24. Chapter Twenty-four

Chapter Twenty-four

Jake

There was a spot by the side of a covered bridge hidden from the main road—a term I used loosely since it was little more than a one-lane path, rarely traveled by anyone. I'd found it a while back when I'd needed to pull off to adjust something on my bike. It was a fine spot to watch the sunset and even finer to get my girl alone where no one would be coming by.

I was off my bike first, pouncing on Clara as soon as she came to a stop. Her helmet and jacket were discarded quickly, then I had my hands on her, under her shirt, inside her bra, squeezing her perfect tits, trailing along the softness at her middle.

"Here?" she panted. "Outside?"

"I've got you." Lifting her top, I exposed her breasts to the cool dusk air. "No one's going to see you. This isn't a well-traveled road, and we're hidden from sight. I'm not sharing any of this."

That was all the reassurance she needed. Her mouth sought mine, immediately opening for me and letting me take over. I slanted her head so I could kiss her deeper, slaking a fraction of my hunger for her. She balled my shirt in her fist like she was holding on to me to keep herself from floating away. I loved that her instinct was to cling to me—to keep herself attached to me.

I kissed down the column of her throat to her chest. Taking her breasts in my hands, I plumped them together and licked a line across them. Her skin was so damn smooth and silky, giving under the press of my hands and mouth, tasting distinctly like Clara mixed with a day of wind and sunshine.

Taking her pebbled nipples in my mouth was a drip of her flavor. A tease to my tongue. It only made me want more. An ocean of Clara might not have been enough, even if I drowned in her.

Her zipper came down in one smooth motion, and I toyed with the lacy band of her panties with my fingertips.

"I'm going to put my mouth on you."

She nodded, her eyes bright, lips puffy and red. "Okay."

"Lean over the seat of my bike." I took her hand, leading her where I wanted her. She bent forward with barely any hesitation, the glassiness of her eyes telling me her arousal was clearing the path of resistance. She lay across the seat of my bike, looking like something out of my dreams, her eyes closed, head resting on her folded arms, waiting.

For me to do with her what I wanted.

My mouth watered as I grazed my hands over her unreal shape—the plush bends and curves that drove me to distraction.

Hooking my fingers in the waist of her jeans, I yanked them down as far as they would go, catching on her boots at her ankles. That left her in pale-pink lace barely covering the globes of her ass. I got on my knees behind her to take a good, long look at what she was offering me, cupping her cheeks in my hands and squeezing.

Her skin was so pretty and well taken care of. The finest velvet brushing against my palms, making me want to be covered in it—in her . When we were apart, and I hadn't touched her for days and days, it became hard to believe she was as lush as the memories I held, but she was . She was even better.

I slipped her panties down to keep company with her pants, baring her pretty ass and just a peek of her pussy between her thick thighs.

I tapped the outside of her legs. "Spread as wide as you can for me, sweetness. Let me see what I'm about to have."

With a soft sigh, she listened, her boots sliding in the grass, giving me just a little more. It wasn't enough. Not even close. I spread her wide with my hands, feasting my eyes on her hidden parts, the valley of her ass leading to two of my favorite places to bury myself.

"Jake," she moaned. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I'm admiring what's mine. You're pretty everywhere. Did you know that, Clara?"

I didn't wait for her answer, nor did I need it. What I needed was my mouth on her, her taste coating my tongue, her moans in my ears. I leaned in, nuzzling one cheek then the other, before sinking my teeth into the bottom curve. She tensed, jumped, and sighed as I licked the small mark I'd left.

It was enough to activate the primal part of my brain urging me to make a bigger claim on this woman—to make her and everyone else understand she was unequivocally mine.

Carrying her scent on my beard was a start. I buried my face in her, licking from her clit to her ass and back again. Once I started, I didn't stop, lapping up every sweet drop of her, drowning just like I wanted to, living off her flavor.

Needing more, I thrust two fingers into her pussy, her slick arousal easing the way. She tightened around me, moaning my name into the darkening sky. I twisted my hand to roll her pearly clit under a finger and moved my mouth higher, laving her puckered hole with the flat of my tongue.

Clara keened. Her legs tried to close, but I was too deep between them for her movements to make any difference. I was where I wanted to be, and nothing would deter me. There was no part of her I didn't want to know the taste and feel of. No part that would be closed to me.

And she knew that.

She was aware of how much I liked the secrets she kept locked away from everyone but me.

She liked it too. Her pussy fluttered and tightened around my thrusting fingers. Her hips bucked against my mouth. It wasn't long before she was moaning my name, her feet shuffling, knees bending, melting. But I had her, holding her up until I had my fill of her—until her scent and taste firmly clung to my lips and beard and lodged inside my mind.

