Page 87 of Power Play

“Is everything okay?” Layla asks quietly.

I nod. “I’m sad you’re leaving tomorrow.”

“I know. I’m sorry, Clay. I would’ve loved to stay here, but you know I can’t. It’s not a good thing to start career with quitting right after I signed the contract. They are counting on me.”

I can take care of you.I want to tell her, but instead, I settle for a pathetic excuse of asking her about the show. “It’s my second time watching it with you, but I think I’m still not sure why it wasn’t a Tiffany ring, you know. With how much Blair loved everything Audrey-Hepburn-related, I kinda expected a Tiffany ring.”

Layla blinks, then starts giggling. Her melodic laughter coasts over my body, making me ticklish. “I never thought about it.” She holds my gaze. “Just this Harry Winston ring is gorgeous. It didn’t even occur to me to question it. Like, Chuck is a billionaire, and he buys a super expensive ring for the love of his life. That’s kinda logical.”

“Are these rings really that expensive?” I cock an eyebrow, sliding my hands down to her round ass.

“Very,” Layla murmurs. The glint in her eyes turns lustful as I cup her ass with my palms.

“Do you still want to watch the show? Or can I convince you to go back to my bedroom?”

“It depends…” She moves her hand up my chest and then pinches my nipple between her thumb and index finger. “What are you offering?”

Laughter springs out of my mouth as I scoop her in my arms and stand up from the couch. “The answer should be ‘yes, Clay.’ Always.”

I carry her to my bedroom, my eyes never leaving her face. She’s so impeccably beautiful, I lose my mind a bit more every time I look at her. Everything in her is a little puzzle piece that fits my own perfectly. I know she’s the one for me. She’s been the one for me all these years…and I hope one day she’ll look at me and realize I’m the one for her too.

That we were always meant to be.

Once we’re in my bedroom, I lower her on my bed and drop to my knees. I don’t need to tell her what to do as she’s already shimmying out of her tee. Her round breasts with puckered nipples make my mouth water. I place my hands on her legs and pull her to me. Her ass is barely on the bed. The moment her panties land on the floor beside me, I grab both of her legs, wrapping my palms around her ankles and spreading her wide.

I bury my face in her sweet little pussy, inhaling her scent, my own body shuddering from my desire. Delicately, I place a kiss on her inner thigh, then on her folds, and only after that on her clit. A moan rumbles out of her throat, her fingers digging deep in my hair. I smile against her nub and blow a hot breath over it. She wriggles, shoving her cunt in my face, desperate to feel my tongue in it.

And I indulge her because pleasing her is my favorite thing to do.

I suck her clit inside my mouth and release it, then suck again, and this time instead of moving away, I suck on it harder, again and again. My tongue swirls around her clit. I lightly bite on it, drawing a moan out of her.

“Oh God, yes!” Layla screams, her ass lifting from the mattress. “Clay, please…”

My lips, my tongue, my teeth are tasting her, teasing her, pushing her closer and closer to her edge. Her legs are trembling as she tries to shut them, but I don’t let her. I keep her legs wide open, my lips glued to her clit. She always comes just fine with my cock deep inside her pussy, but I know that the strongest orgasm is when I work on her clit.

“Yes, yes, yes!” She’s so fucking loud, I can’t help myself and double my efforts. Layla is arching her back. Her ass is in the air and only her shoulders and her head are on the mattress. “Clay, I’m coming. I’m…I’mma…Oh, God!”

Her body convulses, her skin vibrating under my touch. I don’t stop, not until I know she’s spent. For now.

I let go of her legs and they dangle off the bed as she lies on my sheets, breathing hard. I lower myself on top of her, my hands on both sides of her face as I hold myself above her. Her eyes are hooded with her desire, a lazy smile resting on her lips.

“It was everything,” Layla whispers. She winds her hands around my shoulders, sighing sweetly in my mouth as I press my lips to hers. “You are everything.”

“I’m gonna miss you so fucking bad,” I confess.

“I’m gonna miss you too.” Her fingers tangle in my hair, massaging my scalp. “It’s one year…and then I’ll be back.”

“For good?” I ask, leaning away and staring down at her.

“For good.” Layla nods, and I cover her lips with mine with so much force she whimpers. God, I’m crazy over her.

Layla is asleep.Her chest moves rhythmically from her breathing. I watch her, feeling a pang in my chest. All the happiness, the passion I felt an hour ago, is nowhere to be seen. I’m full of sadness. The anticipation of her flight that will take her away from me again is eating me alive.

I’m wide awake, so instead of tossing and turning, I snatch my cell from the nightstand, unlock it, and launch Safari. As I type Harry Winston in the search bar, my lips curl into a smile. I wonder how come I never thought about this before. Proposing to her with the ring strongly associated with her favorite TV show, and with her favorite couple? It should’ve been a plan a long time ago.

The website loads, and the more I look at the engagement rings, the more my skin warms. Next year when she comes to me to stay—I’m going to propose to her with the prettiest engagement ring ever.

Because Layla deserves the best.

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