Crescendo

Chapter 19

Daniel and I drove away, leaving the party, and Stella, in shock. I knew word would travel fast, but I didn't know how fast.

Tessa started calling me ten minutes into our drive to my condo. And as much as I wanted to set the record straight—and tell her I hadn't given Daniel a blowjob in a public parking lot, I couldn't.

It was a PR nightmare, but so fucking worth it.

When she called the fifth time, I took mercy on her and answered. Daniel smirked in the driver's seat, realizing that he'd be next to defend himself to his manager.

He'd be called reckless, but he didn't seem to mind. A goofy, endearing smile had been on his face since we pulled onto the main road.

And he wasn't the only one.

My heartbeat still hadn't returned to normal and mentally, my lips were still wrapped around his cock suc-

"Blair," Tessa growled on her side of the phone. I could hear her taking deep, calming breaths just like her therapist had suggested. "I've been getting some very interesting intel about your explicit adult activities with Mr. Fingerlord."

MR. WHO?

Daniel chuckled at his new nickname, likely taking far too much satisfaction from it.

"Is that him?" she asked, "Put him on. I have a few words."

"Tess, it's okay."

"The fuck it is. I have magazines crawling up my ass and you know how I feel about anal."

I did.

I sighed, "Tell them it's true. There's no point in denying it."

And this way, no one will doubt our 'relationship' again.

"I know it's true. There's goddamn photo evidence, babe. They have you pulling the Autosuck 9000 in HD. I told you to get laid, not commit a felony."

I laughed, "Well, shoot for the moon?"

"And land among the stars?" she mocked me, using the nasal voice she only used to imitate TSA Agents on a power trip and her know-it-all brother. "You're so lucky you write erotica and not Goodnight Moon shit."

She unironically loves Goodnight Moon.

"I'm sorry," I said, and I meant it. I didn't want to make her job harder, and she did have an awful case of chronic career anxiety.

"You should be," she huffed, but the annoyance in her voice had almost disappeared, "I'll accept remorse in all major gossip forms."

I glanced at Daniel then said, "I'll tell you later."

"Try fifteen minutes, I'm on my way to your place now with coffee and mouthwash," she paused, "Can he still hear me?"

I looked at him and grinned, "Yes."

"Whoops. No offense, Dan."

"None taken," he said, "I don't think we've officially met yet."

"I was at your party. You know, the one where you perved on my friend?"

He rolled his eyes and pulled off the highway, "Your friend was naked in my bathroom, which wasn't meant for guests."

"That should've been announced or something," I defended myself.

"Yeah," Tess bandwagon'd, "Who throws a fancy-as-shit party and doesn't announce the bathroom hierarchy?"

"You should put that in the suggestion box. It's under the sink with a white plastic bag in it."

Tess fake gasped, "See this is what happens when you give a man head, he starts smarting off."

I rolled my eyes.

The rest of the car ride followed the same, snarky pattern. They took turns serving sassy remarks and lobbing them back at each other while I laughed, listening from my front-row seat.

And as much as I had hoped that Daniel would follow me upstairs and fulfill his promise, I was happy to see Tessa waiting by the entrance to my apartment, flirting with my doorman.

"You're a madwoman," she said, rushing over to me with two Chai Tea lattes in her hands. She turned to Daniel, "Sorry I didn't get you coffee, but you've been treated enough for today."

He laughed, but blushed, for the first time since our ordeal. "That's probably true."

That's flattering, I thought, remembering how few times I had the opportunity to practice on Jay.

Tessa hummed, then gestured behind her.

"I'm going to put these upstairs. Can I trust you both not to dry hump on the sidewalk while I'm gone?"

I opened my mouth to respond but Daniel wrapped his arm around me and pulled me toward him before I could. Flickers of need climbed up my spine, shutting me up while he said, "We make no promises."

We don't?

Is this the same man that called my essay derivative?

I pressed my thighs together, wishing the sticky mess away before it got me into more trouble.

Tess rolled her eyes and walked off, promising to eat my stash of biscotti cookies if I wasn't upstairs in five minutes.

And I believed her.

"I think that went well," I said as soon as she was out of sight and waiting for the elevator. "As well as it could I guess."

Daniel's grip tightened, then, just as I was expecting a goodbye kiss, he let go.

I tried not to be disappointed.

"Can I see you tomorrow?" he asked, dropping his hands by his side but not stepping away.

I tucked a piece of stray hair behind my ear, cursing the wind for blowing it in all directions. "I have class."

Unfortunately.

Daniel fidgeted with his keys before saying, "After class then, I'll pick you up."

That'll be interesting.

"Then what?" I asked, letting him walk me to the door and hold it open as the doorman had suspiciously disappeared with Tessa.

He shrugged, "Go on a date with me?"

"A date?" I whistled as if that was the farthest thing from my mind, "Not another party?"

"Not this time," he said, smiling, "I have other plans."

I raised an eyebrow, "Can I get a hint?"

Daniel waved me inside, "Pizza. Wear something comfortable."

I stared at him and wondered how excited I should allow myself to be. "Should I ask why?"

"You can," he laughed, "Feel free to ask all night." With that, he kissed my cheek and rushed off to his car, claiming it before my apartment complex could get pissy about his crooked and illegal parking job.

I watched him drive away then ran up the stairs to tell Tessa all the dirty details.