Chapter 25

[Clay]

As we return to the horse stables, snow begins to lightly fall, like an early winter baptism. The cold air is necessary to calm my racing heart because Mavis and I kissed, only kissed , for an hour. And I’m fucking horny as hell now.

What a schmuck idea I had, suggesting we only make out.

Still, the afternoon had been a first on many levels. I hadn’t ever taken a woman horseback riding, hadn’t taken a woman to the little house, and I hadn’t made out with a woman for an afternoon like I’d told Mavis.

New kinds of firsts. I loved each and every one of them because I am in love with Mavis.

This had to be it. Had to be how love felt. That desire to spend all my time with her, have her in my space. I loved kissing and talking, cuddling and laughing. I loved how she was with Dutton and that she saw my effort. I adored him.

And I will do whatever it takes to keep them both in my life.

A week passes, and I’ve never been more grateful for a Friday. Not that my business is the Monday through Friday kind, but I was trying to take off a day or two when Mavis had off from the hospital. However, tomorrow, I was taking Dutton on our ‘date’ while Mavis works.

When I arrive home, which my house has been for me for years, but suddenly feels homier, I’m greeted by Dutton with an absentminded wave as he’s looking at something on his tablet. Mavis is a bit more enthusiastic to my entrance and tugs me into the kitchen, presses me up against the refrigerator and kisses me.

“Wow. Hello to you, too,” I tease, once she pulls away, chewing her lower lip.

“Hi, honey. I’m glad you’re home.”

Fuck. There’s just something great hearing her say such a thing to me.

“You’re in a good mood.” Running my hands from her shoulders to her wrists, I tug her to me again for a hug.

“I got paid today,” she mumbles into my neck, pressing a kiss there before pulling back once more. “And I have something for you.”

She’s so cute with her excitement. Pushing away from me, she holds up a finger to signal me to wait where I am, and she’ll be right back. She tips up on her toes for another quick kiss before disappearing. Anticipating her return, I help myself to a beer from the fridge finding the appliance full of groceries. Things had gotten a little slim and I had grocery shopping on my list of things to do, but apparently, I don’t need to.

I pop the top off the bottle and take a healthy swallow before Mavis re-enters the kitchen with an envelope.

“What’s this?” I chuckle, taking the surprise and flipping it over. Inside are several hundred-dollar bills.

“I owe you. For letting us stay here. I know it isn’t much but I . . .”

Her voice drifts as I close the envelope and hand it back to her. “I am not taking your money. I don’t need your money.”

“But I should pay you something. We’ve been here for weeks.”

Setting my beer on the counter, I lean into the cabinet as well. “Doesn’t matter. You’re not paying me like you’re renting a room, Mavis.”

She flinches at my use of her name. But I’m offended she thinks she owes me financially for being here.

“In fact, it’s time you unpack that damn suitcase.” She’d eventually put Dutton’s things in a dresser drawer in his room, because the space went from my extra bedroom to Dutton’s room.

“I did unpack.”

“Dutton’s things.”

“My stuff is in the closet.”

“And I want it in mine.”

“Clay.” She stares at me.

“Are you two fighting?” Dutton’s small voice turns both our heads in his direction, where he’s standing just inside the kitchen entryway.

“No, little bear.”

“No, not fighting,” I add. “Just having a healthy discussion, buddy. Sometimes we’re gonna get loud when we feel passionate about something.” I turn my head toward Mavis, eyeing her.

All three of us hold our breaths for a minute before Dutton rolls against the wall and returns to the living room.

I step closer to Mavis, lowering my voice only a little.

“I want you and Dutton to live with me, butterfly. Not like some visiting guest, but as family. I want you to unpack your bags and settle in.”

“Clay,” Mavis groans, her gaze a glare as if I’m not being fair. But she’s the one being unfair. I don’t want her to act like staying in my home is temporary. That we are temporary.

She’s it for me. I can feel it in my bones. She warms my bed, fills my belly, and holds my heart. And right now, she’s squeezing it painfully tight with the suggestion she owes me money for being here.

“If you don’t want to stay, I can’t force you. I won’t force you.” I glance toward the living room. “But I want you living here. With me. Use that money to buy some things for yourself. Spruce up my place and make it feel more like your home.” I swallow hard. “Or you can use it to pay rent somewhere else. But you aren’t paying me like you’re a renter here.”

