His Unconventional Woman

Dana has always loved Clay, her brother’s best friend. She’d grown up
with him always around, and when she left to pursue a modeling career in
New York and to go to college, leaving him behind was difficult.

Coming home for vacations and holidays through the years, she
began to realize the brotherly feelings were gone, replaced with lust and
need. On one storm-riddled night, she’d nearly seduced him.

With time, she began to learn what got her excited and realized she’d
become an unconventional woman in most men’s eyes. Coming home for
good, Dana finally let Clay know her secret. If he could accept her need for
toys, spanking, and bondage in the bedroom, they might stand a chance at
a future together.
Genre: Contemporary
Length: 77,190 words
HIS UNCONVENTIONAL
WOMAN
Lillith Payne
EROTIC ROMANCE

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com
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 A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Erotic Romance
HIS UNCONVENTIONAL WOMAN
Copyright © 2011 by Lillith Payne
E-book ISBN: 1-61034-841-9
First E-book Publication: September 2011
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DEDICATION
For my husband.
HIS UNCONVENTIONAL
WOMAN
LILLITH PAYNE
Copyright © 2011
Chapter One
Clay glanced in his rearview mirror, the dust cloud
approached his vehicle with amazing speed. Almost before
it could register in his thoughts, the dust enveloped him.
“Damn,” he said aloud, wishing he hadn’t taken the top off
the convertible. In the distance he thought he heard a horn
blow as the vague impression of a blue bullet sped past
him on the left.
As the dust was settling, he knew instinctively what he
was witnessing before he heard the squeal of the brakes
and knew the driver was spinning. He was impressed the
other driver had controlled it to a complete three-quarter
spin and was now facing the driveway, straight ahead.
Less than a quarter mile ahead was the right turn into
the private driveway, his destination and that of the speed
demon that had just blown past him. Had he not been
thinking about what lay ahead, he might have shifted gears
and given the blue bullet a run for its money on the last mile
stretch before the turnoff. Instead, his brain was focused on
seeing her again, his stomach churning when he realized
how uptight he really was.
As if to taunt him, the driver of the bullet postponed his
entrance for Clay to catch up, revving its engine in disgust
at having to wait, just before it took off into the driveway.
The driver floored the pedal as a hand came up and waved.
Again the horn sounded. Clay decided to slow down.
Whoever was playing with him could just wait a little longer.
Clay downshifted and cruised toward the driveway at twenty
miles an hour. There was no sign of the car and he
breathed a sigh of relief.
Who the hell was that? He made the turn into Jeff and
Lisa Britton’s driveway. The half-mile-long road leading to
the house was one-way, as it formed the right side of a
large horseshoe with the house being at the head. In the
center, the grassy area was surrounded with white board
fences, protecting the grazing horses from straying. He
remembered seeing the sports car in town several times.
Once at the bank and pulling in the driveway of the old
Britton Mansion in town. He remembered now, because he
had wanted to ask Jeff if he had finally decided to do
something with the original old, abandoned homestead of
the Britton family.
Halfway in, Clay spotted the car pulled off the left
shoulder at an odd angle, the driver’s door left open. It was
the first time he got a good look at the small BMW
Roadster made famous in the movies by a super-spy. The
convertible was dark blue and sported a temporary North
Carolina tag. That was when he knew for sure it was the
same vehicle he had seen around the area the last few
days. “Where’s the driver?” he wondered aloud just before
spotting her. “Her!” He caught a glimpse of tanned skin
hiding under a full-brimmed straw hat that covered her head
and shadowed the shoulders of this stunt driver. He saw
bare shoulders as he cruised toward her. He did see a
small patch of black skirt, a very short skirt for such long
legs.
Braking slightly, Clay saw the woman had her face
buried in the neck of a horse, her hands reaching to soothe
it gently. He watched as she climbed up the bottom row of
the fence, leaning over to nuzzle the horse. That was when
he realized she was barefoot.
“Good God!” Clay said aloud as his body went into
overdrive and tense feelings in his groin demanded his
attention. He dropped his hand to his cock and absently
stroked his erection. It felt good, too good, he realized, and
focused his attention back on the road.
He cruised past the bare-shouldered beauty, afraid to
think any further, forcing himself to calmly drive up to the
house. Once there, he parked the Corvette off to the side,
away from the tree-lined entry. With several deep breaths,
Clay gathered the small, wrapped box that sat on the empty
seat next to him as the BMW pulled up beside him. He
watched as she seemed to plan her moves, smiling
inwardly as he wondered if she realized how many women
would kill to have hair like hers, kissed with natural
highlights from the sun, never a bottle. Having known Dana
all her life, he knew it wouldn’t occur to her to add them
herself. He smiled again, wondering what her answer would
have been if it was suggested to her. When her look met
his, the dread he’d been holding back rushed forward.
Choosing to take the initiative, he left the safety of his car
and walked toward her, shaking his head when he realized
she couldn’t find her shoes. In that instant it was reinforced
to him that being casual around Dana was going to be
difficult on all levels. Best he kept his distance until he knew
more about her reasons for retiring from her lucrative
modeling career and moving back to her hometown.
Leaning across her vehicle to say hello to her wasn’t a
good idea, Clay realized as her rosy scent reached him.
Pulling back from her, he felt his cock harden as the
fragrance wafted through his senses. The tightening in his
stomach made him realize again he would have to be more
careful around her or give away his feelings that might not
be returned. If she did return his feelings, it would open
another doorway he wasn’t sure he was strong enough to
walk through. Clay knew he’d blocked budding
relationships in the past, the idea of Dana always lurking in
the back of his mind. Now that she was home, he knew one
way or another they’d finally decide what their relationship
was.
****
Dana knew the vintage candy-apple-red Corvette, for
she had ridden in it often and even been allowed to drive it
on several occasions. She knew Clay would come for the
christening. He was to be Adam’s godfather, and she his
godmother. As her brother Jeff’s best and oldest friend,
Clay Hollister had always been around. It had felt wrong if
he wasn’t, she reflected, knowing how she hounded the pair
with her tagging along and unending requests and attempts
for attention. She was ten years their junior, enough time for
them to have pity on her occasionally and to be horrid on
others.
In the long days before coming home, Dana had
envisioned Clay’s face often. His dark brown hair was
always windblown with sun-given highlights. His dark eyes
always mesmerized her, their intensity burning through her
on more than one occasion. So wise and knowing.
Sometimes when she caught him looking at her it was as if
he could see into her soul. The idea that every thought she
had might also run through his mind bared her to him in an
elemental way. Being near Clay had been a part of the
decision-making process. Dana knew she would have to
get a handle on her emotions. She blew out the breath
she’d been holding, knowing if they did start some form of a
sexual relationship he would lean her secrets. If her secrets
didn’t horrify him, the two of them might stand a chance to
build a future. If he couldn’t accept her eccentricities, he’d
probably never see her again in the same light. Innocence
lost could never be reclaimed. But that was part of the
process. She was no longer too young for him or her
private passions. She decided time and fate would prevail.
For now, she had to get her act together and get through
the christening. Clay would probably like a say on the
subject, too. Just because she lusted for him didn’t make
him an automatic potential lover, even if that was one of her
ultimate goals of moving home. Even through all her angst
on the subject, she still couldn’t put Clay on her negative list
of arguments for moving home.
Over a year in the making, her pro vs. con list shifted
several times, home winning out. This was where she
belonged, where she would continue her life. If Clay
happened to run into her on occasion, so be it. They had
been friends all her life, and if she was getting anxious at
the thought of being close to him, it was her problem to
correct. Clay had never been anything but brotherly, in both
the good and bad sense. Her desire couldn’t enter into that
brotherly friendship if she were to keep the situation
uninterrupted. Dana knew if she pushed for a sexual
commitment and they failed, she’d lose him forever in all
ways.
She let her memory flash to the one night he’d lost his
reserve with her. It had been an awakening of sorts, one
she cherished and longed to repeat. But since he’d never
made any mention or attempt to repeat it, she’d have to
wait. Her second memory was of their time together at Jeff
and Lisa’s wedding, another shattering moment in her life
that was so short and never mentioned. Maybe she’d find
the courage to talk to him about the incidents one day and
get a chance to repeat them. For now, with the guest
gathered for the party, she’d have to wait.
At this time in her life, Dana wanted Clay as a friend,
even if their being lovers was always on her mind. If that
was the only place it ever could exist, she’d accept it and
hopefully move on to a man who understood her. Dana
seriously hoped that didn’t happen.
 Parking beside him, she pulled off her straw hat, tossing
it onto the other seat, not caring when it fell to the floor. Her
brown hair waved around her face and shoulders and down
her back in soft continuing waves. She watched as Clay
froze when her gaze met his. For a second, she thought to
retreat, and then she realized she couldn’t. This was her
home. The thought gave her reason to smile, and she did
as she bent over, searching for her shoes on the floor of the
tiny car.
“Some things never change, do they, kid?”
Clay was standing beside her door, staring down with
his smile broad. She wished he would take off the
sunglasses, wanting to see the chocolate eyes she had
dreamed of so often. Pushing that thought aside, she
agreed with him. “Yep, some things don’t.” She smiled
back, wanting to add that she had, but he hadn’t noticed.
“Do you see his brother back there, Clay?” she asked,
holding up only one strappy, high-heeled sandal. Reaching
across her, he retrieved the shoe that hid under the
monstrosity of a thing she had used as a hat. She would
never tell anyone she hated wearing hats. Dana learned a
long time ago to keep out of the sun as much as possible,
or she’d become one large freckle. So she’d taken to
wearing outrageously large hats to cover her when she was
outdoors. Most people just thought it was a Britton
eccentricity. They had no idea how much time she spent in
the sun riding horses and swimming.
****
“Next time, get a smaller hat or a bigger car,” he teased,
handing her the second shoe. He opened the car door for
her then ran his hand along the line of the small convertible
as she swung her legs onto the grassy shoulder while she
slid on her shoes. He had reached the other side of the
vehicle and again took note that she was bare shouldered
and bare backed. The white halter shirt fit around her small
waist and up behind her neck. Everything in between was
pure Dana, flawless to his eye, as always. Those eyes,
sable brown with golden edges that flamed when she was
excited or angry. He had been on the receiving end of both
of those moods, knowing both could bring him to his knees
if he let them. This latest episode was just more proof.
Clay didn’t expect her to understand. After all, she
thought of him as just another big brother to bully and taunt.
Until three years ago, that was all he had seen in her. Then
she came home for the holidays and his life had turned
upside down. Watching her bent over in the seat, he knew it
had really started a few years earlier. She had been just
twenty when she came to him for shelter during a storm.
How he had managed to keep from fucking her, he’d never
know. Only that it would have been wrong. Technically he
hadn’t kept his hands from her, but he’d managed to stop
himself from making love to her. Instead, he’d brought her
to a climax with his hands and lips.
Clay knew she’d been the one to initiate the situation,
and his cock, still semi-hard from his earlier thoughts,
throbbed at the memory. It was a memory he often used to
masturbate to. Dana on her knees before him, his legs
stretched wide to the side with her mouth just about to
encase his cock. Yes, he admitted they’d explored that
night, but he hadn’t fucked her. Maybe if they had made
love his life would be different. Hers would have been too.
But he’d found the presence of mind to stop their
explorations before plunging his cock inside her and
showing her what it meant to truly be loved and
appreciated. Pulling himself from the memories, he cleared
his throat and tried to get a handle on his emotions.
“When did you get in, kid?”
“A few days ago, what do you think of the wheels?” she
asked. He knew she wouldn’t ask if she didn’t want his
opinion, hating the idea it meant so much to him. “I know
you can’t consider it a classic, but it gets me around.” Her
straight face folded into a wide smile, warming his heart
that had gone cold so long ago.
“I’ll reserve judgment until I get to drive it.” He stuck his
tongue out at her, as he would when she was ten, not giving
him or Jeff a moment’s peace for whatever had been so
important to them at the time. Shaking his head when she
did the same, he rounded the car as she pulled on a
sleeveless black jacket that matched the skirt she was
almost wearing. Now, standing before him, Clay felt his
hands go clammy and cursed his cock stirring with
anticipation.
It had been almost three years since he had seen Dana,
and he missed her. Dana took a steadying breath as she
rose up from the seat of the car. She flung her arms around
his neck, pulling him off balance against her. Then she took
off his sunglasses and tossed them onto the seat of her car.
 His arms surrounded her waist, and he felt the warmth
of her against him. Inhaling deeply, her scent enveloped
him lightly. Sweet summer roses. He buried his face in her
neck and hair as she had done so recently with the horse in
the pasture.
****
Dana held onto Clay as if her life depended on him. She
didn’t know when she would get a chance to be close to
him again, and she yearned for his touch. Slowly, he lifted
her off the ground a few inches, swinging her in a circle.
They had done this so often through the years it was
routine. Dana always had a hug for him as well as Jeff when
they would come home from school on vacations. Clay
would hug her deeply then swing her around several times
before setting her back on her feet.
She would lean her head back, close her eyes, and trust
him not to hurt her. This time was no different, her head
tossed back, her hair swinging free against his bare arms.
He never disappoints me, still turning in slow circles
beside the two parked vehicles. She wondered how long
they might have stayed that way if they hadn’t been
interrupted by voices coming toward them.
Slowly, he stopped twirling her, forcing Dana to lean in,
watching his eyes intently as he lowered her to the ground,
her body sliding against his. It was several long seconds
before either of them moved their hands away, his from her
waist, and hers from his shoulders. The voices were getting
closer as Clay took a step back, waiting for Dana to grab
her purse from the front seat of her blue bullet. Laughing at
her thoughts, she gave him her typical Dana look, one
eyebrow up, one hand on her hip, and her eyes expressing
the need for information.
“I was just thinking I should be shot.” He shifted the
baby’s present to his other hand, took her arm, and started
walking them toward the front of the house.
“I can use a gun, but tell me why first,” she teased. Even
with a short-sleeved shirt and no tie, Clay looked exotic. His
hair was in need of a trim, the back and sides brushing his
collar, the natural wave at the ends of the dark brown
strands teasing against his skin.
“Because I helped to teach you how to drive!” he told
her.
As they walked to the house, she had an overwhelming
urge to fuss with his hair. Suddenly they both stopped
walking, and her hand came up to do so, only it caressed
his face, her finger running along his cheekbone. Clay
seemed startled but didn’t pull back from the intimate touch.
Later she wondered what would have happened if Linda
Cole hadn’t interrupted them.
****
Watching from the wide porch, Linda Cole’s body
language told her story to anyone who witnessed it. Her
back became ramrod straight, her hand unconsciously
smoothing the pastel skirt she decided to wear instead of
the solid-colored business suits she usually chose. Her
facial expression was the same one she wore in court when
she had been bested by the opposition. Her lips were tight,
her eyelids half closed in a glare. Linda’s mind went into
overdrive, working out the possible scenarios that could
take place, opting for Southern grace rather than the catty
jealousy that overcame her instantly when she saw Clay
with Dana on his arm.
She hadn’t been invited to the party and knew she
wouldn’t be. But she also knew Clay Hollister would be.
That morning, she had chosen her skirt and blouse
carefully, wanting to avoid any business attire, plainly
exposing the feminine side that most people didn’t see.
Linda was uncomfortable in the flowery skirt. The matching
top felt unnatural without a blazer to go over it. Today, she
knew Clay had to see her as a woman, not a professional.
Her excuse was valid. There was some Chamber of
Commerce business she wanted to talk over with Jeff
Britton. Would it be her fault she happened to stop by on
this beautiful afternoon? She had been out driving, enjoying
the sun, when she realized she was near his home.
Choosing to drop by to see to those arrangements seemed
plausible. Linda didn’t care what anyone else thought. She
knew Southern hospitality would have Jeff inviting her to
stay and enjoy the festivities of his firstborn son’s
christening party. What could be better? Her mood was
unusually light today, hoping that she would take one step
closer to Clay Hollister. That is, until she saw Dana Britton
in his arms.
“There you are, Clay. Lisa and I were just wondering if
you had forgotten.” Her posture straightened further as they
approached, her blond hair bobbing around her shoulders.
Her seeing Dana, still on Clay’s arm, didn’t put her at ease.
 “I couldn’t forget Adam’s day.” He hadn’t let go of
Dana’s arm, and she seemed to be holding on tighter.
Watching the other woman’s body language, Linda knew
she was staring into the eyes of her competition. With an
inward groan she hoped he couldn’t hear, she watched
Clay tighten his grip on Dana’s arm as they continued up
the stairs. Once on the porch, he stilled. Linda knew Dana
was opting to put her on the defensive.
“Hello, Linda, it’s nice to see you again. It’s my fault
Clay’s late. He was helping me find my shoes.” With that,
she turned and placed a kiss on his cheek. “See you later,
handsome,” she whispered, smiling broadly at Linda as
she passed. Linda had to hold back the seething look that
threatened to overtake her plastered-on smile. Clay had to
see her as feminine and alluring today. He waited a
moment and motioned with his hand for her to go ahead of
him into the house. Linda chose to loop her arm around his,
drawing him closer as they entered the house. She could
still hear Dana’s voice ahead of them and held back from
fisting her hand against Clay’s arm. What she really wanted
to do was toss Dana Britton on her head. It had taken the
better part of a year to be noticed by Clay Hollister, and it
wasn’t easy at that. Now that Dana was back, Clay was
among the missing in relation to her, Linda realized. Well,
she had a few tricks in reserve. Clay was a flesh and blood
man, and she knew how to work a man.
****
Jeff caught sight of Dana, using his index finger to tap at
the glass on his watch.
 “I know, I know, I couldn’t find my shoes,” she started
then laughed openly at the grimace her loving brother
produced for her. “Relax, Jeffy.” She knew the nickname
would send chills up his spine, loving the idea she could still
get to him, even after all the time they’d spent apart.
“Where’s my nephew? I didn’t come home to stand here
getting a lecture from you.” She scanned the crowded room
to her right, then her left, until she spotted Lisa holding a
small bundle wrapped in white. “There he is. See you later.”
She kissed his cheek lightly then wove her way through the
crowd toward the guest of honor.
It struck her how happy Jeff and Lisa looked. Their
glances to each other held a hint of the passion and
understanding they had found together. A match made in
heaven, Dana decided, and had a fleeting thought if she
would ever have something so special in her life.
Dana smiled, hugged, and greeted old friends and
family. She had planned her homecoming with the
christening. When Adam was born, she was finishing up
her scheduled commitments, refusing to add any more to
her book. Professionally, Dana Britton was retiring. She
would still do some charity work of her choice, but her days
of modeling before the cameras were winding down.
Instead, she looked forward to a more normal existence.
Moving back to the coastal Carolina home she had left ten
years before was her only hope of finding what was missing
from her life.
 Chapter Two
The simple ceremony was held in the one-room stone
chapel that sat apart from the rest of the house. Its own
freestanding building, it had been built with the rest of the
landscape in mind, its stained glass windows reflecting the
southern light. Dana remembered the stories of the
arguments her parents had had, her father finally giving in
and building the chapel for her mother when they married.
Her mother was new to the area, having met her
handsome fiancé away at college. They drifted apart just
after graduation. Her father had traveled to her Napa Valley
home a few years later, winning her heart. He had wanted
to establish himself before asking for her commitment. The
house was almost completed, the farm just starting to turn a
profit again, when he brought her home. She adapted
easily, except that she felt the place was missing
something. When their wedding plans were being finalized,
she had put her foot down. She would not be wed outside
of the church. However, Dana’s father felt they should be
married at home. Hence, the chapel he built as her
wedding present. From then on, every important ritual had
taken place in the small stone space. For the ceremony,
only their longtime family friend Reverend Frost stood in
front of the font, Jeff and Lisa to one side, Dana and Clay to
the other. Their father’s sister, Mary, was the only remaining
relative, along with her husband Leo. They sat in the first
pew to witness the ceremony. Ruth, their long time
housekeeper, sat across the aisle.
The small bundle in her arms was anointed without
waking from his nap. When they exited the chapel, Dana
gave the baby back to Lisa. Watching them walk back
toward the house where sixty friends and extended family
members gathered to celebrate, Dana hung back,
retreating into the cool, quiet space. There alone, she let
herself have a good cry, which was cleansing in many
ways, as just being home helped to soothe her.
****
Clay stood in the open doorway of the chapel,
wondering if he should stay or leave. He had never seen
Dana cry, not even when she broke her arm falling from a
horse as a skinny twelve-year-old. Even when her father
had been killed, she stood stoic beside Jeff, refusing to let
her tears escape before the prying eyes of those gathered
to mourn him.
These tears bothered him. He wasn’t sure why, but they
did. Quietly he went and sat on the wooden pew behind her,
leaning over to hand her a white handkerchief. He saw her
stiffen when she realized she wasn’t alone. After several
long minutes of quiet, she finally spoke.
“Don’t worry, I haven’t gone soft on you, it’s just this
miracle of life thing got to me.”
“Are you sure?”
As she turned to look back at him, he noted her posture
change. “We have company,” she told him quietly.
Clay wasn’t sure if that meant she wouldn’t or couldn’t
continue their conversation now that they weren’t alone.
Something deep inside her hurt. That was what he felt.
Somehow Dana was wounded inside, and his need to
make it better was being stifled. Without turning to see who
was approaching, he asked her quietly, “Want me to send
them away?” Her brown eyes twinkled from the colored light
reflecting through the windows. Her profile didn’t waver, but
he stared at her lips, longing to kiss her. Dana never got a
chance to answer him.
“There you two are. Lisa asked me to find you, lunch is
about to be served, and the godparents are a no-show.”
Clay stiffened when he recognized Linda’s voice. While her
tone was light sounding, Clay didn’t buy her polite and
teasing attitude. He’d met women like her in the past. She
had an agenda and it soured his stomach to realize he was
on it.
“Linda, we were just coming along. It’s amazing to us
both that Jeff has a son of his own now. Time seems to go
so quickly these days.” Dana let her voice trail off,
accepting that Linda didn’t care. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll slip
inside and repair the damage from this silly crying jag.”
Clay almost told her not to go, that she didn’t need to be
repaired, she was more beautiful now with puffy cheeks
and watery brown eyes than ever before, but one glance at
Linda and he knew to keep his mouth shut. Instead, he
stood, offering his arm to Linda. “Shall we? I’m starved.
This godfather thing makes a man hungry.”
“Oh, Clay, believe me, I know what to feed you then,”
Linda purred back. His stomach flipped again but not in a
good way, more like instant nausea.
 ****
Dana felt a shiver of repulsion run through her,
wondering if Clay had enough sense to see where Linda
was leading him. With a shake of her head, she walked
around the chapel and in the kitchen door, up to her old
room using the back staircase. There, she gave herself five
minutes to regain her composure then fixed her makeup
and headed downstairs.
At the top of the stairs, she halted, taking deep breaths
for control. Jealousy was a new emotion for Dana. It had
first happened when she saw him across an airport several
years before, a slim blonde on his arm. It had taken all her
strength not to go to him that day, knowing she couldn’t trust
herself not to make a fool of herself at that point. During the
next few months, every time she pictured the scene she had
witnessed, it turned her sick inside. Dana knew Clay dated,
but seeing him with the stranger had hit her on such a base
level it scared her. Never before had she felt so bitter. It
was then she started limiting her trips home. Avoiding the
situation seemed the best way for her to handle it. Now she
knew she would have to deal with it. “Not today,” she said
aloud, checking her appearance one last time.
****
Lisa and Jeff both watched Dana out of the corner of
their eyes. They knew something was wrong, but all Dana
had told them was she had decided she missed home and
was moving back. She had dismissed all their attempts to
dig deeper, yet the couple knew something was haunting
her, something she wasn’t ready to deal with. Until she was
ready, the most they could do was offer her love and
support.
Jeff’s wandering looks found Lisa across the room.
Seeing him holding Adam on his shoulder, she let out a
sigh. She was thankful her body was returning to normal
after the birth, wanting to be the stunning woman he
married once again. The miracle of it all surfaced, and she
held back a few stray tears that threatened to escape.
Lisa went about her hostess duties, urging everyone to
have seconds, accepting compliments directed toward the
new Britton heir. For the most part it was routine, except for
the family. Lisa loved the idea of having a family close-by.
She had grown up an only child, lonely and forgotten to
sitters most of the time. Deep inside, the one thing she
knew was that she would raise her children, not a nanny.
Their longtime housekeeper was given more
responsibility after Adam was born, Lisa turning her
attentions to her husband and baby. The house ran
smoothly before Lisa came to live there. It would continue to
do so under the careful eye of Ruth. The two women had
come to an understanding early on, when Lisa had first
been introduced to the household. She had taken the
initiative, asking Ruth to lunch the day after she had
accepted Jeff’s marriage proposal. What could have turned
into a power play, she managed to turn into a loving
relationship. She wasn’t interested in changing the way
Ruth ran the house; in fact, she was relieved to have those
duties taken from her. It would give her time to concentrate
on her new husband and still allow her time for her painting.
She and Ruth had slowly learned to trust each other and
eventually to confide in one another. Lisa made a point of
always including Ruth in all family occasions, coming to
think of her as more of a parent figure than she had ever
considered her own.
Ruth made the transition easy for Lisa. She knew what
was going on in town all the time, who needed to be
appeased and who didn’t. Their friendship had grown
through the three years she had lived there as Mrs. Jeffrey
Britton, a friendship she valued and nurtured. Adam would
call Ruth Aunt Ruth, no matter what Aunt Mary had to say
about it. All Lisa’s children would. Jeff saw nothing wrong
with it, and his was the only opinion that mattered. Catching
Ruth’s eye, she smiled, knowing everything was in control.
****
Dana filled a plate from the buffet and made a point of
carrying it with her for a long time. If anyone noticed, they
would see her laughing and talking with friends and family
she had missed for the past three years. It was easy to fall
back into the little girl that was fussed over by her aunt and
uncle, as well as all of the employees at the farm. She had
grown up amongst all of them and their families,
remembering all the times they protected her or kept her
out of trouble.
Photographs were taken, cake was eaten, couples
danced in the atrium as the afternoon progressed. After
seven, Dana saw Jeff and Lisa swaying in a corner of the
room, Adam close between them.
“May I interrupt? I haven’t had a chance to dance with
my nephew,” she teased, easing the baby from his
mother’s arms.
“I was just going to put him down,” Lisa told her.
“I know. Stay and dance with your husband. I’ll put him
down.”
“No. Dana, you stay and enjoy the party.”
“No, you stay and enjoy your guests.” She leaned in to
the couple as if her statement was meant for them only.
“Besides, it will give me fifteen minutes out of these shoes,”
she teased.
Slowly, Jeff and Lisa smiled at her. Dana cuddled
Adam in the crook of her arm then took Jeff’s hand and
placed it on Lisa’s waist. “Dance for awhile. We’ll be just
fine.” Walking away, she knew the couple would be holding
each other close, swaying to the music around them.
Walking up to the nursery, she was unaware of the brown
eyes that watched every step she took.
Talking to Adam in a whispered tone, Dana conversed
with the baby, assuring him that his parents were nearby,
but that he was in safe hands. As she ascended the wide
stairs slowly, she thought about Jeff and Lisa. They were a
handsome couple, both tall and slim, yet loving toward each
other. The first time they met, Dana was home for the
holiday from college, Lisa a Christmas Eve guest. No one
had to tell her, the looks that crossed between her brother
and Lisa confirmed her suspicions. Lisa was a good match
for Jeff. She stood her ground against his stubbornness
and usually managed to persuade him with laughter. Only
her fair skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes were a switch for
Jeff. Usually, he dated brunettes. The following year, on
New Year’s Day, Jeff had married Lisa in the family chapel.
At that same time, Dana realized she had always seen
blondes on Clay’s arm. Linda Cole was a blonde, even if it
wasn’t natural.
She smiled remembering what a good time she’d had
at their wedding. Foremost in her mind was dancing with
Clay, her head resting on his shoulder with his hands tight
to her waist. Dana sighed when she thought back to how
he’d taken her hand and led her away from the party when it
was starting to wind down. She followed without complaint,
laughing as he guided her through the house to the small
room under the main staircase. It was supposed to be a
closet but everyone used the mud porch off the back door. It
had become a storage room of sorts over the years, mainly
empty now that the good silver serving pieces were being
used for the reception. Clay had glanced around, and when
he saw nobody was in the hallway, all but pushed her
inside. He reached for the switch that lit a single overhead
bulb.
Clay grasped her around the waist and tugged her
against him, his lips meeting hers in a kiss she longed for. It
was sweet yet sensual, and she never wanted it to end.
When he pulled away from her mouth, she started to object
until he put his index finger to her mouth.
“No words, Dana. Be quiet or someone will find us.”
What he did next surprised her. He let his hands run down
along her hips and when he drew them back up, he had her
dress clasped in his fingers. She watched wordlessly as he
dropped in front of her and pushed more of the material
upward. “Hold this,” he instructed, and she gathered the
dress as best she could. What he did next still sent a shiver
through her body.
Dana knew or had hoped what he was going to do, but
when he hooked his index fingers under her bikini
underwear, she was shocked when he tore them from her
body. She’d assumed he’d draw them down her legs, not
tear them off. Yet that simple act had set her body into a
sexual tilt. With great flair, she watched him tuck them in his
pants pocket and lean forward. With the first touch of his
mouth to her clit, she sighed.
Clay had sucked her clit and taken long licks of her
pussy lips. Over and over he repeated the movements.
Dana knew she’d jutted her hips forward, giving him better
access to her body. She couldn’t reach to him while holding
the material of her bridesmaid gown, which gave him all the
control. With his hands on her hips, he moved her body at
his whim. Dana had let him, groaning louder when he
stroked her pussy lips with his index finger.
“Clay,” she’d started, but he’d glanced up at her.
“Quiet, Dana, just let me,” he’d told her, and she had.
She’d let him lick her pussy and slide his finger inside her.
“Damn it, you’re beyond wet, you’re almost fluid. So sweet
and hot to my lips,” he mumbled. When he slid a second
finger in her pussy, she’d widened her stance to give him
better access. With his fingers pumping in and out of her
and his mouth covering her clit, Dana had cried out when
she came. Clay had stood instantly and kissed her lips,
sharing her essence with her while he continued to slip his
fingers in and out of her pussy. “I told you to be quiet,” he
said. Dana had wilted against his body, the aftermath of his
attention making her legs weak and her whole body quake.
The kiss was beyond erotic, it was mind-boggling for
her. His large fingers were still sliding in her body, rubbing
against her clit. When she came a second time, he
swallowed her cry with his tongue thrusting in and out of her
mouth.
“What part of be quiet didn’t you get?” he teased,
pausing to drop light kisses to her mouth.
“Let me get to your cock and see how quiet you can be,”
she answered.
“Another time,” he told her, and very slowly withdrew his
fingers from her pussy. She’d dropped the dress to try and
hold him in place, but he was quicker than she was.
Grabbing his wrist, she drew his hand to her mouth and
licked his fingers clean of her cum. It was his groan they
heard in the small closet-like space.
“What were you saying about being quiet?” she teased,
dropping her other hand to rub his erection through the
material of his pants. “Jeez, you’re hard. Let me get to you,
I’d bet you’re dripping pre-cum.”
He’d grabbed her wrist to stop her movements.
“Another time,” he told her, kissed her forehead, and after
putting his clothing right, left her alone in the closet. Dana
had stayed there a few moments longer, thrusting three of
her own fingers in her pussy. She came again, but it wasn’t
the same. After catching her breath, she smoothed down
her dress and left the closet. With a quick stop in the
bathroom to repair her hair and makeup, she spotted him
across the room, champagne glass in hand, talking with
some of the farmhands. Nobody would believe what he’d
just done to her in the closet. Her problem was getting him
to do it again.
Later when they were dancing, she’d leaned up and
whispered, “I’ve got my juices dripping down my thighs.”
“Is that a problem?”
“Not if you do it again. Let’s see if we can get your cum
to drip down my thighs.” Dana remembered holding his
look, waiting for his reply when the orchestra leader called
for everyone’s attention to center on the cake cutting.
“I could think of some things to do with the icing,” she’d
whispered.
“I’m sure you could, but not tonight, kid. We have duties
to attend to.” He’d squeezed her hand and walked away,
joining the guests gathering around the cake table.
“Damn that man,” she’d whispered in exasperation. For
the rest of the reception, they hadn’t a moment alone. Dana
drew a deep breath and locked the memory away where it
belonged.
****
The door to the nursery stood ajar, the only light in the
room a soft night-light, more of a glow, Clay decided. Adam
was nestled on Dana’s chest, his fist gripping her finger as
she sang the old hymn softly. One his mother used to sing,
one he would never forget from his childhood. Standing
beside the door, watching Dana rock the baby to sleep,
hearing the soft words she sang, he knew there was no way
around it. He was in love with her. He had been since the
last Christmas he had spent with her. This moment he
watched made him all the more aware of his feelings.
Now he had to decide how to hide them from her. She
was young and free, her whole life ahead of her. He had no
right to think the thoughts he had of them together, of her
one day holding his child, of them as a couple. She had
stopped singing, but the chair still rocked. Forcing himself,
he walked several steps into the room, stopping dead when
he caught sight of the tear running down her cheek. He went
toward her, quietly pulling over a second straight-backed
chair as he went. Sitting across from her, his front
straddling the back of the chair, his legs spread wide
around it, he heard Dana sniff back the next torrent of tears
that threatened. Waiting her out, he was still there when she
opened her eyes a minute later.
Pulling several tissues from the box behind him, Clay
handed them to her. He took the baby with ease,
whispering to him as he placed the baby into the bassinet,
propping him correctly. Adam stretched in his new
environment but settled as Clay kept his large hand on the
baby’s belly, reassuring him.
Dana stared out the window, as if she was trying to
force back the emotions that surfaced. He’d never seen her
as emotional as she seemed these last few hours. Clay
returned to his chair, studying her in the dim light.
“Want to talk about it? I don’t think Adam will tell your
secrets.”
 “If only I could,” she whispered. Then, without
considering her move, she went to him as he stood,
accepting his open arms for comfort.
“Come on, kid. It can’t be that bad, tell me.”
“Just hold me a minute, Clay. For old times’ sake.” Her
grip tightened around him. He felt her shaking in his arms.
