Page 51 of Clay

She shivered. For once in her life she didn’t have a smart-ass reply. With shaking fingers she lifted the shirt over her head, then flicked her bra open and shrugged out of it.

Clay hummed, and then laid one knee on the bed, looming over her in a way that might have been a threat from anyone else.

His cock was long and strong and as he lowered himself, pinning her just enough to titillate, she arched toward it.

He tutted. “Not yet, brave girl.” Then his mouth was on her breasts and she couldn’t think of anything but the feeling of his hot, hot mouth on her, his fingers tweaking and tempting and teasing. And dear lord, when he used his teeth she shot into a brief, hard orgasm so fast she thought her heart might stop.

By the time she came back to herself, he’d sheathed himself in a condom and was poised over her, all sinewy strength and wild eyes. He met her gaze for a long, heart stopping moment, the world passing between them, then plunged into her, making her cry out in shock, in pleasure, in completion.

He surged above her, all finesse gone as he claimed her, as she answered and they completed each other, forming a bond nothing could or would shatter.

And when she came again, he was right behind her, roaring her name right along with her scream.

He collapsed, bracing himself on one elbow to keep from crushing her, his breath coming in bellows.

She reached up and pulled him down, smiling as he tucked her against his side, his arm banding beneath her breasts as he nuzzled her neck.

“Love you,” he murmured, and with those words ensnaring her heart, her mind, they both tumbled into sleep.

Chapter Fourteen

Ivy arrived at the cafe fifteen minutes before her "date" with Katie the next day. She wasn't completely sure what she was going to say to her best friend and needed time to prepare. Being with Clay tended to make her feel soft and happy, and she knew she had a right to be mad at her friend.

Warren had taken Katie to Agnes's house while Ivy and Clay were being checked out by the doctor, and as much as she’d wanted to see her friend and reassure her mom, she’d needed to be with him more. To make sure he was real, that he was unhurt. That he was hers. She knew her mother understood.

So instead of making Katie's life or her mother's comfort a priority, as she had so often in the past, she'd fallen into her love's arms, heard him say the words that made her heart stall and soar at the same time.

Today, as she pushed open the cafe door, she saw that Katie had already grabbed a table. Great minds and all that. Her friend stood, standing almost awkwardly as Ivy ordered a mocha and headed to the table.

Ivy set her coffee down and looked at her friend, then reached out and pulled her into a long, hard hug. "I'm so mad at you right now," she said, but she was fighting back tears of happiness. Katie was finally safe. She was home.

She held her friend at arm's length, really looking at her. Katie looked good. Tired, but good. "Now tell me everything."

Katie laughed, the sound a little watery, and did just that. Explained how she'd dated Hamilton, ignoring the red flags because he was handsome and talked a good game and had an honorable job. Then he’d started getting possessive, gaslighting her, and she’d realized her mistake. She’d ended things, but he didn't like being stiff-armed and had pursued her. Relentlessly. And then he’d hit her, told her she was his, and she’d known he’d never stop.

So she'd figured out how to make herself disappear, on a pretty basic level. Had run to Vegas to hide. And then discovered one of her authors knew all about this stuff, via first-person interviews and research. She'd helped Katie go to ground just enough to retain her identity but still throw Hamilton off. She'd hoped he would lose interest after a while, but now everyone knew that for the fallacy it was. And when he'd found her on social media after two long years, she'd figured she could do it again, but this time more effectively.

One of her authors had a family cabin in Mount Charleston, just west of Vegas, and had commented more than once on the fact it was too bad she didn't get out there very often, and that Katie should use it whenever she wanted. So Katie had, unbeknownst to the author, since Katie didn't want to put her client in any danger.

It had been the perfect hiding spot, but Wi-Fi in the mountains sucked and she was planning an event for one of her clients, that she'd vowed to complete before she disappeared, so she'd takenher chances and come down the mountain to an internet cafe once a week. Which was exactly where Warren had found her.

"You should have told me about Hamilton, about all of it," Ivy chided as she finished her coffee, fascinated with the story, despite the fact she was still feeling a bit pissy.

"What could you have done to help?" Katie asked practically.

She wasn't wrong there, but... "Point taken, but why didn't you tell me about your illness?"

Katie looked abashed for the first time. "Because no one can figure it out. Half of the doctors think it's no big deal, that lots of people have peripheral neuropathy, and tell me to just watch my diet and exercise more. But it's more than that and they just won't see it. The other half think I'm faking something for drugs or attention." She sighed. "I'm sorry. It all started before I left Charleston, and I didn't want to bring baggage with me, not with everything else, even if you didn't know about any of it."

Ivy thought about her words, knew Katie had always been the more private of the two of them. She also knew that she was shit at holding a grudge. "Forgiven. But no more fibs," she declared. "No more secrets. You're the sister of my heart, and I couldn't stand it, knowing you were in danger, and that your health might be in jeopardy."

Katie nodded, the tears in her eyes just short of falling. She reached across the table and clasped Ivy's hands. "I promise. No more secrets."

She took a sip of coffee gone cold and grimaced. "So now you know everything, warts and all. What I want to know is what the hell is up with Clay? I mean, holy shit, Ivy, you're glowing. You're the happiest I've ever seen you, and you just got taken hostage. Spill, woman."

"He loves me," Ivy said quietly. "All of me. The artist with all the quirks. He doesn't mind when I phase out for hours. He loves me. I'm so scared."

Katie squeezed her hands again. "Do you love him?"

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