Under the Oak Tree

by Victoria Ashlee

  Clay looked at his father, “See what you did? Now she’s mocking me.” He laughed, and smiled at Claire.

  “Only teasing.” She sipped her wine. “You were probably a great Knight.”

  Clay rolled his eyes, raising his eyebrow at his father.

  Roy turned to Claire, “Ignore my son. He’s embarrassed. I’m sure you had just the same imagination.”

  She smiled with her eyes looking over at Clay, “I might have dreamt of a knight coming to save me from my tower.”

  “You’re cute. I’ll give you that.” Clay chimed his wine glass with hers. “Don’t think for a second I’ll forget you poking fun at me.”

  The rest of dinner was full of casual conversation. Clay’s father would ask her questions about her family, and what she was interested in besides college. She was able to get a few more stories out of Roy, much to Clay’s protest.

  Clay stood from the table after they finished their meal; Claire and Roy were caught in conversation. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see him retrieving bowls from one of the cabinets.

  Moments later he returned, placing a bowl in front of his father and her. The contents of the bowl brought the biggest smile to her face and heart.

  “Mint chocolate chip ice cream.” He said, smiling. There was even a cherry on top.

  She looked up at him, her love for him growing by the second. “You remembered?”

  “I remember everything you say.” He walked back to the kitchen to grab his bowl.

  Claire helped wash the dishes once dinner was finished. Clay insisted that she didn’t need to help, but she said that he cooked, so the least she could do was help clean up.

  “We’re going to go for a walk.” Clay told his father.

  Roy looked at Claire, “It was nice having you over for dinner. I hope we do more dinners like this.”

  “Me too.” She waved as she walked out the front door.

  Clay took her hand as they walked down the steps, “He liked you.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I just do.”

  “Well, I liked him too.”

  Clay’s thumb was rubbing her knuckles as they walked through the field toward his house. The moon was hiding behind a few clouds, only allowing a little light to peek through. Silence fell over them, but even in the silence in the middle of the field, Claire was as happy as she had ever been.

  “I like it out here.” She said, breathing in the air. “It’s peaceful. I could live here.”

  “Isn’t that being a little presumptuous?”

  She laughed, “What do you mean?”

  “For you to live here, would mean I would want you to live with me.” He kept his attention straight ahead, but she could tell he was stifling a smile.

  “You mean you wouldn’t want to wake up to me naked every morning?”

  He sucked in air, squeezing her hand, “Don’t talk like that. You’ll have me hard in 2.5 seconds.”

  “Talk like what?” She giggled. “What if that was the point?”

  “Are you trying to tease me?” He said, as they walked up the steps.

  She leaned her back against the door, blocking him from opening it, “I would never tease you.” She stared into his dark eyes, wanting him to take her.

  He stepped closer, kissing her softly, “What do you want, my sweet Claire?”

  She smiled against his lips, “To be saved from my tower. There’s a dragon out to get me.”

  “You think you’re funny.” He reached down with both hands, cupping her butt.

  “Do you want to know what I want?” She wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “Badly.” He squeezed her butt, bringing her closer.

  She reached down, cupping him through his jeans, “You.”

  He flinched, “That’s a dangerous game you’re playing.”

  “A little danger never scared me.” She smiled, and began to massage his length that was now bulging through his pants.

  “I can’t wait anymore.” He picked her up with her thighs, wrapping her around him. He unlocked the door, and kicked it open.

  Her lips found his; kissing him as if she needed his taste to breathe. He pushed her up against the door to shut it, but stayed there, pressing himself against her. She heard him fumble with his belt buckle, and then his zipper. In one swift movement, he thrust inside of her.

  “Clay!” She cried out in pleasure. This wasn’t the gentle Clay like their first time. This was a desperate primal version of him. He needed her, and he was taking what he wanted.

  His quick deep thrust pounded her against the door. Her kisses moved from his mouth to his neck. His pace quickened, and she leaned her head back against the door.

