I couldn't breathe.

Being in the same small atmosphere as Daniel is suffocating.

But not in a bad way.

In a tension-is-so-thick-you-can-cut-it-with-a-knife kind of way.

I was so painfully aware of every time he looked over at me. My body was just on high alert. Every time his eyes trails slowly down my body made my skin feel as if it were on fire.

Everything about him is fire.

And right now, I'm ready to be consumed by it. My nipples are fucking hard as hell, pressing against the fabric of my bra, it almost hurts. And my panties are goners, cause they're soaked.

I've never been this turned on by a guy simply checking me out from afar.

Well, to be fair, it's almost as if he's undressing me with his eyes. And my body is almost ready to throw itself at him.

But then I look over at a peacefully sleeping Mary Grace, and it all comes crashing down. Because Daniel is my boss now. This is his daughter.

This is serious shit.

But I catch him, from the corner of my eye, looking over at me again. So this time, I'm bold enough to turn my head and hold that fiery gaze.

Maybe a bad idea, though. Cause as soon as I do, he wipes his hands on his thighs, gripping his knees. His blue eyes looked so dark from here, like he wanted to make a move. But regrettably, he ripped his gaze away from mine, turning his body completely away.

I feel like I can finally breathe, but that did nothing to help the need that my pussy is aching with. I inwardly groan. I need a release, and my vibrator is at my apartment.

Fuck you, Jesse. This is all your fault.

When the car came to a stop, I felt like we were in there for hours. When Bruce opened the door for Daniel, Daniel moved towards Mary Grace.

"MG, we're home, princess."

Mary Grace stirred, opening her eyes. "Home?"

"Home."

Mary Grace sits up and stretches, turning to face me. Then she breaks out into a smile, turning towards Daniel.

"She said yes?"

He nods. "She did. Lets go, so we can give her a tour."

Mary Grace beams, practically sprinting out of the car. Daniel doesn't look at me before he turns around and gets out of the car. I sigh and slide out of the car.

And again, my jaw drops.

Cause this house, it's not a huge, expensive mansion. But it's beautiful. The exterior makes it almost seem like a small castle, with light brick. It even has an extended room on the side with a cone-style roof. It literally looks like a tiny castle.

"Come on, Adi."

I couldn't help but smile. Mary Grace decided to drop the r and instead of Adri, just say Adi. It was unique and different.

Daniel walks up the brick porch and towards the oak door, opening it for us both. I slip in, my eyes taking in everything. It's so beautiful. Light colored walls, matching light hardwood floors. Rugs decorated the main living spaces, pictures hung around the walls. The living room has a huge tv with some dark Heather grey couches and recliners. A beautiful glass coffee table sat in the middle.

"This is the living room," Mary Grace smiles. "We don't normally use this room."

"Mary Grace," Daniel sighs, throwing his wallet in the dish by the door.

Mary Grace just smiles and leads me to the gorgeous kitchen. It has dark granite counters and antique white cabinets that went all the way up to the roof. Black stainless steel appliances were super fancy, especially the double wall oven. In the middle of the kitchen was a huge island that had the dishwasher on it. A beautiful big farmers sink has a window right over it, looking out towards the pool.

A huge pool.

I love it here already.

"This is the kitchen," Mary Grace laces her hands. "Daddy cooks for me all the time."

Mary Grace, please don't give me any more reasons to have the hots for your dad. Please. I'm already turned on enough.

"Speaking of," Daniel walks into the kitchen. "I'll get started on dinner. You get started on homework, deal?"

Mary Grace nods. "Deal." She turns to me. "I'll show you my room."

She leads me up the grand staircase and up to the second floor. She opens the first door on the right and steps in.

Honestly? I expected a princess theme going on in here. What I found is a very sophisticated looking room for a seven year old.

The walls were painted a very, very light purple. Her bed was in the corner, a white canopy falling around it. She had white shaggy rugs and dark wooden furniture, including a desk where she set her backpack. She slipped off her shoes and placed them neatly in her closet.

What I did notice was a lot of different colored lava lamps scattered around her room, which made me smile.

"Lava lamps?"

She grins at me. "Yeah. They're just really cool."

"They are. I had one when I was in middle school. I think my dad stole it from me, though."

Mary Grace laughs. "Why?"

I shrug. "I think he was jealous."

Mary Grace smiles big. "Did you ever get it back?"

