[Chapter 168: The Princess Is Very Proactive]
Knock, knock... a soft rapping came at the door.
"It's so late; what is she doing here?" Daniel didn't even have to look to know it was Anne Hathaway. In this house, besides him and her, there was no one else. Besides, that distinct life aura, there was no mistake. It was Anne.
Daniel rolled out of bed and went to open the door.
The moment it swung open, he saw Anne Hathaway standing there in just her underwear, lunging toward him without hesitation.
If it had been a ghost or monster, Daniel would have struck it immediately with a Lightning Technique. But this was a human being.
He froze, stunned for a heartbeat.
In that instant of hesitation, Anne threw herself into Daniel's arms and, wordlessly, kissed him -- all fire and urgency.
Since she was being so forward, Daniel no longer held back.
So far, his impression of Anne Hathaway was quite good.
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, then stepped back inside.
...
The door clicked shut, the sound swallowed by the sudden, heavy heat radiating between them.
Daniel didn't just pull her inside; he backed her against the mahogany paneling of the foyer, the impact causing a soft gasp to escape her throat that was quickly smothered by his mouth.
Anne's hands, cold from the night air but frantic, tore at the buttons of his pajama shirt, her nails digging into the skin of his chest with an urgency that bordered on desperation.
He groaned into her mouth, the sound vibrating through her entire frame as he lifted her, her legs instinctively locking around his waist.
He carried her toward the bedroom, neither of them breaking the connection, their breaths coming in ragged, synchronized gasps. When he dropped her onto the mattress, the friction of the sheets sounded like a spark in the quiet room.
Anne didn't wait. She arched her back, pulling the thin lace of her underwear down her legs in one fluid motion, her skin glowing like alabaster in the dim moonlight filtering through the blinds.
Daniel stripped quickly, his eyes locked on her.
The sight of her -- flushed, trembling, and completely open to him -- sent a surge of electricity through his veins. He moved over her, the weight of his body pressing her deep into the plush mattress.
He started at her neck, his tongue tracing the sensitive line of her collarbone, eliciting a sharp, melodic moan that echoed in the silent house.
Daniel's mouth moved from her collarbone to the peak of her breast, his tongue swirling around the hardened bud until Anne let out a sharp, shattered gasp. She arched beneath him, her fingers digging into his shoulder blades, pulling him closer as if she couldn't get enough of the friction.
"Daniel," she whispered, her voice a ragged edge of desire. "Please... I can't... I've been wanting this all night."
He didn't answer with words, only with the wet, sliding heat of his tongue trailing down her stomach, kissing the dip of her navel before moving lower.
He shifted, his thighs parting hers, and as he slid his hand down to find her, he discovered she was already drenched, her body humming with an anticipation that mirrored his own.
He slid two fingers deep inside her with a slow, deliberate motion. Anne's head snapped back against the pillow, a loud, unrestrained moan tearing from her throat. "Oh god... yes... right there."
He didn't make her wait any longer. Guiding himself to her entrance, he paused for a heartbeat, the tip of his length teasing her opening. Anne's breath hitched, her eyes fluttering shut in anticipation. Then, with one powerful, fluid surge, he drove himself deep inside her.
The impact forced a loud, guttural cry from her lips -- half shock, half ecstasy. She wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, locking him into her, her internal muscles squeezing him with an intensity that nearly broke his composure.
"You feel... incredible," he groaned, his voice strained.
He began to move, the rhythm slow and punishing at first, each thrust filling her completely. The sound of their skin slapping together echoed in the room, a rhythmic, wet percussion that drove them both further into the haze. Anne's hands migrated to his hair, pulling his face down to hers to meet a kiss that tasted of desperation and salt.
"More," she whimpered against his lips, her voice breaking. "Harder, Daniel... please, harder."
He shifted his angle, driving deeper, hitting the sweet spot that made her toes curl and her entire body shudder.
Anne began to sob softly, the kind of sound that comes when pleasure becomes too much to bear. Her moans turned into rhythmic, melodic whimpers, "Yes... right there... oh, god, yes!"
The tension built between them, a coil winding tighter and tighter until the air felt electric.
Daniel could feel the pulsing of her walls around him, the frantic rhythm signaling she was on the brink. He accelerated, his breath coming in short, jagged bursts, his movements becoming primal and urgent.
"Look at me," he commanded softly.
As their eyes locked, the wave finally crashed. Anne's body stiffened, a loud, prolonged moan escaping her as her climax ripped through her in waves of intense, pulsing heat. The sensation triggered his own release, and with one final, deep thrust, Daniel groaned her name, pouring himself into her as they both collapsed into the mattress, their chests heaving in unison, the silence of the house returning, save for the sound of their racing hearts.
...
Anne lay curled against Daniel's chest, breathing hard, her cheeks flushed with heat.
Daniel's hands stroked the smooth skin of her back -- where bruises had completely vanished -- and he asked gently, "What are you thinking about?"
Anne looked up at him with a mischievous smile. "If I told you it was love at first sight, would you believe me?"
Daniel grinned. "What do you think?"
"I don't believe that either," she said with a laugh. "Want to hear the real reason?"
