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Claire shifts in her seat, her delicate hands clasped together. "Well, I've always had a passion for helping others. I was the kid who would give all her pencils away and then not have one for myself." She smiles, but then her smile fades. "It used to piss my father off so much. He told me to let them get their own pencils, that we weren't running a charity house."
She shakes her head. "We never saw things in the same light. My father is the kind of man who believes that anyone who's poor is poor by choice—that if they just had more ambition and drive, they could have what he has. But, he was born into money too. Just like I was."
Claire's eyes meet mine. "And I can't help but think that starting point makes it easier, you know? What about all those who don't have starting capital?"
I nod, agreeing with her completely. Her words are like a balm to my soul, soothing the restless beast inside me that longs to possess her completely. It's clear that her heart is as beautiful as her face, and I find myself falling deeper under her spell with every word.
"Who are some of the people you've met there?" I venture, genuinely curious about the lives she's touched.
"Let me see..." She taps a finger against her lips, her eyes lighting up as she recalls their stories. "There's Mr. Thompson, an elderly man who lost his wife last year. He comes in every day, not just to eat, but to have someone to talk to."
"Then there's Maria and her two kids. They were evicted from their apartment when they couldn't afford the rent anymore. She's been working two jobs to try to get them back on their feet."
As Claire talks, I can't help but admire her empathy and determination. Despite being dealt a difficult hand, she remains focused on helping others, refusing to let her own struggles weigh her down.
"Have you ever considered starting your own nonprofit organization?" I ask, thinking that with her passion and dedication, she could make a real impact.
"Maybe someday," she responds with a shy smile. "Right now, though, I just want to be there for the people who need me."
That's when it hits me. I need Claire too. I may not have been evicted or lost a spouse, but her presence in my life has awakened something within me that I didn't even know existed. She's become my light in the darkness, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep her close.
So many years now, I've lived in solitude, never even realizing my loneliness until this beautiful angel stumbled into my repair shop.
We fall into silence again. All I can think about is Claire and how fucking amazing she is. She's beautiful—inside and out. And as I drive, the tension between us grows, becoming so thick it's almost tangible. It's as if we're dancing around each other, both aware of the fire that's been ignited, yet too afraid to fan the flames.
My thoughts are a whirlwind of desire and doubt, wondering how I'll manage to keep my hands off her when every fiber of my being screams for me to claim her as my own. She's everything that's pure and innocent in this world, a beautiful enigma I can't help but want to unravel.
"Almost there," I say, my voice strained with the effort it takes not to reach out and touch her. "Just a little longer."
I'm unable to resist reaching out to briefly brush my fingers against her hand. The heat of her skin sears into mine, branding me with a desire that I know will never be quenched.
As we continue down the road, I find myself making silent promises to both Claire and myself. I swear to protect her, to cherish her, and to give her everything her heart desires.
The moment we pull up to my modest home, I can't help but feel a little nervous. It's nothing fancy—just a small, single-story house that I've put my heart and soul into fixing up. But as I glance over at Claire, her beauty casting an ethereal glow in the dimming sunlight, I worry that it won't be enough for her.
She's an uptown girl, and I'm just a simple hard-working mechanic, but then I shake my head and remind myself of everything Claire just told me. She's not like most rich folk.
"Here we are," I say, trying to keep my voice steady as I park the car in the driveway. "Home sweet home."
"It's beautiful," Claire says breathlessly with a warm smile that makes my chest puff out in pride. "I love it."
I love you.The thought hits me unbidden like a ton of bricks, but I let them sink and settle there. It's true. It might be fast, but I'm already head over heels in love with this beautiful woman. If anyone had asked me just yesterday if I believed in love at first sight, I'd probably had said 'I don't know,’ but I know now. I'm a believer because Claire has changed me.
I step out of the car and walk around to her side, my heart pounding like a jackhammer against my ribcage. I extend my hand to her, and when she places her slender fingers in mine, it feels like I've been given a lifeline. As she steps out, her foot catches on the edge of the car door, causing her to stumble forward.
"Whoa!" I exclaim, my arms instinctively wrapping around her as I catch her before she hits the ground. Our bodies press together, the heat between us crackling like a wild, untamed fire. I can feel her chest heaving against mine as she gasps in shock, her wide-eyed gaze locked onto mine.
"Th-thank you," she stutters, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of pink. "I'm so clumsy."
"It's okay. I've got you," I reassure her, my voice low and husky as I struggle to ignore the burning desire coursing through my veins.
Her green eyes turn up to mine, and fuck, I'm gone.
I stare down at her. Her lips part, and I tuck a strand of her auburn hair behind her ear, admiring the way it curls around the lope. I allow my fingers to graze the side of her porcelain cheek. "You're perfect," I whisper thickly.
"Billy," Claire whispers my name, and the thin thread of control that's kept me in check breaks.
I can't stop myself.
