Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Claire
I sit at the table on my balcony, squinting against the bright sunlight. It’s another beautiful summer morning, carrying the promise of heat later in the day. But it’s still reasonably cool at the moment, and I wrap my light robe more tightly around me.
Bryce comes out from the kitchen, putting a plate of scrambled eggs, avocado and toast in front of me to accompany the coffee he’s already made.
He drops a kiss on my hair, then sits down opposite me, digging into his own breakfast. His hair is still damp from an early surf; I insisted he go, knowing what it means to him to be in the water, telling him I would be fine.
I watch him for a moment, my heart full.
I still can’t believe my good luck, that he cared enough to come back for me after the way I treated him.
I’ve realised that I built walls after my parents died, and I let in the wrong people.
Wrong person, anyway. But I need to stop beating myself up about Simon.
I was in a bad place when I met him, and he took advantage of that.
I was lucky to have good friends around me to get me out of that situation.
And it seems I’m still lucky. Bryce told me about Kylie and how she explained everything to him, even though he was already on his way back.
I still can’t believe he was willing to leave his family for me, especially with everything that he had going on.
We’re heading to Melbourne today, where I’m going to meet his mum and, hopefully, his sister.
She’s recovered enough to start her rehab and it’s at a facility where she’s allowed visitors, so we’re going to drop by.
It will be the first time we’ve left my house since he brought me home from the hospital five days ago.
My head is feeling better, the wound starting to itch as it heals.
We’ve spent most of the time in bed. Bryce insists on it, telling me I need to rest, then making gentle torturous love to me.
I’m not complaining about that at all, except for the fact I know he’s holding back. I want him to unleash.
But I’m letting him set the pace. I threw him out of my life, and now that he’s back in it, I’m content for him to do what feels right for him.
“You not hungry?”
I realise Bryce has almost finished his breakfast, while I’ve been sitting here staring into space. I take in a deep breath and stretch my arms over my head.
“I am. Sorry. Just lost in thought.”
“Anything good?”
“Just you.” I smile at him. “So yeah. Very good.”
“I’ve booked us into a hotel tonight.” He drains his coffee, putting the mug down. “You all right with that?”
“Sure.” I frown, slightly. “I thought your mum said we could stay with her.”
“Claire, there are many things a man can do under his mother’s roof. But if I’m going to do what I want to do to you tonight, I’d rather we had a little privacy.” His green gaze darkens, starting to smoulder.
“Oh yes?” I’m breathless, tingling between my legs.
“Yes.” He gets up, taking his plate and mug back inside. He drops another kiss on me on the way past. “And that, my darling, is a promise.”
Bryce
We get to Melbourne around lunch time.
Mum loves Claire, of course. They take to each other as though they’ve known each other forever.
With Claire’s permission I told Mum a little of her history, just to save them both from any awkward questions about her parents.
And when I see how natural they are together, Mum’s caring nature taking over, I begin to hope that maybe she might be able to fill some of that space in Claire’s life.
It’d be good to know they’re looking after each other while I’m away.
Because I have to leave. My job is surfing, after all, and while there are excellent waves here, I have to travel as part of it.
I want Claire with me, as much as possible, but I can’t ask her to give up her life to follow me around the globe.
It’s the only thorn in my happiness, to be honest, and a conversation we have to have. But for now, I’m enjoying the moment.
My feelings are getting stronger every day.
I didn’t think it was possible, but each moment I’m with Claire makes me love her more.
I’m going to tell her, tonight. After I’ve fucked her properly.
Several times. I’ve been holding back the past few days, not wanting to hurt her.
I would have abstained completely but she is irresistible, especially when she wants something.
I’m nervous about her meeting Millie, though.
I’ve never brought a girl home to meet my family before, and while I had no worries about Mum, Mil is a different deal.
She’s recovering, for starters and has just been through absolute shit.
But when I see Claire sit down with her, the way they talk and laugh together, I think Claire might actually be the perfect person for her to talk to.
After all, she understands what it’s like to have a shitty, violent ex-boyfriend that won’t get out of your life.
They hug like old friends when we leave, and when Millie wraps her arms around me to say goodbye, she whispers in my ear.
“Hang on to this one, if you can.” She smiles a crooked smile, waving as we walk away.
I have no plans to let Claire go, and now we’re finally alone in our hotel suite, I plan to show her how much I missed her. Champagne cools in an ice bucket, rose petals scattered on the white bed. It’s romantic as hell and not my usual style, but it just feels normal with Claire.
She wanders around the room, her hand trailing on the petal-strewn bed.
She’s wearing a little green dress with a short, flared skirt and a low V-neck, big sleeves that go in tight at the wrist. Sexy, but not too sexy for meeting family.
It hasn’t stopped me from wanting to slip my hand under the skirt and find out what she’s wearing underneath.
She makes her circuit of the room and comes back to me. She kisses me softly on the cheek, then turns her back to me. “Unzip me, please.” She glances over her shoulder, those ocean eyes of hers pulling me in. My dick twitches in response. I pull my shirt over my head, and her gaze darkens.
She lifts her dark hair so I can get to the zip at the back of her dress.
I undo it, tracing my tongue down her back as I go.
She shivers, arching back, and I want her so badly.
But I also want her to enjoy the moment.
She pulls the dress from her shoulders, letting it drop to the floor.
She’s wearing black lace beneath it, a bra that pushes her breasts up and a thong that barely covers her.
I kneel, taking it in between my teeth and pulling down slowly.
She giggles.
“What?” I look up at her, frowning.
“Bryce, you need to take that off me and fuck me like you mean it. Stop messing around.”
Fucking hell. This woman. I don’t know if I could love her more than I do in this moment. I stand, running my hands lightly up her body, squeezing her nipples through the lace of her bra.
“Messing around? I have no idea what you mean.”
One dark eyebrow arches, a challenge in her blue gaze. “Oh, really? Let me show you.”
Her hand comes to my chest and she backs away from me until her arm is straight, her fingertips barely touching me. She sways her hips, sinuous, her other hand running down her body, between those lush tits, then disappearing between her thighs.
“Jesus,” I blow out on a breath.
“Ooh.” She bites her lip, her eyes half-closed as her fingers get to work.
I lunge for her but she dances back, out of reach, still keeping me at arm’s length.
She twists away, pulling one side of her thong down so it cuts into the soft flesh of her ass, shooting a glance at me over her shoulder.
Holy fuck. I want to strip her, want to lick and suck her until she screams, want to fuck her until we both pass out.
Okay. I see what she means about messing around.
I undo my jeans, stepping out of them, getting rid of my jocks.
My dick is heavy, throbbing with need, erect as all fuck.
I grab a condom, rolling it on. Claire is still dancing around me, slowly pulling one strap of her bra down so her breasts threaten to overflow the cups, a rosy-pink peak popping free.
“Oops.” She pulls the strap back up, but she’s giggling so much at this point that she trips over my discarded jeans.
I catch her before she hits the ground.
“I have you now, wicked wench,” I growl, burying my face in her tits, pulling the lace of her bra aside with my teeth and sucking on her nipples.
“Harder,” she gasps. “Fuck, Bryce, yes.”
I carry her to the bed, pushing her back against the pillows, pulling off her thong. Her legs part and I bend down, swiping my tongue through her glistening wetness, drinking her in. Then I lift myself over her and enter her in one swift thrust.
Her head goes back and she cries out.
And I fuck her. Exactly like I mean it.