Love Bites

Part Six

You both had lost track of how long you lingered in his arms. He was in his own protective ball around you sniffling less as the tears died down. You had been fisting what you saw was the white t-shirt barely in the darkness as you opened your swollen eyes. You were met still with eyes that had been watching over you since the day you met. Dan's big brown eyes were darker of course with no light, but they hadn't left to look in any other direction other than gazing at you.

You swallowed back lingering cries that were just pitiful to you at that point. Dan combed through your hair again before whispering more to himself and you. "I don't understand." He sighed after finally looking past you.

Your curious mind let you speak, well more like croak, as you frowned not getting it. You shifted trying to sit up, but felt arms tighten around you. Dan had been still holding you tight not letting you get too far from himself. With no idea on fighting him anymore you setting back against him half-cradled as you asked.

"What don't you understand?" your voice was matching his keeping things a much calmer atmosphere. Dan sighed heavily clearly thinking about his choice of words. The last thing he wanted to do was cause another fight.

"I don't, fuck," Dan looked up with another sigh before returning to look at you, "I don't understand how you're so dead set on believing that I don't love you. When I do." Dan frowned while cutting some slack in holding you so tight. He let you create some space as the conversation went on.

"Because..." you almost did the same thing except look to the side then back to him, "you're trying so hard to not, so I figured why let you keep fighting for something you may not actually feel. I'm just trying to keep us honest." Your eyes dropped looking again between the two of you. Dan lifted your chin shaking his head telling you through motions before he responded that wasn't it.

"Again, I'm sorry, you're wrong. I am trying so hard not to, because, well, I just I totally again, I suck at the boyfriend thing. I'm not-not in love with you; I'm quite the opposite with you." Dan bit his lip almost bracing himself again. You stopped yourself that time though from starting the same go round that time, but still wanted him to believe in you two together.

"I wish you'd let us have a fair chance..." you looked into his eyes again pleading with him. Dan's expression was a twisting pain with a sniffle.

"You fucking don't deserve someone else walking out on you...I can't let it be me who's gonna do that. I can control that at least." Dan's persona of being a business man while also a kind person was battling it out creating something he was hating. You knew he was hating that his anxiety of letting someone in deeper was what was crippling this. You held onto his hand tightly as you countered again.

"You may be able to have a say of what happens since we know what I'd want, but, you can't control what your heart or my hearts wants. You will never be able to. You'd be lying to yourself and honestly just hurting me more. I still think deep down you sincerely want this though, or you would've left already, cause clearly I'm okay now." You called him out in another attempt watching silently after. Dan kept studying you after like before but there was no annoyance in his expression.

"I um, god you're right, I hate this shit but you're like super on it. I have been lying for so long, I just, I'm gonna mess it up though. I always do. It's my thing hun, it's why I keep trying to tell you we can't." he looked down at your guy's hands watching him again be connected to you. He just kept shaking his head but making no attempt to let go.

"What if I don't care about what you've always done? What if I wanna see what happens if you do- if WE do, Dan? Not only do we deserve a chance, you still deserve to see how far you've come. I think, as conceited as it sounds, if anyone is gonna give you that much love and CONTINUE to support you, it'd be me. Cause clearly some blonde-" you tried to show him further then tease him earning an eye roll.

"Stop, okay. I get it. You're right, more. Also, I'm still super sorry for that whole thing. I shouldn't had ran to a stranger, but again I totally prove right there though how fucked I am." Dan huffed watching you reach again to hold his face.

"You, stop. I'm gonna do something to you, that no one I noticed has done okay?" you prepared for it, but knew he needed this. Dan's expression was showing he was cautious as you sat up more facing him dead on. You again placed another hand on the other side of his cheek keeping almost blinders on him. Not letting him look away.

"Wh-what are you-" Dan tried asking until your lips connected with his. He froze almost going to protest until he heard it.

"I love you, and I forgive you." You spoke into him reconnecting yourself to him. Dan's natural instincts to hold you kicked in, but his pleads came up again.

"Please don't." he spoke against you in return. You kissed him back feeling him respond still knowing he was letting the wall down.

"It's okay Danny, I'm here." You captured again him in a longer kiss that had you holding yourself against him winding your fingers into his curls. Dan's own hands had been holding you sternly by the hips with fingertips making sure you were anchored to him. He wanted to believe you, was starting to believe you.

"Promise me..." he spoke against another kiss getting deeper into it. You felt his warm tongue brush against your lip making your vocals let him have a soft sound to listen to. He realized you were in a growing haze again after a moment with no response just deeper kissing that was encouraging you to slightly brace your weight on his hair. He pulled the will out from somewhere having to pull back while stroking your cheeks watching the pout almost unwillingly grow on your face. "Baby..." he whispered out calling you back to him and out if the fog. You were breathing heavier than you were a moment ago feeling all your senses heightening.

"P-promise you what?" you were scarlet trying to remember if he had gotten his answer to that one or not. Everything was a blur until he cleared your haze for the moment.

"You said, you're here. I need you to promise me that it's a constant. That you'll totally never not be." Dan looked into your eyes seeing at first the stilled confusion turn into promise in them. You leaned forward again gently nuzzling him as you smiled.

"I promise I'm always gonna be here and," you placed tiny pecks to his cheeks as you finished it, "I'm always gonna love you Danny." You stopped to analyze how that went. It was almost groundbreaking to see him with happier tears then silently falling as he gazed into you.

"I wanna be here too, and love you too babe..." Dan rested his forehead on yours trying to hide the lip quiver.

"So do it baby, love me, but let me love you back." You whispered before pecking his nose. Dan held you closer nodding against your shoulder then.

"'Kay, I'll try." He whimpered with a small shake in his voice. You hugged him tighter with your own self pressing more to him as you kissed his hair.

"We deserve this..." you spoke into him feeling him flinch trying not to tense up. His head lifted as he sniffled again while he combed some of your hair behind your ear. He was testing his ability to remain gentle with you. He wanted to love you. He really did. Dan leaned closer again stroking your cheek as he brushed against your lips. His warm breath on them as he softly spoke.

"Will you sing with me?" he requested with a gentle kiss at first. You let the jagged exhale free as you responded.

"Always baby..." you smiled into another kiss getting lost in him and you again.

"Start it off babe..." Dan noticed you climbing into his lap still facing him. He smiled a little liking that you two were already comfortable. It was his sign that even after a battle so hard, this is where he'd find you. By him with no fears anymore. You wrapped your arms back around his neck combing through his hair. You kissed him softly letting your lips linger on his. Dan's half-lidded expression was warming your being knowing he was accepting it his own way finally. As you inhaled quietly to start it off you felt arms cradling your back. It was the most amazing feeling to you and had you letting your own self accept that you came to your own terms as well.