  “Fuck, Claire, we have to stop…I don’t…”

  “No, don’t…” She begged, rocking into him. “Please, don’t stop.” She moaned.

  His grip on her legs became tighter, he slammed into her a few more times; she reached her peak, and an orgasm took over her entire body. She cried out; he rode out her orgasm, slowing his thrusts. 1, 2, 3 more times; he stilled inside of her, rolling his hips as he finished.

  They were both panting, trying to catch their breath. She looked in his eyes, with him still inside of her. She loved him with everything she had. If his love was dangerous, she wasn’t afraid of the fight.

  “I love you.” She said; her breathing was calming.

  “Claire, I didn’t have a condom on.” Clay finally spoke, ignoring her words; she could hear the regret in his voice.

  She tried to hold back her laugh, “I’m on birth control.” He didn’t say it back again; it hurt her a little that he still avoided responding, or even reacting. She just wanted any kind of emotion to her saying that she loved him.

  He let out a sigh of relief, “Fuck, Babe. You could have told me that.” He set her down. “I was starting to have a slight panic attack.”

  “Babe?” She smiled, fixing her dress. She thought maybe she was jumping too fast, and he wasn’t ready yet. She pushed her thoughts to the back of her mind.

  He looked up at her, as he buckled his belt, “Yes, Babe. It’s a term of endearment. Is that ok?”

  “Very.” She took his face in her hands, pressing her lips to his.

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Clay

  Clay’s internal alarm clock woke him up at 6AM; it was still dark out. Claire was nestled in the nook of his arm, her head resting on his chest. Her golden hair fanned out on the pillow. He could feel her naked body against his, which didn’t help his morning arousal.

  He kissed the top of her head; somehow she still smelled sweet like honey. He thought about how reckless he was last night. He could have gotten her pregnant, and that would change everything. She might have been on birth control, but he didn’t know that. She said to not stop, so did he didn’t; that was the power she had over him. She was his addiction.

  “What are you thinking about?” Her soft voice whispered.

  He looked down, “You’re awake?”

  “Mhmm.” She nuzzled further into him. “You look like you’re thinking hard.”

  “I’m thinking about you.”

  “What about?” She sleepily asked.

  “You control my thoughts, my actions, my heart.”

  “What are you talking about?” Her voice was fading.

  He could tell she was drifting off to sleep again. So, he decided to think out loud; “Imagine meeting someone who knew how to play all the strings on your heart, one that sings to your soul, and only yours. It’s a symphony of love, and it will always be you.”

  His mother reading to him so much when he was younger rubbed off on him. He told Claire that he never really read the books in the library, which was true, but that didn’t mean he didn’t write his own. The books on the shelf in his house were not stories like Claire had thought, but notebooks of poems he wrote; his dreams and wishes; his fears and demons; His life, written down in ink.

  “I don’t know how to
play the guitar.” She whispered into his chest.

  He smiled; knowing she didn’t understand a word he just said, “Sleep, Beautiful.”

  “Mhmm.” She nuzzled him again.

  *

  When the sun finally came up, he slid from under Claire, and got out of bed. She cuddled up to a pillow still half asleep. He took in the sight of her lying in his bed, and then walked over to the kitchen to make coffee. It was the 4th of July weekend so he didn’t have to work today, which was relaxing. He thought maybe his father was right for once, he never relaxed until he found something or in this case someone to take a day off for.

  He leaned on the kitchen counter with his hands; his back to Claire. He thought it was funny the way his life was going at the moment.

  “Good Morning.” Claire said.

  He turned; she was sitting up in his bed, her hair wild from sleeping. He picked up a cup of coffee, and walked it over to her, “How did you sleep?”

  “Good. I think I dreamt of having a conversation with you.” She sipped the coffee.

  He sat down next to her, “Hmm must have.” He didn’t want to tell her of his late night confession. He was still guarded from love, even though he knew she had complete control over him.

