I’m in love with Clara.
She’s forbidden. But God help anyone who tries to take her away.
Chapter Eleven
Clara
I’m walking through the parking lot toward the eye doctor, my hand held protectively inside Rex’s much bigger one. Yes. We’re walking. But I feel like I’m floating ten thousand feet in the air, twirling through the clouds. I’m so content, I don’t know what to do with myself. A bunch of songs are crammed in my head—all of them extremely cheesy and involving wedding chapels. Who cares, though?
Rex doesn’t think I’m a weirdo like everyone else. I’ve been living with confusing fantasies in my head since puberty. They never involved my own father—ever—just a faceless authority figure. A man who would discipline me and love me unconditionally at the same time. He’s not faceless anymore. It’s Rex who gives me that. My fantasies are no longer these moving images I have to lock away. They’re shared. I get to act them out.
Speaking of acting them out…I’m not sure I want to save our games just for when we touch. I’m not sure I can. Having Rex hold my hand to bring me to a doctor’s appointment is almost as satisfying as having him inside me. I’m being cared for. He saw a problem with my vision no one else had addressed and handled it. Like a man. The man I’ve needed all along.
“You got something on your mind, girl?”
Rex’s gruff voice sends pleasure shivering down my back. “I was wondering what will happen after we leave here.” I glance up at him. “You know, when you’re done hunting.”
He scoffs. “Only hunting I’ve been doing is under your skirt.”
My face heats, along with other parts of me. God, I love the way he talks. It’s crude and honest and I never want him to be any other way. “After the trip, then. When we have to go back to real life.”
We’re almost to the entrance, but Rex pulls me to a stop. He looks around for a second, before leading me around the shaded side of the building. With a hard knuckle, he tips up my chin. “You’re coming with me, Clara. Going to set you up in my place, make you real comfortable and happy. That’s as far as I’ve gotten.” He grunts, face moving into a frown. “Can’t even think about letting you go. Idea of it scares me. I need my girl.”
“I need you, too,” I whisper, shaken by the euphoria that fills me. “I’ve needed you forever.”
“I’m here now.” He looks right to left, over his shoulder, then takes my breasts in his large hands, massaging them with a groan. Something about the action bothers me, but I’m too distracted to dwell. “Can’t keep my fucking hands off you.”
“You don’t have to.” My head tips back, my breath shuddering out. “Kiss me?”
“Yeah. Hell yeah.” Rex crowds me into the wall, leading with his hips, that jutting part of him. “Listen up. You’re going to suck and fuck this thing later.” He gives a rough thrust, grinding himself against my belly. “I’m going to film myself sinking in between your legs. All that slapping and squelching. Going to film my come dripping out of your bare pussy, so I can jerk to it on the boat.”
“Yes.” My panties are already soaked in my anticipation. But with a hard swallow, I shake my head. “You’re not going away yet, though, are you?”
“No, little girl,” he says soothingly, bringing his mouth to mine, chafing my chin and cheeks with his beard. “Not until the fall. We got damn near a year before crabbing season. Until then, I’ll only work during the day.”
I try to look brave. “Okay.”
He makes a comforting sound, turning the edges of my worry fuzzy with a long kiss, his tongue rubbing against mine. Over and over and over. “Come on,” he rasps, taking my hand. “Let’s go get you some glasses.”
Just like before, I’m hovering in mid-air as Rex leads me through the glass door into the crowded optometrist. I forgot how different Rex and I are—physically. But every customer in the place regards us with interest and it’s hard to ignore. He’s older and much bigger. Rugged where I’m fragile. If Rex’s irritated expression is any indication, he doesn’t like the attention. And I get another bothersome twitch in my chest, just like the one I had outside when he checked for witnesses before touching me. But I tell myself to stop borrowing trouble. I’m holding Rex’s hand in public and he’s keeping me and life could not be better.
Rex made an appointment earlier over the phone, so after giving my name to the receptionist, we’re directed to a seating area. Only one seat is available and it’s natural as breathing for Rex to sit down and pat his knee. I perch on the hard surface of it, sighing over the flex under my butt. His hand comes to rest on my thigh and I turn into his chest. Fluid movements neither one of seem able to help. Only a few breaths later, his attention lands on my mouth and I shiver, my nipples tightening.