Temporary Bliss Read online

  “Morning, gorgeous” He has the biggest smirk on his face, his gaze travels down to my orange clad feet and back up to the large C straight over my bust and his smile gets impossibly bigger. “Damn, you’re a beautiful sight in Bears’ gear.”

  “I did tell you I was a fan, and a girl has to look fashionable while supporting them,” I reply with a grin, moving out of the doorway. “Come in, I’m almost ready.”

  He closes the door behind him and takes a seat on a bar stool at the breakfast bar. I watch as he looks around our two story brownstone apartment. “Nice place,” he murmurs approvingly.

  “We like it,” I reply, checking my purse to make sure I have the essentials: phone, wallet, and lip gloss. “Ok, I’m all set.”

  Daniel has moved off the stool and is standing in front of me in the middle of the kitchen. He inches in slowly until our chests are almost touching, reaching up and gently sweeping a loose wisp of hair back behind my ear. “And how was your cold shower, Mac?” he asks quietly, his eyes showing just a hint of the fire I know is burning behind them.

  “Warm and satisfying,” I reply smoothly, moving my hands to my sides, not sure exactly what to do with them...with him. Dammit! I’m not used to this kind of chemistry. It’s palpable. I’m seriously expecting sparks to start buzzing between us.

  He puts his hands on my hips and leans in, gently kissing my cheek. “And the showerhead?” he whispers huskily in my ear.

  “Daniel was very satisfying,” I reply breathlessly as I lift my arms up around his neck. How can this man affect me with one look, one touch, one swoon worthy brush on my cheek?

  “Maybe one day you can experience the full Daniel experience,” he says before circling his tongue in the tender spot below my ear, causing my whole body to shudder against him.

  “Play your cards right, buddy, and it might be your lucky night,” I say as I place both hands on his chest and ease him back away from me.

  He stands up straight again, hands still resting on my hips. “I might just be the best damn cards player you’ve ever seen.” He moves his hands up my body until he’s cupping my jaw and slants his head to give me a spine tingling kiss that I feel from the top of my head to the tip of my little toe. “Now, let’s get tailgating before we come up with other games to play and never leave the house.”

  We arrive at Soldier Field around 1 p.m., and with his arm wrapped around my waist, Daniel leads me towards the parking lot. I’ve been tailgating before so this is not new to me. As we head towards the parking lot and see the lines of parked cars, tailgates open, and the hordes of people surrounding them, I feel at home. The air is filled with the aroma of portable grills packed with food, and the laughter and ribbing of Bears’ fans as they prepare for the game.

  “You alright?” Daniel asks me, quirking an eyebrow as I look around, taking the whole experience in.

  “I’m perfect, Superman,” I say with a grin.

  “Superman? I like it,” he replies, kissing the side of my head. “I like that a lot.”

  I can’t wipe the goofy grin off my face. This is almost comical. Makenna, the relationship phobe objectifier of men, actually enjoying a second date, and not wanting it to end anytime soon.

  Well, that is until Daniel stops next to a white Dodge Pick-Up and I look straight into the blue eyes of Dr. Noah Taylor. My Noah.

  Fuck!

  Daniel, not noticing my body go stiff as a dead body in the snow, lifts his chin to his friends before introducing me. “Mac, this is Thomas, Cade, and Noah. They’re old college buddies of mine. And this is Mac,” he says with a huge grin.

  Thomas steps forward first, offering me his outstretched hand for a handshake. I put my hand in his and he startles me when he lifts the back of my hand up to his mouth and kisses it softly. “Nice to meet you, Mac.”

  “Watch it, Tom. She’s my date,” Daniel says in jest as I stifle a giggle.

  “Just greeting the lady, Danny Boy. No need to get jealous,” he responds with a grin and a wink towards me.

  I try not to meet Noah’s gaze, which hasn’t left me since we turned up. I can feel his eyes burning into me, though, so I burrow myself closer into Daniel’s side, earning a chuckle and a squeeze from him.

  “They won’t bite, gorgeous,” he murmurs into my hair as he gently kisses my head.

