Chapter Twenty-Nine
Tessa
I can’t remember the last time I felt this light.
It’s late, after eleven now, but the diner carries an easy warmth that makes the rest of the world feel far away.
For the first time, I’m sitting across from Clay in public as a couple.
There’s no more hiding, no more pretending we’re something we’re not.
Our relationship was leaked to the public tonight, and when he was asked about it, he claimed me as his, without hesitation.
I didn’t realize how much I needed that until now.
My phone buzzes on the table beside me—again. The screen lights up with more missed texts. My parents. Steven. By now, I don’t doubt they’ve already seen the interview.
I don’t want them to worry, so aside from sending them a text to let them know I’m okay, I don’t read their messages, and I don’t say anything further.
Right now, I just want to sit here with Clay, listening to the scrape of his fork against the plate and the quiet rumble of his laugh. For once, I don’t want to let the outside noise in.
Tonight, I want to soak in this feeling of it just being us. I want to stay at this moment a little longer before the world catches up.
Clay insists on paying for dinner even though I argue half-heartedly that I owe him, since we are celebrating his win, too, after all. He just smirks, drops a few bills on the table, and mutters something about taking care of me tonight.
Outside, the cold hits hard enough to burn my cheeks, but his hand finds mine before we even make it to the truck. He doesn’t let go. Not as we drive through the streets and not when we climb the steps to his apartment.
The second we step inside, the air shifts.
It’s warmer here, dim light spilling from the kitchen, and the faint smell of his cologne still hanging in the air. My pulse picks up before the door even clicks shut behind us.
Clay turns toward me, his jacket unzipped, his expression dark and unreadable. For a beat, neither of us moves. Then I take a step closer. Just one, and that’s all it takes.
His hands find my waist, pulling me in until there’s no space left between us. I forget how to breathe as his lips crash on mine in a punishing kiss, like he’s been holding it in all night.
We stumble backward, and a breathless laugh escapes my lips until my back hits the wall. The sound that slips from him is more of a growl than a moan, and it sends a rush through me that’s hotter than the air between us.
His mouth finds mine again, deeper this time, and his fingers slide into my hair, anchoring me there like he can’t stand the thought of letting go.
The kiss turns urgent, messy in all the best ways, and before I realize it, we’re tangled together, moving from the wall to the counter.
He hoists me up in his arms, and I press my forehead against his.
When he pulls back, just far enough to look at me, the weight of his gaze nearly knocks the wind out of me.
“Tess, baby, we’re gonna have to make this quick the first time. I need you so bad right now, I can’t wait another second to feel your tight pussy around me.”
He wraps his hands around me, gripping my hips as he lifts me and sets me on the island in the kitchen.
“I want to hear you, baby. There’s no more hiding this anymore, and I want you to let me hear how much that means to you because it means everything to me.”
I nod, unable to form words. He slides my jacket over my shoulders, tossing it toward the table before his hands reach for the hem of my shirt, lifting it over my head.
“Lift your hips for me, baby,” he mutters after he flicks the button of my jeans, and I follow his orders before unhooking my bra, dropping it along with the rest of my clothes on the floor.
He runs his hands up my side until he cups my breasts, and I lean back, giving him full access to me, spreading my legs open to make room for him.
“You’re so fuckin’ perfect, Tess,” Clay grunts, brushing his fingers over my nipples.
When he leans in and wraps his lips around the beaded skin, I grind against him, tossing my head back. He flicks his tongue against me, and I let out a throaty moan.
“Clay,” I beg.
“Tell me what you need,” he pleads, like he’s desperate to hear me say it.
“I want you to touch me.”
“Where?”
I can feel the heat flush my cheeks. I raise my hips for him again, spreading my thighs open wider. Clay flashes me a teasing grin, like he’s not going to give in until I say it.
“Right here?” he asks, bending down until his mouth is lined up at my center. He turns his head and presses a soft kiss against the apex of my thigh. His tongue darts out, licking my skin before trailing a path up until he blows a heated breath over my aching core.
I tremble uncontrollably with desire, and Clay hums in response.
“I can see how wet you are for me, Sugar. Your sweetness is soaking your panties.”
He runs his finger over my slit and back down, and my body shudders. If this is the way he has me now, I’m going to fall apart when he actually touches me.
He leans in to trace his tongue along the same path, glancing back up to find my eyes, staring me down.
The girl I used to be would’ve never let it get this far.
I never would’ve been here like this, lights on, heart racing, laid out on the counter with nowhere to hide.
But right now, there’s no hesitation. He’s close enough that I can feel his warm breath over my slick pussy, and all I want is to beg him to touch me.
“Tell me where, Tess.”
“Clay, please.”
“Say it. Right now. Where do you want me to touch you?”
“My pussy.” My face heats. “I want you to lick and touch my pussy, Clay. Please.”
