9. Chapter Nine

9

Chapter Nine

Rowan

I round the back of the car towards Clara's door, my eyes scanning every direction and the tops of surrounding buildings. Killian, Nolan, and Ryan, our guards for the night, are also scanning the area. When we all look at each other and nod I open the door and help Clara out. When she opened the door earlier I lost all sense of my plan, and the more time I'm spending with her I can't help but throw the whole damn thing out the window. This feels right, she feels right. I don't know where I'm at with the whole ‘Rhett being with a practical stranger tonight' thing. I'll tell you what I'm not though, and that's trusting of anyone who's last name isn't or won't one day become ‘Byrne' with him.

It's exactly why Kieran is sitting in his car across the street from Olivia Wilson's modest rancher right now. Clara doesn't need to know that yet though. Just like she doesn't need to know quite yet that the car seat is for Rhett. I bought it after researching everything there is to know about four year olds and car seats. It's rear facing because that's what's safest for him should we ever be in an accident. She also probably doesn't need to know that it's not just in this car, but in every vehicle that I and my brothers own. She beams up at me when I help her to her feet. I place my hand at the small of her back and lead her inside the restaurant. Yeah, I'll tell her later.

The hostess looks up and her face instantly pales, "Oh Mr. Byrne. We have your room ready, you can follow me." She walks in front of us, menus in hand as I guide Clara slightly in front of me. Just in case any crazy fucking Russians pop out of the shadows I can shield her easily. We make it to my private room at the back of the restaurant without incident. I pull out Clara's chair and as I scoot her in I drop a kiss to the top of her head. Now that I've tasted her I can't stop. I need to touch, to kiss, to just be in her presence.

I sit across from her as the hostess leaves us with a promise of the server coming. Clara looks at the menu then peaks at me through her lashes unease and anxiety swirling in her deep brown depths. "Everything here is amazing. I guess I'm kind of partial, but it's still the truth. You can't pick wrong."

Clara puts the menu down and starts fidgeting, "I'm not sure what's allowed. I don't want to pick wrong. Can you help me?" Confused, I take her hand across the table.

"Are you allergic to anything?" She shakes her head no and I'm now even more confused about what she's talking about.

"Then get what you want, baby. It doesn't matter to me." The waiter comes out at that moment and takes our drink orders, she disappears again as I watch Clara who studies the menu and looks close to tears. I squeeze her hand gently and she jumps then looks up at me, fear in her eyes. It's then that it clicks.

"Hey, I promise that I don't care what you order as long as it's what you want. I don't know what you've been through, and I won't pry. You'll tell me when you're ready, but whoever he was, I'm not him. I want to get to know you and explore this feeling I think we both feel, but not because I want to micromanage you. Clara, you can make your own decisions, as long as they're safe ones. I'm sure it'll take time for you to believe me. The good news is, I seem to have an infinite amount of patience when it comes to you." I kiss her hand and will her to believe me.

She gives me a shaky smile and wipes her eyes, "I'm so sorry. This is embarrassing. I'm just being ridiculous."

I stop her mid-thought by cutting in, "No, you're not. You don't need to apologize. What looks good to you?" She scans the menu, biting her bottom lip in concentration and I want nothing more than to pry it from her teeth and replace them with mine. Of course I don't do that and instead I will my cock to calm down before I embarrass myself.

She sighs and finally looks up, "Honestly? That steak looks to die for."

I smirk at her as the server returns to take our orders, "Perfect, I actually think I'll do the same."

* * *

I help Clara back into the car after we finish dinner. Everything was perfect as it always is. Clara can't stop talking about how it was the best meal she's ever had. If the little moans while she was eating was any indication, I think I may just take her here every night. I shut her door after I make sure she buckles and move to my side of the car, adjusting myself as discreetly as possible on the way. I slide into my seat then just like earlier I buckle up. Reaching for her hand and placing it on my thigh, I use my thumb to draw circles lightly on her thumb as she sighs in contentment.

I've learned a lot about Clara tonight. From things as small as her favorite color (green), her favorite show (The Challenge), she doesn't like onions, but mushrooms are fine and her birthday (April twenty-ninth). I also learned bigger things, like she moved here six months ago, she's worked for Kellum almost as long, she was raised across the country in Arizona, she's an only child and she does NOT want to talk about her family. All in all I'll say this is the fourth best date I've been on. Only coming fourth to our not-date-lunch-date, the ice cream date I had with her and Rhett earlier this week, and our impromptu movie and sleepover last night.

