Chapter Text
"I'll seek you out
Flay you alive
One more word and you won't survive
And I'm not scared
Of your stolen power
I see right through you any hour"
-Blue Foundation "Eyes on Fire"
Fridays, the universal symbol that the tumultuous work week has come to an end and it's time to kick back and relax for the next two days. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for Dani. While her coworkers were out indulging in much needed after work drinks, she, however, was left behind to endure the unnerving silence that filled the conference room. Granted, there was the occasional jingle of keys that belonged to the security guard as he made his hourly rounds, and the roaring of the vacuum cleaner from the janitors; but those familiar noises only served to further prove just how late it was becoming.
No matter how much she truly wanted to, Dani didn't have anyone else to blame but herself for being here, burning the midnight oil. She was the one who offered her services to help out with one of the biggest interviews this little 'mom and pop' newspaper had ever gotten. It was a decision she was beginning to regret.
Sighing heavily, she glanced down at her watch and nearly did a double take at the time. Midnight was quickly approaching, and the interview had been scheduled for 7:30, but due to unforeseen filming complications, said interview had to be pushed back. It left Dani wondering if there was really an interview scheduled at all, thinking perhaps this whole thing was concocted by her coworkers as an elaborate hazing scheme to welcome the newbie.
Dani leaned back in the leather chair, a tired groan leaving her lips as she realized if there was truly an interview scheduled, she faced pulling an all-nighter just to get it finished and emailed to the printers for the morning edition. Pulling all-nighters was something she hadn't done since her college days, and she wasn't particularly interested in reliving her glory days when her sleeping schedule was already fucked up enough.
A completely involuntary yawn escaped her lips, alerting Dani to the fact that she needed to do something to get the blood pumping so her second wind would kick in. Standing up, she stretched out the kinks in her tired muscles, taking a moment to be grateful for being the only one in the office. Had anyone happen to pass by the large windows, they would've been treated to one hell of a sight. As her luck would have it, the one time she decided to dress up just a bit, she's stuck working late.
The black satin dress she was wearing was a far cry from her normal every attire, especially with its cuffed sleeves, scooping neckline and hemline that seemed to show off more of her legs that she particularly would've liked; suffice to say...she was a fish out of water in that getup. The only thing about her whole ensemble that indicated towards her personal taste was the Converse that she changed into after only two hours of donning those atrocious death traps society called heels. She was the kind of girl that refused to risk bodily harm for the sake of fashion.
After re-situating her dress, Dani sat down to begin organizing her notes for the umpteenth time that evening. She reached for her mug of coffee, only to grimace as the ice cold liquid washed over her taste buds. Mustering all her willpower, she forced herself to swallow the sip she'd taken as she pushed away the offending beverage. As she did, Dani swore she could hear her father's voice chastising her for allowing such a travesty to occur. Shaking her head, she opened her tablet; having decided that her time would probably be better spent cramming in some last minute research.
After blindly volunteering for the extra assignment, she quickly went to work scouring the web and YouTube for some of his previous interviews and information. While one wouldn't call Dani a hermit when it came to the ever growing world of up and coming celebrities; it took her a minute to figure out where she'd hear the name Tom Hiddleston before. Once the connection was made...Dani realized she might've made a huge error.
While video and video gave her some insight; it did nothing to calm her nerves towards her impending encounter with the man. She witnessed how charming he was, was endeared with how gracious and kind he came across and was especially taken by his wicked sense of humor that followed directly after the razor sharp with that could leave the most educated individual speechless. But Dani also noticed something, something that a person might overlook if they weren't looking for it. If one took the time to look closely, they would notice the subtle way he revels in his ability to sexually frustrate anyone who crosses his path. She had to give him credit, though; he masked it quite well as subtle body movements and tongue in cheek innuendo.
The redhead was so engrossed in her work that her brain failed to register the fact that the room now had two new occupants until the heavy wooden door clicked. She jumped at the sound, quickly flipping her tablet closed as she turned and came face to face with the man of the hour. She cursed under her breath at how delicious he looked while she appraised his freshly showered appearance as he nonchalantly stood next to his publicist.
