was hurt in his eyes. Hurt that she would think he would do such a thing, and hurt that she obviously expected that. "I'm not like that, Dani.. I wouldn't put everything on the line just to.." He swallowed and licked his lips and sighed again. "I don't know what's going to happen with us, but I don't want to forget this. Not ever.. alright?" She agreed and he leaned forward, his forehead pressing to hers. "I don't want you to forget, either." He confessed softly, his nose nuzzling to hers as his eyes slipped shut. "I don't know what this all is.. but I like it. I like being here with you like this.." His mouth found hers in a gentle kiss before sighing and pulling his face away a little, smiling at her and then laughing as his legs wiggled. "I think my legs are snagged in my pants.." He said with shy amusement as he kicked his legs a little, which were locked at the ankle by his slacks.

[DANI DRAKE]

Sam’s face became a mask of concern and almost hurt and Dani felt like she’d wounded him with her question. She hadn’t meant to…she just needed to know this wouldn’t be another crushing disappointment. “No, no…” Relief and a tinge of apprehension flooded her as his hand slipped to her cheek, her eyes still fixed worriedly on his. “Are you kidding? Who would ever want to forget this?” She returned his sad smile with an apologetic one of her own. “I’m not like that, Dani…I wouldn’t put everything on the line just to…” He paused, licking his lips, and Dani gently swept her fingers through his hair to reassure him. She knew he wasn’t like that, but she had to be sure. It was the only way she could protect her carefully reassembled heart. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with us, but I don’t want to forget this. Not ever…alright?” Tears were threatening at the back of her aquamarine eyes and she swallowed to keep them at bay, nodding her head with a touched smile. “Okay,” she whispered in reply. Her eyes slid shut and her heart swelled as Sam leaned forward and pressed his forehead to hers gently. “I don’t want you to forget, either.” She smiled wider as his nose nuzzled hers affectionately, her eyes opening as his closed. It was like a dream come true to have him in her arms like this. “I don’t know what this all is…but I like it. I like being here with you like this…” Her face and neck flushed, her fingers curling into his auburn hair tenderly, the smile on her lips turning somewhat shy as it grew. “Me too…” she confessed softly as his lips lowered to hers. Once more her eyes slid shut and she pressed her mouth back against his, the kiss so affectionate it warmed her to her toes.

When he pulled away, her eyes opened slowly as they both sighed, making her grin. His legs started to wiggle and he laughed, drawing her gaze down to his struggle. “I think my legs are snagged in my pants…” She watched him try to free himself and laughed, looking back up at his face with her bright smile. “It looks like my plan worked. You’re trapped here forever, Mr. Holder.” It was a tease and she grinned with it. Sam looked amused and his response made her laugh again. She pulled him into another kiss and simply enjoyed pouring affection on him and receiving it in return. It was obvious to her that she was falling hard over Sam and she wanted more than anything to just let it happen. After a while of cuddling and sweet joking back and forth, Dani slipped into Sam’s shirt while he pulled his pants and underwear back over his hips. It would help them keep warm on the couch, as did Sam’s jacket, which he threw over them like a makeshift blanket. Before long Dani was drifting off into a blissful sleep, her face nuzzled between Sam’s jaw and neck. He held her close through the night, their legs tangled in each other’s, and Dani had never slept so soundly. No nightmares plagued her when she felt so safe.

It was the sound of gentle knocking that woke her, her eyes flitting open slowly. She was so warm and comfortable just where she was and in her half asleep state, Dani simply snuggled Sam a little tighter. His arms wrapped more tightly around her too, obviously stirring as slowly as she was. Just as she was falling back to sleep, her forehead rested against Sam’s cheek, the knock came again with more insistence. “Dani? Are you in there?”[/b] That voice…Jonah. Dani started suddenly, her eyes snapping open and pulling back from Sam’s face just enough to look into his eyes with fear. He had come to his senses at the same time she did. They had slept together last night. Their secret could be out in a matter of seconds. The sound of the door handle turning drew her panicked gaze to the door. Before he opened it, she scrambled to sit up, hoping that maybe she could jump to her feet in time to push the door closed again. She gripped Sam’s jacket in her hands, ready to throw it aside, but it was too late. Jonah was standing in her doorway, half of his body in the door as he immediately looked to the couch. His face blanched and his thin mouth set in a tight line that immediately made Dani feel like a scolded teenager. With a heavy sigh, she put a hand to her face. She missed the way Jonah glared death at Sam like a protective father.

“You. I knew I shouldn’t have let you come up here last night.”[/b] His voice was a dangerous growl as he stepped into the office like he was going to throw Sam out of it. Dani jumped to her feet, leaving Sam in their love nest on the couch, rushing to put her hands on Jonah’s chest and stop him. “Stop it, Jonah! I wanted him here!” She felt vulnerable in nothing but Sam’s button down shirt and a thong, but at least the shirt was long enough to cover her erogenous zones. Jonah’s blazing blue eyes came down to hers with frustration. “Did he take advantage of you?”[/b] Her eyebrows lowered as her big eyes widened, shocked Jonah would expect that of Sam. “What? No! Of course he didn’t!” Jonah’s eyes flashed over to Sam again, huffing through his nose like a raging bear. Dani’s hands grabbed hold of his upper arms so he would keep his eyes on hers. He did so with reluctance and she held his gaze authoritatively. “What happened in here is between me and Sam. I trust you understand that we can’t have anyone finding out just yet.” Jonah’s jaw clenched, obviously burning to say other things, but instead he leaned in close. “Do you understand how risky this is for you? You’re lucky no one is in the office right now. If anyone finds out, it could put your position in jeopardy.”[/b] Dani looked fiercely back at him. “You make it sound like this is a habit of mine, and you know it isn’t! I understand the risk, Jonah, but I also understand my feelings for Sam! That’s not going to change! So for right now we’re going to keep this quiet and keep it out of the office, alright?” Jonah gave her a deeply conflicted look, turning his gaze to Sam and studying the boy before he looked back down at Dani and reluctantly nodded. She sighed and nodded too. “Good. Now give me some time with Sam. I’ll call you when I’m on my way down to the car, okay?” Again Jonah nodded stiffly, throwing one last warning look at Sam before he turned and left the office, shutting the door smartly behind him.

