Chapter 7

Clarice

What am I doing? It's like I've become another person because of Brian. No, like I've become truly me. The crushing weight of losing my home has been lifted and his touch has sent me into the stratosphere.

And now I'm on all fours, the borrowed robe hanging open, begging this man to spank me. Seriously, what am I doing? I trust him though. Completely. He's gone from a greedy, beach-destroying developer to someone who gets it. Gets me. And is willing to give me the time I need to figure things out. Maybe even help me.

None of that matters now as I turn to look at him, staring at me. His dark eyes move from my backside to my face, taking in every inch as if he's meticulously deciding where to begin.

"Please, Brian." I'm past embarrassment. He's shown me what he can do and I want more. I want everything.

He comes closer, taking my hand and pulling me up against his chest. As he kisses me back into oblivion, he slides the robe off my shoulders. The terry cloth puddles against my calves as I kneel, pressed so close to Brian that I can feel his hot shaft pulsing against my belly.

I want to push away to get a closer look at it, maybe wrap my fingers around it, but then his fingers slide in between my thighs from behind and I shudder against him. There's very little besides eager anticipation as he teases my most sensitive parts.

Then a swift smack. Not hard, but quick and breathtaking. He does it again, his fingers tapping my ass cheek as his tongue explores my mouth. I gasp and feel him smile as he lightly spanks me one more time.

It's better than I ever imagined and when he pulls away, his look is so wicked that I shiver, even as I reach for him. I need his warmth pressed against me, need his hands and mouth on me. As he keeps smiling down at me, he tugs the wide cloth belt from the robe and holds it up to show me.

"Yes," I whisper, not sure what he's going to do, but desperate to find out.

He wraps it around my eyes, tying it behind my head. The light from his luxurious suite is doused and the slightly scratchy fabric rubs against my temples. His heady cologne fills my nostrils and feather light kisses rain down my neck. With my sight taken, all my other senses are heightened and I melt toward him as he strokes his fingertips down the sides of my body.

Smack!

Another light slap against my bottom, coupled with a nip at my collarbone. And another.

"Do you want to learn to be a good girl?" he rumbles close to my ear.

"Yes," I say instantly, reaching blindly for any part of him I can get a hold of.

He takes my hands and holds them tight in one of his while he spanks me again with the other.

"Then you're going to let me make you come, again and again."

"Okay." I can barely breathe. My legs are trembling so that I'm about to fall flat, but he's holding me in his powerful grip.

Smack!

Every part of me tingles from the point where his hand lands on my ass. My head tips back with a moan.

"Say yes, sir," he tells me, caressing the spot he just spanked.

"Yes, sir, I want to learn," I tell him.

Another short, sharp spank, and I hear his low chuckle as he lays me down on my back. My hands find his silky hair while he kisses his way down my belly. I almost miss his low growl when he reaches the crux of my thighs. I tighten my grip, certain I'll end up with a handful of his hair. He doesn't seem to mind and roughly spreads my legs wide before plunging his face between them.

Oh.

Oh my God. This is new. This is…

I can't help tearing off the makeshift blindfold because I have to see what magic he's performing on me right now. He looks up from where he's circling my swollen nub with his tongue and raises an eyebrow at me.

"Please don't stop," I beg, dropping my head back down against the pile of pillows. "I'll be good."

Brian pauses, holding onto my legs as if they're the last piece of wood left from a sinking ship. "You are good," he tells me gruffly. "You're perfect, Clarice."

His words shatter me, or so I think. It's only a moment later that he finds me again with his mouth, pressing hard, then soft, fast, then slow. He knows exactly what I need.

This time I don't try to muffle my ecstasy because I know he wants to hear it. I barely hear my own noises because my second ever orgasm is rocketing up and down my body. He won't let up, even when I'm grabbing at his hair, his shoulders, crushing him with my thighs.

When I'm limp and panting, he lays his cheek against my stomach. His own breath is sharp and when he reaches to cup my face, his hand is shaking.

"I'm so ready," I tell him. "For everything."

Moving the loose, damp hairs off my face, he lets his hand fall onto my chest. "Your first time has to be perfect."

"This is pretty perfect," I say, closing my eyes.

I'm worn out. Not just from the extreme highs he just gave me, but the relief of knowing I have time to fight Uncle Oliver is even more comforting than when he pulls himself up next to me and wraps me in a warm embrace.

"It's going to be perfect," he says again, in a voice that brooks no argument. I love being spanked and definitely want to do it again, but right now I like being cradled against his hard chest.

I stretch my leg across his body and he pulls the covers over us. I tip my chin up and he leans down to kiss me, gently, a smile on his lips. I close my eyes and drift into the first peaceful sleep I've had since before the fire.

***

The next morning, I wake up to the smell of coffee and bacon. Leftover rain isn't dripping onto my head. In fact, I'm toasty warm and encased in the softest sheets I've ever felt. This is not my van. It's one of the swankiest hotels in town.

It all rushes back to me and I burrow under the covers, a grin taking over my face. I scoot over to feel Brian's heat next to me, but the big bed is empty. Sitting up, I see that he's not in the bedroom of his suite, and the door is closed.