  “You don’t have to work today?”

  “Nope.” He ran his fingers on her bare leg that wasn’t covered by the sheets.

  Her eyes watched his hand go up her leg, “What are you doing?” She smiled.

  “Nothing.” He smirked, taking the cup from her, crawling over her. He placed a kiss on her lips, “Just saying good morning to the most beautiful girl I’ve ever laid my eyes on.”

  “You must have me confused with someone else, Mr. Williams.” She giggled; he was fully over her now, staring into her eyes.

  “I think it’s you who is confused. You’ve never looked into your perfect blue eyes.”

  Her face was starting to turn pink; her cheeks always flush to a light pink when she’s nervous. He kissed her cheek that was warm to his lips, and then brushed his lips on her neck. Her hips thrusted into the air, reacting to his touch. He loved the way her body responded to his.

  “You are perfect.” He said, moving down to her chest, taking one of her breasts in his hand. His tongue moved around her nipple, biting it.

  “Clay,” She ran her hands through his hair.

  He pressed himself against her, he needed her. That morning he made love to her, even though he was still denying that he was in love, his body knew how delicate she was to him.

  They laid in bed for a while after they finished being tangled in each other. He ran his fingers through her hair, while they talked.

  “I have to go to the 4th of July parade tonight.” She said, dancing her fingers on his chest.

  “Why?” His father used to take him to the parade when he was younger, but eventually they stopped going.

  “My parents are going, and I have to present the Miss Little Sparkle award.”

  He looked over at her confused, “Miss Little Sparkle?”

  She laughed, “It’s the pageant for girls five through ten.”

  “Why do you have to present it?”

  “Because, my mom signed me up for it. She said I need to be more involved in the community. She helps organize city events.” She looked up at him. “Come to the parade.”

  “I have to get new tires today.”

  “Did you run over a nail?”

  He looked down at her; her icy blue eyes staring back up at him. He didn’t want to tell her about Jason’s friends paying him a visit. She would try to handle things herself, possibly making them being together worse. “Yeah, a nail.”

  “That sucks.” She laid her head back on his chest. “You should still come. The parade doesn’t start until 8. I’ll be done by then, I’ll come find you.”

  “I don’t know. I don’t really like city gatherings.”

  She twisted her mouth to the corner; he knew he was disappointing her. “You could bring Brett. We could go out after.”

  He sighed, giving in, “Fine.”

  “Really?” She said excitedly, looking back up at him.

  He kissed her lips, “I have a hard time saying no to you for some reason.”

  “I’m a lawyer in training. I can be very convincing.”

  He laughed, “I don’t think you had to do too much convincing.”

  *

  That afternoon Brett picked him up to go buy new tires. He knew he was going to have to swap them himself, since he couldn’t drive his truck anywhere with three flat tires. After the two of them swapped his truck over to the new tires, Clay finally brought up the parade. After a few minutes of Brett telling Clay that he was whipped by Claire, he finally agreed that he and Gloria would go.

  The sun was setting as they drove into town. Clay hitched a ride with Brett and Gloria since it was on their way. As he stared out the window he kept playing scenarios in his mind of how the night would go. Claire’s parents, Jason, and Jason’s parents were all going to be in one location. After the night at Tenpenny’s and the library, he was worried about what might happen.

  The three of them walked through the crowd; Gloria and Brett were a few steps ahead of him holding hands. Clay scanned the crowd looking for her.

  “I want cotton candy.” Gloria said, pulling Brett over to a line.

  “That stuff will rot your teeth.” Clay said, following them.

  She shot him a look, “You boys put worse things into your bodies than I do.”

  Brett laughed, “Like what?”

  “Beer for example.” She widened her eyes, trying to emphasize her point.

  “Oh and wine is much better?” Clay shot back with a laugh.

  “Clay Williams.” A voice he hated so much said from behind him. He was starting to hate his own name, due to the person who was behind him.

