Quench Me
      Chapter 29
 

 I have no idea what time it is when consciousness begins to creep in. Before I even open my eyes, my mind returns to last night, and the monumental occasion it became. He told me that he loves me. My Danny loves me. And as I lay here, still naked in his arms, surrounded not only by the warm quilt he wrapped us in, but by the love that we share, I know that my life has been forever changed by this man.

He must feel my eyelids flutter against his bare chest, because as soon as I open my eyes, I feel him kiss the top of my head. There is practically no space between our bodies, but even still, I attempt to snuggle closer to him, wrapping my arm tighter around him.

"Good morning beautiful," he says softly.

I raise my head so that I can see his face, and reply, "Good morning."

His hand travels across my back, sweetly caressing my skin. "Sleep well?"

"Of course," I answer. "You?"

"Never better," he says. "I love you… Just wanted to be sure you remembered."

"I love you too," I giggle. "Remember?"

With that, he rolls himself on top of me, and tenderly kisses my eyelids, cheeks, and finally my mouth, his tongue gently reacquainting itself with mine. "Now I remember," he says with a smirk.

"You better not forget," I reply, pushing him off of me, and planting my body on top of his. "That might require some punishment."

His hands find their way to my hair, the way they’ve done so many times before, as he says, "Punish me, baby… Please!"

I kiss him fiercely, pressing my body into his, plastering my naked chest onto his. We’re almost breathless when I break the kiss, and say, "You asked for it."

"That I did," he says laughingly, as he glances at the clock on the opposite wall. "It’s almost nine o’clock," he says. "Do you need to call Rick?"

"I don’t think so," I answer. "I don’t think Rick needs any explanations. He understands that this isn’t a casual thing between us. Besides, he’s the one who suggested that I try to get my old apartment back."

"Oh yeah," he replies. "Did you check into that?"

"Actually, I talked to the landlord yesterday morning," I say. "My old apartment isn’t available. Evidently, whoever moved in after me signed a pretty long lease. But there’s another apartment in the same complex that will be vacant at the first of July. He says if I want it, it’s mine."

"Have you seen it yet?" Danny asks.

"No, I’m going to take a look at it tomorrow," I answer.

"What time?"

"I’m supposed to be there at one o’clock tomorrow afternoon," I reply.

"Great, I’ll go with you," he says excitedly.

"Tomorrow is Monday, Danny," I say. "You have to work."

"I’ll just go in a little early, and then take a long lunch," he retorts. "We can have lunch together and then I’ll go with you to see the apartment."

"Are you sure you can get away?"

"Yes, I’m sure," he answers. "Besides, after the success in Atlanta, I’m on Phillip’s good side."

"Well then, I’d love for you to go with me," I say. "I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be with."

Danny gently brushes a strand of hair behind my ear and says, "Now we have to decide what to do with ourselves for the rest of the day."

"You don’t like what we’re doing?" I ask coyly.

"You know I do, baby," he says, kissing my forehead. "I just thought you might already have plans."

"No plans," I say. "But I do have an idea."

"What?"

"Rick just filled the pool up and got it ready for the summer," I say. "If it’s the water’s not too cold, we could go swimming."

"I don’t think the cold will be a problem," he says, pulling me tighter to him. "I think we’ve got enough body heat to make up for it."

"Ooooh, I like the way you think, Santos," I say, pressing kisses along his collar bone.

"There’s just one problem, Michelle," he says.

"What?" I ask, suddenly concerned.

"Seeing you in a bathing suit might just do me in. It could be the death of me, you know."

"I doubt it," I laugh. "Not when you’ve already seen me like this," I say, as I stand up, completely naked, in front of him.

"You’re right," he relents, slowly trailing his eyes up my body. "I already know what’s underneath."

Laughing at each other, as I retrieve my clothes from the living room floor and Danny picks up his sweater, we finally get dressed, and head to my house to take advantage of the pool, and the fact that Rick had an early morning shift at the hospital.