A Beauteous Flower Ch. 08

For a second, she almost stopped eating. She told herself it was because of the thought of those dirty kitty litter feet on the breakfast table. However, before she put her fork down, Daniel scooped up his cat and cooed over him while he stroked his fur. The cat emitted a rumble of purr and his eyes closed as he enjoyed Daniel's attention. Then Gandalf rubbed his nose on Daniel's and Daniel smirked and kissed his cat on top of the head.

"Hiya, Gandalf. This is Madison. Madison this is Gandalf."

Madison looked at Gandalf dubiously and struggled to hide her disdain. However, this was Daniel's cat and Daniel's home, so Madison was determined to make a good impression. Tentatively she reached out to scratch Gandalf's ears. Gandalf, however, had none of it and ducked away from her fingers with a suspicious side eye. Madison felt another chill, but Daniel shrugged at the snub.

"It takes him a while to warm up to new people. Give it some time."

He placed Gandalf on the floor and secretly Madison was glad for Gandalf's reaction because she no longer had to pretend to enjoy his presence or try to pet him. Gandalf wandered off in the direction of his food bowl and Daniel watched him go with a smirk. That smirk of Daniel's made Madison forget all about the cat. However, another distraction occurred as one of Daniel's cell phones began to buzz insistently. Daniel glanced at it but didn't answer it. That's when Madison remembered Daniel had two cell phones. She looked for the second phone, but it had vanished. The first phone chirped to indicate the call had gone to voice mail, and then it began to buzz again and show a different number. Madison felt a pang of jealousy. Daniel belonged to her today and she didn't want any interruptions.

"What's that?" Madison asked with barely disguised peckishness.

"Work," Daniel shrugged nonchalantly as he slipped the phone into his back pocket without so much as a glance.

"Don't you think you should answer it then?" Madison tested.

Daniel shrugged again.

"Do you have to check in with anyone?" Daniel asked. "Or do you want to check your email? I'll give you my Wi-Fi password."

Suddenly Madison realized she didn't know exactly what Daniel did for work. He was tremendously successful at it, that much was obvious. Mrs. Selene had said that he was an author and a photographer, but Daniel never elaborated on the subject. Madison opened her mouth to ask, and, to her great chagrin, she remembered she had not brushed her teeth yet. She clamped her mouth shut with a click as she imagined her morning dragon breath in Daniel's nose. However, Daniel continued to smirk at her, so she relaxed a little.

"I need to answer a couple of emails, OK?" he told her. "After that, I'm all yours."

Madison nodded as Daniel got up from the table and headed toward the back door.

"If you need hand crème or anything, check the drawers in the guest bathroom. I might have some left over from when my mother and father visited."

Daniel was now far enough away that Madison could risk a few words without too much concern over a fatal morning breath exposure.

"Thanks," she replied and smiled her best smile while she contemplated a search for a spare toothbrush.

After a half hour in the bathroom Madison emerged out the backdoor and into the glorious early Autumn sunlight. She found a toothbrush, toothpaste, some mouthwash and she felt much more confident in herself now that she was clean and polished, although she had recycled her picnic garb as she had no other clothes. The jets in Daniel's pool burbled happily and Madison glanced around to see where Daniel was.

The door to the cabin was open and Daniel's voice carried out the screen door to her in a baritone murmur. She couldn't make out the words, but she knew from the tone he was busy with business of some kind. Rather than intrude, Madison decided to appropriate one of the lounge chairs on the patio while she waited. She kicked off her shoes and prepared to lay out in the sun, and a semi-wild thought occurred to Madison. After a moment of consideration, she smiled to herself.

"Why not."

Madison giggled and peeled off her clothes, spread out a towel on a lounge chair and arranged herself nakedly in the sun. After all, they were all alone here and her sole goal for the day was to have sex with Daniel as many times as possible. Why shouldn't she do everything she could to make that dirty intention a reality? No man could resist the sight of a naked woman. Besides this would be a cheaper way to finish her all over tan than a tanning salon. Madison closed her eyes and let the sun warm her naked body with a contented sigh. What luck! Hot sex with a hot, rich man in a warm bed in a big house, wood fires to warm away the morning chill, a hot shower, hot breakfast cooked by the hot man, and a secluded pool where she could sunbathe naked. What more could a girl want out of life? If this was a taste of what life with Daniel would be like, then Madison would even put up with Gandalf the cat. Madison settled in for some serious sun worship and decided she could definitely get used to this.

Madison smiled to herself as she turned to look at the house again. There in the kitchen window sat Gandalf, his cobalt eyes fixed on her in a way that suggested he knew exactly what was on her mind. Madison felt uneasy and suddenly wanted to cover herself, but before she could she heard the screen door slam as Daniel emerged from the cabin. Madison hurriedly arched her back a little to emphasize her naked breasts and pretended to sleep.

And then nothing happened. Madison had expected Daniel to approach her and initiate sex again, but he didn't. Madison's ears strained to hear Daniel's approach, but all she could hear was the maddeningly happy burble of the pool jets. For long moments nothing at all happened and finally Madison had waited as long as she could and shot a surreptitious glance through her hair in Daniel's direction.

