Chapter 20
Grant
Clay’s truck rumbles to life, the engine shuddering beneath me as it warms. The sound fills the cold morning air, loud and unavoidable, and with it comes the end of our fun. Of lazy, naked warmth tangled in sheets.
Reality has arrived.
We have to go into town. Jo has a doctor’s appointment today to have her foot rechecked, and we’re all hoping this is the day she’s cleared to take off the walking boot. Hopefully, we weren’t too rough. That I wasn’t too rough.
I have to open the hardware store this morning, and Clay is coming with me while he waits for the information he needs. Life moves forward in small, practical steps, while hers feels stuck in place.
Her situation pisses me off. That someone else has this much power over her life. Actually, two dead people are still pulling her strings, dictating her choices.
Forcing her to run. To be alone.
It’s cruel. And where’s her family? Her friends? The people who should’ve caught her when she fell. When this all started happening.
We didn’t push for answers. What she shared was already heavy enough, and I could see how much it cost her to say it out loud. But she needs someone to talk to. It doesn’t have to be us—maybe it shouldn’t be—but I’m going to try to help her find someone.
She needs time to heal. To figure out how to live again. To make choices for herself without fear holding her back. Jo has too much spirit to be trapped like this. I know she has dreams; places she wants to go, things she’s always wanted to try.
And then there’s Clay.
That’s what worries me most. He’s clearly smitten, and that scares me. This can’t be forever. I doubt she’d even consider something like that. Sure, this has been fun. She’s smart and sexy, and her fire is unmatched.
But these kinds of relationships don’t work.
Do they? Would I even consider it?
I love my husband. He’s all I’ve ever needed. He’s my everything.
“Let’s go.”
I shake my head, trying to quiet the spiral of my thoughts. The air is sharp as he helps Jo into the truck. The ride to the clinic is quiet, tires humming over pavement. We drop her off out front.
“Have a great appointment,” I tell her. “I hope they let you ditch the walking boot.”
“Thanks. Me too.” She smiles, then adds, “I’ve got a few errands to run after.”
“Let us know when you’re done,” Clay says, his voice careful as he helps her down. “We’ll give you a ride. I still don’t think you should be alone.”
“I’ll let you know.”
She closes the door. The sound feels final.
I look at my husband. Hope flickers across his face, and my heart tightens because I already know. She isn’t coming back home with us. Our time with her is over. I feel it.
Clay is quiet on the drive to my store. I lace my fingers through his, squeezing his hand, trying to say I’m here, but I need more.
I need my husband. I will always need him.
He’s a few steps ahead of me as we walk into the hardware store. The familiar smell of wood, metal, and dust wraps around me like an old friend. I don’t turn on the lights. Not yet. The pale morning glow through the windows is enough for now.
I tug his hand, stopping him in the corner, right where I want him.
“Love, I want you.” I pause to kiss him. “I need to feel you.” It feels like forever since I've been inside my husband. I know it's not, but with Jo in our bed, I want to make sure our connection isn’t shaken. That he isn’t forgetting us.
“Now? Here? Aren't you about to open?” Clay looks around, as if people will be coming in at any moment.
“We'd better make it quick then," I smirk.
“That will only make it hotter.” Working at the store always gives me plenty of ideas and sometimes too much time on my hands.
I pull him over, tying his wrists together with the rope I have ready and securing them to the well-placed carabiner above his head.
“I knew this would be perfect,” I whisper more to myself.
“Were you thinking about me at work?” His smile widens.
“I’m always thinking of you, love.” My knees hit the floor, and I quickly free his cock. The memories of me teaching Jo to suck my husband flit through my mind. I groan around his shaft. Sucking him hard and fast. I want him on the edge.
His hips push into my face, forcing me to take him deeper. Fuck, I forgot how strong he is. I grip his thighs tight as I pull back, leaving his dick wet from my saliva.
I work his jeans all the way off, then free my aching cock. It’s desperate to fill his hole. Desperate to feel him.
“Can't get your shirt messy.” I pull it up and over his neck. Marveling at the sight of him.
“Beautiful. I wish I could keep you like this all day.” I sigh, knowing we don’t have a lot of time. “Now, I need to fuck my husband.”
I don’t like this feeling inside of me. It’s wrapped around my stomach and is squeezing. I have never felt insecure in our relationship… until now.
Am I reminding him or myself of our marriage? How did this woman flip everything upside down so fast?
I'm hard and ready for his tight hole. I lube up, giving him a show of stroking myself. It's torture for the man who loves my cock and can’t touch it.
“Ready, love."
“Always." He says panting, just as desperate for me as I am for him.
My hands grab behind his knees, pulling them up and open as I lean into him. Pressing slowly, inch by inch, getting lost in him.
“Oh god..." His head tilts back as I keep going. Deeper. And deeper, until I’m fully seated. Not an inch between us and nowhere for him to go.
“I'm going to fuck this tight hole so hard you won't sit for the rest of the day.” I need him to remember us. To not forget us.
“Yes. Give it to me. Please.” Clay whimpers.
“Fuck, love, you know I can't resist when you beg."
He takes everything I give him. Long and hard strokes as I slam into him. Fucking him deep. Shaking the shelves on both sides of us. My mouth finds his in a brutal kiss. One filled with passion, love, and all my insecurities.
His cock is trapped between us. Leaking over both of us. Trapped in our body’s friction.
"Ah! Clay!" I cry out, filling his hole. I can feel his dick twitching between us. I suck in a few quick breaths, then slide my cock out and lower his legs before he even has time to think.
Thankful that his arms are holding him steady. My mouth takes his cock deep, and I slide in three thick fingers to continue fucking him with my cum until he's spilling down my throat.
“Fuck, Grant.... that... ohfuck… shit!”
I milk every drop from him. Taking everything he’ll give me.
“We need to come here more often," He laughs breathlessly.
“I'm sorry if I was too rough. I just... I needed that.” I’m afraid to admit my new fear. I just hope he understands and that we talk soon. Maybe then I’ll have found the right words. I don’t want to disappoint him.
“You'll never hear me complaining.” His breaths are coming out heavy and shallow.
“Good.” I give him one last kiss. “Let’s get cleaned up, and the store opened. I think we avoided having an audience.”
“Sounds good. I have some time to kill so that I can help with some restocking or whatever you need." I unfasten the rope and pull him to me. “That’s if my legs work today.”
We both laugh and put ourselves back together.
“I think we should stock up on some rope for at home. Maybe some other exploring with Jo?" Clay announces, as if he has new ideas. “Now that’s going to be stuck in my head all day. I'd better get a lot of red rope."
My laugh feels forced as I go to open the shop. I just gave him everything, and he’s already brought her back up. My doubts tug stronger than before.
What else am I supposed to do?