All he could do was hold her, all he wanted to do was make
everything all right for her, any way he could. When she
finally pulled back, her gaze wouldn’t meet his. Instead, she
started chattering about hormones running amok. He
caught her chin in his hand, forcing her to look.
“Dana?”
“Please, Clay, I’m okay.” She walked to the baby,
checking him one more time. “You’re pretty good with him. I
didn’t realize you knew so much about babies.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Dana.” Her look
flew to his, searching for the true meaning of his statement.
“Just like there’s a lot I don’t know about you.”
“Why aren’t you at the party?”
“I wanted some peace and quiet.” He started to laugh
then pulled back.
Dana seemed to be making some sort of decision,
Clay thought, watching her face carefully.
“Besides, the nursery is the last place Linda would look
for me.” His words were whispered as his hand came up to
her lips. His thumb ran along her bottom lip, enjoying the
texture of it, the softness against his finger. She let her eyes
lock on his, wondering if she would accept what he was
attempting to offer. Slowly, his head bent down, hovering
just a breath away from hers, his lips so close to hers, until
finally she closed the distance between them, letting her
lips touch his.
Clay knew he should leave, but just when he thought he
could, he had touched her, touched his mouth to hers with
such a delicate glance he knew he had to have more. His
face was next to hers, all she had to do was look up slightly
and they would touch. Then she did. Clay closed his eyes
as his lips met hers in this intimate way.
It wasn’t the quick smack of lips that they were used to,
this was warm and sensual. Dana lifted up onto her toes,
granting him better access to her lips as she opened them
to his. A deep groan came from within Dana, exciting him
all the more. She accepted the light probing of his tongue
against hers. He pulled her up close against the length of
him. As their kiss deepened, he knew she felt him harden
against her belly. As he did, he tossed away all thoughts of
propriety and kissed her back, full and strong, taking what
he had dreamt about for such a long time.
Air, Clay needed air to breath, but he knew if he moved,
the magic would be lost. Instead, he groaned against her
lips, pulling back slightly, then returning to the one place he
knew they belonged. Pressed against hers, life made
sense to Clay Hollister for the first time in years. He never
wanted to lose this feeling. He never wanted to lose Dana.
If he could freeze a moment in time, this would be it.
****
Neither Clay nor Dana knew that Linda Cole had
witnessed a portion of their kiss. She watched from the
shadow of the hall, bile turning in her throat. She would have
to deal with this as soon as possible. She retreated back
the way she came, running into Lisa as she did.
“Something wrong, Linda?”
“As if you didn’t know,” was all she got in return. Linda
left her standing in the hallway of her own home, confused.
When she got to the doorway of the nursery, she saw
what had set off Linda. Lisa knew that for the past year or
so Linda wanted to stake a claim on Clay. Unfortunately, it
seemed only Clay was oblivious to it. Everyone in the
county knew she was lusting for him and his bank account.
Jeff had discussed it with her on several occasions. Oddly,
neither Jeff nor Lisa could picture them as a couple.
Retreating several steps, she cleared her throat and
then coughed lightly a few times before entering the
nursery. There she found Clay looking out the window, while
Dana looked down at her sleeping nephew.
“Here’s where I lost you two. It’s my turn to hide out with
my son for a few minutes. You two have to go back to the
party,” she teased. Lisa was affectionate by nature, so it
wasn’t out of character for her to put her arm around Dana
as the two of them looked at the sleeping baby.
“I suppose you’re right. I’ll make the supreme sacrifice.
I’ll go back to the party.” Clay pushed out his bottom lip in a
mock pout, sending the two women into a fit of laughter.
“What, pouty doesn’t work for me?” he teased.
“Sorry, your tough guy image overrides it. Actually,” Lisa
continued, “I find it quite comical.” They laughed again, Clay
leaning close to the baby.
 “Be careful, Adam. You don’t know what you’re up
against.” With that said, he left them alone with the baby.
Both women noted he turned toward the back staircase.
“The baby’s asleep. We should go back to the party.”
“If I must,” Dana teased, pausing to grab her shoes. “I
guess I can’t go without these.”
Lisa noted Dana too went in the direction of the back
staircase instead of the main one that lead to the party.
Leaning over her newborn son, she soothed him with her
hand, smiling down at him. “All hell is gonna break loose
soon. It will be interesting to see how they work it out.”
****
Clay sat on the back porch steps, the hustle of the
caterers just a few feet away. There he pulled out one of the
slim cigars he occasionally allowed himself to enjoy. In the
warm breeze of the summer night, Clay wondered what
would happen next. He wondered even more what Dana
would say the next time he saw her.
Turning as the door opened, he saw her step out, her
shoes in hand. Their eyes met and held. Around them, the
party was just starting to break up, the caterer and his staff
louder in the kitchen just behind them. Dana kept his look
as she approached, surprising him as she took the cigar
from his hand, taking it to her lips, puffing evenly until the tip
was glowing. Handing it back, they shared several puffs of
it in silence. Dana sat on the porch step, fastening her
shoes once again.
“Wouldn’t it be simpler to leave them off?” he teased.
Clay hoped if he kept it light, Dana would too.
 “Probably, but I have an image to maintain,” she teased
back. Taking one last puff from the cigar, she stood.
“Dana…”
“Yes, Clay?”
“Not with me. You know that, don’t you?”
“Clay, I’d better get back, especially since you’ve
corrupted me with tobacco. I have to find some mouthwash
before Aunt Mary gets too close.”
He didn’t turn to look up at her, instead his hand gently
rubbed at her ankle. “I’ll be in shortly.”
“All right, Clay.” She didn’t move and he didn’t take his
hand away. Her leg was smooth to his callused fingers, slim
and delicate. Just the way the rest of her felt as he held her
close against him. It was an image he knew would be
burned into his memory for the rest of his days. Dana
reaching up to close the distance between their lips, her
eyes closing as she did. A chill ran through him as he
stood, relinquishing his grasp on her, deciding to walk
around the house rather than go back through the kitchen.
 Chapter Three
Dana knew Hollister Farms encompassed over five
thousand acres. Growing up, Clay would often take her for
rides through the back roads, showing her new plantings, a
new tract of land he had acquired, or especially a new
piece of equipment. He never hesitated to let her climb up
into the cabs of the huge tractors, following her to explain
how that piece worked and its functions. When she was
younger, she had often accompanied him during the long
hours of spring plantings and fall harvests.
It was natural to find Dana in the machine shop standing
on a crate to watch one of the workmen, her questions
about the repair endless. Even as she grew toward her
teens, he’d find her there occasionally, her hands slick with
grease from the machinery she was tinkering with. He
always took the time to answer her questions, explaining
the complexity of the engine and the needed repair. She’d
known how to change the oil in most tractors by the time
she was ten and had a sixth sense when it came to
pinpointing a problem just by listening to the chug or
clanking noise it made.
Driving on the secondary dirt road, she was stunned at
the amount of growth the timber to her left had
accomplished. The last time she had been to this area was
five years before, just after Clay acquired the thousand
acres of freshly logged land. He had replanted, knowing it
would be twenty to thirty years before it would be ready for
harvest. His long-range plan always gave Dana a
comforting thought. He was a man who saw into the future,
knowing how to provide for the days ahead.
The BMW had low ground clearance, so she coasted
along the bumpy track until she saw his pickup pulled off to
the side. There she found Clay, BlackBerry in one hand and
an old-fashioned clipboard in the other. He was surveying
the three-foot stalks of corn forcing their way skyward.
There had been a brief thunderstorm that morning. It
rumbled across the coast in less than an hour leaving
behind a sunny, humid day. The rain had washed the dust
from the leaves of the crop, leaving it shiny and new as the
light wind rustled through the rows.
Clay acknowledged the approaching vehicle with the
wave of his hand. Dana was instantly relieved and excited
when he gave her a large smile.
“Hi, kid. What brings you back here?” Before she could
say it, he put up his hand, adding, “And if you say your car,
I’m going to have to punish you.”
“Promises, promises,” she teased back, wondering
how he might react if she told him that was exactly what she
wanted from him.
Dana had vivid memories of Clay tickling her
unmercifully when she was younger. She would interrupt
him and Jeff to the point of madness, and then Clay would
chase her, eventually catching her, tickling her until she
promised to behave. A strange feeling came over her with
the memory. A feeling she couldn’t quite put into words. The
only one that came to mind was lust, and she forced it from
her mind.
Dana was on alert the minute the words left her mouth.
She was glad her sunglasses covered her eyes. The only
problem was that he, too, wore dark glasses. His oilskin hat
shadowed most of his face from her view. Only the slight
tremble in the corner of her mouth gave her away, and she
let her lips spread into a smile.
“I’ve been sent on a mission, Sunday brunch, two
o’clock. Lisa promised immediate family only.”
“That leaves me out.” Dana looked stricken at his poor
joke. “Okay, kid, just teasing.” He wandered a few rows as
if he wanted to put some distance between them. When he
turned back, she was sitting propped on the back of her
car, her legs pulled up against her chest, her arms wrapped
around them. Faded denim covered the long length of her
legs, her feet clad in old, worn sneakers. The white T-shirt
she wore hugged the line of her breasts, tapering to her
slim waist. Her hair was pulled back in an elastic band,
flowing down her back. After years of modeling, Dana knew
the sight Clay saw. She hoped he interpreted it as natural
and sensual with a hint of humor. Maybe that would make
him see she’d grown up.
“What a sight, kid,” he said. For what seemed like
eternity, Dana watched him from behind her sunglasses.
“Where’s your hat?”
“What?” Of all the things Dana was prepared for him to
say, asking where her hat was wasn’t one of them. Clay
took off his oilskin and plopped it on her head.
“Keys in the ignition?”
 “Yep.”
“Going to be kind of hard to hold on sitting there,” he
teased as he tossed his clipboard onto the seat of his truck
through the open window, carrying only the cell phone. He
walked to her Roadster, but she saw the way his hips
swayed with a definite purpose. Adjusting the front driver’s
seat to accommodate his long legs, he fitted himself behind
the steering wheel.
Dana swung her legs around, stepping onto the
passenger seat, climbing over to get settled. Glancing left,
Clay’s profile was still strong and challenging. His jaw was
hard, unforgiving, she knew, until he smiled. The thought of
his smile warmed her heart on many a cold New York night.
“Buckle up, kid.” Dana stuck her tongue out at him then
felt her cheeks heat. Unfortunately that wasn’t the only thing
that heated. Her pussy was instantly wet at the idea of
sucking him. She hoped his glasses would hide the color
rising in her cheeks, ducking her head down to tuck his hat
under the seat. “Ready?” This close to him it was hard not
to reach over and touch him, anywhere, everywhere. She
cleared her throat and sat back.
“Go ahead, it’s still under warranty.” Shaking her head,
she held the base of her seat as he gained speed over the
bumpy dirt road. Knowing he would control himself until he
was on solid ground, she figured he would head over to the
airstrip, and she was right. Once he hit the macadam, he
shifted gears, the force plastering her against the back of
her seat.
Dana loved the rush of the speed, the air blowing
against her skin. Trusting Clay not to endanger her, she
threw back her arms to the wind after she turned on the
radio. Blaring around them, the music allowed their silence
to continue. Slowing to turn at the far end of the field, Clay
waited while Dana chose a disk and inserted it into the
stereo. She knew it was one of his favorites from years
before, and she often listened to it when she was missing
him. The vintage tunes pumped from the multi-speaker
system in the small space. After several spins around the
airfield, he finally pulled off to the side, shutting the engine,
turning in his seat to face her.
“High marks on the performance of the vehicle, but low
marks on legroom,” he told her. She wondered if he would
bring up their kiss, then decided he wouldn’t. She was
learning his pattern, how he only showed her adult affection
when their time was limited. Always in a semi-public place
where outside influences would curtail their actions. Except
for the night she’d stopped for shelter during the storm. That
night there were no interruptions.
“Now, for endurance, let’s hit the logging road, see how
she holds it.” With a flip of the key, he drove to the far end of
his property, stopping at the new clearing.
“This was where the old workshop stood, wasn’t it?”
Dana pulled off her seat belt, pushing up onto the seat
back, trying to get her bearings.
“Used to be, the old lean-to was falling down. It’s easier
to keep all the equipment at the main shop now.”
“I never realized you could see the water from here. It’s
beautiful, Clay.”
 “Seemed like a shame to waste the view.” Clay turned
to watch Dana. “You approve?”
“Can we get down to the beach from here?” She
grabbed his hat to shield her from the harsh sun, her legs
swinging over the side of the car and carrying her toward
the shoreline before he could answer.
“Give me some time, kid. Jeez,” he said, shaking his
head as he walked toward her. There was a wide expanse
of wetlands between them and the river. “I’m waiting for the
permits to cross over with a walkway and a small pier. It
should be completed by next summer.” The sun glinted
against his dark hair, and she lost her train of thought
watching him.
She carefully walked out as far as she could go without
going into the water. In front of him she threw out her arms
toward the sun, laughing. “I haven’t felt this free in years.
God, I missed being home.”
“Dana, about Sunday…”
“About Sunday, it was a great party, don’t you think?
Lisa should have the photos printed by brunch this week.”
Dana knew that wasn’t what he meant. Let’s see what he
does mean, she thought. As she wove her way back toward
him, he reached out a strong arm to help her over the last of
the distance she had to cover. With her hand in his, it was
easy for him to pull her toward him, directly into his arms.
Dana knew the moment she took his hand it wasn’t a good
idea. Engulfed in his arms, his chest against hers, it was
hard to think. She didn’t want to think. Instead she lifted her
face to his, wishing him to kiss her. Slowly he pulled off her
sunglasses, the harsh change in light forcing her to close
them momentarily. His lips met hers, warm, wet, searching
hers for a response. Parting her lips under his, he pulled
her closer, deepening his exploration. Dana held on for
dear life, realizing there wouldn’t be too many more of
these uninhibited kisses. Clay deserved a normal woman
beside him who could raise his family without fear of
accusations of her unorthodox sexual needs. She tugged
him closer to her body, letting her hands roam his shoulders
and chest. For so long, his image fueled her fantasies.
Now, here in person, she realized it would be worse in the
future when he stops touching her. Dana also knew that with
time and her persistence, they’d find a comfortable level of
friendship that wouldn’t embarrass either of them.
****
Clay knew this was a bad idea even as his mouth went
to hers. He could be throwing away a lifetime of trust and
friendship, but still he couldn’t help himself. She was vibrant
against him, her hands running up his arms, pinching at his
shoulders as she pulled him deeper. Body overrode mind,
hormones and lust pushed back common sense as he held
her, his tongue invading her warm mouth, hers meeting his
in a fight for possession. Pulling back from her was the only
way to stop it.
“Jeez, Dana.” He turned away from her, his jeans
suddenly too tight for comfort. A thin layer of sweat beaded
along his forehead as he fought for control.
“Clay?”
“Yeah?” He cleared his throat, trying to control his
breathing.
“Doesn’t matter.” When he heard her words, anger took
over.
“Doesn’t matter? Are you crazy?”
“I can’t give you what you want. What you need…what
you deserve.” She walked back to the river view, keeping
her back straight, refusing to turn.
Dana’s words floated through his mind, “Can’t give you
what you need or want or deserve.” He was more confused
than before, if possible. Finally, he knew the time had come
to talk it out with her.
“Dana, what do you think I’m looking for?” She glanced
over her shoulder at him. The sadness in her eyes told him
more than any words could as she slowly turned.
“Whatever, Clay, you deserve more than I could ever
give you.”
“You don’t know what I want. Sometimes I’m not sure, so
how can you be?”
“I just know.” Slowly, with all the energy it seemed she
could muster, Dana closed the space between them. “I wish
I could, Clay.” Taking her sunglasses from his hand, she put
them on, a mask to hide behind. She strode with purpose
toward the car and waited in the passenger seat of the
vehicle. It was a definite way of ending the conversation
and questions she wasn’t comfortable answering.
When he finally got in, they didn’t talk. He drove back to
where she had met him along the cornfield, pulling up near
his truck.
“The car handles pretty good, are you going to keep it?”
 “For a while. It doesn’t seem very important anymore.”
“Dana, what is important?”
“The one thing I can’t have.” He looked to her to explain,
but she just shook her head. “I have to get back.” She
opened her door, walking around the car, waiting for him to
relinquish the driver’s seat. Clay watched in silence as she
readjusted the seat and mirrors.
“See you Sunday?”
“Sure, kid. See you Sunday.” Dana started the car and
drove slowly away. When she was about a hundred yards
from him, she stopped and backed up to where he still
stood. “Clay?” She handed him back his hat, then smiled.
“I’m not a kid anymore.”
“I know, Dana. I think it would be easier if you were.”
“For who?”
“For me, of course. There would be a clear line I couldn’t
cross.”
With that, she switched gears and sped away, leaving
him in the developing dust cloud. Shaking his head to
himself, he pitied the poor mechanic who would have to
realign the vehicle.
****
Sitting on the screened porch of his old house, Clay
sipped from the bottle his hand held. The beer had gone
warm long ago, and he just didn’t have the ambition to get a
fresh one. His mind kept wandering back. Had it been six
years ago? Dana had come home, unexpected and
unannounced. She had turned twenty a few months before,
not returning for a celebration because of her work and
school schedule. When she called to thank him for the
flowers he had sent her, she had told him work was hectic
but great. Then a few months later, she showed up without
any advance notice during the fall semester. Jeff had told
him she was home, but he hadn’t seen her yet.
Pushing back in the wooden Adirondack chair, he
closed his eyes, rubbing them with his fingers. Her vision
was as clear in his mind as if she had been standing in
front of him now. He had been watching the remnants of a
tropical storm blow past when headlights lit up his driveway.
In the darkness, he could only tell it was a truck, then the
driver’s door opened and he caught the lettering on the
door, Britton Farms. He had expected to see Jeff run
toward him, but instead it was Dana. He held open the
screen door for her against the wind. She was drenched
and laughing. He remembered how she had flung herself
into his arms, drenching his nude chest with rainwater. She
had held him for a long time before she finally released him.
“Hi, am I interrupting a hot date?” she teased, her hand
running along his bare chest.
“Not tonight. Sorry to disappoint you.”
“Maybe next time.” She rubbed the sleeves of the flannel
shirt she wore. “Is it okay if I hang for a little while? I was on
my way back from Aunt Mary and Uncle Leo’s when the
storm came up.”
Her hair was braided down her back. One long wet tail,
he thought as he left her on the porch. Returning, he tossed
her a thick towel then pulled on an old college T-shirt. It was
cool for summer, the storm blowing in a northeast breeze
with the heavy bands of rain. Clay watched her as she
toweled off her hair, and she automatically set about
undoing the braid. She had peeled off the wet flannel shirt
while he was gone, leaving her in a short tee shirt, faded
jeans, and her riding boots.
“What are you doing out in this? Why didn’t you wait it
out at Mary and Leo’s?”
“Please, Clay. I’d have been stuck there all night.
Besides, I left at the first report. It just got here quicker than I
did. That reminds me, your power’s going to be off for a few
more hours.”
“And you know this how?” he teased. He watched as
her slim fingers worked her hair against the towel.
“Because I was three miles from home when the police
turned me around. There are a couple of trees down over
the highway, power lines went with them.”
“Oh,” was all he could manage. Her shirt, if you could
really call it that, rode up near her breasts each time she
raised her arms. He knew she wore no bra under it, there
were no strap lines, only the hint of her curves and her
pebbled nipples.
“Mind if I try Jeff on the land line? I’m sure Aunt Mary has
called him by now.”
“Sure, kid. You know where the phone is.” Dana sat on
the porch floor, tugging off her boots before she entered his
home. Clay sat, knowing he couldn’t follow her just yet. His
cock was rock hard under his jeans, and any movement
would be uncomfortable. He heard her talking to her brother
through the open kitchen window that looked out onto the
porch.
“Of course my car phone is charged. If you stop to think,
I’ve been driving through an electrical storm on the low
lands, no signal you jackass.” Whatever Jeff’s reply was, it
made her laugh. “No, you couldn’t get across the highway
any better than I could.”
Clay wandered into the kitchen, not prepared for the
sight he encountered. She was leaning against his kitchen
sink, her jeans molded to her hips and legs. The short shirt
had ridden up, a large portion of her back exposed. He
wanted to run his hand along her spine, watch the chill it
would send through her. While a year ago he wouldn’t have
hesitated, tonight he didn’t touch her. She turned and
winked, shaking her head at the old-fashioned wall phone. It
sent a chill through his body as he watched her wind the
stretched cord around her finger.
“He wants to talk to you.” His palm was clammy, but he
resisted the urge to wipe it along his leg when she handed
him the receiver.
“Yeah, lost power about an hour ago. You, too. Dana
said they told her a few hours. She can crash here, yeah, no
problem.”
Dana leaned back, looking around the room that was so
familiar. “Have a good time with Gwen, was it? Yeah, she’s
all right here.” He gave her back the phone.
“Jeff, six thirty at the barn, if the storm’s passed.” He
turned his back as she wound the cord around her finger a
second time. “Say hi to Gwen, see you in the morning.” She
replaced the receiver on the wall-hung base. “Sorry, I didn’t
think I’d have trouble with trees tonight. Water I was
prepared for, not trees and power lines.
“No problem, kid. Want beer or soda?”
“Beer I suppose, I’m not going anywhere for a while.”
Clay handed her a cold, long-necked, green bottle, taking a
second for himself. She had wandered back out onto the
porch, beer in one hand, the towel in the other. Her hair was
starting to dry, the ends curling in different directions. The
oil lamp that sat on the table next to him burned dully
against the darkness. With the turn of the switch, he could
have illuminated the whole porch, but decided not to. If he
could see Dana, she would be able to see him.
“Why did you come home, kid? Jeff said it was
unscheduled.” She was wandering the length of the porch
like a trapped animal. He wasn’t prepared for her reply. Her
laughter started out loud and strong, and then eased away
to a heavy sob.
Standing at the far end from where he sat, she glanced
over her shoulder. “If I told you the truth, you’d have me
locked away.”
“Tell me anyway.” He held the bottle in his hand, not
really drinking from it. He needed to have a clear head
tonight. Dana alone in his home could mean trouble. He
didn’t want that kind of trouble.
“My plant died,” she whispered.
Clay sat forward in his chair, placing the bottle on the
table next to him. “Excuse me?”
“See, I know it was silly. I guess I was just missing
home. It’s been a while.”
 “Since last Christmas. What did the plant have to do
with it?” He tried to keep his voice low and smooth.
“It’s silly, I know. I’ve just been busy, too busy, I suppose.
Between school and work, it was the last straw. I came
home from a weekend shoot and it had died. The next thing
I knew, I was at the airport.”
“What did you blow off to come home?” Clay wondered
where this was going, almost afraid of her answer.
“Just schoolwork. I brought it with me, did most of it on
the plane.”
They were silent for a while, listening to the rain come
down hard against the metal roof of the old house.
“What kind of plant was it?”
Turning, she smiled. “Promise not to use it against me?”
The fire was back in her eyes. It wasn’t there a half hour
ago.
“Promise, kid.”
“It was a flat of grass.” She waited to make the obvious
connection. “Run that by me again?” Clay knew she
wouldn’t be growing pot in her Manhattan apartment, but
still couldn’t get the mental picture.
“Relax, I mean just that, grass as in lawn. They sell it in
wooden flats. I found it very soothing somehow. I’d come
home and run my hands across it. The texture, the smell,
the memories.”
“You got homesick, kid.”
“Yes, a little. But it was more than that, Clay, I felt lost.”
Clay closed the distance between them, his hands
going to her shoulders, pulling her back against him. He ran
his hands along her arms, feeling the cold come from her.
Slowly, he pulled away, leaving her to enjoy the breeze,
returning with a sweatshirt he spread across her shoulders.
“Thanks.”
 Chapter Four
The portable radio on the kitchen windowsill told them
another band of rain was heading their way and they were
now predicting it would stall over the coast, probably not
moving away until mid-morning.
“There goes my morning ride,” she joked.
Clay knew she meant her horseback ride with Jeff, but
the initial image he conjured up in his head was anything
but that. The winds started howling again, the rain coming
in heavy drops.
“Dana, we can go inside if you’re cold.”
“Not yet, Clay, it feels good. In New York storms are
different.”
“Are you really homesick, Dana, or is it something
else?”
“I just needed to know it was still all here, that it hadn’t
changed.”
A heavy gust of wind tossed water though the screens,
dousing her with cold rain. Her hair blew back from her
face, the ends wet again.
“Inside, kid. I’m not sending you home with a cold.”
“The temperature’s dropped, hasn’t it?” Slowly, she
followed him, reluctant to leave the howling winds.
Inside, Clay set a match to the kindling and paper that
was stacked in the old stone fireplace. When it caught, he
added several small logs, stacking them carefully. Dana
chose to sit on the hearth, half turned to the fire. Clay went
to the sofa that sat six feet in front of it, opting for the far
corner.
She asked him about the farm, what crops he had
planted, asking questions that blew his mind.
“How did you remember all that stuff? I didn’t know you
were listening when Jeff and I talked.”
“I learned how to be seen and not heard at a young
age,” she teased.
He asked her about school, not surprised the semantics
classes were her favorites. She told him she had been to
Paris in the spring and had loved it. But her favorite was still
Venice, the history and the architecture. He wasn’t sure
when it happened, but she was sitting on the floor with her
back against the couch, settled in between his legs.
Jeez, Dana. If I was any other guy…No, I’m not any
other guy. Clay knew one thing, Dana trusted him, and he
wouldn’t do anything to change that. “Dana, if you’re
finished with classes after the first of the year, why not
come home?” She stretched, laying her head on her knees,
her arms wrapping around her legs.
“I will when it’s right. I figure I’ve got three good years
left, and then I’ll decide.”
“Three good years, what in the hell are you talking
about?”
“Modeling, of course. I’m twenty, Clay. By the time I hit
twenty-three, some new fresh-faced sixteen-year-old will
come along. I just hope I have the grace to accept it when it
happens. I don’t want to go out kicking and screaming. I’d
rather walk away, preferably with an elegant air.”
 “You’re serious. You’re prepared for your life to end in a
few years, God, Dana.” Clay was up and pacing the length
of his living room.
“Clay, I didn’t mean my life would be over, just the
modeling portion. If I’m careful, I should be able to work for
a few more years, but I have to be realistic.”
“What will you do then?”
“I’m not sure. Hopefully by then I’ll have banked up some
money, and, never mind, it’s silly. I’ll come home and find
something to do with myself.”
“No visions of a husband and kids roaming through that
strange brain of yours?”
“Someday, but it doesn’t seem real just yet. If it’s meant
to be, it will.”
Clay threw himself onto the couch, at the other end from
where she sat. “What does seem real, kid?”
She didn’t answer for a long time. When she turned to
face him, the firelight danced against her flawless skin.
With her eyes closed, she whispered, “This seems real,
Clay.”
He didn’t know how to respond, so he said nothing.
Finally, she came to his rescue. “Got any junk food in this
place?”
“Probably, what are you in the mood for?”
“Cheez Doodles, chocolate, and peanut butter.”
“Well, at least you know what you want now.” He rose
from the couch, reaching to take her hand, helping her up.
“Let’s see what we can find.”
****
 Clay remembered them leaning on the kitchen counter,
a bag of cheese puffs open beside them, several chocolate
bars opened alongside it. Dana was spreading a thin layer
of peanut butter on a square of chocolate when he turned to
look. “Dana, sometimes you scare me. I look at you and
see this beautiful young woman, but when I look into your
eyes, I see something so different. It’s like you’re twenty
going on forty. Are you really afraid your career will be over
by the time you’re twenty-three?”
“Not afraid. Looking forward to it, I think. It’s not like I
won’t still get work, but it will be different. It will be nice to
walk down a street, not having heads turn as I go past.”
“Dana, no matter what you do for a living, men will still
watch you walk by, most of them probably ready to kill
themselves when you don’t give them the favor of a look
back.”
“That’s sweet, Clay, but I’m not fishing for compliments. I
understand what I’m up against. I’ve tried to be very careful
with my choices. With a little luck, I’ll turn into a wonderful
spokesperson for some worthy cause.”
“What’s your cause going to be? The homeless,
wetland preservation, or prevention of cruelty to animals?”
Dana hedged, turning away from him. “I’m not sure yet.”
Clay turned her face to his with his hand on her chin,
looking directly into her brown eyes. “Yes, you do, but
you’re not ready to share it, yet.”
“That transparent?”
“Only to me, kid.”
Dana went about cleaning up the mess they had
created, and then dropped in front of the fire once again.
They listened to the radio. Reports changed often. Dana
and Clay both joked about them not really knowing
anything, except that it was raining. She stretched again,
turning to watch the flames.
“Clay, did you ever want something, then when you got
it…”
“Not quite sure what to do with it?”
“Yes, no. It’s like coming home this week, all I wanted
was to be home, but once I got here—” She stifled a yawn.
“Like tonight.”
Clay stiffened against the back of the couch, almost
afraid of what she would say next. Had she read something
in his manner, he wondered.
“I’ve been missing Aunt Mary and Uncle Leo for a while,
but an hour after I got there I was wishing I could leave.” Her
laugh saddened him.
“Be careful what you wish for, something like that?”
“I suppose so.” He watched as she braided her hair
quickly, leaving the ends free. He knew from years of
watching her, it was something to do with her hands. The
weight of it wouldn’t allow the braid to stay unless she
banded the end. “They’re always a lot more fun to be
around in my mind than in reality.”
“Welcome to the real world, kid.” For a long time they
were quiet, watching the fire. “Dana, maybe you’ve been
out in the real world for too long.”
“Maybe, but I shouldn’t complain about the advantages
I’ve had.” Her mood darkened, and he didn’t know why or if
he should question her about it. He only knew for sure he
couldn’t offer her physical comfort. The possibilities
boggled his mind, and his tightening jeans reminded him of
how badly he wanted to comfort her.
“Maybe you should go to bed, Dana. Take your choice
of rooms.” Without opening her eyes, she gave him a
strange smile. “Take the flashlight up with you.”
“Can I sleep in yours?”
“Any place you want.” Dana stood, reaching a hand to
him. “I’m gonna stay up a while longer, I want to listen to the
reports. I have to figure out where to start in the morning.”
Slowly, she lowered herself to him, kissing his cheek
lightly. “Night, Clay.”
“Night.” She had gotten a few steps away when he
called after her, “Dana.”
Halting in her steps, she turned slowly, standing in the
doorway. “Whatever it is, kid, just give it some time. Don’t
make any snap decisions. Anything worth doing can usually
wait a day or two. Think it through, sweetheart.” He hadn’t
been prepared for her answer.
“You haven’t called me sweetheart since the day I broke
my arm. Holly used to call your mother that.” They shared a
smoldering look, Clay the first to look away. “Clay, what
specific topic are you advising me to think through?”
“Any that it fits, Dana.”
She stood for a long time, leaning against the
doorframe, her hands clasped behind her back. When he
said nothing further, she turned and left. He heard her
overhead heading to the master bedroom. Then her steps
changed and he knew she’d headed to the other end of the
house, using the room he had slept in as a child. Clay
groaned when he realized she chose to sleep in his old
room.
Clay waited an hour then went up to check on her. He
walked to the master bedroom, not surprised when it was
empty. Turning in the darkness, the door to his old room
was open. Standing in the doorway, the sight of her took his
breath away. She had pulled the spread down to the foot of
the bed. Her jeans were tossed over the back of a chair.
Lying on her side on top of the cool sheets, she slept
peacefully, his old leather bomber jacket clutched to her
chest. Her bottom leg was straight, her top leg bent at the
knee. Clay stood for a long time, watching her sleep. The
shirt she wore was caught up under her. Little, white, cotton
bikini underwear covered her bottom. Her flat stomach and
long, toned legs showed the hard work she put in, keeping
her body fit.
Turning to leave before he crawled in next to her, he
stopped and pulled the spread up over her. She didn’t
move in her sleep, he didn’t dare move the lock of hair that
had fallen across her face.
****
Clay remembered that night as if it had been yesterday.
He remembered the feelings of confusion he had, first at
his attraction, and secondly that she seemed so resigned
to having her career end in such a short time. He
remembered waking to the thunder and lightning storm
overhead, seeing Dana standing in the living room
doorway, in just her T-shirt and white panties, her jeans still
off. Clay felt the lump in his throat form once again. It did
every time he remembered her image. She was so sexy
standing there, mussed from sleep. The innocent part of her
really didn’t understand what she was doing to him. At the
time, Clay simply put out his arm. She closed the distance
between them in a few long steps, crawling beside him on
the sofa, her head against his chest. He let his arms close
around her, even though he knew it was trouble. He had
sense enough to pull an old cotton throw off the back of the
couch, covering her with it. Forcing himself, he placed his
hands on the outside of the blanket, holding her as she
drifted back to sleep.
“Dana, I’m only a phone call away.”
“I know, Clay.”
He caught his breath as she tucked herself tighter
against his warm body. “Just remember it, okay?” She had
only nodded against his chest, her breathing even and
calm.
Regardless of the storm, Clay drifted off to sleep with
Dana in his arms. He was having the most erotic dream,
but when he shifted he realized it wasn’t a dream at all.
Dana wasn’t next to him, she was on the floor between his
legs. Sometime in his sleep, she’d woken and, whatever
her reason was, managed to undo his pants without waking
him. She had his cock between her lips when she glanced
up at him.
Instinct had him starting to pull away from her but her
hands on his hips held him in place. “Dana, you shouldn’t,
we shouldn’t…Jeff will kill me.”
“Let’s not tell him then.” She’d engulfed his cockhead
and swirled her tongue around it before taking him deeper
down her throat in small increments. Clay knew he should
stop this, but it felt too damn good. He dropped his head
back against the sofa and pretended to shut his eyes while
watching her from under his lashes. Christ, she was
amazing. At a glance, she was angelic, but sucking his
cock down her throat she was anything but. At that moment
he realized how adult she truly was. And he figured his
wasn’t the first cock she’d sucked, not with the technique
she was using on him.
Between sucking, swirling her tongue around him, and
occasionally letting her teeth tease his erection, he was
close to losing his load. Her fingers grasped the base of
him, and she pulled her mouth from him. Using her other
hand she continued to stroke him. “You’re close to coming. I
can taste you. Where do you want to come, in me or on
me?” Her head dropped and took another few licks of his
cockhead.