"You must be Mr. Hiddleston." Dani greeted after eventually regaining the ability to speak, almost visibly cringing at how child-like her voice sounded to her ears. Extending her hand out, Tom wasted no time in stepping forward to gingerly shake it. She instantly felt very small as his lean 6'2" frame loomed over hers. It wasn't a terribly difficult feat to achieve given the fact that she barely reached 5'3".
"Please, call me Tom." He insisted with a 1,000-watt smile. "You've already spoken with my publicist, Luke, earlier. You must be-"
"Shit, sorry, I'm Dani O'Connor." She replied, mentally slapping herself for her lack of professionalism.
"Dani," He crooned, her name rolling off his tongue with an erotic finesse she'd never heard before. "What a beautiful name, darling...it suits you."
'Tone it down, Casanova.'
Dani raised an eyebrow, tempted to ask why he thought her rather boyish name suited her when he caught her completely off guard. As if he could read her thoughts, he bent down, giving her knuckles the faintest of kisses. Her eyes widened while her brain reeled from how soft those lips of his were; her brain momentarily overcome by the fantasy of what they could feel like caressing her inner thighs.
'Slow your roll there, Princess. Repeat after me; we are NOT going to entertain any more naughty thoughts about this man.'
With a subtle shake of her head, she discarded the sinful scenarios attempting to play out in her head, when she realized something that utterly horrified her...she had yet to let go of his hand.
'Well, this has gone to hell in a hand basket rather quickly, don't you think?'
"Oh dear God, I'm so sorry." She apologized meekly, quickly dropping his hand as though it had burned her. She closed her eyes, sending a silent prayer to any and all Deities she could think of that he wouldn't acknowledge her embarrassing error and just move on; but apparently she was on their shit lit as Tom let out a light-hearted chuckle.
"It's quite alright, love," Tom assured her with a coy smile.
Pulling herself together, Dani gestured for him to take a seat on the couch nestled against the wall while she turned to gather her stuff. As she turned back, she noted that Tom quickly averted his attention to the dust-laden plastic plant on the side table next to the couch. She quickly dismissed it, chalking it up to her mind playing tricks on her as she took a seat in the chair in front of him. Glancing over her notes, she found the place where they would begin.
"I'm sorry for the late hour; filming was delayed and then went over to compensate for the delay." Tom suddenly explained. "I hope I haven't kept you from anything." His eyes slowly appraised her form before leaning forward to reach his water bottle, his scent launching a full-scale assault on her defenseless senses.
There were hints of mint and soap, with a heady aroma of manliness that rounded it out. He was what Dani had envisioned a real man to smell like, not what those amateurs deluded themselves into thinking a man should smell like. She dreaded encounters with those sort of men; the kind of men who were under the assumption that marinating themselves in cologne and aftershave was the gateway towards melting a woman's panties. Sadly, the harsh reality of the situation was that not only could their unsuspecting victims smell them a mile away, once those who were unable to escape being in such close proximity with one left with their panties securely in place; only nose hairs and eyes having been melted.
However, unlike those men, Tom's scent was subtle; which to Dani's dismay, made him all the more alluring, the aroma crooking a seductive finger at her as if to lure her deeper until she was ultimately caught in his web.
As he moved to sit back, his unruly dark curls lightly grazed against the bare skin of her calf, making her breath catch as a tingling sensation enveloped her before settling between her legs.
'Listen up hormones; you need to calm the fuck down. There is work to be done and we can't afford making a spectacle of ourselves.'
"There's really no need to apologize, Mr. Hiddleston. Things happened that were beyond your control. It's not like I had a date with anyone special, aside from my couch, a good book, and a glass of whiskey." She dismissed nonchalantly.
"I didn't take you for a whiskey girl," Tom stated in surprise as his hands busied themselves with the water bottle in a rather obscene fashion.
'Don't look. For the love of all that is holy...don't f ucking look.'
"Oh, were you under the assumption that girls only like fruity drinks, champagne, and wine?" Dani shot back with a smirk. "It's a dangerous game, making assumptions like that, Mr. Hiddleston. Now, are you ready to begin?"
"I-I'm ready whenever you are, darling." He sputtered, seeming to have been completely thrown by her. It took him a few moments, but he seemed to recover as he leaned back against the couch, legs practically spread eagle.
'Oh, you shameless hussy.'
