DANNY'S IS BACK TO being uncomfortable as soon as we enter the room and have a few feet separating us. I set the wine on the table and take the cake from her.

"I need a few minutes," she tells me as she turns to the bathroom door.

I snag her hand and she looks back over her shoulder. "Wine, dessert, and only as far as you want to take this. I'm glad you're here, but there's no pressure."

The panic in her eyes fades a bit, and then she gives me a grin that goes straight to my dick. "Don't worry, lover boy; I'm putting the pressure on you."

I release her hand and watch her enter the bathroom and close the door. I grab two water glasses and carry them to the table. This is how my dates usually end, but this is Danny, and there's so much more at stake. She comes out of the bathroom, minus her shoes, which she's holding by the straps in one hand.

She lifts them slightly. "I couldn't it take anymore."

I gaze from her lips to her bare feet and walk closer. "You look beautiful in the dress, Danny girl." She does. It's the whole packagedress, shoes, makeup, loose hair. I like it all, even with the shoes dangling from her finger. An alluring smile lights her face, and she turns around slowly so I get the full effect.

When she stops, a bit of uncertainty returns. "I bought it for you. I haven't owned a dress in years."

This doesn't surprise me. I'm glad I took her out of town so the dress remains something she and I share. Back in Colt, the entire town would be talking about her in a dress, and if the single guys on the team got a close look at her right now, they'd be waiting in line for me to screw up.

I walk the last few steps separating us, and take her hand so I can lead her to the bed. When she figures out what I'm doing, I get a tug. "Wine and chocolate cake, Danny girl. That's all."

She turns and sits on the bed. Her dress rides up and she tugs a bit to get it lower. I try not to laugh, but lose the battle. "Wear jeans on our next date and I'll do the same," I tell her as my eyes sweep her legs. It's actually a crime to cover them, but I'd rather have her comfortable.

I hand over the cake so she can open the bag. I put our glasses filled with wine on the side table closest to me. I don't sit; I lay down on my side, facing her, with my shoes hanging a bit off the end. She looks at my shoes then back up at me. She rests the container with the large slice of cake between us and stabs both forks into it.

"I didn't ask what your favorite dessert is." She takes a bite, and a dreamy look comes over her face. She licks her lip where a small crumb landed.

"It's just become chocolate cake," I manage to get out.

She takes her fork and stabs another chunk of the cake. Instead of her mouth, she brings it to mine. "Fuck, Danny," is all I can get out before I open my mouth wider and take a bite. She's watching me the way I just watched her.

"Is this really going to happen, Van?"

I swallow my cake. "Take another bite, and do it exactly how you did the last one, and there won't be any stopping it."

She puts more cake on her fork. "Is this it, our only night?"

She still doesn't get it. "I hope not, Danny girl. I'd like to take you out again, and leave you at the door with my promised kiss, and then go home and think about you."

"Really?"

"Fuck no, but I owe you that."

She looks unsure for a moment. "If we do this, can it stay between me and you?"

"What do you mean?"

She shrugs. "The rumors. They're bad enough. I don't want to feed the fire."

I don't like it. "I promise not to feed the Colt rumor mill."

It was the right thing to say because she slowly takes another bite of cake. A bit of frosting sticks to her lip this time, and I reach across and wipe it with my finger before bringing it to my lips. Danny's eyes go dark. I sit up and reach for our wine, handing her a glass. She takes a sip then picks up the cake box, and places both the box and her glass on the small table next to her.

She turns the switch on the light and it shuts off. Before I can ask her to leave it on, she switches it once more, and it shines a dim light into the room. She walks around the bed and places one knee beside my ankles, and her fingers go to my laces. This shouldn't surprise me. When Danny decides on something, she's always full throttle. Sex shouldn't be different. Danny's obviously tired of the slow tease. She removes my shoes and socks and then switches gears again. She's standing in front of me, looking unsure about her next move.

"Take the dress off," I breathe.

She stares at me for a long moment, and I don't think she's actually going to. Her fingers tremble slightly as she bends a bit and grabs the hem. Ever so slowly, she lifts the material higher until it's over her head, and she's standing there half-naked. Fuck me, but she's beautiful. She's wearing a lacy black bra that wasn't hanging in her bathroom, and lace panties that hug her hips. Her jeans cover so much of her body, and now here she is almost bare, and she's so much more beautiful than I ever gave her credit for. I am the dumbest man on Earth. She drops her hands to her sides and continues looking uncertain.

"You're beautiful, Danny girl." I stand from the bed and unbutton my cuffs first. Then I start on the front buttons. My eyes never leave her. She's watching my fingers as each button falls away. I shrug off the shirt and let it fall. My fingers go to my belt, but, before I can unbuckle it, Danny comes toward me. Her fingers replace mine and I finally get to touch her silky soft skin. I start at her hips. She's looking down at what she's doing, and I kiss the top of her head as I skim my fingers up her sides and stop at her breasts. The bra is sexy, but it needs to come off. Danny finishes with my belt, the button on my slacks, and is now working on the zipper. I skim my fingers to her back and unhook her bra.

Her gaze lifts and I search her eyes.