Dani sighed, rubbing her hands over her face before running them through her messy dark hair and looking back at Sam. A small, nervous smile came to her lips, biting her bottom lip as her hands began to wring in front of her. She walked back over to him, a little nervous that Jonah’s appearance might have frightened Sam out of his assurance in his feelings for her the night before. “Sorry about that. He’s very protective of me…” she apologized softly. When she reached the couch, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment at the argument her crush had just had to witness, she sank down to the couch again. She sat facing Sam, sitting as close to him as she dared before she was sure he wasn’t freaked out by everything to the point that he wanted nothing more to do with her. “So good morning…” she said in a sweet, shy voice, her smile hopeful and uncertain at the same time. Please, please, please don’t be so scared that you want to forget about last night… Her pleas echoed over and over in her mind, her stomach twisting.

[SAM HOLDER]

“It looks like my plan worked. You’re trapped here forever, Mr. Holder.” His lips curled up as his hazel eyes met hers. "Ah, so you've been planning this all along, huh. Clever." He teased back and she gave a soft laugh in return before pulling him into another kiss. He didn't stop her, loving the way her lips felt on his. It was easy to fall into that rhythm with her, and he wondered how impaired he still even was at this point. He felt good from the liquor, but he had his wits about him.

Sam enjoyed every second with Dani there on her couch, talking, teasing, joking in hushed voices as their fingers explored each other gently, tickling trails over each others bodies. He could see she was getting tired, and truth be told, so was he. They got up to put some clothes on; Sam his pants, Dani his shirt, before climbing back into each others arms on the couch. Sam reached over and grabbed his coat, slipping it over them, their legs wrapping around one another for warmth. Sam wrapped his arms tight around her, surprisingly comfortable with the young woman wrapped in his arms. It wasn't long until he heard her even breathing, his own following shortly after.

There was a knock on the door and he groaned softly, slightly roused by the sound. Who would be knocking on his door? The warm body beside him nuzzled closer and consciousness started to grab at him. Warm body. He sucked in a long breath, his back arching a bit into a stretch as his eyes opened, memories of last night slowly flooding forward. Again there was a knock, this time accompanied by a voice. “Dani? Are you in there?” His eyes suddenly opened wider as realization hit him. They were in her office! Half naked! The look in Dani's eyes did little to comfort him as she scrambled up to try and stop whoever it was at the door from coming in. Sam tried to get up, but it was too late. The door was open and he was looking wide eyed at Jonah. Frozen, Sam was not much different than a deer in the headlights as the man shot him a glance that could easily kill.

“You. I knew I shouldn’t have let you come up here last night.” His voice was a dangerous growl and he was stepping forward, Sam's eyes growing wider. He opened his mouth to defend himself but words didn't come out. Where was his military training now? “Stop it, Jonah! I wanted him here!” Dani came to his rescue and he felt nothing short of embarrassment. She was so young, and here she was putting this man in his place on Sam's behalf. He wanted to say something, wanted to defend himself, but certainly didn't want to make matter worse for either of them. He had no idea how much pull this man had in her life. “Did he take advantage of you?” “What? No! Of course he didn’t!” Jonah’s eyes flashed over to Sam again, almost as though he wanted to rip him limb from limb, not believing her. His own brows furrowed. “What happened in here is between me and Sam. I trust you understand that we can’t have anyone finding out just yet.” He could see the man fighting back words and he suddenly feared for himself. “Do you understand how risky this is for you? You’re lucky no one is in the office right now. If anyone finds out, it could put your position in jeopardy.” “You make it sound like this is a habit of mine, and you know it isn’t! I understand the risk, Jonah, but I also understand my feelings for Sam! That’s not going to change! So for right now we’re going to keep this quiet and keep it out of the office, alright?” Feelings for Sam? Sam felt his stomach squirm. Of course he had feelings for her, but he also knew how dangerous that was. This wasn't a union that was meant to be, not now anyway. Plus with her confessions last night he wasn't sure he was the right person for her. What if he hurt her more? He couldn't live with himself if he added to her pain. The man nodded after giving Sam a long hard look, one he gave in return, though he bowed his head submissively, looking away. “Good. Now give me some time with Sam. I’ll call you when I’m on my way down to the car, okay?” He peaked up in time to see the warning in the other mans eyes before he walked out the door, practically slamming it on the way out.

Once alone again, Sam let out a long breath, running his hands over his face before they fell back into his lap. He peaked up at Dani as she looked over at him. He could see the anxiety on her face, but he wondered what she had to be anxious about. She wasn't in danger, Sam was. “Sorry about that. He’s very protective of me…” she apologized softly and Sam swallowed, wanting to reassure her, but not having the words. His throat felt dry and useless. What could he say? “So good morning…” Her voice was sweet and apologetic, but Sam was shaken by the other mans presence. "Morning." He offered in a soft, rough voice. She sat down and he looked over at her, his eyes piercing hers for a long moment as he tried to figure out his next move. What was he supposed to do? He shouldn't like Dani.. He shouldn't be there with her.. He shouldn't want to kiss her after all of that, yet he did. He wanted all the things he wasn't supposed to. He cleared his throat and looked down at his lap again before sighing. "Dani, last night was amazing.." He shook his head slowly and sighed again. "But I should go. Jonah's waiting for you, and he's already upset. I don't want to be in the way. I don't want him thinking I used you.." He offered a sad sort of look. "I don't want to make things harder for you than they are." God did he want to kiss her, especially with the way she was looking at him. How could he have been so foolish?

