Desire Next Door

3

As if sensing her thoughts, Dannie broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers, his breath ragged. “You’re everything to me, Mirrie,” he murmured, his voice barely audible but filled with conviction. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’m never letting you go.”

She smiled, her hands sliding back up to rest on his shoulders. “Good,” she teased, her voice soft but steady. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”

Without warning, he bent down and scooped her into his arms, holding her as though she weighed nothing. She gasped, her laughter spilling out as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He spun her around, his grin wide and boyish, a stark contrast to the intensity that had filled the room moments before.

“You’re my rose,” he said, his voice dropping to a reverent whisper as he looked into her eyes. “The most beautiful thing in this world, standing tall among the thorns.”

Tears pricked her eyes at his words, her chest tightening with the overwhelming love she felt for him. “And you’re my strength,” she replied, her fingers brushing against his jawline. “My anchor, my everything.”

He carried her to the bed, laying her down gently as though she were made of glass. The silk of her dress shimmered in the dim light, and he took a moment to simply look at her, committing every detail to memory. The way her hair fanned out against the pillows, the slight flush in her cheeks, the way her chest rose and fell with each breath—she was perfection incarnate.

Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to her forehead, then her cheeks, then her lips, each one filled with a love so profound it left her breathless. She reached up, her hands threading through his hair as she pulled him closer, her body arching toward him in silent invitation.

The night stretched on, their love consuming the hours like a fire, fierce and unrelenting. Every touch was a spark, every kiss a flame, every whispered word a kindling to the passion that engulfed them. Mirrie’s skin felt like silk beneath Dannie’s fingertips as he explored her, learning the contours of her body anew, memorizing every curve, every hollow, every tremble that passed through her.

She responded to him like a melody waiting for its harmony, her breath hitching as his lips found the sensitive curve of her neck, trailing slow, deliberate kisses down to her collarbone. Her hands were restless, traveling across his broad shoulders, his muscled back, and lower still, her fingers digging into his skin as if to ground herself amid the storm of sensation. The scent of her—the faint aroma of jasmine mingled with her own unique warmth—wrapped around him, intoxicating and irresistible.

“Dannie…” she breathed, his name a plea on her lips as she arched beneath him, her body pressing closer to his. Her pink silk dress slid easily from her shoulders, the delicate fabric pooling at her waist, revealing the smooth expanse of her skin that seemed to glow in the soft light of the room. Her hair spilled across the pillows in dark, tousled waves, and her lips parted, inviting him to taste her again.

He obliged, his mouth claiming hers with a hunger that left them both breathless. His hands found her hips, pulling her firmly against him as his weight settled above her, the heat between them building to a crescendo. She gasped, her nails raking lightly across his chest, tracing the hard lines of his abs, the ridges of his muscles taut under her touch. The way he looked at her—eyes dark and intense, filled with raw desire—made her feel as though she were the center of the universe, the only thing that mattered.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured against her lips, his voice low and rough with emotion. “I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.”

Mirrie smiled, her cheeks flushed, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. “Then don’t,” she whispered, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pulled him closer. “I’m yours, Dannie. Always.”

Her words ignited something primal in him, a need so powerful it made his head spin. He kissed her again, deeper this time, his hand slipping beneath the silk to caress her bare skin. She shivered beneath him, her breath coming in soft, shallow gasps as he worshipped her with his touch, his lips, his everything.

Time lost meaning in the sanctuary of their love. The night became a canvas on which they painted their passion, each moment more vivid, more intoxicating than the last. They moved together like two halves of the same whole, their bodies in perfect harmony, their hearts beating in sync. The air around them was electric, charged with the intensity of their connection, the unspoken promises they made with every look, every touch.

Mirrie’s laughter bubbled up as he pulled her into his arms, lifting her effortlessly from the bed and spinning her around. The pink silk fluttered like a whisper against her skin, and she clung to him, her head thrown back, her joy infectious. He laid her down gently, his hands framing her face as he kissed her once more, the world outside fading into oblivion.

“Forever,” he whispered, his lips brushing against her temple, his voice thick with emotion.

“Forever,” she echoed, her gaze soft but unwavering, her hand resting against his cheek as though to reassure him that she was real, that this was real.

And when the first light of dawn crept through the windows, they lay tangled together, their bodies entwined, their hearts beating as one. The sheets were a rumpled testament to their passion, the room filled with the lingering warmth of their love. Dannie held her close, his arms wrapped around her as though he could shield her from the world, keep her safe in this perfect moment forever.

Mirrie sighed contentedly, her head resting against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. She felt his lips press softly against her hair, a silent promise of devotion, and she smiled, her fingers tracing lazy circles on his skin.