Mavis stares at me, not responding to my outburst. I hadn’t realized how loud my voice had gotten, but I’m agitated by this exchange, and I won’t apologize.

“Guess you have some things to think about.”

When Mavis doesn’t say anything further, I announce. “I’m going out for a bit.”

I don’t really want to leave but I can’t stand in my kitchen waiting for her answer.

Doesn’t she want to stay? Doesn’t she feel the same way? I thought we were good together.

Leaving my beer on the counter, I stalk toward the front door, passing the back of the couch without a glance at Dutton. If I look at him, my heart will shatter right here on the hardwood floor.

“Clay.” Mavis’s voice is quiet behind me. I still with my hand on the doorknob. Then her arms circle around me from behind me and her head lands on my back.

A knock comes to the door, startling me, and I pull it open with Mavis still behind me. “Violet?”

“Hi.” She waves. “I’m here to pick up Dutton.”

Holding open the door, I twist to face Mavis wondering what’s going on. She leans around me. “Violet, honey, why don’t you come in a second? I need a minute with your uncle and then Dutton will be ready.”

Mavis grips my forearm and I step back from the door, allowing Violet into my house. Dutton sits on the couch, and the tension between the three of us is thick.

“Will you excuse us a minute?” Mavis offers Violet a weak smile and tugs me toward my bedroom.

Closing the door behind her, she explains. “I was excited to get my second paycheck. And I thought it would be nice for another adult-only moment. At first, I was going to take you out, but you seem to like my cooking and I remembered you saying you didn’t eat at home often. So, I asked Violet if she could take Dutton out and we could have some time together here.”

I stare at her. She’d planned everything. Dinner. Childcare for Dutton. A date for us, and I’d just exploded on her.

“Butterfly, why didn’t you say anything?”

She shrugs. “I wanted to surprise you like you surprised me last weekend.”

Guilt slams into me and I swipe a hand down my face.

“If you’d still like to go out without me, I’m still going to let Dutton go with Violet. He’s been looking forward to it. They might pick up Winnie and go get pizza.”

Fuck . “No, I do not want to go out without you. I only said that because—” Because I want to spend all my time with her. I want her here where I know she’s safe. She’s home .

Mavis nods and turns for the door, but I catch her elbow. Glancing up at me, over her shoulder, our eyes lock. “We’ll talk. Once Violet and Dutton are gone.”

I definitely need a do-over for this night.

+ + +

With extra hugs for Dutton from Mavis, and a hug from me as well reassuring him everything is well, Violet and Dutton leave.

Mavis shuts the front door once they pull down the drive and leans her back against it.

“I messed up,” I admit.

Mavis stares at me a long minute. “I’m not sure if I should be upset that you raised your voice or that you asked me to live with you during what felt like a fight.”

Swiping a hand over my head again, I huff. “We weren’t fighting.” We just were not agreeing. “You’re here. I don’t want you to leave.” Maybe I just assumed she’d stay.

“Then tell me that.” Her voice is still hard.

“Look, butterfly. I’m not professing to be perfect. We’re gonna fight. Voices might rise. But I never ever want you to feel threatened by me. I want you to feel safe. I want my home to be our home. And I want to feel confident that you’ll stay for the long haul, just like I want you to feel confident that I’m returning home to you each and every night.”

“Like when you tell me you’re going out. You’re promising you’ll be back.”

Fuck. Did that trigger her? I step closer to her, wishing she’d come away from the front door.

“I’m promising. I just . . . I just said that before. I didn’t want to leave. I’ve been waiting all day to be home. With you. With Dutton.” I sigh, glancing around my living room. “And I ruined your surprise for me.”

Mavis purses her lips and lowers her gaze.

“Tell me what you had planned.”

She shrugs. A tear trickles along her nose and she quickly swipes at it. “I just wanted to celebrate being paid. It’s been a while and it felt good to make money again. Make my own money. First steps and all that.”

“First steps for what, baby?”

“Regaining some independence. Feeling like I can do something. A future will happen for Dutton and me.”

I close the distance between us, cupping her shoulders. “Of course a future will happen for you and Dutton. You’re employed and that sounds important to you. You’re making your own money. And you’re safe here.”

Mavis nods and a tear slips from her eye, one I kiss away.