“Dana, we can’t have sex, can’t make love.” He was
starting to pull from her grasp, but she dropped her mouth
over him, her teeth reminding him she was in charge.
“I’d really like you to fuck me, but it seems you’re not
interested. Maybe another time,” she mused and left him
alone, pulling backward. For an instant, Clay was beyond
disappointed. Then he realized she was tugging her T-shirt
off, over her head, and tossing it to the floor. Immediately
she sucked him back between her lips. “Come for me,
Clay,” she whispered, using her hands and lips to torture
his erection. “If you come on my breasts will you lick them
clean?”
Clay had been speechless, staring at her. In seconds
the choice was made. He watched Dana lean forward and,
using her hand, pump his cock only a few times until he
came on her breasts. Breasts he’d longed to see, longed to
touch. Dana took him back to her lips and licked him clean,
making him stiffen a second time in the process.
He didn’t care any longer what was right or wrong. Clay
wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her to the
sofa, laying her down, and following over her. His lips
captured her nipple and he sucked it. His hands closed
around each breast, feeling her size and weight, playing
with her skin as he went from side to side, licking his cum
from her tits.
Dana lifted her hand and pressed it to his neck, holding
him tight to her. “Harder, Clay, suck it harder.”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he mumbled around her nipple.
“Hurt me, please. Don’t make me beg, just make me
come.”
Clay took more of her breast between his lips, his
fingers tightening around it, and let his other hand drop
between them. He rubbed her clit through her panties and
slid his finger along the length of her pussy lips. The
material was moist, and he knew she was responding,
writhing under his touch.
In an act of total abandon, he let his finger slide under
the elastic band and pulled them aside. He was right, his
finger stroked along her pussy, hot and wet to his touch.
She was jutting her hips upward to meet his finger, her
hand coming to cover his, moving him slightly until his index
finger slipped in her pussy. She groaned and shifted under
him, her hand still holding his wrist tight to her. “Clay, use
another finger and bite my tit, you’ll make me come.”
He didn’t hesitate until she ran her fingers through his
hair, tugging him to look at her. “Are you sure you won’t fuck
me? I always figured you had a large cock, but you’re huge,
long, and thick. I like the way you taste. Come fuck me,
Clay, please?”
“I don’t have any protection, Dana.” She let her head
drop back to the sofa but kept her hand pressed against
his wrist. “Use your fingers on me, Clay, bite my nipples,
make me come.”
“Dana, you’ve got me ready to come again myself.”
She stilled under him, and he thought she had changed
her mind and wanted to stop. Pulling back, he was
confused until she pushed her panties down her legs and
off. Then she lay back, reaching to him. Clay leaned
forward and kissed her, thrusting his tongue between her
lips, sharing his cum with her. He didn’t need her prompting
to replace his finger in her pussy, gliding a second beside it
before sucking her nipple between his lips. He bit lightly
and pushed his fingers deeper.
Dana growled at him, and he felt her body grasping at
his fingers, her orgasm apparent. Clay left his fingers in her
but managed to edge up next to her. He grabbed his cock
and with a few strokes, came a second time, his cum
landing on her pussy and thighs. There was no hesitation.
He shifted his body until he was between her legs and
licked his cum from her clit and pussy. He continued to use
his fingers to thrust inside her, punctuating his movements
to her clit. Dana grabbed at his head and held him tight to
her pussy. He felt her body quake and knew she’d come a
second time.
He continued to lick her but slowed his movements, still
sliding his fingers in her pussy until he felt her completely
relax under him. Clay dropped his head to her thigh and
waited for all hell to break loose. He was afraid to speak,
but he gently let his fingers drop from her body.
“Don’t go yet,” she protested. Clay wrapped his arms
around her hips and held her tight, his head only inches
from her pussy. He didn’t remember them moving,
remembered them dozing off to sleep, his last memory of
her scent and the taste of her on his lips.
She had untangled herself from him early the next
morning. He’d grasped her tighter to him, and she’d stayed
with him a while longer. He had listened to her upstairs and
assumed she was getting dressed. Clay had feigned sleep
when she came to him, kissing his lips lightly with hers
before she left. He’d wanted to follow her and call her back.
Wanted to take her upstairs to his bed and truly make love
to her. Instead, he waited until he heard the kitchen door
squeak to move. He was about to get up, but let himself
relax back on the sofa, reliving last night. When he finally
moved a second time, he realized the blanket he had
covered her with was draped over his legs. He was half-
lying on the sofa, his pants around his ankles. He knew she
left before daybreak, because the sun was just starting to
show through the clouds. He couldn’t say good-bye, was
afraid of what he might say or do.
After hearing her truck start, he clambered to his feet,
pulling up his pants and making it to the kitchen window in
time to watch the truck pull out of his driveway. Clay had
stood at the kitchen window for a long time that morning,
knowing he could be in deep trouble.
When she was gone he went upstairs to his old room
and lay on the bed where the linens still held her scent. He
noted his jacket was hung on the back of the straight-
backed desk chair. Clay took another deep breath and let
his hand drop to his cock. At first, it was just to relieve the
ache she created within him. After a few tugs, he paused,
undid his pants and pushed them down his hips. His cock
sprang free, standing tall and harder than usual. Grasping it
firmly, he pumped it back and forth until he came on his
belly. Clay let himself drift back to sleep, his hand still
grasping his cock. When he woke, his hand and crotch
were sticky from his release, reinforcing this hadn’t been a
dream. He justified that she’d turned their evening to sex,
but he hadn’t stopped it. And he kept reinforcing to himself
that she was a woman now, not a kid that was off-limits. He
knew if he’d had condoms in his wallet their night would
have taken a different turn. He would have fucked her for all
he was worth, not knowing if he’d ever get a chance to
touch her intimately again. He appeased his conscience by
deciding what they shared was more than he’d first
considered. They had been intimate, they just hadn’t
completed the act. Now if he could just wipe the smile from
his lips. In the shower his cock got hard, and he resisted
jerking off. Tonight would come soon enough, and he
wanted to relive how she swallowed him, how she milked
him with her throat, how her voice sounded when she
begged him to make her come.
“I’m in deep trouble,” he said, knowing if Jeff ever found
out there’d be trouble, probably including pounding fists
and possibly broken bones. Clay didn’t care. He’d finally
gotten to suck her raspberry nipples, licking his cum from
them. And he now knew how tight her pussy was.
He made it through the day with a strange smile on his
lips and a slight lift in his walk. He made a point of not
leaving the property and letting his cell phone go to voice
mail, checking each call to make sure it wasn’t Dana. The
next time he talked to Jeff, he was told Dana had gone
back to Manhattan.
Clay decided that was for the best. If she stayed he
would become emotionally attached, something he wasn’t
sure she was ready for. Again he wondered who she’d
slept with, what other man’s cock she’d sucked, and forced
away the questions. He was no shrinking virgin, and
apparently neither was Dana.
It had been three years later when they were alone
again at Jeff and Lisa’s wedding, and he’d taken full
advantage of the time. It would take another three years
before Dana moved home permanently. Clay wouldn’t allow
himself to think about who she slept with while they were
apart. For a time, he laid any woman who would smile at
him, but he soon realized they were all hollow lays. He was
looking for a surrogate for Dana, and that wasn’t fair to the
women or to him. Finally, he just gave up searching for a
woman who reminded him of Dana. His self-imposed
celibacy had cleared his mind and his conscience.
 Chapter Five
Sunday brunch turned out to be informative for Clay. On
the back patio a large umbrella covered their table, shading
them from the intense sun. Sitting back, he listened to Dana
talk about her plans for the future. She had it all worked out
in her mind, he realized.
“The architect I hired gave the structure a great report
except for the roof. That seems to be another story.”
“Do you really trust this guy’s opinion?” Jeff asked her.
“Why not? He knew up front he wouldn’t get the job. It
was why I chose him. I paid him for his valued opinion, not
what he thought he could talk me into. Besides, I wanted to
have an idea of the problems before I started talking to
anyone local. It can’t hurt when I go before the planning
board to have an outside, unbiased opinion.”
“Run this by me again, kid.” Clay sat forward, giving
Dana his full attention. “You’re going to turn the old Britton
family mansion in town into a museum? Restore it and add
a main level gift shop?”
“In the back rooms, yes. The front parlor, dining, and
living room will be restored, as well as the main foyer and
staircase. The den will make a great gift shop. Local
artisans will be invited to show their work on consignment.
That way the stock in the shop will always be different.
Upstairs, I figured we could turn the master bedroom back
to its original design with the nursery off to the side. The
rest of the bedrooms would be turned into conference and
meeting rooms.”
“I think it’s about time the old mansion got a loving hand.
It’s a shame to watch it disintegrate before us. There is so
much Britton family history there. Count me in, Dana. I’ll
help any way I can,” Lisa added.
“That’s great, because I had you in mind to help me with
a few fundraisers over the next few years.”
“Few years?” Clay asked.
“Of course, it will take at least five years before the
place is ready to open. That’s my major plan, barring
unforeseen problems. Did I mention the greenhouse will be
repaired? With a little luck, we’ll be able to grow all the
flowers we’ll use for decorating and displays. And the
ballroom turned back to the original design, I can’t wait to
start in there. It can be rented out for parties and weddings.
I’ve checked and the original hardwood floors can be
sanded and refinished.” Dana looked at each of the three
faces that sat around her. “What?”
“Five years is a long time to work on a project,” Jeff
said.
“If it gets done before that, great. But there are too many
unknowns, especially with the permits and fundraising. My
time frame takes the stress off of having to hurry the quality
of the workmanship. I plan on doing this once, not every few
years,” she teased.
“Sounds like a lot of work,” Clay mumbled.
“Are you against refurbishing the old place, Clay?”
“No. I had no idea that was what you came home to do.”
“I came home to live here. This is where I belong.”
 Adam fussed in his sleep, his bassinet in the shaded
overhang of the veranda. Dana went to him, settling him
back to sleep with her hand and a light voice. When she
returned to the table, she refilled everyone’s glasses before
sitting back.
“Well, no feedback?”
“My only fear is the planning commission and the permit
processes,” Jeff finally told her. “Maybe Clay can pull some
strings for you. Linda sits on the zoning board, doesn’t
she?”
If Clay Hollister could have crawled away, he would
have. He knew Jeff didn’t realize what he had said. How
could he, since the last three years his life revolved around
Lisa and the farm, and now his new son. It was just another
reinforcement to Clay that Jeff was totally unaware of his
feelings for Dana and, more importantly, how he and Dana
experimented sexually. It wasn’t as if they could discuss the
situation at the club or over a drink. What could he say? Oh,
by the way, I’m in love with your baby sister. Thought you
should know my goal is to have her! Clay grimaced at the
thought.
Jeff looked around the table at his companions,
oblivious to what he had said. Clay noted Dana was giving
him her “You’re so stupid” look and Lisa was giving him her
“I’ll explain later” look that only a husband and wife could
share. Clay refused to look him in the eye. Finally, Dana got
them gracefully away from the subject.
“Jeff, I don’t think Linda is going to want to give out any
favors to me. I annoy her simply because I exist.” A look
exchanged between Dana and Lisa, one Clay didn’t want
to analyze at the moment.
“I’d prefer to do this on my own terms.” She took a deep
breath. “Not that I wouldn’t come crying and whining to you
all when things go wrong, but it’s my project. I’ll see it
through. Just be here for me to vent my anger occasionally,
okay?” Her tone implied the conversation was over. To
complete her thought, she started to clear the table, and
Lisa joined in.
“Coffee and dessert in half an hour, guys,” she called
back to them as she carried a tray into the house.
****
Jeff sat across from Clay, accepting the thin cigar he
was offered. “Want to tell me what’s going on here?”
“I think Dana summed it up. Linda will probably be a
thorn in her side.”
“And that’s because?” Clay watched his best friend’s
face for a few minutes, saying nothing. Slowly, he handed
Jeff the unlit cigar he was holding, mumbling under his
breath as he got up.
“Dense, Jeff. Sometimes it amazes me you survived
this long.”
“What did I do?” he called out, but Clay was already
nearing the house.
“What did I do?” Clay mimicked out of frustration. For
the rest of the afternoon, he tried to watch what was going
on around him. Nothing seemed out of sync, but he still
couldn’t relax.
****
 Lisa served coffee with fresh strawberries and cream
for dessert. By then, Clay had calmed down, and the
women had nonverbally decided to ignore the earlier
embarrassing moments. Still, neither Dana nor Clay knew
Lisa had witnessed their kiss in the nursery. They still didn’t
know Linda had either.
“I’ve been trying to tell her to stay in the main house, but
she wants to move to the pool quarters.”
“Please, Jeff. It’s across the lawn. If you and Lisa want
to fight, I’ll still be able to hear you,” she teased.
“But this is your home, too, Dana. It always will be.”
“I know that. But somehow the guest house just feels
right for me at this time in my life.”
“You’ve made up your mind. I don’t have the energy to
fight you.” Jeff reached out to take Lisa’s hand, holding it
lightly. Dana knew the first time she met Lisa she was the
woman for Jeff. She didn’t back down when his gruff
exterior surfaced, rather she challenged him. For a few
years while she was still in school, Dana remembered the
endless parade of women Jeff courted. From Gwen to
Barb, she had been thankful Lisa had become her sister-in-
law.
****
Clay headed out just after six o’clock. He was surprised
when he found Dana waiting for him beside the truck.
Approaching her slowly, he took one look at her and felt
himself harden. Standing beside the old, red pickup, she
wore a one-piece, tank-style bathing suit that wasn’t really
revealing, especially with the floral skirt she had pulled on
over it. The sheer skirt emphasized her legs, though Clay
knew it was meant to cover instead.
“What’s up, kid?”
“I wanted to apologize for Jeff’s comments about Linda.
I don’t want or need you to intercede on my behalf.” Dana
reached down, pulling up a blade of grass with her fingers.
Her bare feet with red painted toenails were driving him
crazy with a new lust.
“No problem. Linda and I aren’t as close as Jeff seems
to think.”
“Or as Linda would prefer?”
“It’s my choice, I’ve made it.” There was never a choice,
Dana, he wanted to yell at her. Linda never entered his
mind on a personal level.
“All right. I just wanted you to understand this is
important to me. It’s something I have to do on my own.”
Clay wanted to toss her into the cab of the truck and
drive her away. He couldn’t, of course, but the idea was
appealing. Instead, he chose to make light of it.
“All right, kid. I’ll stay clear of your project.”
Dana started to protest, but he put his hands on her
shoulders, changing her attention. “Dana, if you need help,
let me know. If you want to vent, I’ll be around.” With that, he
picked her up by the shoulders and placed her on the
ground a few feet from the truck.
“Just because you’re bigger than me, Clay Hollister,
doesn’t mean you can manhandle me whenever you want.”
Her bottom lip pushed out, her hand went to her hip.
 “Manhandle? Kid, someday, I’ll show you what handling
really is.” With that, he jumped in the truck, started it, and
began to pull away.
“Show me what it really is?” Dana repeated clearly as
she started walking back to the house. Clay’s truck
reversed as she started to walk away. Seeing it, she waited
until he pulled up next to her.
“Did you remember another way to taunt me?” she
asked. He held back a laugh watching her temper rise
around the edges.
Clay killed the engine, leaning over to open the
passenger door. “Get in.”
“No. Why?” she challenged.
“Dana, get in the truck, please?” His patience was
wearing thin, and he pulled back his angst. Slowly she
climbed up into the cab, staring straight ahead. “Is there
someone in your life?”
“What do you mean, Clay?” She watched him flex his
hands on the steering wheel several times. Turning, she
brought her legs up under her, twisting to face him in her
seat. “I’m asking a simple question. Is there a man in your
life, now, right now?” No answer. Great, he thought, no
wonder she was so aloof.
“Clay, I haven’t…no. Not the way you’re thinking.”
“No one is going to drop by for a visit, trying to win back
your heart?” Anger flashed in Dana’s eyes. Clay was glad,
at least there was some emotion left inside her.
“Is that what you think?” she asked quietly. “That I ran
home because of a broken heart?” Her laugh saddened
him. “No man is worth giving up my life for. If I had wanted to
stay in New York, I would have, man or no man.
Understand?” She looked at him full-on, challenging him to
continue. She seemed a little disappointed when he didn’t.
“Good,” was all he said, then he added, “Get out.”
“What? This is crazy. First you order me in, now you
think you can order me out?” Whatever else she would have
said was lost by the surprise she felt as he pulled her
across the bench seat. Her face just inches from his, he
studied her eyes carefully. It was as if he was trying to will
her to see his emotions, the feelings for her he couldn’t
verbalize. Finally, he released her.
“Get out, kid. It’s time I went home.” Leaning across her,
he opened the passenger door a second time, and then
started the engine as if to punctuate his order. Dana left
quietly. He understood her refusal to give him the
satisfaction of looking back was a power play of sorts.
****
Lisa stood at the front window in Adam’s room,
watching this all unfold in front of her. She smiled to herself,
knowing there were rocky times ahead for Dana and Clay,
and she was smart enough to know only they could decide
how to work them out.
****
Somehow that was the one episode that stuck with
Dana the rest of the day. What bothered her more was that
she couldn’t quite get a handle on how she wanted him to
handle her. One thing she did know was she did want him
to handle her. The realization struck her. “Oh, God,” she
mumbled, “I do want him.” But will he still want me when he
finds out about my sexual preferences? For the hundredth
time she thought to let her desires go, but she knew without
her particular kinds of foreplay, her body wouldn’t orgasm.
Why have sex if it’s only to please another person? And
there was her quandary. If she let anyone know about her
likes, they might use it against her. That was her one
biggest regret in life. She’d chosen the wrong man to share
her sex secrets with, and he’d threatened to blackmail her
with it when she ended their relationship.
Frustrated, she went about hanging her clothes in the
closet of the guesthouse, her house, she corrected to
herself. This was where she would live, until? That was her
greatest unknown. Until what?
****
Clay parked in front of the main house and then slowly
wandered around the back. Dana stood at the kitchen
island chopping vegetables. Her wet hair hung down her
back, and he couldn’t help but notice her almost bare back.
This time she was wearing the shortest pair of shorts he
had ever seen with a white, tank-style cropped top. She
was barefoot as usual, he knew without actually seeing. On
the ride over, he had thought to turn back several times,
knowing each time he made up his mind to turn, somehow
the motorcycle kept heading toward her. Kenny Rogers
was blaring from somewhere in the house, Dana swaying in
time to the music. Watching her through the window made
him feel cheap. Before he could change his mind again, he
stepped up and knocked at the back door.
 ****
Dana heard the knock in the back of her mind but knew
she was supposed to be alone. Her heart leapt to her throat
and she spun around with the butcher knife still in her hand.
Slowly, her empty hand went to cover her heart. In the
second it took to recognize him, fear turned to excitement.
That was the real reason she raised her hand to her chest,
to hold back her heart from leaping out. Never would she
tell him it wasn’t fright that caused it.
“Jeez, Clay. You scared the hell out of me.” She went to
the screen door, opening it. “What are you doing here?”
she added, hoping she sounded annoyed. Why did you
have to wear the leathers? Of anything else he could have
done to wear her down, showing up on the bike in his black
leather pants was torture for her. The way they fit his hips
and were tight against his thighs, she was getting a strange
feeling inside, a warmth he seemed to generate within her,
one she knew was dangerous.
“Just wanted to go over a few things with Jeff. He
around?” He was watching her every move as she
continued to carefully slice the peppers on the board in front
of her. “Nope, you missed them. They’re off to Wilmington,
a reunion supper with the rest of their Lamaze class, a
chance to show off all the babies. How was your ride over?”
“Oh, I thought that was tomorrow,” he said as he leaned
across the workspace, stealing a slice of red pepper from
the pile. “Oh well, I just wasted an hour then, except for the
ride. Nice night for it.” He glanced up, but she wouldn’t meet
his look. “Does the music have to be this loud?”
That got a smile from her as she put down the knife,
grabbed a kitchen towel, and wandered out of the room.
She lowered the volume but did not turn it off. Returning, he
was still leaning stretched across the center island where
she had left him. Her immediate reaction was to palm his
leather covered buttocks but she held back, her finger
tingling as if she’d made contact. Dana felt a chill run
through her body as she remembered how her leather
bustier felt against her skin, tight and supple at the same
time.
“Ruth refuse to feed you tonight?”
“No, and I’m quite capable.” A look passed between
them. “Canasta tournament tonight. I hope she wins. She’ll
be a bear for days if she doesn’t.” They shared a laugh,
both of them familiar with her moods.
“Not a pretty sight. Remember when her team lost the
bridge tournament?” Dana was surprised Clay
remembered. “That had to be what, ten years ago?”
“Don’t remind me, please! I still have nightmares about
it.” Dana was relieved they were on an even keel again.
“Hungry?”
“Depends, what are you planning on?”
“Just some pasta. Make yourself useful, find a bottle of
wine for us.”
“Red or white?” he asked as he walked toward the
butler’s pantry.
“White. Too many sulfites in the red, it gives me a
headache.”
 Clay returned with a bottle of white, stopping dead when
he saw her crying openly. “Dana?” Wiping her eyes with the
back of her hand, she started to laugh.
“It’s just the onions, Clay. I’m not falling apart before your
eyes.” That was when she did venture to look in his
direction. What she saw was concern on his face. “Gonna
hold that bottle all night or are you going to open it?”
Turning to a drawer behind her, she pulled out a corkscrew
and handed it across.
“Just for future reference, when I leave a room and
you’re laughing, could we keep it that way until I get back?
Lately I seem to be lost when I’m around you.”
“I know how you feel, Clay,” she whispered, hoping he
hadn’t heard her.
“What?”
“Glasses, you know where the glasses are.” She turned
to the sink, filling a large pot with water then transferring it to
the stove. Beside it, she placed an old, cast-iron frying pan,
heating it before she poured in olive oil.
Clay was beside her, handing her a glass. She
accepted it with a smile then turned back, adding the
chopped tomatoes to the pan, backing away from the
splatter it would create. For several minutes, he stayed
beside her, watching as she added the peppers and
onions, pulling off basil leaves from the plant on the kitchen
window.
“Any chance you could set the table?” He was too close,
making her nervous. She had to put some distance
between them, physically.
 Clay seemed to sense it, too. He went to a cabinet,
pulling out dishes as if he had lived there all his life. “Patio
or kitchen table?”
“Patio, I think, what about you?”
“Sounds good to me, how much time do we have?”
“Eight minutes,” she told him as she dumped the dry
pasta into the boiling water.
“I’ll go wash up.” Leaving her at the stove, she was
somewhat disappointed, having envisioned him turning off
the burners and ravishing her on the island in the center of
the old kitchen. When he returned, her thoughts were back
in order, and he helped her carry out the large dish of hot
pasta while she grabbed the warmed bread and butter.
“How’s the moving going?” Clay inquired in between
bites.
“Actually, it’s done.” Then she laughed and blushed. “I
only brought some clothes with me, the rest of my stuff was
due this week. However, it seems they won’t get here until
next Monday, now.”
Clay gave her a shrewd look. From the tone of her voice
she knew he would figure she had something brewing in
her mind.
“And?”
“And I’ve been very polite and understanding on the
phone with the movers. No sense pissing them off until my
stuff is safely here. Then I’ll let them call me when they get
the balance check.” She paused with the fork halfway to her
mouth, smiling.
“And they’ll call you because?”
 “I’ve decided.” She smiled. “The contract read that my
things would be here within five days from the time they
picked them up. We’re at day nine now. I’m going to
prorate the total fee by the number of days they’re late.”
“And you don’t think they’ll object.”
“Oh, Clay, of course I do. I’m planning on it.” Her wide
grin made her feel like the old Dana, the woman she was
under the layers of protection she’d carefully constructed
over the last years. Tough, taking care of herself, not letting
anyone take advantage of her.
“You get them, kid.”
 Chapter Six
Clay poured coffee into mugs as Dana finished loading
the dishwasher. Carrying both cups outside, he was
surprised when she came out with a plate in hand and
placed it between them on the table. He took one look and
knew Dana was home. The soft oatmeal raisin cookies
were covered with thick, white icing. Picking one up, he bit
into it, savoring the taste and texture.
“I haven’t had these since before you went away. Ruth
flatly refused to make them. Said they were your favorites
and she couldn’t bring herself to enjoy them without you.”
Finishing it, he reached for another. “Are you glad to be
home, Dana?” He watched as she pulled off small bits of
the cookie she held, eating it bite by small bite as she
sipped at her coffee.
“It was time for me to come home. I’ve been away a
long time.”
“But?” he prompted.
“I just need to settle in. When the rest of my stuff gets
here, when the project gets going…I’m still adjusting.”
Another small bit of cookie to her mouth, he watched
her graceful hands as she moved. “Like a fish out of water
kind of feeling?” Clay asked, hesitating to take another
cookie.
“Something like that, but not really. I left here at sixteen.
I’ve led a very charmed life for my twenty-six years.”
“I agree, which is why you’re probably having trouble
settling back.”
“Not exactly back, Clay. It’s more like…oh, hell. I can’t
really explain it to myself, how can I explain it to you?” She
sighed, and then sipped her coffee. “I just…I need to work,
that’s what it is really. Having these last weeks off sounded
great. Now that I have it, time is dragging.”
“When can you get started with your plans for the
mansion?”
“Board meets the first Monday of every month. I’ve
written and asked to be put on their docket.”
“That’s still two weeks away.”
“I know, I know. Don’t remind me.”
“Why not take a mini-vacation, do some shopping or
something?”
Dana left in silence, Clay wondering what he had said
wrong. She returned with the coffeepot, refilling their mugs.
“Did I say the wrong thing?”
“No.” But her laugh told him different. Leaning forward
across the table, she pursed her lips together. “Can I tell
you a secret, one you promise never to divulge, even under
severe torture?”
“My favorite kind, tell me.”
“You’ll think it’s stupid.” She sat back, using the mug to
shield her face. “I hate shopping.”
Clay pushed back from the table, questioning her
statement with his eyes. “I don’t think I heard you right,
Dana. You, the queen of the mall, the woman who can find
the perfect gift for anyone? I’m not sure I really believe that.”
“Really, Clay, I’m not kidding. It’s lost its joy.” She
sipped again, refusing to put the mug down. “I suppose I
finally grew up, but it doesn’t hold any joy or elation for me
anymore. Frankly, give me a comfortable pair of jeans and
a few clean T-shirts, and I’m happy these days.”
“You really have changed, haven’t you? I remember
days when just the mention of a store name could get you
all hot and bothered.” Dana laughed out loud at his
embarrassment. He did, too. “All right, wrong choices of
words, but you know what I mean.”
“Yes, I do. Fancy clothes hanging in a closet. I’d rather
spend my money on the mansion. The renovation means a
lot to me, Clay. Grandfather left it to me to be cared for. I
can’t break that trust.”
“Dana, have you seen a doctor lately? I’m not sure you
really are Dana Britton, model and cover girl extraordinaire,
champion for all the lost causes, voice for the meek.”
“She died a long time ago, Clay.” With that, she left him
at the patio table.
He waited a while, hearing the music turned off. He blew
out the oil lamp they had used for illumination then took their
mugs inside. On his return trip, he brought in the plate of
cookies and the coffeepot. She joined him as he was
rinsing the pot.
“Sorry, I couldn’t handle the music anymore.”
“No problem. We’re just about cleaned up here.” He
turned, leaning on the sink watching her across the room. “I
guess I should head out, leave you to enjoy your evening
alone.”
Again her laughter surprised him. “I have a better idea.
Give me five minutes,” she hollered back as she sprinted
up the back stairway.
He leaned against the sink, gathering his thoughts,
wondering what she had in mind. Clay’s mind conjured up
several ideas that would please him. From dancing in the
dark with her to tossing her headfirst into the pool. He
hadn’t heard her return. When he turned around, she was
dressed in old jeans, riding boots, and a flannel shirt long
discarded by Jeff. He raised an eyebrow at her.
“Let’s ride, Clay.” Dana reached out her hand, and he
took hers. She half pulled, half dragged him to the barn. He
had forgotten her years spent in the stables, the connection
she had with the animals. She had her favorite, William,
saddled and ready as he was just tossing the blanket over
his mount’s back.
“Clay, for God’s sake, I’d want to ride tonight, not
tomorrow,” she taunted him, lifting the heavy saddle from its
wooden rack onto the horse’s back like it was a feather.
Her hands fastened leather straps and harness with
amazing speed.
“We should have taken the bike then,” he told her.
“Next time.” She was mounted and waiting for him to
catch up. Once he was seated, she led their way from the
barn, past the paddock and to the pasture. There, she
turned to look at him over her shoulder, then gave the horse
a slight nudge with her heel. Britton horses were trained,
and Dana knew how to handle a horse. She was a quarter
mile ahead when he finally gave his horse the nudge to
catch up.
 ****
Walking the horses along the river in the moonlight, Clay
was conjuring up all sorts of romantic pictures in his head.
Dana seemed comfortable to just walk. He knew better
than to ask his personal questions, didn’t really want to
know the answers, but he had no choice.
“Dana, how do you feel about me?” She stopped
walking, using the horse as a shield. “Do you hate me?”
“Of course not.”
“Do you find me unappealing?”
“Clay, don’t be foolish, you’re one of the most
handsome men I’ve ever met. Fishing for compliments?”
Her expression changed as if an alarm went off in the back
of her mind. He suddenly felt he was sinking while standing
on dry land.
“Is it the brother thing, growing up with me around all the
time?” This time he waited while she thought about her
answer.
“No. Since I went away, that all kind of changed, didn’t
it?”
“Yes, it has.
“Where are you going with this, Clay?”
“I want to know why you keep backing off. Why, Dana?
You let me kiss you, hold you, then suddenly you go cold in
my arms. What am I doing wrong?” He stopped walking,
taking the horse’s lead from her hand. “I need to
understand.”
Dana walked closer to the river’s edge, the small waves
lapping near her boots. “Clay, I can’t be the woman you
want me to be.”
“Why?”
“It’s just not in me, that’s all. Stop wasting your time on
me. I can’t help it. If I could change, I would.”
Clay looped the horse’s leads over a low branch of a
nearby tree. In the moonlight, dressed in flannel and denim,
Dana was the one woman he knew he could spend the rest
of his life with. His hands came to her shoulders from
behind, pulling her close against his chest.
“You are the woman I want,” he whispered to her. No
reaction. Great, just great. A moonlit night on the river, the
woman of his dreams in his arms, touching him, yet she
was so far away. He felt her take a jagged breath, and he
squeezed her shoulders tighter. “Please, Dana, tell me. Do
you want me to leave you alone, should I just go away?”
“Oh, God, Clay, can’t you see? I don’t have it in me. It
just isn’t there. I don’t seem to have the capacity for a
normal, loving relationship. If I thought I could change I’d do
it for you. But no matter what I try, I’m still the same deep
down.” She hesitated as if she were deciding what to tell
him. “Maybe if we lived someplace anonymous it would be
better, but we don’t.”
Now he was just more confused than before. “Dana,
what are you talking about, and please be specific.”
“It doesn’t matter, Clay. I won’t change. I’ve learned
things about myself you won’t like. I’m trying to be fair to
both of us. I do love you, but it would never work.” Pulling
away from him, she all but sprinted to her horse, untying his
lead. She mounted with ease then looked down. “I’m so
sorry, Clay.”
He caught the lead in his hand, choosing his words
carefully. “Dana, if I ever find out who hurt you…”
“It doesn’t matter, Clay, but nobody hurt me. It’s more
what I’ve learned about myself over time. Leave it alone. It’s
just not in my nature to be conventional.”
“No. You’re wrong. I’ve seen you with Jeff and Lisa. The
way you used to throw your arms around me. It’s in there,
Dana, you just have to find it again.”
“You’re wrong. It was never there.”
“I’ve seen you with Adam, especially when you think
nobody is around. You can’t tell me you don’t have the
capacity to love, Dana. I know you do.” With that, Clay
slapped her horse on its back, sending it galloping into the
darkness. He took his time mounting his, opting for a slow
ride back to the barn. Once there, he saw her horse had
been taken care of. He went through the motions of putting
his away, brushing him down, feeding him, all the while
wondering what had really happened to Dana while she
was away. Who could have hurt her so deeply that she
believed she couldn’t love anyone? The thought haunted his
days and kept him from sleep for nights to come.
The only lightbulb moment he had on the subject was
that maybe she decided she liked women better in a sexual
situation. That was a double blow to his ego, one he knew
he couldn’t fight or change.
****
In the back of his mind, Clay knew this wasn’t a good
idea. He drove up the road anyway, knowing Dana would
be alone. He parked his truck out front, walking around the
big house toward the pool area when he stopped dead in
his tracks. Up ahead, he saw her. On the patio of the
guesthouse, she was lying on a chaise lounge, her eyes
closed. She didn’t stir when he approached or took the
chair next to her.
So peaceful. There was an empty glass on the table
next to her, the bottle of wine next to it three quarters full. It
bothered him when he couldn’t walk away. Whatever she
was wearing wasn’t covering much. The pink slip, silky with
thin straps and a wide band of lace across the low scoop
neck didn’t leave much to his imagination. One strap had
slipped down, the top of her left breast presenting itself. Her
legs were bare. The material ended just at her thighs.
Surveying the area around him, there were seven large
empty packing boxes, stuffed with assorted packing
material and debris.
“Wore yourself out, kid,” he whispered as he leaned
over, taking her up into his arms. Lifting her to his chest,
she came awake.
“Clay?”
“Go back to sleep, sweetheart, I’m just taking you
inside.” Clay realized it was the second time he’d slipped
and called her that. He’d have to be more careful from now
on.
“What time is it?” Her arms came around his neck, her
breath warm against his cheek.
“Doesn’t matter, it’s late.” He pushed open the door to
the guesthouse with his hip. “Go back to sleep, you’re
exhausted.”
She didn’t struggle or fight him as he put her down on
the soft covers of her bed. This was the first time he had
been to the guesthouse in years. Dana’s style touches were
everywhere. While the furniture looked the same, she’d
rearranged it, making the space look entirely different. Pale
blue and green water-washed silks covered her bed and
pillows. She stayed where he put her. Pausing, he pulled
the other half of the comforter over her legs.
