I hated admitting when Daniel was right because he was such an arrogant ass about it most of the time, but he put his life on the line for me every day.
However, he also seemed intent on making me renege on the deal by throwing the most outrageous suggestions my way. Like a freaking bulletproof vest!
Like how am I supposed to go around everywhere with this thing!!
"I bought the vest as a just-in-case item," Daniel said mildly.
"Now that you mention it, we should take it for a test spin next time you're in public."
'Take out the chip, and I'll do what you say, when you say it, as long as it's security-related. I promise.' Now I feel like I could go back in time and swallow back my words.
I gritted my teeth. Daniel had taken the chip out, and I didn't break my promises.
"Fine."
A lightbulb flashed in my head, and a slow smile spread across my face. "I'll put it on now."
He finally raised his head, his face dark with suspicion at how easily I'd capitulated. "Where are we going?"
"Shopping."
If there was one thing Daniel hated, it was accompanying me shopping. It was such a stereotypical male weakness, and I fully intended to exploit it. My smile widened when his face darkened further. This was going to be fun.
An hour later, we arrived at the Linoi Mall, a four-story mecca of stores I could torture Daniel with. Luckily, it was winter, which meant I could hide most of the vest's bulk beneath a chunky sweater and coat. According to Daniel, he'd bought a lighter version for me, but the vest was still hot, heavy, and awkward. I almost regretted my shopping-revenge plan, but Daniel's ferocious scowl made it all worth it…until catastrophe struck.
I was trying on clothes in our dozenth boutique of the day when I got stuck in a dress. I'd accidentally grabbed the wrong size, and the unforgiving material dug into my ribcage while trapping my arms above my head. I couldn't see, and I could barely move.
"Shit."
I rarely cursed, but the situation called for it. One of my lifelong irrational fears was getting stuck in clothing in a store.
"What's wrong?" Daniel demanded from outside the dressing room. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes." I pinched the sides of the dress and tried pulling it up again, to no avail. "I'm fine."
Ten minutes later, I was sweating and panting from exertion and the lack of fresh air, and my arms ached from being held up so long. Shit! shit! shit!
"What the hell is going on in there?" Daniel's annoyance came through the door, loud and clear. "You're taking too long."
I had no choice. I had to ask for help.
"Can you call a sales assistant over? I need their help with a, uh, clothing issue."
There was a long pause.
"You're stuck."
Flames of embarrassment licked my skin. "Just call someone over. Please."
"Can't. One employee left for lunch, and the other is six people deep at the register." Of course Daniel had been tracking everyone's movements while he waited for me.
"I'll help."
If I could see my reflection, I was sure I'd see a mask of horror staring back at me. "No. You can't come in here!"
"Why not?"
"Because I'm…" Half-naked. Exposed. "Indecent."
"I've seen half-naked women before, princess. Either let me in so I can get you out of whatever jam you're in, or sit tight for the next hour because that's how long it's gonna take the cashier to get through the weekend crowd. They're moving slower than a turtle on morphine."
The universe hated me. I was sure of it.
"Fine." I forced the word out, the flames of embarrassment burning hotter. "Come in."
The dressing room doors didn't have locks, and a second later, Daniel's presence filled the tiny space. Even if I hadn't heard him enter, I would've felt him. He exuded an intense energy that charged every molecule of air until it vibrated with him. It was raw, masculine and powerful.
I held my breath as he approached, his boots soft on the linoleum floor. For someone so large, he moved with the grace of a panther.
The dress covered my chest, but my lace panties were on full display, and I tried not to think about how much skin I was showing as Daniel stopped in front of me. He was close enough I could feel the heat radiating from his body and smell his clean, soapy scent.
Tension and silence hummed in equal measure when he gripped the hem of the dress above my head and pulled. It slid up half a centimeter before it stopped again, and I winced when the fabric dug into a fresh section of flesh.
"I'm going to try from the bottom up," Daniel said, his voice detached and controlled.
Bottom up. Meaning he had to put his hands on my bare skin.
"Okay." It came out squeakier than I would've liked.
Every muscle tensed when he rested his palms on the top of my ribcage. He smoothed his thumbs briefly over the chafed area where the dress had dug into my skin before he hooked his fingers beneath the material as much as he could and inched it up.
I couldn't hold my breath anymore. I finally exhaled, my chest heaving like it was trying to push itself deeper into Daniel's rough, warm touch. The breaths sounded embarrassingly loud in the silence.
Daniel paused.
...
The dress was halfway up my shoulders now, enough to bare my bra-clad chest.
"Calm your breathing, princess, or this ain't gonna work," he said, sounding a touch more strained than he had a minute ago.
Heat scorched my skin, but I wrestled my breathing under control, and he resumed his work. Another inch…another…and I was free.
Fresh air assaulted my nostrils, and I blinked to adjust to the light after being trapped in the dress for the past twenty minutes. I clutched the material in front of me, my face hot with embarrassment and relief.