[DANI DRAKE]

“Morning.” The rough way Sam spoke the word made Dani’s heart sink into her stomach, throbbing painfully. His eyes bore into hers and she could see the uncertainty there, the doubts that were swimming through his mind. He said he didn’t want to forget it…Clearing his throat, Sam’s eyes fell to his lap. “Dani, last night was amazing…” Nothing mattered before the “but.” She felt it hanging on his lips as he sighed. “But I should go. Jonah’s waiting for you, and he’s already upset. I don’t want to be in the way. I don’t want him thinking I used you…I don’t want to make things harder for you than they are.” Her sea green eyes were wide with fear and then sheer disappointment and shame. She had slept with her employee and now he was dumping her the morning after. After all of his reassurance…Tears filled her eyes unbidden, swallowing to clear the lump in her throat. “You told me you didn’t want to forget.” The words were spoken in a choked voice barely above a whisper. It didn’t matter how sad he looked; nothing was going to erase the sickness she felt. How could she have been so stupid? She opened her heart, finally allowing herself to really trust someone with it, and he rejected it. Her brother was absolutely right—she was stupid. Dani felt like the world was spinning as she leaned away from Sam and slid to her weak feet.

Finding her bra on the floor, she lost all color and felt bile in her throat as she realized she would have to undress and give Sam his shirt back before he could leave. She picked up her clothes and carried them over to her desk, keeping her back turned as she shamefully slid her skirt back onto her hips. Mortified, she plucked at the buttons of his shirt with tears brimming in her eyes. Two fell onto the cotton of his shirt, staining it with evidence of her heartache. The rest she tried to swallow as she put her bra and blouse back on. She slid the shirt to the opposite side of her desk so Sam could get it and then hugged her arms tight around herself. It was ironic that Sam didn’t want Jonah to think he was using her, when in reality nothing made her feel more used. He said her name and she ignored it, wishing she could crawl under a rock and stay there forever. One of her hands slid up to her shoulder, her fingers stretching back to where she could feel the bubbled scars on her back begin. Even those burns didn’t hurt as much as being burned by Sam. Her eyes glanced to a photo of her father and brother and tears dropped easily from her big eyes. They would be so ashamed of her. Normally that wouldn’t affect her, but in this case it did, because she knew they would be right to be ashamed. She could hear Sam collecting the rest of his things and she just wished he would leave. Finally she heard the door open again and then a pause. “I’m sorry.” Her face twisted with agony, hidden from view of the man apologizing. She never ever wanted a beautiful night to end with those words.

The door clicked back into place when he left and she finally let herself breakdown. Her hands covered her face as she sobbed, reverting to the scared, wounded little girl she had tried to leave behind so many years ago. Dani Drake was a strong woman, fierce and undaunted in the courtroom. Where was that woman now? That woman wouldn’t be found curled up with her knees to her chest on the floor, her back resting against her desk as she cried into her knees. But that’s exactly how Jonah found her thirty minutes later when he hadn’t heard anything from her. He walked into her office and upon seeing Dani he immediately went to her side. His hand touched her shoulder, trying to comfort her, but Dani only shrunk away from his touch. It was partly his fault that Sam had gotten cold feet and Dani couldn't forgive him right now. He hovered close, respecting her space with a guilty look, waiting for her orders. Dani remained on the floor for another thirty minutes before she finally rose to her feet again, refusing the hand that Jonah offered. He took her home without a word, Dani slumping into the backseat as if trying to melt away. When she got home, even after a forty-five minute shower she felt like she couldn’t be clean of the humiliation she hadn’t felt since her brother was alive. On Monday she would fine and put on a brave face, dealing with Sam as she needed to, but she wouldn’t be able to forget the way she felt now. Not without a reason to.

[SAM HOLDER]

The look she gave him made his stomach wrench. “You told me you didn’t want to forget.” She said in a choked voice, and in that moment he felt nothing short of ashamed. He didn't want to forget, he'd said so last night, and even now he didn't want to. He wanted to fight that point, but at the same time he feared her reaction. She was upset, and the only way to ease her would be to stay, and even then he wasn't sure if he could. He knew then it was a losing battle. Whether he stayed or went he would hurt her, but by doing it now perhaps he could hurt her less. It didn't help that he was hung over and his mind was muddled from the dehydration and the rude awakening he'd received.

Dani got to her feet and picked up her clothes. Last night he'd been happy to watch her undress, but this morning he looked away out of respect for her modesty, sitting on the couch confused and upset. When he did peak up she was sliding his shirt across her desk towards him, then wrapping her arms around her body. "Dani.." He called out softly, but she ignored him making him feel sicker. What could he say? What could he do? With a heavy sigh he got up and did what she was doing; got dressed. He needed to let her calm down before trying to reason with her. This job was important to him, she was important to him, and her happiness was important to him. He didn't know how to balance it all properly, and now wasn't the time to really think it over. He got dressed, occasionally throwing a sad glance in Dani's direction, watching her scars disappear behind her blouse as she finished dressing herself. It was almost symbolic, as though she were hiding from him once more, when he wanted nothing more than to pull her close and kiss every inch of her before making love on her desk. He knew he shouldn't think that way, but how could he not? He cared for her, and she was beautiful, but he had to be smart in his approach. He knew deep down it was wrong to leave things this way, but he felt he had no choice. After dressing he moved to the door, uttering a soft "I'm sorry." Before leaving, shutting the door softly behind him before he trudged his way to the elevator. Sam passed Jonah on the way out, his cheeks flushing so deeply that it spread down his neck and likely to his chest. He hung his head, ashamed, as he passed the man who glared at him silently with every step he took. He could feel Jonah's eyes burning a hole in the back of his head as he left the building and headed to his car, getting in and letting the sickness he felt spread through him. He knew what an asshole he'd been, as justified as it was.

