“I left it empty so you could put a picture of her in there.”
I close my fist tightly around the locket and wrap my arms around Adam’s neck. “Thank you.” I clench my teeth together to hold back the tears. “Thank you so much. I love it.”
He pulls me closer and I tighten my grip on him as I press the side of my face into his solid shoulder.
“Are you okay?” he asks, but I don’t respond.
I can’t tell him that I’ve been trying to avoid looking at Abigail’s picture ever since her parents backed out of our meeting. He knows how upset I was when it happened on Tuesday, but he doesn’t know how horribly I’m coping with it. I stuffed all my pictures of her into the manila envelope Chris gave me four weeks ago, then I asked Senia to hide the envelope.
The pain starts at the base of my ribs and spreads like fire into my chest and throat until I have no hope of answering his question.
“Claire? What’s wrong?” He tries to pull away so he can look at my face, but I hold tightly, too afraid that I’m going to ruin this moment.
He brought me a beautiful gift and I can’t even accept it without becoming a wreck.
“I’m sorry. It’s beautiful. I swear I love it,” I whisper as I clutch my fist so tightly the clasp on the necklace digs into my palm. “But I can’t wear it. I’m sorry. I put all her pictures away.”
His shoulders slump and I finally let go of him so I can look at his face. “Why didn’t you tell me? Man, I feel like such a dick now.”
“No, don’t feel bad. This is beautiful and I do hope to wear it someday. It’s just too much right now… not knowing if I’m ever going to see her.”
He pulls my arms off his shoulders and opens my fist. “I’ll hold onto it if it’s too painful for you.”
“No!” I cry as I clench my fingers around the locket. “No, I want to hold onto it. I really do love it; I just want to put it away for a little while. Is that okay?”
“Baby, you could throw it in the fire and that would be okay. Whatever makes you feel better.”
I heave a deep sigh of relief and kiss his cheek. “I love you.”
He chuckles as my lips skim his jaw and land on his neck. “I’m so happy to be here with you.”
I lick his neck and he moans softly. His hands slide under my shirt as I press my lips to the sensitive area behind his ear. I drop the locket onto the desk and grab fistfuls of his hair as I pull his mouth to mine. His lips are so soft and warm.
“I’ve been dreaming about this all week,” I murmur into his mouth.
His hand slides under my knees and he scoops me up in his arms. My stomach flips as he stands from the chair and carries me to my bed. He sets me down gently, our lips never losing contact as I reach for the waistband of his jeans and pull him down on top of me. Just feeling the weight of him on top of me sends me over the edge and my body trembles with my need for him.
“Are you okay?” he whispers as he kisses my neck and I nod hastily. “Good ‘cause I’m about to wreck you.”
I giggle nervously as he spreads my legs open. “Go easy on me. It’s been two weeks.”
He groans and I lift my hips as he grinds into me.
“Please take this off,” I beg as I yank his shirt up.
He chuckles as he pulls his shirt over his head and gazes down at me with that sexy smile that I’ve missed so much. His body is so perfectly smooth and sculpted from all the training. I reach up and lightly trace my finger over the tattoo on his chest, the compass filled with waves, and he grabs my hand. He kisses the inside of my wrist then lays my hand down at my side. His hand slides sideways over my belly then under my lower back. He lifts me up so my back is arched and plants a soft kiss just above my belly button. The smile in his eyes as he looks up at me makes my chest heave with anticipation.
His fingers whisper over my skin and I sigh as they land on the button of my jeans. He takes his time undoing the button and I feel my body growing hungrier and more impatient by the second.
“What do you want me to do to you?” he asks as he drags the zipper down and lays a soft kiss on my abdomen.
I hate when he asks me this. I get so flustered when I talk about this stuff.
I reach down and run my fingers through his hair as I look him in the eye. “I want you to make me… scream your name.”
I whisper the last three words and he laughs softly. “You’re so fucking adorable. Do you need a joke to relax?”