“Clay, did we have a date?” she whispered.
Kneeling down beside her, he smoothed the hair back
from her face. “No. Jeff told me your stuff came. I stopped
by to see if you needed a hand.”
“Oh.” She snuggled down against the pillow. “Thanks,
I’m almost finished.”
“I can see that. Go to sleep, I’ll call you tomorrow.” He
waited for her to drift back to sleep, kissing her forehead
before he left her. There was a fancy box on the bench at
the foot of her bed. It was covered in a flowered paper. It
definitely wasn’t a moving box, he decided. He took a few
steps toward the door and paused, turning back to look at it
a second time. His mind wandered to what might be inside
it. Walk away, he told himself several times before he found
himself standing in front of it again.
Trust was supposed to be sacrosanct, but he could feel
his fingertips itching to open it. Glancing to Dana’s sleeping
form, he watched her patterned breathing and let his fingers
slip the cover off the box. Clay had to hold back his gasp
when he saw what was inside. At first he stood stunned,
then curiosity took over, and he reached inside. He didn’t
count the items, just lifted the top few to see what lay
beneath. “What the hell,” he said in a hushed tone, beyond
confused. Clay pushed one dildo aside and saw another,
then another. The entire carton was filled with sex toys. He
recognized the dildos and vibrators. There were leather
rings at the bottom, and he didn’t stop himself from picking
one up and swirling it around his finger. As it spun in
circles, he realized it was a cock ring and dropped it back
in the box. He was about to put the cover back on when he
pulled another leather item from the bottom. It was a pair of
leather handcuffs, using Velcro to keep them in place. This
was a bit too much, and he threw them back in the box. He
was careful to put the dildos back on top and pulled the
cover closed. With every step he took, it seemed the
floorboards creaked or groaned, and he was afraid she
would wake up. He waited in the living room, scanning the
area’s confusion of belongings.
“Damn,” he said, trying to figure out who Dana had
become. Was this why she kept pushing him away? Did
she think her use of sex toys would shock him? His cock
surged as he pictured her on her knees, her hands tied
behind her back with the leather straps wrapped around her
wrists. His cock twitched when he wondered if she’d use a
ring on his cock to prolong him from coming. Clay had
always thought he was a sophisticated man, now he knew
he wasn’t as worldly as Dana. She’d traveled extensively,
and his mind reeled with ideas of possibilities of what,
where, and how she learned about the items. More
important, who taught her how to use them?
In the main living area, stacks of books stood, waiting to
find their spot. He saw several torn photographs lying in the
empty fireplace. Another moral dilemma, he knew. Turning
to leave, he stopped. Clay held a mental battle with himself.
She obviously wanted to destroy the pictures. It wasn’t his
place to see them. Then why was he reaching to retrieve
them? He took the pieces to the desk, putting aside a file
box covered with blue flowered paper similar to the one he
found in her bedroom, fitting them together.
Dana looked back at him from the pictures. In each one,
the same man watched him, too. “Mocking me,” he
decided. That was the look, arrogant and belligerent.
Knowing it must have been Walker, he turned the pieces
over, looking for a notation. He found none. What he did
find was the saddest he had ever seen Dana look. It wasn’t
anything specific in each photo, just emptiness in her eyes.
It was evident she had lost her fire.
Gathering them, he tossed them back into the hearth.
Having a face to put to his anger was refreshing. Now when
he pummeled the man in his mind, he could watch the blue
eyes swell shut, the blonde hair run red with bloodstains. He
had seen the man before, ads and commercials. He hadn’t
liked the look of him then either, and that was before he
knew he had touched Dana. Burying his head in his hands,
he knew that was the part that hurt the worst.
Clay reeled himself back in. It wouldn’t help him or Dana
to let his anger get a hold of him. He had asked Lisa
casually if she knew of anyone Dana was dating before she
left the city. All she had told him was not for a while, not
since Walker. He knew Lisa had been trying to tell him
Dana had left Walker, now he had to find a way to leave his
image behind too. Pausing to switch off the desk light, he
saw a similar floral covered box again. Placing it back in
the center of the desk, he slipped the cover back.
He knew he had gone too far. She slept just a few yards
away. If she woke and found him going through her private
papers, she’d never trust him again. As he was about to
place the cover back on the box, he saw another photo.
Tugging it from the stack of papers, he saw himself and
Dana looking back, taken at Jeff and Lisa’s wedding. A
snapshot someone had taken, not a professional. It was
just short of being blurry. In it, they were dancing, she was
holding him close, and her arms around his neck, her face
lay on his shoulder, her eyes closed. He was holding her
around the waist, his head leaning against the side of her
head.
“I’ve never seen this before,” he said aloud. Clay held
the photo for a long time. It brought back memories he had
tried to hide for so long. The wedding should have been fun,
not torture. He knew he loved her before that day, but
standing across the chapel from her it had all changed for
him. No longer was she little Dana, the kid that had followed
him and his friend. That night, she was a flesh and blood
woman, the woman he wanted. Placing the photo back, he
slid the top on the box and shut out the light. The telephone
rang, startling him like a thief in the night, stealing Dana’s
secrets, he thought. On the second ring, her machine
picked up.
“You’ve reached me, I’m not here. Talk to the machine.”
Vintage Dana, he smiled. The male voice that spoke
bothered Clay as much as the message he left.
“Darling, it’s Gavin. Call me, you know how I hate to talk
to these stupid machines. I’ve a wonderful idea for us, call
me. It’s important!”
Clay had no way of knowing who Gavin was, or what his
relationship with Dana entailed. His inner feeling was that
the guy was a bit too friendly. What could be so important?
He finally fled her new home, feeling as if he’d become a
voyeur of sorts. Outside he paused, looking to the sky. The
stars were out and it saddened him. He sat on one of the
lounge chairs outside her door, his head in his hands, for a
long time, wondering, cursing himself for the jealousy he
was experiencing. He had no right, he knew, but it didn’t
matter. Clay didn’t want any other man calling her with
terms of endearment.
****
Dana stood in the darkness of the living room watching
Clay. He had no idea she could see him sitting there. Only
the glow of his cigar indicated his movement. How long had
he been there, she wondered as she took a cleansing
breath and pulled open the door.
“Hi.” Slowly she stepped outside, barefoot as usual.
“You’re supposed to be sleeping.”
“I was. I’m awake now.” She slipped out into the
darkness, taking the chaise lounge next to him. He watched
as she slid back into the chair, her legs stretching out in
front of her. “Want something to drink?”
“No, I have to go.” The tone of his voice bothered Dana.
He sounded angry, but she had no idea at what. He wasn’t
surprised when she reached to take the cigar from his
hand. She kept it for several puffs before handing it back.
“How long have you been here, Clay?”
“Just a few minutes.” He seemed uncomfortable. “I was
watching the sunset.”
“I missed it.” In the darkness, she watched his profile.
The material of his shirt stretched over his shoulders then
down along his muscled back. Her initial instinct was to run
her hand along his arm, but she held back. “Since you’re
still here, does your offer still stand?”
Dana watched panic rise to his expression. He waited a
long time before he asked what offer she meant. “Help, of
course. There are some books I need to put away…Clay,
are you okay?”
“Yeah, sure, kid. Let’s get them put up.” He put out his
cigar in the large cement planter beside the door. Inside,
she only turned on the small desk light. Walking to the wall
of bookshelves at the far end of the room, she climbed up
the small stepladder, looking to him.
“Clay?” What’s wrong with him, she wondered. “The
books?”
Slowly he gathered an armful, walking toward her. He
handed them up one by one. She decided he was
pretending to be interested in the titles, which were mostly
her textbooks and reference books. Each time she reached
down, Dana knew he caught a glimpse of the tops of her
breasts. When she would lean across to place a book, the
hem of her slip would rise. Each time it did, she throbbed
inside. Just the idea of teasing him with her almost-nude
body made her wet and horny. How far she would go
remained to be seen.
“Which one’s next?” he managed to choke out.
“Those next to the couch, please.” Clearing his throat
before trying to talk again, she watched as his cheeks
flamed with embarrassment. Clay grabbed three books
from the top of the stack. Dana decided he seemed
suddenly antsy. Beside her again, as she placed the third
book, she turned and smiled down at him. She allowed
herself a sexy smile, wondering how he’d fuck her and use
her body to satisfy them both.
Clay reached up and grabbed her by the waist, taking
her off the ladder, holding her against him, slowly lowering
her to the floor. As her body slid along his, she felt his
excitement against her. He still held her by the waist,
searching her face for a sign, something, anything that
would guide him. Finally, he released her, stepping back.
“Dana, I can’t be here with you dressed like that…or not
dressed, whichever.”
“Oh. I’m sorry, I didn’t think. I’ll go change.”
“Don’t, I’m leaving. I’ll help you with the rest of these
another time.” He made it to the door and hesitated. Dana
decided if he looked back she might have a shot at winning
his affections. Just being home these last few weeks had
her rethinking her decisions on hiding her peculiarities.
Maybe if Clay truly loved her, he would accept her needs
without laying judgment or telling tales. But she knew once
she revealed her secret it would never be secret again.
Could she live in town if her private life became public
knowledge? If Clay walked straight through the door, never
looking back, she’d have her answer, and be devastated
on a new level. He hesitated with his fingers on the handle
turning back to look at her.
“God, help me,” he whispered.
She was beside him seconds later, pressing against
him. “I have to get out of here,” he told her, just before his
lips dropped over hers. What started out as a caress
quickly turned into something hot and wanton. Her sigh
against his mouth spurred him on, her fingers tightening in
his hair as he deepened his pursuit.
Dana gave him what he asked for, and realized she
was demanding it back from him. His hands slid along her
sides, down to her hips, and back up. Only when his fingers
reached toward her breasts did he pull away. Dana was
instantly disappointed. Clay took the time to catch his
breath while Dana tried to figure out where she misplaced
her sanity. With a light kiss to her lips, he released her.
“I need to leave, Dana,” his voice told her, but his eyes
asked for something else entirely. With precise movements
he dropped his hands to his sides, his fingers flexing.
“Clay, I knew it would happen, it’s changed.” Dana
heard the raw emotion in her own words. She spent too
much time guarding her privacy. With one simple
statement, she had ripped the door from its hinges, letting it
flood open to him if he asked. If he didn’t, she wouldn’t offer
any information. Best to let him think she was insecure as
opposed to a spanking and bondage junkie.
Dana felt her own cheeks heat with embarrassment at
the idea. Still, it confused and amazed her how her body
reacted to the idea of having her butt spanked while Clay
fucked her ass. She knew his cock was long and full, knew
how he’d fill her, could almost feel his hands grasping her
hips as he pumped in and out of her. Or to have her hands
tied, allowing him full access to her body to use at his whim.
She shook herself from the idea when she felt her nipples
bud tight. Oh, she thought, to have his fingers caressing
against her breasts while his lips and mouth sucked her
nipples. Her next emotion was panic, and she pulled her
façade back in place.
“I’m sorry, Clay. I know there is no going back. I miss the
old us already.” He let his eyes meet hers for what seemed
like eternity. He took a few steps, closing the space
between them, his arms instinctively opened to her again.
Resigned, she slowly walked to him, wrapping herself
around him.
“Dana, I can’t not want you. I’ve tried. Trust me,
sweetheart, I have tried.” He pulled back, watching her face.
“I know it’s different. Nevertheless, it will be all right, I
promise. We’ll find our place again.” Clay’s hands held her
tightly. “I never wanted to make you sad. I just wanted to
love you.”
“I want it, too, Clay. It’s just not in me. I’m cold, shut
down. The only time I do feel is when I’m in your arms. It’s all
so overwhelming. My body tells me one thing, but my mind
won’t let me follow through.” The shiver that ran through him
radiated to Dana. Pulling back, she walked to the fireplace,
keeping her back toward him. Clay stood straight and
looked directly at her. “Dana, if you prefer women to men, I
can still be your friend and confidant. If my touching you
bothers you, I’ll try not to manhandle you. Is there a special
woman?”
Dana was so taken aback she burst out laughing until
tears rolled down her cheeks. “I haven’t laughed so hard in I
don’t know how long!” She saw how serious Clay was. “Is
that what you think the problem is? That I’m a closet
lesbian?”
“It’s an option, and you’re very…elusive with our
conversations.”
“Trust me, Clay, I’m not into women. I’m very much into
men and their anatomy.” Her admission seemed to stun
him. “Or did you think I was still a virgin and afraid of you
fucking me?”
“I…I…”
“I wasn’t, technically, the night of the storm at your
house. I still remember how you made me feel with your
mouth and hands.” She waited for his reaction. “From my
perspective, the only problem with that night was you
wouldn’t actually put your cock in me, my pussy or my ass. I
had to all but hold you down to suck you off.” She didn’t hold
back her smile at his discomfort. “Is my being blunt
embarrassing you?” She paused and drew a breath. She’d
gone this far, there was no sense turning back know. “You
made me plead to feel your cock in my body, and still you
wouldn’t fuck me.”
“You were too young, Dana. It wouldn’t have been right.”
“But it would have been fun!” She watched his body
tense and couldn’t hold back a smile, which turned into a
full-out laugh. It took a long time for him to finally laugh with
her.
“I’ll make you a deal, Dana. I’ll stay and help you put the
rest of this stuff away, but you have to get dressed,
sweetheart. I can’t think straight with you standing there in
that.” The look on his face gave away much more than the
term of endearment had. Dana studied him, deciding she
liked it when he call her that.
“All right, but only because you called me sweetheart.”
She was still laughing as she turned away then halted. “I
don’t mean to be a tease, Clay.” Then she turned back to
him. “If I wanted to tease you I’d have dressed in less!” She
almost added that it would be black leather, or maybe just
handcuffs, but she decided they were finding a new peace,
and she wanted to keep it.
“Jeez, Dana.” He was standing behind her instantly. His
arms came to rub her upper arms while his lips traced her
throat. “I’m already distracted seeing you up on that ladder
in this slip of a thing.” For a second time his lips found the
nape of her neck, pressing a line of kisses along it. “Don’t
get me wrong, I approve of the look, hell, I’m enjoying it.
That’s the problem. I’m enjoying it too much.” She relaxed
back against his chest, reveling in his strength. “I’m
supposed to be giving you some time to adjust to this big
move, and all it’s brought with it. Dana, you’ve only been
home a few weeks. I’m rushing you. I don’t have the right.”
“You’re the only one who has a right.” With that, she
pulled away and walked to the fireplace. Taking a match
from the box on the hearth, she lit the waiting kindling. Clay
watched as the fire took hold, spreading across the
opening. Dana watched it for a moment, and then reached
to pick up a stray scrap of photograph. Without looking at it,
she tossed it on top of the flame. She didn’t wait to watch it
shrivel and burn, although she noted Clay did.
Dana didn’t see it as anything symbolic. Standing there,
she realized the pictures were laying there. She didn’t want
to ever see them again. It was a natural instinct to burn
them. It wasn’t until she rose up, and saw Clay watching
them burn that she thought of the significance of her action.
“I’ll go put something on.”
“I’ll get the wine.” He hadn’t looked at her. Instead he
headed to the patio. “Dana, something long and fluffy,
flannel maybe,” he teased.
“I’ll see what I can find. Would one of Aunt Mary’s
bathrobes help?” Spinning, he wasn’t sure what her words
offered. Catching his eye, she stuck her tongue out.
Shaking his head, he went outside. Returning, he
hollered into the bedroom, “Dana, maybe a few hair curlers
would help. Those big pink things.” He was filling two
glasses with the wine when she returned. “That was quick.”
“The best I can do under the limited circumstances.”
Clay handed her a glass, heading back to the fire.
 Chapter Seven
He set several logs on the now-glowing embers. She
had donned a pair of jeans and a sleeveless cotton
sweater. It was long and baggy, hanging almost to her
knees. If the soft white hadn’t set against the chocolate
color of her hair, he might have been all right. He wasn’t.
She could be dressed in a paper bag and he would still
desire her. The firelight didn’t help disguise her curves.
Rather, it seemed to emphasize what was under the bulky
clothing.
Clay continued to hand her up stacks of books, when he
finally spoke. “It didn’t work, you know. I still want you,
Dana.” Her eyes looked down into his. He read both fear
and panic, yet longing at the same time. “No matter what
happens, we’ll make it work out. I will always be in your life.”
“Clay, it’s never been like this for me before. I know you
must think that’s crazy, but it hasn’t.”
“Dana, I admit, I was never a saint.” She glanced at him,
one eyebrow up. “I admit it. I’ve led a varied, full life.” Dana
sat on the top of the stepladder. Clay handed her a glass,
taking the other for himself. “This is different. The rest never
mattered.” Clay watched Dana stiffen and look past him.
Slowly, he turned, watching the shadows change in the
dim light. The sharp rap on the glass door didn’t surprise
either of them.
“I thought I saw your truck out there. How’s the
unpacking going?” Jeff asked.
 “Just about done, thanks to Clay. And Ruth spent the
better part of her day helping me get settled. How was your
supper?” Dana asked.
Clay watched as Jeff took a quick look around, smiling.
“Supper was fine. The place looks like you already.” He
went to the desk, picking up a small china figurine of a
horse. “Welcome home, Dana.”
“Thanks, Jeff. It’s getting there.”
“You two want some help?” He walked to the mantel,
looking over the framed photos she had chosen to display.
Clay watched him as he went from one to the next. There
was a picture of her parents, and one of her grandparents.
Aunt Mary and Leo on their wedding day, Ruth and Dana at
her graduation, along with several family groupings. In
another, the four of them at Jeff and Lisa’s wedding.
In that one, Dana stood in front of Clay, Lisa in front of
Jeff. It just seemed natural for Clay to be holding her
against him. The last on the shelf was an old black and
white. Dana must have been twelve; her arm was in a cast.
She was sitting on the back of the horse that had thrown
her, her smile wide. Jeff and Clay both turned to look at the
camera as it was taken.
“That was your first ride after you got thrown,” Jeff
remembered. “The next day, if I recall.”
Clay remembered she had caught the two coming
home from an all-night party. They were both tired and
hungover. She hadn’t cared. What mattered most was
getting back on the horse that had thrown her. “I was so
hungover, Dana. I don’t know how you talked us into that
ride.”
“Simple. It was easier than listening to me whine.” With
a sly smile, she winked at him. “Besides, it cleared your
head.”
“Yeah, it did wonders for me,” he teased.
“There are only a few books left. Go home to your wife,”
she said with a knowing smile.
“Sounds good to me. Night.” As he passed her desk, he
saw the flashing light on the house line base. Jeff hit the
button, and Clay tensed as the man’s voice came on the
speaker. When it had finished, Dana looked from Clay to
Jeff. Shaking her head, she began to laugh.
“Dana, if he comes here, he stays here. Nothing against
the guy, but he never stops moving. He drove me crazy last
time.”
“Come on, Jeff. That’s just how he is.”
“Fine, let him be that way here in the guesthouse!”
“Lisa had a good time with him. Clay, are you all right?”
“Yeah, sorry, a million miles away.” He shook himself
from his thoughts. “Well, I hope that’s where you keep him,
too. A million miles away from me or at least here in the
guesthouse. Dana, promise me, if he comes, you’ll move
back to the house during his visit.”
“We don’t even know that’s why he called.”
“Every time he calls, you go running, or he comes
running to you. The guesthouse, Dana, please?”
“Okay, okay, but you know he especially liked you.” Her
lips spread into a sly smile, holding back a laugh until it
burst through. “Besides, he’s never met Clay!”
 “True.” Brother looked to sister, able to hold back the
laugh for only a second. Clay was even more confused
when Jeff added, “Be careful, Clay.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Anger flashed through
Clay’s being, something that rarely happened these days.
Both Jeff and Dana caught it.
“Relax. Gavin is committed to Harry, and you know it.
Neither one would dare to stray. Although you would fuel a
few dreams for them both, I suppose.” Clay looked to Jeff
for help. All he got was a shake of his head. “They’re
welcome as your friends, Dana, but keep them away from
me, okay. Don’t promise any more personal guided tours of
the farm.”
“Yes, Jeff. But you know Harry is great with babies.”
“Good night, Dana, Clay.” Jeff turned and left. Clay
could only surmise his apprehensive stance was from the
possibility of another visit from Dana’s friends.
“Night, Jeff.” Clay added, wondering when all this was
going to come to a head. Dreading the thought of the
coming confrontation, Clay couldn’t understand what was
suddenly so funny to Dana.
“What?”
“God, Clay. I’ve never seen the color drain from your
face so quickly. It’s not like he caught us in bed together.
You were just helping me move some books.”
“He’s a man, Dana. He knows the dynamics between us
have changed.”
“Does that bother you?”
“Only because I know sooner or later he’s gonna beat
my ass for it.” Dana bubbled over with laughter. “I don’t see
that as being funny. He’s going get protective.”
“Somehow I don’t see the two of you fistfighting over
me.”
Dana leaned down, which brought his face close to
hers. “You’re worth it. What’s a black eye between old
friends?” He stopped for a moment, thinking to himself
before he continued. “Hell, for the thoughts I’ve had about
you for the last few years, I deserve it!”
“Just make sure he doesn’t go for the important stuff!”
She blushed in the firelight, never having been so bold and
brazen before. Clay was beginning to like flirting with Dana.
“So this is how it’s going to be. You’re going to torment
me!” His eyes lit as he reached for her. Snatching her from
the top of the ladder, he pulled her against him. “I’m gonna
love every minute of it.” He kissed her forehead then
released her. “Sweetheart, someday soon, I’m going to
take you places you never imagined existed.” This time, he
didn’t cringe when he used the new nickname.
“Clay, about Gavin, he’s just a friend.”
“I’ve never heard you mention him before.”
“I suppose I have in passing. Clay, I saw you stiffen
when Jeff played the message. Was that because a man
called me?” With her sweetest smile, she looked up at
Clay.
“More torture, Dana?”
“A little. Were you jealous?”
Clay stepped back, his hand on his hip, his thumb
tucked in his front pocket. He gave Dana a once over look
from head to toe. “Well?”
“Jeez, Dana. A few days ago you told me there wasn’t a
man waiting to come take you back. That message…”
Dana stood her ground, refusing to go to him. “Clay,
he’s an old friend. The first photographer I worked with in
New York. He and Harry have been a couple for longer than
I’ve known them.”
“Oh.”
“Oh, that’s all you have to say?”
“I don’t like being jealous, Dana. It’s a new emotion for
me.”
“One you’re going to try and control?” This time she
went to him, slipping her hands along his shoulders.
“God, help me. I’ll try.”
“Good, now about the torture part,” Dana kissed his chin
and then moved slowly to his neck, trailing small kisses as
she went. Clay knew she had him when his body went tight
against hers. Backing away, she looked him up and down.
“I just might enjoy this.”
Clay lifted her by the waist, pulling her up to him, eye
level.
“Toying with me, Dana, could be dangerous.”
“I’ve never been afraid of you, Clay.” Slowly he put her
back down on the floor, holding her tight against him.
“Don’t start now, sweetheart.” This new term of
endearment was flowing easily. He’d have to be careful,
especially when they weren’t alone. For a time they stood
there, locked in each other’s arms. “Any other names I
should know about for recognition matters?” he teased.
 “I’ll let you know as we go along.”
Their kiss took his breath away, took any remote feeling
of sanity with it. Molded against him, he craved to touch her
the way his body told him to. He knew he had to stop this
before it went too far. Stepping back, he turned her back to
him. “Clay, there aren’t any other men. Gavin is just an old
friend, and I wasn’t joking that you’d fuel his dreams much
better than me.”
“Jeez, Dana.” Her smile was what he had been waiting
for. Tension released from his body.
“One last kiss, then I’m leaving,” he told her. He had his
kiss, one that left Dana speechless. This time when he did
leave, he didn’t look back.
****
It was before eight the next morning when Dana was
pounding on Clay’s kitchen door. She heard him holler
something from upstairs then sat on the screen porch,
glancing at the headlines on his Sunday paper. Hearing the
door open beside her, she only glanced toward him.
“Sleeping in, Clay?” she teased.
He stepped out onto the porch, stopping any further
words she meant to speak. Fresh from the shower, his hair
was still damp, a towel slung around his neck, covering a
small patch of bare skin on either side of his shoulders.
Dana stared at his bare chest, following the path of dark
hair that led downward toward his belly, disappearing into a
pair of old jeans he had pulled on. The top snap was open.
Dana realized at that moment he had completely
undone her. Never in her life had she experienced this
particular wave. It was lust, pure and simple. Does he know
how sexy he looks standing there? Her hands ached to
touch him, to explore him.
“What’s up, kid? Do you know what time it is?”
“Sunday, early, get dressed, I’m taking you out to
breakfast.”
“Are you?” Clay didn’t stop staring.
“My way of saying thank you for helping me unpack last
night.” Wanting to badly, she couldn’t pull her eyes away
from his chest. Had she even blinked, she wondered.
Standing slowly, she went toward him, watching his face
carefully. “Got any coffee made?”
“Not yet.” Her fingertips ran the length of his stomach.
She felt him tense under her touch, liking what it was doing
to him. Glancing down, she saw his cock was full and hard
under his jeans.
“I’ll make us a cup while you get dressed.”
Sliding past him in the doorway, she had to duck under
his arm to get past him. Clay stood, rooted to the spot after
she had walked inside, deciding all his blood had rushed to
his groin, his erection evident. She stayed in the kitchen,
running water into the pot. Dana longed to touch him, to tell
him to take her inside and make mad, passionate love to
her, or at least fuck her brains out.
When he entered, she was measuring coffee into a
filter. With her back to him, she wondered if he was able to
appreciate the line of her long legs, the short denim skirt
covering little. She had on a pink tee shirt a few shades
lighter than the slip she had worn last night. Her hair hung
loose. She felt him approaching, closing the distance
between them. He turned her around.
“Don’t bother with the coffee. I’ll be ready in a minute.”
“Okay.” Dana hoisted herself up onto the kitchen
counter, bringing her eye level with Clay. His hands went to
the sides of her legs, capturing her where she sat. Dana
had wanted him to kiss her, she had thought about it all last
night.
Driving over, the thought of his hands against her skin
had given her that same warm, fuzzy glow she was
beginning to enjoy. Her hands went around his neck, pulling
his face close to hers. His clean scent was driving her to
think of things she hadn’t ever let herself wonder about him
before. One hand around his neck, the other slowly
exploring his bare chest, she closed her eyes, enjoying the
sensation against her fingers.
****
Clay had hardened again the minute he saw her at the
counter. The short skirt helped, but the visual image of her
in his kitchen accomplishing such a mundane chore sent
shocks of electricity straight to his crotch. When she had
hoisted herself up on the counter, he knew he was in
trouble. Yet, as her hand ran across his skin, he couldn’t
move, wouldn’t pull back.
Dana pulled him closer, her lips presenting a mere
feather of a kiss. Clay wrapped his arms around her,
deepening her kiss, taking what she was offering to a new
plane. In the back of his mind, he didn’t want to scare her,
but couldn’t help himself from pushing forward. Hell, every
time he thought about her, at some point he caught the
visual of her from years before. On her knees between his
legs, her lips locked around his cock. She’d seemed so
demure, but so sensual at the same time. He’d never
forgotten that image and saw it again now. For an instant,
he thought to make a new memory. It would be so easy to
run his hand along her waist and up under her shirt to cup
and squeeze her braless breasts. With a simple tug, her
shirt could be pushed upward, leaving him complete
access to her breasts. He still remembered how her
raspberry nipples heaved at the touch of his lips.
She did something to him no other woman had. She
reached him on so many levels it was almost
overwhelming. Pulling back when he realized his hands had
moved under her shirt, he stood quickly.
“I’ll get dressed.” He turned, leaving her sitting on the
counter, slightly mussed from their kisses.
If he hadn’t gone, he wondered how far she might have
let him go. But he didn’t stay. He was relieved and
disappointed at the same time. Dana had him in a
quandary. Normally, he was intimate with consenting
females soon after they met. With Dana, he kept holding
back. He was beginning to think she was as frustrated as
he was. Showing up dressed the way she was, maybe she
was looking for a sexual release and he was too dense to
acknowledge it.
****
They managed to get a back booth at the diner,
allowing them the space to relax with the newspaper while
they enjoyed a second cup of coffee, or was it a third?
Dana was reading the magazine section. Clay had the
financial section folded open before him. Their hands met
across the center of the table, holding tightly, occasionally
exchanging glances. He knew his were requests for
permission to go forward, wanting her full consent before
he took her to his bed.
He decided he would give Dana time, that he’d court
her, as old Holly would say. That’s what he decided. Just
because he had known her all her life, it didn’t mean she
didn’t deserve to be dated and courted. In fact, he decided
that was exactly what she would experience, a full-out
courtship from him.
****
Linda Cole spotted them as she entered the diner, their
hands intertwined across the table. With instant disgust,
she drew a breath and then headed directly toward them.
Standing beside their table, she finally had to speak to get
their attention.
“Good morning, Clay.” He looked up, tightening his hold
on Dana’s hand.
“Morning, Linda. How have you been?” He left the paper
where it was, left his hand on Dana’s.
“Morning, Linda.” Dana added. Linda only nodded
toward her.
“I’m so glad I ran into you, it will save me tracking you
down during the week.” She glanced at the empty portion of
the bench seat next to Clay. “May I?” she asked as she sat
beside him, leaving him no other option but to shift to make
room for her.
“What did you need from Clay?” Dana asked sweetly.
She, too, had abandoned the article she was reading.
“Nothing to worry your pretty little head about,” Linda
told her, trying to rein her tone of voice to civil. She had to
make Clay see her as female and available along with
being sexually experienced. They would be a great match.
She would be able to help him with his farming and lumber
business. They would make the perfect power couple she
always dreamed of becoming. From the first time she saw
him at a distance, Linda knew he was the man she wanted.
And she wouldn’t let this little twit of a model stop her. She
held back a groan watching as Clay interlaced his fingers
with Dana’s. It should be me with him. Linda decided to
treat Dana Britton as a small glitch in her plan, one that
would be dealt with one way or another.
Linda pulled a deep breath and plastered a smile on
her face, hoping it would soften her appearance. Right now,
getting cranky in front of Clay wouldn’t help her cause. Most
of all, she had to remember she had a cause, to get Clay
Hollister to marry her, leaving her access to his land, his
money, and his body.
****
Clay felt Dana’s hand tighten under his, and he held her
in place, his thumb running lazy circles against her palm.
Having dismissed Dana from the conversation, Linda
turned to Clay.
“You know the retirement party for the Senator is
approaching fast. I was hoping I could talk you into helping
me with some of the planning. It wouldn’t take much time,
although I could use a hand.”
Dana’s stomach churned as she listened to the voice
that dripped from Linda’s mouth. If Clay hadn’t been holding
her hand, she might have done something, but his touch
kept her centered. He winked, trying to get her to relax.
“I’m pretty busy these days, Linda. We’ll be finishing the
harvest about that time. I’m not sure how much time I could
commit to helping.”
“Well, I’m sure I could find an assignment that will fit in
with your schedule.” Her arm went along the back of the
booth.
Dana knew if she hadn’t been sitting there, the chances
were good that Linda would be running her fingers through
his hair. She drew a deep breath, her eyes narrowing.
Linda knew exactly what she was doing. She was testing
both Clay and Dana.
“I’m not sure, Linda. What do you think, Dana?”
Deliberately, he chose to look to her, drawing her back into
the conversation. He gave her a sly smile, waiting for her to
answer.
Damn. That look is gonna get me in trouble. The
thought of it made her blush. Looking directly at him, “It’s a
busy time for you, Clay,” she said quietly.
Clay looked uncomfortable with the whole situation, but
Dana decided he was trying to use it to his advantage. If
Linda knew he and Dana were together, she might back
off.
“What if you assigned us, Dana and me, something we
could work on together as a team? That might work.” Clay
offered Linda one of his best smiles. “Would that work for
you?” he asked Dana.
Before she could answer, Linda interrupted. “Actually,
it’s just for members of the Chamber of Commerce. I
thought I was clear about that.” The edge in her voice had
changed, and Dana watched as she tried to reel it back.
“It’s not that we wouldn’t love to have Dana’s help, but the
rules are the rules.”
“No problem then,” Dana added sweetly. “I just got my
letter of acceptance last week from the Chamber. They
seemed very happy…”
“Why would you join the Chamber? You don’t have a
job.”
Dana watched Clay straighten in his seat. She took a
cleansing breath before she spoke. “Really, Linda. I’d of
thought you had a better memory than that. My business will
be the museum at the Britton Mansion, once the renovation
is complete. The Chamber members all seemed quite
enthusiastic about my joining and the renovation project.”
Clay seemed to hold his breath as she reached for her
coffee cup with her free hand, probably wondering if she
was about to toss it at the woman sitting beside him. Dana
watched his breath came out in a slow, jagged exhale when
she sipped from the cup then returned it to the saucer.
“Once my application passes the permit board, of course.”
“Let’s leave board business out of this.” Turning back to
Clay, Linda continued. “Can I count on you, Clay?” she
almost whispered.
 “If Dana agrees, you can assign us something she and I
can do as a team.” Dana’s smile and nod were her only
answer.
“I’ll get back to you, then.” Slipping out of the booth,
Linda stood, all but glaring down at Dana.
“Linda, why not get hold of Dana when you need me?
She always knows how to reach me.” They watched as a
mask came over Linda Cole’s face. Only the nod of her
head offered any indication she had heard his last
statement. Turning swiftly, she walked directly out of the
diner.
“I guess she decided she wasn’t hungry after all,” Clay
teased, bringing up Dana’s hand to his lips, brushing them
across her knuckles.
“Oh, she was hungry all right, just not for what was being
served on the menu.” Clay let out a deep laugh, releasing
the tension that had built up inside him and apparently
Dana as she started to laugh with him.
“Do you really think she’ll give us an assignment?” Clay
asked, the sparkle in his brown eyes catching her heart.
“Definitely, but I’m sure it won’t be the same one she
had in mind for you alone,” Dana added.
“Let’s get out of here, kid. What do you want to do with
the rest of the day?”