  “I’m not too sure about that,” I mutter. I think back to a few months ago when Noah got a bit carried away, leaving a hickey the size of Mt. Rushmore on my neck. I had to wear a turtleneck underneath my scrubs for a whole week to hide the thing.

  I sneak a glance at Noah; he’s standing there with the biggest smirk on his face, gently nodding at me. I’ve known Noah for two years, so it’s safe to say we know each other fairly well, in and out of the on call room, so he knows that I don’t do strings. Hell, I usually don’t do second dates.

  I gasp when I see him step forward. “Dan, my man. Long time no see!” he says, clapping Daniel on the back. “And Mac, haven’t seen you in a while.”

  “You two know each other?”

  “We work at the same hospital,” I say as cheerfully as I can.

  Daniel smiles, “Wow, small world then, huh? And where have you been Taylor? Haven’t seen you around.”

  “Out of town for a training course. Haven’t really seen anyone lately,” he says, clearly taking a dig at me.

  “Nice work while you can get it then. You seeing anyone these days?” Daniel asks him, oblivious to the discomfort I’m feeling right now.

  “Not right now. Still seeing that nurse from work I told you about. It’s a friend’s with benefits arrangement. It works well,” he says warmly.

  I still can’t look at him, and I can feel my blood pressure starting to boil. Noah may be a friend and yes, we’ve screwed each other like rabbits off and on for the past two years, but to talk about it right here in front of my date, my Daniel. It’s infuriating.

  “Sounds grand,” I say through gritted teeth.

  “What’s that?” Daniel says as he turns away and starts talking to another one of the guys. I take the opportunity to give Noah a stare designed to rock his soul, but he just smiles his panty dropper grin back at me, riling me up even more.

  I put my hand on Daniel’s chest, rising up on my toes to give him a soft kiss on those delicious lips of his. “Nothing, I’m going to go get a soda from the cart over there. Do you want anything?” I ask, wishing that a sink hole would turn up right now and swallow me...or Noah!

  “I’m good. I’ll grab a beer from the cooler. You want me to come with?”

  “It’s okay, I’m a big girl, Superman. I’ll be back,” I say over-enthusiastically as I give him one more peck on the check and wiggle out of his hold before turning on my heels and walking away from the group.

  As soon as I’m out of sight, I pull my phone out to call Kate. This is our thing. Whenever one of us is freaking out or having issues, we call and vent. We let everything hang out, usually talking way too fast for the other person to even hear every word we say, but it works, every time. Lately it’s been me on the receiving end of these kind of calls from Kate, but now it’s my turn. This time I know she’s gonna laugh her head off at me. She’s always said that my little arrangements would come back and bite me in the ass.

  “Hey, Mac. Shouldn’t you be on your date?” she asks as soon as she picks up the call.

  “I am on my date. Just happens that Noah is here too!” I spit out quickly. I have a habit of talking fast when I’m worried or pissed off. Right now, I’m a mixture of both.

  “WHAT? You’ve got to be shitting me! How does that work?” she questions. I can hear both shock and amusement in her voice. Of course, she finds this situation hilarious. Maybe I will too, once I’m home and drunk.

  “Old college buddies supposedly, but get this. Dan asked Noah about his love life, and he said that he still has that arrangement with the nurse, but he hasn’t seen her in a few weeks. Seriously, Kate, I could have died. And he would’ve been turned
into stone had he bothered to glance my way at that exact moment. The fucker even kept a straight face.”

  She’s full on laughing down the phone at my predicament. “Sorry, Mac, but you have to admit that this is kind of funny. So where are you now?”

  “I said I was thirsty, so I left to go buy a soda. What are the fucking chances, Kate? I mean, really. Delicious Daniel and Dr. Noah knowing each other? Holy flying shitballs, Batman!”

  “Okay, Mac, take a deep breath,” she says calmly, thankfully getting over her giggling fit as I follow her advice and breathe in and out. “Okay. You need to decide if you’re gonna stick this date out, or make a cowardly escape right now?”

  I think it over. I’ve been looking forward to this date with Daniel all week, and I’m not going to let Noah ruin it. If he tells Daniel I’m the nurse, I’ll explain everything to him. That will be after I’ve kicked Noah in the junk and left him in a sobbing pile of douchness on the ground.