Saturday had been spent nursing himself back to health, fighting his headache and achy stomach. By Sunday he was feeling more himself, vowing never to drink again, and spent the morning pondering how to handle the Dani situation. After hours of thinking about what he should say, he decided to call her and wing it, but the phone rang once and went to voice mail. He knew then that she was avoiding him, and when it happened again later that evening he left a brief message again apologizing and asking her to please call him when she got a moment, that he didn't want things to end like they had yesterday. He hovered near his phone until he went to bed; Dani never called back.

Monday morning came and Sam pulled himself out of his bed, vowing to talk to Dani at work as inappropriate as it was. When she came in she walked past him without a glance, talking on her phone and holding a file tight to her body. She was in and out of meetings all day, every time she passed she ignored him as though he didn't exist, further upsetting Sam. He decided to stay as late as he needed to try and catch her alone, not wanting to draw attention to himself for trying to get a moment with her, but she left early, Jonah at her side, who had no problem throwing warning looks in his direction. Again he tried calling her that evening, this time it went to voice mail after several rings. How long would she stay angry with him, he wondered? Tuesday was much the same. The office was closing early since it was Christmas Eve, and again Sam tried to get a moment with Dani, but it simply wasn't in the cards. He left work feeling heavy, stopping at the liquor store on his way to his grandfathers, deciding maybe drinking wasn't such a bad idea after all.

Sam spent the night by his grandfather, figuring since he'd drank, it was simply easier since he was planning to spend the morning there exchanging gifts and then having an early supper anyway. Some family came by and presents were swapped. They ate and drink a little more, but Sam made sure to behave since he planned on going to his fathers for games and dessert nice and early. When he left his grandfathers house he sat in his car a long time thinking about the Dani situation. He hated how things were left and had no idea how to get through to her. Work was a terrible place to try and figure things out at the risk of causing a scene, and she wasn't answering his calls which meant the only way to get to her was to go see her someplace she couldn't escape.

The Drake name was one Sam knew growing up and because of that he knew where Dani lived. She was in the home her family had owned for generation after generation, one he himself had visited once as a child though he had very little memory of it. It might have even been before Dani was born. He didn't think much about it as he began driving, his mind made up that he had to see her, and now. When he arrived he sat in his car a moment, wondering if she were even home. Maybe she had company. Didn't she mention being along on Christmas? Would Jonah be there? He couldn't imagine Jonah would let him in to see her if he were to answer the door, but he knew he had no choice but to try. He had to! Sam grabbed the white and pink poinsettia, that he'd initially gotten for his step-mother, and got out of the door. He felt bold as he moved to her front door, his breath fogging as it slipped through his thick lips. He knocked on the door three times before ringing the bell, his bravado dissipating quickly with every second that passed. He'd just showed up at Dani's unannounced when she wanted nothing to do with him! That sick feeling washed over him again and he placed the flowers down on the ground before turning around to head back to his car. He'd gotten two steps when the door opened, making him freeze and turn his head, his hazel eyes locking with her deep marine ones. He opened his mouth and then shut it, licking his lips before turning around. "I.." Sam gulped and looked down, catching sight of the flowers. He knelt, picking them up and offering them towards her in one swift motion. "I brought flowers." His voice was raspy and soft, full of nerves and uncertainty. "Merry Christmas." Just seeing her filled him with desire and he took a hesitant step forward, fearing her slamming the door in his face. "Please.. I'm sorry, Dani. I never wanted to hurt you, I swear on my life that was the very last thing I wanted. I don't want to forget Friday night, I don't want to stop seeing you, I don't want you to avoid me anymore. I want.." He bit his lower lip and slowly let it drag across his teeth until it was back in it's normal position. "Come to dessert with me.. at my dads." He insisted before realizing what he was saying, his cheeks flushing. "I mean.. uh.. would you like to?" He shied away slightly, unable to read her yet.

[DANI DRAKE]

When Monday came, Dani felt she was ready to face Sam. She had spent the weekend building herself back up, ignoring Sam’s calls being a big part of that. Years she had been alone with no one to really rely on—she could go back to it. She could forget the hope she had of not being alone anymore and she could pretend that her night of bliss with Sam was nothing more than a dream. If she said these things to herself enough, she could believe them. At least, that’s what she thought. Her resolve faltered every time she saw his name appear on her phone. If he kept calling her, he was going to ruin the thin veil she had thrown over her heart during the process of its reconstruction. By Sunday night she felt mostly confident in the statements she had made herself believe, but they all evaporated as the elevator climbed the floors Mondays morning. Her stomach twisted and she could feel her ears flushing. Would everyone know? Did anyone hear them on Friday night? She knew it was a long shot, but she was suddenly mortified at the thought of them knowing. Why hadn’t she thought that out yesterday? Taking a couple deep breaths, she had to force herself to be calm. It was a good thing her client called to distract her from her thoughts. When her girl at the front greeted her, she smiled, as if nothing was different. In fact everything was in order when she walked back into the offices. Everyone was where they should be, doing what needed to be done. Including Sam. Dani kept her eyes firmly forward, resolving not to look at him and be distracted from the voice in her ear. She was ignoring him, but not out of spite—it was to protect herself from bursting into tears. What a child she was…

In her office she was surprised to find two reusable shopping bags full of presents on her desk. A note from Jasper reminded her that she hadn’t opened them on Friday when she left in a hurry. She smiled a little and began to look through the bags, seeing all of the names of people who got her small gifts. That smile faded when she was suddenly faced with Sam’s gift. She didn’t know what to do with it. It wasn’t like she could give it back—that would be rude. And at the very bottom of the bag was her present to him. Tears stung in her eyes as she stared at the gift she had worked so hard to choose and wrap neatly. She could still give it to him…but what would be the point? It was send the wrong message. He didn’t want to be with her and she wasn’t about to look like she was vying for his affection now. She packed the presents back up, refusing to open them until Christmas. She just wasn’t in the right state of mind. Tucking them under her desk, she took up her work and stayed buried in it all day. She bounced from meeting to meeting, avoiding eye contact with her folly, knowing it would only remind her of her pain. When she wasn’t in a meeting, she was holed up in her office working harder than she had in weeks. As the day dragged on, however, she became increasingly afraid that Sam would come in to talk to her when people began to clear out. She was used to staying late, but it was too much to face Sam tonight. It would destroy everything. So she called Jonah and he came to fetch her, walking by her side and presumably scaring off Sam as she made a quick exit for home. She was happy she’d done that when she saw Sam’s number on her phone again that night. Why couldn’t he leave her alone? Didn’t he know how much he hurt her and how desperately she wanted to forget what happened between them? She didn’t need that kind of crushing hope he’d given her before, not if he had no interest in acting on it.

