I Thought I Hated Him Ch. 04

Contentment settled over me and I couldn't help but wonder how much of that was from the amazing vista spread out before me and the good coffee I was drinking, or the night of amazing sex I'd just had. Sex with Daniel freakin' Sutcliffe. In the light of day, it hardly seemed possible. My glimpse of him that morning had revealed the Daniel I thought I knew; the one surrounded by barriers, untouchable and unflappable, tackling everything with the same headstrong determination. Last night he had been a different person: kind, funny, tender; a lover in every sense of the word. And now?

I shook my head, my mess of red curls bouncing about me. I wasn't going to overthink this, to worry about what would happen Monday morning at the office. Daniel was a professional, as was I. Nothing had changed.

I heard the slide of the glass patio door opening but didn't look up. I didn't need to see him to know that Daniel was standing right behind me; I could sense him. The hair on the back of my neck stood up.

"Good morning." His voice was gruff and sounded like it hadn't been used in a while.

"Good morning," I replied automatically. I was blushing already.

"Glad to see you made yourself at home," Daniel said.

"Hope you don't mind." I chanced a glance over my shoulder; Daniel stood against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest, a cocky grin on his face. I'd seen the look before, and it was no less effective for him being in shorts and a t-shirt this time instead of an expensive suit. He looked so good I smiled; I had to.

"I like you wearing that," Daniel confessed, letting his eyes roam hungrily over my robe-covered body. "Looks better on you."

I laughed; somehow I doubted that. The mental image of Daniel's dark skin against soft, white terrycloth was pretty sexy and my stomach quivered in response. "Do you always get up this early in the morning?" I asked, feeling it might be safer to change the subject.

Daniel shrugged. "I like to get my workout in early; plus I can get a lot of work done in the morning. I do my best work before noon."

"You're a morning person?" I asked incredulously, coming to my feet. My coffee was empty; it was definitely time for another one.

"I guess so," Daniel drawled. "Hadn't thought of it like that before. So, what do you want for breakfast?"

I waved my hand dismissively. "I had a piece of fruit and some coffee, I'm good."

"That's not breakfast," Daniel growled, frowning down at me. "Waffles? Crepes? Bacon and eggs?"

I shook my head. "No really, I'm fine. Thanks though."

The scowl was back, coupled with a grumpy glare. "You're eating breakfast, Clara. What do you want?"

"Nothing," I sighed in exasperation. "I never eat much in the mornings."

"Speak now," Daniel snapped. "Or you'll be stuck with what I make, whether you like it or not."

"You sound like my mother," I said accusingly. "I'm not hungry, Daniel. I don't need anything."

"You cannot get through the day on a piece of fruit and a cup of coffee," he grumbled. "It's not physically possible."

"It is so." I countered childishly. "I do it every day."

I tried to sneak past Daniel back into the apartment, but he stood blocking the doorway, arms still crossed stubbornly across his chest.

"What are you going to do? Force feed me porridge? That trick never worked for my parents, it's not going to work for you, Daniel."

Both eyebrows shot up instantly. "Must you challenge me on everything, Clara?"

I sighed. How was it that we could argue about anything and everything? Daniel's silver eyes glowered obstinately down at me. I sighed again.

"Fine. I'll have waffles, please."

"Thank you," Daniel drawled, holding out his hand for my empty mug. "You can have the shower first; there are clean towels on the counter, help yourself."

Help yourself: two words I never thought I'd hear Daniel Sutcliffe ever say. I smiled brightly; he was definitely softening up. "You need a shower too," I teased, wrinkling my nose at his post-workout aroma. "Want me to wash your back?"

Daniel grinned broadly, sweeping his arm in a dramatic gesture towards the bathroom. "By all means." He slapped my ass playfully as I moved past him and I laughed loudly.

It was shaping up to be an interesting weekend; we still had forty-eight hours before we had to be back at the office and I couldn't help but wonder with trembling anticipation what Daniel had planned for that time. Shooting a look over my shoulder I saw Daniel following my progress across the room with hungry eyes. I undid the belt of his robe and let the heavy terrycloth fall to the floor, flashing a teasing smile as I did.

Daniel's blue-grey eyes widened at the sight of my naked body and he did nothing to hide either the grin on his face or the growing bulge in his shorts. Turning back, I made my way to the bathroom, wanting that hot shower very much. There was no doubt in my mind that Daniel was only a few steps behind.

To be continued...