I shake my head. "Nope. But they've always been super cool to me." Mary Grace chuckles, and I sigh. "I'll let you get to your homework, kiddo. But where's the bathroom?"

"The door right outside my room is a bathroom. There's also one downstairs."

I nod. "Thanks. Good luck."

Mary Grace thanks me as I exit her room. I cross the hall and open the door, revealing a white and blue decorated bathroom. I close the door and look at myself in the mirror, taking deep breaths.

I can do this. I can do this.

It doesn't matter that Daniel is single-handedly the sexiest guy alive or that he got me this wet with just his hot gaze. I can handle it.

I splash cold water on my face and pat it dry with a paper towel. I quickly discard it and exit the bathroom. I glance in Mary Grace's room and see her with big headphones on, signing to the screen. My heart warms at the sight, then falls.

I hate that someone so kind and free spirited has to go through this. Life really isn't fair.

I walk back down the stairs, the instant smell of cooking peppers and onions invaded my senses. I shudder. This man is going to make me drop to my knees as soon as I see him over the stove.

There's nothing hotter than a guy who cooks.

I walk slowly to the kitchen and sure enough, my knees wobble. I steady myself on the bar-style counter top. Daniel turns his head towards me, eyes holding mine. Then quickly turns away.

"Is Mary Grace studying?"

"Uh," I swallow. "Yeah."

He doesn't say anything. Just nods once. I watch for a moment as his muscles contradict against his blue button down, sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

Run, run, run.

I quickly walk to the back door, which was glass, and unlock it. I step onto the concrete, looking around. The lawn was landscaped perfectly and the pool was just calling my name. I couldn't wait to just relax in it. Is this heated? Oh, I bet it is. Gosh, that's so—

"Pool's heated," I hear that deep voice that has me twisting around to look at him. "You're more than welcomed to use it whenever you want. Mary Grace knows how to swim, but I never let her in without safety measures, first."

The sun was setting. It should be illegal how good his skin, his hair, his everything looked in contrast to the orange-pink sky. I swallow, trying to form any kind of sentence. But nothing came out.

"Um," he stands straight. "Follow me. I'll show you where your room is."

I nod, following behind him as he leads me past the kitchen, down the hall, opening to a whole other living area. He pushed open the door, letting me walk in.

The room is soft yellow, decorated minimally. The bed is in the corner, beside a balcony window. A makeup vanity is hide behind a half wall partition that opens up to the other side of the room, which had a small love seat, a hanging tv, and some books stacked on the small side tables around the room.

It was beautiful. Everything in this house was beautiful.

"Feel free to," he shrugs. "Put your touch on it."

I smile. "Thank you."

"You're welcomed to anything in the house, as well."

I turn to face him, his eyes hard, as was his jaw. I give him a grateful smile. "Thank you, Mr. Le Noir."

He holds my gaze for just a moment before he barely grunts a response, turns around and leaves the room.

I sigh, looking around. This one room is almost as big as my old apartment. What the heck. I walk over to the window, staring outside.

Now that I was alone, my mind couldn't stop itself from wandering back to Jesse. And immediately, my heart ached.

Jesse and I were together for a long time. I was comfortable with him. It became normal. Even as he increasingly stood out later and later, assuring me he was just working, I thought it was normal.

Maybe it was my fault. Something with Jesse, within the past year, has just felt off. I didn't really feel that desire to have sex with him much, which made him angry. Maybe I should've just let him? Maybe he wouldn't have had to find solace in my friend.

God, that's what hurts the most. Is that sad? That the act of infidelity doesn't hurt as bad as the fact that it was with a person in my inner circle? That it was with someone I considered a friend?

Yeah, that hurts the most.

Cause that's when I feel tears finally falling down my face.

All he had to do was leave. He didn't have to make me feel so...worthless. Like, I get that I wasn't giving it up to him whenever he wanted. But damn, I didn't deserve that.

To feel like I did something wrong. Like I'm not good enough, or pretty enough, or skinny enough, or just anything enough for him to even try waiting for.

The thought hurts. The whole situation hurts.

A knock at the door caught my attention. I tried to quickly wipe the tears away, but Daniel was already scanning my face.

"Foods ready," he steps into the room. "Are you okay?"

I nod. "I'm not quite hungry. I think I'll just take a shower and lie down for a bit."

Daniel holds my gaze for a second before he nods and turns away. I wipe my face, just in case Mary Grace catches me off guard, and walk out of the room, down the hall.