Opening a small black case, Dani slid on her black-rimmed glasses before pressing record on her table to prevent her from further embarrassment. Clearing her throat, she finally began.
"You're currently in the middle of filming Crimson Peak, which is directed by Guillermo Del Toro. How has the experience been so far, Mr. Hiddleston?" Dani kept her tone steady and professional. Granted he told her to address him as Tom, but she was determined to keep this ship on its intended course, refusing to be distracted by his shenanigans.
"It's been amazing. Del Toro is a true visionary when it comes to his craft, which is something that really aides the cast in breathing life into his brilliant characters and the world they live in." He boasted with a grin, showcasing his immaculate teeth. The dangerous combination of those dark curls, that salacious grin and piercing blue eyes was proving to be damn near unbearable.
'If memory serves correctly, the Bible described the devil as the most beautiful of all angels...God, is there something you'd like to confess?'
"There are rumors circulating that your character, Sir Thomas Sharpe, is a very dark individual with some even hinting towards the possibility that he's also kinky. How do you think your fan base would react to seeing you in such a role?" Dani continued, absent-mindedly swiveling the chair as she chewed on the cap of her pen. It was a nervous habit she thought she'd long since broken, but every once in a blue moon it would happen. Dani could feel Tom's penetrating gaze lock into her mouth as the cap rolled between her teeth. Her eyes flashed to his, her mouth drying as they seemed to darken while his tongue peeked out to wet his lips.
Calming herself, she looked at him expectantly as she waited for his answer. A few moments later, he seemed to remember where he was as he blinked before clearing his throat.
"I'm sorry, what was the question?" He asked, his voice dropping a few octaves lower to where it sounded husky.
"The question, Mr. Hiddleston, was how do you think your fans would react to seeing you in a darker, kinkier role?" She repeated, hoping that he notice that her tone also sounded huskier.
Tom's hand ran through his hair before they absent-mindedly traced the cupid's bow of his lips, looking as though he was deep in thought.
"I think to some it might come as a bit of a shock while others would openly embrace it. The film itself is a dark, twisted tale." He paused to wet his lips again. "As an actor, you want to take on roles that openly challenge you; that push the boundaries to make you work that much harder."
Before Dani had the opportunity to comment, Tom leaned forward, grabbing onto the arms of the chair. With a swift tug, she found herself in very close proximity to him. Tom cast a quick glance towards Luke, finding him conveniently engrossed with a phone call, giving his back to the duo. As Tom's gaze landed back on Dani, he inched closer towards her, causing her to lean back as far as she could. Unfortunately, to the outside eye, it looked as if she was practically thrusting her breasts into his face.
"Are you nervous, love?" Tom challenged, his hungry eyes feasting up the delightful sight before him.
'Be smart. Don't give him the satisfaction of knowing your wetter than a Slip-n-Slide.'
"Absolutely not." Dani scoffed. "I just have a thing about people invading my personal space." She warned sternly, looking at him over the tops of her glasses.
"Yes, you're right. You're not nervous at all." Tom agreed with a devilish smile. "It's really quite the opposite, isn't it? I believe you're actually enjoying me invading your personal space...if the fact that your breathing has picked up is any indication. I'm quite certain I'm beginning to get to you." He whispered triumphantly by her ear. Her eyes nearly rolled into the back of her skull at the feeling of his hot breath fanning across the shell of her ear.
He was definitely on the mark about her breathing; the moment he closed in on her, it had nearly turned into soft pants.
"Unless you want your publicist to see us in a rather compromising position, I would suggest you stop this, Mr.Hiddleston." She informed him as she glanced towards Luke, who still hadn't turned around. "He seemed like he would definitely pitch a fit at seeing us like this."
Tom seemed to forego heeding her warning, taking the bottom lobe of her ear into his greedy mouth, gently nibbling on it.
"Dani, if you don't stop with this 'Mr.Hiddleston' business, I won't hesitate to take you over my knee and spank you like the naughty minx you truly are." He threatened before leaning back against the couch with a cocky grin.
Dani searched his eyes, desperately looking for the tiniest hint of doubt; but the way his cerulean orbs glistened and dripped with such blatant lust told her there was truth to his words. Once the weight of realization set in, Dani felt as if the air was forced from her lungs, rendering her utterly speechless. All she could do was simply nod her head as filthy images stemming from his threat invaded her mind, turning her on more that she cared to admit.