He grabs the waistband of my jeans and I lift my hips so he can slide them down, taking my panties with them. “Yes, please.”
“This one’s going to be dirty,” he says as he tosses my jeans and panties onto the floor and kisses my hipbone. “First, take off your shirt. I want to look at you.”
I tear off my shirt and slip out of my bra then lie back as he sits up on his knees to look at me. It’s a testament to how comfortable I feel with Adam that I don’t even flinch at the fact that the lights are on. Adam has never made me feel anything other than completely beautiful.
His eyes take in every inch of me, his gaze skimming over every valley and curve before landing squarely on my face. “I’ll save the joke for later.”
He slides two fingers inside me and I close my eyes as I hold my breath. His fingers slide in and out of me as his thumb massages my clit.
“Oh, my God,” I breathe as I roll my hips against the motion of his hand.
“Look at me.” I shake my head as the pleasure builds inside me and he laughs. “Come on, baby. I want to see your eyes.”
I open my eyes and he smiles as he slides his fingers out of me right before I come.
“That’s not fair,” I protest.
He ignores my grumbling as he lies on top of me and kisses me hard. I’m breathless, lost under the weight of his body and the power of his kiss. His hands roam over my waist and he takes my breast in his hand.
“I’m always fair,” he whispers in my ear then he moves down, laying a soft trail of kisses straight down the middle of my torso until he reaches my center.
I gasp as soon as his tongue touches me. “Adam.” He lets out a soft grunt in reply. “Don’t stop.” I try not to writhe away from him as the warmth builds inside me, spreading out from my core in furious waves. “Adam!”
“Say it louder,” he says, and the sensation of his breath and the vibration of his voice send chills through me.
As the orgasm reverberates through my body, a cry of euphoria explodes from my lips. “Adam!”
I hear a soft chuckle as he finishes me off with another lick and a soft kiss. My body trembles as he kisses each of my breasts then sits up. He takes off his jeans and I attempt to recover as he slides a condom on.
“Sweeter than sugar,” he says, as he lies on top of me, resting his elbows on either side of my head, and kisses me.
I rake my nails softly over his ribs and he twitches between my legs. He kisses me slowly, taking his time, drawing out the moment until I finally grab fistfuls of his hair and pull his face back. I don’t say anything. He knows what I want as soon as he sees the hunger in my eyes.
He eases himself into me and I wrap my legs around his hips to coax him farther inside. I draw in a sharp breath as he hits my core and a spark of pain ignites the fire inside me.
His eyes are locked on mine, his brow furrowed as he watches every change in my face while moving rhythmically in and out of me. “Are you okay?” I nod and he kisses my forehead. “I love you, Claire.”
“I love you, Adam.”
He presses his lips to mine and I know, from that one look and the way he’s kissing me so tenderly, that there’s something he’s not telling me.
Chapter Nine
Adam
WAKING UP IN CLAIRE’S BED is always disorienting. I sleep like the dead in my own bed, but sharing a twin bed with Claire while Senia is lying eight feet away from us is not my idea of the perfect sleeping arrangements. Especially when all I have to do is smell Claire and I get turned on.
I sweep her hair to the side and kiss the back of her neck to wake her up. She stirs against me then pauses when she feels me stiff against her backside. I scoot back a little so she doesn’t think I’m trying to make any suggestions. She turns around to face me and I kiss her forehead.
“Good morning, babydoll.”
She curls her leg over my hip and tucks her head under my chin. “Good morning. What are we doing today? I don’t have to study until six or seven, so we have all day.”
I lightly drag my fingertips up and down the silky skin on her thigh as I try to think of a way to break the news to her. “Baby, I have bad news. I can’t stay the entire weekend anymore.”
She jerks her head up and hits the underside of my chin forcing my teeth to clamp down hard. “Sorry,” she says as she rubs my chin. “What do you mean you can’t stay? When are you leaving?”
