As the days went by and the little surprises continued, Nadia began to open up towards Danny. Nadia still kept Leo oblivious to everything that was going on. She made sure to call him every day, reminding him that she loved him.

And though Leo was grateful to hear Nadia's voice and occasionally see her face, it never felt like it was enough. He needed her by his side. It was the only way to truly be okay. He couldn't let Nadia know how poorly he was holding up and he desperately wanted these two weeks to fly by.

As for Danny, this wasn't just a task anymore. It felt like Nadia was all his again and he loved every single moment he spent with her.

Danny had initially told Nadia that they would only be staying in the MGM Grand for a week, but he had a change of plans to stay a little bit longer. He paid the extra fee to stay half into the second week of Nadia's visit. Danny wanted to make the last surprise a special one, so he held it off.

It was the Friday of Nadia's first week and Danny offered to take her out for dinner at a restaurant he thought she might enjoy.

...

There was a knock on the bathroom door. "Hey, are you ready?" Danny called out. I quickly put on my gold earrings that were still sitting on the bathroom countertop. "Yeah, you can come in!" He opened the door and I turned around to look at him.

"Well," I shrugged. "How do I look? Is it too much?" I shyly asked.

I wore a long black dress, held by two thin straps. There was a slit that stopped at my thigh, exposing most of my right leg. I took the time to straighten my coily hair just for tonight. His eyes lit up and a smile appeared on his face.

"You look, absolutely, stunning."

I smiled. "Thank you."

"You're very welcome." He smiled back at me and his dimples slowly appeared.

"Can I add something?" He walked over to me, placing a hand in his right pocket.

"What?"

"Turn around, close your eyes."

I grinned, slowly turning around. "Ok..." I trailed off. I closed my eyes and felt Danny's fingertips graze along the sides of my neck, prompting goosebumps to arise on my skin. I briefly lifted my hair up, giving him better access as he clasped what seemed to be a necklace around my neck and I smiled in excitement, eagerly awaiting to see what it looked like.

"You can open them now." He spoke softly. His hands lingered around my waist as I felt him plant a soft kiss on my shoulder. My eyes fluttered open, quickly noticing a sparkling gold diamond necklace.

I gasped. "Oh my god." I whispered in awe.

Danny looked at me from the mirror, his face beamed with pride. "Do you like it?" He asked with a wide smile, hoping I'd say yes. 

I looked up at him. "Do I like it?" I turned back to the mirror, staring at the necklace. I giggled. "I love it!" I practically leapt into his arms, hugging him tightly. Danny chuckled, playfully swaying me in his embrace. 

"Wait," I pulled away from him, lightly clutching the necklace in my hand.

"Are-are these diamonds real?"

He smirked, slowly nodding his head.

"Danny." I didn't even want to know how much he spent on it.

"Hey, Nadia it's okay. It's all yours. A gift from me to you. So, don't say you won't accept it."

I lightly laughed. He had read my mind. "Thank you."

He smiled. "Are you ready to go?" I nodded. "Yeah." I walked out of the bathroom, towards the bed to sit down and put on my heels. Once I slipped them on, my eyes met with the same closet mirrors.

There was that same strange feeling as I stared back at my reflection.

Don't you feel the guilt creeping up on you Nadia? I know you're scared...

"Nadia?" Danny's voice broke through my intrusive thoughts.

I slightly shook my head as I turned to look at him. "Are you okay?" He chuckled. I stood up. "Yeah," I nervously laughed. "I'm fine, I just zoned out." I lightly smiled and walked over to him. "We can go." He looked down at me and smirked. I gave him a confused look. "What?"

"How does it feel to be taller? You know you aren't so close to the ground anymore." I playfully rolled my eyes, taking the key card from his hand. "Shut up, at least I'm not a giant." He lightly chuckled as he followed me out of our hotel room.

...

"Soooo, where are we going?" I curiously asked a few minutes into the drive. 

"Nadia, I told you it's a surprise." 