Daniel had taken his clothes off and stood naked under the sun. The sunlight highlighted the long and angular aspects of his body. He glowed darkly under the sun as he stood poised on the side of the pool and then dove out over the water. His body hit so straight and clean as he entered the water that he created almost no splash. After a couple of underwater strokes, Daniel came to the surface and swam with easy power to the other end of the pool. There he lifted himself out of the water with a strong thrust of his arms and after he brushed the pool water from his body, he strolled nakedly into the house.

Madison sat up in confusion. Didn't Daniel notice she was naked by the pool? Why hadn't he approached her? Madison stood up and followed Daniel into the house. What was going on?

"Daniel?"

No one answered. The house was quiet except for the thud of Gandalf's leap from the kitchen window and the cat scuttled away into the living room.

"Daniel?"

Still no answer until Madison heard the shower in Daniel's room. Madison smiled as she hurried up the stairs. Daniel was in the shower, and she was in the mood for some hot wet sex. The bedroom door was open, and the bathroom door was ajar. Madison peeked around the door to the pleasing sight of Daniel's naked body in the shower covered with lather. As he turned to wash his shoulders, he spotted her. His face spread in that sexy smirk that Madison was so crazy for.

"Well, come on then," he invited, and Madison felt her heart go boom as she stepped into the shower and wrapped her body around his wet form.

Yes, Madison could definitely get used to this.

*****

The next day Madison had to work a game, but she barely noticed. She floated effortlessly through every routine. In her mind she fantasized that Daniel watched her on television, which caused her to dance with a verve she hadn't experienced since she had first discovered dance. Madison wanted Daniel to see her and notice her talent and how hot and sexy she could be. She did every dance bigger and better than ever before and the fans near her got caught up in her enthusiasm and cheered her on. Before she knew it the game was over, and the team was back in the locker room.

"Well," observed Adalina. "Someone danced her little ass off today."

Madison smiled and nodded absently. All she wanted was to get cleaned up and get back to Daniel. Ivy joined Adalina with a sly smile on her face.

"Look at our little Madison, Adalina," she chimed. "All smiles and giggles and dancy-dancy. She got laid this weekend. Look at her face."

A titter of glee rippled through the locker room at Madison's expense, but she didn't care. All she cared about was Daniel. She couldn't wait to take off her uniform and put on her street clothes. She and Daniel had planned to meet at her apartment after the game and Madison wanted to shower and primp before he showed up. She tried to hurry and get back to the apartment to get ready, but she was so distracted that she couldn't seem to take her uniform off.

"You were gone all weekend without so much as a phone call," reproved Deva mildly. "We thought we'd have to send out a search party."

Madison nodded dumbly as she struggled to free herself from her uniform. She tugged and pulled and hauled with ten thumbs because of her hurry and her frustration boiled over as she clutched futilely at the zipper on her back. As Madison twisted and snarled and hopped on one foot as she fought to unzip herself and kick off one of her sneakers at the same time, Ivy "tsked" and twirled her finger for Madison to spin around. Madison complied and Ivy helped Madison unzip her uniform.

"Jesus! Calm down a little, Madison! You're like a fox in a trap!"

"Like a mink, you mean," corrected Deva and Madison blushed but didn't deny it.

Ivy smile spread wider like the hood of a cobra and turned to Adalina.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say our little Madison has got a man."

"Or maybe she's in love," cooed Deva.

Adalina eyeballed Madison curiously.

"Well?" Adalina prodded like a detective who wanted a confession. "How about it, Madison."

Madison snapped back into the moment as she contemplated that word. "Love". It both exhilarated and terrified her and until that moment, Madison had not thought to attempt to name the enormous mixture of emotions that had churned in her heart, head, and stomach all weekend. It couldn't be love. Could it? It was all so sudden, like a bolt of lightning. It was too soon. Wasn't it?

Madison's mind tilted and whirled. She thought she knew what love felt like. She'd even said it out loud a couple of times, but now she knew those feelings were barely a ripple when compared to the tidal wave of joy and terror that washed through Madison whenever she thought of Daniel. In hopeful moments, she thought Daniel felt the same way and her breath would stop and heart would flutter in her chest like a caged bird. But scarcely three breaths later she would be racked with doubt, and she felt stifled by terror and her heart would throb like it would rip in two. She couldn't sit still, and she couldn't stand up. The only time her emotions weren't in turmoil was when she had danced for the crowd, and then she had just shared with them the joy and terror that threatened to burst out of her chest. Madison could hardly contain herself and it was all so strange, formless and, until this moment, nameless. Yet when Deva said the word "love" it seemed like every fiber of her being cried out in agreement. The idea filled Madison with a giddy tingle that bubbled out of her mouth in a gleeful giggle.

"I...."

