I kiss my way up her body, catching her mouth as she’s still coming down, letting her taste her release on my tongue. Her hands are frantic on my skin, tugging at the waistband of my sweats until I shove them along with my boxers down, my cock pressing against her stomach.
She reaches for me, wrapping her hand around my length, stroking once, twice, and I groan into her mouth, nearly coming undone.
“Condom,” I manage, voice rough as hell. I start to move, not even sure if I packed any. She’s already reaching past me, rummaging through the nightstand. A second later, she holds one up, breathless with a smug grin.
I tear it open with shaking hands, roll it on, and then I’m back between her thighs. Bracing myself with one hand, I guide myself to her slick entrance with the other. I push in slowly, fighting every instinct to slam home, wanting her to feel every fucking inch.
Her eyes flutter shut, mouth open on a gasp. “Oh God, Clay…”
“Look at me,” I rasp, and when she does, it hits like a punch to the chest.
I bottom out, buried deep, and stay there a beat, breathing hard, my forehead pressed to hers. She’s tight, hot, and so damn perfect. It takes everything not to lose it right then.
“You okay?” I ask, voice rough.
She nods, her fingers sliding into my hair, a soft sound breaking in her throat.
“Please,” she whispers, barely audible. “I just need you.”
I move, slow at first, then deeper when her hips lift to meet mine. Every sound she makes pulls me closer to losing control. The storm outside fades to nothing. All I can hear is her—every breath, every moan—and the way we fall into the same rhythm, like we’ve been holding this in for years and finally let it burn.
“Tess,” I breathe, pressing my forehead to hers. “You have no idea what you do to me.”
Her legs lock around my waist, keeping me there, her cries building with every thrust. She tightens around me, and I know she’s right there on the edge.
“Let go, baby,” I rasp, my hand sliding between us so my thumb can circle her clit. “Let me feel your tight pussy grip my dick. I’ve got you.”
That does it. She breaks apart beneath me, body tightening around mine, pulling me right over the edge with her. I drive into her deeper, chasing that last bit of control before I come hard. Her name tears out of me, rough and wrecked.
I collapse onto my side, pulling her with me, not willing to let her go. She curls against me, sweaty, trembling, heart pounding in sync with mine.
“Terrible idea,” she murmurs, a low laugh escaping her lips.
“Yeah,” I breathe, kissing her hair. “I already know I’d do it over and over again.”
Chapter Ten
Tessa
At some point, sleep finally won out. I drifted off with Clay’s warmth against my back, his breath at my neck, and the storm outside finally settling, like whatever had been raging between us had, too.
When I blink awake, the room is dim with early sunlight. The blankets are a mess around me, and the air is cool where his body should be.
For a moment, I think he’s still there. I can almost feel the weight of his arm around my waist and the rough edge of his jaw against my shoulder. But when I reach back, there’s nothing but empty sheets.
Then comes the soft scrape of boots on the floor, the clink of silverware, and a low sigh that sounds heavier than it should. Before my eyes are fully open, the mattress dips beside me.
“Sugar,” he murmurs, voice rough from sleep.
My lashes flutter open. The smell hits me first—coffee, bacon, and something sweet. Clay’s sitting on the edge of the bed, tray balanced in his hands with a stack of pancakes, eggs, and bacon.
My mouth pulls into a slow smile. “What’s all this?”
He shrugs, that lopsided grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Figured I owed you. I’ve been kind of a Scrooge.”
“Kind of?” My laugh slips out as I push myself up, letting the sheets fall away.
He leans in a little, his eyes flicking from mine down to my chest. The heat in his stare makes it hard to breathe. “Don’t get used to this,” he says softly. “I’m still a grump, ya know.”