I pouted. "Ok, can I at least get a hint?" 

Danny glanced at me. "It's around here, we're not far from it now." The car began to slow down as we got closer to The Mirage. We entered a neighboring parking garage.

"What's at The Mirage?" I asked once he parked the car.

He sighed. "You know you ask so many questions?"

I smiled. "Maybe I wouldn't if I got some answers."

He chuckled, pressing the ignition button to turn off the car and stepped out. He waited for me to get out so he could lock his car. He reached for my hand to hold it. "Walk with me."

I scoffed. "Well, obviously. I'm not running in these." I quickly lifted my right leg up and shook my foot, showing him my heels before placing it back onto ground. Danny rolled his eyes, smiling to himself. "Your sassiness hasn't changed a bit, huh?" I looked up at him and smiled boldly. "Oh, not at all." We laughed.

The Mirage was one of the hotels/casinos I had never been to the many times I was in Vegas. It was exciting to go somewhere new, but I was sure each place had the same characteristics. Especially the casinos. When Danny and I walked through the casino, there was nothing new to me. They all had the same familiar scent that my nose knew all too well.

The smell of smoke.

Cigarette smoke.

I tried not to breathe in the smoke so much because it would eventually irritate my lungs.

I glanced up at Danny and I wondered if the smoke was bothering him. He seemed unfazed and I began to wonder why. The smell started to fade away and I was glad we were out of the casino area.

"Well, we've reached the first surprise." He smiled. I looked up at the brightly white flashing sign. Portofino. He brought me to an Italian restaurant, of course. I should have known.

"There's more than one surprise?" I asked.

"Of course, Nadia. You should know me by now." He winked.

My eyes examined the design of the entrance. The column of fake barrels of wine that were incased in a yellow tinted glass. The lids of the barrels were white lights that reflected off the windows across from them. There was a brief set of stairs before we came across a brown French door that had more windows to the side of it, arching up into the brick wall. Danny opened the door for me and it was quite chilly when I stepped inside.

We were greeted by a woman at the front desk. "Hi!" She spoke cheerfully. "Hi." Danny and I said in unison. "Table for two?" she asked. "Yes, please." Danny smiled. She smiled back at him. "All right, come right this way." She gestured for us to follow her. Danny had to guide me because I was so in awe of this place. It was beautiful. The architecture of the place, especially the roof was gorgeous. The wooden beams on the ceiling, the large bouquet of flowers as a centerpiece, it was all lovely.

"Here you are." She placed two menus on our table. "Your waiter will be right with you shortly." She smiled and headed back to the front desk to greet more customers.

Danny and I sat across from each other and I continued to admire the restaurant.

"My guess is that you really, really like this place."

I laughed. "It's nice, you really did pick a restaurant I would like. I haven't even tasted the food, or looked at the menu, but by the way this place looks, I'm sure I won't be disappointed." He smiled. It gave Danny a great deal of happiness and satisfaction to know that I was pleased with the choices he made for us.

"Hey, I'll be right back, I gotta go to the restroom real quick." "Okay." I stood up and began to walk away from him. "Hey," He called out. I turned around. "Yeah?" "If the waiter or waitress comes by with the drink order while you're gone, what should I tell them to get for you?" I wasn't quick on making decisions. Plus, I didn't even know what this restaurant offered to drink.

I shrugged. "I'll just have whatever you get." He nodded. I finally found my way over to the restroom and once I closed the door behind me, my phone began to ring.

I sighed, hoping it wasn't Leo. I took my phone out of my purse, seeing it was just Amelia. I answered.

"Hey Amelia."

"Hey, how are you?" She sounded concerned.

"I'm okay, why?"

She sighed. "Just wondering. What are you doing?"

"I'm actually at a restaurant with Danny right now." I quickly corrected myself. "Well, not right now, that would be rude to be on the phone." She laughed quietly. "I'm in the restroom." "You had to go all the way to the restroom to talk to me?" She teased. I chuckled. "No, I actually had to use the restroom and you happened to call me."

