Chapter 11: Eleven.

Sammy closed her door and pressed her back against it, she needed the support after what had just happened. With shaking fingers she raised her hand up to her face, and then couldn't help but trace her swollen lips, her head dropping back against the door behind her as she mentally relived what had just happened.

That was not a kiss, because if it was, then she had never been kissed in her life before. If it was she was a kissing virgin who had just been deflowered spectacularly. No, that was not a kiss, it was something else entirely.

A pleasing assault on her senses; maybe.

Sex, but without the involvement of gentalia; possibly.

A taste of heaven, hidden away between a hard door and a harder man; most definitely.

Damn, she felt like she couldn't breathe. She had to get back out there, at this point it felt like a compulsion to just be near him.

She rushed to her drawers, and began hunting for pyjamas, and finding a set that left her feeling comfortable, cute and not exposed was a task.

In the end it came down to a satin spaghetti strap top with matching shorts and its accompanying yellow and pink mini robe. It did have a pretty and sweet lace trim. Or, her full length cotton pyjama bottoms with a tank top, still cute, but way more practical.

Sammy was left questioning whether she wanted a repeat performance of what had just happened, and how much she wanted clothing to be an attributing factor.

One outfit would definitely lead to more, the other... Possibly not so much.

With a sigh she chose the more conservative set, and quickly set to drying her hair.

For once she left it down once it was dry, opting to feel cute for once instead of practical. Then she glanced at her door, and taking a steadying breath, she opened it slowly stepping into the main room.

Daniel was stood with his back to her, hunched over the kitchen sink scrubbing mercilessly. Sammy presumed it was the pan he had been using, in an attempt to clean whatever offending food he was cooking that had dared to interrupt them.

She could sense the stress coming from him over it all. It was strange how connected she felt to him, and determined to salvage his kind gesture, she walked quietly over to her jacket and collected her cell.

Daniel's head snapped up from the blackened pan, at the sound of her sweet voice.

"Hi, can I order three large stuffed crust pizzas please. One Hawaiian, one pepperoni and one with as much cheese as the base will hold" She smiled at Daniel as he made eye contact.

Daniel watched her as she gave the address, and desperately tried to not acknowledge her braless form, though it was a pleasant distraction from the disappointment he felt in himself. He wondered why she was so hell bent on torturing him, and testing his restraint. It was almost enough to ward off his shame at failing to provide for her when she was in need. Almost.

"You're eating too much junk food, Miss Grey." He stated pointedly, when she hung up, trying to show his concern somehow.

"Are you saying I need to lose weight, Mr. Weston?" She asked straight back, enjoying how he instantly became flustered, as she pretended to show shock and offence. "Because, not only would that be very rude, but I also don't believe I need that type of influence in my life."

Daniel was before her in an instant, completely panicking.

His hands were on her face, holding her still.

"No, don't you dare even think of losing an ounce. You're perfect, Sammy, I was meaning health wise. You need proteins, and minerals and vitamins, not grease, and poorly balanced nutritional calories." He rambled on, "Never ever think that I see you as anything other than perfect. You are the most beautiful creature on this earth, I would never, ever insinuate..."

Sammy couldn't contain it anymore, she burst out laughing. Her body was wracked with it as she doubled over clutching at her stomach. Each time she tried to stand up straight, she would look at Daniel's confused face and buckle in the middle again.

After her fourth attempt, she managed to get herself upright, using his arm for support, "Oh, Daniel, stop it," she spluttered out between ragged breaths.

"Stop what? Sammy, are you alright?" He asked bewildered, while trying to steady her.

"I was only joking. Lighten up, Honey. Your face was a picture." She laughed again, her eyes crinkled with glee while her hand came up to cover her mouth.

Daniel couldn't help the grin that spread across his face, not because of what she was explaining, no that his pride was annoyed at, but his mate had just given him a pet name, and it was the most wonderful thing he had ever heard.

He was still stood frozen with a goofy lopsided smile when Sammy finally stood up straight and made her way to the sink.

Daniel's face fell a little when she peered in beneath the dirty blackened water.

"I'll get it clean, honest," he stated, walking over to her.

He was determined to stop her before she began cleaning up his mess.

Sammy looked down as Daniel's hands caught her wrists, her fingers resting on the edge of the offending pan.

"Please, let me?" He asked, his voice sounding pained.

Sammy looked at him, and pulled out her hands, which were still on the edge of the pan, bringing it up with her.

"If you let me help, it will go much quicker though," she smiled openly at him.

She was disarming him totally. Every wolf instinct pushed him to look after her. Having her clean up after him was wrong. But, her eyes the way they sparkled when she looked at him, how was he supposed to say no to that.

"Trust me," she added, "then we can go chill out till the pizzas arrive, okay?"

With a reluctant sigh Daniel stepped back, as Sammy took the pan out of the water altogether. Tilting her head she looked at the poor thing.

"Yup, just as I feared," she spoke solemnly.

Daniel watched while holding his breath, as she promptly turned around and walked to the trash can. Popping the lid and throwing the cookware inside.

"Definitely beyond saving." She nodded.

Daniel stood flabbergasted, as Sammy dried her hands and grabbed him by the arm.

"Come on, we will see if there's a film on while we wait." She stated dragging the large man to the couch.

"I'm sorry about your pan," Daniel finally stated, after Sammy had pushed him onto the couch and went to grab the remote from the tv stand.

