Page 33

ANYA

I have never wanted to make an effort for anyone. Even in my past relationships, I’ve always felt that if someone cared enough, they’d meet me halfway. But with Daniel, things are different. This man makes me feel as if I am the center of his universe. He makes me feel seen. I always try so hard to excel over others, to be a person that I am not. There’s this constant pressure I put on myself to be perfect, to prove that I’m worth it. I wear this mask of confidence, thinking that if I appear strong and flawless, no one will notice my flaws.

But Daniel sees right through it. When he looks at me, I can feel his gaze peeling away the layers I’ve built up. It’s both terrifying and exhilarating. I want to be real with him, to drop the facade and show him who I truly am—messy, vulnerable, and sometimes lost. But the fear of not being enough always lingers in the back of my mind.

Sometimes I wonder if I’m even worth it. If I can give him what he deserves. The thought twists my insides into a knot. Daniel is everything I’m not: grounded, patient, effortlessly kind. I can’t help but feel that, one day, he’ll realize I’m not the ideal woman he thinks I am.

What if he wakes up one morning and decides he deserves better? The idea is suffocating. It makes me want to retreat, to hide behind the mask again.

Yet, there’s something in the way he smiles at me like he genuinely cares about my messy edges and all the imperfections I’m so afraid to show. It makes me want to take the leap, to trust him enough to let him in.

I ring the bell of his apartment. He isn’t aware that I am visiting. I could have informed him beforehand, but it wouldn’t give me the pleasure of seeing his face light up. I smile slightly, imagining his reaction.

I want to make an effort for him, not just because he does so for me too, but because I think I can. There’s a part of me that feels inspired by the way he shows his true kind self so openly and honestly. It’s like he’s holding a mirror to his heart, reflecting the warmth he has kept hidden. I want to be that brave.

The door swings open and Daniel hurriedly steps out. His eyes widen. I extend the bouquet of yellow tulips I picked up on the way here, to him. I read somewhere it symbolizes warmth and cheerfulness, and when I saw it, I knew I had to get it because it reminded me of him. It reminded me of his smile.

“I brought you some flowers,” I say, tilting my head and smiling at him.

He pulls me into his arms and wraps me up in a warm embrace, his breath warm against my neck. “Thank you, Firecracker,” he says. He takes my hand, guiding me into his room. He closes the door behind us. “I will be back in a second,” he says. His hands linger on me a moment longer before he reluctantly pulls away. He walks away, disappearing into the balcony attached to his room .

When he comes back, he has a bouquet of colorful flowers in his hands. His eyes soften and he chuckles. “Will you believe it if I say I was just heading to your house to give you flowers, too?” he asks, his voice filled with disbelief.

“Really?” I ask breathlessly. “Did you buy it from the campus florist?”

He nods and frowns at me. “How did you know?” he asks.

“Because,” I tiptoe toward him. “The florist said that a guy came in this morning to buy flowers for his girlfriend and could not decide on one, so he just took some of each.” I chuckle in his ear. He wraps his arms around my waist as he grins and pecks my nose. I smile softly and press my lips against his.

Daniel throws the flowers on his bed, and breaks the kiss. His nose brushes against my neck, sending tingles down my spine as he whispers in my ear, “I can't hold back anymore, Firecracker.” He kisses my neck, his teeth lightly nibbling and sucking on my sensitive flesh. I gasp softly, arching my back.

He pulls back and looks into my eyes, his eyes intense, desire swirling in them. “I swear to God,” he growls as he pulls me closer, if that’s even possible. “If someone interrupts now, I am going to war.” He huffs.

His grip on me tightens, and his hands begin to roam even more eagerly over my body. He picks me up and throws me on the bed. “Daniel!” I exclaim. I have never seen him so out of focus, so desperate, and it makes me happy that it is because of me. He climbs the bed, spreading my legs as he comes near me. He brushes his lips against my cheek before trailing down to my neck.

“You drive me wild, Anya,” he murmurs, his breath hot against my skin. I respond with a soft sigh, wrapping my arms around his neck.

I feel him pulling on my shirt, his fingers grazing against my skin. The sensation is electric, making me feel vulnerable yet undeniably wanted. He cups my left breast and bites my right one through the fabric. I shudder beneath his touch. He hooks his finger at the hem of my top, raises his head, and looks into my eyes. “May I?” he asks, his voice husky.

I nod slowly as my head buzzes with anticipation. His hands slide up my shirt and the touch of his cool fingers sends shivers across my skin. He deftly removes my top and unhooks my bra, tossing them haphazardly on the floor. His eyes rove over my bare skin, his gaze hungry. “You’re beautiful,” he whispers, his breath tickling my ear.