Christmas Eve went by in much the same way and Dani was glad she wouldn’t have to do it for another day and a half. It was exhausting to have to force her focus so much. She took work home in hopes that it would help distract her, but she couldn’t concentrate. All she wanted was to numb it all away. Good thing she always kept a reasonably stocked bar for parties. She broke into the whiskey she had tucked away and let it burn away all of her heartache. Watching the Muppet’s Christmas Carol cheered her somewhat, but that cheer faded almost as soon as the movie was over. She fell asleep on the couch, crying into the pillow and buried beneath her favorite quilt that belonged to her mother. If only she had a mother to comfort her now. Her dreams were haunted by visions of her mother reading to her, the smell of her golden hair surrounding Dani in warmth. She snuggled into her, smelling her mother’s perfume at her neck and the soft chuckle her mother gave filled her with comfort. When her eyes opened, she was resolved not to let herself be depressed on Christmas. She showered and brushed her teeth, dusting her face with a touch of make-up and wearing her hair in a somewhat messy side-braid. Dressing in a fuzzy white turtle-necked sweater and blue jeans, she slipped on her red and green striped socks before heading back downstairs.

She opened her presents to the sound of her Christmas playlist and admired each one she received from her coworkers. They were all so thoughtful and she smiled warmly, her fireplace heating her skin before the Christmas tree. Jonah came in and gave her his gift, a set of dangling teardrop garnet earrings that glittered in the firelight. She smiled wide and hugged him tight, thanking him for a beautiful gift. In turn, she gave him his gift, a set of high-end cigars that he wholeheartedly thanked her for. Dani was happy to please him so much, always having found the smell of his cigars to be strangely comforting. He smoked one in the living room while they reminisced about the past, stories of happier times making her laugh. Jonah even told her a few from his own childhood and she listened with rapt attention. By the time the cigar faded, they had consumed a couple glasses of eggnog and Dani was ready to settle in for some reading. She chose Gone with the Wind and lost herself in each of Scarlet’s follies. Dani felt she could relate a little and found herself sympathizing with the southern belle.

It was late afternoon when the sound of the doorbell made her jump out of her skin. Who was there? She hadn’t been expecting anyone—she never did on Christmas. Jonah was on the phone with his elderly father, so Dani scrambled to get to her feet. There was knocking when she didn’t get to the door fast enough and it bewildered her further. Who came visiting on Christmas without an invitation? Frowning, she finally reached the door and unlocked it, pulling it open. Who she found on the other side made her heart leap and then crash land in her stomach. Sam was starting to walk away, but he turned and their eyes met. Of course he knew where she lived—their grandfathers had been friends. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her throbbing heart from get stuck in her throat. He seemed at a loss of words too. “I…” His eyes fell to the ground in front of her and she looked down to see a pot of large pink and white poinsettias. Her cheeks flushed and she tried to hold back her tears. Just the sight of those flowers was cracking her resolve. “I brought flowers.” He handed them to her and she took them with weak, shaking hands, too stunned to refuse them. “Merry Christmas.” Her eyes came to his again, watching as he hesitantly stepped towards her, making her heart jump in her chest. Why did he have to do this? By going to all of this trouble, she felt like she couldn’t refuse him. Whatever was merry about this day was slipping through her fingers steadily. If all he wanted was friendship, her forgiveness, she wasn’t sure she could give it to him. Her lips stayed shut as she simply gazed at him, afraid if she said anything she would fall apart. "Please…I'm sorry, Dani. I never wanted to hurt you, I swear on my life that was the very last thing I wanted. I don't want to forget Friday night, I don't want to stop seeing you, I don't want you to avoid me anymore. I want…" He bit his lip and as she hung from it. What did he want? Her? The bitter part of her wanted to tell him that he’d had his chance and blown it; but there was a larger part inside her that watched his lip slip between his teeth and she wished it was her teeth nipping it. Her cheeks flushed as she realized her heart was hammering because his words touched her. He didn’t want to forget…he’d made a mistake and he was sorry for it. And she couldn’t deny that her feelings for him were far from dead.

"Come to dessert with me…at my dad’s." Her marine eyes widened, blinking as she gazed at him. He wanted her to meet his family? He flushed and she did the same. "I mean…uh…would you like to?" It felt like her heart was going to bust out of her ribcage. She did want to. She wanted things to work with Sam. She wanted to forget how awful the past few days had been, how much he hurt her…but she couldn’t. Not without a reason. Opening the door more, she hugged the flowers to her chest and stepped aside. “Come inside.” Her voice was soft and shaky, not wanting to do this where the world could see. Sam went in and her eyes stayed on his as he stepped inside, his eyes on hers in return. Why did he have to look at her in such a way that made her weak? She gulped and then shut the door behind Sam, ensuring their privacy. She placed the poinsettias on the antique sideboard by the door before turning to him once again. Her eyes were sad and full of worry as she looked up at him. She needed to speak her mind.