“How about a ride? William hasn’t been out in a few
days, you game?”
Folding the newspaper sections, Clay tossed some bills
on the table. Outside, he waited beside the car door for
Dana to fold herself into the Corvette. Once she was in, he
closed her door and then bent down to lean on it, bringing
him level with her.
“Are you going to ride in that skirt?” Dana glanced
down, her thighs exposed from the edge of the short skirt.
Well, she decided, at least he was looking, even if he
wasn’t touching her.
“If it will make you crazy, yes!”
“I’ll saddle the horses while you change.”
He was shifting the vehicle into reverse when he
hesitated. Dana realized he was preoccupied and turned to
see Linda was watching from across the parking lot, her
car parked directly behind them. It left her with an odd
feeling as they drove toward home. How long had she been
watching them, she wondered? Clay became quiet during
the ride, his fingers clutching the steering wheel so hard his
knuckles were turning white.
“Clay, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Clay?”
“I don’t like the way Linda treats you.”
“She’s a jealous female. I assume she figures I’ve taken
over her territory.”
“I was never in her reach.”
“She wouldn’t like to hear that. Actually, I get the
impression that my coming home had interfered with her
overall plan.” Dana was teasing, but her words held a
blatant truth.
“Damn her plan. I’m only interested in yours.” He gave
her a quick smile then straightened to watch the road.
 “In that case, I’ll change out of this skirt. No sense
chafing my thighs on old William, when I’d rather…” Dana
didn’t just blush, she felt her entire face and neck go red-hot
with embarrassment.
Clay started to laugh, catching a glimpse of her. “God,
Dana, someday.” He pushed the car into a higher gear as
they left the town limit. Reveling in the idea that Clay was
beginning to look at her in a different light, she began to
harbor a hope of them together after all. Maybe her secrets
would be safe with Clay. It was a calculated risk, one she
was beginning to accept as a possibility.
It struck her at that second that Clay might have an
unusual sexual preference. How stupid of her not to think
that side through! All of a sudden things were blurry again.
She’d been so concerned about her fetish side she never
wondered about his. Dana sat back in the leather seat and
watched the world go by as she wondered about Clay. He
was a well-traveled man, not some country bumpkin with no
experience. What would it be, she wondered? She knew he
often wore his riding leathers when on the motorcycle.
Maybe he had a leather fetish, too. She had to make a
concerted effort not to ask him outright. Life was looking up,
even if Linda Cole annoyed her.
By the time they reached Britton Farm, they met Lisa
and Jeff just mounting their horses. “How was breakfast?”
Lisa asked.
“Fine,” Dana answered, not wanting to mention Linda
again.
“You guys heading out or in?”
 “We’re just going for a ride. Adam is sleeping and Ruth
offered to keep a check on him.” Dana watched her sister-
in-law look at her, then to Clay, and back to her. “Want us to
wait while you saddle up?”
“You guys go ahead,” Clay said, breaking in. “By the
time Dana changes and we get saddled, you’ll be heading
back.”
“See ya,” Jeff said, nudging his horse toward the north.
“I want to check out the corn over there, not much rain
lately.”
“My romantic husband. I get a babysitter, and he wants
to check the corn!” Lisa laughed and grabbed her horse’s
reins, heading toward her husband.
“Still want to ride?”
“I want to ride you, but you still seem hesitant, so I’ll ride
the horses. This time.”
“Go get changed,” Clay teased her.
Dana was back quickly, swapping her short skirt for old,
worn jeans and her well-broken-in riding boots. When they
were out of sight from the home on the south side, she
turned to Clay. He was a handsome man, especially on
horseback.
“You know, all this time we’ve been riding I’ve been
flexing my thigh muscles to get rid of the ache you cause.”
Dana didn’t turn away, wanting to see his reaction.
“I’ll make you a deal, when we get someplace dry, soft,
and warm, I’ll take care of your ache.”
“Promises, promises,” she teased. “Next you’ll tell me
you don’t have any condoms, right?” It was a reference to
the night of the storm when she stayed with him. “Just so
you know, I’m on the pill and my last physical was clean of
any disease.”
“What?” Clay seemed shocked at her comment.
“We’re adults, Clay. We need to talk about these things
openly because they’re important.” Dana waited to see
what how he would react.
“You want blunt, you got it, at least when we’re alone.”
He cleared his throat. “Do you have any idea how hard it
was for me not to pick you up on my shoulder this morning
and carry you back to bed? Hell, I almost had my hand up
your shirt and you weren’t stopping me.”
“I figured you’d take the hint,” she told him. “But I
suppose I’ll have to romance you a bit. Are you the flowers
and candy kind of man?” Dana started laughing and
goaded her horse into a trot. She hadn’t felt this good in a
long time. She knew one thing was for sure, next time she
went out of town, she was going to buy him a crate of
condoms and send them to him. Then he’d have no excuse.
In a fleeting second, she wondered if he just didn’t want
to have sex with her, but it left just as quickly. He’d been
openly telling her he was interested, and she was the one
who kept pushing him away. Times were changing, and
Dana liked the change.
 Chapter Eight
One week later, Jeff stood to the side of the tractor he’d
been working on, watching the scene unfold with his
foreman, Jeb, standing beside him. The two men looked to
each other, Jeb mumbling something about a bee in her
bonnet before leaving Jeff to wonder what had happened. It
was over an hour later when she walked the horse back to
the barn, refusing the offers to put him up. Even the barn
hands were confused. To Jeff’s view, her skirt was ruined,
her hair a wild mass of tangles, and the look on her face
read total anger. He didn’t know what happened to cause
this temper tantrum, but he’d find out. Even if she had been
away for a while, she was still a Britton, and news of this
tantrum would make its way around town.
****
Dana drove like a maniac, which wasn’t unusual. While
in New York, she rarely had an excuse to drive. Home, on
the back roads, she was able to let loose. Today was
different. Today was about anger and frustration. She
skidded the BMW to a halt just outside the paddock,
garnering stares from the workers all around her.
Still dressed in her business suit, she stood beside the
small convertible, stripping off her shoes and jacket. Next
she pulled the elastic band from her hair, letting it fall
around her face. One of the stable hands started to
approach her, but she stopped, put her hand up to ward
him off, and then marched into the barn. Several minutes
later, she emerged atop her favorite horse, William the
Conqueror. Her skirt was hitched up around her hips. She
didn’t care. Once away from the barn, she goaded the
horse into a full-out run, forgoing the warm-up or gallop she
would usually pace him with.
Skirting the big house to the right, Dana avoided
contact with anyone when she finally returned. She left the
car where it was, walking the distance barefoot. As she
turned the corner of the backyard, she paused only to tug
off her skirt before diving into the cool water of the pool.
Swimming laps, she tried to work out her options in her
mind. No clear-cut choice presented itself.
When she finally let herself roll onto her back to float,
she saw Lisa sat beside the pool. She had draped a robe
by the ladder. Dana went under one last time, wondering
how she was going to work this out, dreading the
explanation for her temper tantrum. She finally swam to the
ladder and pulled herself from the crystal water, grabbing
the robe.
Pulling the robe around her, Dana accepted the glass of
lemonade Lisa offered her. With a gentle arm around her
shoulders, Lisa walked with Dana to the guesthouse. Once
inside, she went about pulling out shorts and a top for her to
change into. Dana toweled off her hair then stripped off the
wet layer of clothes. “Thanks.”
“Anytime. Let’s go outside to talk.”
Dana followed a few minutes later, dressed and
semidry. She found Lisa had pulled two of the patio chairs
to the far side of the small guest quarters. Once there, they
sat in silence for a long time, sipping from their glasses.
Lisa waited for Dana to tell her what had happened and
how far it was from over. It hurt Dana to see Lisa so upset,
knowing she was the cause. With a conspiring laugh, Lisa
pulled two of Jeff’s slim cigars from her skirt pocket, along
with a box of stick matches. Lighting one, she drew on it
until it glowed, then handed it to Dana. She did the same
with the second one. They puffed in silence until Lisa
decided enough time had passed.
“Ready to talk about it?”
“I don’t know if I can, I’m so mad.”
“Start at the beginning.”
Dana straightened in her chair, leaning forward. “You
know my meeting with the board two weeks ago seemed to
go fine.”
“That’s the impression Jeff and I both got. The board
seemed to think it was just a matter of processing. Dana,
did they refuse your permits?”
“No, it’s nothing that easy. I’ve spent the last five days
arranging meetings with Linda Cole, who, by the way, is the
last one to sign off on the process, to no avail. First,
something came up, then something else. She’s cancelled
five appointments with me, all last minute. Today, we were
supposed to meet at noon. I called her office at eleven and
it was on.”
“And?”
“And at eleven twenty, Linda left the building. Apparently
something else came up.”
“But you saw her?”
 “More like cornered her in the parking lot.”
“Dana!”
“Well, what was I supposed to do? I explained I was
early, thought she might be free.” Dana shrugged her
shoulders. “I got to the bottom of it all.”
“Which is?” Lisa took another puff on the cigar.
“A veiled ultimatum.” Dana paced the small stone patio
where they sat. Lisa leaned forward, anxious to hear the
next installment of what Dana would say. “It’s simple really. I
am to hand over Clay to Linda. Then I can have my permits,
no problem!” With the words spoken, Dana finally collapsed
into her chair.
“What!” Now Lisa was pacing, anger filling her quickly.
“Are you sure you understood her correctly, Dana? This
could be serious. She has no right to use her position with
the board to delay your permits for personal gain. I’ve
known she had an eye for Clay, but he doesn’t have any
feelings for Linda. What would make her think you could
deliver him to her?”
“Simple. I make it very clear to Clay there isn’t a chance
in hell he’ll ever be with me, talk up Linda, who by the way
feels she’s much better suited for him, and when she’s
secure in their relationship, I get the permits and the town’s
blessings.”
“Of all the deceitful, unethical…”
“Don’t forget mercenary, arrogant, dishonest,
vindictive…I have more, should I go on?” Dana offered with
a grim face.
“No. The list is too long. What are you going to do?”
Lisa sat, taking Dana’s hand in hers. “How can I help?”
Leaning forward, Dana accepted the hug from her
sister-in-law. “Nothing. And I mean that in the strictest of all
senses. All I got was double talk about environmental
issues, impact studies, et cetera. Bottom line, Clay for the
clearance.”
Dana left Lisa sitting in shock, returning with a bottle of
iced vodka and two small shot glasses. Filling each, she
handed one to Lisa, sipping the other. “Linda has decided
I’m not right for him, she is. Nothing like little old
unsophisticated me is going to stand in her way. Hell, she
told me as much in plain English. I might as well go back to
New York. I should grow up and find someone my own
age.”
“That would make her job with Clay a whole lot easier.”
“Yes, it would. But I’m not going. The sad thing is, she
talks about him like he was a commodity or something. Not
like a human being. I couldn’t give her Clay. He’s not mine
to give.”
Lisa tipped her glass to Dana’s, and they swallowed the
liquor at the same time. “Dana, do you love Clay?”
“I wish I knew. Oh, God, Lisa, how did this happen? All I
wanted to do was come home to my family and friends.
Now look at the mess I’ve made of it all.”
“No. This is Linda’s mess. Don’t take responsibility for
it. You still haven’t answered my question. Are you in love
with Clay?”
“Yes.”
Lisa settled back in her seat, waiting. “How long has the
romance been going on?”
Dana’s laugh surprised her. “Romance, what romance?
We’ve kissed a few times, only since I came home. Adam’s
christening was the first time he kissed me.” It was a small
white lie leaving out the details of their earlier sex acts,
especially from her wedding to Jeff. Dana decided it wasn’t
a good idea to tell her sister-in-law their best man pulled
her into a closet during their wedding party and licked and
fingered her until she was wilting against his body, pushing
his fingers deeper in her body.
“You mean you haven’t…been together yet?”
“Of course not, and we wouldn’t be. I tried to explain. I
can’t find the words to make him understand.” She looked
away, “I’m not right for any man.”
“Dana, you’re confusing me, let alone poor Clay. Start
over.”
“I can’t love him, Lisa. I’m not the right woman for him,
he deserves more. I wouldn’t be beneficial to him
personally, or professionally for that matter.”
“Oh,” was all Lisa got out, and then she went on. “Well, I
know a few nice women if you’d like to be introduced.”
Dana started to laugh. “What? Why are you laughing at
me?”
“Nothing against women, but my tastes are definitely for
the male body.”
“Then why say you can’t love any man?”
“Because it’s true.” Lisa accepted Dana was wrestling
with how much to tell her about her prior relationships, not
pushing for information. “You knew I was dating Walker for
a long time in New York.”
“Yes, but he wasn’t right for you. He was too bossy and
arrogant, too full of his own agenda.” Lisa watched as Dana
searched for the right words, blushing as she thought about
it.
“Lisa, I can’t seem to enjoy the physical side of a
relationship.” If she left it at that, Lisa might think Dana was
frigid and she wouldn’t have to reveal her pension for
bondage.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Dana, you just haven’t tried with the
right man. Now Clay, he strikes me as the right stuff for you.
Why not give him a chance?”
“I know what I’m talking about here, sis. After Walker—”
Dana shook her head, refusing to discuss the memories of
the disastrous time they spent together. “It’s not in me to be
conventional.”
“And you’re going to take the word of a spoiled playboy
as gospel? Dana, grow up. Whatever Walker did or didn’t
do for you physically has nothing to do with how you would
be with Clay, or any other man, for that matter.”
“But he impressed upon me all the time, our
compatibility issues were my fault. Lisa, what am I going to
do? He’d get mad, I’d be embarrassed. I won’t put myself in
that position ever again.”
Lisa laughed aloud, enjoying the release.
“I’m glad you think my life is so funny, just because you
were lucky and found Jeff.”
“Oh, Dana. Yes, I was lucky finding Jeff, and he had a
little luck finding me. That’s how it is, waiting for that right fit.
When you find yours, you’ll know it. It’s called magic or
chemistry or fate.” Lisa let her voice fade off, and they sat in
a companionable silence smoking the cigars. “Remind me
to use your mouthwash before I head home.”
“Whatever you need,” Dana said, preoccupied by her
thoughts. Hopefully Lisa would let the subject drop. If she
didn’t, Dana would come up with something to stop the
questions. Probably tears, she decided. The next time
anyone started hounding her about relationships, she’d
burst into tears. That should stop the questioning.
“We’re supposed to meet Clay in town for supper. Join
us?”
“No thanks, I’ll stay here and be miserable for a while.
Besides, with my luck, Linda will be at the same
restaurant.”
“With a little luck, yes,” Lisa said.
“Lisa, promise me you wouldn’t do anything. Let me
handle this on my own. I just want some time to think about
it, think it through.”
“All right, no action yet. But don’t wait too long.” She
started to leave then turned back to Dana. “When did you
first think about Clay romantically?”
“A while ago.” Dana omitted revealing details of the
night of the storm. Besides, that was before Lisa knew Jeff,
she’d have no reference for it. Finally Dana added,
“Christmas three years back, I was home for your wedding.
That was when I looked at Clay differently.”
“You were twenty-one. Why didn’t you go to him?”
“It didn’t seem right. Once I went back to the city, I
figured it was just all the romance of your wedding and the
holidays. Besides, after that, if you think about it, Clay
made a point of avoiding me when I was back. I figured I
read all the wrong signs.”
“And you met Walker around the same time?”
“Yes.”
“Dana, think it through, but don’t let Clay get away. I
think you two would be good together.” Handing Dana her
shot glass, she smiled. “I’m aching to ask you what you
mean by conventional, but you’ve gone out of your way to
dance around it, so I’ll let it drop. I just wanted you to know it
didn’t get by me.” Lisa gave her a sly smile. “Are you sure
about supper?”
“Yes, thanks anyway.”
“Clay asked if you were coming.”
“Not tonight, Lisa. I’m too wound up. I’m afraid I might
say something out of place. I need to deal with this in my
own way, without Clay or Jeff interfering.”
“Okay, no more lectures.”
“Lisa, I’m sorry if this is a problem. I don’t want to come
between friends.”
“Clay and I are fine.” Lisa gave her a confused look.
“I meant you and Linda.”
“Linda? She’s not a friend. What made you think there
was a connection?”
“She was at the christening. She came to the chapel
after the ceremony, telling Clay and me you and she were
discussing us.”
Dana watched Lisa think back, her eyes squinting, her
mouth twisting from side to side. The pieces were falling
into place as she looked at them from another side.
“Dana, she wasn’t invited to the party. She showed up
as some of the first guests were arriving, said she stopped
by to talk about the senator’s retirement party. I only asked
her to stay, because how could I not, with all the guests
arriving.” Lisa snubbed the last of her cigar in a cement
planter near the door. “As for sending her to the chapel, no,
Dana. She asked me where you were right after the
ceremony, I wasn’t really listening. I remember telling her I
thought you and Clay were still in the chapel. That’s all.”
Dana filled her in on the conversation at the diner over
Sunday breakfast. Lisa wasn’t happy. It was written all over
her with her body language.
“Lisa, today she as much told me I wasn’t woman
enough for Clay. Said she knew I had a history of not being
able to make a commitment.”
“Dana, you didn’t think I would talk to her about you, did
you?”
“I’m sorry. I really didn’t. But if you hadn’t mentioned
anything, how did she know about it? You and Clay are the
only two who…and before now, we’ve never really
discussed him, have we?”
“Walker knew you were uncomfortable with him.” Lisa
broke in.
“How would Linda know to go to Walker for
information?”
“Please, you’re big news in this town. Every time your
photo showed up in print, everyone in town knew about it.
And they saw the photos of you and Walker from the charity
event you chaired. That was all over town for weeks.”
“Walker wouldn’t talk to her.” Lisa just shrugged her
shoulders at Dana. “Then again, maybe he would. I wasn’t
very good for his ego.” Dana didn’t add that her matching
his blackmail threat had left them at a stalemate. If he
talked about her, she had ammunition to use against him.
They had decided to consider their relationship a wash and
to let it lie. No, she reinforced, he wouldn’t go public. I have
the videotaped proof of his preferences. She let her lips
curl into a small smile and pulled it back quickly.
“We don’t know what she told him, how she approached
him, or even if she did, technically.”
“I won’t give him the satisfaction of a call to find out. I’d
rather deal with the unknown on this one,” Dana said
ruefully.
“Be careful, honey. She’s an achiever, a real closer, and
I’m beginning to see how she gets the deals done. I’m
getting a clear picture of how she operates. Did you know
she was with Jay for a while, about two years ago, I think.”
“Jay as in Jason Harris?”
“Yep, until she started making a play for Clay.”
“Lisa, promise me. Let me handle it on my own. And I’m
sorry I thought you and Linda could be friends. I was upset.”
“You must have been to believe that. Don’t take too
long, honey. Let me know if I can help.” Lisa hesitated to
go. “Sure I can’t change your mind about supper?”
“No, thanks. I’d rather be miserable and sulk. I’ll feel
better tomorrow. One thing, though.” Lisa waited while
Dana stood. “A doggie bag would be appreciated,” she
joked.
“Anything specific you want to find in that doggie bag?”
“Red meat and potatoes. I need fighting food,” she
bantered back.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
****
Walking back to her home, Lisa wondered how she
would get through supper without spilling her knowledge to
Jeff and Clay. Taking Adam from Jeff, she fed him then
rocked him to sleep. While freshening her makeup, Lisa
skirted Jeff’s questions, finally telling him to ask her again
when they got home. Then she would tell him.
Jeff and Lisa arrived home to find Dana and Adam on
the front porch swing, surprised Adam wasn’t with his sitter.
Dana explained she had gotten an emergency call, an
accident with one of her brothers who had broken a limb.
She was needed at home to care for the rest of her siblings
while her parents took care of the broken-boned child.
“You should have called us. We would have come
home.”
“No problem. Adam and I have been having a long talk,
He’s turning into a great listener.”
****
Jeff finally lost his control. Watching his wife and sister
debate about sitters after the episode this afternoon in the
paddock, he’d had enough. He ran his hand through his
dark hair, and his breath started coming out in small pants.
All through supper he had resisted asking questions. In the
car from the restaurant, Lisa had turned up the radio, loud,
to avoid his questions. Having them both in the same place
now, he wanted answers.
In the dark of the evening, his sister looked like a child
herself, holding his child. Whatever had set Dana off, he
needed to know. In the small county they lived in, sooner or
later it would get around that Dana had a tantrum. He
needed to know why, if only for damage control. He wanted
to know for himself, so he could help her. Just because she
was grown up, he couldn’t back away from his role as
protector. The day his father died, he’d promised him he’d
always take care of Dana. Jeff knew he would continue to
do so until the day he died. Seeing his son in her arms only
reinforced his protective side. “Is someone going to finally
tell me what’s going on under my own roof? You tore in here
today, stripped in the paddock, and then rode William to
the point of exhaustion. I’ve waited through supper and
didn’t press the issue. Now I want answers.”
“You sound just like Daddy used to. All you need is his
cane thumping next to you and you’re his spitting image.”
“Thank you very much, Dana. However, you created this
mood, now dispel it.”
“I think Adam and I will retire for the night.” Lisa took the
sleeping child from Dana, pausing to kiss her cheek.
“Thanks for taking over tonight.”
“No problem.”
“Don’t forget to eat your supper. I even remembered the
fried potatoes,” she added as she slowly wandered inside.
Jeff sat beside his sister on the porch swing, waiting her
out. She held the white Styrofoam container on her lap.
“Come on to the kitchen. I know you wouldn’t touch that
without ketchup.” Standing, Dana accepted his hand,
following him to the kitchen. He waited while she puddled
ketchup on the potatoes and grabbed a bottle of water.
Finally they settled at the kitchen counter, where he none-
too-patiently waited for her start talking. In between bites,
she told her brother the condensed version.
****
Lisa was waiting for Jeff when he finally came upstairs.
She knew he would be upset; she just wasn’t sure how
upset. One look at his face told her it was going to be a
long night.
“I’ll call the lawyers in the morning. That woman has no
right to use Clay as a bargaining tool for Dana’s project.
How dare she even think he would want a woman like her,
she’s…”
“Yes, dear.” Lisa said, “I know the list, and it’s a long
one. Did Dana ask you to call in the lawyers?”
“No, but—”
“Jeff, no matter how hard this is for you, we have to back
down and let Dana handle it her own way.”
“But—”
“No buts, Jeff. It’s important she fight for herself. You
can’t fix everything for her for the rest of her life. Now that
she’s finally come home, we have to let her be an adult.
She’ll leave if you meddle.”
“She wouldn’t!”
“You don’t know your sister then. This is her project. It’s
her business. How would you feel if she stopped by your
office and cancelled a fertilizer or seed shipment, or told
the loggers to clear a different field?”
“That’s not the same.”
“It’s as close as I can get at ten thirty at night. Jeff, she’s
twenty-six. She’s come home to build a life. We have to let
her build it. Refurbishing the Britton Mansion in town gives
her a goal, a valid reason to be here. If you take it over from
her, there is no reason to stay. Jeff, please think about it
before you do anything stupid that sends her running.”
“Stupid, did you just call me stupid?” His dark eyes
narrowed.
“Jeff, I said don’t do anything stupid. Dana’s a smart
lady.”
“Girl!”
“Woman. You missed a few things lately.” His silence
didn’t bother her. Lisa was used to her husband receding
into his thoughts. Jeff’s processing time was different from
hers. She had learned to wait him out, letting him think
things through before tossing more.
“Why would Linda think Dana had so much control over
Clay?” Lisa shook her head at her husband, knowing when
it hit him she didn’t want to be anywhere near until he
calmed down.
“Let her have this. She needs to fight for herself. If she
wants help, she’ll come to you.” Lisa ran her hands through
her husband’s dark hair. “Then you can ride in and save the
day for her. Until then, I’ll try to keep you occupied.”
“Occupied how?” Taking his hand, she pulled him
closer, using his fingers to push the strap of her nightgown
from her shoulder.
“Until then, I’ll just have to keep you busy.” Her kiss was
hot and tempting. Jeff let her lead him to their bed, allowing
her to straddle him once he had sat. “Now,” she whispered,
“How can I keep you busy for the next few weeks?”
“Is Adam asleep?” His hands found the soft spot of her
neck, stroking it gently while he waited for her answer.
“Fed, changed, and sound asleep. With a little luck, we
should have about three hours before he makes his needs
known.” Dipping her head, she caught his earlobe between
her teeth.
“Mrs. Britton, what could you possibly think of to fill those
three hours?” he whispered. Her kiss was his answer.
Slowly he rolled her onto her back, pausing to pull his shirt
over his head, before lying beside her. “Three hours?”
“Think you can handle it?” Lisa dropped her hand
between their bodies and found his cock full, throbbing in
her hand. His lips met hers, and Dana’s problems
dissolved around them. From the way Jeff was fingering her
pussy and sucking her nipple, keeping him sidetracked
wouldn’t be a problem.
 Chapter Nine
Clay paced the length of his small living room. Looking
around him, he saw remnants of his younger days. This was
his father’s house. Stepfather, he reminded himself. Even
today, with both men long buried, guilt still welled within him
on those rare times he forgot the man who had been his
biological father. He had memories of him, glimpses that
he could remember. His stepfather had raised him, taught
him what it meant to be a man, and made his mother
happy. Everything he was today, he owed to old Holly.
Today Clay stood proudly as a Hollister, not a Taylor. Guilt
always arrived when he let himself thank the gods that his
mother had found old Holly.
He was a man’s man, a logger and farmer, a horseman
with common sense and a good heart. He had welcomed
Clay at that tender age of eight. Even when Clay tested
him, he stood fast. “Holly, I wish you were here, I could use
some advice,” he said aloud, looking at the ceiling, willing
the old man to hear his plea.
Wandering from room to room, he knew it needed a
fresh coat of paint, maybe some new wallpaper in the
kitchen. It hadn’t occurred to him to make these changes
until now. This was the home he grew up in, the home Holly
had made for him and his mother. The paper in the kitchen
was old but familiar and comforting. It was like that
throughout the rest of the house.
Besides, there was no reason to make any changes.
Clay was waiting to live in the river house. His problem, he
knew, was the waiting. Maybe he should just complete the
house to his liking and hope for the best. Waiting was never
one of his strong suits. These past two years since he had
taken title to the abandoned, half-finished home, his mind
kept telling him to wait for Dana. “Dana.” Grabbing his
jacket from the hook in the hallway, Clay left the house with
no real destination in mind. Fresh air and a walk will clear
my head. Anything to get her off his mind. “Why would her
ex-boyfriend Walker have hurt her? What could she have
possibly done? Was he the one who introduced her to the
sex toys? If she hated him using them on her then she
wouldn’t have kept them.” He spoke to himself on the way
to the garage, trying to figure out what had happened.
Wandering the road in front of his home, Clay turned to
see it from the distance. It would make a fine guesthouse
for a while. Eventually, he had hoped it would turn into the
caretaker’s home, if he could find someone who thought the
way he did. There was no hurry now. Planting was done for
the season, all any farmer could do now was wait out the
storms, hope for rain and sun and the strength to do it again
next year. Still restless, he headed inside and changed
clothes, heading to the garage. He mounted his Harley but
didn’t have a destination in mind. He just wanted the
freedom of the ride.
Turning the Harley off the main road, Clay was shocked
to see a vehicle parked in front of his unfinished house.
“What the hell?” he muttered, maneuvering the bike closer,
until he realized it was a blue BMW. “Dana?” he said aloud,
knowing she couldn’t have heard him through the helmet.
Taking the time to put it away, along with his gloves, he
used that same time to quiet his wildly beating heart. Why
was he surprised? Hadn’t he come here hoping she might
be there, that some intuition would have her waiting there
for him? Didn’t he buy the property because he knew Dana
had loved the home that was being built there?
****
Dana heard the roar of the bike coming up the private
road. At first, she thought it was a car, and then realized
she knew the sound. Clay, why is he here? No one really
knew where she was. She had just said she was stopping
in town for a while, she’d be home later. Never did she ever
mention this house to anyone…except Clay. But that was
three years ago.
Remembering the last time he surprised her at the
same location, she felt a chill run down her spine. That was
the night she had looked at Clay Hollister with a different
eye. He had been in his riding leathers that night, his long
legs encased in the soft, black coating. His hands she had
noticed too. The size of them, the width and length of his
fingers, the way her skin felt when he hugged her, surprised
to have found her at the building site. Now they were both
here again. She knew why she was there, not why he would
come here.
Shaking off the memory, Dana knew it was too late to
slip away. Instead, she called out. “Clay? Is that you?” She
rounded the corner of the unclad building, its white
protective wrap shredded from the winds.
 “Dana? What are you doing here?”
She caught her first glimpse of him as he turned to rest
his gloves and helmet on the back of the bike. “Damn,” she
said aloud. Why did he have to wear the leathers was
going through her mind. He left his dark glasses on,
blocking out the last rays of daylight. “This is a surprise,”
she told him.
“More than you could know,” he answered. “What are
you doing here?” He watched as she rubbed her upper
arms with her hands, looking up toward the house.
“I’m glad someone finally covered over the openings. It
was a shame to let the weather get inside the way it did.”
Staring at the front of the house, its window and door
openings had been covered with plywood and plastic, she
couldn’t look to Clay, not yet. She hadn’t seen him in a few
days, since she’d had her meeting with Linda and the hissy
fit in the paddock. Instantly she remembered how he kissed
her and made her want to confess her newfound needs to
him. Then Linda Cole had interrupted their breakfast. She
still wasn’t ready to be honest with him yet.
“I stopped by your house. I thought you might want to go
for a ride. Jeff told me you had headed into town to shop.”
“What made you come here?”
“Somehow it didn’t seem right, you shopping on a
Tuesday evening.” He took her in his arms as soon as he
was within reach of her, pulling her to his chest, never
hesitating before lowering his mouth to hers. It was getting
hard for her push him away, to stay aloof. She didn’t pull
away this time, and he didn’t either. Dana wanted him to
kiss her, needed to know if he could make her feel again,
questioning if she had ever really felt the sensual emotions
Clay brought forward in her being. Her arms went around
his neck, pulling him closer to her; the only incentive he
needed to continue his exploration, his hands roaming her
back, pausing to grasp her butt and pull her tighter to his
erection.
His lips broke contact with hers for only seconds while
he gulped for air, and then he went back for more until
Dana’s breath caught in her throat, only a low moan
escaping. Releasing his hold, he hugged her to his chest,
as if he were reluctant to let go. She decided he was
probably afraid she wouldn’t accept his touch again.
She would have stumbled if he had let go of her. Instead
he held her close, his heartbeat directly beneath her cheek.
This was what she had been searching for, this was home,
and Clay Hollister’s arms were her only salvation. Surprise
was next when he swung her up onto his shoulder, walking
toward the water’s edge with her.
“Clay, put me down!”
“Nope, not until you’re where I want you.” His long
strides moved quickly through the tall grass to the river’s
edge where he finally set her on her feet. “Now, we have
two approaches I can come up with. One, we sit and talk
like adults until we can get straightened out about a few
things, or two.” His lips curled into a wicked smile. “Two, I
can torture you until you come around to my way of thinking.
What’s it going to be, Dana? Make a choice before I
choose for you.”
Slowly, she lowered herself onto the bank of the river,
waiting for him to join her.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She couldn’t look at him after kissing
him the way she had. What must he think? At times she
responded without thought or question and other times her
mind sent her into protection mode and pushed him away.
“Do you know who bought the house? It’s the first time I’ve
been here since I got home.”
“Yeah, I do. Later.”
“I’m glad they at least dried her in, she deserves better
treatment.”
“Now we’re using building terms,” he told her with a
smile.
“I’ve been doing my homework. I am going to rehab the
Britton Mansion, remember?” she teased back. Clay drew
her back to the subject he wanted to discuss.
“Dana?”
“The thing is, Clay, I have two very different…situations
happening around me and to me right now.”
“Pick one and start.”
“Some minor problems with getting the project started,”
she lied. “And second?”
“You, Clay Hollister. You’re the second.”
“Okay, let’s deal with that. Why am I a problem,
exactly?” He watched as she bought time pulling tufts of
grass from the area around where she sat, feeling the
texture of it in her hands. “I missed this in New York. Did
you know in some stores, they sell planters with patches of
lawn growing in them instead of flowers? For people like
me, something to feel and see…I see you don’t care.”
“I know all about it.” Her eyes flashed to his. She
remembered the night of the storm when she had taken
refuge in his home. “Talk to me later about houseplants,
and I’ll be thrilled to listen. Now, tell me what’s wrong
between us.”
“I can’t. It’s just a feeling that I’m not capable of
maintaining a long-term, conventional relationship.”
She was on her back with Clay lying on top of her.
Automatically her hands went to his sides and back, feeling
the strength and size of him. She let him kiss her,
encouraged him to. For a long time, she let him make love
to her body. The feel of his hands on her skin as he pushed
her shirt aside, his lips trailing down her throat, pausing to
paint spirals on her warm flesh. She hadn’t thought to wear
a bra, so he didn’t have to fight one to touch her.
Her breast filled his hand. “So firm, so perfect,” he
whispered before lowering his mouth to one of her buds.
His fingers stroked the other to a peak, waiting for his lips.
Dana arched her back, giving him access, driving him
toward a breaking point. His mouth switched to her other
breast. Back and forth, side to side, all she could do was
hold on to his shoulders, willing him to continue. Never had
she felt this way before.
The sun faded behind the trees while Clay explored her
breasts with his hands. Dana was lost, his mouth taking
away all her restraint at his lips’ first touch. Only when his
hand trailed down the flat plane of her stomach did she
freeze. There was no mistaking it, like a switch was turned
off in her head. Rolling away from her, he threw his arm
over his eyes, not wanting to be seen.
“God, Dana. I’m sorry. I had no right.”
“No, Clay, it’s my fault. I should have stopped you. I’m
sorry.”
For a minute, he lay there in silence. She attempted to
gather her senses, trying to figure out what to do. Dana
knew what she wanted and decided to make it happen.
“I shouldn’t have tried to push you.”
Then her hand came over to his crotch. His hardness
throbbed at her touch through his leathers. Air escaped
from her lungs as she closed her hand around Clay. The
size of him intrigued and delighted her.
“Dana, don’t.”
