Before I can say another word, she turns on her heel and storms back inside, the door closing firmly behind her. I stand there, seething with anger and hurt.

What thefuck?

7

CLARA

Beau grabs me, his hands rough and insistent. He drags me towards him, his lips crashing down on mine. I gasp in surprise, my back hitting the rough bark of the oak tree behind me. His kiss is fierce, filled with all the anger and passion he’s been holding back.

For a moment, I’m lost in it.

The familiar taste of him, the heat of his body pressing against mine, it’s all too much. My hands come up to his chest, not to push him away, but to feel the solidness of him, to remind myself that this is real. Beau’s hands move to my waist, his grip tightening as he presses me back against the tree, making me feel all of him. The rough bark digs into my back, but the pain is a distant sensation compared to the intensity of his kiss.

His lips are demanding, coaxing a response from me that I can’t deny. I part my lips, allowing him deeper access, and he takes it, his tongue sweeps into my mouth, tasting, exploring. I moan against his lips, my fingers gathering the fabric of his shirt. The heat between us is electric, sparking memories of a time when this passion was all we knew. His hands slide up my sides, fingers tracing the curves of my body, leaving a trail of fire intheir wake. He pulls back slightly, just enough to look into my eyes, his breath hot against my lips.

“Clara,” he murmurs, his voice a mix of longing and desperation. “I’ve missed you so damn much.”

Before I can respond, he captures my lips again. This time the kiss is softer, but no less intense. I find myself rolling my hips against him, my body grinding against his in ways I thought I’d forgotten. His hands move to my hips, lifting me slightly so I can wrap my legs around his waist. The new angle brings us even closer, the hard length of him presses against my core, igniting a deep, throbbing need inside me.

My hands move to his hair, fingers tangling in the dark strands as I pull him closer, now refusing to let him go. Iknowwe shouldn’t be here, doing this, but I’m utterly powerless to resist this man, I just can’t help myself. He groans, the sound vibrating through me, sending shivers down my spine. His lips leave mine, trailing hot, kisses down my neck, nipping and sucking at the sensitive skin. I tilt my head back to give him better access, my breaths come out in short, ragged gasps.

“Beau,” I whisper, the name a plea, a surrender. I can’t fight this any longer.

The barriers I’ve built are crumbling under the weight of his touch, his kiss, his need. His hand slips between my legs, finding the wetness already pooling there. He groans against my lips, his fingers teasing me through the thin fabric of my panties. I gasp, my hips bucking into his hand, seeking more.

“Please,” I whisper.

He doesn’t make me wait. His fingers hook into the waist band of my panties, and pulls them aside as he slides a finger inside me. I cry out, my head falling back against the tree as he begins to move, his touch both gentle and insistent. The pleasure builds quickly, a tight coil of heat in my belly, threatening to unravel.

“Clara,” he breathes out, his voice a low growl. “You’re so wet for me.”

I can only moan in response, my hands clutch at his shoulders, holding on as he adds another finger, stretching me, filling me. His thumb finds my clit, circling it with just the right amount of pressure, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through me.

“Beau,” I gasp, my body trembling with the intensity of it all. “I need you.”

With a swift movement, he pulls his fingers out of me me, and move up to unbuckle his belt. I hear the clink of metal, the rustle of fabric, and then he’s there. His cock presses against me, hot and insistent. I arch my hips towards him, desperate to feel him, all of him, once more.

Beau grabs my ass, lifting me slightly higher as he pushes inside me, filling me completely. The sensation is overwhelming, a mix of pain and pleasure that sends my head spinning. The sort of pain and pleasure I’m sure onlyhecan give me.

“Fuck, Clara,” he groans against my neck, his breath hot and ragged. “You feel so good.”

I can barely form a coherent thought, let alone a response. My nails dig into his shoulders as I cling to him, the intensity of our chemistry driving me wild. He begins to move, each thrust deep and deliberate, sending waves of pleasure coursing through my body.

“Harder,” I manage to gasp, needing more. Needing him to claim me completely.

Beau doesn’t hesitate. His pace quickens, and his movements become more forceful.

The slight pain from the oak tree digging into my back only heightens the pleasure. I wrap my legs tighter around him, pulling him in deeper, lost in the raw, primal need between us. Our bodies move in a feverish rhythm, every thrust sendingelectric jolts of pleasure through me. The sound of our panting breaths, mingled with the rustle of leaves and the distant hum of cicadas.

“God, Clara, you feel so fucking good,” Beau groans, his voice rough with desire. His hands grip my hips with bruising intensity, pulling me even closer as he drives into me, each thrust more powerful than the last. “I’ve missed this. Missed you.”

I can feel the tension building, a tight coil of heat winding tighter and tighter in my core.

“Beau,” I gasp, my voice breaking. “I’m so close.”

We’ve been here once before.

The déjà vu hits me hard.