“I’m sorry I raised my voice. And I’m sorry if I scared Dutton.” The kid was definitely concerned about leaving Mavis. With a deep exhale, I slide my hands down her arms to capture her fingers. “We’re good, Mavis. If you want to move out, move. Whatever you want to do. I’d never pin those wings of yours, butterfly. But I want you to stay. Forever.”

I swallow around the word certain I’ve never said it before to anyone.

“I’m falling for you, and that might scare you. It scares me. But I’m here and if you need to leave for a while, I’ll be waiting. That’s my promise.” I squeeze her hands. “Whatever you need.”

Mavis lifts her head. Her eyes glistening. “I’m falling for you, too, honey. And it scares me as well. So many what ifs constantly running through my head.”

“Tell me what they are so I can cancel them out for you.”

“What if you get bored with us. What if you decide you do want us to leave. What if you think we’re taking advantage of you. What if I don’t need saving and you’re no longer interested because I—”

I cover her mouth with my fingers, shaking my head.

“And what if I keep you. What if I want you to stay. What if I love you like I say I do and then prove it every day. What if you’ve never needed saving, butterfly, and I know that about you. What if I do.”

“How can I save you?” She chokes around a bitter laugh, like she can’t possibly understand what I’d need.

“By loving me back, Mavis. Every day.”

Suddenly, she has her arms around me, clinging to my neck, and I’m squeezing her tight to my chest, breathing in relief and her floral scent.

“Stay, Mavis.”

“Yes, Clay. Dutton and I would love to live here with you.”

I pull back so I can see her face, cup her jaw, and kiss her. A kiss that is tender at first. An apology for how things went down earlier. But quickly, the meeting of our mouths turns hungry. We move on to making up for the fight.

Within seconds, Mavis’s back is plastered to the front door again and my body presses into hers. The kiss hits a hundred, but I want more.

“Don’t know what all you planned for tonight, but I’m gonna admit I have a new plan. And I need you to trust me.”

“I trust you, honey. With everything.” Her body. Her heart.

“I want control tonight, beautiful. Let me lead.” I have no trouble letting her boss me around in the bedroom but tonight I want to be in charge. She’s still the boss. Her pleasure is my desire.

Mavis nods and I pick her up by scooping my hands beneath her backside. She wraps her legs around my waist, and I carry her down the hallway to our bedroom. With a backward kick, the door closes behind me, but we don’t need privacy. I have hours to love her like we both need, and I’m not wasting a minute of it.

Once we near the bed, I drop her and she squeals, then I climb over her, continuing to kiss her while running a hand down her chest, covering a breast and squeezing tight before pinching her nipple.

“Yes,” Mavis mumbles against my mouth.

“Want it a little rough, beautiful?”

Mavis chews her lip and I tug it free with my thumb. I’m earnest when I ask, “Need a safe word? A signal that it’s too much?”

“Maybe just hold my hand to reassure me.”

I grin at her, willing to give her anything she needs. “Going to need both of them at times, but I’ll hold your hand whenever I can.”

For now, I notice the dress she is wearing. “Was this for tonight?” The maroon-colored material wraps around her body like the petals of a flower about to bloom, highlighting all her features from the curve of her hips to the midnight shade of her hair.

Mavis nods, rolling her lips again.

“Damn. You’re stunning.” The fabric runs neck to thighs and down her arms. Its casual while sexy and when I tug it upward and over her head, I’m speechless.

Beneath the average dress is an intricate, black bra and matching panties that doesn’t leave much to the imagination. Her nipples are erect. The dusty color delicately covered by lace. Velvety straps crisscross around her breasts, trussing them up and emphasizing their size. The panties are hardly more than ribbons of fabric wrapping over her hip with a lace panel over a strip of dark hair.

“Butterfly.” I choke, so overwhelmed by how beautiful she is. So precious to me.

I rub the heel of my hand between her breasts and over her belly before slipping my hand between her thighs, cupping her where she’s already damp and soaking the lace.

“I don’t want to remove any of this.”

“You don’t have to.”

Lowering, I cover her breast with my mouth, sucking at the pert nipple through the lace, teasing her, driving myself wild. At the same time, I place my finger at her clit, pressing on the lace over the sensitive nub. In tandem, I work her breast and stroke her where she’s needy.

“Clay.” Her hands cup my head. Her back arches. She’s on the edge.