Her panties were now thoroughly saturated, making it increasingly impossible to not squirm. Her mind vehemently sent out a prayer to the universe that once this whole thing was over, there wasn't an obvious wet spot left behind; she wasn't sure if she could conjure up a logical explanation as to its appearance without turning into a tomato. Dani fought vigilantly against her now raging hormones; the rational side reminding her that she needed to remain professional...there was a deadline to meet after all.
"Are you enjoying Canada?" She asked, determination heavily lacing her tone as she turned the conversation back on course. Come hell or high water, this article was getting done.
"I am thoroughly enjoying my time here. While I do love the bustling vibe of city life, I've found myself with a soft spot for the serenity of the countryside. It's a beautiful country, you're lucky to have such beautiful scenery at your disposal."
Dani couldn't help but giggle at his assumption that she was a native. She figured with him being an actor, he might've picked up on her diluted Southern accent; but then again it wasn't as prominent as it used to be.
"While I'm glad that you're enjoying the sights, I can't accept such a wonderful compliment seeing as I'm not a native. I'm from Louisiana, Mr. Hiddleston."
Dani knew the moment 'Mr.Hiddleston' slipped past her lips, she had very well condemned herself. She could've passed it off as wanting to remain on professional terms, but that would've been furthest from the truth. She wanted to call his bluff, to see if he would actually follow through with his threat. While she saw the undeniable truth in his eyes, there was a part of her that wondered if this was nothing more than one of his tactics to simply throw her off.
Her answer came when his pupils contracted before dilating. A low growl emanated from his chest as he turned towards Luke, who seemed to be conveniently off the phone.
'Uh oh, Houston, we may have a problem.'
"Luke, could you be a mate and run down to the coffee shop and grab some tea for Miss O'Connor and myself?"
'Laying it on a bit thick, aren't you?'
Dani could almost see the gears turning inside Tom's head, a plan seeming to formulate behind his eyes. She knew that the nearest coffee shop that was open this time of night was, at least, a good three blocks away; depending on foot traffic, the amount of time it took for round trip was at least 15, maybe 20 minutes tops. Dani's eyes widened as she realized her error, he was really going to go through with it.
"Uh sure, Tom," Luke replied hesitantly as she glanced between the two. "Is it a good idea to leave you two alone?"
'Absolutely not! Don't you dare leave me alone with the man who signs your paychecks...wait a minute, are you insinuating that I'm going to do something to him?!'
The appalled look on Dani's face sent Luke scrambling to amend his statement.
"Apologies, Miss O'Connor; it wasn't my intention to insinuate that you would, you know...it's just, we've encountered some rather...weird ones." Dani's face softened at this, she completely understood where his concern was coming from.
"Despite what my face might've told you, I wasn't offended. I really do understand where you're coming from; you're leaving your boss alone with someone you know nothing about. I promise not to shamelessly throw myself at him the moment you leave...scout's honor." She joked, holding up three fingers. This earned her a light-hearted chuckle from both men.
It wasn't long before Luke bid them adieu, telling them he'd be back shortly with their order. The pair seemed to hold their breath as they waited for a few moments to ensure that Luke wouldn't suddenly reappear. Once in the clear, Tom didn't hesitate to pull Dani from the chair, settling her onto his lap while his lips hungrily sought hers. His tongue danced erotically with hers, begging...no, not begging...demanding submission.
Her hands submerged themselves in the sea of his dark curls, unable to resist the urge to tug on them as her hips rolled, grinding against his prominent erection. The sound that reverberated within his chest was something Dani could only describe as primal, bordering on animalistic.
Dani's head was swimming; never before had a man invoked such wanton desires within her, as if Tom had awoken some kind of mythical beast inside her that longed to surface. As oxygen became a necessity, he broke from her lips and began to feast on the flesh of her jawline, making his way to her ear.
"I know I said I'd spank you, but you and your delectable body have me so desperate with an overwhelming need to be inside your cunt that if I don't fuck you right now, I will combust." He growled.