My breath hitches when he leans in, his lips grazing my collarbone, sending shivers down my spine. I close my eyes as his mouth trails soft kisses along my shoulder. I lift my hand and gently run my fingers through his hair, the strands soft under my touch. He leans into my palm, his eyes never leaving mine as he presses a kiss into it. “I want you. All of you,” Daniel whispers. His thumb strokes my cheek as he looks at me with the utmost sincerity. “I am asking you to push me away, Anya,” he mutters. “If you don’t want this, please,” he begs, but there’s no way in hell I wouldn’t want this, wouldn’t want him.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “But what if I do want this?” I respond, my voice barely a whisper. “If I need this too?” I add, my eyes meeting his. His gaze remains steady on me, unwavering as he studies my face. I reach up and gently cup his face, my thumb stroking his cheek. His eyes close, like he’s savoring the feeling of my touch. “I want you, Daniel,” I confess.

“I am addicted to you, Anya,” Daniel whispers, the words sending shivers down my spine. I tilt my head slightly, a soft gasp escaping my lips as his breath ghosts over the sensitive skin of my neck. “Your scent, the way your skin feels against mine.” He trails his fingertips along my jawline, his touch burning with a delicate fervor that leaves me breathless. “Your laughter,” he murmurs, his lips hovering near mine. He presses them onto mine, capturing my lower lip between his teeth, nibbling and sucking it. A tremor courses through me a soft moan escaping my lips. He’s kissing me like a starved man. I run my hands down his chest and abdomen, feeling the ridges of his abs. I can feel the heat radiating off him, the need pouring off him in waves. “Everything. I am addicted to everything about you, Firecracker.” His forehead touches mine as he whispers against my lips.

I tug at his shirt’s hem. “Take it off, captain,” I plead.

A playful challenge dances in Daniel’s eyes as he responds. “Say please,” he whispers, his lips just a tantalizing breath away.

I lean in, my lips grazing his ear as I whisper seductively, “Please, captain.” His hands find the hem of his shirt, slowly lifting it upwards. I sit up, my eyes locked on his movements as he slowly reveals his bare torso, inch-by-inch.

His skin glistens and every contour of his toned abs and muscular arms is defined in the dim light. A deep V-line disappears beneath the waistband of his jeans, and I can’t help but stare at him. He chuckles.

“Like what you see, Firecracker?”

I nod. “Yes. Very much,” I murmur as I sit up and press my breasts against his hard abs, my nipples hardening in response. He inhales sharply before letting out a low groan. His hands grip my waist as he pushes me down on the bed. His breath is hot and ragged as he presses his forehead against mine, his lips brushing against my ear.

His hands travel up my sides, his thumbs brushing lightly against the sides of my breasts, sending sparks of electricity through my body. His hands move lower, trailing down my back, leaving a fiery path in their wake. “I do not like this barrier, Anya,” he says, unbuttoning my jeans. He kisses my navel softly as he swiftly takes it off.

His fingers hook around the waistband of my panties, tugging them down slowly, teasingly, as his gaze locks with mine. There’s an intensity in his eyes, like he’s savoring every moment, every inch of me. His hands slide up my thighs, the roughness of his palms against my smooth skin causing my breath to catch in my throat. I can feel the raw need in his touch, the same need that’s coursing through my veins. He kisses the inside of my thigh and my body tenses, anticipation building inside me like a coiled spring ready to snap.

He hovers over me, his lips brushing against mine in the lightest of touches, making my heart race even faster. “Are you sure?” he murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper. His forehead rests against mine and I can feel the restraint in his body, the tension in his muscles as he waits for my answer.

I nod, too breathless to speak, my body already aching for him. His lips crash against mine in a fiery kiss, and I lose myself in the sensation of him—the way his hands grip my hips, the way his body presses against mine, hot and hard. I run my hands through his hair, tugging lightly as he groans into my mouth, his kiss becoming more urgent, more desperate.

Daniel pulls back just enough to look into my eyes, his chest rising and falling rapidly. “You don’t know what you do to me,” he says, his voice rough with desire. His fingers slide inside me, slow and deep, and I can’t suppress the moan that escapes my lips. My breath hitches, my eyes fluttering shut as his fingers begin to move in slow, deliberate circles, teasing and testing. His touch is deliberate, every movement measured as if he’s learning exactly how I respond to him.

“Daniel…” I breathe his name, my voice shaky and I can feel him smirk against my neck, his lips grazing my skin.

“Does that feel good, Firecracker?” he whispers, sending shivers through me .

I can only nod, my body responding to every movement of his fingers, the pressure building inside me, tightening with each stroke. He curls his fingers slightly, hitting a spot that makes my hips buck involuntarily. My moan is louder this time, my hands instinctively clutching his shoulders for support.

His pace quickens, the intensity growing, and I feel like I’m unraveling beneath him. My entire body feels like it’s on fire, every nerve ending alive, sensitive to his touch. His free hand grips my thigh, holding me steady as my body trembles.

“Look at me,” he murmurs, and I force my eyes open, meeting his gaze. His eyes are dark, filled with heat and something else, something deeper. The connection between us in this moment is electric, raw, and real.

The pressure inside me builds to an unbearable peak, my breath coming out in short gasps. I feel the tension coil tighter, until finally, it snaps, sending me spiraling over the edge. I cry out, my body shaking as waves of pleasure crash through me, my hands gripping him desperately as I ride out the sensations.

Daniel doesn’t stop, his fingers still moving inside me, coaxing every last bit of pleasure from my body until I’m left breathless, my skin flushed, my heart pounding wildly in my chest.