"Go ahead."
"I think you are very capable and powerful; you can definitely help me. And honestly, I didn't expect you to be so rich."
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Is that all?"
"Isn't it enough?" Anne shrugged. "Do you know how hard it is to find a backer in Hollywood? And there's also..." She reached down, grabbing his not yet completely soft memeber, her tone dropping. "This... thing. The shock from it before was just too intense."
Daniel was speechless.
He had to admit, Anne Hathaway was excellent at finding opportunities -- and decisive enough to jump on them.
No wonder she'd made it this far.
Anne continued, "I've heard so many things about you. I know you've changed the luck of a lot of people."
"Especially Amanda," she added pointedly. "Everyone says the reason she landed those two lead roles is because someone's got her back behind the scenes. That someone is you, right?"
Daniel smiled faintly. "That was all her own hard work."
Anne didn't argue. "Maybe."
Daniel asked, "So, do you want to change your luck too?"
Anne shrugged again. "My career's going okay for now. I don't need it just yet. But I do hope that when I hit trouble, you'll be there to help me out at the critical moment."
Daniel nodded.
Though she had a bit of vanity, she was clearly smart.
She hadn't made a direct request, not yet, but she wanted a long-term backer.
Daniel recalled that, despite widespread criticism of Anne in Hollywood, she rarely had relationship scandals. She had only two public boyfriends.
The first was a wealthy industrialist who was eventually exposed as a fraud. He'd swindled too many people in Hollywood, and once the scandal broke, Anne quickly distanced herself.
The second was her husband -- they married, had kids, and there was no divorce or rumors of trouble.
Daniel said, "Whenever you need help, come to me. I'll settle whatever troubles you have."
Hearing his certainty made Anne take a slight step back, surprised. "You mean all troubles?"
Daniel smiled. "Yes. All troubles."
It wasn't some empty promise, and yet Anne found herself quietly moved.
She leaned in again. "Daniel..."
...
The next morning, Anne woke up to find Daniel already gone from bed.
She rummaged through his closet, slipped on one of his shirts, and walked out of the bedroom with her long legs bare.
Near the living room, she overheard Daniel on the phone.
Getting closer, she caught every word.
"A 19.65% stake -- is that the highest amount we can secure?"
"Try again. If possible, I want to get more shares."
"Captain America for 80 million? Thor for 65? Iron Man for 55? Guardians of the Galaxy for 70? Are they crazy? That's an outrageous demand. Sony bought Spider-Man for only 7 million. I know times have changed. Spider-Man and X-Men have shown the potential of Marvel heroes, but we can't just let them name their prices. Do your best to negotiate the price down a bit."
Listening to Daniel, Anne was stunned. This wasn't the usual conversation for an Exorcist. Why was he talking about comic book heroes like Spider-Man and Captain America -- and trying to buy shares in Marvel and the rights to those characters?
What kind of power did this man really have?
Every time she thought she understood him better, she found she had underestimated him again.
"Have you heard enough?" Daniel's voice suddenly startled Anne.
She took a few hurried steps and caught up to him standing by the window.
"I--I'm sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop," she said, flushing.
Daniel waved it off. "Forget it. It's my fault for not making the call in private."
Anne breathed a sigh of relief. "Are you really planning to acquire Marvel?"
Daniel shook his head. "I'd love to take the whole company, but they won't sell. For now, I'm buying a portion of the shares and picking up the rights to a few heroes."
Having her suspicions confirmed, Anne's shock deepened. "How much money would that take?"
Daniel shrugged. "Buying equity, securing heroes' rights, and providing loans -- it's around seven or eight hundred million."
Anne was completely dumbfounded.
She'd known Daniel was rich -- living in a Beverly Hills mansion was no small thing -- but hadn't imagined this level of wealth.
The next moment, she ran over, jumped, and threw herself into Daniel's arms. "Fuck me."
...
More than an hour passed by the time they finally went downstairs.
Anne's stomach growled. "I'm starving."
She'd eaten only a small salad the night before. After so many intense moments and several rounds of passion, it was no surprise she was hungry.
Daniel hadn't eaten breakfast either, but wasn't feeling hungry, so he hadn't bothered to prepare anything. If she didn't want to cook, she could go hungry for now. Besides, it was almost noon; they could go out to eat soon.
Daniel said, "Eat some fruit first to hold yourself over."
Anne headed to the fridge, grabbed an apple, washed it, and took a bite.
Daniel asked, "What are you planning to do with your house?"
Anne replied, "I'll leave it empty for now -- I don't have time to deal with it. When I have a free moment, I'll find someone to take care of it."
Daniel said, "You can't stay here with me forever, right?"
Anne tilted her head, hopeful. "Is that not okay?"
"Of course not," Daniel said firmly.
Just as Anne felt a flush of disappointment, Daniel added, "But I can let you stay for a while, until you find a place and move out."
A smile spread across Anne's face again.
The more she looked at Daniel, the more she liked him. He satisfied her in every way.
When they went out to eat, she naturally took his arm.
Ring~ ring~ ring~
Halfway through the meal, Anne's phone rang.
*****
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