"I'm not going anywhere." Nothing could tear him away from her side. Not now when he was finally in the one place he'd always wanted to be.
When he moved within range, she hooked her fingers around his belt loops and pulled him closer.
"Mmm," she purred, staring up at him. "I'm not sure I've ever seen anything look as tasty as you do."
"Is that so?"
"Mm-hmm." She pressed a hot kiss just below his navel, running her tongue along the tender skin. "But I'd love to see a little more."
"I'm sure that can be arranged," he replied as she unzipped his pants. There was a siren light in her eyes. He wouldn't be able to stop her even if the thought had drifted through his mind. As it was, he just wanted her to move faster.
Clara, however, was content to take her time. She dropped kisses along his waistband, her mouth moving ever closer to the part of his anatomy he most wanted to feel her breath against.
Slowly, far too slowly, she pulled the material down, leaving only his boxers. Walker kicked out of his trousers with a hast that was probably less than sexy but he didn't care. All that mattered was the feel of her little hands on his body.
A new smile curved her lips. One he'd never seen before in all their years together. One he'd bet only lovers would ever see. And it made her radiant.
His heart thumped in his chest at the sight of the hungry, excited little quirk of her lips. Ten years later and he was still learning about her. His Clara was a riddle he'd never be able to solve. Not even with a lifetime.
But damned if he didn't want to try.
"This is new," she said, running a finger over the length of his cock through his boxers.
"I assure you, it's not," he replied.
"New to me," she amended.
He leaned down to kiss her, her fingers still curled around his length. "Tomorrow you won't be able to say that."
"Good."
He drew back to see her eyes on his, a hope within them that made his breath catch.
Has anything in my life ever felt this right? He doubted it.
Her eyes still on his, she slid his boxers down. He kicked away the last piece of his clothing and stood silently before her. That deep chocolate gaze ran over ever inch of his body as she studied him as thoroughly as he'd studied her.
"Wow," she breathed her final verdict. "How the hell can you have a body like this when I've seen the junk food in your cupboards?"
"Just blessed," he said, climbing onto the bed.
She scooted back to make room for him. Or tried to.
Catching her ankles, he pulled her toward him as he rose over her.
"Much better," he said, settling between her legs.
"Yeah?" She arched a brow as she lazily draped her arms around his shoulders. "I'd think a smart man like you would want to make a few more adjustments."
Grinning, he drew his lips over the tops of her breasts. "I could think of one or two." Rolling her to the side, he deftly unhooked her bra with one hand.
"Smooth," she teased, stripping the material from her arms.
The sight of her breasts, however, burned away any response he might have had. He stared down at her, wondering how the hell he'd gotten so lucky. This was a body he looked forward to worshipping.
"Mine," he growled, catching one rosy nipple in his mouth.
Clara hissed out a breath as her head rolled back. Fingers delved into his hair, urging him closer. He ran his tongue over the sensitive skin, enjoying the taste of her in his mouth. Reality was far better than any fantasy he'd ever had of her. With her laid out before him, he couldn't decide what he wanted to focus on first. Like a kid in a candy store, he was overwhelmed at the bounty lying before him. And he intended to savor ever inch of her.
"I'll never get enough of you," he promised, raining butterfly kisses down on her face.
She giggled, batting him away, but there was no ignoring the utter joy in her expression when she gazed up at him. "Fine with me," she said.
Pressing a kiss between her breasts, he slid lower, running his mouth over the exposed skin.
"Walker," she murmured when he lapped at her navel.
"Hush," he whispered. "Indulge me?"
"You don't … you don't have to do that."
He chuckled even as he nipped at her thigh. "Have to? Sweetheart, I can't imagine anything more satisfying than making you scream my name."
He glanced back up at her to see a blush staining her cheeks. "I'm not really all that loud … "
He laughed. "Challenge accepted."
"No, I didn't mean-"
He ran his hands between her thighs, gently pushing them open. "I know what you meant. Relax, Clara."
She nibbled on her lower lip for a moment before he felt the tension in her legs ease.
"Good girl," he purred, kissing her inner thigh.
He took his time, playing with the sensitive skin he could reach. Her breath quickened as he drew one finger along the slit of her panties.
"God," she gasped.
"Not a nickname I'd refuse." Hooking his fingers across her panties, he slid them down her legs.
Look at her. All wet and ready. Just for me.
Something primal rose within him as he gazed at her. Clara was his. No matter what happened in the future. Tonight, seeing her like this, it was all worth it. They couldn't have gone on as they had been for much longer. He never would have been able to hide his need for her forever.
And now he didn't have to hide anything. He could touch her as he wanted. Taste her. Make her cry out for him.
She was his in a way no one else ever had been. And he had a sneaking suspicion, no one else ever would be either.
And he fully intended to enjoy the revelation.
…
This is real. This is happening.
Clara could barely credit it. But here she was, spread naked before Walker. His lips ran up her inner leg, making the butterflies in her stomach do freaking summersaults.
Walker is touching me this way. He's-
His tongue traced along her slit, nearly sending her arching from the bed.
Reaching out blindly, she fisted her hands in the bedsheets under her. It felt wrong, as if she was doing the forbidden, and yet there was no ignoring the fact that wrong had never felt so deliciously right. Was this why people did stupid things with people they shouldn't? Were they all chasing after this feeling? Because she worried sex with Walker might just be a lifelong addiction.
She bit her lip as his tongue encircled her clit, one finger sliding into her.
"Walker," she breathed, rolling her hips against his clever mouth. He touched her with sure fingers, knowing how best to make her writhe with need. Every stroke of his tongue made the lust within her burn brighter. A mewling sound escaped her as she tried to hold the need in. He seemed to take the sound as encouragement, adding a second finger to the first.
"Please," she cried, squirming as he played with her. "I need you."
She'd never needed anyone with the desperation she needed him. Was this the feeling she'd been missing for so many years? She should have known Walker would be the answer. They'd always been closer than normal friends. Always clicked in a way she'd never been able to replicate with anyone else. It made sense that connection would extend into the bedroom, too.
"Dammit, Walker," she shouted as he grazed her clit oh so gently with his teeth. Pleasure shot through her, pooling between her legs. As good as he was making her feel, she wanted more. Wanted something more substantial than his wicked tongue.
"Please, please, please," she said, pulling at his shoulders to bring him back up to her. "I can't wait any longer."
His grin was pure male. "Maybe I like making you wait."
She reached down, encircling his hard cock with her hand. "I'm all for playing," she said, pumping her fist over him until he groaned. "But right now, I want to feel you inside me. Can you really tell me you don't want that, too?"
He dropped his head against her collarbone as she rubbed her thumb over the crown of his cock. "I'm ready for you," she whispered into his ear. "So hot and wet. Do you really want to make us both wait?"
"That would make me a very dumb man," he panted.
"And we both know you're brilliant. Prove it."
Dropping a kiss on her shoulder, he moved off her and fished his pants from the floor. Pushing up on her elbows, she watched him rifle through the pockets with a desperation that had satisfaction spiraling through her.
"Got it," he said, pulling a condom from his pocket.
She laughed as he came back to her. "Your pocket, hmm? Guess I was a sure thing."
He kissed her with a burning intensity. "I was hopeful. One thing I've learned in my career is to be prepared for anything."
"Is that so?" She twined her arms over her head and pushed her breasts up against his chest.
"But I could never be prepared for you."
The soft words froze her teasing. She looked up into his serious gaze and realized he wasn't joking.