Clara brings me to the present when she pulls her hand out of mine and lightly runs her perfectly painted nails up and down the middle of my thigh. I don't even think she realizes she's doing it, but I realize. "Thank you for tonight, Rowan. Seriously, this is the best date I've been on."

Smiling, I turn fully to face her, "Oh baby, this is just part one. We still have an hour and a half before we have to get you to Olivia's house."

Her hand stops moving and she smiles shyly, "It's not just me right? This electricity, this pull, like we've known each other forever. You feel it too, right?" I grip her chin between my thumb and forefinger to make sure I have her entire focus.

"No, it's definitely not just you. You've seemed to work your way under my skin, Clara Sanders. Don't ever work your way out."

Sealing my lips over hers quickly because we're still held in place by our seat belts. Right then and there I pray to whatever higher being exists to let me be the one she trusts and opens up to, because I'm already so far past gone. At this point I'll set the whole city ablaze just to see the reflection of the flames dance in her beautiful eyes.

* * *

Opening the door to Clara's complex, we make it up about three steps before I spin her around and her arms go around my neck, my lips instantly find hers. I grip her hair in one hand and push her back against the wall with the other. My lips move to her neck, biting then using my tongue to soothe the pain. Her head tips back as she lets out a whimper. My cock is about to bust through my zipper as my restraint snaps. Moving both my hands under her perfect ass I lift her. Her long legs wrap around my waist as her core lines up perfectly. She buries her head in my neck nipping and tasting. She nips right under my ear and my legs go weak. I press her harder into the wall so we both don't drop and push up grinding into her, I know the exact moment I'm where she wants me. She tosses her head back and lets out a low moan.

"Fuck baby, You're perfect. I wish you could see yourself right now."

She opens her eyes and pure carnal hunger shines in them, "Rowan, take me to bed. I need you, now."

I don't even wait for her sentence to finish before I'm starting up the stairs with her secure in my arms. Hitting the top of the steps, she starts to move in my arms over my cock. I push us into the nearest wall and hiss out, "Fuck baby, you have to stop or we wont make it to your apartment." She bites my neck and sucks in response and I can't help but groan.

Remembering where we are I'm pulling back by sheer force of will while giving her ass a playful smack.

"Clara, give me twenty seconds, You can unlock your door and I'll worship every inch of your body. Twenty seconds, Pretty Girl,"

She stops and huffs, "Make it fifteen, Rowan. I'm willing to give you fifteen."

"Deal."

Moving us off the wall and starting down the hall I stop at her door and let her slide down my body painfully slow feeling every inch of her perfect body as she stands on her own. She turns to unlock her door and I'm on her, my hands are everywhere, my mouth tasting whatever part of her body I can reach. She gets the door open and my hands find her hips as I guide her inside.

I'm kicking the door shut before she has a chance to say anything. My hands on her hips grip tighter on instinct before I'm spinning us, and pinning her to the door. Taking both her wrists in one hand I pin them above her head. Reminding myself to tone it down, my grip loosens just a little so she can get out if she wants to. My other hand runs up the side of her breast then moves to her back to search for the zipper. Her mouth finds mine and our tongues fight for dominance. Finally I feel the small metal zipper and pull it down, stepping back, my eyes eat up her body as the fabric pools at her feet. I'm pretty sure my heart just stuttered to a stop. She's standing before me in her heels, and only her heels. I've never seen anything more gorgeous in my life. I don't know if I'm making the conscious decision or if my body moves on its own accord but regardless the next thing I know her legs are wrapped around my hips, my hands are full of her ass, and we're headed to her bedroom.

* * *

Clara

I'm so wrapped in Rowan I don't even know what way is up. He kicks closed my bedroom door, attacking my sensitive neck with kisses and bites. I'm tearing at the buttons on his shirt having to pause to moan because fuck he feels so good. My brain is going to explode if I don't get to feel his body soon, touch him, taste him. I need to be completely consumed by Rowan Byrne. He carries me over to the bed and drops me down on my back letting out a dark chuckle, "You're going to have to wait a little longer baby. I just may die if I don't get to taste you right now." He strips off all his clothes except his black boxer briefs and kneels on the side of my bed.