“It’s all right, Clay. I started something. I’d like to finish
it.” He moved his hand away from his eyes, not sure if he
heard her right. Her trembling fingers fumbled with the
zipper on his pants until he all but slapped her hand away.
“Clay, let me. Or was I so inept the last time I did this you
don’t want to have to experience it again?”
With that he stood, pulling her up sharply by her
shoulders. Holding her at eye level, he searched her face,
trying to figure it out. As if a lightning bolt hit him, he saw it
in her eyes, releasing her.
“Is that what he made you do, finish him?”
She turned her back to him. “It wasn’t the way you’re
thinking. What he and I did was consensual. It’s just that we
had different ideas about how it should work out.”
“Dana, if we ever wind up together, it will be because
we both want to, not because either one of us is obligated.
Do you understand me, Dana?” Only her shoulders moved
slightly. “Come on, I’m taking you home.” This time when he
lifted her, he cradled her against him, supporting her head
with one arm, her legs with the other. When he reached her
car, he put her down on the hood. “Let me move the bike. I’ll
drive you home.”
“No.” She jumped from the vehicle. “I can get myself
home.” Brushing past him, she got in the driver’s seat. “I’ll
be fine, Clay, really.” Her tone carried the conviction of her
statement. “I’ve been fine these last years. I’ll continue to
take care of myself. I’m just not a conventional woman.
Once you accept that we’ll both feel better and move on.”
Clay became pensive while considering her statement.
“Dana, are you sure you don’t prefer women?”
Now she was just annoyed. “Why does everyone
automatically assume I’m a lesbian because I don’t want to
get involved with men?” She let out an exasperated breath.
“I prefer cock to pussy, Clay. I’ve tried both, so my opinion
is an informed one.” Let him think about that for a while, she
decided.
“Then what the hell is the problem, and what exactly do
you mean by unconventional? Damn it, Dana, you’ve got
me all tied up here and confused. It’s like you want me to a
certain point and then you freeze at my touch and back
away.” He watched as she straightened her shirt.
“Just let me go, Clay. Drop the topic and leave me
alone, go find some normal woman without my
expectations.” Dana’s eyes filled with tears, but she refused
to let them fall, sniffing them back, shaking her head at his
confusion.
“One day soon I’d like to hear your definition of normal
and conventional.”
“Be careful what you wish for, Clay. You won’t like the
answer, and once you know it you’ll never forget it. You’ll
always look at me with a sense of disdain. Trust me. I know
what I’m talking about.
****
The pleading in her eyes broke his heart. Beyond that,
he saw the fire that burned within her. She needed to be
alone, her embarrassment evident. “On one condition,” He
was about to say he’d follow her, but changed it to, “You
have twenty minutes to get home. If my cell phone doesn’t
ring, I’ll come and find you.” He tried to lighten her mood,
teasing her.
“No phone call. Move the bike or I’ll back over it.”
Something inside Dana had changed. She was angry, but
he wasn’t sure if it was directed at him or not. “Okay, I’ll
move it.” Backing away slowly, he moved the bike to the
side, watching as she backed out the rutted dirt road onto
the macadam. As soon as she made the turn, she was
gone in a flash. The blue bullet was a blur in the distance.
Clay let his body fall over the front of the bike, carrying
his weight. The sky had gone black. The stars were just
starting appear. He knew having had a taste of her, there
was no going back. How could he convince her that he truly
loved her? Clay put on his helmet and slowly headed home.
Once in the door, the light was flashing on his machine.
“Duty call, Clay. I made it home.” There was a long
silence as he waited for her to slam down the phone.
Instead, he thought he heard her whisper “I’m sorry” before
the machine clicked off.
Replaying the message over and over, Clay swore if he
ever found Dana’s last boyfriend, he’d finish him, only not
the way he was used to getting it. In a fit of anger, he
brushed his arm along the table. The answering machine
and telephone went flying until they impacted with the worn
pine floor.
“Jeez,” he said aloud to no one but himself.
****
Dana was filling her cart with spice jars and canned
goods. Lots of soup, crackers, peanut butter, tuna fish, and
pasta. She openly acknowledged her luck-of-the-draw
genetics when it came to her weight. She ate responsibly,
but she loved her carbs. Exercise evened it all out in the
end. Lisa was ahead of her in the aisle, dumping things into
her cart.
“Lisa, it’s summer. I’ll use fresh tomatoes.”
“Sure you will, when you bother to shop again.” They
had worked their way across the large grocery, both carts
full. “Regular or nonfat milk?”
“Regular, please, only two quarts.”
Adam awoke from his slumber in the carrier seat. Dana
went to him, taking him onto her shoulder while she tried to
explain to Lisa that she didn’t need two-dozen eggs.
 Clay turned the corner as she drew the baby onto her
shoulder. His mouth went dry and he backtracked from the
aisle. He walked straight out the door, opting to lean
against Lisa’s Mercedes. That was where they found him,
twenty minutes later.
“Hello, what are you doing here?” Lisa asked, pulling
back from a hug.
“I was running errands, saw your car, and figured you
might need a hand.”
Taking the keys from her, Clay opened the trunk, sizing
up the cargo space with the bags stuffed into the two carts.
His eyes flashed from one to the other, finally breaking into
laugher.
“A challenge! I always excelled at a challenge!” He was
more talking to himself than to Lisa or Dana. As he stuffed
the trunk, Lisa went to air out the car, turning the air
conditioning up high. Adam was in Dana’s arms when
Uncle Leo and Aunt Mary spotted them.
“Look out, ladies.” Clay choked back a laugh. “You’ve
got company,” he teased. The large hand was on her
shoulder before his words had time to register.
“Hello, precious.” Dana froze at the term of endearment.
“Hi, Dana, how’s the big guy doing?” Uncle Leo went on
talking to the sleepy baby as Dana realized who stood
behind her. Her eyes involuntary closed as the wave of
nausea passed through her.
“Uncle Leo, Aunt Mary, what are you two doing in this
part of town?” Her voice was strangled. As her aunt went on
about their routine for the day, Dana receded from the
conversation.
Clay saw me freeze at Uncle Leo calling me precious.
God, I hate that term, it just reminds me of Walker and
blackmail. She kept thinking the same thing over and over.
It was Clay who brought her out of her thoughts.
“Dana, Mary wants to hold Adam.”
“Oh, of course. I’m as bad as the baby. I need a nap
today.”
Gently she handed the baby to her aunt, rotating her
shoulder several times to loosen it from the tense position
she had frozen in. Lisa saved her from the rest of the visit,
citing too much sun for the baby.
“Stop by the house on your way home tonight. Dana and
Clay are coming over for dessert. I’ll keep the baby awake
until you get there.” With hugs and smiles all around, they
were finally left alone. Lisa fastened Adam into his car seat,
and then rounded the back of the car.
“Thanks for loading the groceries, Clay. And we’ll see
you at seven thirty.”
“What? No.” He was laughing, knowing he was caught.
“No deserters allowed. Both of you had better be on my
patio tonight before Mary and Leo arrive, or else.”
“Spoken like a true Britton.” Clay gave her a mock
salute as she slipped into the driver’s seat. “See you later,
kid.”
Dana sat in the car wondering how she could get
through the evening with Clay in the room, during the ride
home. She was embarrassed on so many levels. How
could she explain to Clay she had taken control of the
situation, ended the relationship, had left it behind? How
could she tell him she wanted to touch him in her own way?
Pretending to be asleep kept the conversation to a
minimum on the ride home. She begged off joining them for
supper, reminding Lisa of the carload of groceries she had
to sort and put away. Wanting to enjoy the menial task, she
promised to come for coffee.
****
Clay was early. He wanted a few minutes with Lisa
before anyone one else got there. Dana was nowhere
around, yet. He had to work quickly.
“Jeff, what are you serving tonight, a white or a red?”
“Hadn’t thought about it yet, guess it’s time to decide,
any requests?”
“White. Too many sulfites in the red. I don’t need a
headache.” As the statement left his lips, Lisa would have
sworn Dana’s voice spoke them. Both Lisa and Jeff
exchanged a confused look. Clay never voiced an opinion
about wine in the past.
“White it is.” Jeff was shaken as he left them in the living
room.
“Lisa, what do you really know about the last guy Dana
dated in New York?” Closing the distance between them,
lowering his tone, he sat across from her. “Who was he,
Lisa?”
Startled by the anger she saw in his face, Lisa
wondered just what had happened with this guy. “All I really
know is his name was Walker.”
 “Walker what?”
“I don’t remember just now. Clay, what’s going on?”
“How long?”
“They dated for a year, I guess.” Lisa was
uncomfortable with the topic. “Why is this so important?”
“I just need to know.” Clay stood and walked to the
fireplace, leaning his elbow on the mantle. With his back to
Lisa, he chose his words carefully.
“I think if I understood a little about him, it might be
easier to…to understand Dana.”
“God, Clay, did he hurt her?” Turning, he saw the color
fade from her cheeks.
“Don’t panic. It’s not that bad, but I think he was
definitely the bully type. Hell, I just don’t know. My mind
keeps coming up with different scenarios, and I want to hurt
this guy. But I need to know what and why he acted the way
he did with Dana that turned her off to sex.” He let out a
breath. “I know deep inside it’s better to let her explain her
feelings in her own time and way than to push her when
she’s not ready. That will get me nowhere fast, but it’s
frustrating not to have the answers.”
“I have her letters and cards packed away. I could go
through them tomorrow, see what I can find for you.” Lisa
took a deep breath, before continuing. “Clay, if I help you,
will you hurt him?”
Her question rocked him to the core. “There’s a part of
me that wants to, yes.”
“Then I can’t help you. Dana put it behind her. You’ll
have to work it out with her.”
 “Lisa, please, just check the letters. I’m looking for a
pattern of any kind.”
“What about Jeff?” Lisa asked. “He’s my husband. I
won’t lie. If you go after Walker, Jeff will be at your side.
Then what? What will Dana think if she finds out?”
“I’m not asking you to lie to Jeff. I’m asking for help to
understand why Dana goes…cold.” He shut his eyes, trying
to block out the pain he saw in her eyes that night at the
river house.
“Frigid?”
Clay slammed his fist onto the mantel, seeing the
picture too clearly in his mind. Lisa realized she had used a
different word, knowing she had given Dana away. Sinking
into her chair, she closed her eyes, fighting back the
revolting thoughts that ran through her mind.
“She ended it, Clay. She was the one who walked
away.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, definitely, it was a year ago, summer. I remember
her letters, she pushed it off to incompatibility of schedules,
but still she left him.”
“Thank God.” Clay looked to Lisa. “I’m sorry. I didn’t
want to drag you into this, but I didn’t want to ask Jeff. Lisa,
don’t bother to look at the letters. You’re right. She left him,
it’s behind her.” Suddenly he realized the compromising
position he’d put her in.
“Now you have to learn how to put it behind you.”
“Put what behind him?” Dana teased, breezing into the
room. “It’s a cute behind, what are you going to do with it?”
She walked to Clay, slapped his rear as she went to hug
Lisa. “What have I missed?”
“I lost the bid on a tract of land I was looking at. Not
important.” He walked away from the fireplace, choosing to
sit across from Dana and Lisa. “Did you get all your
groceries put away?” This was the first time in his life he’d
lied to her, and it fell so easily from his lips. The concept
bothered him, but he also knew if he told her they were
discussing Walker and the possibility of him finding him to
create physical damage, she’d hit the roof. Somewhere in
the future he’d tell her the truth, but not tonight.
“No to the groceries. But, at least I got the cold stuff in
the refrigerator. The rest can wait. I chose to take William
for a ride and then a swim instead.”
Clay knew she had him hooked. Her hair was freshly
blown dry, left loose and fluffy. His eyes traveled down to
the flesh toned halter-top she wore. He remembered the
feel of her against his hand, against his lips. Her long, low
rider silk pants matched the top. She wore no jewelry or
makeup, and of course, she was barefoot. She was simply
the woman he loved.
Jeff came back with the wine as his aunt and uncle
arrived. “Heads up, folks.”
“One drink, Lisa, and I’m out of here.”
“Me, too.”
“Oh, no you don’t, either of you. Besides, where are you
going?” she asked Dana. “Mary and Leo will surely want to
see how you’ve decorated the guesthouse.” Dana rolled
her eyes as she looked to Clay.
 “Help me here!” Turning back, she smiled at Lisa. “Be
nice or Aunty Dana will wake up the baby, big time.” A lazy
grin formed on her lips. “I think I should wake him up and
keep him up until he’s so off schedule, you’ll never know
day from night again.”
“You wouldn’t!” Lisa said with mock horror.
“No, probably not. But it’s a thought for future reference.
I’ll file it until he’s older.”
“You’re both on your own,” Clay told them as the
company wandered into the room.
“Good God, Dana. How do you keep those pants on?”
Aunt Mary asked. Dana went to her, hugging her lightly.
“Simple, double sided tape!” Everyone in the room
paused, then she burst out laughing. “God, it’s good to be
home, you are all so gullible.”
 Chapter Ten
Parking the Corvette behind the BMW at the head of the
driveway, Clay stood for a long time, looking at the outside
of the old Britton Mansion. The brick structure was still
sound, he knew this from the reading the reports from
Dana’s outside contractor. The eight columns that spanned
the front of the house were intact, but in need of repair. The
second floor balcony would need replacing as well as the
railings on both levels.
He saw that windows were boarded up in places, and a
chill ran through him as he realized the amount of vandalism
that had occurred since the last time he had been there.
Walking up the wide brick stairway, he turned, knowing a
good crew could prune the trees and work the flower beds
back into shape with some hard work. That’s what he saw,
a lot of work to be done. Dana had been right to give
herself the five-year plan.
The ceiling of the wide veranda had no paint left, only a
patch or two of the original teal blue color peeked from
under the rafters. He knew she would go to great lengths to
have the color matched. The front door was propped open
with a stack of books. Entering the gloomy hall, he could
envision Dana’s idea of bringing the old place back to life,
giving it a second chance. Drapes had been drawn back,
and dust motes filled the air around him, vivid in the harsh
rays of sunlight spilling through the few remaining unbroken
windows.
 ****
Dana stood at the top of the staircase watching him.
She was in the second floor master bedroom taking
measurements when she heard the car pull up. For long
seconds she had frozen in place. First, she wanted to hide,
surely there were places in the old house where she could
keep away from him. Laughing at her own nerves, she
shook it off. Confronting him now, alone, would be better.
She had survived seeing him last week at the grocery and
spending the evening with him, although she had to admit
her aunt and uncle were great buffers.
His hair was trimmed since she last saw him. His clean
jeans and boots, along with a button-down shirt, told her he
hadn’t come directly from the farm. Leaning on the railing,
she watched as he surveyed the space around him. Large
tarps covered the crystal chandelier in the center of the
great hall, another covering the marble center table. Slowly,
he walked to the room on his left, taking a quick look
around, then he did the same to the right. Waiting until he
was back in the main entry, she finally found her voice.
“What do you think, Clay? Am I in over my head?”
His head snapped up, following her voice until he
spotted her at the second floor railing. She wondered when
he’d realize she was in a business suit instead of
comfortable jeans. The jacket was tossed over her
computer case on the bottom step along with her purse.
The white blouse she wore reflected her tanned skin that
peeked from underneath. Her skirt was the same peach
color as the jacket she had laid aside. Her hair was pulled
back from her face. Looking down at him she envisioned
herself coming down the stairs, a long white dress flowing
behind her, flowers in her hand. Clearing the ridiculous
vision, she listened to the rounded tone of his voice.
“I’m beginning to think your five-year plan was pretty
accurate.”
Slowly she descended the wide staircase, her right
hand lightly grazing the mahogany banister. “I’m beginning
to think I was overly optimistic,” she teased. At the bottom,
she paused, wondering what to say or do next. He came to
me, let him guide us, she decided.
“I can’t offer you much in the way of refreshments. I
haven’t had the power turned on yet.” She was nervous, and
her voice faltered.
Slowly, he turned to her, opening his arms to her.
Dana saw him open his arms. She wanted nothing
more than to be in his arms, his body close to hers.
Choosing a slight alternative, she went to him, giving him a
warm hug, but backing away quickly.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was in town. I was curious about the old place. You’ve
been talking about it so much lately, I figured I’d come see
for myself.”
“Want the tour?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” Slipping her arm through his,
she gave him the smile his visit brought to her being.
“Good, I can practice my pitch on you.” He wandered
through each of the downstairs rooms with her, only half
listening to the plan she had for each. It didn’t matter to her,
she was beside him, touching him, and she didn’t want
anything to spoil their moment. Dana decided she was a
complicated woman. Would he ever be able to figure her
out? Or was her ambivalence what he liked about her? She
always kept him guessing, but she knew deep down it was
because she was insecure about her own needs. “Clay?”
“I’m sorry, I was off somewhere.”
“We can finish the tour another time.” Pulling her arm
from his, she moved away, putting several feet of distance
between them.
“Dana.” She froze where she was. “I was thinking how
ashamed of myself I am.”
“What do you have to be ashamed about? I’m the one
who led you on at the old house. Then you pulled away from
me.”
Closing the distance between them, he pulled her back
against his chest, his arms wrapping around her, resting
against her waist. Lowering his mouth to her ear, he
whispered, “Dana, I was thinking about the windows I broke
as a kid, especially the one next to the fireplace.”
“Oh,” was all she could muster. Holding her against him,
she was hesitant to break the contact. His hand lay lightly at
her waist and she wanted to stay there forever.
“You were here with Jeff and me that day. Do you
remember? Your father was in town, and he let us walk
over. We were driving him crazy. He told us to get lost for a
while.”
“I remember. That was the day you and Jeff locked me
in the attic!”
 “Yes, well, I’m not proud of that either.” His breath was
warm against her cheek. His hands clasped around her
waist gave her an inner glow. A feeling she was beginning
to enjoy when she was close to him, a feeling that seemed
real and genuine.
“Clay?”
“Hum?”
“If I tell you something, promise not to use it against me
later on?” He started to turn her around to face him, but she
resisted. Instead, she held his hands in place, keeping her
back.
“What is it, Dana?”
“I wanted to thank you.” She felt him tense behind her.
“Clay, let me talk.”
“All right, kid, talk.” He felt her take a few deep breaths
before beginning.
“I wanted to thank you…and Jeff, for that day, the day
you two locked me in the attic here.”
This time he did turn her around. His questioning look
brought a smile to her face.
“Speechless for a change? Good. Listen to me.” She
took his hand, drawing him down the hall, through the
butler’s pantry and into the old kitchen, which was in
relatively good condition for its age and lack of care. The
wide window over the sink let in a flood of light. Dana
pushed herself up onto the long wooden trestle table that
ran the center of the room. It was then she kicked off her
shoes. She watched Clay laugh at her as he picked them
up, putting them beside her on the table.
 “Talk to me, kid.”
“Okay, but you need to know this is very hard for me to
admit.” His whole body tensed as if he was afraid of what
she would say. “That day, I couldn’t have been more than
seven. My mother had died the year before.”
“I remember. We were pretty rotten to you then.”
“That’s right. You both were. I was the third wheel. You
and Jeff were already driving and dating, and here I was,
the baby sister who you had to drag along.” She looked at
his profile, still as strong and sharp as it was back then.
“Anyway, when Dad told you two to take care of me, you
thought you had. You and Jeff baited me up to the fourth-
floor attic then locked me in. I remember you guys laughing
on the other side of the door and making stomping noises
as you walked away.”
“God, Dana. We were horrible to you. We figured we’d
give you a scare and then you’d leave us alone. I guess we
kind of forgot about you up there.” He looked upward.
“You didn’t, you know, you didn’t let it scare you or…you
never cried or screamed. Quite disappointing, as I
remember,” he teased.
“Clay, that day, I wasn’t afraid. I knew you would come
back for me. Deep inside I knew you would.”
“Is that why you didn’t cry?”
“Partly. After I realized you meant to leave me there for a
while I started looking around. Have you ever been up
there?”
“Years ago. It’s just old furniture and junk, as I
remember.”
 “Yes, that, too. But that hot summer day, I found
something else up there. Something I’ve never told you or
Jeff.” Now she had his attention. Standing in front of her, his
hands on either side of her legs, he propped his weight on
the tabletop, his face close to hers.
He’s too close. I can’t breathe. Fighting for control, she
continued. “That day, I found my future, here in this old
house.”
“I’m confused. Just what did you find in that old attic?”
His face was less than ten or twelve inches from hers, his
brown eyes blazing with confusion. Slowly, she let her arms
wind around his neck, although she didn’t pull him closer.
“I found the history of this house. I found great-
grandfather’s journals.”
“You found his journals?” Clay took a step back, Dana’s
arms falling to her sides.
“I was looking around and found an old trunk up there. I
knew I was going to be there for a while, so I started to
wander. Under some old clothes, I found his journals. They
were wonderful, Clay. He described every step of how the
house was built, why he did certain things the way he did,
who worked on it, and how much each item cost. It was a
treasure of information.”
“You never told me. Did you tell Jeff?”
“No, of course not. You two had just locked me away. I
wasn’t about to share my secret treasure with either of you!”
She paused and enjoyed her memory. “For years, I’d slip
away and come here. That’s when I actually started to read
them. It was like my own private treasure.”
 Clay wandered around the old kitchen, opening the
cabinet doors, running his hand along the wooden counters.
His back was to her when she spoke again.
“I wanted you to know, to understand this house had
been on my mind ever since.” This time he turned to look.
Keeping his gaze, she continued. “In the back of my mind, I
always knew one day I’d come back, give the old place a
new life. It was my safety net, I guess. Whenever I wondered
what would become of me, I could always retreat to this
house. It would always accept me, no matter what.”
“Dana, all these years you’ve been thinking about this
house. Why not fix it up and live in it?” She only shook her
head.
“It’s not for me to live in. I don’t know where I belong yet,
but I’ll know it when it’s right. This place, well, it deserves
better. One person living in all this space would be a sin.”
“Why one person? Someday you’ll marry and start your
own family.”
“I don’t think so, Clay. It’s a reality I’ve come to accept.
Wherever I find my home, this mansion deserves to be
used and appreciated. It’s one of the few remaining
historical homes in the county, let alone in the center of
town. I want to bring it back, Clay, breathe new life into it.”
“That’s why you want to have the museum and gift shop,
the meeting rooms and party rooms.”
“Yes. After the first few years, barring any major
catastrophes, it should become self-sufficient.”
“You amaze me, kid. Been planning this all these
years?”
 “Sort of. I used to talk to Dad about it. He liked the idea,
and he thought granddad would have appreciated it. It’s got
too much history to let her go to ruin.”
Clay was before her, standing so close his thighs
brushed against her knees. “You knew then, the time you
waited out the storm at my house, you knew you’d come
home and fix up this old place for the town, didn’t you,
Dana?”
All I would have to do is spread my legs a little, and
he’d be so close, as close as I need him to be. She felt the
flush of heated embarrassment rise in her cheeks.
Watching him, she knew he saw it. Turning her head to the
side, she started to ramble on about the changes to the
room they now occupied. He was too close. She knew he
wasn’t listening.
When she stopped talking, his hands reached for her
face, pulling her closer to the edge of the table. Dana knew
he was going to kiss her. There was no way around it.
Whatever she was saying was falling on his deaf ears.
Inhaling deeply, his lips were on hers, shutting off her
words. She didn’t stiffen at his touch. Instead, she wound
her arms around his neck and let her fingers sift through the
back of his hair, holding him.
His arms came around her waist, pulling her closer. In
the recesses of her mind she wanted him to take her there
on the old kitchen table, but knew he wouldn’t for her sake.
When she was ready, she’d let him know in some major
way that was unmistakable. Pulling back, he buried his face
in her neck. She held him tight, lightly stroking his shoulder
with one hand, his back with the other. With his face buried
against her, she finally spoke.
“Clay, I’m…” He started to pull back. Her arms tightened
to hold him in place. “I’m going away.”
This time he did pull back. He searched her face,
looking for answers.
“It’s only for a week or so, one of those jobs I just
couldn’t turn down.”
“Why, Dana? Are you leaving because of me?”
“No, Clay. I’m leaving because this project is at a
standstill until the permits are issued. This job will be easy,
a week on the beach in Florida. Besides, the money I earn
will go a long way in paint and lumber.”
“I thought you decided not to model anymore?”
“Basically, I did. But this offer, well, the money’s good,
and since I’m not involved with this yet, I figured it would eat
up some time.”
“Is that the only reason, Dana?” With decisive motions,
she went about putting on her shoes before she jumped
down from the table.
“Yes, Clay. I’m not running away. I’m going to make
some money. The next board meeting is a few weeks
away. I can’t do anything until then. The timing’s good for
me.”
“I’ll miss you.” Taking her hand, he walked with her to the
front hall. “When do you leave?”
“First thing day after tomorrow.”
“Have supper with me tonight?” She stopped mid
motion in picking up her jacket.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I don’t care. Have supper with me tonight, Dana.”
“Clay, I’ve got so much to do to get ready to leave.”
“Dana?”
“Clay, when we’re together alone, I can’t seem to stay
away from you. I want to touch you, I want you to touch me.”
He started to interrupt her, but she put her finger to his lips
to quiet him. “I know you don’t understand, sometimes I
can’t understand it. All I know is I can’t give you a normal,
conservative relationship. If we’re together you’ll learn
things about me, things you won’t like long term. I’m not
sure if I ever can really just be an average woman. You have
to come to terms with that, Clay.”
“Do I?” He left her alone in the hallway, walking quickly
toward his car. There he waited until she locked the front
door, slowly walking toward him. “Dana, be ready by six
o’clock, casual. I’ll pick you up.”
“Clay, please, no.”
“Yes, Dana, just two old friends sharing a meal.
Besides, I owe it to you for locking you away all those years
ago.” His smile broke the tension.
“If that’s the case, then I’m paying. You and Jeff gave me
a dream to hold onto that day, Clay. When everything
around me was in turmoil, you gave me something tangible
to hold and to touch.”
“In that case, we’ll charge it to Jeff. It was his idea to
leave you for so long.”
“Just two old friends, right?”
 “Be ready, I’ll pick you up later.” Sliding smoothly behind
the wheel of his car, he waited only until hers was started
before he pulled away.
****
Neither of them saw Linda’s car parked off to the side.
They weren’t expecting for her to be there, so they never
thought to look. Frustrated, she slammed her fists against
the steering wheel. She couldn’t hear what they were
saying, only the garbled voices that had drifted past her
with the breeze. The way Clay looked at Dana when they
were close, the laughter Dana let out as she threw her head
back, smiling at whatever Clay had said. Waiting, she
watched them both get into separate cars and pull away.
For a long time, Linda sat in her car wondering how to
handle this. She had decided to use the house as an
excuse once she saw Clay’s Corvette parked behind
Dana’s BMW. It would be reasonable to want a quick tour
before making any further recommendations to the board
about the project. Just when she was ready to join them,
they appeared on the front steps. Her brain had all but
boiled with hatred as she watched them together, laughing
and smiling beside their vehicles. It was time for something
drastic.
Linda had thought a slow introduction into Clay’s
everyday life would be best. Dana Britton returning to town
hadn’t been part of her plan. She would have to rethink the
slow, easy approach. Starting her car, the sweat pouring
down her face and neck didn’t deter her thinking. As the air-
conditioning tried to combat the heat that had built inside
the vehicle, she thought of several ways to insinuate herself
into Clay’s arms.
That was it. She knew the minute the idea crossed her
mind. She would have to arrange to have Dana find her and
Clay together. After that, Dana would fade into the
background. She’d never stand for being second. It was the
first time Linda had smiled in several days. It felt good.
Anyone who saw her at that moment would have
considered it a menacing smile, that of a dangerous
woman on the loose.
****
He saw her from the distance, her arms wrapped
around the horse’s neck. She was beautiful. Her jeans and
light sweater set off her dark hair and tan. He felt himself
harden at the mere sight of her, and then cursed himself for
having no control.
“Ready to go?” he smiled up.
“Yes, I think so. Where are we going?”
“Get in, kid. Trust me?” Her grin gave him a chill that ran
down his spine directly to his cock. Instead of opening the
car door, she slid over the side, folding her long legs into
the passenger seat. “Still not using doors, I see,” he teased
as he pushed the car into second as he rounded the circle
of the driveway.
“Only when I’m wearing a dress! You taught me that
years ago.” With the top down, Dana let the wind whip
around her. To Clay she looked free and happy. Once they
crossed the county line, Dana asked again where they
were going.
 “You’ll see. Relax and enjoy the ride,” he told her, turning
up the radio. An hour later, he pulled into the old hamburger
joint. Inside, the soda fountain still looked the same.
“Clay, it’s wonderful. I haven’t been here in years.”
Seated in a windowed booth, they ate greasy hamburgers
and chili fries, layered with melted cheese. When she had
eaten her fill, she pushed her plate to the side. The frosty
root beer was the perfect accompaniment to their meal.
Clay was relaxed, enjoying their time together, keeping to
safe topics.
It was good to see Dana laugh again, really laugh. He
had hoped she would enjoy a trip down memory lane, glad
he had chosen it instead of some stuffy restaurant. “What
else would you like?” he teased. “An ice cream sundae?”
“God, Clay. Please, just the thought is enough to push
me over the edge. No more food, thank you.”
“Ready to go then?”
“Where to?”
“You’ll see.”
Pulling away from the hamburger joint after eight, the
last remnants of sun began to fade into darkness. Dana
was amazed how much the area had changed since she
had been away. Clay filled her in on some of the gossip he
had heard through the years.
“The old filling station is a bank now, and remember the
pasture where you always made us stop so you could pet
the horses? It’s a housing development now.”
“Oh, no, Clay. Not the pasture.”
“Want to drive by?” He glanced, checking her profile for
signs of distress. More than anything else, he wanted her to
have a good time tonight. He wanted her to forget about
everything.
“No. I think I’d rather remember it with the horses
coming to the fence to be petted.”
“Okay, keep your memory.” He downshifted at the
approaching light, and Dana looked around.
“It all seems different, doesn’t it? When I was away,
sometimes at night, I’d wonder what it would be like to
come home, how much it would have changed.”
“Some things always stay the same.”
“Some, not all.” Dana realized he was pulling into a
parking lot, then saw where they were. Slipping out of her
seat belt, she sat up on the back of the seat, taking in the
small, wooden stadium in front of them. “This hasn’t
changed,” she joked. Directly ahead of them was a ball
field. To their right, an old miniature golf course.
“You game?”
“Of course. If I remember, this was one of the few things
I used to be better at than you or Jeff.” Swinging her legs
over the side of the car, she jumped down, waiting for him.
Club in hand, Clay stood behind Dana, watching her line
up a shot as the windmill rotated over the opening. God,
she has such a great ass! With that, he took one small step
forward, palming her butt cheek with his hand. His touch
made her stiffen, and her club hit the ball with a twist. As the
ball hit the windmill dead on, it flew back toward them.
Spinning around to shield her, he had her against him, his
lips pressed to her forehead.
 “I’ve missed you, Dana.” He released her when he
noticed the young couple waiting for their turn. Picking up
her ball, he took her arm, heading toward the next hole. For
the rest of the evening, they laughed like old friends. She
didn’t ask why he grabbed her, she didn’t mention it.
****
Linda sat in her car once again, parked across the
darkened lot. It had been curiosity at first. She had been
heading to Clay’s house when she saw him heading out.
She turned and followed him at a distance, the candy-apple
red Corvette hard to miss. Her stomach had churned when
he pulled into the Britton Estate driveway. She had all but
decided to leave when he came from the other side, Dana
seated beside him.
Following at a greater distance, she was thankful she
had a full tank of gas. It wasn’t until he pulled into the
hamburger place that she relaxed. Through the windshield
of her car, she used the small pair of binoculars she kept in
her console to watch them during their meal. Bile had
bubbled in her throat as she watched the two of them laugh
together with such ease.
The miniature golf had all but turned her stomach. She
had watched Clay grab Dana’s backside, saw her
immediate surprise and then witnessed their hug. She also
saw the ball hit the windmill and head directly back toward
them. Linda’s eyes slid half shut when their embrace lasted,
watching as the two of them laughed. Linda decided Clay
could do all these little mundane things with Dana, for when
they were eventually together, she’d have better ways to
spend his time.
****
Something caught his attention in the parking lot as they
approached the car. He tried to dismiss it, but a strange
feeling kept coming back, like he was being watched. Or
maybe they were being watched because of Dana. Either
way, he didn’t like the feeling. Making a mental note, he
would be more alert for a few days, just to make sure.
Maybe it was a good thing that Dana was going to Florida
for a week.
 Chapter Eleven
Pulling the seat belt tight across her, Dana saw the
clock on the dashboard. It was past ten. She had no idea.
Where had the evening gone? Clay took the long way
home, the back roads more conducive to her mood. Hitting
the cruise control once out of the town limits, he glanced at
Dana. She was watching the sky and the stars as they
drove.
Dana didn’t feel obligated to talk when she was with
Clay. That was one of the nice things about being with him,
a compatible silence eased around them. When she had
been dating, she always felt it her responsibility to keep the
conversation going. With Clay, she didn’t feel the need.
Crossing back over the county line, she finally did speak.
“Clay, I had a good time tonight, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I had a good time too.” He took her
hand in his, holding it gently between them. “When does
your flight leave?”
“Nine a.m.”
“Need a ride to the airport?”
“Thanks, no. I’ve arranged a car service to pick me up. I
have to leave before six.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“A week. Nine days tops.”
Clay pulled his hand from hers, shut off the cruise
control and drove manually the rest of the way to her house,
both his hands on the wheel. “What’s the job?”
 “Print ad, a cosmetics layout.” She started to laugh. “I’m
sure they’ll be thrilled when my face breaks out from all the
grease I ate tonight.”
He laughed at her tone, knew it was a joke. Dana was
always a bit self-deprecating, and thankfully she wasn’t
obsessed with her weight the way some would be. “Want
company?”
Dana wasn’t sure if she heard him right. “Excuse me?”
“I asked if you wanted company.”
“When?” Dana felt she was on shaky ground here, just
what was he asking?
“Florida.”
“No.” She straightened in her seat. “I mean, I won’t have
much down time. They wanted me for two weeks to do the
shoot. I told them one week was all I could spare. I can’t be
distracted, especially after changing their schedule.”
