Sophie 2

Unedited. It's short because my chromebook is running out of battery and I'm too lazy to go and charge it/turn my computer on.

Daniel's POV tomorrow.

Please read the A/N at the end of the chapter too!

Sarah, xx

~*~*~

Lying at my side, chest heaving as he pants for air, Daniel says, "I can last longer than that, I promise."

"Yeah, right," I scoff, moving so that I'm hovering over his red, sweaty face. "Sweetheart, you're so unfit. When did you last do some cardio?"

"Um..." He pauses to think of the answer, grinning up at me when he seems to have found one. "Now?"

Rolling my eyes, I get up from my place on the grass and extend a hand for Daniel. From the way he looked, I guessed that our morning run had well and truly defeated him. When I suggested a jog through Central Park, Daniel was more than up for it, but as soon as we started, he was complaining about a side cramp. I'd dragged him half way around when he finally crumpled over and dramatically splayed himself on the grass, asserting that he couldn't go on any longer.

To be fair, after our marathon last night, I couldn't blame the poor guy for his depletion of energy. I, myself, wasn't feeling too perky either but a run in the park was always a good way to pick me up in the morning. Or maybe it had something to do with the breakfast that I was about to treat myself and Daniel to that made me happier. This being my morning routine, I was more than familiar with where was the best place to stop for some food on the way back to the house.

When Daniel was finally up on his feet, I looped his arm around my shoulder, giving the appearance that I was there as a crutch for him, but secretly I just wanted his arms around me. Sue me, because I don't care. Now that Daniel was here in New York, I didn't want him to leave me ever again. Just being in his company made me happier, but when he had me enveloped in his arms, or kissing my neck, or just smiling at me, I was instantly happier. I'm not sure if Daniel knew just how much of an effect he had on me, but from the way his arm pulled me closer to his side as we walked out of the park, I think he might have an inkling.

Fighting the smile that was creeping up on my face, I nuzzled my cheek against his chest, resting my arm on the lower of his back. I guided us to a small hole-in-the-wall type café near Central Park and ordered us some breakfast, pulling out a couple of notes from the inside pocket of my running leggings. When breakfast was served, Daniel and I chit-chatted about nothing in particular, just savouring being in each other's presence.

If I thought my goofy grin was embarrassing, it was nothing compared to how Daniel looked. He kept smiling to himself, looking proud as punch for whatever reason. I could just well imagine where his dirty mind had gone to, not that I had any objections.

Last night was, in a word, mind-blowing.

Is that technically two words?

Either way, it was everything and more than I thought it ever would be. Having been waiting for that moment for days, if not weeks, it lived up to all my expectations. Daniel had- and excuse me if this is an overshare- zero performance issues. I kinda wish he had because the man had stamina.

"You're blushing," Daniel tells me, smirking over the rim of his coffee mug. I hated this knowing look that he gave me, like he'd seen me naked. Which he has. He spent a good hour of his time last night navigating every inch of my body, trailing his hands up and down my skin, leaving goosebumps as he went. Just thinking about it had me cheeks flaming. "You're blushing even more. Thinking about me?"

I kick him under the table. "In your dreams."

"In my dreams, I always think about you," he says in that smooth, charming way of his. Using his hand to brush his hair out of his face, he shot me a wink, making me squirm in my chair. If he carries on like this, I might just have to rush him home. "So, what's the plan for today? Are we doing something exciting?"

"Actually," I sigh, knowing that Daniel might not be entirely happy with what I was about to say. Turning my attention to the coffee mug in front of me, I awkwardly tore at the corner of a napkin, pretending not to notice the way Dan's eyes zeroed in on me. I clear my throat. "So, here's the thing, and don't get mad, but I kinda... see, you weren't supposed to arrive until tonight and you were supposed to be jetlagged which is why the dinner is tonight because I was going to leave you at home to sleep off your flight, but obviously you're here and you're not jetlagged, so, uh... we're having a family dinner and I have to go." I pause. "And I want you to come, too."

There was an uncomfortable silence between Daniel and I, which made me terrified of looking up at him. From under my eyelashes, I saw Daniel reach out for his coffee, lift the mug to his lips and set it down on the table again. "If that's where you're going to be tonight, then that's where I'm going to be. I'm only here for a few days more and I plan on spending every second of it with you," he explains, reaching a hand out to grasp mine tightly. The move, simple yet reassuring, made me shift my gaze onto Daniel's. He was beaming at me, a twinkle in his eye that screamed 'Cution! Danger ahead!' "With that in mind, I am extremely, disgustingly sweaty and in dire need of a shower. So, my question is this: what's better than morning sex?"

Laughingly, I shook my head. "What?"

"Shower sex."

~*~*~

It's not every day that I will admit to Daniel being right because, let's face it, he's a bloke. When are the ever right?

Today, however, I was willing to make an exception.

When we were finally showered, it was lunch time and Daniel was in the kitchen, cooking up a storm. He expertly made his way around the space, leaving a path of destruction in his wake, as he went about making lunch. From the way he was salivating over whatever concoction he was making, Daniel was beyond hungry.

"Babe?" I call out to him, making him stop and look over his shoulder at me. Frowning, I stare at the slightly charred... whatever that is. "How did you go from MasterChef that could make perfect ravioli last night to someone that burns water?"

"I did not burn the water," he defends his cooking skills. "The water evaporated and the lack of moisture burnt the potatoes."

Ah, so that's what's in the pan. With a small laugh, I hop down from the high chair at the breakfast table and round the counter to go to the fridge. Taking out some of last night's left overs, I place the ravioli in the microwave and wait for it to ping. Setting the timer to two minutes, it gave me enough time to steal a kiss or seven from my handsome boyfriend.

