Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Beckett
As we re-entered the party and did a second round of saying hello and catching up with people, I marveled at Clara.
She flowed through conversations with poise and had such a natural grace about her. Everyone had a smile when they saw and spoke with her.
There were some whispers after we walked away from some groups, and I caught a few phrases.
Of course, none of them actually knew me, my family, or Clara. Most people didn’t comment when they noticed my hand on her back.
Except for May Wilkins. The older woman was a friend of my mother’s and had no filter. She ran one of the coffee shops in town and credited her success to her sharp mind – which she said stayed sharp thanks to good coffee and even better sex.
“It’s about time the two of you got your heads out of your asses.” She wiggled a finger at both of us.
Clara blushed, clearly at a loss for words. Few people could keep up with May, and fewer still ever had a response to one of her quips.
I nodded at the woman before I kissed Clara’s temple. “You’re right, Ms. May. I’m grateful my head is no longer somewhere so unpleasant.”
May’s eyes sparkled. “I bet you are, young man.” She reached out to grip my shoulder and placed her other hand on Clara’s cheek.
“Take care of each other – both outside of and inside the bedroom. An orgasm a day is the key to good health and a great life together.” With that, she winked at Clara, who gaped, and walked off.
A low laugh escaped as I decided to take the older woman’s advice. I leaned down to whisper, “Follow me,” and grasped Clara’s hand.
I led us to the kitchen area and out the side door that was off-limits to guests, and down the path away from the party. Laughter and chatter followed us until we were on the other side of the trees and fence that separated the Lodge from the private cabins my family used.
“What are we doing?” Clara asked.
“Listening to wise words,” was my answer. My cock was already hard in my jeans. I’d been ready to get Clara alone since before we’d even left my cabin to go to the party.
I hadn’t been able to stop touching her either, as if to reassure myself she was really there as my date, and in a shameless display to keep other men from flirting with her or asking her to dance like they’d done at other parties in the past.
This year, I wanted everyone to know Clara was mine.
I craved her touch, and the sounds she makes when my body moves with hers.
We were finally at the door to my cabin, and I managed to get it open without trouble.
“Beckett,” she started as she walked in ahead of me.
I closed the door, bolted the lock, grabbed her by the waist and whirled her around until she was against the wood, and kissed her. My body covered every soft curve of hers, and it was enough to drive me mad.
My hands gripped her waist, and I nudged my thigh between her legs. The small moan she let out only flamed my need for her.
She threaded her fingers through my hair, her nails sliding along my scalp. I growled at the sensation.
Without breaking our kiss, I lifted and carried her down the hall to the bedroom. That damned blue dress rode up as I gripped her thighs.
Fuck, her skin was so soft.
Clara giggled against me and moved her mouth from mine to my neck. The small licks and nips sent jolts of pleasure straight to my cock. I could barely get a thought in place, much less focus on opening the door.
Clara ground herself against me, her nails scratching down my back.
I finally got us in the room and locked the door. There were now two locked doors between us and the outside world – nobody was going to interrupt us again. I carried her to the bed and gently set her on the floor.
“Little wren, you have been torturing me all night with that dress.” My voice was rougher than normal, and I was barely holding myself together.
The need to touch her, taste her, bury myself in her, was overwhelming.
Clara grinned up at me, a wicked glint in her eyes. She walked her fingers up my chest as she said, “Then it’s a good thing we’re alone when I tell you that I’m not wearing panties.”