The room swirled joyously around Madison, and she was tongue tied like a schoolgirl whose crush had smiled at her in school. All she could think about was Daniel and how mesmerized she was by him. She didn't even care if everyone thought she was crazy and looked at her funny. They were just extras in a movie where she and Daniel were the stars. At that moment, Madison knew she had struck gold. Madison was adrift on an ocean of wonder and Daniel's arms were the only warm and safe harbor for her. She issued another involuntary giggle as she pictured Daniel's embrace. Adalina's face spread in a knowing smile and Madison nearly blurted out her feelings, but at the last moment, Madison held her emotions in check. There were expectations in the professional game, and she was expected to follow them, especially when she was in the presence of other professionals.

"I got him!" Madison chirped as coolly boss bitch as she could. "On his knees! He's all mine!"

"Atta Girl!" Adalina gushed. "Righteous!"

Ivy raised her chin in appraisal and nodded her agreement with a sly look.

"We'll need a new roommate, Addy. Soon."

Adalina turned to the other girls in the room and shook her pom poms over her head to get their attention.

"It's official, girls!" Adalina shouted. "Madison's got one!"

Madison face burst into a big toothy grin as her teammates crowded around to give her a jealously congratulatory group hug and the celebratory freestyle sessions started. Everyone danced except for Cassidy, who mildly shook her head in disappointment and removed her shoes.

Later that night, at Madison's insistence, she and Daniel went back to the lake house. Daniel cooked a dinner of salad and ravioli, and after they pretended to watch television while they cuddle-battled on the sofa. Tangled comfortably with Daniel under a blanket and finished with her second glass of fruity red wine, a tipsy-amorous Madison greedily enjoyed the warm muscles of Daniel's arms and chest. For his part, Daniel maintained his poise and speculatively sipped at his wine until Madison grew impatient and climbed into his lap and applied her lips to the hollow of Daniel's neck. Before long she felt Daniel's body relax and react, so she took the opportunity to whisper a sweetly filthy suggestion in Daniel's ear. With a smirk, he obliged her in impressive fashion and carried her up the stairs and into the bedroom for another evening of sexy togetherness.

The previous night had been a flurry of awkward and urgent clutches and embraces as if it might never happen again, but this night had a more relaxed and familiar feel. If anything, Daniel took even more time to explore Madison's body, but instead of impatience, Madison body blossomed under Daniel's languid yet persistent progress. Tonight, Madison's orgasms welled easily like the tide at perigee, rather than the dramatic rip current of the night before, but they left Madison with fulfillment and contentment she had not experienced before. And best of all was the intense, warm connection she shared with Daniel as his body touched hers inside and out.

Around midnight their lovemaking eased into a denouement of cozy cuddles and kisses and connected silence. Not long after Daniel fell asleep a mere eighteen inches away from Madison. Snuggled down the blankets and awash in the cozy perfection of the moment, Madison fought off her own urge to sleep because Madison dared not take her eyes off Daniel. Not yet.

The fire in the hearth burned low and cast a twisted mixture of cherry glow and ashen shadows around the room like a dream-scape. Close by her side, Daniel slept. His chest rose and fell in a relaxed nocturnal rhythm, and from time-to-time Madison held her breath just to hear his breath in the night to confirm this was real. As perfect as it all ways, it still seemed too fantastic to believe. Here she was with this man who, without so much as a word, could make her feel thrilled and terrified and agonized and fulfilled all at the same time.

Daniel muttered in his sleep and adjusted his head on the pillow. Madison watched with fascination and wondered about what Daniel dreamed of. Could he be in the midst of a nightmare? She wanted to reach out and touch him and sooth away any bad dreams Daniel might have, but she hesitated. She told herself it was because she didn't want to wake him, but that wasn't exactly true. Instead, she wondered at the strange alchemy that induced her to care so deeply for Daniel's well being. In the end, Madison didn't move because she was frightened that she was in a dream and it was a dream from which she desperately did not want to wake.

Daniel murmured again and Madison's heart thrilled for the ten thousandth time of the evening. The scene was almost perfect,... except... except for the absence of three little words. Before she could stop herself, Madison got carried away by the moment and whispered into the dark.

"Shhhhhh. It's all right. I'm here, and... I love you."

Madison froze, unable to believe what she had said. Now she was no longer able to deny it. Now it was out there in the dark between them. Madison had spoken magic words to Daniel and now the spell was real, and it had a name. Madison was in love; in love with Daniel. That was the long and the short of it and, to her surprise, she didn't want to hide from it any longer. Joy flooded Madison's body and her fear fled before it, as her heart glowed with certainty and purpose. Gently, she pushed the tip of her nose against the tip of Daniel's nose and whispered to him again.

"I love you, Daniel."

Daniel's eyes fluttered open, and his dark gaze sought out Madison's eyes. Madison gulped like a thief caught in the act. For a moment she considered evasion or escape but frostbitten fear paralyzed her, and Madison's chest constricted down to squeeze her heart motionless. Had he heard her? Had she overplayed her hand? Would Daniel reject her? Breathless seconds dragged by like hours as Madison vacillated between hope and fear and prayed furiously that Daniel felt love for her too. But then Daniel blinked gently, smirked for her and only her, and softly placed his warm palm on her cheek. The electric shock of his touch started Madison's heart again and she gasped a little sob as Daniel answered her prayers.

"I love you, Madison."

And Madison burst into tears.