All the Wrong Choices by C.A. Harms

Chapter Forty-Four

Danielle

I feellike I've been to hell and back.

My head's pounding, my stomach is rolling, and my mouth feels like I've been chewing on chalk for days.

Rolling over in bed and reaching out to find the mattress empty, I open my eyes. I immediately squint from the light spilling in through the blinds. Cringing, I roll and bury my head in the pillow.

Why in the hell did I ever agree to a shot challenge with Molly? She is a queen of Tequila, and I am a dead woman. Or so it feels.

I lay against the cool sheets, and though I want more than anything to move my body, I can't manage to muster up the strength. So instead, I relax, pulling the covers around me tighter, and I begin to fade.

* * *

It's barelyafter four in the afternoon, and I still lay in a bed alone. Feeling much better than I had this morning, I roll over and start toward the bedroom door, stepping into the hallway. The house is quiet, with no sounds of the television playing or the radio.

I don't find Jonah in the kitchen or even sleeping on the couch.

There is no note explaining where he's gone, and I'm just about to search for my phone, so I can call him when I see movement outside near the pool.

There he stands, shirtless with his back to me. A pair of swimming trunks hang low on his hips, and his back muscles flex as he walks along the edge of the water. I stand, watching him, feeling my body react to him even though we are so far apart. Jonah is eye candy, the kind of man women notice, and they linger a few seconds longer than necessary. I don't blame them. I did it, too, the first time I saw him. He takes pride in his body, which I greatly appreciate, it does wonders for his stamina, and I reap the benefits of his need to stay fit.

And as if he can sense me watching him, he looks back over his shoulder and grins when he finds me there. Motioning with his head to join him, I practically run to the bedroom and discard my lazy sleep clothes for my favorite coral bikini.

Pausing in front of the bathroom mirror, I comb through my hair with my fingers, brush my teeth and then grab a towel.

With purpose, I stroll outside and enjoy when he looks over to find me standing next to the lounger. "Well, hello," his eyes scan over my body, and the familiar heat I always feel when he looks at me rolls through me like a warm wave. Immediately my nipples harden in response to his perusal.

"Cleaning the pool?" I pretend not to notice the way his throat bobs as he swallows hard. I peek over the side into the crystal-clear water. My skin is feeling heated though it has nothing to do with the sun beating down from above. Dipping my toe in the water, I drag it along, focusing on the ripple effect it leaves behind.

"Dani," I don't look up right away, hearing the ache in his voice. I know what I'll find and he’ll call me evil, but I want to make him suffer, if only a little bit.

"Hmm," finally I respond, I trace over the swell of my breast along the center dip in my bikini top. This suit does happen to be my most revealing, and I generally only wear it when he and I are alone. It covers very little of my body and always managed to land me in a position where I was left panting and completely satisfied.

"Should we talk about last night?" I look away from the water, feeling surprised by the topic of conversation. "Do you remember last night?"

I know what parts he is referring to, and honestly, I'd be okay if we chose to ignore it completely. "I do," feeling less seductive than a moment ago, I hold his gaze, wondering where this will go from here.

"Is there anything you think we need to discuss?"

I shake my head, still holding his stare.

"No questions?"

Again I give my head a little shake. He seems surprised by my reaction. "So tomorrow or even next week, I won't find you staring off into nowhere with your mind rolling over all these crazy notions you've imagined in your head?"

"Nope," I make a popping sound with the p, which makes him smile.

"Hmm," again he seems surprised.

"And do you want to know why?" I saunter toward him, feeling my bravery return. It is his turn to nod. "Because I know you could have never been truly happy with her."

"Yeah," with his free hand, he reaches out and hooks my waist, pulling me in closer to his body. His skin is so warm from the sun. "True, but I'm interested now in what made you finally realize that."

Jonah is by far the sexiest and most appealing man I have ever seen. But it isn't just because of his looks or his body. He is so kind and gentle, so attentive toward me he has this incredible way of making me feel like I'm the center of his world. "You would have been entirely too focused on fixing her teeth." I smile, and he tilts his head back immediately and chuckles. "Tell me I'm wrong? I mean, Heather is beautiful, and she seems sweet enough, but you are a teeth guy, and you can't help yourself, it's what you notice."

"Maybe a little true," Jonah moves in closer, and his lips skim over mine immediately, making my skin break out with tiny goosebumps. He doesn't kiss me before pulling back. "But I think the real reason is that she's not you."

"Always a sweet talker," I whisper just before he presses his lips to mine and allows his palm to move a little lower to cup my ass. When he groans and pushes his growing erection forward, I feel just how hard he is against my stomach.

"Though I want to take this little bikini off your perfect body and lay you out on the lounger while I feast on you for hours, I can't."

"Mm," I coo, imagining just what he described, "it sounds like the perfect way to spend an afternoon."

"It does," again he kisses me, sucking on my tongue and then tugging on my lip. "But my sister and Tucker are on their way over for dinner and to watch the game." My eyes widen as I remember what I'm wearing. "Exactly, so you need to go change but leave this out and available, because tonight you and I have a date in the pool or hot tub, either is good with me." He winks, and as I step back and turn, he slaps my ass. I yelp and start to counter, but then I hear the sound of the doorbell echoing through the house, and I know I need to put some clothes on and fast.