"So, is it like, a date?"

I felt uneasy and I sort of laughed. "Um, I don't know."

"Are you dressed up? Is he dressed up?"

I smiled sheepishly. "Yes, he even gave me a gift."

"Oh? What'd he give you?" Her voice rose in excitement.

I sighed, faintly cringing. "A-a diamond necklace." I timidly admitted.

She gasped. "Wow, a real one?"

"C'mon Amelia, would Danny really give me a fake one?" I joked. She giggled. "Right, with all the money he has, how could he?"

"Yeah..." I thought about Leo for moment. "Hey Amelia, do you know if Leo's doing okay? I talk to him every day to make sure, but physically, is he okay? Does he look any different if you've seen him?"

"Um, yeah, he's all right. Don't worry Nadia. I'll let you know if anything happens to him." She sighed.

"Nadia, promise me you won't do anything you'll regret. Two weeks are almost up."

"Yeah, I know, I promise." I whispered. "I have to go, before Danny wonders why I'm taking so long." I lightly chuckled. "Okay, talk to you later then. Have fun on your date. Don't do anything stupid." She laughed. I rolled my eyes. "Thanks, I'll try not to." I hung up and quickly used the restroom.

As I washed my hands, the door opened and an older looking lady walked in. She glanced at me and her eyes noticed my necklace.

"Can I just say that is a very beautiful necklace." I shyly smiled, turning off the faucet. "Thank you."

"Did a special someone give it to you?" She asked, a kind smile was plastered on her face.

"Uh, yeah, he's a friend."

She giggled and pointed a finger at me. "Darling, with a diamond necklace like that, I'm sure he's trying to be more than a friend." I laughed awkwardly. Once she slipped into a stall, I hurriedly rushed out of the restroom to avoid any other comment she had to say.

As I got closer to our table, I saw two glasses of deep red wine. Danny's glass was about halfway full, while mine was a quarter full. "Hey, you ordered wine?" I asked as I sat down. "Yeah, it was what I wanted and you wanted what I wanted so; I hope you like it."

I sighed. "Yeah, me too." I mumbled to myself. I wasn't so much of a wine drinker. I took a sip of the wine and closed my eyes at the bitterness. I didn't bother asking what type of wine it was. I didn't plan on drinking it in the future.

"It's not bad." I chuckled, forcing myself to smile.

Danny amusingly looked at me. "Yeah? You think you can finish it?"

I raised an eyebrow at him. "What, is that a challenge?"

He laughed. "Only if you think it is." I faintly smiled, taking my eyes off him as I saw the same lady from the restroom walking back to her table. We made eye contact for a moment and she looked at Danny, then back at me.

She must have figured he was the one who gave me the necklace because she touched her own necklace, looked at Danny again and winked at me.

Please let this be the last interaction I have with this lady.

I politely smiled back, clearing my throat as I turned away from her. I thought about the casino smoke.

"Um, Danny, when we walked through the casino, did the smoke bother you?" I asked. He narrowed his eyes.

"No."

"Why not?" I spoke softly.

He chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, maybe because I smoke cigarettes myself." My eyes widened and I quickly stopped myself from grimacing.

"You...smoke?" I studied his face. "When did you-,"

"Two years ago, in Venice." His expression dulled. He didn't show any signs of cigarette use. "You don't look like a smoker."

He sighed. "Because, I only smoke when I feel the need to. I'm not some addict if that's what you're wondering. Sometimes it helps when I'm upset, or tense. You know, something to help me relax." He lowered his voice.

"Don't you have anything that helps you calm down?"

I laughed. "Well, it's definitely not cigarettes."

Danny lightly laughed at me, shaking his head. I gazed at him. "I, um, I don't know if I really do."

Maybe I didn't have anything, but I knew one person that did. One person that relied on alcohol and me. And right now, he only had one of those things.

"You don't have anything Nadia? Not a single thing?"