“I’ve been avoiding you so I don’t burst into tears every time I look at you, Sam. Do you understand how it made me feel on Saturday when you suddenly wanted to forget what happened? You said you didn’t want Jonah to think you were using me, but that’s exactly what it felt like.” The tears were coming unbidden to her eyes and she swallowed to try and suppress them. “I don’t go out on limbs, Sam. It’s dangerous and I don’t need to be hurt anymore—I’ve worked too hard to be who I am today. But I’m going out on a limb for you, and if you think that scares you, then you better believe it terrifies me.” A tear dropped onto her cheek and she immediately brushed it away, trying to calm the emotion searing through her. She could see how badly he felt and she looked down at the floor to gather herself again. “I’m not saying this to make you feel guilty. I just need you to understand that you aren’t the only one afraid of what could happen.” Her eyes looked back up into his, wringing her fingers nervously in front of her. “So I need a guarantee. I told you I wanted you more than anything…and it’s still true. But if we do this, you can’t just bail at the first sign of trouble. We’ll be discreet—nobody has to know besides us and Jonah. He won’t say anything. Trust me, he just wants to keep me safe. And don’t assume that you know what’s best for me. If I say I want to be with you, trust that I’ve already gone through all of the consequences five hundred times in my head.” She blushed, biting her lip and glancing away before she pushed on. “The truth is…I don’t care about the consequences. I just want to be with you. You make me happy, Sam…even now. No one has made me feel like this before. I’m okay with the risks as long as I get to keep feeling this way.” Butterflies were making her stomach clench, no longer empowered by alcohol in confessing her feelings. “So…I’m not your boss when it’s just us. At your dad’s, I’m your girl. Okay?” Her cheeks were burning and her eyes were shy as she felt more forward in this romance than she generally was with men outside of the courtroom. She just wanted this to work so badly it hurt.

[SAM HOLDER]

Sam felt his heart pounding, watching Dani hug the flowers close to her chest. Finally she stepped aside and invited him in. He gulped, his eyes locked on hers as he moved past her into the home. When he looked around he got a strange deja vu sort of feeling as if it were familiar, but he didn't recognize the home at all, only that he may have been there once a long time ago, which he had. Once inside he turned to look at Dani just as she was shutting the door. Why did he feel so damn nervous? The look in her eyes made him feel queasy; she was going to tell him to go away, that she didn't want to see him anymore, that he was going to be let go. He was about to lose his job and one of his closest friends all in one go. Why else would she look at him like that? His shoulders slumped.

“I’ve been avoiding you so I don’t burst into tears every time I look at you, Sam. Do you understand how it made me feel on Saturday when you suddenly wanted to forget what happened?" He hadn't actually said that and though he wanted to interrupt her, he didn't, instead hanging his head as his brows furrowed. "You said you didn’t want Jonah to think you were using me, but that’s exactly what it felt like.” He gave her a hard look, pursing his lips. He hadn't used her! He told her he hadn't, he wouldn't ever! “I don’t go out on limbs, Sam. It’s dangerous and I don’t need to be hurt anymore—I’ve worked too hard to be who I am today. But I’m going out on a limb for you, and if you think that scares you, then you better believe it terrifies me.” Her tears softened his frustration and he huffed a little sigh feeling his hands sliding into his coat pockets, needing to do something with them as they laid idle at his sides. “I’m not saying this to make you feel guilty. I just need you to understand that you aren’t the only one afraid of what could happen. So I need a guarantee. I told you I wanted you more than anything…and it’s still true. But if we do this, you can’t just bail at the first sign of trouble." His eyes widened slightly. She wanted him? As in dating? Was he ready for that? What about work? What about her past! "We’ll be discreet—nobody has to know besides us and Jonah. He won’t say anything. Trust me, he just wants to keep me safe. And don’t assume that you know what’s best for me. If I say I want to be with you, trust that I’ve already gone through all of the consequences five hundred times in my head.” Sam both loved and hated how in control of this she was, but he knew she had spent her entire life having to be precise in her decisions. He felt nothing short of anxiety as she put him in this position. “The truth is…I don’t care about the consequences. I just want to be with you. You make me happy, Sam…even now. No one has made me feel like this before. I’m okay with the risks as long as I get to keep feeling this way.” But what if he couldn't keep making her feel this way? What if he failed so miserably that he hurt her worse than her brother? “So…I’m not your boss when it’s just us. At your dad’s, I’m your girl. Okay?” His cheeks were as pale as hers were pink.

Either agree to be with her or lose her possibly forever. Sam wanted time to explore the idea of a relationship with her, but she'd made up her mind. It wasn't as if he didn't want to be with her. Sam knew any man would be lucky to fall into her good graces and be considered a partner, but Sam was a cautious man and had always been. "I'm truly honored you have so much faith in me." His voice was tarnished with skepticism. "And truth is I want to be with you, Dani.. I do." His eyes were piercing hers, pleading for her to understand his plight. "I haven't gotten on so well with anyone in.. I don't even know if I've ever gotten on with anyone as well as you, but.. with everything that's happened to you.." He licked his lips and took a deep breath. "I don't want to let you down. I don't want to hurt you. I want to be everything you think I'll be, but what if I fall short? What if I'm not what you think?" He gulped and took a step back. "I didn't leave because I wanted to forget. I told you I didn't want to forget, and I told you I wouldn't ever take advantage of you, and I meant that. And it wasn't trouble that made me leave, it was the realization that your happiness could be hanging by a thread and I just didn't want to be the one to make things bad again. You're in a good place, and Jonah is here to protect you. He protected you from me, made me second guess whether this was a good idea or not." His hands slipped through his hair as a heavy sigh escaped his lips. "I don't know what to do. I don't want to lose you.. but I don't want to hurt you either." There was such sincerity in his voice and his eyes were pleading with hers to understand. Would she?

