BOOK II.
Four months have passed since Ashton and Ria's relationship fell into ruins. He's convinced that she hates him and she believes he never loved her. Giving up on each other, they attempt to mend their loneliness in the arms of their past; Ch...
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THE HARD SPRAY of running water yanks Daniel from a blissful slumber. A tired groan falls from his lips and he rubs his eyes sluggishly. Pale sunrays slip through his azure curtains on the far left side of the room. He peeks next to him through heavy eyelids, realizing his bedwarmer has already risen and is occupying his shower.
Another groan and he pulls himself to a slow rise in bed, shoving cream-colored sheets aside until he finds his briefs. Despite the impossibility of it, he rolls out of bed and shivers as his feet connect with the cold hardwood. After sliding into his briefs, he drags his fingers through his hair with a yawn and extremely satisfying stretch.
Chills race under his skin simply reminiscing about the adventures he embarked last night. Daniel never thought he'd want to sleep with the same person more than once, let alone four nights in a row. It's almost addicting, this new way of releasing his sexual desires. It almost feels wrong just how much he enjoys it.
As he goes to leave the room, he snatches up his phone and finds the nearest pair of discarded sweats to slide into. He strides across his immaculate home, relishing in the scent of lemon and linen, and finds himself in the kitchen.
The blast of the furnace is like a blanket wrapped across his frame and opening the fridge is like welcoming a cold front. He does a quick scan of its orderly contents and slides his tongue over his lips. A bowl of fruit should be good enough. He checks the time on the microwave above his head. Two hours before the interview.
The new chef he's meeting this afternoon supposedly specializes in classic Italian dishes. His boss thought it'd be a brilliant idea if Daniel covered the chef's menu with his experienced Italian tongue. Defeat floats from his lips in a sigh. He pulls out his favorite fruits and throws them in a bowl together for breakfast.
As he's popping a grape between his lips, the pocket to his sweats begins to buzz. Pulling out his phone reveals his sister's icon grinning at him. What does she want?
"Hey, what do you need?" Daniel pops another grape into his mouth and practically salivates as it crunches between his teeth and the juice bursts against his tongue.
"Why are you assuming I need something?" Dea exclaims in that not-so-innocent voice of hers.
Daniel chuckles. "Because most mornings you're cuddled up with your girlfriend, completely forgetting I exist. It's barely nine o'clock."
"You can blame Jared for that. He came over to have a finance meeting with us." She sounds a little less than impressed and huffs in the most dramatized tone. "I love the guy, but interfering with my cuddle time is a sin."
"I know." Daniel grins and slides onto the barstool at his kitchen island. "Trust me, I'm the same way." He pulls open his laptop, types in a quick password, and begins flipping through work emails.
