“You were scaring me, love,” he murmured as he nipped at my bottom lip. I ran my hands up his back, enjoying the feel of his flesh beneath my fingers.
“You don’t ever need to be scared of little ol’ me,” I joked as I wrapped my legs around his hips. I was instantly aware of the fact that he was still very naked. Andveryhappy to see me.
Clay pulled back. “You scare me more than anything,” he told me quietly, looking into my eyes in that intense way of his, as if I were the air that he breathed. “If you leave me, I would be destroyed. I don’t know that I could come back from that.” His vulnerability broke my heart. How could needing me this much be good for him?
Suddenly, Clay leaned over the side of the bed and started rooting around in his duffel bag. After a few seconds, he righted himself and held his hand firmly fisted before me. He looked a little shy, his hair flopping in his eyes as he looked at me.
“What do you have there?” I teased, trying to pry his fingers apart. Clay smiled endearingly and pulled back, falling onto his side beside me. He leaned up on his elbow, his hand cradling his head as he looked down at me. Slowly, he opened his hand and dropped a silver chain into a shimmery puddle on my stomach.
I sat up and scooped the piece of jewelry into my hand before it got lost in the sheets. It was a necklace. The delicate silver chain fell between my fingers as I held it up. Hanging from it was a beautiful butterfly, made of thin silver and tiny slivers of what looked like diamonds.
It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. My breath stopped as I stared at it. I looked at Clay, who was watching me nervously.
“I wanted to give this to you last night. I had planned to, anyway. But then after everything that happened, I just didn’t feel like it was the right time.”
I swallowed thickly around the lump that had formed in my throat. I didn’t say anything; I was too overcome with the depth of emotion I had for the boy lying beside me. Taking my silence as disapproval, Clay continued on quickly. “I’ve had it for a while, actually. I had it made for you by this lady Ruby knows who makes her own jewelry.”
His thoughtfulness overwhelmed me. What was it about the butterflies? He had said once that it was because I made him feel free. Wanting more of an answer, I asked him.
“I was this sad and lonely creature before you came along. And then, just being with you, knowing you love me, has transformed me. My entire life has become this metamorphosis into something beautiful, something happy. I told you before that you’ve freed me. You’ve reminded me of what it means tobelieveandhope.”
Tears gathered in my eyes and threatened to spill. Seeing this, Clay rubbed his thumb beneath my eyes, gathering the wetness there.
“Don’t cry. I’m sorry if it upset you. I just wanted to give you something as beautiful as everything you’ve given me. I’ll take it back. Forget about it,” he said, totally misreading my silence. I could hear the hurt in his voice as he tried to take the necklace from my hand.
I closed my fingers and moved it away. “No, Clay. I love it. I’m just... I don’t know what to...” Words failed me completely, so instead I seized his mouth with mine, kissing him deeply. I let my tongue invade his mouth, tasting him. I couldn’t stop the moan that I made deep in my throat.
“God, I love you so much,” Clay whispered against my lips as I ran my fingers up through his hair.
“I love you too. More than anything,” I said softly back to him as he tugged my tank top over my head. And we lost ourselves in each other all over again.
It felt like hours later that we finally emerged from the loft, Clay’s necklace lying against my chest. Clay wore a contented smile and I knew I was glowing. I was riding a blissful wave of euphoria. Our earlier argument, all the misunderstandings and doubts, had been erased by the reminder of why I was so intensely in love with my boyfriend. Clay watched me touch the butterfly at my throat and he gave me that smile that said I was the only thing in his world that mattered.
“Good morning,” I said to Ray and Clare, who were drinking coffee and looking a little bleary eyed.
“Too loud, Maggie. Shh.” Ray put his finger to his lips.
“Oops, sorry,” I apologized, filling a mug for myself.
“You guys look rough,” Clay commented, opening a packet of croissants.
Clare grimaced. “Thanks, Clay.”
He looked sheepish. “I just meant you don’t look like you slept much.”
Clare became irritated. “Well, my charming boyfriend, here, spent most of the night throwing up.”
“Yuck. Sorry, Clare.” I gave Ray a look before turning to the refrigerator to get the milk for my coffee. “Are Daniel and Rachel up yet?” I asked.
Ray shook his head. “Don’t think so, haven’t seen them.”
I was worried about how things went between my two best friends last night. I was dying to talk to Rachel and get the scoop.
Clay came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, placing a soft kiss on the side of my neck. He pushed a plate of buttered pastries toward me. I picked one up and started eatingit.
Ray watched me for a moment, then turned an alarming shade of green. “I’m gonna be sick,” he said, before running down the hallway.
Clare sighed before getting off of her stool to go after him. Clay and I grinned. “Sucks to be them,” Clay remarked, turning me around in his arms so he could kiss me properly. He pressed my back into the island as his hands held my hips tightly.