"Don't be silly, it's not like I wasn't  complicit in its destruction. Besides, it was super cheap, and I think that's the first time it was used," she shrugged unaffected, "I wont exactly be missing it anytime soon."

Sammy came back, and plonked herself beside Daniel on the couch. It was strange, he was beside her, but they weren't touching, yet she could feel his body emanating a wonderful warmth.

Before she could contemplate it further, Daniel had swung his arm around her and pulled her against himself.

He just couldn't stand being that close to her without contact.

Sammy felt strange, like she should be pulling away, but something about this just felt so right, so she stayed against him snuggled up and perfectly content.

A while later the front door buzzed, just as Sammy was starting to nod off to the sci-fi film that was on. It startled her enough that she was clinging onto Daniel's t-shirt without realising.

"Shh, it will be the pizza, I'll get it," he said, stroking her hair in reassurance.

Sammy sat up with a stretch, "Thank you, there's money in the jar beside the microwave," she mumbled, trying to shake away her drowsiness.

Daniel simply scoffed at at such a suggestion.

Sammy frowned as he paid the delivery boy with his own money. But she was too sleepy and hungry to push it further. She only managed three slices of  pizza, before she was nodding off again.

Daniel gently slid the last crust from her fingers, leaning over to replace it in the box on the coffee table.

Sammy wrinkled her nose briefly at his movements, but didn't stir further than that.

Closing the box lids, Daniel then got up and placed them in the fridge. Giving the kitchen a quick clean down, before turning the television off.

Still his mate didn't move, her breathing steady and regular as she slept away. He walked over to her with an adoring smile, tucking her hair behind her ears as he looked down at her.

"Sammy," he spoke gently, "Sammy?"

"Mmnn," came a small growling sound that made him chuckle.

"Do you want to brush your teeth?" He asked through a smile.

"Mmmnnn" came her response as she buried herself deeper into the couch.

With a contented sigh, Daniel slipped his arms beneath her, scooping her up against his chest. The moment she nuzzled in closer his wolf let out a satisfied growl of his own. With one arm under her legs and the other supporting her upper back, he carried her to the bedroom.

Her scent was strong in here, it was like his own personal drug, and the moment he stepped into the room he felt like he was completely high. He silently admired the rest of the soft finishes, Sammy had put in the room, there was a fluffy white sheepskin rug  over the wooden floors, and the shades on her perfectly made bedspread and comforter matched those on the wall behind.

The room felt like home, it made him smile imagining how she would decorate their home when the time came.

Walking over to the bed he sat down, trying to figure out how he would get her into it, without actually waking her up.

Looking around, that's when he saw it; the practically sheer satin pyjama set that was laid out at the foot of the bed.

His nose flared and his arms tightened at the thought of her wearing that.

For the love of the wild, he would not have been able to keep his hands off of her. It briefly made him disappointed she didn't wear it. Then he looked at her, and the way she was snuggled into him.

Maybe she did choose the perfect outfit after all.

Daniel balanced her legs on his thigh and reached behind himself to pull back the covers. But the action rustled her enough to rouse her.

"Daniel?" Sammy said groggily.

"Hey, I was trying get you into bed," he answered.

"While I was asleep?" Sammy stated alarmed, while her body stiffened.

"Shit, no not like that," Daniel protested, "I mean I was trying to put you to bed. Put you to bed." He repeated again, "You fell asleep."

"Oh," Sammy sniggered at his red face. "Okay then, but I better go brush my teeth first."

Sammy got up with a stretch, and Daniel watched her make her way out of the bedroom. He looked around confused. Should he stay? He wanted to, but did she?

With a sigh he busied himself getting the bed ready for her, pulling the covers back properly.

He then had to put the pillows back, as they had become displaced. As Daniel put the second set back though, his hands brushed against something hard, and he pulled out a dog eared worn book.

It was a romance novel by the looks of it, his mate liked reading. The thought made him smile as he flipped it open to sample the inside.

"What are you doing?" Sammy asked from the doorway rushing in to get the book back.

Daniel smirked, she was too late.

"So, the cowboy and the plantation owner's daughter, huh?" He asked holding the book out of her reach.

Sammy's face began to turn redder and redder.

"Give it back," she snapped, stretching up to grasp it from his hand.

"But it was just getting to the good part, they were alone, in the barn during a thunderstorm. Soaked to the skin. Apparently her clothes were clinging to her body, revealing every tempting curve. Even her nipples were on show!" He laughed out.

"Oh God, stop it!" Sammy cried, covering her face in mortification.

"Okay, okay." He answered, handing her back the book. "But, tell me does it explain how they get all that hay cleaned out from the nooks and crannies of their bodies? Because in those positions I imagine it becomes ingrained quite deeply."

"I hate you," Sammy whined half heartedly.

Daniel laughed out.

"I'm only teasing, Gorgeous," he stated dropping a kiss on top of her head. "Have a good night's sleep," he stated making his way to the door.

Sammy watched him go, and it felt wrong.

"Wait," she called out, before she could over think things.

Daniel froze, unable to even turn around.

"Will you stay? Please?" She asked feeling strangely vulnerable without him.

"Alright," Daniel smiled, "If you need me, I'll be on the couch."

"No." Sammy blurted before he could take a step, "I want you to sleep here, with me."