“Clay, fuck me. Please,” I plead, my voice nothing but a hoarse whisper.
“Ask me again,” he says, moving his cock up and down my slit, making me groan with pleasure. The teasing is almost too much. I feel like I’m on the edge, ready to go flying into another orgasm and he’s barely even touching me.
I can feel my nipples, hard as diamonds, pressed against his chest. I grind myself towards him and ask him again:
“Fuck me, Clay. Fuck m-“
Before I can finish he plunges his cock into me, from the tip to the hilt. It sends my body into explosive shivers. I can feel him deep inside me, deeper than I’ve felt him before. My walls grip him, clamping onto his cock tightly and he groans.
He drags himself out and then thrusts back into me with one smooth, hard stroke. Each thrust of his cock sends me closer and closer, feeling his cock throb and harden inside me.
“I want you to come inside me,” I pant. “I want you to fill me with your cum.”
Clay groans in response and thrusts into me harder. He pumps his cock into me, holding onto my shoulders for leverage until the electric sensation becomes too much. I go flying over the edge, my body outside of my control. I know my back is arching and my hands are gripping the sheets, but it’s almost like I'm watching it happen.
The heat passes through my body like a tidal wave. My orgasm erupts inside me and sends tingles and shivers to every corner of my body. My vision goes black. Every nerve in my body is erupting at once and I’m sent flying through space, not knowing what is up or down. I’m screaming his name and then I feel it. I feel his cock throbbing and getting even thicker. His orgasm sends a new wave of pleasure exploding from my centre outwards.
He pumps his seed into me, grabbing my body and trembling on top of me with every thrust. His cock is buried deep inside me when we both let the stillness take over, the only sound in the room being the sound of our heavy, laboured breathing.
I relish the feeling of having him inside me. Each heartbeat sends more pleasure through my body. I feel him relax on top of me and know that he is definitely everything I want, everything I need. With him, I’m home.
Chapter 50 - Clay
Val has this little smile on her face that makes my heart swell. Her golden hair is around her on the pillow like a halo. Her cheeks are flushed and her eyes are clear blue like turquoise tropical water. I don’t want to look away from her. I want to drink her in, keep her in my sights and never let her go.
I pull her in closer to me, letting my hands roam down her back. She nuzzles into me and moans in contentment.
“I missed you,” I tell her quietly.
She pulls her head back and strokes my cheek. Her touch is soft and tender, and I close my eyes to savour the sensation.
“I missed you too,” she replies. “It’s been the worst three months of my life.”
We stare at each other, trying to find the words to speak our hearts to each other. She starts.
“I’m sorry I cut you off, Clay. It was a mistake. When I thought I lost you, I..” her words trail off and I can see her eyes welling up with tears.
“Hey, hey,” I say gently, running my hands through her hair. “I’m here.” I pull back and look at her, staring intensely into her deep blue eyes. “I’m here, you hear me? I’m not going anywhere.”
A tear rolls down her cheek and I brush it away gently. The sight of it makes my chest tighten.
“Can you tell me what happened, Clay? I kept telling myself you were a bad person, a player but I don’t know… I just don’t believe myself.”
Her voice is strained, like she has a lump in her throat. I can see the tears welling up again and I stroke her hair. “Tell me you’re not a bad person, Clay,” she whispers hoarsely.
I take a deep breath. “I worked as a male entertainer when I was in med school,” I start. She frowns slightly and I feel the corner of my mouth tugging upwards. “A stripper.”
“So it was true,” she says, eyes widening. I can feel her heartbeat next to me, getting faster as she processes what I’ve told her.
“That part was. I met Caroline in my first year, at a bachelorette party.”
“A bachelorette party… so.. she knew?”
“She knew from the start. I tried to be clear with her, that I couldn’t stop doing it, not while I was in med school. The money was too good and the schedule worked with my crazy school hours.”
The memories start tumbling back to me and my voice catches in my throat. I take a deep breath and continue.
“I never cheated on her.” My voice is hard, strained. The emotion is making it hard to speak but I want to tell her. I have to tell her, she has to believe me. Val’s eyes are wide as she waits for me to keep talking.
“Not once. I never touched another woman, never even considered it, but you can imagine the type of job it is. I couldn’t stop working though. It’s always been my dream to be a doctor and I wasn’t going to let something like money get in the way. She just… couldn’t handle it. She couldn’t handle me being surrounded by all those women all the time.” I take a deep breath and look at Val. She’s listening to every word, eyes wide, gaze intent on me. I can’t tell what she’s thinking but I have to continue.