I thought about it. "Can that 'thing' be someone?"

His eyes softened and he nodded. "Yeah. Of course." I smiled to myself. "Then, yes, I did. I had someone a while back who took away my fear of anything. Whenever I was with them, everything felt like it would be okay. Every, little thing."

My eyes looked up into his. Recognition dawned upon his face and he knew I was talking about him. He slowly placed his hand over mine that rested on the table. He lightly smiled, gazing into my eyes.

"You know I could always be that someone again."

I briefly looked away from him, smiling to myself as I felt the butterflies in my stomach.

"We'll see." I giggled.

...

Danny ended up getting the same basic dish as I did, lasagna. I guess it was to make up for getting the same drink as him.

Lasagna was my favorite, no matter what Italian restaurant I went to. It was my default choice if I didn't want to change things up. The lasagna I had was amazing and I was glad Danny brought me here.

The total amount for everything was a little over a hundred dollars and of course, Danny didn't want me to shell out any money of my own for the bill. So, the best I could do was leave the waiter a good tip.

When we walked out and entered the casino area again, Danny was aware of the smell of smoke. I hoped he didn't notice that I was trying to hold my breath.

He pretended to dry-heave as a joke and sure enough it made me laugh. I was relieved once we got outside and I took a deep breath of fresh air.

I started to walk towards the parking garage but Danny tugged on my arm, pulling me back.

"What? Isn't the parking garage this way?" I asked.

He chuckled. "Did you forget surprise number two?"

The corners of my mouth turned up into a smile. "So, this surprise is walking distance?" I took hold of his hand and began walking with him. He nodded. "Yep, and so is the next one."

I playfully rolled my eyes. "You're crazy if you think I'll be walking that far."

He smirked. "Oh yeah? Then I guess I'll just carry you."

He quickly swept me off my feet, in a bridal style carry. "Danny, put me down!" I squealed. He laughed and I couldn't help but laugh along with him. I knew we caught the attention of other people walking by, but a part of me didn't care.

He carried me all the way to our destination and gently placed me back down to the ground. I lightly elbowed his stomach for carrying me without my permission. "Thanks, I'll walk to surprise number three." I smiled. He chuckled, rubbing the side of his stomach where I had hit him.

I noticed the sound of water and I turned around seeing we were at The Bellagio. My face lit up and I immediately knew why we were here. "The dancing water." I smiled.

"I'm sure you've seen it a million times."

"And each time still feels like the first time."

I walked over to the column railing and rested my arms upon the flat surface. Danny stood by me and did the same. We looked at each other and I smiled. "Thank you for bringing me here." He lightly chuckled. "Don't thank me yet, you still haven't seen the third surprise. And you know what they say, third ones a charm." He winked and I giggled at his remark.

During the whole water show, I had a smile on my face. Excitement never left my system and I only wondered where we were going next. Once the show ended, Danny asked me if I liked the surprise. Upon receiving a positive answer, he didn't waste any time and was ready to take me to the third surprise.

It took about 17 minutes to walk to our destination and by that time I was clinging on to his arm for balance. But the walk was worth it.

He took me to my favorite place in Vegas. The Venetian.

My eyes gleamed with euphoria as I took in my surroundings. I felt fifteen years old again and I knew this place would never bore me.

The Venetian was a glimpse of Venice in Vegas. I admired the ceiling that resembled the sky. The hint of clouds and the colors that changed from blue to purplish pink like a sunset. The exterior of the shops were designed like European style buildings.

And right in the middle, there was a body of water that went on for quite some distance. The water served a purpose for gondola rides that I had never been on, until tonight.

It was the third surprise, a gondola ride around The Venetian with Danny. In that moment, there was nothing but pure happiness. I was at one of my favorite places, with him. It was something I had yearned to experience from the day I first saw him.

...

The Venetian was the last surprise of the night. Throughout the drive back to the hotel Nadia was consumed with joy and the same nostalgic feelings she felt when she and Danny were together.