  “Thanks, babe. I knew you’d talk me round. See you when I get home?” I ask, hoping that I’ll be able to debrief with my best friend tonight.

  “I should be home, but I’ll let you know if I’m not,” she explains, sounding way too cheerful for someone not getting laid.

  “Oh my God, Kate. You got laid!” I exclaim down the phone, earning a few strange and intrigued looks from people milling around me.

  “Did you just announce that to Soldier Field, Mac?”

  “Maybe,” I say before cracking up. “Sorry, but you did, didn’t you?”

  “I plead the fifth. Now go play nice with Noah and Daniel and I’ll see you later, man-eater,” she says, not hiding the laughter in her voice.

  “I’ll try,” I grump back to her before hanging up.

  Shit this is going to be the worst date in history, and none of it will be my actual date’s fault! Of all the freaking people in the world Daniel had to know! Argh! I look like a crazy woman as I stomp towards the vending cart.

  Now, I can’t wait for this date to be over. It’s got nothing to do with Delicious Daniel, but everything to do with the men my vagina has chosen to play with. Just my luck!

  Thankfully, the rest of the date is uneventful. I swallow my pride and my anger, and play nice with Noah, who behaves for the rest of the day.

  We get back to my place around eight o’clock, and when I invite Daniel inside, he declines in the nicest way possible, telling me has an early start in the morning.

  “And if I come inside with you, in that hot Bear’s get up, I might not want to leave, and as much as that is what I want to do, and I mean really want to do,” he adds with a growl, “I think we’ve had a perfect day, and you have your three date rule.”

  I groan with disappointment and pout like a petulant child. He throws his head back and laughs. “You’re even cute when you pout. How is that even possible?” he asks with a head shake. Turning towards me in the passenger seat, he leans over, gently brushing a wayward curl back behind my ear. “Gorgeous,” he murmurs, looking at me intently. “I can give you a goodnight kiss though.”

  Cupping my cheek with one hand, he glides the other into my hair, and nips my bottom lip, requesting entry. I comply immediately, wrapping my hands around his neck and pulling him as close as I can, stroking his tongue with mine, and losing myself in the moment.

  I’ve always loved kissing. I may not do strings, but kissing is a must have. It’s intimate, it’s hot when done right, and Daniel seems to be an expert in it. I mean of course he is! I’m starting to wonder if there is anything this man can’t do well.

  I move my fingers through the back of his hair, applying just enough pressure to show my enjoyment. I hear a growl rumble deep in his chest, and I know he’s getting close to the breaking point. I feel his hand move down my arm, the slight roughness of his fingers tracing an invisible line of lust down my body. He cups my breast, rubbing his thumb across my now erect nipple, straining against its lace prison, and begging to be released. I move my hands, raking my fingers down his back and reveling when I feel him arch against me. We’re lost in a frenzy of mouths, lips, tongues and hands, neither one of us wanting to stop. All of a sudden, the car jolts as a dog jumps up against the side of the now fogged up car, forcing me to scream in shock.

  We pull apart slightly, and I rest my head on his shoulder as I erupt into a fit of giggles. I feel a light peck on my cheek before he whispers, “I’m starting to think you might be the superhero, Mac. You make me lose my mind.”

  “Right back at ya, Superman.”

  I stumble into the kitchen, stuck in a state of being half asleep and half awake, when I’m greeted by a smiling Kate.

  “Morning, babe. How was the football game?” she asks with a shit eating grin.

  I walk groggily over to the coffeemaker and fill my super large travel mug up to the top. Thank the lord for twelve cup coffeemakers. “It was uneventful after our phone call. We yelled, we screamed, we cheered when the Bears’ won. We drove home, sat talking in his car outside for a good half hour or so, and he asked me out for Thursday night. He wants to take me to Navy Pier.”

  “Yay! I’m liking this one, Mac,” she states proudly, almost bouncing with excitement on the bar stool she’s sitting on.

  “Settle, petal. It’s been two dates. He’s not proposing marriage or anything.”

  “Oh my God, imagine if he is the one, Mac. The one to break your no strings slutdom.”

