A Beauteous Flower

Chapter 49 - The Wish

In consideration of this new information, Madison switched tactics for the evening. Her original plan had been to simply overwhelm Daniel with sexual pressure until he cracked and slept with her, but now she knew that would not achieve the goal she had set. Plain sex was just not the answer. What she wanted was for Daniel to feel loved. To do that she would have to somehow show him that she loved him, otherwise given time, Daniel would wall off his heart and then Madison would not be able to reach him.

That left Madison with one option according to Cassidy's analysis. She'd have to fight him. As scary as the prospect of confrontation was, Madison now knew it might be the only way to save her relationship and, perhaps, save Daniel himself. Just as Cassidy had predicted, there really was a danger that Daniel would bury his feelings deep inside himself where they would fester and gradually poison his soul. Her sweet, quiet Daniel would slowly rot from the inside out and become bitter and miserable.

The worst trouble was Daniel had shown the emotional equivalent of a cast iron jaw and Madison wasn't sure she could hit him hard enough, but she had to try. She could not let that happen. She had done this to him, so only she could save him and it had to happen soon. However, Madison wasn't prepared to fight tonight. She needed time to brace and prepare for it, but she also wanted one more chance for the first alternative before she risked it all in a fight. The solution Cassidy proposed all depended on how Daniel reacted on Friday night.

She peeked out the back door and changed her plan. Tonight, she wouldn't try to lure Daniel to her. Tonight, she would go to him. A certain magic inhabited that little cabin. It was Daniel's special place, his safe space, untouched by the evil spirit that haunted their home. It was the place that Daniel had first given her a shy glimpse of a little part of his soul, and maybe there in the cabin, Madison could reach him and touch his heart.  The path from the kitchen to the cabin seemed miles long, and trepidation hounded Madison's steps. With a silent prayer, she knocked quietly, and Daniel's chair rolled back from the desk. Madison's heart fluttered in her throat.

"Come in, the door is open."

Madison shyly cracked the door and peeked in from behind her hair.

"Can I come in? I just want to talk."

"Of course," Daniel smirked and walked around his desk to her.

Madison entered and quickly shut the door as Gandalf came to greet her as well. While Daniel hugged her, Gandalf entangled himself around her legs and bawled loudly at her until she reached down and scratched his ears. Daniel led her to the sofa in front of the fire and while she settled into the sofa's embrace, he stoked up the fire. Flush with fuel, the fire flared, and Madison felt a rush of heat on her skin. Daniel settled on the other end of the sofa and smirked for Madison.

"What's up?"

Madison paused. She didn't have a plan for this moment, so she decided to just be honest.

"Daniel, I want you to know I love you."

"Thank you," Daniel nodded appreciatively.

"No, I mean it. I love you. I don't want you to ever forget that."

Daniel narrowed an eye at her.

"Alright. I have to admit though, now you have me worried. Have you got something to tell me?"

"I don't mean to. Make you worried I mean. I just want you to know I love you."