Page 38 of Fast Currents
“With me, honey,” Clay’s rough voice commanded. His dark gaze burned into mine, his breath coming in rough pants as he strained for me.
I tilted, thrusting my hips to meet him, ready to milk every ounce of pleasure out of his hard body. He pulled back, nearly free, before slamming forward one last time. The force of that last thrust tipped me over the edge, my body clamping around his as I found my release.
He collapsed, panting in my ear, dropping a kiss on the delicate shell once he’d caught his breath. With a heave, he fell to his side next to me, peeking at me from beneath the forearm shading his eyes.
“Honey, that was a world tour for the ages.” He reached out with his other hand, one finger drifting from my neck over one breast, smirking when the peak stiffened for him.
I snuggled closer, counting moles. Most were tiny. A smattering covered his chest, with a few daring dark spots dipping over his abdomen and hip. The tiny imperfections were somehow reassuring, even if I couldn’t detect the message he claimed I’d find.
He slipped out, returning a few minutes later to wrap me in his arms, my head on his shoulder.
“C-H-R-I-S-T-O-P-H-E-R-S-U-C-K-S. Knew it,” he said smugly, tracing the letters across my abdomen. He pushed from beneath me, following the trail he’d painted across my body with kisses. “Oops. Erased it.”
“I’m not an Etch-A-Sketch, you fool,” I said it with tolerant affection, ruffling his already-mussed hair.
He propped his chin above my belly button, grinning. “I thought you liked my imagination.”
“I do.”
He winked. “Keep practicing, honey. The other key phrase I want to hear is ‘yes, a thousand times, yes.’”
I held back my groan as I got his meaning. He was adorable, but also an absolute goof. Hard to take seriously. “Do you ever quit?”
“Nope. Not when it comes to you.” He arched a brow playfully. “Did you figure out the message yet?”
“The infamous mole message?” I shook my head. “Nope. It’s going to require a lot more study.”
“You can’t threaten me with a good time.”
I giggled, the girlish sound surprising me. “What if I need reinforcements? Next week’s art class is a nature study. Maybe if the seniors help me out, I’ll figure it out faster.”
“Bite your tongue, Luce. I’m not sharing my bare ass with anyone else.” My lips twitched as I held back a smile. He blinked slowly. Twice. “This is the part where you tell me you’re not sharing your bare ass either.”
I drew him forward for a kiss with one finger beneath his chin, the gentle brush of his mouth on mine sending flutters beating against my ribcage.
“I promise not to moon anyone else while we’re together,” I said solemnly.
“Gee, thanks,” he said wryly.
His mouth crashed against mine in a demanding kiss, stealing my breath and leaving me utterly disheveled. Wrecked for anyone but him. Maybe my promise wasn’t me spouting hearts and flowers, but my pledge still changed everything. Made it real. Made us real.
Chapter 16 – Lucy
Islipped from Clay’s arms, padding to the bathroom. A stranger gazed back from the mirror. She had a faint sprinkling of red beard marks across her cheeks and neck. Easy enough to hide with a little makeup. I had just enough time to get home and change before meeting Vi, Rae, and Anya for our Saturday hike.
“Good morning.” Clay wrapped his arms around me from behind, completing the picture in the mirror. Neither of us had gotten much sleep, but his reflection grinned at me, seeming unbothered by the dark circles beneath our eyes.
His hands cupped my hips. His head dropped, nuzzling my neck, sending flutters of pleasure to my core.
“Vi’s going to pick me up in an hour,” I warned, voice a little breathless.
“Pick you up here?”
I shook my head. “My place.”
“She could get you from here.”
His eagerness to make us public knowledge was downright cute. The man didn’t just want me. He wanted everyone else to know he had me. It was… a lot. In the best possible way.
