Pull

Seven

Danny's finger trailed down the back of her neck and she turned around with her heart ramming against her ribcage. He was so close she could smell him but it wasn't aftershave she detected. It was something else. Something much more primal and intoxicating. She breathed in, letting it go to her head like a drug. His eyes danced around her face and he leaned even closer, his hands resting either side of her body on the rail behind her.  

'I've another question,' he asked. 'How the hell is someone like you single?'  

Claire's breathing quickened. His lips were centimetres from hers and she was fighting with everything she had not to close the gap, to hold onto the anticipation for just a moment longer.  

'Because that's the way I like it. I can do what I want, when I want. And it's less complicated.' She'd been asked the question many times in the past but, for the first time, her answer sounded hollow. 'I'm going to break the rules here by asking you the same question. Why are you single?'  

'Breaking the rules is always more fun anyway,' he replied and a shot of desire ran through Claire's body. The way he was looking at her, she'd let him break whatever rules he wanted. 'I'm single because that's the way it had to be.' 

A frown momentarily flickered across Claire's face. The only other rule of their game was honesty and she knew there was more to his answer than he was letting on, but with his heat radiating onto her, she brushed it aside. She was too worked up to care.  

Danny tilted his head. 'What if I said that it was really two-nil to you?' 

'I'd ask where the other point came from.' 

He slowly lifted a hand to brush her hair away from the side of her face. 'You're the first girl who's grabbed my attention enough for me to want to meet.' 

The unexpected compliment made Claire's stomach flutter. When she'd looked through Danny's profile, she'd assumed he'd probably racked up dozens of Tinder-related bedpost notches but as she looked back at him, something in his eyes told her he wasn't lying.  

'I've got to be honest with you here, Claire. It's crazy since I barely know you and it's probably breaking all kinds of rules but I don't really go in for one night stands. I don't live that way anymore.' 

She didn't necessarily go for one night stands either. Sometimes, they stretched into a few weeks, but she knew that wasn't what he meant.  

'Well, since we're being honest, I don't really go in for anything long term.' 

The confidence behind his eyes faltered as they moved into an uneasy stalemate. They'd only just met. She had a hectic work schedule and she was used to doing what she wanted without worrying about how it felt for a significant other, but then she thought back to yesterday, spending the day with Sarah and Adam. And, even though she'd told herself that she was happy, she still wondered if she could be even happier by opening herself up to the possibility of something longer term. She looked back into his eyes and couldn't deny that a one night stand with him wouldn't be enough for her either. She was already drawn in by him, addicted to his presence, and they hadn't even kissed. 

He went to step back from her but she hooked her finger into the top of his jeans and pulled him back. 'Like you just said, breaking the rules is a lot more fun.' 

Claire pressed her lips onto his and his hands cupped her face, sending tingles shooting up and down her spine. She couldn't say it out loud, that she was willing to see where whatever this was would take them, but she hoped he'd understand it from the kiss. She slowly broke away and opened her eyes, feeling drunk from the delectable feeling of his lips being on hers.  

'So, you think Christmas is overrated?' she asked, trying to control the overwhelming need to kiss him again. 

He nodded, his hands moving down the curves of her hips and waist. 'I do. The presents part is fun, though. Thanks for mine. I do love cake.' 

Claire shivered as a gust of wind penetrated the wall of heat around them and her skin bloomed with goose bumps. 'You're welcome.' 

He slid his hands down over her shoulders and bare arms, leaving a blazing trail of heat behind his touch. 'I think it's time for yours.' 

Her heart sped, knocking in her chest as he kissed her again, moving in closer until she was backed up against the rail. She lifted his sweatshirt and slid her hands underneath. He flinched under her touch as her fingers stroked the taut abs she'd fully expected to find, and she couldn't stop the moan escaping her lips as she found the trail of hair leading down into his jeans. Her entire body throbbed as he pressed into her, his hands in her hair as hers spanned his broad back under his sweater. 

The air of sex he carried around with him, the rough, yet tender way he kissed her, the way her body was reacting to him - it was dangerous. As they hungrily kissed on the terrace, the cold air nipped at her skin, delicious against the heat his touch seemed to generate. Everything about the way she was clutching onto him and pulling him closer should have been a clear sign to leave, but with each kiss he trailed along the side of her neck, she knew that she didn't want this night to be the only time they'd meet. She wanted more - more of this and more of him. Despite the short time she'd known him, she already knew he'd be impossible to follow up. She'd known it the moment she'd looked into his eyes after he'd given her that surprise point.  

She groaned as he pulled away, frustrated at their sudden lack of contact, until he kneeled down and lifted the hem of her skirt. His fingers trailed the length of her thighs as he hitched her skirt up around her waist and she tipped her head back, trying to catch her breath. The freezing wind blew around them but Claire's body was on fire as he lifted her leg to hook it over his shoulder. Her body shuddered as he softly kissed her through the black cotton of her knickers, teasing her. She gripped the rail behind her with both hands. Going by her ragged breath, he should've put in his profile that he came with a health warning. 

She arched her back as he slid her knickers to one side, his fingers delicately brushing against her. Claire looked up at the snow speckled sky. Danny had been right. All the best things came on Boxing Day.

THE END

Thank you for reading!! I hope you liked this short story, catching up with Adam and Sarah from Together Apart, and also getting to know Claire a little bit. If you'd like to support me by buying it when it's released, it'll be out around 26th December :)

Kisses xoxo