I pull her hand away from my chin and kiss her delicate fingers. She stares at me with those beautiful blue eyes and the disappointment in her face makes me want to tell my dad to go to hell with his last-minute demands, but I can’t.
“I’m leaving around noon. I have to help my mom with some closeout documents for a project.”
She sighs as she unfurls herself from me to lie on her back as she stares at the ceiling. “This sucks. I thought we were going to spend the whole weekend together. Now I’ll have to go to that Chi Omega brunch at the gallery tomorrow with Senia.”
“I can hear you,” Senia mutters from the other side of the room.
“So looking forward to it,” Claire shouts back.
I slip my hand under her tank top and she smiles as my fingers crawl over her skin. I take her breast in my hand and squeeze. She finally turns to look at me.
“Why didn’t you tell me this last night?”
“Because I wanted to enjoy what could possibly be our last night together for a couple of months.” She glares at me, unsatisfied with my incomplete response. “We have a conference call with the C.O. at Barking Sands on Thursday. They’re going to tell us if we got the project. I’m almost one hundred percent certain we got it.”
“You’re going to Hawaii? Why don’t you look more upset?”
“I am upset. I’m very fucking upset, but this trip is a long-term investment.” I slide my hand down and under the waistband of her panties. I love that she lets me do this with Senia just a few feet away. “I’ve already entered a competition over there and I told my dad that this would be the last project I work on for the company before I quit.”
“And he agreed to that?”
I nod as my fingers search for her spot. I know I’ve found it when she lets out a small gasp. I stroke her gently and her eyes close as her mouth falls open in a silent cry.
“Once this trip is over, I’m free. I already have another job lined up with an architectural firm in Raleigh.” I slide my finger inside her and I can tell she’s holding her breath. “I’ll be back before Thanksgiving. Then we can be together.” I slide my finger out and use her wetness to caress her. “Every day.”
Her hips writhe against my hand and I move my fingers in time with the rhythm of her thrusts. I smile as she squeezes her eyes and mouth tightly shut to suppress her cries. Finally, her body quivers and curls into me as she climaxes. I tease her a little more, just to torture her, then she opens her eyes as I pull my hand out of her panties.
“Two months,” she says in a breathy voice as she looks up at me. “I can hardly handle two hours. This is cruel.”
I slowly slide my finger into my mouth because I have to taste her. “You taste like a fucking cream pie,” I whisper in her ear.
She giggles as she curls herself around me again. “Who’s going to check on Cora while you’re gone?”
“I’m going to threaten Tina into doing all the shit she slacks off on.”
“You can’t threaten her.”
“I’m only kidding. I’m gonna bribe her.”
She smiles and I tilt her face up to kiss her. I want her to know that I feel the same way about leaving. I want her not just to remember me; I want her to feel me when I’m gone. She molds her body to mine and I grab the back of her neck to hold her steady as I roll her on top of me.
“Ew… I can see you guys,” Senia complains as she jumps out of bed.
Claire sits up so she’s straddling my stomach as she watches Senia pull on some shorts and a hooded T-shirt. Senia pulls the hood over her head, probably to hide her messy bedhead hair, then slides her feet into some sneakers.
“Where are you going?” Claire asks, but I stay quiet. I’m looking forward to having Claire all to myself for a few hours before I leave.
“I’m going to Starbucks then to hang out with Isabel. I’ll be back later. You guys just… enjoy each other while you can.”
She slams the door on her way out and Claire stares at the door for a moment in a daze. She looks down at me and I can see she’s upset.
“It’s Eddie. I think seeing us together is too much for her right now. I feel horrible. Should I go after her?”
I try not to look disappointed as I reply, “You should, if you think it will make both of you feel better.”
She stares at me for a moment as she contemplates her options. It feels like everything and everyone is conspiring to get between Claire and me, and it’s really starting to piss me the fuck off. But I try not to let her see this.