“All right.”
“I’ll be back in time for the town meeting. How about I
take you to dinner after it’s over? Either I’ll have my permits
or a major headache, want to take a chance?”
“With you, always.” He was turning off the road into the
private driveway of her family home. Pulling to the side, he
killed the engine just inside the stone gateway.
Sitting in the open car, staring up at the stars, Dana
wanted him to make a move, wondered if he was waiting
for her to make it. Instead, he finally released his seat belt,
shifting in his seat to look.
“You’re so beautiful, Dana. I wonder if you ever realize
that.”
 “Clay, it’s just good genes and bone structure. Luck of
the draw, remember?”
“I remember.”
“My mother, she was beautiful, so graceful and kind.”
“You’re very much like her, you know.”
“Am I? Sometimes it’s hard to remember her. I have
glimpses of memories. Mostly I remember her from her
pictures.”
“She’d be proud of you, Dana. Of all you’ve done, what
you’re doing with the mansion.”
“I often wondered if she had lived, how my life would
have been different.”
“Can’t second-guess it, kid. If my mother hadn’t gotten
up the courage to leave my father, if she hadn’t met old
Holly…” Dana had her arms around his neck, pulling him
close.
“Clay, I wonder what would happen if I…if things were
different with me.” Kissing his cheek, she pulled back from
him, slid up the passenger seat, and swung her legs over
the side of the car. Walking around the front to his side, she
leaned down, face-to-face with him.
“You have to move on, Clay. So do I.” She gave him one
last soft kiss on his lips and then straightened. “Thanks for
tonight. For a while, I forgot to be worried.”
“Dana, get in, I’ll drive you up to the house.”
“No, Clay. I’ll walk. See you after next week.” She took a
step back from the car adding, “Supper, my treat, after the
meeting.” When she didn’t move away, he pulled himself up
onto the back of his seat, resting his arms on the rim of the
windshield, waiting. He watched Dana deciding something.
He was shocked with her question.
“Clay, the blonde in Denver…”
“Denver, how did you know I was there?”
“I saw you. In the airport, I was leaving, and you were
arriving with skis”—she drew a breath and finished—“and
the blonde.”
“Why didn’t you let me know you were there?” Confusion
crossed his face. Dana could read it in the moonlight.
“Somehow I didn’t think the woman draped across you
would have appreciated it!” Her tone wasn’t catty, it was
resigned.
“The blonde was a mistake. Over before it ever got
started. I was trying to prove something to myself.”
“What were you trying to prove, Clay?”
“That I could lead a normal life without you in it.” He
looked her straight on. “That was just after Jeff’s wedding,
and you’d gone back to Manhattan.”
“Oh.” With that, she climbed the fence in the center of
the driveway, wandering along the grassy pasture in the
darkness. She knew Clay watched a long time. Finally, she
heard his engine start. Seeing the headlights turn on, she
raised her arm to wave but didn’t turn back. She knew from
the engine noise and change in light he’d turned at the
driveway entrance and left.
Walking back to the guesthouse, Dana remembered
when she was home for the holidays. Christmas and a New
Year’s wedding. How much more romantic could it have
been? She had a clear picture of Clay standing beside Jeff,
both of them in tuxedos. The sight of them both had taken
her breath away. When had it happened, she wondered, as
photographs were being taken later? During the ceremony,
when the vows were being exchanged, Clay had caught her
eye for just a second.
In that flash, her perception had changed. He was what
she had been searching for all along. Now that she
understood it, she knew she would never look at Clay the
same way. During the reception, he had danced with her,
pulling her close, her head resting on his shoulder. Dana
had closed her eyes, willing the moment never to end. Then
he’d dragged her into the closet, dropped to his knees and
licked her pussy, using his fingers to punctuate his tongue
movements, making her come twice, her body ultimately
wilting onto his solid chest for support. They’d kissed, Dana
licking her cum from his lips. Then it was over. He left her in
the closet with a sly smile.
Sitting on her back patio, she remembered the
motorcycle ride he had taken her on the day after
Christmas. He had pulled up, just when she thought she
would go crazy from boredom. She didn’t have to be talked
into his offer. She was mounting the back of the bike before
he finished asking her. Slipping her arms around his waist,
she had held on to him. He rode until it was almost dark,
returning her to the front steps of her home. They hadn’t
talked that day, just rode.
He had come back the afternoon after the wedding. Jeff
and Lisa had already left for their honeymoon trip, and
Dana was packing for her flight the next morning. They had
raided the refrigerator, snacking on leftovers from the party.
He never mentioned the closet incident the day before, so
she hadn’t either. But she kept waiting for it to get
uncomfortable from not talking about his making her wilt in
his arms. The afternoon wore on. Dana struggled to keep
from jumping in his arms and dragging him to her room.
She wanted desperately to convince him to finally fuck her.
She didn’t, and he acted as if it had never happened.
“How’s New York treating you, kid?”
“Typical,” she answered, enjoying the last bit of the
cream puff she was attacking. “I keep my appointments, try
to stay out of trouble, or at least the tabloids,” she joked.
“And I’m enjoying my classes.”
“What this time?”
“A side in anthropology,” she mentioned as she headed
for glasses while he grabbed the milk container.
“Just a side,” he teased.
“Just classes, really.”
“Who was the guy in the Town and Country article?” He
chose to wander away, returning with several sheets of
paper towel, handing her one.
“Nobody, really, an arranged date.”
“Arranged, you!”
“It’s easier, really. If I have to go to functions, I’d rather
go with someone who knows the agenda. It’s a lot less
embarrassing that way.” Her eyes smiled to him.
“What agendas?”
“Whatever it happens to be at the time, for him or me.”
She licked the last of the crème from her fingertip. “Want
any more of this?” she asked. He only shook his head as
she re-covered the plate with the plastic wrap.
“Just who makes these arrangements, kid?”
“Usually my agent with another of her clients needing a
little publicity or to promote something.”
“And you don’t mind being…arranged?”
“Really, Clay. You make it sound so sordid. It’s much
more relaxed if both he and I know what our jobs are for the
evening. I promote what I have to, he promotes what he has
to. Actually, I think they do it more to conserve on the limos.”
“Jeez, Dana, how can you joke about it?” Dana stopped
and studied him. Maybe he couldn’t understand.
“At least I know I wouldn’t be groped all night. And
there’s never that awkward moment when he takes me
home. I like not having to make excuses for not inviting
someone in.”
“From that perspective, I see your point. But do you ever
get to have fun?”
“I had fun with you on the motorcycle. I felt free and
alive.” Dana hesitated but smiled at him and added, “I felt
much better in the closet during the wedding. There’s
something about a man on his knees before me.” Clay
looked embarrassed. “You have amazing hands. I’d like to
feel them all over me.”
Dana figured she’d gone too far when he walked to the
kitchen sink and turned his attention to the outdoor view.
“What I’d really like is to feel your cock in my pussy and my
ass. I want to know how you’d fuck me, Clay. What your
face would look like when you come inside me. What gets
you hot, Clay, what do you need to get to the point where
you’d fuck my brains out?” His expression was a cross
between shock and lust. She was just reaching toward him
when the phone rang, interrupting them.
“Answer it,” he’d said, his voice cracking with the words.
“Don’t go away,” she told him reaching for the receiver.
She wondered if he’d still be there when the call ended.
****
They had dropped the conversation when the phone
rang, Clay pressing a kiss to her cheek as he left, leaving
her to talk to her agent about travel arrangements. The
strange feeling had stayed with him for a long time,
haunting him. His mind kept flashing her image. Standing in
the dark blue velvet dress, with flowers holding her hair
back from her face, she had matured, he realized, since the
last time he had really looked.
Clay was thankful the phone rang and he didn’t have to
answer Dana. What would he have said? All the way over
to see her, he’d assumed they’d talk about their moment.
Most likely joke it away. However, he wasn’t sure what he’d
say if she wanted more. He was willing to give her all of his
attention, but she was still living in New York, working and
going to college full-time. Where did that leave them as a
couple? With a long-distance relationship, because he
couldn’t and wouldn’t abandon his business or the farm to
chase after her.
No, he decided. He would pass it off as a long,
smoldering moment that was satisfied between them. If she
had enjoyed it, that would be better all the way around, but
he knew he had to give her a graceful way back to her
established lifestyle.
Then the phone had rung and he took the punt, leaving
the words unspoken. Taking a quick kiss to remember her
by and as a goodbye, he left before he got stupid and
confessed his undying love for her. Driving home, he
cursed himself for running, justifying it was better for both of
them. He’d stayed clear of her and the old house the next
few times she’d come home, avoiding temptation and any
awkward conversations.
Through the three years that had passed, he still
remembered her scent, how she jutted her hips forward to
take his lips and tongue against her. How tight she was
around his fingers. How her brown pussy curls were
trimmed close. His body quaked with a chill remembering it
now. How many nights had he used that image to jerk off
to?
That was years ago. If he thought she had the wisdom of
a forty-year-old then, what had she become now? Her face
was slightly fuller, her curves filled in a little more. Clay had
tried to push it off to the candlelight and romance of the
wedding, but deep inside him, he knew. She had grown up.
She was a woman now, and he a man, and it bothered the
hell out of him.
Even now that she was home for good, he still couldn’t
bring himself to be honest about his feelings, to be blunt
and put the subject out there where she couldn’t just push it
away with excuses.
Clay knew they’d be good together in many ways, all the
ways it would take to build a life and family together. Now
he just had to verbalize his thoughts. He knew Dana
wouldn’t broach the subject, especially after all the hints
about being an unconventional woman, which he still didn’t
really understand. He knew the meaning of the word, just
not how she was interpreting it in the context of a sexual
relationship between them. He slid his fingers through his
hair and shook his head.
Walk away, he told himself, knowing he couldn’t.
 Chapter Twelve
They sat around the table on the patio, Jeff to his left,
Lisa on his right. Clay’s depressed mood hadn’t been easy
to hide, even though he tried. He had picked at the supper
Lisa prepared, opting for an extra glass of wine. “I’ll get
coffee,” Lisa said, leaving the two old friends alone in the
dusky light. Adam fussed in his bassinet, and Clay rose to
get him. With the baby nestled against his shoulder, he
went back to his seat. Lisa returned with a bottle in hand,
ready to take Adam from Clay.
“I got it,” he told her, taking the bottle from her. “You
promised me coffee,” he teased.
“Coming up.” He caught the look that passed between
the husband and wife, knowing it had something to do with
him. Looking to Jeff, he waited while his friend chose the
right words.
“Clay, do you love her?” It wasn’t what he expected, but
he knew he wouldn’t lie.
“Lisa? Of course, but not the same way you do.”
“Cut the shit, Clay. We both know I’m asking about
Dana.” Clay put Adam on his shoulder, patting his back
gently, searching for the right words.
“Just remember I’m holding your son.” His joke fell flat.
“God help me, Jeff. Yes.” He paused, shifting the baby to
give him more of the bottle. “She doesn’t feel the same
about me. I’m coming to terms with it. I just need some
time.”
 “What makes you think she doesn’t love you, Clay?”
Both men were surprised Lisa had snuck up on them in the
darkness, the wooden tray she carried filled with cups and
the coffeepot. “No really, Clay. I’ve avoided this
conversation with you and Jeff since she came home.”
“How long has this been going on?” Jeff sat forward,
accepting the cup from his wife.
“Since the christening party, I think,” she added. “Am I
right, Clay?”
“Yes and no.” He chose to look at Adam in his arms
instead of his two closest friends. “I saw her differently when
she came home for your wedding. She didn’t acknowledge
it then, so I figured it was best to let it go. She was still so
young.”
“Twenty-three is legal for everything,” Lisa added.
“It wasn’t about her being legal.”
“Where was I during all this?”
“Lost in the romance of our wedding, my dearest,” Lisa
teased. “Besides, Clay suddenly took to being so busy
whenever she came back after that.” She watched as he
shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
“I figured it was best to give her some space. She didn’t
come home that often.”
“I can’t believe you never told me and you…” He turned
to Lisa. “How could you have kept this from me all this
time?”
“Jeff, chill. Nothing has happened. Nothing’s going to.
Dana doesn’t feel the same way about me. I won’t push
her.”
 “You’re wrong, Clay Hollister, dead wrong.” Both men
looked to her. Lisa sat back, sipping from her cup. “She’s
in love with you, only she doesn’t know how to show it.”
“Lisa, I don’t think this is the time or place to discuss
this,” Jeff told her.
“It’s the perfect place and time. We’re supposed to be
three good friends, who just happen to be discussing the
fourth person we all love. Clay, I went through her letters to
me again. I don’t see a pattern.”
“What letters, what pattern? Information now, or I start
hitting Clay on general principle.” Jeff stood, scraping his
chair along the stone patio.
“Sit, Jeff, hear me out.” Lisa explained about Clay
asking for information about Dana’s last boyfriend. She
only glanced over the reason, but he was smart enough to
fill in the blanks.
“That son of a bitch, if I get my hands on him…no, let’s
go find him instead.”
“No,” came from both Lisa and Clay at the same time.
“Jeff, sit and take a breath, let me finish.” Lisa went on to
tell them both about her talk with Dana, how Walker
somehow had made her believe she was cold and frigid,
unable to love. “That still doesn’t change my mind. I can be
on a flight first thing in the morning. Clay, you’ll keep an eye
on things here for me.”
“No. If you go, I’m going, too. I figure if we can get him
alone, all we need is three minutes.”
“Boys, put away the fists.” Lisa was laughing at them
both. “Dana doesn’t want either of you to go and find him.
She left him, on her own, remember? It was her choice, and
a good one. Clay, if you do love her, you have to give her
some time to realize that all men aren’t like Walker.”
“But I’d feel so much better if I could just talk to him.” The
anger in Clay’s voice echoed in the darkness.
“I’m sure you would, but think about Dana. This must
have been devastating to her. Gentlemen, and I’ll use the
term loosely at this point, think about Dana.”
“We are, damn it.” Jeff said, tossing his napkin onto the
table. “Clay, give me my son, I need to hold onto something
innocent before I go crazy.” Taking his child, he settled
back into his seat.
“Jeff, how old was Dana when she left for New York,
sixteen?”
“Yes. I’ll never understand how she talked me into letting
her go.”
“Because it was the right thing to do, for Dana. Look at
the career she’s had. She’s traveled all over the world, met
interesting people…”
“Yeah, I bet Walker was real interesting,” Jeff added. He
watched as his wife took a cleansing breath before
continuing.
“Yes. And in all that time not once a hint of scandal.
Think about it, never was she linked with any man until him.
Guys, don’t you see?”
“No, Lisa. Where are you going with this?”
“Dana just turned twenty-six. She broke up with this guy
over a year ago. I know she met him when she returned
from our wedding, that’s when they started dating.” Clay
started to interrupt, but she shushed him in the same way
she did Jeff. “I know for a fact, it was while she was home
for the wedding and holidays that she looked at Clay
differently for the first time.”
“So, we’ve both had these feelings for three years.”
“God, men are so dense sometimes.” Lisa refilled her
cup. “My guess is when Dana met Walker, she was still
somewhat innocent. I believe she probably didn’t blurt it out.
He must have assumed she was…experienced. That’s why
when she didn’t respond to him, he considered her frigid.”
“Jeez, Lisa.” This time Jeff was up on his feet, pacing
back and forth along the pool line. “Are you telling me you
think she was still a virgin and this guy didn’t take time with
her?”
Clay knew that theory didn’t make sense, the few
private times he’d had with Dana she didn’t seem
intimidated by him or the acts they performed on each
other. No, Clay would have liked to accept Lisa’s version
for the simplicity of it. But deep down he knew it had to be
something beyond a simple act of sex. He didn’t verbalize
his concerns.
“Calm down, Jeff. I can see the blood rushing from your
brain. It won’t help the situation to have a stroke on us.
Please sit down and listen to me.” Jeff relinquished his son
to his wife, watching as she placed him back in his
bassinet. When she had him settled, Jeff was back at the
table, drumming his fingers on the glass top. Returning to
her seat, she put her hand on top of his, trying to comfort
him, mostly trying to get him to stop the noise.
 “Guys, think back to your first times, it went in degrees
as you got older. You started with kissing and touching,
exploring, progressing to the final steps of true intercourse.
I think with the life Dana led, she was more sheltered than
most girls. I’m not saying she didn’t date, but she always
had a lot to carry on her shoulders. Her face was plastered
on magazines and billboards all over the world. She
couldn’t very well pick up someone at a bar and bring him
back to her hotel room.”
“She told me once she preferred non-romantic,
professional arrangements as escorts. No groping good-
bye. It was a matter of business for them both.”
“She must have been scared to death,” Jeff whispered.
“If I ever find out he hurt her…” Clay added. Again, he
didn’t add that she wasn’t a virgin in some things. But he
couldn’t help wonder just how much experience she did
have. For now, silence was his best alternative, along with
keeping Jeff from running off and finding Walker for
answers.
“None of it matters, now. What she needs now is to be
made to understand that just because she didn’t live up to
Walker’s expectations of the cover girl model he thought he
was dating, doesn’t mean she’s frigid. She’s just
inexperienced! Besides, by then she was already in love
with Clay, he probably never stood a chance to really
seduce her, he was a substitute.”
Clay let his head fall into his hands, rubbing his temples
deeply. Jeff sat staring into the darkness, lost in his
thoughts. Lisa left them, returning with an ashtray and Jeff’s
secret stash of cigars. She handed each man one, then lit
one for herself. She wasn’t surprised at the strange look
she got from either man when she lit up.
“That explains why I was smoking so much. I wasn’t,”
Jeff joked. “And to think, I was blaming old Jeb for pinching
them.” Three tips glowed in the darkness. A long time
passed before anyone spoke.
“Lisa, are there any other secrets you’re keeping from
me?” Jeff teased.
“Nothing important, dear,” she answered, though her
wicked smile didn’t go unnoticed.
“How do you suggest I handle this?” Clay finally asked.
“That’s up to you, Clay. Personally, I think she needs to
be made love to, and not just a quick wham, bam kind of
thing. She needs to know and feel it’s all right to enjoy sex
with the right person.”
“I’ve tried, Lisa. She freezes up.” Clay glanced to Jeff.
“Sorry.”
“No, it’s all right. At least you didn’t push her.”
“Of course not! She’s too precious to…” Lisa’s eyes
widened as Clay said the word precious. “You saw it, too,
didn’t you, that day in the parking lot when Mary and Leo
surprised her?”
“I’m still here, folks, explain, please?” Jeff said in an
assertive tone. “I wouldn’t call her precious, if I were you,”
Lisa added and then explained to Jeff about the moment in
the parking lot when his uncle called the baby precious, but
Dana thought he was calling her that. “She froze. I saw the
look of panic cross her face. It wasn’t until she realized it
was Uncle Leo talking that she relaxed.”
“I saw it. I just didn’t fit it all together.”
“She loves you, Clay, has for a long time. Now she just
has to understand the physical side of it, without being
pressured about her insecurity or phobia.”
****
Lisa left them alone, taking the baby up to the nursery.
Both men sat in the darkness. She had no idea what their
conversation was like, but they were both intact when she
returned. When she returned, she handed Clay a slip of
paper.
“It’s Dana’s number at the hotel. Take it as a fallback.
We all know she’s terrible at keeping her cell phone
charged. What harm could a simple phone call be to see
how the shoot’s going?” With that, she kissed his cheek.
“Weren’t you the one who always says he loves a
challenge?” Walking behind his chair, she went to her
husband.
“Jeff, I know this is hard for you. You’ve always taken
care of her. This one is out of your hands. Trust Clay with
Dana. If it’s right, they’ll know it.” Kissing his cheek, she
smiled down. “Don’t stay out here too late. I’ll be waiting for
you.” With a private wink, she left the men alone.
****
“I should go. Lisa’s waiting for you.” Clay stood,
wondering how this had changed his relationship with his
friend.
“Give her a call. A friendly voice couldn’t hurt.” He
paused then shook his head.
 “What, Jeff?”
“It’s not my place to tell you.”
“God, there’s more?”
“I can’t. Dana swore me to secrecy.”
“Is it about this?”
“No, no. Well, in a way.” He watched his best friend and
knew from their years together that Jeff was struggling with
his conscience. “There’s a board meeting next week. Dana
goes before the board about her permits.”
“She told me. We’re supposed to have supper
afterwards.”
“It would be good for her if you were there to support
her.”
“Of course, I was planning on going.” Clay got a few
steps away before turning around. “Jeff, am I the reason
she’s having trouble with the board?”
“I don’t know a thing about it!”
“Linda?”
“Did you know Lisa saw you and Dana kissing in the
nursery the day of Adam’s christening?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“She met Linda in the hallway. Apparently Linda saw it
too.”
“I’ll talk to her tomorrow.”
“No, Clay,” Jeff warned him. “That’s exactly what I
wanted to do, but Lisa made me see Dana had to do this
on her own. If you interfere, it undermines her.”
“Am I supposed to sit back and watch the bitch screw
with Dana’s dreams?”
 “It is a bitch, isn’t it? I just wanted you to understand
what she’s up against. She’s fighting a woman she
believes would make you happier, and apparently feeling
she’s sexually inadequate.”
“That’s crazy. Linda means nothing to me.”
“We know that, but women seem to twist things until they
come out the way they want them to. Just know behind all of
this, I do believe Dana does love you. And if you truly love
her, you have to let her handle both of these situations.” Jeff
laughed. “Aren’t you glad you came to supper tonight?”
“Jeez, Jeff.”
Just past eleven he punched the numbers into the
telephone for Dana’s hotel. He’d tried her cell earlier, but it
went straight to voice mail. Waiting to be put through, his
hands went clammy. Propping the phone against his
shoulder, he wiped his palms on the bed next to him.
“Hello?”
“I woke you. I’m sorry.” Clay cursed himself for waiting
so long to place the call.
****
“Clay? No, I wasn’t asleep. I’m too wound up to sleep.
Give me a second to find the remote.” He pictured her
shifting to sit up against the headboard and heard the
television being muted in the background. “Is everything all
right there?”
“Fine. I was just thinking about you, wondering how the
shoot was going.” He pictured her snuggled down amongst
the pillows and blanket, her hair mussed, her eyes dreamy
with sleep.
 “Okay, I guess. I don’t remember it being so much
work!” She laughed. “Really, it’s fine, it’s just so hot down
here, the beach shoots are taking longer than we thought.”
“I miss you, Dana.”
“I miss you, too, Clay.” The hesitation in her voice was
apparent. Finally, she continued. “I don’t have any real right
to.”
“Yes you do, Dana. I love you, and I miss you. When are
you coming home?” There, he had said it. Now it couldn’t
be taken back, she’d have to deal with it.
“I’m scheduled to come in next Sunday. Clay, did you
just…never mind.”
“Yes, Dana. I just told you that I’m in love with you, and
not like a big brother. I love you as a man loves a woman,
the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with.”
“Clay, you can’t mean that. I’ve tried to tell you, I can’t be
the woman you need.”
“Let me decide what I want for myself. I have, Dana. It’s
you. I just needed you to know that, to understand I’m
waiting patiently for you.”
“Clay, please don’t. I’ve disappointed you already.
Please don’t make it worse.”
“Why do you keep saying you’ve disappointed me?
Because I got carried away at an inappropriate time? That
night was my fault, Dana. I should have had more control.”
“That’s just it, Clay. When you love someone, you’re not
supposed to have to control yourself with them.”
“We’ll talk about it when you get back.”
“Clay?”
 “Dana. I didn’t call to worry you. I just wanted you to
know I’m thinking about you.”
“Oh, God, Clay. If only I could be the woman I want to
be.”
“You are, sweetheart, you just don’t know it yet.” He
waited for a response. When he didn’t get one, he
continued. “What time does your flight get in Sunday?”
“What?” It took Dana a minute to digest his words.
Catching up, she added, “Afternoon. I’ve ordered a car
service.”
He teased her, “I’ll cancel it.”
“Clay, it’s such a long ride, please don’t.”
“Because you don’t want to see me?”
“Because I’m so confused,” she told him, and he
honestly believed her.
“Dana, I know he hurt you, I’m not sure how and I don’t
need to know, but whatever it was, not all men are alike.”
He could hear her breathing on the other end of the line.
“Dana?”
“It wasn’t like that. I wouldn’t allow him to physically hurt
me, but he wanted more than I could give him.”
“Maybe he didn’t know how to ask for it?”
“What he wanted I couldn’t give.”
“So he expected you to handle it anyway? How often,
Dana? How long did you let it go on?” Clay fought to rein
back his temper and adjust his attitude.
Dana hollered into the telephone. “I couldn’t seem to live
up to what a woman is supposed to do for a man. If it
wasn’t so pathetic, it would be ironic. Frigid supermodel.
Don’t blame him completely, Clay. It’s my fault. The first
time I figured I was just nervous, after that, he was actually
very nice about it for a long time. In the end, it wasn’t fair to
blame him. I’ve heard he’s happily married these days, a
soap actress I think.” She paused for air. Clay realized her
temper had risen from nowhere. She was taking a moment
to let it now dissipate, but she sounded as if her strength
drained away.
His voice had risen, although it was the one thing he
had promised himself, that he wouldn’t upset her with his
call. Now all he could see was red in front of his eyes.
“Dana?”
“Screw you, Clay. Don’t you think I was humiliated
enough, knowing I couldn’t satisfy him? Can’t you just
believe me when I tell you to move on? It would be so much
simpler.” He heard exasperation in her voice.
“Dana, I’m sorry. I have no right to make you feel bad.
It’s just that when you’re with me, I don’t get frigid. I get
erotic. I thought you felt that, too? Dana, I know you’ve felt it,
you can’t lie about it. When you’re in my arms, you’re hot
and sexy. You have no idea what kind of thoughts you put
into my head.”
“You might have been better off not knowing. I’m afraid.”
“Don’t be afraid with me, Dana. I won’t hurt you, ever.”
“I’m afraid that once I disappoint you, we’ll lose what we
had before, even though I’ve come to realize there’s no
going back. That scares me the most, Clay. Looking ahead
and not seeing you in the picture, anywhere, even if just to
remember my birthday.”
 “My God, Dana. Don’t go there, don’t ever think that, it
will never happen, if you decide you don’t want me around
in a sexual way, I’ll always be here for you, no matter what
you decide.”
“What about your decisions?”
“I’ve made them. I’m not in a hurry, just relax and think it
through, Dana. I know you in all your moods, good and bad,
including that horrible dental surgery thing.”
“Clay, that’s not fair…”
Clay listened, taking a relieved breath. “That’s better,
I’ve always liked your laugh better than your tears,
especially when you’re so far away.”
“You must be crazy, Clay.” Her voice was resigned.
“Would you just remember one thing, when this all blows up
in our faces?”
“Anything. What is it?”
“Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it!” Clay
decided she was trying to irritate him.
“Is that a challenge, Dana? Sometimes you frustrate me
so much I could take you over my knee and spank some
sense into you.”
“What else would you do to me?” He heard her laugh
and decided to play her game.
“What are my choices?”
“Never mind, I was just joking. I don’t do that very well
either. Although I’d have liked to see your face just now.”
“Laugh if you want, Dana, but don’t tempt me too far.
One day I might just call your bluff.”
“How long do I have to wait for that?” There was dead
silence on the line. “Clay?”
“Are we just joking, or am I a complete dolt and not
getting your blatant messages? Really, tell me Dana, are
you joking or are you serious?”
“What if I told you it was a bit of both?”
“I’d tell you my cock got instantly hard. What do you have
to say about that?”
“I’d say if I were closer I’d handle it for you.”
“Are we back to a challenge?”
“Oh, no, Clay, not at all. It’s a fact. I fantasize about
sucking your cock until you come. Of having you fuck me
until I come.” His clearing his throat made her laugh. “Sorry
you asked now? I can be very blunt. I want to have sex with
you, Clay, only with my preferences on occasion.”
“What preferences?” he asked, his mind going crazy
trying to figure out what she had in mind.
“Maybe one day you’ll find out. Until then, I think I’ll keep
you guessing.”
“That’s fine for now, but in reality, if I don’t know what
you want or need, you’ll never get it.”
“If I tell you outright you’ll never see me the same again.”
“Don’t worry about it. Get some sleep. I’ll be waiting for
you Sunday. After that, we’ll just take it one day at a time.”
“Clay, just one last thing?” She stumbled for the right
phrase.
“Yes?”
“I do like the look of you in your riding leathers.”
Laughter filled his heart as he was about to hang up the
telephone. He hadn’t felt this good in a long time. “Before
you go, I wanted you to know this. Last week when you left I
had a complete physical. I’m clean, Dana, and if you are,
too, then I don’t want to be using condoms when we’re
together. I want skin against skin when I’m inside you.”
“You had yourself tested so we could fuck without
condoms?”
“Well, I didn’t put it that way in the doctor’s office, but
yes.”
“Thank you, Clay. That was very considerate of you.”
“Purely selfish on my part. You keep saying you want to
suck my cock and have me fuck you. I want the same
things. I want to lick and finger you until you come for me.
Then I want to do it again.”
“I hope this isn’t a mistake,” she whispered.
“You’ve trusted me all these years. Trust me on this one.
At least until we have a chance to test things out.”
“Test things out, that’s an interesting perspective.”
“One I’ll lose sleep over,” he teased.
“If I were there with you, I’d make you tired,” Dana
whispered. “Good night, Clay.”
“Good night, Dana.”
He thought he would spend a long, sleepless night after
his call. Instead the realization struck him firmly. Dana was
a woman, not a kid as he continued to refer to her. In reality,
she’d grown up. At twenty-six, he had to accept she wasn’t
a shy, wilting virgin. She was all grown up, a full-blooded
woman with needs and wants. He laughed at the irony of
the situation. All along she’d tried to tell him she had
preferences outside the norm of most people’s idea of sex.
It wasn’t that she was afraid of sex, she was afraid of telling
him what she needed to get off. Obviously, she decided
she was outside the norm, now he had to wonder just how
far and in what direction.
Clay’s cock throbbed, and he didn’t hesitate to drop his
hand and grasp it firmly. He stroked it back and forth, going
over their conversation. He came on his belly, picturing her
draped over his lap, her butt cheeks red from his hand.
He had drifted off to sleep quickly, physically sated but
emotionally on full tilt.
****
After hanging up the phone, she searched the bed for
her dildo. She’d been fantasizing it was Clay’s cock in her
pussy when the phone rang. She got so flustered she’d
tossed it aside, as if he could see her using it. Dana
laughed and found it under the blanket. She sucked the tip
and pushed it back in her pussy, using her hands to pinch
her nipples. With the slightest movement of her hips the toy
would shift inside her. She came with her eyes closed,
imagining it was Clay’s cock moving inside her.
Dana couldn’t get past the idea that he actually went
and had a physical so they wouldn’t need to use condoms.
The idea got her hot again, and she slid the toy inside her a
few more times before pulling it out and slipping it in her
anus. She rolled onto her side and used her hand to rub her
clit, finally pushing two fingers in her pussy. With her fingers
in her pussy and the dildo in her butt, she tried to imagine
being laid out over Clay’s lap, her ass cheeks red from his
hand. Dana pushed her fingers deeper inside her and used
the image of Clay spanking her that way to come again.
Only it was his cock in her ass and a toy in her pussy she
imagined.
She had flashes of images of how they might make
love, but her more vivid ones weren’t soft and romantic,
they were hard and hot, fucking to make each other come
until they were drained.
The next morning Dana went shopping with Gavin and
Harry, picking out items she wanted to insinuate into her
sex life. With the two men beside her she didn’t let
embarrassment stop her from choosing the perfect items.
They stopped at a packaging store where she had them
shipped directly to Clay. He should get his surprise
package before she got home. Meeting him at the airport
would be interesting, to say the least.
Dana included a short note, hoping it was clear.
C,
I’m trusting you with my secret needs.
Can you handle my unconventional ways?
Just remember these items work for both of us.
D
Back at the shoot, none of them mentioned the
shopping trip again, although she couldn’t believe she’d
actually sent Clay the items. She’d have loved to see his
face when he opened it. Would it be shock and horror, or
interest? Clay’s care package included silk scarves along
with several lengths of silk-corded roping. There were
several different sized and shaped dildos, lubricant, a cock
ring, and a latex cock masturbator. Her favorite was the cat
o’ nine tales in smooth, soft leather where the handle
doubled as a vibrator.
There was no going back now. Best-case scenario if he
didn’t want her and her toys, she’d claim it was a joke.
Dana hoped he was man enough to explore her in all ways,
with her toys and without. Would he be surprised to find out
that while she’d be submissive most of the time, on
occasion she’d want to be dominant? Would he let her take
charge of him completely in such an intimate way? Time
would tell. Suddenly she was tired of all the pretending and
inane games. Dana was a woman with needs. Now, Clay
would have a rough idea of how she wanted to play. She
knew by the time she got home the decision would be
made. Until then, she’d focus on work and not try to predict
his reactions.
 Chapter Thirteen
Settled into her seat, Dana accepted only sparkling
water during the flight. Her transfer had gone smoothly,
surprising her. The large manila envelope stared at her
from the outer pocket of her bag, tucked under the seat in
front of her. The seat next to her was empty. Closing her
eyes, she thought back over the week. She had made her
choice to trust Clay. He’d probably gotten her care
package yesterday, but she hadn’t heard from him. That
could go with her or against her. Either he was totally
surprised at its contents or so shocked he didn’t have
words to tell her to get lost. Either way, she was happy with
her decision. Her secret was now information he’d have to
deal with. She would have loved to see his reaction, to see
if he got hard, and to see his facial reaction. Still, she knew
it was probably better to give him a bit of time to come to
terms with her gifts.
Gavin had been the one who brought it to her attention
the moment he saw her. “Darling, you’ve changed.” He held
her at arm’s length then started to smile. “By God, girl, it’s
happened. You’re in love!” Her longtime friend had swept
her off her feet, hugging her tightly. “Tell me, who is he?
What does he look like?” The questions had been too many
to answer.
At first, she denied them, but Gavin wore her down
during the shoot. She had known him for years, trusted him
to guide her where her career was concerned, and had
enjoyed his friendship. His partner, Harry, was a good
friend too. They always traveled together. Where Gavin
went, Harry went. He had nothing to do with the
photographs; he was simply there to support his partner.