He grabs my upper thighs and pulls me to the edge of the bed. Parting my thighs and licking his lips he growls, "If I don't have marks from your heels on my shoulder blades tomorrow, I'm doing something wrong." He sends me one last smirk before slowly licking me from bottom to top. Groaning into me, "Fuck, I've died and gone to heaven. That's the only logical reasoning for tasting anything this good."

He roughly throws my legs over his shoulders, his patience has snapped. Slowly his tongue works around my clit, gradually increasing the pressure. He runs his fingertips up and down my inner thighs as he sucks, licks, and devours me.

Digging my heels into the back of his shoulder blades, I'm officially desperate.

"Please Rowan, I need more."

"Fuck you sound so perfect when you beg."

Waiting until I'm barely hanging on he takes two fingers and slowly inserts them inside me curling upwards, stroking my inner walls. With his other hand he presses down lightly on my lower stomach. I all but shoot off the bed. My orgasm comes in fast and hard. Black dots dance in my vision as I scream out, "Rowan!" He doesn't stop his pace until I'm done shaking and float back to earth.

Panting to catch my breath Rowan kisses back up my body with an arrogant smirk, "You better get use to screaming out my name baby. That was just one, I'm not even almost done with you."

His lips find mine and the taste of me on his lips doesn't deter me like I thought it would. My hands explore every inch that I can reach. My fingers explore his pecks, and arms that are covered with black designs, I want to trace every line with my tongue. Pushing on his shoulder he lets me push him to his back. My hands shake as my thighs straddle his hips and lean down to press a kiss to his lips. Preston's words start to invade my head. He hated this position. I was too big is what he'd tell me. No one would ever want to see me like this. Rowan must pick up on the change in my energy, because his hands gently stroke my hips as his eyes search mine.

"Hey, you don't have to do anything you don't want to. We can stop now. It's not a big deal." He pushes up on the bed to sit up against my headboard taking my face in his hands. "Talk to me, Pretty Girl?"

Taking a second to steady my hands I smile, "I'm okay, Rowan. I'm just nervous. It's been awhile."

Concern melts off Rowans face as he smirks, "Thank fuck for that." He flips us and hoovers over me. "Do you trust me, Clara?"

Without pause I'm positive of my answer, "Yes, It doesn't make sense, and I'm terrified I'll regret it, but I do."

There goes that boyish smirk again, "Then let me take care of you, baby."

Rowan starts kissing my neck again and slowly starts grinding his hard cock against me. My head turns to the side to give him more access, a whimper escapes from my throat, "Rowan, please." That's all it takes as Rowan slides off his boxers and grabs a condom from beside me on the bed. I didn't even see him put it there, he rips the foil with his teeth and I reach up to take it from him. Sitting up slightly I look up at him through my lashes, "Let me?" He nods and watches me with fire in his eyes as I roll the condom onto his long thick length. Holy shit, THAT'S going in ME? Pressing his hand against the middle of my chest he pushes me back to the bed.

"Tell me if it's too much or you need me to stop. Okay? This only works if you talk to me."

Taking a deep breath I respond, "Fuck me, Rowan." Lining himself up he slowly pushes inside me. The stretch burns so good.

"You okay baby?"

I nod, "Don' t stop."

He pushes in steadily until he's completely seated inside me, I'm trying to give myself a few seconds to adjust, but he's got to move.

"Rowan, I said fuck me, you talk a big game, now prove you can back it up."

Pressing a light kiss to his lips the fire lights in his eyes. He takes my thigh and hooks it on his hip and he starts to thrust in and out of me. Slowly at first then he gradually finds a relentless rhythm, snaking his hand up my thigh his fingertips find my clit and begin running firm circles over it.

"Oh fffuuuccckkk." I clamp down on him "Don't stop Rowan."

"That's it baby. Your pussy feels so good. God dammit you're so fucking tight."

He ups his pace and before I know what's happening I'm back on the edge.

"You're perfect, Clara. Every inch of you drives me insane." His thrusts become erratic as he grits out "I'm almost there, Clara. Come with me..Now!"

The head of his cock rubs over that spot inside me that I thought was an urban legend until now. He pinches my clit as soon as he does I tumble off the cliff with him. A growl from deep in his chest rumbles out as he comes with my name on his lips, while I scream his. He wraps me up in his arms and my head lays on his chest while we float back down to earth. I'm positive I've never experienced anything as consuming and intense as him, He's wrecked me for anyone else.