I pull away from both her breast and her trigger spot.

Mavis collapses back onto the bed, eyes narrowing at me.

“I need you to trust that I’ll always get you there, butterfly. Wherever, whatever, there is.” I coast my hand back up her midsection and cover the other breast, palming, kneading, plucking at the nipple. At the same time, I lower my face between her thighs, which she eagerly spreads for me. I lick over the lace, flicking at that sensitive place with my tongue, pressing the material against her slick skin.

Mavis moans, arching her back again, spreading her legs wider, covering my hand at her breast.

I pull back again.

“Clay,” she groans.

Crawling off the bed, I stand and remove all my clothing while Mavis watches me. She slides her hand between her legs, toying with herself while I strip.

“No cheating, baby.” I warn her, growing more eager for her if that’s even possible. Delaying her gratification is only delaying mine.

She removes her hand from between her legs and rolls her head against the mattress as if frustrated.

“Soon.” I climb back up on the bed and run my hands around the lacy outfit, fingers tracing all the velvety ribbons, eventually rolling her over to continue the trail and experiencing another pleasing shock.

“Butterfly.” My teeth grind. A velvety strip runs low at her back and through the crease of her ass, emphasizing the firm swells. Up top, the ribbons crisscross over her shoulder blades in a similar pattern to the front.

On her belly, Mavis exhales sharply as I slip my finger along the soft fabric between her ass cheeks. I climb over her, toying once more with her clit and nipping at her shoulder.

“Let me have you like this,” I whisper at her ear.

Her answer is to curl her back and lift her ass. Brushing aside the lace covering her entrance, I line up the tip of my dick to continue teasing her.

I should give her more foreplay, but she’s already drenched and near a breaking point like I am.

Slipping into her, we both moan as she stretches around me, bringing me into her body until she’s full. I curl my fingers into the velvet strap at her hip with one hand while reaching for her hand with the other, clasping our fingers together with my hand on top of hers.

With my fingers in the velvet ribbon, I guide Mavis back and forth while I slide in and out of her. She’s so freaking wet, we easily move together. With her legs spread and me awkwardly on my knees, I won’t hold out long like this, but I relish the torture of gliding in and out of her. Watching her ass lift and lower as I’m drawn into her heat.

I release her hand and wrap my arm around her waist to lift her to her knees, so her back hits my chest.

“Remember when you teased about riding me?” I nip at her neck.

Mavis groans, like she’s drugged on our connection. “You teased me.”

I chuckle into her skin. “I want you to ride me, Mavis. Race with me.” I pull out of her, and she drops forward, balancing on all fours. Her head hangs, and she hisses in frustration.

I flip around on the bed, place my back to the headboard and guide Mavis over me, sitting on my lap, her back to my chest again.

“Clay,” she whimpers. With her knees bent on either side of my thighs and her hands between my legs, I guide her backwards, watching as my dick slides into her, connecting us as one again. Mavis sits upright. With her hair tumbling over her shoulders, she glances at me over one of them.

“Race, butterfly.” Then she’s working herself up and down, taking me in this position where I’m hitting her someplace unseen that sparks her onward. Faster and faster she rocks. Her breath catching. Her head tipping back. She’s losing control.

“I can feel you, beautiful. You’re clenching my cock. Dripping into my lap. Fuck, you’re gonna make me come.”

Mavis slams down on me, almost daring me to try to leave her body before she crosses the finish line. I don’t think I’ve ever seen something so beautiful or heard such a sound.

Mavis practically purrs, rolling her hips in my lap. I slide my hand around her front, plucking that sweet clit while catching her other hand with mine again. She covers the hand between her thighs and together we strum until she gets the finish she wants. With her head back, her back arched, she comes like she’s howling at the moon. I feel every clench and pulse, causing my own release to spring free.

With one hand holding hers and the other flat against her lower belly, I go off inside Mavis like I never have before. Her squeezing me. Me filling her. The orgasm goes on and on until she collapses forward, catching herself on her hands. Running my hand up her spine, I tip my head against the headboard.

“Holy shit, Mavis.” She steals my breath. She owns my heart.

With a strangled chuckle, she lifts her body and releases me, falling to her side beside me.

We remain in our separate, breathless positions for a minute. Then I slap her ass.

“Let’s shower.”

And we start the race all over again.