Page 74 of Sterling Clay

Clay laughs, but his expression shifts from mirth to surprise. “Oh, you were serious.”

“How much time do we have?” I ask wondering about the horses, the weather, and Violet watching Dutton.

“We’ll take all the time you need, butterfly. No rush.” He leans over and takes my mug, setting both his and mine on the floor near the stove. Standing at the end of the bed, his hands go to his belt. “Don’t know if I can make out with you naked, without wanting more.” He loosens his belt and starts unbuttoning his shirt and as much as I want to have sex with him here, I kind of like his idea better.

I pat the bed beside me. “Maybe we should keep our clothes on, and just kiss.”

“Nothing just about kissing you, beautiful.” He climbs up on the bed again, belt loose, shirt open, and crawls over me before leaning forward and kissing me, soft and sweet before hard and hungry.

And he’s right. There is nothing just about kissing this man.

Chapter 25

[Clay]

As we return to the horse stables, snow begins to lightly fall, like an early winter baptism. The cold air is necessary to calm my racing heart because Mavis and I kissed, only kissed, for an hour. And I’m fucking horny as hell now.

What a schmuck idea I had, suggesting we only make out.

Still, the afternoon had been a first on many levels. I hadn’t ever taken a woman horseback riding, hadn’t taken a woman to the little house, and I hadn’t made out with a woman for an afternoon like I’d told Mavis.

New kinds of firsts. I loved each and every one of them because I am in love with Mavis.

This had to be it. Had to be how love felt. That desire to spend all my time with her, have her in my space. I loved kissing and talking, cuddling and laughing. I loved how she was with Dutton and that she saw my effort. I adored him.

And I will do whatever it takes to keep them both in my life.

A week passes, and I’ve never been more grateful for a Friday. Not that my business is the Monday through Friday kind, but I was trying to take off a day or two when Mavis had off from the hospital. However, tomorrow, I was taking Dutton on our ‘date’ while Mavis works.

When I arrive home, which my house has been for me for years, but suddenly feels homier, I’m greeted by Dutton with an absentminded wave as he’s looking at something on his tablet. Mavis is a bit more enthusiastic to my entrance and tugs me into the kitchen, presses me up against the refrigerator and kisses me.

“Wow. Hello to you, too,” I tease, once she pulls away, chewing her lower lip.

“Hi, honey. I’m glad you’re home.”

Fuck. There’s just something great hearing her say such a thing to me.

“You’re in a good mood.” Running my hands from her shoulders to her wrists, I tug her to me again for a hug.

“I got paid today,” she mumbles into my neck, pressing a kiss there before pulling back once more. “And I have something for you.”

She’s so cute with her excitement. Pushing away from me, she holds up a finger to signal me to wait where I am, and she’ll be right back. She tips up on her toes for another quick kiss before disappearing. Anticipating her return, I help myself to a beer from the fridge finding the appliance full of groceries. Things had gotten a little slim and I had grocery shopping on my list of things to do, but apparently, I don’t need to.

I pop the top off the bottle and take a healthy swallow before Mavis re-enters the kitchen with an envelope.

“What’s this?” I chuckle, taking the surprise and flipping it over. Inside are several hundred-dollar bills.

“I owe you. For letting us stay here. I know it isn’t much but I . . .”

Her voice drifts as I close the envelope and hand it back to her. “I am not taking your money. I don’t need your money.”

“But I should pay you something. We’ve been here for weeks.”

Setting my beer on the counter, I lean into the cabinet as well. “Doesn’t matter. You’re not paying me like you’re renting a room, Mavis.”

She flinches at my use of her name. But I’m offended she thinks she owes me financially for being here.

“In fact, it’s time you unpack that damn suitcase.” She’d eventually put Dutton’s things in a dresser drawer in his room, because the space went from my extra bedroom to Dutton’s room.