Page 100 of Sterling Clay

“But I also wanted the fairy tale. A man by my side. The wedding and dress. A family to call my own.” She doesn’t look at me while she talks.

“Who doesn’t want the fairy tale, butterfly? Growing up I wanted my mom to be alive and my dad to love his kids. I wanted our beautiful, growing family to stay the way it was. Life happens, and I don’t say that as an excuse. Life is the fairy tale, if you look in all the little cracks and corners.”

Mavis still doesn’t look at me.

“One day, you meet a woman in your store, and you want her, but you can’t have her. And still, you long for her. Your day brightens when you catch a glimpse of her in town, or when she smiles at you like you are old friends.”

“Clay,” she whispers, her hands tightening around my wrists over her chest.

“And you don’t give up faith that you’ll deserve a smile like that from someone, if it can’t be her.” I kiss her neck and murmur near her ear, “How lucky am I, that one day, the queen became mine?”

Mavis twists a little more, giving me a glare like she doesn’t believe me.

“Those smiles became mine.” I kiss her shoulder. “And she still brightens my day when she looks at me.” I press the softest kiss to her jaw.

Then I pull back so we can look at one another better. Only, she shrugs. “Seems silly to still wish for the fairy tale at forty, though.”

“Why?” My brows pinch. I’m truly puzzled. “So the story might change a bit, but it has no less value to you.”

Mavis doesn’t look up, her hands coasting over the smooth surface of water in front of her.

“There’s nothing wrong with wanting normal, whatever normal might be. Quiet. Security. Stability.” I emphasize each word. “If that’s your fairy tale, then so be it.”

I take a deep breath. “And if you want a wedding, I’ll give it to you.”

“Clay.” Her voice is a warning, pinched with hurt. She thinks I’m joking.

“Butterfly, I told you I was falling for you, but the truth is I fell a long time ago. On a stolen smile, and kind words. Not to mention, you’re stunning. And by some lucky star, you became available. And I’m not letting my fairy tale pass.” I pinch her chin and make her look me in the eye. “I love you, butterfly.”

Her eyes well with tears again.

“And just to confirm my feelings for Dutton, as I’m the lucky guy with a package present. I love him, too.”

The tears tip over the rim of her eyes and her hand comes to my jaw. “I love you, too, honey.” Then her mouth is against mine, and while the kiss is slow, love fills every press and suck that turns to nips and licks, and then tongues coming together, until Mavis is twisting to straddle me.

With her hands around the back of my neck and my hands on her hips, she settles in my lap where I try to ignore how hard she’s made me, and we kiss and kiss, like that afternoon in the old cabin. Taking our time to let our mouths speak without words.

I love this woman. I love her child. And I want her to be my wife. They will be my family.

As the kiss heats, Mavis begins to move. Her center covering my length. The water sloshing around us.

“Let me just touch you, beautiful,” I beg against her mouth. Sliding my hand around her hip, I intend to slip it between us, get my fingers on where she’s slick and sensitive.

Mavis gently moves my hand back. “Let’s just be one.” Then, she’s wrapping her hand around me, holding my heavy shaft upright and positioning herself on the tip.

“I’m not—” My voice catches, as Mavis lowers herself, taking me into her body. Raw. Real. With nothing between us.

She gasps at the intrusion into her body, as I fill her full, until she settles on my lap. Glancing down first at where we are joined beneath the water, she then snaps her head up and our eyes catch.

“This is the best feeling in the world, baby. You are the best thing to ever happen to me.”

“That’s my line,” she whispers. “You’re the best person I’ve ever known, honey. And I never want to lose you.”

“You won’t.” I stretch up to kiss her, hard and deep, until my dick twitches inside her, needing more from her.

She pulls back and chuckles, glancing down where we connect. “It’s never been like this, felt like this.” She looks up again, her eyes filling with tears once more. “I love you so much, Clay.”

“I know, butterfly. I love you that much, too.” My mouth is on hers again, and then we move. Slow and rhythmic at first, like a practiced dance, until our mouths turn more frantic. We break apart, catching our breath as our bodies take over.