I don’t always manage it.
A lot of my answers are short and blunt, and it’s pretty damn impossible to smooth out my frown. But I think I’m doing okay, and every time I look at Savannah, she smiles gratefully and mouths a thank you.
Getting to hold her close like this feels so damn good. Her curves are soft and warm against me, and she keeps resting her head on my chest, the sweet scent of her hair making me dizzy.Every time she shifts against me, my cock throbs hard, and I grit my teeth, fighting to stay in control.
I’m relieved when the singing starts, and the attention finally shifts away from me and Savannah. All Bonnie’s friends disperse as everyone sings Happy Birthday at the top of their lungs, and I see Savannah’s cousin, Aria, carrying a giant birthday cake through from the back room. She sets it on the table in front of Bonnie, and everyone cheers when she blows out the candles.
While everyone’s distracted, I steer Savannah into a quieter part of the tavern. We find an empty corner, and she turns to me with an apologetic wince.
“Sorry I was so useless back there,” she says. “I got all tongue-tied and forgot everything I was meant to say.”
“You weren’t useless, sugar.” We’re facing each other, my hands on her waist again, even though nobody’s looking. “All that matters is that your grandma bought it.”
“Thanks to you.” She smiles up at me. “You were amazing, Clay. They all loved you.”
“Don’t know about that. Felt like I did a lot of grunting.”
Savannah chuckles. “It was all part of the charm.”
“Charm, huh? Not a word people usually associate with me.”
“Well, maybe they should.” Her smile fades to something more earnest. “I like how you don’t waste words, Clay. It feels honest. Grunting included.”
“That so, sugar?” My pulse skitters as I look at her. “Was that your plan all along? Let me grunt at everyone while you stand there looking pretty in that dress?”
She blushes hard. “No, I…”
“I should have told you that sooner.”
“Told me what?”
“That you look pretty. Should have said it before now, ‘cause I’ve been thinking it non-stop.”
Savannah’s lips part. Then she draws back from me, looking down at her feet. “Clay, nobody can hear us over here. You don’t need to pretend right now.”
“Who says I’m pretending?” I close the space between us again. “You look beautiful, sugar.”
We stare at each other for a moment. Savannah looks uncertain, biting her lip like she always does when she’s anxious.
“Maybe we should have some kind of code word,” she says.
“Code word?”
“Yeah.” She tucks a lock of hair behind her ear, looking flustered. “This could get a little confusing if we don’t know which words are real and which are just for show.”
“Alright, sugar. Pick a code word.”
“Terminator?”
“Pick another code word.”
She huffs out a laugh. “Okay, how about…buttercup? Like the bakery?”
I grunt in agreement.
“You can only say it after something you really mean,” she says earnestly. “Okay?”
“Fine.” I cross my arms, fixing her with my gaze. “Then I’ll say it again. You look beautiful,buttercup.” I emphasis the last word, savoring the way Savannah blushes, her eyes sparkling up at me.