[DANI DRAKE]

Though Dani was blushing at how forward she was being, the blush faded somewhat at the uncertain look Sam gave her. Was he going to let her down again? “I’m truly honored you have so much faith in me.” She hated that there was a “but” hanging on his lips again. It made her muscles tighten anxiously. “And truth is I want to be with you, Dani…I do.” So what, then? Where was the hesitation? Her heart was thudding against her chest harshly. His eyes were piercing her with his pleading and she found it made her breathing shallow, waiting for the disappointment. “I haven’t gotten on so well with anyone in…I don’t even know if I’ve ever gotten on with anyone as well as you, but…with everything that’s happened to you…” There it was. That was why she never told anyone what happened in her childhood. It scared them away and she couldn’t blame them. It scared her too. “I don’t want to let you down. I don’t want to hurt you. I want to be everything you think I’ll be, but what if I fall short? What if I’m not what you think?” It was a good question. What if he wasn’t? It terrified her to think that she was wrong about anyone. So many people had been wrong about her brother and they had paid the price for it. He had been wrong about the men he was with on the night he died, and he had paid the price for it too…Had she been wrong in believing that Sam would never intentionally hurt her? He had hurt her already…already disappointed her…but still she had hope that it could work between them. The man took a step back and she watched him, her stomach sinking. “I didn’t leave because I wanted to forget. I told you I didn’t want to forget, and I told you I wouldn’t ever take advantage of you, and I meant that. And it wasn’t trouble that made me leave, it was the realization that your happiness could be hanging by a thread and I just didn’t want to be the one to make things bad again. You’re in a good place, and Jonah is here to protect you. He protected you from me, make me second guess whether this was a good idea or not.” Tears were filling her eyes, but they were full of mixed emotion. He had doubted whether he wanted to be with her or not, but she hadn’t considered how much it was out of concern for her. Yes, he was scared, but could she blame him? Hell, she was scared too! And he was trying his best to look out for her. No man had ever done that in a relationship with her—they were always more concerned with their own needs.

Sam sighed and ran his hands through his hair and Dani could see how difficult this was for him. “I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to lose you…but I don’t want to hurt you either.” He looked back up at her, pleading, and she swallowed hard. There was no guarantee that this would work and Sam couldn’t give her one. It infuriated her on one hand, begging him to just say it to make her feel better; but on the other hand, she had to respect him for it. He cared about her feelings and didn’t want to hurt her like she had been hurt in the past. The thought that she would give him power to do that to her terrified her. How many times had she trusted Victor, let him lull her into a sense of security, before he pulled the rug out from under her? He’d done it to break her, and he had succeeded far more than he could’ve imagined—he was still succeeding long after his death. Dani felt a flare of anger rush through her at that thought. She wasn’t going to let him do it this time—she wasn’t going to let him ruin what she had with Sam. He was dead and in her past and she didn’t want him to be in her future. She wanted Sam in her future. But could she risk enough to brave the uncertainty? Could she let herself step forward without knowing what was ahead of her? She bit her lip and tucked her arms tight in front of her, feeling so unsure. But then Sam felt unsure too…didn’t that put them on the same page? He cared about her feelings. Her brother didn’t. He wouldn’t hurt her. And if he did, she could survive it. She’d survived hurt and disappointment before. That was the part Sam was missing, because she hadn’t given him reason to believe otherwise. She didn’t have to be that scared, hurt little girl she had showed him. The burden she had placed on Sam’s shoulders was huge and she needed to realize that; it was a huge burden on her shoulders too. But she had learned how to bear it and it was her turn to show Sam how to bear it too.

A thoughtful silence had fallen between them and Dani finally looked back up at Sam, fear and resolve in her eyes at once. She took a step forward, her eyes still fixed on Sam’s as she bit her lip again before proceeding. “We’re both scared of what could happen, Sam. Neither of us knows if we can live up to each other’s expectations or if we’ll cause each other pain…but isn’t that always a risk? I trust you to take my feelings into consideration and you can trust me to do the same with yours. You’re the first man I’ve trusted with the pain of my past, but I don’t want it to be a stumbling block for you…or for me. Not anymore. The last thing I want is for it to hang over our heads.” A small smile appeared on her lips as she took another step closer. “You saw me fall off a horse and get right back on it. I’m not as fragile as you think. I know I haven’t been a very good example of that in the last few days, but it’s true. Life is pain and I don’t want to be scared of it anymore. Not if it keeps me from pursuing whatever we have between us. But…you might have to be patient with me.” She gave a soft sigh and took yet another step closer, close enough now that they could reach out for the other if they wanted. Dani just wasn’t sure if Sam wanted her to reach out yet. Her large eyes looked up into his, questioning and pleading. “Can we just agree to do our best? Our best to trust each other and not hurt each other…isn’t that all we can do?”

[SAM HOLDER]

Sam felt so lost watching Dani consider what he was saying. She bit her lip, hugging her arms tight around her small frame. How young she looked when she did that. In the office Dani could pass for ten years older than she was with ease, but right there she looked her age, and maybe younger. He knew the front she had to put up at work, and he loved that he'd gotten to know her on a level most people in that office never would. She was amazing, and their friendship was hanging by a thread it seemed. After a very pregnant pause she looked up into his eyes and then took a step closer. “We’re both scared of what could happen, Sam. Neither of us knows if we can live up to each other’s expectations or if we’ll cause each other pain… The last thing Sam was concerned about was her hurting him. He knew it was a possibility, but he hadn't gone through what she had. "..but isn’t that always a risk? I trust you to take my feelings into consideration and you can trust me to do the same with yours. You’re the first man I’ve trusted with the pain of my past, but I don’t want it to be a stumbling block for you…or for me. Not anymore. The last thing I want is for it to hang over our heads.” And in that moment he was reminded why she was such a good lawyer. She made strong, fair points.