With a grunt, Clay tears my panties off and flicks his tongue through my slit before sucking my clit into his mouth.
My back arches off the counter, exhaling a mix of swear words and begging him not to stop over and over as my legs begin to quiver. I want so badly for him to make me come that I’m almost desperate for it.
Clay quickly stands, shoving his pants below his hips, and grips his dick in his fist. I lean on my elbows to watch him, giving it a few pumps before he runs his thumb over the bead of pre-cum leaking from the head and rubbing it over my pussy.
He stares up at me, slapping his cock against my clit, and I tremble, wrapping my legs around his waist and pulling him closer.
I cup my breasts together, pinching and plucking my nipples. His eyes stay trained on me as he moves my legs back until my knees are pressed against my chest.
“Hold your legs open for me,” he orders, and I loop my arms under my knees.
He spreads my pussy open, running his finger through my slit again before he licks up at my entrance.
“You don’t even understand how fuckin’ beautiful you are. You look so sexy like this, spread out for me.”
“Clay—” I plead as he slides in slowly, taking his time letting me feel every inch.
My core tightens, and he swears under his breath, muttering about how tight I am and how good it feels.
He moves my legs so they’re pressed against his chest, gripping my hips in his hands as he fucks me hard and fast. He alternates between slow and fast, slowly pulling all the way out before thrusting in deep again.
“Oh God,” I groan. “Do it again.”
I can see the subtle tick of his jaw, his nostrils flaring as he struggles to restrain himself.
Shifting one of my legs until it’s wrapped around his waist, I use this position to urge him closer to me, silently begging for him to fuck me.
“You trying to take control, Tessa?” he mutters, sliding his hand between us until he wraps it around my throat.
I tremble, my back arching again. “No, you’re in control. I promise.”
“That’s right, so you tell me what you need. Say it.”
“Harder. Give it to me harder. It feels so good. Don’t stop,” I beg.
Any leftover reservations I still have shatter at that moment. Clay’s gaze turns glassy with desire. He pulls me closer until my lower half is hanging off the counter and uses it to drive into me in deep, punishing thrusts.
The counter digs into my back, but I don’t even care. I’m so close to coming, I can’t even see straight. Clay is right behind me, finishing inside me with a loud growl.
He reaches around me to lift me from the counter and carries me across the apartment before we collapse on the couch.
“Clay, we should probably go get cleaned up,” I whisper, feeling the mix of our orgasms coating the inside of my thighs.
“It’s fine. This couch would be better suited for a doctor’s office anyway. I hate this damn thing,” he grumbles, and I laugh, resting my head against his shoulder.
After a few quiet minutes, once our hearts slow to a steady rhythm, I lift my head to look him in the eyes. “I still can’t believe that just happened,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper, a smile tugging at my lips before I can stop it.
Clay’s mouth curves. It’s one of his signature grins that has a way of unraveling me. “Yeah, well, you should get used to it. I can already see a lot of date nights followed by dessert in our future.” He grins, wagging his brows.
“Clay—” I laugh, startled, my hands gripping his shoulders. “What are you doing?”
“Getting us cleaned up,” he says, the teasing edge in his voice softening. “We made a bit of a mess out here. Plus, I figured it’s time I show you my bathtub.”
I settle against his chest again, hearing the steady thump of his heart through his shirt. The chaos of everything that’s happened still lingers in the back of my mind, but his arms around me quiet everything. For the first time all day, I let myself breathe.
His grip stays firm as he carries me down the hall. In the bathroom, he sets me on the counter and reaches past me to start the water. Steam builds fast, fogging the mirror and softening everything around us.
He turns to me, tucking the strand of hair framing my face behind my ear.
“Can I ask you something?” I whisper.
“Of course.”
“Tonight, during the press conference… you told everyone you love me. Did you—”
“Mean it?” he finishes for me, his voice low but sure. “Yeah. I meant it.”
The air shifts. My heart stumbles.
He steps closer, his palm finding my cheek, thumb brushing along my skin like he’s memorizing the moment. “I didn’t say it for them, Tess. And I’m sorry I didn’t say it to you first. I said it because it’s true. I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time. And I’m done hiding it.”
The tears come before I can stop them.
“I love you too,” I whisper. The words feel fragile but certain, like they’ve been waiting for this moment to finally belong somewhere.
He exhales before resting his forehead against mine. “Good,” he murmurs. “Because I don’t ever want you doubting it again.”
Steam curls thicker around us. He slides his arms around me again and lifts me from the counter, carrying me to the tub. He sets me down first before stripping off the rest of his clothes, then climbing in behind me. He pulls me in his arms, and I settle against him, my back pressed to his front.
“I spent too long running from the things that mattered,” he says softly. “But I’m not running anymore. I’m not going anywhere, not without you. You’re all I want. This is all I want.”
He’s the calm after every storm, the future, and the happy ending I’ve been searching for. And for once, the future doesn’t scare me.