  He turned to face Jason, “What do you want?”

  “More like what are you doing here?”

  Brett walked up, “We’re enjoying a parade, what does it look like?”

  Jason laughed, looking from Brett back to Clay, “It looks like Clay here is following Claire around.”

  “The exact opposite, not that it’s any of your business.”

  Jason stepped closer, “Claire is my business.”

  Clay clenched his jaw; his hands were balling into fists the more Jason spoke. Brett pulled on Clay’s shoulder, “Ignore him, Clay. He’s not worth it.”

  “Did I hit a nerve?” Jason laughed.

  “I don’t like you.” Gloria said, pointing her blue cotton candy at Jason.

  Jason ignored Gloria, “I heard you ran into some of my friends the other night? How was that?”

  Brett stepped closer, “Ok, now I might punch you in the face.”

  “It’s what happens when you threaten me, Clay. Don’t take what’s mine, and we’ll be fine.”

  “I don’t have patience for you today.” Clay brushed past Jason.

  Jason shook his head, “You’re too easy, Man. Way too easy.”

  “Ignore him.” Brett said, pushing Clay forward to walk.

  “Oh I am.”

  They found their way to an open spot to watch the parade; it was dark now. Clay texted Claire where they were standing, since he hadn’t heard from her since this morning. He knew she would be busy finishing up with the pageant, getting caught talking to people. The parade finally started, beads were being thrown to children; the floats were decorated in red white and blue lights.

  Claire’s two small arms wrapped around his stomach from behind, “Found you.”

  He smiled, wrapping his arm around her, as she moved to his side, “I thought you’d never show up.”

  “Had to sneak away from my controlling family, but I’m here now.” She stood on her toes, placing a kiss on his lips. She then said hi to Gloria and Brett.

  “I ran into your ex.” Clay said.

  “Oh, you did?” She seemed uninterested. Which he thought was strange. />
  “Yeah, I did.”

  “Look!” Claire pointed to a float going by. It was the new Miss Sparkle Princess. The little girl waved to Claire with a big smile on her face. Claire waved back, “I love working with kids. It was so much fun.”

  He squeezed her shoulder, “I’m glad you had fun. Maybe, instead of being a lawyer, you should do something with kids.”

  She stared as the float passed by. She looked as if her mind were elsewhere, “Yeah, maybe…” She looked up at him. “I missed you today.”

  “You saw me this morning.”

  “Is it bad that I want to be with you every second of the day?” She smiled. “Or does that make me sound crazy?”

  He laughed, “Not crazy, but you might be obsessed with me.”

  “Ha-ha very funny.”

  “Brett wants us to come over tonight after this, is that something you would want to do?”

  “Will Na…” She paused.

  “Natasha?”

  She gave him a weak smile, “Yeah.”

  “She might be there, but Gloria promised that Nat would be on her best behavior.”

  “I hate that she had a part of you at all.”

  He kissed her temple, “Is that jealousy that I hear?”

  She shrugged, “I hate the thought of another girl ever being with you.” She twisted her mouth, “I know it sounds childish, but it’s how I feel.” The crowd was getting louder as candy and beads were being thrown to the children down front.

  He leaned down to her ear, “How many times do I have to tell you that you are the only girl I see, Claire Cunningham?”

  “I just wish I had seen you earlier. You were always here in front of me.” She looked up at him; her icy blue eyes captured him again like they always do.

  He took her chin, “You and I met when we were supposed to. All that matters is that you see me now.” Then he kissed her, giving himself away to her slowly with each breath.

  She smiled when he released her lips, “I made you come to the parade, so I guess the least I can do is go to Brett’s.”

  “Good.” He kissed her one more time. “I’m going to go to the bathroom. Will you be alright with my friends?”

  Gloria swatted Clay’s arm, “She’s fine, Lover Boy. You two think we can’t hear your sappy conversation, but we can.” Gloria took Claire’s hand. “I’ll watch after her.”