I want to believe that Claire and I will survive our time apart. And I know that it shouldn’t matter whether I leave now or in three hours, but our relationship already seems to be hanging by a thread. This is really bad timing to go on a long trip, but this is my way out of the family company. And I need to get out. I can’t work a hundred miles away from Claire for the next two to three years.
“I’ll talk to her later,” she says as she lies on top of me.
I grab her face and kiss her hard, the kind of kiss she won’t forget for a long time. I kiss her until I’m certain she’ll suffocate if she doesn’t come up for air. I pull her face back to look at her and she’s crying.
“Why? Why do you have to leave?”
“Because sometimes you have to suffer without the things you want now so you can have everything you need later.”
I brush the tears from her face with my thumbs and she closes her eyes as she leans into my hand. This is too fucking hard.
We spend two hours lying in bed, talking and studying each other like curious animals, exploring every curve and crevice and savoring every blissful sensation. The whole time, the unspoken question of whether we can make it through this is heavy between us, like an invisible shield separating us, protecting us from getting close enough to get hurt. This is exactly how I wanted to spend my last day with Claire and it’s also not at all how I wanted to spend it.
We stand just inside the door of her dorm as I get ready to leave. Her arms are wrapped around my waist and I stroke her hair as we gaze at each other in silence. The ache in my chest turns into a throbbing dread that something is going to happen with Chris while I’m gone. I trust Claire, but I don’t trust him for a second.
“I love you, Claire. I want you to know that I won’t do anything to jeopardize what we have. And I trust you, but I also want you to know that if anything does happen while I’m gone, I won’t hesitate to hop on a plane and come back here to fight for what’s mine. I can’t lose you.”
“You’re not going to lose me. You’re still my favorite olive.”
I smile for the first time in hours and I know there’s only one thing left to do.
“Knock, knock.”
She rolls her eyes. “Who’s there?”
“Sherwood.”
“Sherwood, who?”
“Sherwood like to stay, but I have to get going now.”
She shakes her head. “I love you so much.”
I wrap my arms around her waist and lift her off the ground to give her one last kiss. I trace my tongue over her top lip then take her bottom lip into my mouth and suc
k gently. She moans and just the sound makes me want to take her back to bed so I pull my head back before we get carried away.
“I’ll try to stop by next Friday on the way to the airport, but just in case I can’t, I want you to know that you are all I’ll be thinking about when I’m on that plane. And every day that I’m away from you will be worse than the day before. But I will come back and everything will fall into place. That’s my promise to you.” I kiss her forehead before I set her down on the floor. “You have my whole heart.”
“Are you going straight to the office now?”
“I have to make a stop in Raleigh to meet Yuri. He’s bringing my trophy. I’d ask you to come, but I won’t be able to bring you back.”
She squints her eyes as she contemplates this. “Can I come? I can take my car.”
I stare at her for a moment before I answer. “Nothing would make me happier. You’re gonna love Yuri. His jokes are even better than mine.”
“That’s not saying much,” she says as she moves to the closet and yanks some jeans and a T-shirt off the hangers.
“Hey, you love my jokes. I see how you look at me with those googly eyes every time I deliver a punch line.”
“You’re right. I love you because of your sad jokes, not in spite of them.”
I sneak up behind her as she slides her feet into some flip-flops and wrap my arms around her waist. “I promise I’ll text you plenty of sad jokes when I’m in Hawaii, like this one. Why did Adam accept the apple from Eve?’”
She spins around in my arms so she’s facing me. “Why?”
“Because he couldn’t eat her cherry.”
Her top lip curls up in disgust. “So terrible and now I feel bad for Adam and Eve.”
“Don’t feel bad. Adam eventually found Steve and they lived happily ever after.”
“That’s much better. Gotta have the happily ever after.”
I kiss the corner of her mouth then grab her hand to leave. I don’t say what’s on my mind. She doesn’t need to know how much I doubt that we’ll get our happily ever after.