“I don’t blame her. Not for that. I know that I wouldn’t be able to handle it if my partner was working a job like that. But then..” I sigh. “I wish I’d broken it off with her. I knew she couldn’t handle it, but I was too weak. I didn’t want to be alone.”
I’m quiet for a while and Val brings her hand up to my cheek.
“What happened?” She asks quietly.
I look at her. She’s not judging me, she’s just quietly listening, waiting for me to tell her my story. To speak the words I haven’t told anyone.
“She told me she’d rat me out, tell the guidance counsellor at school that I was working as a male stripper and make sure I never got an internship unless I stopped dancing. Either way she was backing me into a corner, forcing me to give up being a doctor.”
“Oh Clay,” Val breathes. “That’s awful.”
“Then she cheated on me. I found her in bed with my best friend.”
Hot tears roll down my cheeks and for the first time in almost five years, the betrayal I felt comes to the surface. Val holds me and lets me cry, cooing soft words into my ear. Her voice pierces through the sadness and the betrayal and lifts me up. I feel lighter until my throat opens up and I can speak again.
“I have photos, Val. I can show you the bachelorette party where Caroline and I met. I swear on everything that is holy that she knew what I was.”
“Clay, I believe you. I believe you.”
“When I saw Emma at the restaurant, I… Val. You have to believe me. I know how it feels to find your partner with your best friend and I never meant to hurt you. I would never do that to you.”
“Clay, stop. Emma is my best friend, and she told me to make up with you that day. I was mad and jealous, I hate the thought of you with anyone else. But I know it was before us and I believe you when you say you wouldn’t do that to me.”
We both lay there in silence, letting the words we’ve been speaking sink in. Val opens her mouth and starts speaking softly.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you, didn’t let you speak to me and explain everything.”
I shake my head.
“I should have tried harder,” I say. “After Caroline, I vowed to never let someone else in, to never compromise my plans for the sake of a relationship. So when you ignored my calls I just gave in. I gave up.”
Val’s eyes are watering again. “Why did you come back then?”
I breathe deeply. Val’s skin is so soft next to mine, her heat is like a healing balm on my heart.
“I came back because you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I was working my dream job in Seattle but I dreamt of you every night. Val, I love you.” My voice catches in my throat a
nd I force myself to continue. “I need you. I’ve never been happier than when I’m with you.”
Val puts her delicate fingers over my lips to silence me. Her voice is barely louder than a breath, and her eyes are sparkling like diamonds in the sunlight.
“I love you too, Clay O’Neill,” she whispers, and then brings her lips to mine. My heart soars and I grip her tight against me. I’m never letting her go again.
Epilogue - Valerie
Eight months later…
I’m pacing up and down the apartment, impatient for Clay to get home from work. He disappeared this morning, saying he had to go into the clinic. He didn’t listen to my protests about it being Sunday, just took off. Then he called me this morning saying he has a surprise for me, and to dress for dinner.
Another one of his surprises.
We’ve been living in New York, in his apartment in Soho. He decided not to go back to Seattle, saying it was too rainy. I’m not sure that’s true, I think maybe he just missed the buzz of NYC. They’ve been the happiest months of my life.
I don’t know why - I’m jittery and excited, I can’t wait for him to get here. I keep checking the clock and then my watch and then my phone for the time, and they keep crawling by at a snail’s pace. I’m dressed in a silky long black dress that hugs my figure. My hair is down, and I’m wearing the simple diamond pendant Clay got me for my birthday a couple months ago.
Finally I hear the elevator door ding, and I rush to the front door and swing it open wide before he can get to it. He’s wearing a suit and carrying a bouquet of flowers. Tiger lilies, my favourite.
His shock at the door flying open turns to a tender smile. He scoops his arm around my waist and brings his lips to mine. He smells of musk and spice and his lips taste sweet. I melt into him and breathe in his scent. I could kiss him all night.
Ignoring my insistent kisses, he pulls away and presents me with the bouquet of flowers.
“These are for you,” he says with a smile.
“They’re beautiful, Clay! What’s the occasion?”
“It’s a surprise,” he says with a wink. “Now put those things in water and let’s go.”
We head down onto the busy street. Clay has his arm around my waist, holding me tight to him. I love how our bodies just seem to fit together perfectly, like all his crooks fit into my crannies.
Clay sets the pace to an easy stroll, even when I try to speed us up. He lets out a deep, baritone laugh.
“Are you impatient or something? You keep trying to drag me along.”
“I’m just wanting to get to where we’re going! You know how I hate surprises.”
“You love surprises. Don’t even pretend like you don’t.”