Dani pulled back, her eyes wildly searching his. The ability to form a coherent sentence quickly left her as she watched pure lust take residence upon his face. She knew that any and all ideas of saying now were gone, blowing away as if they nothing more than mere dust particles. Not trusting herself to speak, she simply nodded.
With what almost resembled a whimper, Tom launched another attack upon her lips as his hand moved to the front of her dress. His fingertips skimmed across the smooth flesh of her thighs, moving slowly up until they met the fabric of her soaked panties. Gripping the seams tightly, he effectively tore the delicate fabric.
Dani's trembling hands moved to his belt, fumbling ungracefully to undo the contraption. After a few mishaps, she was victorious, but it was a short-lived feeling as she found there were buttons where a zipper should've been. Sexual frustration was not helping her in any way, making her almost resort to tearing the damn thing open; but thankfully, with her last bit of patience, she was able to slip her hand inside, enveloping his throbbing cock with her palm.
'Holy Jesus!'
Tom hissed, clenching his jaw as Dani freed it from the fabric of his pants, giving it a languid stroke before releasing it. She quickly found that Tom hadn't been fibbing about his desperate need as she soon found herself being pulled upwards, her slick heat just millimeters above his aching cock. She draped her arms around his shoulders so as to steady herself while he lined himself up before easing her down until he was fully sheathed.
'Jesus, Mary, and Holy Sait Joseph'
Her breath froze in her throat at the feeling of being stretched to accommodate his size. He was decidedly bigger than the other men she had previously been with, bringing a whole new level of deliciousness to mind. Tom's head went back to rest on the couch as she began to move, rotating her hips so as to grind her clit against him. The hands resting on her hips tightened, leaving her with no doubt that there would be marks tomorrow to serve as a reminder.
Dani wanted to prolong this, wanting to forever remember this stolen moment in her life. She leaned down, devouring the column of his long neck; peppering it with kisses and nips in a fiery path to his ear.
"Do you like how it feels, Mr. Hiddleston?" She wantonly purred, dragging her teeth across the bottom lobe of his ear.
The guttural sound that Tom responded with was so erotic and wanton that it alone nearly sent her over the edge. Tom leaned up, moving a hand to the base of her neck, securing it in place as he pressed his forehead against hers. Being forced to stare directly into his eyes as his hips bucked harshly into her was overwhelming, causing her eyes to lull closed.
"Don't do that, don't you dare close your eyes. I want you to remember who it is that is bringing you such pleasure." He commanded in low, seductive tone that made her eyes shoot open and focus solely on him.
'Well, if that's not a voice that could sell sins to saints...I don't know what is.'
Tom's hips set a punishing pace, thrusting upwards as he vigorously brought her down, causing Dani's finger to dig into the fabric of his shirt so tightly her knuckles turned white.
"I...oh God...I...I can't." She pleaded breathlessly, her sentence falling into the abyss as the tantalizing sensations stole her breath.
"Oh, my darling girl...you can and you will." He urged.
She slipped a hand between their vigorously moving bodies as she dangled precariously over the edge of pure oblivion; Tom's erratic pace suggesting he was just as close. As Dani's nimble fingers pressed against her clit, she flung her head back, looking incandescent as she praised the Heavens.
"Oh fuck, I'm gonna...I'm...OH!" She gasped as the tightly wound coils in the pit of her stomach snapped violently, releasing that much-desired orgasm. Her inner walls contracted tightly as Tom met his completion with a growl, her name pouring from his lips like a sacred prayer.
Looking down at Tom, the sight before Dani was something she couldn't sufficiently put into words. His hair was a delicious mess, thanks in part to her fingers and the perspiration they had worked up. What really took her breath away was the look of pure content on his face; it was something that not even the most heralded photographers or painters of the world could aspire to capture.
As the reality of what had just occurred seeped into her subconscious, Dani hastily retreated from Tom's lap, fervently fixing her dress back into its rightful place as Tom righted his own appearance as well. Ungracefully slumping into the chair, Dani couldn't seem to fight against the smirk on her lips.
"What's got you smirking, darling?" Tom asked, curiosity filling his face.
"I can't believe that just happened." She marveled, running a hand over her face. "I have to say, that was one hell of a ride, Tom."
"Oh, believe me, you haven't seen anything yet." He promised as a devilish grin slowly appeared on his face.