Daniel was already turning the corner, pausing. "Sorry, I just wanted to bring you something comfortable," he holds his hand out, holding a white shirt and black...boxers?

I smile. "Thank you."

"The bathroom is right here," he motions behind him. "All yours. And towels are in there, too."

"Thank you."

He looks like he almost gives me a smile back, but he quickly turns and leaves. I can hear him and Mary Grace chatting, so I sneak into the bathroom and flip on the light.

It's a pretty bathroom, beach decor throughout it. The shower has a huge glass door, right in front of the mirror and sink. I place the clothes Daniel gave me on the counter and reached inside the shower. I grabbed the handle and turned on the water, then stripped out of my clothes.

I step into the hot water, instantly relaxing. I let it cascade over my whole body, soothing my tense muscles.

All I wanted to do was enjoy this beautiful shower and not think about Jesse. But it's all I seemed to do throughout my whole shower. I cried, letting the tears mix with the water. But this was it. This whole breakdown I'm having is the only one he gets.

He's a liar. A cheater. He doesn't deserve any of my tears after this shower. And I'm gonna chant that over and over.

It did help me stop crying, though. And when I did, I shut off the water and stepped out of the shower. I grabbed a towel that was hanging on the hook and dried my body off, then wrapped my hair up.

I grabbed the shirt Daniel gave me. It wasn't too big, but it smelled amazing. Like the sexiest thing a guy could smell of. Mint and pine and spice all mixed together in a very unique, sexy scent.

I pulled the shirt over my head, letting it fall to my thighs. It wasn't too baggy, it actually fit pretty good. It was just long. Since my boobs were fairly small, I never wear a bra to bed, so nothing too out of the ordinary here.

But my panties? Yeah, those were trashed. From how wet they got being around Daniel.

So I had no choice but to slip the boxers up my legs. Not like you could even tell I had them on. I open the door, shutting off the light. The kitchen light wasn't on anymore, and it was quiet.

Was I really in the shower that long?

I quickly set my clothes on one of the tables in my room and walked back out towards the kitchen. I opened the oversized fridge, looking for water. Thankfully they had water bottles lined up the top shelf. So I grabbed one and shut the door.

I was just gonna go back into my room when I saw a door I hadn't noticed earlier now cracked open, letting light come out. I walk towards it, opening it more. All I saw was stairs going down, so I assume it's a basement.

But I kept hearing a hitting sound. So curiously, I walked down the stairs to see what it was. You'd think with my history, I wouldn't do that. But I'm a curious person by nature. I can't help it.

What I wasn't ready for was seeing Daniel, shirtless.

He'd changed from his work clothes to black sweats that were hanging low on his hips. His muscles moved every time he pulled his fist back and threw it forward on the bag. His wet hair falling over his face as he worked the punching bag over and over and over.

Sweat made his body glisten. Glisten. He was actually glistening. But the way he was carrying himself? He knew exactly what he was doing.

And he looked so fucking hot doing it.

Suddenly images of him slamming me against the wall and exposing my body to him flood my mind, making my knees weak. What those rough hands must feel like between my legs, making me beg for more.

I whimper at the thought. I actually whimper because I'm so turned on.

Sadly, the sound echoed through the room, making Daniel stop and look at me. His eyes are wild, fire burning through them. He pushes his wet hair off his face, panting.

He drops his gaze to my chest, then my legs. Then back up to my chest. And when he looked back at my eyes, there was a whole new type of fire that burned in them.

"Do you need something, Ms. Lee?"

Run, Adrianna. You're about to make a fool out of yourself if you don't.

"I-I, uh," I blink. "Just curious. Bye."

I turned and quickly ran back up the stairs. I ran back into my room and shut the door, taking a deep breath.

Way to make yourself look like a fool, Adrianna.

I needed to get myself under control before I did something I regret. Like go back downstairs and jump him while he wasn't expecting it.

I laid in bed, trying to just fall asleep and get this whole mess of a day behind me. But I couldn't. The more I tried to stay still and sleep, the more restless I got. I was too hot and bothered. I needed a release.

My fingers didn't quite cut it, not when I was trying to imagine they were his and how they feel. But it'll do for the night. I came with a small cry, then finally was able drift off to sleep, where even my dreams weren't safe from the desire that came from Daniel Le Noir.

A/N

And so it starts 🥰

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