Haha, boyfriend. Well, that label is never going to get old.

"Are you kissing me to soften the blow of how terrible my kitchen skills are?" He asks, quirking an eyebrow as I pull away after kiss number six. I don't give him an answer, instead, leaning in and stealing yet another kiss from his delicious lips. God, did I actually just use the adjective 'delicious' to describe his lips? "You're blushing again, Soph."

And this is how it continued; I was fantasising about anything and everything that Daniel had or could do to me, while he teased me endlessly about how much I blushed. At one point, he deliberately got me all wound up only to leave me hanging. Well, two can play that game.

"I hate you," Daniel grumbled when I pulled away from him, a triumphant smile on my face. For the past ten minutes, I'd been sat on Daniel's lap, kissing him senseless while tugging at his hair and trailing my fingers down the back of his neck, making him shiver. From all the groaning he'd been doing, he was certainly enjoying himself. Until I pulled away. "Sophie! This is inhumane!"

"Yeah, well," I say, getting to my feet and brushing down the summer dress I was wearing, covering my bare legs. Walking across the room, I stand at the top of the stairs, shooting Daniel a backwards glance. "It's time to get ready for the dinner. Are you coming to get changed or are you planning on rocking up at The Delaney in sweats?"

Getting dressed was problematic. As soon as I pulled the dress over my head, Daniel was stood behind me, pulling me closer to him while he nuzzled at my neck. When I went to change out of my underwear, he was quick to volunteer to take off my bra. And he expertly did so, too. In one fail swoop, might I add. Let's not even talk about how many times the zip of my dress went up and down. I'd zip it up, Daniel would unzip it. I'd zip it up again, he'd unzip it. So on and so forth.

"Unzip me one more time and I will personally see to it that you are on the first flight out of the city tomorrow morning, am I clear?" I threatened him. His face paled and he duly nodded. Emphatically. I tapped his cheek softly and sidestepped him, heading for the bathroom so I could fix my hair and put a thin layer of make up on. All the while, Daniel was leaning against the doorway, hands in his formal trouser pockets, staring at me as I went about my routine. "Are you going to stand there and watch?"

He nodded.

Finally, my long hair was pinned up in an imperfect hairstyle, strands loose around my neck, and my make up was minimal, emphasising my eyes so that they popped. Adding the final layer of mascara, I double checked my reflection and scrutinized every inch of my appearance.

I wore a white striped satin and chiffon dress that fell to my ankles. The back of the dress was low, coming to a stop just under my shoulder blades, where a zip snaked up from the base of my back. For the first time in my life, I was rather glad that I wasn't as busty as I always wished I'd been, because with this dress, there was no chance I was wearing a bra. I turned sideways and looked how the fabric draped over my body. It was an unforgiving dress and would highlight any lumps and bumps of even the thinnest model alive. Even Karlie Kloss would struggle to look flawless in this dress.

"Stop doing that," I heard Daniel say from behind me. Lifting my gaze to catch his through the mirror, I saw his step closer, reaching his hands up so that they rested on my bare shoulders. "You look absolutely stunning, Sophie."

With a smile, I say, "So do you."

Daniel was one of those men that could wear anything and look impeccable while doing so. Tonight, he was wearing black formal trousers, a crisp white shirt and a skinny black tie that was loose around his neck. His hair was messy in an artistic way and his beard had been neatly trimmed, and a silver watch was clasped around his left wrist. His eyes were hooded, a dark, wanton undertone held within them as his hands slid from my shoulders and down my arms. When his fingers trailed over my inner elbow, I couldn't help but giggle at how ticklish it was.

"Laugh like that again," Daniel's low, husky voice spoke in a whisper at my ear. "And we won't make it out of the house, Sophie."

With a sigh, I nod, bumping my hip into Daniel's so that he would let me pass. Grabbing a blue velvet clutch bag, I placed my phone inside and made sure to grab some lip balm. After all the kissing Daniel and I had been doing, my lips were paying the price. They were plump and a little sore, but the pain whenever I bit down on them was worth it. Kissing Daniel was worth everything.

I slowly made my way down the stairs, careful not to trip over in my four inch Jimmy Choo heeled sandals, and headed for the door, fully aware that Daniel was watching my every move. Grabbing the house keys, I swung open the door and stepped out into the late afternoon warmth. When I heard the click of the door closing behind Daniel, I sneaked a glance over my shoulder.

"By the way," I smirked. "I'm not wearing any underwear."

~*~*~

Ok, amazing response to your characters. As a few of you pointed out, there are a few readers of Indian heritage, so I was thinking of ways to incorporate that into the story. So, my question is this- would any of you be majorly offended if I made Emma's fiancé of Indian heritage?

If you are willing for me to go down this route...

He would be second, maybe third, generation Indian-American and would have grown up in America and is very Westernised. His name is Adam (as I've previously stated). If you could suggest a surname, that would be great! Because of his family, he would have many cousins from India who could come over for the wedding. Those cousins will be you, by the way.

So, are you happy for me to do this? I don't want anyone to be offended so let me know what the general consensus is.

Also, just to double check, these are the names I have so far for the characters (check if yours is there, if not, comment again because I might have unintentionally missed you out!) In no particular order:

oupsididntmeanit

42Everest24

Nerdy_Unicorn23

CatastrophicAura

Cassie_Jane521

ScarlettRubyRed36

Hispter_Rain

Allofthestars-234

Zaafyy

purplefuzz098

I hope I got all your usernames right! Otherwise, hello random people that I accidentally tagged!

Sarah, xx