He gives me a sidelong glance and my cheeks blush. I roll my eyes in an exaggerated motion but I know he’s right. I love his surprises. Almost as much as I love him.
I resign myself to his slow stroll. His arm around me fills me with warmth, knowing that I’m walking next to the man I love. Next to the man who loves me.
“Do you know what today is?” He asks me as we walk.
“Umm.. Sunday?”
“Very astute,” he says sarcastically. “No, it’s one year since you walked into my office. One year since you walked into my life.”
My heart flutters. He’s right.
“You remembered,” I breathe.
“Remembered? It was the best day of my life.”
We walk for ten minutes and then Clay pulls me down a street. Halfway down the block he slows to a stop.
“We’re here!” He says with a smile.
I look up at the building and my jaw drops. Gallant’s. It’s New York City’s most popular new restaurant. It’s booked up for months, you basically need to be an A-list celebrity to get a table.
“Clay! How…?”
“The owner was one of my patients. Owed me a favour. Doesn’t matter because tonight we have the best seat in the house.”
He’s not wrong. The Maitre D sits us down at a table on a dais, away from most other people. There’s a small privacy screen halfway around the dais so it feels like we have our own little area of the restaurant.
It’s nothing if not grand. The lights are low with candles on every table. I glance around the room at the couples, businessmen, socialites, and wonder how we got to sit where we are.
“Good evening, Dr. O’Neill. So glad you could join us tonight,” a booming voice says. “Ah! And this must be Miss Brooks.”
I turn to see a portly man with ruddy cheeks and long grey whiskers.
“Mr. Rickshaw! Thank you for having us.” Clay stands up and shakes his hand. Mr Rickshaw reaches over to me and takes my hand in his, bowing slightly over it and brushing it lightly with his lips. I blush and nod my head, not really knowing what to do in response.
“It’s my pleasure. I won’t take any more of your time. I trust you will enjoy our nine course degustation. The wine is paired specifically for each dish. Enjoy your evening.” And with a wink, he’s away.
What follows is one of the most delicious meals I’ve ever experienced. Each dish is more delicious than the last, and the waiters keep our wine glasses full. Clay’s eyes are sparkling in the candlelight, but I can’t help but wonder if there’s an extra sparkle to them tonight.
The ninth course is dessert. A decadent dome of chocolate is placed in front of me and Clay raises his glass.
“To us,” he says simply.
I smile, starry-eyed. He’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen, and there’s no one I’d rather be here with. There’s no one I’d rather be anywhere with.
“I love you,” I reply.
“Should we tuck in?” Clay asks with a grin. “I know you’re dying to eat that.”
I giggle and pick up my fork. I try to slice through the dome of chocolate with my fork but instead just break the shell. I try again, clearing parts of the shell away to reveal a small box. I look up at Clay, brows furrowed in confusion. He’s beaming at me, and his eyes are definitely sparkling.
I pick up the box off the plate and open it up. Inside is a beautiful, gleaming diamond ring that’s sparkling just as much as Clay’s eyes.
Without me realising what he’s doing, he appears next to me on a bended knee and gently takes the box from me.
“Valerie Brooks. You’ve made me a happy man. I never want to be apart from you. Marry me.”
Just like the movies, my hands fly up to my mouth. My vision is blurry from the tears that appear from nowhere in my eyes. I’m speechless, all I can do is nod my head and hope I’m not ugly-crying. He slips the ring over my finger and wraps me in his arms, twirling me in a circle on the dais.
I hear applause and realise the entire restaurant has witnessed his proposal. We stand and smile, me more bashfully than Clay. He’s beaming, and look up at him and know that I’m the luckiest person in the world.
A waiter appears with a bottle of champagne for us. “Compliments of the house,” he says.
We drink a toast together and I turn away from Clay, knowing if I keep staring at him I’ll start crying again. My eyes sweep across the room as I try to compose myself.
In the back corner, I notice a face that looks familiar. Her eyes are shooting flaming arrows at me, and her perfectly straight, long black hair is once again pushed behind her with long, red-nailed fingers. The hatred emanating from that woman takes me aback, until she stands up and walks out of the restaurant.
I glance back at Clay, who hasn’t seen anything. He’s too busy staring at me. The love in his eyes brings me back to him, and I realise that her anger, her jealousy, are a speck of dust in comparison to our love for each other. She’s gone, and all that matters is me and Clay, together. Forever.
“I love you, Clay.”
“You’ve just made me the happiest man in the world, Val. I love you too.”
He leans over and kisses me like I’ve never been kissed before. It’s t
ender and soft, it’s a hint of desire wrapped up in pure, true love.

The End
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