Before I can call out, the door swings open and my superhero of a man appears holding a room service tray. I take in his bare chest and low slung jeans and my mouth waters, but not for the aroma wafting from the tray.

"Breakfast in bed?" he asks. "Or would you rather come out on the balcony?"

"Bed, if you're joining me," I say.

He plops down next to me and we dig into the feast. I've been living off of breakfast tacos and protein bars, so the fresh fruit salad, crispy bacon, and western omelet in front of me almost brings tears to my eyes.

As I stuff my face, he's mostly on his phone, a grumpy frown on his face. I try to distract him by snuggling up close, and he gives me a long satisfying kiss, then goes right back to tapping away.

I huff out a breath and he looks at me with a tilted smile. "You know it's a Wednesday, right? I was supposed to be back in New York by now."

"What's stopping you?" I ask, crossing my arms.

He uncrosses them, leaning close. "Don't be naughty," he warns.

My whole body heats up. "What if I want to be?"

His hand slides into my hair and pulls my face close, kissing me again until I'm gasping. I reach for his chest, sliding my palms against his smooth muscles, but he grabs my hand.

"I'm going to come back in here in an hour," he says, scowling at his phone. "Let me tie up some loose ends and then…"

"You'll tie me up?" I finish hopefully.

His eyes widen and he swallows hard, looking me up and down with real regret. "Just one hour. Stay put."

I flop back onto the pillows in triumph. I can wait an hour. "No longer," I warn.

"I'll do my best, but believe me, this is important."

As he strides out, I hear him sit down at the desk in the next room and snap open his laptop. The sound of him tapping at the keys is a soothing backdrop to my daydreams. Am I falling for Brian? The man who owns most of the coastline and up until yesterday was about to encroach on my precious beach?

The more I think about what he told me about the new restaurants and the theater reopening, the more I start to come around to his side. The corner store where I buy my ice every day has just expanded their t-shirt section, and even the ice cream stand is out there every day now instead of just weekends. Once everything with Grandpa's will is taken care of and the house is rebuilt, I can finally get a proper storefront to do massages and all these new residents might end up being massage clients.

The only thing that makes these bright dreams go dark is Brian going back to New York. Will he come to visit or is this just going to be a perfect memory soon? Smiling smugly to myself, I decide I'll just have to make him come back for visits until he sees this is the only place he wants to live. Because I am definitely falling for him.

Hell, I've already well and truly fallen. And hard.

It has to be an hour by now, right? I get up and sneak to the doorway, and Brian is no longer on his computer, but out on the balcony, talking on his phone. The sliding door is half open and I get a little closer. If it seems really important, I'll be patient. If not, I intend to make my presence known with a sexy little dance or something. It's embarrassing but he makes me want to be bold.

"I know we have the construction crew scheduled for next month, but this needs to happen faster than that," he's saying. "I don't care what the cost is, get it started before this week is over."

I wait, trying to decide if it's dance time, when I hear him say something else that makes me duck behind the curtain, in full eavesdropping mode.

"The deal is done. I finalized it last night."

Did he get out of bed after I fell asleep? Why does that make my stomach flip over with dread? He's a high powered billionaire. Maybe it was a time zone thing. Except, no.

"That's correct, Oliver Morton's no longer the owner of Whitecross Beach. Get this done. I want a crew out there no later than Friday morning."

I don't notice the tears streaming down my face until I find my top from yesterday and pull it over my head. The waistband of my shorts is still damp but I don't care. I don't have anything else since I came here straight from the beach. Now, because of Brian's lies I don't have that anymore, either.

My heart is pounding and I can't catch my breath as I return to the living area. Brian is back at the desk and he looks up with a smile that instantly falls when he sees my face.

"What is it?" he asks.

The concern seems so real my breath hitches and I pause. Until I remember I have two days until a bulldozer starts tearing up my home.

"How could you lie so easily?" I choke out, scrubbing away fresh tears. He has the audacity to stand and come to me but I jump toward the door, ripping it open. "How could you promise me time and then buy my beach anyway?"

He blinks, stunned that I know. "Clarice, let me—"

"No. There's nothing that will make me forgive you," I shout, running down the hall toward the hotel emergency exit.

My bare feet slap against the sidewalk until I'm able to hail one of the bright blue tourist cabs that drive up and down the main drag. In the state I'm in, I'm grateful the driver isn't someone I recognize, and he's kind enough to let me run into my van to get his payment when we arrive at the beach.

Two days until this isn't my home anymore. Why do I still want to sink into Brian's arms to let him console me when he's the cause of it all?

Shaking with anger and regret, I struggle into my swimsuit and yank my board from the shed. I don't know how I make it to the water, barely glancing at the dark clouds rolling closer to the shore by the minute. I don't care. I need the waves. I have to get away from this feeling that's threatening to strangle me.

It's not really anger or regret. It's not even fear of losing the beach anymore.

It's heartbreak that the man I just started to love has betrayed me.

And it's fucking awful.