Chapter 197

Chapter 197
Claire's POV

I adjusted my light jacket, grateful for the anticipation of Daniel's return. These past months of separation had added another layer to what was already the hardest period of my life—losing my father, the funeral. At least Daniel had been there for those darkest moments, his steady presence keeping me anchored when I felt like I might shatter completely.

When the military called him back for a special three-month UN peacekeeping training program just a week after the tense reading of the will, I'd insisted he go despite his reluctance to leave me. "Take it," I'd told him, though my heart ached at the thought of our separation. "This is your chance." But after he left, the silence had been deafening—no calls, no texts, nothing. Just the knowledge that he was somewhere in a military training facility with strict communication restrictions.

Grief had hollowed me out in ways I never expected. The Stanton Group had kept me busy, the work serving as both distraction and purpose as I stepped further into the role my father had left me. But in quiet moments like this, waiting alone, everything felt raw again.

My mind drifted back to our last night before Daniel left. We had been planning our future together while he attended military graduate school, but his special recruitment back into the SEALs for the training program had temporarily separated us. When he completed it, he'd be granted the rank of lieutenant and return to military school for further education.

"Are you sure about this?" he'd asked, holding me close in my apartment the night before his departure. "I can decline. You need me here."

"No," I'd said firmly, though it took everything in me. "I'll be okay. The worst part is over, and you've been here through all of it. This is important for your future—our future."

The rumble of an approaching bus yanked me back to the present. My heart jumped to my throat as I scanned the faces of the disembarking passengers. And then I saw him.

Daniel stepped off the bus, duffle bag slung over one shoulder. His hair was cut military-short, his skin several shades darker from training in the sun. The white t-shirt he wore clung to his broader shoulders and chest. He looked... different. Harder. More defined. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of him.

His eyes found mine immediately, and his serious expression softened. He walked toward me with purpose, each step bringing him closer. I stood frozen, drinking him in.

"Claire," he said, and just the sound of my name in his voice made my knees weak.

I didn't trust myself to speak. Instead, I threw my arms around him, pressing my face against his neck. He smelled like military-issue soap and sweat, an intoxicating combination that sent heat rushing through my body. My nipples hardened against his chest, and I felt a rush of wetness between my legs.

"I missed you," he whispered against my hair, arms tightening around me. "How have you been holding up since I left?"

I swallowed hard, the grief rising up again like a wave. "Managing. It's been... difficult without you here."

"I shouldn't have gone," he said, his jaw tightening.

"You're here now," I replied, not wanting to dwell on the pain. Not today. "That's what matters."

He kissed me then, right there at the bus stop, not caring who saw. His lips were firm and demanding, making my head spin. When we broke apart, both breathing hard, I grabbed his hand.

"Car's this way," I said, my voice embarrassingly husky.

In the car, Daniel put his duffle in the back seat, then settled into the passenger seat beside me. He immediately took my hand, placing it on his thigh. I could feel the hard muscle underneath his jeans, and my fingers twitched with the urge to explore further.

"You look different," I said, starting the car. "Bigger."

"Combat training." His thumb stroked my palm. "Not much else to do but work out when you're not running drills." He studied my face. "How's everything been with the family since I left? Thomas still causing problems?"

I took a deep breath. "Managing. The company keeps me busy. Thomas is still furious about the will, but that's not new." I tried to keep my tone light. "Alexander hasn't spoken to me in weeks. Nathan's been my only ally, really."

Daniel nodded, his expression grave. "And the rest of the family?"

"Jessica's been surprisingly decent. Maybe because she's too preoccupied with Michael. Hannah calls occasionally, mostly to complain about Owen." I shrugged. "Standard Stanton dysfunction."

As we drove, my mind drifted to thoughts of our future together. "Do you remember what your professor said before you left? Colton Briggs?"

Daniel's eyes softened. "Of course I do."

"He pulled you aside just days before graduation, months before my father's illness," I continued, navigating through traffic. "You told me about it that night."

"He wanted me to stay and get my doctorate," Daniel said, his fingers interlacing with mine. "Said I could teach at the academy afterward."

"You told me you needed to think about it," I recalled, glancing at him briefly. "And Briggs said something that stuck with both of us. He said..."

"'You don't have to be overseas to serve your country,'" Daniel finished. "And then he added, 'Even the deepest love can't survive prolonged separation.'"

"Your place or mine?" I asked, proud that my voice sounded almost normal.

"Yours," he answered immediately. "I want to sleep in a bed that smells like you."

The fifteen-minute drive to my Queen Anne Heights apartment felt like the longest of my life. Daniel kept his hand on my thigh the entire time, occasionally squeezing or moving his fingers in small circles that sent sparks straight to my center.

Once inside my apartment, Daniel dropped his bag by the door and pulled me into his arms. His kiss was hungry, desperate, and I responded with equal fervor, my hands roaming over his shoulders and back, relearning the shape of him.

He broke the kiss abruptly, his breath coming fast. "I need to shower first."

I blinked at him, momentarily confused. "What?"

"I've been on buses and planes for almost two days." He gestured at himself. "I'm not exactly fresh."

I almost laughed. "Daniel, I don't care."

"I do." His expression was serious, almost formal. "Ten minutes. Then I'm all yours."

As he disappeared into the bathroom, I wondered if the military had reinforced his excessive self-discipline and moral code. I heard the shower start and imagined the water running down his newly defined muscles. The thought made me press my thighs together again.

When Daniel emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, I was sitting on the couch pretending to check emails about tomorrow's board meeting. He stood in the doorway, water droplets still clinging to his shoulders, and I found it hard to breathe for a moment, my pulse quickening at the sight of him.

"Better?" I asked.

He nodded, crossing the room to sit beside me. "Much." His hand found mine. "So, where do you want to go for dinner? I've been dreaming about real food for months."

I set my phone down and turned to face him fully. "Actually, I made reservations already."

"Where?" His fingers traced patterns on my wrist.

"Emerald Pulse. They have private viewing rooms in the back. I got us the couples' suite."

Daniel's eyebrows rose. "The nightclub?"

"They opened a few small private theaters recently." I moved closer, my knee touching his. "Very exclusive. Very private."

His eyes darkened. "What's playing?"

"Does it matter?" I asked, my voice low.

Daniel's lips twitched. "I guess not."

The private viewing room at Emerald Pulse was small and intimate, with a plush loveseat facing a large screen. The lights were dimmed low, and the sound from the main club was muffled by thick walls. As the movie started, I curled against Daniel's side, inhaling his clean scent.

Twenty minutes into the film, I slowly placed my hand on his thigh, feeling his muscles tense immediately. I moved my fingers higher, brushing against the growing bulge in his pants. His breathing quickened, and I felt a thrill of power rush through me.

On screen, the movie's protagonists were engaged in a dramatic farewell, but I couldn't have cared less. I continued my exploration, feeling Daniel growing harder under my touch. His jaw was clenched tight, eyes fixed straight ahead, but I could see the pulse hammering in his neck.

"Are you watching the movie?" I whispered against his ear.

"Trying to," he growled.

"Should we keep watching?" I asked innocently, my hand still resting on his thigh.

Daniel stood up abruptly, holding his hand out to me. "No."

The look in his eyes sent heat rushing through my body. I placed my hand in his, allowing him to pull me to my feet. Without another word, he led me toward the exit, his grip firm and possessive.

"In a hurry?" I teased as we reached the hallway.

My heart raced as he pulled me closer, his lips brushing against my ear. "Three months is a long time to think about all the things I want to do to you."