Then I was on my feet behind her, smoothing my hand up her spine to cup the back of her neck. There was a riot inside me, a need setting fire to my blood. "You ready for me, Clara?"

She nodded, and I knew she didn't get it. Couldn't feel me practically vibrating for her. I needed her to want it as badly as I did.

"You need to use your words. I'm not feeling quite myself, and I need to take you hard. You ready for that?"

"Yes, Jake. Fuck me hard," she rasped. "I want it."

That was what I needed. "Then I'll give it to you."

My jeans down, cock out, condom rolled on in a flash; I took her hips in my hands and aligned myself with her hot flesh, nudging her opening. Her body welcomed me, and I accepted the invitation, driving into her until my hips slammed against her ass.

She reared back and cried out, but it wasn't in pain. My sweet Clara liked it rough.

I got lost in her, taking her body with brutal force. Our skin collided, the sounds echoing off the open sky. She moaned and begged, and I told her how good she was, how I wanted her to feel me for days to come, that she was precious and I wanted her to carry my marks for as long as possible.

I was deep in her, but it didn't feel like enough. Grabbing a fistful of her hair at the base of her skull, I pulled her toward me so I could devour her neck and jaw. I pulled her lobe between my lips and whispered words for only her. Hot devotions. Promises of pleasure on top of pleasure. She quivered and moaned, trying to nod but finding she couldn't with the grip I had on her. Her "Yes," came out in broken syllables, and I fucked her little fluttering cunt. Nothing was more important than this. Her and me. Not even breathing. My world had whittled down to our connection.

"Clara." I breathed against her damp temple, nuzzling her tenderly. "Can't get enough of you."

"Jake," she moaned. "Please. I need it."

"You'll have it. I've got you."

Releasing my hold on her hair, I pushed her forward, planting my palm in the center of her back. She clamped down on me as her cries grew more frantic, desperate. I knew she was at the precipice, and I followed her, giving and taking. Losing my pace, my rhythm, my mind as I plunged us both into oblivion.

Falling, falling, barely breathing. She reached back to hold my wrist, and I moved my hand to thread our fingers together. If we fell, it would be together.

It took a long time to hit solid ground again. Only when my knees were steady and my feet level did I pull out of her, dispose of my condom, and hitch up my pants. Taking Clara in my arms, I brought us to the grass and cradled her in my lap. She looped her arms around my neck and thrust her face under my jaw.

Stroking her back, I calmed my breathing and hers. She smelled so good, like fresh air and her signature floral scent. I shoved my nose into her silky hair and took a deep whiff.

Dusk had turned to night. Crickets chirped, and grass and bushes rustled in the gentle breeze. I couldn't think of many places I would have rather been than in the grass next to my bike with this woman in my arms.

"I can't go that long without you again," I murmured. "I lost it on you."

"I didn't mind that at all." She drew herself upright and stroked my beard with her fingertips. "It'll be an adventure riding all the way home with this ache you left behind, though."

I winced. "Shit. I clearly wasn't in my right mind. I should have considered—"

"No, Jake. Come on. I asked for it just as much as you wanted to give it. I'm mostly kidding."

I cupped between her legs, studying her for any signs of pain. She blinked back at me, a smile curving the corners of her mouth.

"All right. I'm going to trust you're telling the truth, but I'll be more cognizant next time—"

"You fuck me on the side of the road?" she filled in.

I gave her ass a little smack. "Next time, I want to fuck you like a madman, Clara ."

She snorted a laugh and looked down at herself, her pants around her ankles, my hand holding her pussy. "I think you should take me home."

"I intend to."

Her hand covered mine. "What do you think about staying the night?"

My stomach lurched. I'd been dreading dropping her off, but she had Nellie, and we'd agreed that was a no go.

Before I could decide how to answer, she said, "You could leave early. Sneak out through the patio off my bedroom. No one would even know you'd been there. No one but me, that is."

"You're sure?"

She nodded. "I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't. That brief morning we had together was nice. I'd sort of love to fall asleep and wake up with you again."

Closing my eyes, I let my forehead fall against hers. She'd been through a hell of a lot more trauma than I had, yet here she was, being brave—asking for what she wanted, telling me exactly how she felt. Her confidence was so fucking sexy and attractive, my head went foggy.

"You know? I'd really love that too."

I took her hand in mine, and we made our way back home. Dread didn't pool in my gut as we drew closer to her house. Our near-perfect day wasn't over. We didn't have all the time in the world, but we had hours more than expected.

All because Clara had taken a risk and reached for what she wanted.

I wasn't going to forget this.