It was a delightful trip down memory lane and that night, Leo temporarily slipped from her mind. Danny had given her sudden elation and she was enveloped in the idea of him fulfilling the desires of her heart.

As Danny and Nadia entered the hotel, Nick and Kris observed the passionate aura they emitted. Kris noticed the difference in their relationship from when they first arrived. She eyed them until they turned the corner, disappearing into the elevator hall.

"I had a lovely time with you." Nadia smiled. Danny opened the door to their room, letting her walk in first. She switched on the single ceiling light that was near the entrance. He gently closed the door behind him and Nadia quickly placed her purse on the carpet beside the end of the bed.

"Everything about tonight was wonderful." She spoke softly, walking over to him. Danny lightly smiled. "I'm glad you liked all three surprises."

They stood in front of each other, barely leaving any space between them. Nadia looked up into Danny's alluring eyes.

"Are there any more surprises tonight?" She asked.

A smirk crept onto Danny's lips. "Maybe just one more."

"What is it?" She whispered, just before Danny leaned down and softly kissed her.

She didn't flinch, she didn't push him away. He slowly pulled away from her to catch a glimpse of her reaction. He peered into her eyes, searching for an answer and when Nadia's eyes made their way to his lips, he knew she was all his.

Danny pressed his lips onto hers again, placing his hands at the small of her back, pulling Nadia closer to him. A soft moan escaped from her lips as she threw her arms over his shoulders, obtaining a light grip on the back of his neck and upper back.

Nadia had forgotten the way Danny's lips felt against her own. She had forgotten the heart racing feeling she got when she was with him.

He lifted her up and her legs instantly wrapped around his waist. He walked over to the bed, placing her down on the edge, momentarily ending their kiss to catch his breath.

Nadia lustfully grabbed his face, pressing her lips onto his again, making Danny smile with pleasure. She slowly scooted back towards the center of the bed as Danny kept up with her movement, hungrily kissing her as he climbed up onto the bed with her.

The straps of her dress gradually began to slip. His lips traveled further down to her jaw and before they reached her neck, Nadia took off her necklace, so it wouldn't interfere.

She tossed the necklace aside and it slid off the bed, landing on her phone that was sticking out of her purse.

The faded light of her phone screen couldn't catch her attention while it rang silently.

Leo's name flashed on the screen until the call ended, and it went black.

Danny's hands slid up Nadia's back, finding the zipper to her dress. He slowly unzipped her dress as she unbuttoned his shirt. Danny quickly sat up to pull his shirt off before getting Nadia out of her dress.

He laid her back down onto the bed, sinking his body between her thighs as she loosely wrapped her legs around his waist, crossing her ankles together. Nadia's hands glided down Danny's back, tugging at the waist band of his pants.

He chuckled, grabbing her arms, pinning them down over her head as he tightly held onto her wrists. Danny softly exhaled, gazing into her brown siren eyes that were low with desire. "You sure you wanna do this amore mio?" He breathed out, tracing his thumb along her cupid's bow, slipping his thumb into her mouth. Nadia nodded, caressing his thumb with her tongue keeping her eyes glued to his.  

A smirk crept onto Danny's lips as he took his thumb out of her mouth, wrapping his hand around her neck. "No, I wanna hear you say it baby. Tell me that you want me." 

Nadia flirtatiously smiled at him, letting her lips brush against his as she spoke. 

"I want you."

...

Danny lazily laid on top of Nadia, resting his head on her chest as he silently caught his breath. Nadia soothingly ran her fingers through his hair. They both breathily laughed at themselves, realizing what they had done. Danny lifted himself up a bit, giving Nadia a lingering kiss. He gently held her chin, making her look at him.

"I missed you so fucking much."

lol y'all I love this chapter so much
But anyways! Feel free to comment/vote if you'd like :)
Just a quick note chapter 16 is gonna be split into two parts bc it's a bit lengthy but nonetheless really good
Thanks for reading ! 🤍