Chapter 16 After Dinner

Chapter 16 After Dinner
Nora Lane’s POV

The door clicks shut behind Maya, and the house suddenly becomes so quiet.

For a moment, Daniel and I just stood there–him near the hallway, me still leaning against the kitchen counter, the echo of Maya’s words hanging in the air like a strong smell that refuses to fade.

“I heard,” he says quietly.

I look up. “Heard what?”

“You and Maya. In the kitchen.”

Heat crawls up my neck. “You weren’t supposed to.”

“I wasn’t trying to,” he replies.
“But you did.” I snapped at him.
“I'm sorry.” He says softly.

I busy myself with the sink, stacking plates that don’t need stacking. “She worries too much.”
“She loves you,” he says simply.
“That doesn’t mean she gets to psychoanalyze my life.”
“Nora.”
Daniel mentions my name gently but firmly. “She mentioned your last relationship.”
I stiffen. “Did she?”
“Yes.” A pause. “What happened?”

I shrug, turning away. “It’s old history. Nothing interesting to tell.”

Daniel doesn’t move closer, but I feel his attention sharpen. “You don’t sound like someone who's brushing off old history.”

I sigh wearily, defeated. “Can we not do this tonight?”

He steps closer now,his voice low. “If I’m part of your life–even temporarily–I want to know what hurt you.”
“I want to really know what happened.”

That lands differently. Not invasive. But sincerely.

I dry my hands slowly. “He wasn’t… cruel. Not in obvious ways actually.”

Daniel’s jaw tightens.

“He was selfish,” I continued slowly. “Everything was always about him–his career, his stress, his needs, his desires. I kept shrinking to fit into the corners he left me.”

I swallow hard trying hard not to cry as the horrible memories of what I went through came rushing back. “He made me feel like loving me was him doing me a favor. Like I was lucky he stayed and chose me.”

Daniel says nothing still. His silence is heavy, respectful.

“Over time,” I say, my voice softer, “I stopped recognizing myself. I doubted everything–my intelligence, my body, my worth and when I found out he was cheating on me. He tried to play the victim and I was totally losing my mind. Maya was the one who noticed. She was the one who helped me put myself back together.

I finally looked at him. His eyes are dark, unreadable.

“That man,” he says carefully, “doesn’t deserve to be a reference point for you anymore.”

I give a humorless smile. “Damage doesn’t disappear just because you know where it came from.”

He steps closer, close enough that I can feel his warmth. “I’m not him.”

“I know.”

“No,” he says gently. “I need you to hear it. I’m not him.”

I nod, but something in me hesitates.

“Nora, listen to me. You’re beautiful. You’re worthy. Don’t you dare let any man treat you like garbage. Don’t let any man tell you you’re lacking. If he doesn’t see you as sexy, he’s not using his eyes.”

He hooks his finger around my chin and guides my view so I’m looking into my own eyes. “But confidence starts with you. A man is going to treat you how you treat yourself. So please, for the love of God, act like a fucking queen.”
Everything is wet.

I’m turned on. I’m teary-eyed. This is the most intimate I’ve been with another human being in my life. I want him.
So bad.

“I’m not perfect,” Daniel continues. “I’m guarded. I’m scared of love in ways I don’t fully understand yet.”
He lifts my chin slowly, forcing me to meet his eyes.
“But I would never make someone like you feel small.”
“Ever.”

My breath catches.

The words hit me harder than any declaration confirms. My face heats instantly as I try hard not to blush. “Daniel…”

“I mean it,” he murmurs softly. “And I don’t say things I don’t mean.”

The space between us collapses.

He kisses me–not rough, not like desperation–but slow, intentional. His mouth is warm, steady, as if he’s asking permission with every movement. My hands find his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath my palms, solid and real.

Last night kiss came rushing back and I'm so freaking wet already.

The kiss deepens naturally. His hands slide to my waist, grabbing me as if the world revolves around me. When he pulls back slightly, his forehead rests against mine.

“Tell me to stop,” he whispers.

I don’t.

Instead, I kiss him back.

He leads me toward the bedroom without urgency, every step and kiss deliberate. There’s no rush–just layers peeling away, both sweet and emotional. His touch is reverent, attentive, as though he’s memorizing rather than claiming.

I feel safe.
Desired.
Present.

“Talk to me,” Finn says. “What’s on your mind?” He finds my eyes and cocks his head to the side.
Relaxing my eyelids, I press my fingers to my temples. “I need to think a little less. I just want to feel. Can you kiss me again?”
His lips are on mine before I can open my eyes again. All suspicions confirmed, Daniel tastes like…
Man. Fresh. Breath. Air. Flesh.
I can’t really describe it. He kisses with intention, his tongue massaging mine. His bottom lip is tucked between both of mine until he decides it’s not deep enough. He tilts his head and claims my mouth, but eventually his craving grows, my lips unable to satisfy him…
He moves down my neck while toying with my shirt.
“Nora,” he whispers, “you taste so sweet.” He uses his teeth to tug on my earlobe gently. “I am going to make you feel so fucking good. Tell me where you want my lips.”
“Wherever you want.”
He stills and steps backward. I immediately shudder, missing his warmth. He pushes my thighs apart and strokes his thumb against my shorts, knowing exactly where my clit is without seeing it.
“I bet you’re so fucking wet for me right now my tongue could go swimming, sweet girl.”
My heartbeat turns into aggressive flutters; it vibrates like an eagle's wings. I love the way he’s stroking me, teasing me. Everything Daniel does lights me on fire in the right way.
This hellish heat… Oh.
I want to burn.
His eyes don’t leave mine as he picks up the pace and rubs circles around my swelling clit. Oh God. I’m going to come from his thumb. This is seriously about to happen. I know it because my thighs are tensing and I have the urge to let my eyes roll into the back of my head.
“Is this how you want to come?” Daniel asks. “Because if there’s something else you want.” he smiles wickedly at me–“tell me. You’re safe with me and what you want me to do, believe me, baby, I really want to do it too.” He leans forward and plants a wet kiss above my knee. “Just say it.”
“I…um…”
“Say it,” he growls.
He kisses all the way up my thigh this time. When he reaches the shorts, he yanks it aside and blows across my crease and over my clit. It’s a seductive, and blissful. It feels so good I lose my head. I let myself get drunk off this man’s potent sexuality, and the words just spill out of my mouth…
“I really like that,” I moan.
“You look so good, baby. You’re so hot and pink and swollen.” He chuckles. “I haven’t been this excited about pussy in a long time.”