He offered her a sincere smile. “Me too.”
They stood smiling at each other before Katie interrupted their silent conversation. “Okay then, I’m gonna freshen up and then meet you in the kitchen. Sound good?”
“Sounds great.”
A few minutes later, the hot water of the shower rained down on him, cleansing his body from the night outside. He lathered his head with shampoo and couldn’t help but bring one of his hands down to grip the on-going boner in between his legs. Katie’s essence was everywhere. From the bright white towels neatly folded under the sink to the small basket of complimentary travel size toiletries for her guests to use, he could feel her presence. Several replica Picasso paintings and drawings were on the walls of the charming spare room and bathroom, one of which was a simple, yet haunting rendition of a woman lying across her hands, sleeping. As his soapy hand moved back and forth across his thickness, he couldn’t help but wonder if she had ever bathed in this shower, the very thought of her naked body with warm water flowing down her creamy skin making him shudder with want. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, letting the water shroud him as he pleasured himself, Katie’s face at the forefront of his mind. The sexual tension between them was evident. He could have easily taken advantage of the situation with her the night before, but he held back. He wanted the first time they made love to be special.
Stepping out of the shower feeling lighter and fully awake, Clay was immediately hit with the strong smell of coffee. His lips turned up into a smile as he wrapped a towel around his waist. He wiped the fog from the mirror and leaned both hands on the vanity, looking at his reflection. His chin and cheeks were scruffy, but he didn’t want to waste time shaving. He quickly brushed his teeth and ran a comb through his wavy, dark hair before getting dressed. He was more than ready to spend quality time with Katie.
Chapter five
Katie hurriedly set the small table in her galley kitchen with her best silverware and linen napkins. She flitted about the cramped space, fluffing scrambled eggs in the pan and warming up homemade banana bread she’d saved in her freezer leftover from Easter. Her mother always had the yummy treat available for family gatherings, mainly when Katie’s brother, Hartford was in town. She imagined Hart would approve of her latest situation with Clay Watkins. Hart was four years older and wouldn’t have known Clay from their high school. But he was still the protective big brother she had grown up with, always asking about her latest dating adventures, teasing her that if he were in town, he’d spy to make sure the guys she was with were Southern gentlemen. He certainly wouldn’t have to worry about Clay. Gentleman was his middle name! She licked her lips, staring off into space, and thinking about him when she realized her eggs were starting to cook too long.
“Oh, geez!” she said out loud, pulling the skillet off the burner with a clatter.
“You okay?” Clay asked, coming around the corner of the kitchen. He looked fresh and handsome as ever in a tan tee and blue jeans, the scruff on his face achingly gorgeous.
“Yeah… almost burned our eggs,” she lamented, swinging her damp ponytail around to pay attention to her cooking. She had jumped in and out of the shower in record time, purposefully wearing her worn denim shorts that were slightly frayed at the edges and a bright yellow tank top with her best Victoria’s Secret lacy bra underneath. Yeah, she wasn’t trying too hard.
“Mmm, smells good,” he said, leaning his butt against the kitchen counter and watching her. She had to purse her lips to keep from smiling as she stole glances at him while she finished salting the eggs. What was it about him that drew her in like a moth to a flame?
“Can I help you with anything?”
“Nah. Make yourself a cup of coffee and have a seat. The cream and sugar are on the table, mugs are on the stand.” She motioned to the corner where her coffee pot was.
An hour later, the remnants of their breakfast lay before them on the table as they sat back and finished off their coffee. They had talked nonstop about Clay’s travels all over the world, Katie wanting details of his adventures, imagining what it would be like to have that kind of freedom—and money. He was captivating to watch and fully engaged as he told stories about Paris and Italy, Africa and Australia.
“My God, Clay! Where haven’t you been?” she asked, wonder tinging her voice.
He laughed and palmed the coffee mug in between his hands. “I’ve been fortunate in my life, that’s for sure. I have the music artists to thank for most of those trips. Nine times out of ten I was invited to visit a touring show to see how a new song was faring on the road.”
“Yeah, roads inParisandRome!” she interjected.
“I know. It’s crazy,” he replied, shyly averting her gaze.
“You ever meet anyone while you were traveling? Anyone special?” Why those words came out of her mouth in that moment, she didn’t know. It was too late to retract them.
Clay’s dark eyes stared back at her from across the table and he shrugged. “I usually blend into the crowd. There’ve been a few times folks have tried to set me up with an acquaintance in their entourage, but nothing ever serious. I’ve made a lot of friends, but no relationships with anyone special.”
“Hmmm,” she replied staring back at him with narrowed eyes, her chin propped in her hand leaning on the table. “For some reason, I find that hard to believe.”
His eyebrows raised, and a mischievous glint appeared in his eye. “Well, you can believe what you want. I’ve never wanted a long-distance relationship. That kind never work out. And being on the road traveling to other countries isn’t a normal place to start relationship either. I prefer the good ole USA.”
Katie’s heart sank. If she and Clay were to continue to try to see each other, theirs would be a long-distance relationship. Nashville was four lengthy hours from Atlanta.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, bringing her out of her deep thought. “You’re pouting.”
“No, I’m not.”
He laughed. “Yes, you are. Your bottom lip was jutting out while you were thinking about something. You were pouting.” Licking his lips, he stood and pushed his chair back. With wide eyes, she watched him walk around the table until he was standing directly in front of her. Using his index finger, he tilted her chin up gently. “Was it something I said?”
His eyebrows were knitted with concern as he slowly slid the pad of his thumb over her lower lip. He seemed fascinated with her mouth which sent a jolt of electricity straight to her jean shorts. She stood and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. His hands slid down and rested on her backside.
“Did you get enough to eat?” she whispered into his ear, trying to change the subject. She wasn’t about to tell him the truth, that she was sad things weren’t going to work out for them because of distance.
“Not quite,” he replied softly. He pulled back from their embrace and palmed both sides of her face looking at her with a penetrating stare before he leaned down and kissed her. His tongue slowly eased into her mouth and his teeth grazed her lips. She couldn’t help but moan, opening her mouth wider aware that her hands had mysteriously slid down his sides and were gripping his buttocks as if her life depended on it. The length of his hardness rubbed against the top of her thigh and she purposefully brushed herself against him, the friction naturally turning him on. She suddenly pulled back and quickly eased her yellow tank top up and over her head, flinging it to the kitchen counter. Standing before him with her chest rising and falling, she waited for his reaction. His wide eyes raked over her body from head to toe, his face flushed and an apparent growing bulge in his jeans. He offered a slight smile before he crossed his arms in front of himself and pulled off his tee revealing his toned abs and glorious chest that had a smattering of hair across his skin. They stood in the small kitchen staring at each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. Katie was about to steal second base.
“You’re gorgeous,” he whispered taking a step closer and slipping his index finger under her lacy, white bra strap. One touch sent a shockwave to her core and with one tug, the strap fell down her arm. He did the same with the other strap, which made her nipples pebble underneath the satin. She was dying for his hands to be on her breasts and hastily reached around her back, unclasping the bra and letting it fall to the ground. Clay inhaled sharply before reaching out to touch her. The subtle brush of his fingertips on her delicate skin almost sent her into a full-blown orgasm. She rolled her head back and closed her eyes as both of his hands tenderly fondled her, his thumbs making circles around her nipples. She could feel his mouth suckle her as she brought her hands up into his wavy hair pulling him in tighter.
