More than Secrets

What a Girl Really Wants

DANI'S P. O. V.

I wake up in a daze. I'm so confused.

Where am I?

I turn my head and take in my surroundings. I'm in a bedroom that's for sure, it's actually quite a large bedroom, and I'm laying on the most comfortable bed I've ever laid on.

Someone took my shoes off, I think absentmindedly.

I prop myself up on my elbows and marvel at how enormous this room really is. Who needs this much space in their bedroom, anyway?

The bed itself is king size. There's an elegant fireplace against the wall on the other side of the room with a large black leather couch and two arm chairs in front of it, arranged in a seating area sort of way.

There are two double doors on either side of the fireplace and, on the wall to my left, I see large French doors that open out onto a large balcony.

I don't care whose room this is, I kill for a good view. I push aside the soft throw blanket, get up off the bed and go out onto the balcony.

On one side of the balcony there's two wrought iron chairs and a small, matching wrought iron table with a glass top and on the other side, is a wrought iron bench decorated with black scatter cushions.

It's such a beautiful space. I can so picture myself all cozied up on the bench with a good book and a strong cup of coffee, just admiring the view.

Oh, and what a view this is! I thought Lee had the best view, but I was definitely mistaken... here, the canopy is perfectly illuminated by the moon and it just seems never-ending. I'm speechless.

I'm so caught up in my fantasy that I don't hear someone coming out onto the balcony.

"You're up!" Tyler exclaims behind me and I yelp in surprise, nearly jumping out of my skin.

"s**t! Don't scare me like that!" I yell at him. I'm clutching the fabric of my dress over my heart and trying to remember how to breathe.

He chuckles and wraps his arms around me, "Aw, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

Mmm... He smells so good! And he looks even better in his black suit with his hair slicked back. My heart is doing somersaults as I look into those beautiful green orbs.

He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, then rests his big warm hand on my cheek.

I lean into his touch wondering how I got so damn lucky.

"You look so beautiful, Dani," he says with a loving smile.

I melt under his gaze, it's like my body is acting on its own. I nearly explode from the rush of pleasure that flows through me as soon as his lips crash against mine.

I gasp as his fingers move slowly along my jaw and neck, over my shoulder and down the bare skin on my back, leaving a trail of goosebumps in it's wake.

"Mmm...Tyler I want all of you," I moan against his lips, rolling my hips into him. I can feel his manhood pressing into my belly.

In the next instant, I'm left standing all alone on the balcony. "Tyler?" I call out, unsure of what's happening.

"In here," his soft voice calls from the bedroom.

I smile to myself, as I go back inside. He's sitting at the foot of the bed, looking down at his hands.

Okay, it's show time... I walk as sexily as I can towards the bed, imagining there's erotic music playing in the background as I slowly move one strap of my dress down over my shoulder and off my arm.

I'm about to do the same with the other strap when two strong hands stop me in my tracks. "Dani, don't," Tyler says, his voice cracking with obvious restraint.

"Why?" I smirk and raise an eyebrow at him. "You wanna do it yourself?"

He sucks in a breath and looks up at the ceiling, shaking his head. "We can't, babe. You don't want to do this." He can't even look me in the eye.

"Yes, I do," I say, starting to feel annoyed.

Why doesn't he want me? I'm practically begging him to take me and he straight up rejects me? I feel the familiar fear creeping in again, I'll never be good enough for someone like him.

Or maybe he realized he's made a mistake and wants to be with someone else instead? Someone like Sierra, perhaps?

I drop my hands to my side in anger and take a step back. "Where's Goldilocks?" I ask, my tone accusing.

He furrows his eyebrows at me. "You mean, Sierra?"

I nod once and cross my arms in front of my chest. "She told me all about you two being really close and sharing everything."

His eyes go wide with surprise, but then he bursts out laughing.

I'm so shocked. I did not expect this this to be his reaction. My macho stance is quickly falling apart.

"Sierra is, and will always remain just a friend to me, babe. Nothing more has ever happened between us, and..." he chuckles and hugs me tightly, "...nothing will ever happen between us. I love you and only you."

I stand frozen. I still want to be mad at him, but it's almost impossible, especially with with his big arms holding onto me, so I sigh happily into his embrace instead, breathing in his intoxicating scent.

"Then why?" I ask him, my voice is muffled by his chest, but I can tell he's heard me with the way his body tenses up.

Fresh tears of embarrassment prick at the corners of my eyes as he holds my face between his hands. "Dani, you are my most precious gift and I want nothing more than to give you everything your heart desires, but not until I know it's what you really want too."

...

As soon as the lights of Tyler's car disappear up the road, I close the front door and go straight upstairs to my bedroom.

I pull my dress off and hang it up. I put it right in the back of my closet, not wanting to see it when I wake up tomorrow and be embarrassed all over again.

I take my earrings out and place them on my nightstand, then head to the bathroom for a quick shower, letting my hair loose of it's intricate braid, I give it a good scrubbing too.

Once I'm dry, I throw on a pair of baggy sweats and Tyler's T-shirt (his faint scent still lingers on the fabric).

I sigh, even when I'm upset with him, I need some part of him with me to feel sane.

Tonight was definitely a night to remember, but not all of the moments are worth remembering. Like the part where I nearly caused a brawl with Goldilocks? Yeah, we can forget that... or the part where I fainted and missed half the party? Super embarrassing... and I would appreciate forgetting the part where my boyfriend, so kindly, told me that I need to wait to have s*x until I "really" want to.

Like what in the world does he actually mean by that? I think I know what my body wants, and it wants Tyler Black. Very much, thank you.

I sigh and run my hand through my damp curls in frustration. I scan my room for a distraction. I need something, anything, in order to put this night in the furthest corner of my mind.

Ah ha! I spot my little black flashlight sitting on my desk and smile. This is exactly what I needed!

I grab the flashlight and run downstairs to the living room where mom, dad and the twins are enjoying a movie night.

I burst in right as a girl on the screen screams in terror.

"Jesus, Dani!" El shouts as the bowl of popcorn she had perched on her lap goes flying through the air.

I quickly hit pause, ignoring the popcorn and El's protests, and hold up the little black flashlight in my hand.

Jane has the biggest knowing smile on her face. "Tree-house time?" she asks with excitement.

El groans into a cushion. "Right now?"

I nod. "Yes, now. So let's go ladies, you know the drill, move your butts!" I click the flashlight on and off in a disco effect and swing my hips as I sing:

"My girl's name is Senora. I tell you friends, I adore her. And when she dances, oh, brother. She's a hurricane in all kinds of weather!"

Mom and dad just sit there on the couch, laughing at me.

They know not to question "Tree-house Time", or my shoddy dance moves.

El huffs as she goes to get some blankets and cushions. Jane skips to the kitchen to grab a bunch of snacks while I "sneak" a bottle of wine away (mom and dad know about it, but they let it slide on the seldom occasions we have "Tree-house Time"), then we all three make our way to the backyard and climb the makeshift ladder to our tree house.

Song lyrics from: Jump in the Line

Song by: Harry Belafonte