He pulls his fingers out slowly, gently. Never breaking eye contact, he licks his fingers. The sight sends a shiver through me and my breath hitches.

“You taste incredible,” he murmurs, his voice low and rough. His hand cups my cheek, his thumb brushing my lips, and I can barely breathe. The intensity in his eyes makes me feel like I’m the only thing that exists at this moment, like nothing else matters but us.

I reach up, grabbing the back of his neck and pulling him down into a desperate kiss. My lips crash against his, wild and frantic— I can’t get enough. My hands roam over his chest, feeling the hard planes of his muscles and the heat of his skin. I need more—I need all of him. My fingers fumble at the waistband of his jeans, tugging impatiently.

“Off,” I whisper against his lips, my voice shaky with need. “I need you, Daniel.” He grins, but there’s a flicker of something wild in his eyes as he pulls back just enough to look at me.

“Patience, Firecracker,” he says even as his voice betrays the same urgency I feel. His hands are trembling slightly as he unbuttons his jeans and kicks them off, leaving him in nothing but his boxers.

My eyes drift down, and I can’t help but stare at the obvious bulge pressing against the fabric. Heat floods through me and I bite my lip, already aching for him. I reach out, grazing my fingers along the waistband of his boxers. But he grabs my wrists gently, pinning them above my head, his lips brushing against my ear. His mouth trails down my neck, leaving a burning path as he kisses his way to my breasts, teasing me with soft, featherlight touches. My body arches beneath him, desperate for more.

“Daniel,” I gasp, “I need you…now.”

He groans softly and I can feel his restraint snapping. He pulls off his boxers in one swift motion. I suck in a breath as I take in the sight of him—completely bare, completely mine. He walks over to his bedroom drawer and takes out a condom, tearing the packet using his teeth. I think I am in heaven. He returns to me, puts the flower bouquet away on the side table, and climbs onto the bed.

He hovers over me, his lips ghosting over mine in a kiss that’s soft, deliberate. My heart pounds in my chest as I feel the tip of him brush against my entrance, sending a shock of pleasure through me. I gasp, my hands clutching at his biceps. With a groan, he pushes into me slowly, filling me inch by inch. I gasp at the sensation, my fingers digging into his back as my body adjusts to the fullness of him. He stills for a moment, giving me time to catch my breath, his eyes never leaving mine.

“God, Anya.” He breathes, his voice rough and full of emotion. “You feel so good.” I can’t respond. Only a soft moan escapes my lips as he starts to move, each thrust slow and steady, drawing the tension tighter between us. Every inch of me is alive with sensation, every movement pushing me closer to the edge. His lips are on mine again, kissing me with a desperation that matches my own. My hips move with his, our bodies finding a rhythm that feels both urgent and right, like we’ve been waiting for this moment forever.

He picks up the pace, his breath heavy against my skin. I can feel the tension in my body building higher and higher. Every thrust, every kiss, is bringing me closer to that breaking point. “Don’t stop, Daniel, please,” I beg.

The urgency in my voice ignites something primal in him because he responds by deepening his thrusts, his pace quickening, until he’s driving into me relentlessly. My body feels alive, every cell tingling with pleasure. I can hardly think; it’s as if all the worries and fears I’ve held onto are slipping away, drowned out by the rhythm of us.

“Anya.” He breathes against my ear, the sound sending a jolt of desire through me. “You’re irresistible.” Each word wraps around me like a warm embrace, fueling the fire within. I can feel the heat rising, pooling in my core as he continues to move, pushing me closer and closer to the edge.

I arch my back, meeting him with each thrust, my breath coming in short gasps. “Yes, just like that.” I manage to gasp, my fingers digging into his arms, desperate for him, for more. I can feel the tension building, coiling tightly within me.

He leans down, his forehead resting against mine. His eyes lock onto mine with such fierce intensity that it sends a thrill coursing through me. “Let go, baby,” he whispers, his voice low and steady.

“Daniel,” I cry, my body arching, pleading. “I can’t hold on much longer.”

“Then don’t,” he urges, his voice thick with need. “Let go for me, Firecracker.”

“Daniel!” I cry out as I explode, my body shuddering under the force of the climax. Every inch of me pulses with ecstasy, every nerve ending alive and humming, but he doesn’t stop his movements wild, desperate, chasing his own release.

With one last thrust, he buries himself deep inside me, his body tensing as he reaches his peak. “Anya!” he moans, his voice filled with raw pleasure.

He rolls over to my right side, still holding my hand. I turn to him, my heart racing. I take in his form, his chest rising and falling like a tide, his features relaxed, and the corners of his lips turned upward into a satisfied smile. He looks utterly perfect at this moment and I feel a swell of affection for him.

He turns around, facing me. He grins lazily at me, pecking my nose gently. I giggle and cuddle into his chest. He wraps his arm around me and kisses my hair.

“You are so—” He begins.

“Beautiful. I know. Let’s move on.” I smirk, looking up at him.

“I don’t think I can ever move on from that, baby.” He pushes me back on the bed and climbs on top of me as he presses his lips on mine again.

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