  “Hey, enough of that!” I retort.

  “Well, have you gone there with Danny Boy yet?” she asks.

  “No. Well, maybe in my mind, but nothing past first base yet.” Why can’t I wipe this girly grin off my face?

  “You still keeping with my three date rule then?”

  “Of course. Don’t want you thinking that I’d jump into bed with just anyone,” I say with a wink.

  She holds her hand up and starts counting her fingers, “Noah, one. Sean, two, and Zander the lucky number three.”

  “Shhh. It’s too early in the morning for you to be giving me shit about the state of my love life.” I shake my head and give her a playful scowl.

  “Okay, so Thursday with the smoking hot volcano of fine? I can work with that. Maybe I’ll get to actually meet him this time,” she murmurs. I can see that her mind is in overdrive. I don’t even want to contemplate what she’s planning. I can only hope that it won’t be:

  Horrifying.

  Embarrassing as all hell.

  She’ll be three sheets to the wind and her mouth will be flapping like a barn door in a tornado.

  Note to self: Hide all the alcohol in the house from Kate before Thursday!

  I’m working day shifts this week starting Tuesday, so I spend the rest of the day doing menial tasks like laundry, cleaning, and catching up on all my missed TV shows. I’m halfway through a Vampire Diaries episode where Damon is being dirty and all kinds of hot when I hear my phone vibrate on the coffee table in front of me. I see it’s Sean so pick up straight away.

  “Hey,” I answer.

  “Hi, baby doll. How are you?

  I can’t help but smile at his pet name for me. He’s called me that since that first night in the club. “I’m good, Sir,” I say with a grin.

  He chuckles, but it’s not one filled with amusement. It’s full of promises; a deep rumbling laugh that sends chills right through me every time. He can tell I’m being a smart ass. “Sounds like you might be in need of some discipline?”

  “No, not at all. I’m kinda having a day off from the world today. A mental health day if you will.”

  “Everyone needs days like that now and then. What are your plans for this evening?” he asks.

  “To be honest, I was going to have an early night, I went to the Bears’ game yesterday. I even went tailgating before the game,” I reply excitedly.

  “Really? Who took my baby doll to her first tailgating party?” he asks with interest. This is how Sean is. He’s always concerned for my welfare, always interested in my life, and I a
ppreciate it more than he knows. It’s nice to have a friend who cares about you, not just about the horizontal mambo positions you can shift into.

  “Um, he’s a guy I met on the train last week on my way home from work. He’s just a friend, though,” I say quickly. Fuck! Why did I feel the need to clarify that? There is no way that Daniel is just a friend. We may not have slept together yet, and everything has been PG so far, but boy, can that man kiss the socks off me. If I was a dog, I would have been dry humping his leg days ago.

  “Mac, you know that it’s not safe to ride the L at night. I’ve said time and time again that you need to taxi or call my car service. You know I don’t mind.”

  “I know, Sean, but it’s okay. I’m always safe, I promise,” I say sullenly, feeling slightly scolded. Even when he’s not in the same room as me I submit to him, it’s a very heady power he has over me. Thankfully, Sean has never been one to take advantage. It has always been in the right situations and always in the bedroom. It’s never crossed over into everyday life. I think that is why it works well for us.

  “So, I shall await your call then?” I detect a small amount of disappointment in his voice, not that he would ever admit it.

  “Definitely, I call you next week and see if you’re still in town? Maybe we can catch up for a drink?” I add, hoping he’ll say yes. I haven’t seen him in a month and have actually missed his company, as well as the hot ass sex he is oh so good at delivering.

  “Sounds good. You be careful, or else I’ll spank you until you do,” he warns. God damn, that man and his promises. Just the thought of his hand warming my begging ass has me blushing.

  That first night we spent together was unreal.

  With a firm grip of my hand, he led me past the red velvet rope and up the sleek black wooden stairs towards the VIP level of the club. His whole persona was addictive. He held himself with such confidence, so determined. I knew that when he saw something or someone he wanted, he’d always get it. That night what he wanted was me, and I was nothing but an enamored moth to his burning hot flame.