Never Ending Read Free

it had gone through enough bumps and false starts that I
didn't feel ready to rock the boat. Not yet.
                “It's really
just that,” I said. “Just stress – that's all. I shouldn't have gone out at
all, with how I was feeling, I mean. I really overdid it. I'd been up all night
studying for my Chaucer final, and I just....”
                “I'm taking you
to the doctor today,” said Danny, pressing my hands against his lips. It was
hard to feel quite so stressed now, I thought in spite of myself, with Danny's
tongue flicking so lightly at my fingertips, tormenting me as it made my heart
beat faster. Even now, with my head throbbing and the bruise still purple and
swollen on my forehead where I had fallen, I felt my body stirring with
automatic desire. “Even if it ends up being nothing, it's worth it. Just to be
sure.” He kissed each of my knuckles in turn, sending more shivers through me.
“For now, though – how are you feeling?”
                “Much better,”
I said. This was due in part to the sleep I'd just had on Danny's Egyptian
cotton sheets– although I had a feeling the slow, subtle motions of his tongue
on my wrist had rather more to do with it.
                “Well, I'll
make you feel better still...” He pressed a button on the hotel intercom and,
before I could blink, a knock rang out at the door.
                “Come on in...”
Danny opened the door to a kindly-looking older woman, with a bob of flaxen
blonde hair, carrying a tray.
                “Maybe not the
healing I had in mind – but a useful... appetizer, at any rate.”
                The woman
smiled as she lifted up the tray cover. My eyes widened in delight, and my
stomach emitted a thoroughly inelegant growl. There was a bowl of thick, white
New England clam chowder, buttery corn on the cob, freshly-baked bread, Cobb
salad, pasta with tomato sauce...
                “All your
favorites,” said Danny. “I had the kitchen make it special.” He smiled and
nodded at the hotel attendant, who set down the tray on the table and made a
swift exit.
                The smell of
the food was intoxicating, maddening. I realized, as I inhaled the sweet,
garlicky smell of the pasta, that I'd never been so hungry in my life.
                “And if you
want to put on some fresh clothes...” Danny took out a hanger from the closet.
It was my best summer dress, a crisp white linen dress.
                I looked up at
him in confusion. “I thought I left that at home...”
                “You did,” said
Danny. “I'm sorry – I was terribly bold. I should have asked you, first. But I
took the liberty of getting some of your things from your apartment with my
spare key. Not all of them – just enough to spare you the trouble of going home
today.” He smiled. “I must say, though, I was tempted to move everything here,
just to convince you...”
                “Convince me of
what?”
                “I want you to
be with me,” Danny said, his voice low and urgent as he leaned in and kissed
me. “All the time. Morning, noon, night. Like I said when I visited over
Christmas – I want you to be with me. To live with me. At least so that
I can take care of you when you're like this.” He laughed softly, bitterly.
                “I can take
care of myself,” I said, too quickly.
                “Neve, I'm
worried about you.” Danny's eyes bore into my own, and I could feel him taking
note of my weaknesses. “You're been losing weight – too much weight – and
there's bags under your eyes. You're still so beautiful – but it hurts to look
at you. You haven't been eating properly, sleeping properly, now you're passing
out in clubs. And all the natural beauty in the world doesn't make you look healthy. ”
He placed his fingers underneath my chin, kissing me lightly