A small smile appeared on Dani's lips and Sam felt almost relieved to see it, though he didn't return it, not yet. She wouldn't smile that way if she were kicking him out. Again she moved a little closer, but Sam's feet stayed planted firmly on the ground. “You saw me fall off a horse and get right back on it. I’m not as fragile as you think. I know I haven’t been a very good example of that in the last few days, but it’s true. Life is pain and I don’t want to be scared of it anymore. Not if it keeps me from pursuing whatever we have between us. But…you might have to be patient with me.” She sighed and stepped closer, his eyes searching hers as he digested every words. “Can we just agree to do our best? Our best to trust each other and not hurt each other…isn’t that all we can do?” She was so close and he felt his body relax. He was still so afraid of hurting her, afraid of what this could mean for his career, but he wanted to pursue her. He wanted to see where this could go, and her confession gave him no reason to second guess what she desired. She wanted to get serious. She wanted them to stop pretending they weren't interested in each other, that they were simply friends. She was willing to put herself out on a limb for him, to risk being hurt, because she trusted he wouldn't. And he felt very much the same.

His fingers reached out and stroked her cheek, a long sigh coming through his nose as they trailed gently to her hair, his eyes slipping away from hers and down her face finally resting at her lips. "I trust you." He said in a voice close to a whisper before leaning down and gently brushing his lips against hers. Her hands came to his chest and Sam slipped his free hand to her shoulder, drawing her closer. He wanted this to work. He didn't want to feel anxious about any of this, but how could he not? He silently vowed not to bring it up with Dani again, deciding he would need to privately come to terms with his insecurities on his own. She deserved that from him, and if she wanted this, and he did, then they really had no reason to deny themselves. "I'll be patient with you if you can do the same for me." His voice was still soft as he pulled back a little, looking into her eyes but remaining close. She assured him she would be patient and he nodded, a long breath slipping through his nose. "When we get to my dads you'll be introduced as my girl then." He smiled gently but he still felt a little unsure. The sound of someone clearing their throat behind Dani made him look up, though, the color in his face draining a little. He didn't know she had company. Jonah looked less than pleased to see him, but this time he vowed to stand up for himself. He wouldn't leave. He wouldn't let Jonah scare him off, not when they'd just promised to be patient with one another. Besides, if Dani was going to be in his life, he might not have a choice about having Jonah there as well. Maybe they could set up boundaries, though.

[DANI DRAKE]

Sam relaxed just enough that Dani saw it in the way his shoulders slumped slightly. Their eyes were locked for several seconds, Dani’s wide and hopeful as they gazed into the warm hazel pools. Finally his fingers found her cheek, a sigh escaping him as his trailed his touch into her hair. His eyes slid down to her lips and Dani felt the heat in her cheeks as he leaned into her. “I trust you.” Her heart stopped and her eyes slid shut as Sam’s lips brushed over her own. She melted into his gentle kiss, her hands resting on his chest as she pressed closer to his body. His hand gripped her shoulder and pulled her into him more. Dani didn’t want this to end. She wanted to be able to adore the lips pressed against hers without the fear of being caught—but when had she been able to get exactly what she wanted? But this time she was okay to deal with the problem. If she had to suffer a little anxiety to be this happy when she was with Sam, then she was fine with that. No one made her heart flutter like he did and she found herself breathless when Sam’s lips pulled back to hover near hers. “I’ll be patient with you if you can do the same for me.” Dani’s eyes opened to his once more, smiling warmly up at him. “Deal.” Sam sighed heavily and she smiled a little wider at his suggestion of relief. “When we get to my dad’s you’ll be introduced as my girl then.” Dani bit her lip as she tried to conceal the wide smile that spread across her mouth, her cheeks flushing in delight. His girl! She’d wanted this for so long! She wanted to throw her arms around Sam and pull him into another kiss, but the cough that reverberated off the walls of the foyer.

Dani turned and looked back to see Jonah standing a small ways off near the stairs. She blushed a deeper pink, embarrassed that Jonah had found them in an intimate position again. Then her frustration popped to the surface, her eyebrows knitting at Jonah. Her eyes spoke all of the warning she needed to express as Jonah’s piercing blue eyes met hers. His square, rough jaw set as he obviously wanted to express his displeasure at their behavior. If he attempted to scare Sam off again, he was going to get a black eye. He swallowed hard, glaring at her for several seconds longer before his eyes came to Sam’s. “She’s allergic to strawberries and bees. There’s an Epipen in her purse. If you have a drink less than two hours before you think of bringing her home, have her call me and I’ll come get her.”[/i] Dani blinked in surprise. He wasn’t going to yell again? His eyes fell to hers and he looked a little concerned under his anger. “If you need anything, you call me. And text me if you’ll be out later than eleven.”[/i] He was acting just like a father seeing off his little girl before a date. It made Dani fight back a smile as she nodded at Jonah. The older man sighed heavily before glaring suspiciously at Sam one more time and then turning to go back upstairs. “Wait!” Dani pulled away from Sam and rushed over to Jonah who was stopped on the first step. He was taller that way and Dani had to reach high to wrap her arms around his shoulders in a tight hug. Jonah made it easier by leaning down and he huffed a sigh through his nose as his chin rested on her shoulder. “Merry Christmas, Jonah.” Her smile was wide and she sensed a small smile on his mouth as he replied softly. “Merry Christmas, Dani.”[/i] She squeezed tight and then pulled back to smile up at her guardian. She knew how much he hated having her out of his sight.

When she got back to Sam, she walked past him with a happy smile before grabbing her coat and purse hanging on the coatrack near the door. She looked at the pink poinsettia sitting on the sideboard that Sam had given her and she cocked her head to the side. “Do you mind if I re-gift the flowers and give them to your stepmom? I feel like I should bring something by way of apology for crashing the party.” Sam laughed and admitted that’s whom he’d originally had in mind when he bought the flowers. Dani laughed too and scooped the potted plant up in one arm. Her other arm slipped into Sam’s and she grinned up at him before looking back. Jonah was standing halfway up the stairs, watching her go. She smiled at him before walking out the front door escorted by Sam. Dani took her arm back long enough to lock the door behind her and then she linked her arm with Sam’s once again, allowing him to lead her to his car. Her eyes turned up to him again and she smiled nervously. “Do you think they’ll like me?” She felt a little silly asking, but she wanted to know what she was in for with his family—just in case she shouldn’t get her hopes up.