Page 120 of Finding Home

“Which promise?” he asked, closing the space between them that she had just created looping his arms around her waist.

“To talk to you before I made a decision for you and to say what I wanted. I made a decision for us that it was best we end because of something so trivial as where we live. That doesn’t matter. That’s logistics. We can figure it out. I should have asked you what you wanted and told you what I wanted. What do you want, Clayton?” Elle looked up at him with beseeching eyes.

“I want you, Elle Davidson. I love you. I think I’ve loved you since you called me an asshole at that school dance.” He caressed her cheek. “I should have told you sooner. I told myself I was taking it slow for your benefit, but the truth is I was scared I’d lose you if I pushed too hard or moved too fast. I should have told you every day. When you left, I knew I had made a huge mistake letting you go. You didn’t ask but I should have taken my own advice and told you what I wanted. I want you. Now and always, Elle. If that means Fitz and I move to Long Beach or wherever, all that matters is that my life is gray without you. You’re the sun. You’re the moon. You’re my everything.” He captured her with a slow almost reverent kiss.

“That’s a good want.” Elle grinned as they broke their kiss.

“What do you want?”

“So much.”

“Be specific.” His mischievous smile teased her.

“I want to be with you. I want you to read aloud to me every night in your bad British accent. I want Fitz to sleep on my feet. I want to adopt Lizzie because I think I’m supposed to be her human and Fitz needs a sibling. Plus, I don’t want to be the only girl in the house. I want to redecorate the guest room because it needs more color.” She laughed. “I want you to hold my hand when we fly on trips together. I want to cheer you on at VFW darts. I want weekly dinners with your parents and my family. I want to run with you. I want to be not normal with you. A lot.” She nudged his hips suggestively.

“That’s a lot of wants.”

“There’s lots more. I’m not nearly done with the things I want.With you. Above all I want you to know I love you, Clayton Owens. I love you so much. I love you. I love you.” She raised to her tiptoes pressing kisses between each expression of her love for him.

He savored her mouth with his, Elle’s body flush against his.

He lifted her in his strong arms and Elle’s legs folded around him. Pressing her against the door, her fingers threading through his hair as they devoured each other. Whimpering moans escaped Elle as Clayton’s tongue found hers and their middles rubbed together.

The sound of a throat clearing was the only thing that could have pulled them apart.

“There are rooms for things like this.” An older man wearing a kind smile and pink cheeks said from in front of the door two down from Elle’s.

“Sorry.” Elle’s face flamed, as Clayton gently set her on her feet.

Clayton smiled apologetically.

Swiping her keycard, Elle ushered Clayton and Fitz into her room. Following Clayton’s wheeled suitcase, Elle shut the door and kicked off her shoes, running across the room leaping into Clayton’s waiting arms. Resuming their kisses, lips finding one another, tongues tangling, hands caressing, and bodies coming together.

Effortlessly he carried her to the bed, lowering her onto the soft comforter. Like a prowling predator he crawled up the length of her body settling between her legs, taking her mouth again.

Goosebumps blossomed across her skin as Clayton’s nimble fingers unbuttoned her blouse. With less grace, she yanked his T-shirt over his head. Clayton trailed his mouth downward. Her back arched in pleasure as he nipped, sucked, and kissed herbody. His hands sliding down her belly toward the button of her dress pants, unbuttoning them, and slipping his hands under the fabric, never breaking the seal between their lips.

She moaned as his lips left hers, then gasped as he nuzzled above the lace fabric of her panties.

“Clayton.” She bucked into his touch.

“Elle.” He almost purred her name, then stopped touching her, his jaw slack with disbelief. “Wait.”

“What?” Her face puckered.

“VFW? Farmhouse? Are you moving to Perry? What about your job? I can’t let you give up everything you’re doing. Baby, I love you too much to let you sacrifice all you’ve worked for.”

“Do you not want me to move to Perry?”

“I want you to do whatever you want. As long as it’s with me. I just don’t want you to give up anything. You’ve got me, I’m going wherever you go.” He threaded his fingers through her hair, his eyes adoring and pleading.

“I’m giving up nothing. I’m getting everything. I was offered a promotion today and accepted with one condition. They let me work remotely three weeks a month. One week a month I’ll fly back to Los Angeles. I’ll stay with Viet or Willa. It lets me still have time with my people there and the rest of the month with my people back home. I get it all because I asked for what I want…because I chose me and I’m worth the risk.” Pride and happiness swelled within her.

“And what you want is to come back to Perry?”

She caressed his cheek. “What I want is home and I finally found it…with you..”

He beamed. “And we know how sexy I find it when you ask for what you want.” The timbre of his voice was a low rumble.

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