Page 82 of Every Beat of My Heart

I felt vulnerable in a way I hadn’t before with anyone else. I shoved those thoughts to the side as her thighs trembled around me. She let go. I thrust harder, needing to come with her, to share this experience.

When we were sated, I let her down to her feet. I reached for the body wash and soaped her flushed skin.

But this wasn’t sexual for me. I wanted to take care of her, knowing that no one else did this for her. I guessed that her ex was a selfish lover, only caring about his needs. I’d show Claire that there was a different way to live. One where someone took care of her needs and ensured that she had everything she desired.

Claire smiled. “I could get used to this.”

“That’s the idea.” I smiled, then turned her so I could lather her hair with the shampoo that had been left in the shower. I rinsed it, then massaged her scalp with the conditioner. When she was done, I patted her butt. “Get out and dry off. I’ll be out in a second.”

She pouted. “I want to take care of you.”

“Next time. Today’s all about you.”

She smiled and stepped outside the shower, grabbing a towel I’d placed there this morning. “You’re going to spoil me.”

I chuckled. “Not possible. You should be treated like a queen all the time.”

The expression on Claire’s face was soft as I tipped my head back into the stream of water, washing out the shampoo. Then I quickly soaped off my body. The water had grown cold, and I wanted to spend as much time as I could with Claire.

I wasn’t sure when we’d get the opportunity to be alone again. I was going to take advantage of every second I had.

Once we were dressed in sweats, I built up the fire again and checked my messages. “Dad said that everything is quiet at the house.”

“Everyone must still be sleeping.”

“He said he’d take care of Owen once he wakes up. Get him breakfast. So we don’t have anything to worry about.”

“Do you think we could cut a tree down? We’ve never done that before. It was just always easier to put up an artificial tree when Owen was younger.” Claire’s tone was hopeful.

I grinned. “You’ll get the pick of the trees since we were only open on Wednesday so far, and we’re obviously getting a late start today.”

“I’ve never been happier about winter weather. It’s so beautiful outside. The ice makes everything seem like it’s been frozen in time. That there’s no one else out here but us.”

“I have you to myself for a few hours.” I wished it could be longer, but we both had duties and responsibilities. She had Owen, and I had the tree farm to worry about. We only had these few hours before reality would creep back in, and I was worried what conclusions she would draw. Would she retreat and insist it didn’t mean anything?

My heart couldn’t even take those possibilities.

“What are you thinking about?” Claire asked.

“I don’t even want to say it out loud,” I admitted.

“Then don’t. Let’s enjoy what this is with no expectations.” She pressed her lips into a straight line.

I didn’t like the sound of that, but I also didn’t want to talk about how I was feeling. I wasn’t sure it would be received well, and I wasn’t ready for her to walk away from me. I’d always been told I could be too much at times, and I didn’t want that to be the case with Claire. I wanted to be exactly what she needed.

I drew her into the space between my legs so that she was cradled against my chest, and we watched the flames in the fireplace.

“I never want to move,” Claire said after a while.

I kissed her temple. “I feel the same way.”

She turned so that she straddled me. Then she kissed me as her hands traveled over my bare chest. She moved down my body as her hands played with the waistband of my sweats, pulling them down and off. She knelt between my legs and gripped my cock.

I was naked while she was still fully dressed, working over my dick with her hands. “I’m not going to last.”

“We can’t have that,” Claire said as she took me into her mouth.

This has to be heaven. I couldn’t think of anything better than this. But I wanted more; I wanted her spread out beneath me while I drove her crazy.

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