Dana had found them open and caring. Over the years
she chose to spend as much time with them both as she
could, whenever she could. They were the reason she
ultimately took this job. These two men were the only other
people who knew about her penchant for leather, toys, and
bondage. Over the years as her preferences developed,
they’d been a part of her evolution, nonjudgmental and
educational when she had questions and nowhere to find
the answers. They helped her accept her erotic side without
embarrassment and to make clear choices with partners.
Now, holding the sealed envelope Gavin handed her
just before her car left for the airport, he had whispered,
“Don’t open it unless you’re willing to accept what’s inside.”
His cryptic message had haunted her for the first short
flight, forcing her to think about her life.
Walker had been a mistake on many fronts. He wanted
to further his career, she knew, and being seen with her
hadn’t hurt. He had been kind and understanding about her
inability to take their relationship to another level in the
beginning. Though he had made a mess of it in the end,
she had to accept responsibility for that, too.
She had tried to be with him, tried to make love with
him, yet still she hadn’t been able to. Every time he touched
her, she froze. An image of Clay Hollister was always in the
back of her mind. That image always made her feel like she
was cheating on him somehow. After seeing Clay in
Denver, she had allowed Walker to take her to bed. The
disastrous attempts after that had left her hollow and
frustrated. Knowing she couldn’t have who she really
wanted, it would be easier to not want anyone. Then she’d
decided not to live that way. She’d started broadening her
knowledge on love, sex and all associated subjects.
Trusting Walker with her desire for a light bondage
experience was the worst mistake.
They had different visions of what light bondage
entailed, especially who was in charge and when the game
started and ended. That had been the problem. He
assumed she’d continue to be submissive twenty-four-
seven, when she wanted the experience for an occasional
evening. The harder she tried to break away from him, the
more demonstrative he became. Then he started to
threaten her, blackmailing her to continue their roles.
She smiled as she remembered the moment she took
charge, changing their positions, supposedly to enlighten
him to her perspective. Dana knew the moment she’d
stepped into character that she wanted the power over
Walker her dominant position allowed. She never dreamed
he’d fall into the submissive role so quickly and without a
second thought. By the end of their night of role reversal, he
accepted he’d found his submissive role appealing, too
appealing. He’d asked for things she’d never have thought
of, following through with his wishes, using the leather whip
he’d provided on his skin with great relish. Each lash was a
memory she let go. Dana found his appeals for a more
degrading evening beyond her comfort zone.
She’d been more than willing to tie his hands behind his
back, to make him crawl to her and lick her pussy and anus.
What she realized was through all their times when she was
submissive, he was really wanting the position for himself.
He was quick to tell her how she might use their toys on
him, how humiliating it would be to suck the plastic cock
before she pushed it up his butt. She drew the line when he
wanted her to draw blood from the whippings. She’d
stopped the encounter when he gave her access to a box
of items he’d hidden away. The ball gag and leather masks
were too much her, but apparently not for Walker. She’d
never seen his cock so hard, and decided to use it to her
advantage, riding him until she couldn’t orgasm another
time. She hadn’t let him come, a part of the game he told
her was necessary for his enjoyment.
When it was over, she’d felt dirty in a way she had never
felt before. This wasn’t two people playing a role for a few
hours, this was the lifestyle he wanted to continue
permanently. When he’d asked her to marry him and
remain his mistress forever, she knew she had her out. She
mentioned in passing that she’d videotaped their session,
something she never would have dreamed of doing, until
she found the tapes of their reverse sessions she’d never
known about.
When she was sure she had the home movies of their
three encounters, she destroyed them immediately, in front
of him. But she took the movie she made with her. In the
end, they decided to part without repercussions, especially
since she had the photographic proof of his submissive
side, begging for more.
She’d spent a long time going over their relationship
and finally decided with the right person, it could be fun for
an occasional evening, but to live the part daily wasn’t in
her being. She’d also come to realize substituting Walker
for Clay had been a mistake, as using any other man to
fulfill her fantasies would be. Her heart’s desire was for
Clay to be dominant with her, and no other man would
make the experience real for her.
“God, I’m so stupid,” she realized. For all her knowledge
and schooling, the simplicity of it had eluded her for so
long. It was Clay who gave her that strange feeling. Just
thinking about him made her warm and fuzzy. That was bad
enough, but when she was with him, close to him, touching
him, she wanted more. Fear kept her from acting on it. Fear
made her pull back, anxious Clay would be disappointed
with her inexperience. Now she knew she had been wrong.
It was Clay she had been holding out for. Clay was the one
man who truly made her feel, and Dana wanted to feel. She
wanted it all from Clay, only Clay. Relief washed over her
with the revelation.
Pulling open the flap of the envelope, Dana glanced
around her to make sure no one was watching as she
slipped the stack of photos from their covering. The first
page was a blank sheet of photo paper, Gavin’s sprawling
handwriting covering the page.
Darling Dana,
The camera never lies; don’t look any further unless
you’re willing to accept the truth. Congratulations, I hope
he treats you right, you deserve only the best.
Love, Gavin
In the bottom corner there was a P.S. Dana, I hope he’s
hung like a horse! Enjoy. Harry.
Laughter bubbled up in her chest as she reread the note
several times before stripping off the cover sheet. At a
glance Dana saw they were a group of candids shot while
they were doing the initial setup for the shoot. She hadn’t
gone into hair and makeup yet, instead, she stood on the
beach, a large straw hat covering her head. She was
wearing a one-piece bathing suit with an oversized man-
tailored shirt pulled over it, hiding her from the sun. She
knew photos were being taken, that was why she was
there, but these weren’t meant for any publication, just
adjustments.
Gavin had captured her when she was thinking beyond
the work. A small smile had formed on her lips. There was
a gleam in her eyes. Was this what she looked like to other
people? Was it so evident to anyone who chose to look?
The rest of the shots were similar candids taken thought the
week, each with that same dreamy look about her. Harry
teased her that she was glowing. Gavin had spotted it
immediately. How could she have missed it?
The last of the stack was one from the shoot, and even
full hair and makeup couldn’t hide that sparkle in her eye. It
was a serious portrait, one of the last taken before they
wrapped. She knew she had been tired by then, but she
also knew it was taken the day after Clay’s phone call. He
loved her, was waiting for her.
With that, Dana knew what she had to do. First, she had
to set Linda Cole straight, and then she had to talk to Clay.
If he understood about her past, her eccentricities, maybe it
would be different. Hadn’t he told her he felt her responses
when she was in his arms? “I’m twenty-six,” she said aloud.
“I’ve waited long enough. It’s time I let my life get started.”
The passing flight attendant paused by her seat, asking
if she needed something. “No, thank you. How long before
we land?”
“Less than an hour.”
“Thanks.” She turned back to the window, staring off into
the clouds, visions of Clay Hollister lying beside her filling
her head.
****
Waiting was never one of Clay’s strengths. Sunday
morning when the knock came on his front door it was just
after eight. He had glanced out the second-story side
window to see whose vehicle was parked outside. It took
only a few seconds to realize it was the white sedan Linda
Cole drove. Backing away from the window, Clay sat on the
unused bed, drying his hair with the towel.
He did not need a confrontation with her now. She was
insignificant compared to the new information Dana had
given him. Every time he thought about the items in the
package he got from her yesterday, he got hard. He’d laid
them all out on his bed, inspecting each item, weighing it in
his hands, visualizing how he’d use them with her. Since
yesterday when he’d opened the box, he’d jerked off four
times, and knew the possibilities were endless with Dana
willing to let him experiment.
He also accepted the cock ring and soft plastic
masturbator were for his use at her whim. Clay decided he
had nothing to lose giving Dana her fantasies. After all,
sending him these items meant she was willing to trust him
with her unconventional ways. His only question for her
would be how far she would let him go and how far he was
willing to let her go with their game if she was in charge.
Time would tell. She’d opened a doorway, and he’d walk
through it with her.
Hell, he decided, he’d be unconventional if it made
Dana hot and horny. He grasped his cock automatically
until he heard a noise downstairs and remembered he
wasn’t alone.
The knock had come again just after he finished
shaving. He had first thought to bound down the stairs and
answer the door, but something had held him back. Now he
was thankful he hadn’t opened it. Rationalizing both his old
pickup and the Corvette were parked in the driveway, he
wondered how long it would take Linda to give up and
leave.
Quietly, he left the guest room, heading to the master
bedroom. There he dressed quickly, not wanting to be
naked just now. As he pulled on his boots, he couldn’t
remember if he had locked the outer door last night. At the
same time, he heard the knob twisting several times.
Holding his breath during several more attempts and
several loud knocks, he released the pent-up air when he
knew she couldn’t get in. Next, he gathered up the items
from Dana’s package and hid them in the back of a
storage closet just in case anyone stopped by
unannounced as Linda had today. He also didn’t want them
left out if someone, like Linda, decided to overstep the
locked doors and rummage through his home. He decided
then he was going to have the whole house alarmed.
Clay sat on the foot of his bed, waiting for Linda Cole to
get in her car and leave. And sat, and sat. After nine thirty,
she finally did return to the vehicle. He hadn’t ventured
beyond the kitchen hallway, glancing out to find her pacing
on his screened porch. He knew he would have to leave for
the airport within an hour if he wanted to take a leisurely
drive. Clay also wanted to make himself some coffee and
breakfast before he left. Both options were out of the
question with her pacing just a few yards away.
Back upstairs, he wondered what to do. Hearing a car
door slam, he ventured to the guest room once more,
watching as she took something from her car. A long time
later she returned with the paper in her hand. He heard the
screen door slam once, then again. With utter relief, he
watched her slide behind the wheel and reverse out of his
driveway.
Clay waited as long as he could before leaving the
house. Silly as it seemed, he was afraid she might be
waiting up the road. Taking a last glimpse around the
kitchen and living room to see that everything was in place,
he headed out to the pickup. He didn’t quite run, but it was
a fast walk until he was behind the wheel, reversing out onto
the road. In his hand, still unread, was a note from Linda.
He had found it lying on top of his Sunday paper on the
screen porch. He chose not to read it, tossing it on the seat
next to him instead.
Waiting wasn’t one of his good traits. Clay paced
outside the small airport hangar, waiting for the arrival sign
to change, telling him that her flight had touched down.
When it finally did, he relaxed.
Her faded jeans and white tee shirt hugged her curves
delicately. Her tan had deepened, and he knew she wore
no makeup. Her hair was pulled back in an elastic band,
and a large backpack was slung over her shoulder.
“God, she’s beautiful,” he whispered. The man standing
next to him agreed quietly. With a quick nod, the other man
met an elderly man from the same flight. When Dana
reached the end of the walkway, Clay took her hand, pulling
her to the side, out of the main flow of passengers. His
arms wrapped around her without thought as she accepted
him.
Pressing his lips to her forehead, he told her, “Welcome
home, Dana. I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you too, Clay.” Time didn’t matter for them.
They held tight. The announcer’s voice in the background
broke their moment, Clay taking the weight of the bag she
carried on her shoulder from her.
“Let’s get the rest of your luggage and go home.”
Smiling up at him, she laughed.
“That’s it.” Clay looked down suspiciously. “That’s all I
carried on, the rest will be shipped back,” she told him with
a laugh.
“That’s the Dana I know and love.” He said it so
casually, slipping his free arm around her, leading her out
into the heat of the summer afternoon. Once inside the
pickup, he turned up the air conditioning full blast until the
cab cooled them both off.
“Tell me what I’ve missed while I was gone.” For the first
part of the ride, Clay gave her bits of information about his
farm and what was going on in town. He also told her how
much Adam had changed since the last time he saw him.
He asked her about the shoot, and she told him several
comical stories of makeup melting in the hot sun and props
that were misplaced, ending in the fact that it was a holiday
ad she had done.
“Christmas in summer. I’ll never understand the cycle.”
He pulled into a family restaurant about a half hour from
home. They had a late lunch before finishing their journey.
He was more nervous about having to tell Dana about
Linda’s visit and note than the package contents. He knew
Linda would be trouble. His sex life with Dana would work
itself out.
Something just wasn’t right. Clay knew Dana saw he
was restless in the restaurant.
“Clay, what is it?”
He roused himself from his mood. “Nothing.”
Dana tossed the paper napkin from her lap to the side
of the table. Watching him intently, she placed her hand,
palm side up, between them on the table. He glanced at
her, slipping his onto hers, his fingers tightening.
“Please, Clay, at least let’s be honest with each other.”
Her voice faltered. “I knew sending the package was a risk.
I understand if you’re not interested, but I hope you’ll keep
my secret private. Nobody else needs to know about my
sexual preferences.”
“Sweetheart, relax. It’s nothing to do with you or me.” As
the words came from him, he realized that wasn’t true. It
had everything to do with them. “All right, but let me explain
before you get upset. This isn’t about your sex fantasies or
mine or what you consider your unconventional ways. This
is about security. Trust me, I’ll be more than willing to review
your presents with you later, when we’re safe at home. I get
hard every time I think about the cock ring or using the
vibrator on you. Those silk cords left an image I can’t get
out of my mind, but we have to set some ground rules and
safe words. All of which I’ll be thrilled to deal with later.”
Dana tried to pull her hand back, but he wouldn’t let go.
“Dana, in the last few weeks I’ve gotten the feeling that
something isn’t quite right.” She interrupted him right then.
“Oh, Clay, I tried to tell you I couldn’t…” He shook his
head, laughing. “Dana, be quiet and listen, please.” She
stiffened but nodded for him to continue. “When I say not
quite right, I wasn’t talking about things between you and
me. I mean like someone or something has been watching
us, invading our space, our private moments.” He let his
words sink in, hoping she wouldn’t panic.
“Go on,” she whispered.
“Remember when we had breakfast in the diner a few
weeks ago?” Again she only nodded. “When we left, Linda
Cole was sitting in her car, watching us.”
“Clay?”
“It gets worse. The night we played golf, I got an eerie
feeling. Nothing I could put my finger on, just an uneasy
feeling. Then I realized we were being watched by her
again. She’s been following us.”
“Why didn’t you tell me before this?” Her tone verified
her concern.
“I didn’t say anything because I had no proof. I still don’t.
But early this morning, she was knocking on my door.”
Dana pulled back her hand, settling back in the vinyl bench
seat of the booth, her arms folding in front of her.
“And just why would Linda come to your house this
morning?”
Clay smiled as his heart filled. It was silly, he knew, but
she was jealous. Don’t gloat, he reminded himself.
“I don’t know. I didn’t answer the door.”
“You didn’t?” Now she seemed confused.
“I was just getting out of the shower when I heard the
knock. Instead of running down to answer it, I checked the
driveway from the upstairs window. When I saw it was her, I
ignored it.”
“How long did she wait?” Dana’s voice had a resigned,
wistful edge to it.
“Over an hour. For a while, I wasn’t sure I could get to
the airport on time. She finally gave up, but not before
leaving me a note.”
“Really, what did it say?” Dana straightened. “No, never
mind, it’s none of my business.”
“Dana, it is your business, or I wouldn’t have brought it
up.” He pulled the white sheet of paper from his back
pocket, handing it to Dana to read. Smoothing out the folds,
he watched her carefully as she read it.
Dear Clay,
Sorry I missed you, I wanted to talk about the Senator’s
party. I’ll try back again soon.
Linda.
Both of them sat in silence as the waitress refilled their
iced teas. When she had gone, Clay looked to Dana.
“Well? You were there when I specifically told her to contact
you if she wanted to get in touch with me.”
“Is she a child, dotting her i’s with little hearts? Good
God, Clay, it’s enough to make me lose my lunch,” she told
him.
He only acknowledged with a nod of his head. “I’m
telling you because I’m afraid she will try and make trouble
for us, one way or another. I didn’t want her mentioning she
was at my house Sunday morning and leaving a wrong
impression. She’ll try and break us up, Dana. Don’t buy into
it, please. If something unusual happens, promise to talk it
over with me first, all right, sweetheart?”
Dana let her eyes meet Clay’s. There was no denying
the warmth and love they held for him. “All right, Clay.”
“And I don’t mean just us. Anything at all that seems out
of place, get to me or Jeff as soon as possible. Please
make sure your cell phone is charged, all the time, just in
case.”
“Clay, do you think she would do physical damage—”
Dana didn’t finish her thought. Clay understood it was too
overwhelming to think of the endless possibilities.
“I don’t know what to think. I just want us to be prepared
for anything out of the ordinary. Who knows, maybe it’s just
my over inflated ego. But please make sure you keep your
cell charged and with you at all times.”
“Clay, you’re upset about this. Have you talked to Jeff?
What about Lisa and Adam?”
“Jeff and I had a long talk on my ride to the airport. He’ll
make sure things at the house are secure and that Lisa’s
on alert.” Clay paused, then decided he had gone this far,
he might as well tell her the rest. “There’s one more thing.”
He waited for her full attention. “When I spoke with Jeff this
morning, he mentioned he had a problem with one of the
vehicles.” Dana waited for him to finish. “It was your car,
Dana. Jeff drove it to town while you were gone and it was
vandalized.” He waited for her reaction, but she just stared
at him. “Nothing serious, just the air let out of the tires. A
major pain in the ass was all. Jeff didn’t think anything of it,
until we talked this morning. The car is fine.”
“I don’t give a damn about the car, it’s a machine,” she
told him, “and not really practical at this time in my life.”
Then she seemed lost in her own world of thought. Sensing
this could be trouble, he squeezed her hand. “Maybe it
would be best if I just left. I could go back to New York or
maybe the West Coast.”
“If you leave, Dana, I will follow you. I’ll find you and bring
you home.”
“But if my being here is creating all this hassle, the
logical thing for me to do is leave.”
“No.” Clay looked around the restaurant, realizing how
his voice had risen. “Please don’t let her scare you off.
That’s exactly what she’s hoping for. I wouldn’t have
mentioned it, except that I want you to be careful, especially
if you’re out alone. Use your New York street sense. Don’t
think just because you’re home you’re completely safe, at
least until we know what her ulterior motive is.”
“I can tell you that. It’s to have you, Clay, all to herself.”
“Well, then she does have a problem, I’m all yours,
Dana, nobody else’s, especially not hers. Just don’t let any
gossip set you off until we check out the source.”
 Chapter Fourteen
Dana seemed mildly surprised when he didn’t turn onto
her street. Instead he turned further up the road. He was
taking her back to the river house. “Clay?”
“Later, Dana.” They drove in silence the rest of the way.
As the pickup bounced along the rutted road, she laughed
as she held on.
It was music to his ears, her laugh, unrestricted. Pulling
up in front of the river house, he reached over and drew out
a key from the glove box. He was out of the truck before
she could question him, opening her door.
“I want to show you something.” She took his hand,
letting him lead her to the unpainted wooden garage doors.
There, he bent and inserted the key in the lock, releasing
the door, allowing it to swing up and out of their way. “Not
the grandest of entrances, but the most secure at this
point.” With her hand in his, he took her through to the large
country kitchen. The space was musty from being closed
up. She watched as Clay pulled back a temporary plastic
covering from the opening where the window over where
the sink would sit.
“Tell me what it is about this place that you like, Dana?”
He turned, keeping the empty room between them.
“I’m not sure, really. The location, I suppose, not the
house really. I used to come here when it was just empty
land. I’d sit at the river, marveling at the way you could
watch the river on this side, then turn and see nothing but
forest from the other side. I suppose just the best of worlds,
really, water and forest.” With that, she wandered into what
was supposed to be the dining room. Clay followed but
kept his distance.
“What about this structure?” Without turning, she just
shrugged her shoulders.
“Too many small rooms.”
“Go on,” he prompted.
“I don’t know for sure, it just seems like it should be
opened up more. Why block the front or rear view with all
these walls? I guess I’d rather be able to choose what I
looked at as opposed to having to change the room I was
in. That sounds crazy, a house with no interior walls.” She
wandered into the front hallway, carefully avoiding a large
stack of lumber dropped in the center of it.
“What about the upstairs?”
“I’ve never been upstairs.” Crossing, he took her hand,
leading her up the temporary stairs to the landing. Once
there, he leaned back against the wall. “Well?”
“It needs a window here, a large one,” she pointed to
the central hall. He knew several bedrooms and bathrooms
were framed out to their left, and to the right was the master
bedroom and bath. Waiting for her attention, he nudged her
toward the right.
Dana looked around the huge space. Even with just the
wall studs and some wiring strung in place, it was a large
area. Difficult to judge what the builder had in mind at first,
then after several trips around the room, Clay decided she
began to visualize it, as a smile spread across her lips.
 “The bath is decadent, and it would be nice to have a
seating area over by the windows to catch the afternoon
sun. But why three major walk-in closets? Even I don’t have
that many clothes,” she teased.
Crossing the room, he took her hand. Slowly, he took
her to the first one, standing her in the doorway, forcing her
to look at the space again. “This one’s supposed to be a
nursery,” he told her.
“It doesn’t have any windows. How could you put a baby
in a room with no windows?” It wasn’t a question she
expected an answer to. Turning to look, she stilled at the
sight of him. Leaning against the doorframe, his one arm
was propped against the wood, his other was propped on
his hip, his thumb tucked into the pocket of his tight jeans.
Clay watched Dana blushing at whatever thought crossed
her mind.
“Come on, it’s too stuffy up here.” Again, she took his
outstretched hand without hesitation. Once safely down the
temporary stairs, he asked her if she saw marble in the
entry.
“No, not at all. Slate or terra cotta tiles, I would think,”
she told him. “Clay, whose house is this? You told me once
you knew, but you never told me who.”
“First, answer me this. That day you came to the farm,
you invited me to Sunday brunch, but you could have done
that with a phone call. Lisa could have done that.”
“I told myself I wanted to return your handkerchief. You
gave it to me in the chapel.”
“You never did return it, why?”
 “I forgot.”
“Dana?”
“I didn’t want to.” Pushing past him, she mumbled
something about fresh air. He found her waiting at the
water’s edge when he came out after securing the house.
“Why didn’t you want to?”
“I wanted to keep it, that’s all. I’ll buy you a new one.”
“Damn it, Dana, I don’t care about the stupid cloth, I
care about what it symbolized to you!”
She turned quickly, surprising him with her actions, her
tone. “I wanted to keep it, to have something of yours
when…when you were gone from my life.” She stormed
past him, almost making it to the truck before he could
catch her.
“What the hell do you mean out of your life? Where are
you going? I thought you came home for good! In the
restaurant you promised not to leave.”
“I did. I’m not leaving, Clay. But you’re not mine to keep.”
Turning away from him, she whispered, “or to give, for that
matter.” For the first time since her epiphany on the plane,
her new resolve faltered.
“That’s it.” This time he picked her up and tossed her
over his shoulder again. With long strides, he placed her
down at the river’s edge. “We can do this two ways, Dana.
We can talk like adults or I can…”
“What, Clay, were you going to say torture me until I
come around to your way of thinking?” Slowly he lowered
himself to the grassy bank. “Dana, I am yours, for however
long you want me.” Such a simple statement, yet it brought
out so much emotion in her. Struggling to fight back the
tears stinging behind her eyes, she refused to look. For a
long time they stayed that way, Clay sitting on the riverbank,
Dana leaning against a tree several yards away. “Clay,
there’s something I need to do before we finish this
conversation. Trust me on this, when we’re finally alone in
bed together, I don’t want anything else on my mind but you
and how we’ll fuck. Right now, I’ve got too much in my head,
things to deal with. Once everything else is straightened
out, I’ll be glad to go anywhere you want and fuck your
brains out. Could you please take me home?” With that,
she turned on her heel and left him sitting on the grass
alone.
Dana had decided to confront her demons before going
any further with Clay. But she realized then she had to fight
for what she wanted, and she truly loved and wanted Clay
Hollister. She’d stand up for herself and her loved ones,
Clay at the top of her list. Clarity finally came, the future was
there for her, she just had to reach out and take what she
wanted. Clay claimed he loved her, and Dana knew she’d
been in love with him for years. The idea of exploring that
love with him thrilled her beyond description.
Slowly, he rose, seemingly more frustrated than he had
ever been before. When he reached her in the truck, she
waited until he was settled, her hand reaching to his before
he turned the ignition key.
“Clay, you wanted to know what appealed to me about
this place.” Eye to eye, she had trouble finding the words to
continue. Clearing her throat, she continued. “It’s the
silence, Clay. I can hear the waves hitting the shore, the
wind rustling in the treetops. At night, it’s the sounds of the
wild around me. The frogs and owls, the crickets. Even the
barking of the tundra swans. I know it’s crazy, but when I’m
here, I always feel peaceful.”
The ride home was silent. When he pulled up in front of
her home, she turned, studying his face. “The meeting’s
tomorrow, do we still have a supper date afterwards?”
“Yes, of course, if you want to.”
“I do. But I have to take care of something during the
day. See you at the meeting.” Quickly, she pressed her lips
to his, and then opened her door before she could change
her mind.
“Dana?” he called after her. “Something’s changed.”
“You’re right, Clay. Something has. Ask me again
tomorrow.” Instead of going to the guesthouse, she put her
bag down in the driveway, searching for something in it.
Slowly, as if she might change her mind, she drew out the
envelope and handed it to him. “Wait until you get home,
and then look at this.” Her eyes met his as he took what she
offered. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
****
Clay was right, something had changed. Dana had. Her
time away, the photos Gavin had taken, her missing Clay in
a way she never had before. This was where she belonged.
As a wave of independence washed over her, she knew
her decisions were made. Whatever Linda Cole had in
mind, Dana was going to override. Whatever it takes, she
thought, I want this chance with Clay. Lisa and Adam ran
through her mind, making her mad and angry at the thought
they might be used as pawns to get to her. “I’ll put a stop to
all this before it goes any further.” Dana said aloud,
dropping her bag inside the door of the guesthouse.
Standing in the dimly lit space, now she knew why she
felt so strongly about taking the space. It was temporary.
This was temporary. Whether she found her home with Clay
or not, she would find her space. Coming home had its
benefits, but this was Jeff and Lisa’s home now. She was a
guest. It was Adam who would grow up here, learning to
ride horses, love the land, and with a little help later on,
learn the ability to slide down the main staircase banister
without falling off. With a smile, Dana knew that was one
thing she could teach him.
Hours later, she’d thought through her plan of attack.
She’d decided she’d fight for what she wanted, which was
Clay, and everything their joining might bring.
Standing before the open refrigerator, nothing
appealed. It was too late to call the house. The phone would
wake up Adam. Instead, she kicked off her shoes and
wandered over to the big house.
****
Turning to check the time on the digital clock beside his
bed, Jeff listened for the baby. He wasn’t sure what woke
him. He left Lisa sleeping soundly, her blonde hair mussed
from their earlier lovemaking. Standing beside his sleeping
son, he realized someone was in the kitchen. Two steps
further down he saw the back half of the house was ablaze
with lights. Ruth wouldn’t be back until tomorrow morning,
he knew. Figuring to himself that a thief wouldn’t turn on
every light in the house, he took the steps downward until
he reached the center hall.
Jeff stood in the doorway to the old family kitchen,
watching Dana slice into the pound cake that was left over
from supper. “There are peaches in the refrigerator,” he
said. He wasn’t surprised when she didn’t jump at his
voice.
“Actually, no, there aren’t.” She laughed, holding up the
container sitting beside the cake plate. “Want some?”
“I’ll just get some milk. How was the trip?” Leaning
across the center island from each other, brother and sister
picked the sliced peaches from the bowl one by one,
dipping them into another dish holding whipped cream. He
listened while she gave him the condensed version, ending
with the fact that her paycheck would help the renovation.
“Dana, you don’t have to personally finance the project.
We can talk to the bank, and what about all this fundraising
you and Lisa have been planning? Wasn’t there talk of a
grant or something?”
“Yes, yes, and yes. Except I figure if these people
realize I’m willing to put my personal money into it, they
might not hesitate to add some of their own.”
“Got it all worked out, Dana.”
“Something like that. What happened while I was
away?”
Jeff debated if he should tell her about the enlightening
meal she had missed, then decided to let it go. Before he
could make the decision she broke in.
 “Jeff, if for some strange reason you got a call tomorrow
and I needed you to bail me out, would you come for me?”
“Dana! What kind of a test is this?” Studying her face
carefully, he didn’t like what he saw, mainly because he
couldn’t recognize the look. “Why, are you planning on
being arrested tomorrow?”
“I’m not really,” she told him. “I’m going to have a
meeting with Linda Cole in the morning.”
“And you picture the end result of this meeting landing
you in jail?”
“It’s one possibility, probably not the best one, but still a
possibility.”
“Dana?”
“I’m teasing you, Jeff. Where has your sense of humor
gone to?”
“When did you set up this meeting?”
“I didn’t, actually. It’s going to be a surprise attack.”
Dana laughed at the face he made. “I’m simply going to lay
my cards on the table, explain she can’t use people to
manipulate other people, and if she doesn’t clear my
application at tomorrow night’s meeting, I plan on bringing
her up before the ethics board.” With that, she bit into
another slice of peach.
“It would be your word against hers.”
“Yes, it would, and think about all the publicity it would
garner for the mansion. This town would talk about it long
after we’re all dead and buried.”
“You sounded like Dad, just then.”
“Thank you, Jeff. That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to
me in ages.”
“All right, how about that I love you, and I want you to be
happy.”
“I love you too, Jeff.”
“Be careful tomorrow, Dana.” He waited and then
continued, “Did Clay talk to you about her today?”
“Yes, I’ll handle her.” She gave him one of her public
smiles. He could never read what was behind that particular
look. Pausing in the doorway to leave, he had to ask. “Why
aren’t you raiding your own refrigerator?”
“Because I’ve been away for a week and nothing looked
good to me. Besides, you wouldn’t have come down to talk
to me if I’d stayed there.”
“Oh.” Shaking his head, he left the room, calling back,
“Dana, use the cell if you need me tomorrow.” A few
moments later he appeared in the doorway again. “Use it
even if you don’t, okay?”
“I’ll let you know what happens. Jeff, I’m sorry if my
coming home has upset the household.”
“We’re not upset, Dana. We just want you to be safe.”
“As well as Lisa and Adam?”
“I’ll take care of them, don’t worry about it. I wish you’d
let me help you take care of this.”
“I know, Jeffy. But this one I have to do on my own. It will
be all right.” She went to him, kissing his cheek. As she
disappeared through the kitchen door he realized she’d left
him the mess to clean up. Shaking his head, he figured
tomorrow would be an interesting day.
****
 Clay came awake instantly when the phone rang. He
looked at the clock beside his bed and realized it was after
one in the morning. “Yeah?”
“Clay, relax, nothing’s wrong.”
“Dana, what is it?”
“I needed to tell you something, Clay. For some reason
when you’re standing in front of me, I can’t get the words
out.”
“Tell me now, then.” Clay shifted the pillows behind him,
dread coursing through his veins. His temples ached
slightly while he waited for her to continue.
“Clay, I’m in love with you.”
Of all the things she might have said, he wasn’t
prepared for that. Shifting lower in the bed, he finally spoke.
“And it took you all this time to figure it out?”
“No, actually, I’ve known it for a long time.”
“How long?”
“Probably, oh, hell, definitely, since I was home for Jeff’s
wedding. Somehow I saw you differently than I ever had
before, as a sexual man, not just a friend.”
“Thank you, Dana.”
“Thank you. Are you crazy, don’t you understand what
this means?”
“Yes, I do. You’re the only one who’s afraid. I’m not. I
love you, Dana. I have since that day in the chapel when
Jeff and Lisa got married.”
“Clay…”
“Yes, that far back. Standing there in that blue dress, the
flowers holding your hair back, suddenly you weren’t the
little brat I was used to seeing. You had become this
beautiful woman. I knew then, Dana.” He paused then went
on. “I even knew the night of the storm. I just refused to let
myself acknowledge it. Along with the memory of what we
did that night of the storm. Truthfully, I so wanted to finish the
act, to feel myself buried inside you.”
“Why didn’t you? I was trying to make it clear it was what
I wanted, too.”
“You were younger then, just twenty, and had all those
years of school and work ahead. I was afraid I’d interfere
with all that for you.”
“What a waste of time.”
“Not really. What would you have done if I approached
you then?”
“What would you have done if I approached you?” The
laughter in her voice warmed him.
“Dana, we still on for supper tomorrow night?”
“Yes, definitely. But, Clay, I don’t know if you really
understand what you’re getting into. Loving me and making
love to me isn’t going to be easy.”
“I’ve always loved a challenge.” His laugh flowed easier
than it had in years. All his pent-up angst dissipated.
“Sweetheart, nothing good in this life is easy. I love you
anyway, and we will work it out. I promise, and you know I
don’t promise lightly.”
“Good night, Clay.”
“Dana. Thank you for sharing the photographs with me.”
“How could I not? Gavin’s right. It shows. I was just too
afraid to look. When I did, I was afraid of what I saw. Now,
I’m not. The camera doesn’t lie, Clay.”
“Tell you what, when they come to visit, let them stay in
your guesthouse, and you come stay with me.”
“It’s an option.”
“Dana, I want you with me.”
“I want to be with you, too, Clay. Let me take care of
business tomorrow, and then we’ll talk.”
“Okay, tomorrow. Call me if you need any help.”
“Good night.”
“Night, love.”
 Chapter Fifteen
Dana sat in the chair opposite Linda Cole’s desk just
after eight the following morning. She had brought a cup of
coffee with her, as well as the morning newspaper and a
dozen fresh muffins for the staff. Waiting until she saw
Linda’s secretary Mavis enter the building, she arrived with
her offering, explaining she didn’t have an appointment, but
would only keep Linda a few minutes. Having known Dana
all her life, the older woman allowed Dana to wait in the
office.
“Good morning, Linda, how was your weekend?”
“Fine, Mavis, and yours?”
Dana heard their words, reaching into the small purse
tucked next to her on the seat. She knew Linda hadn’t
waited for her secretary’s answer.
“You have company. Dana Britton’s waiting to see you.”
Wishing she could have seen the look on Linda’s face,
Dana continued to stare at the paper in front of her.
Knowing she was being studied from the doorway,
Dana was glad she had chosen the navy linen pantsuit.
Crisp and professional, the vest-like, hip-length jacket
elongated her already tall appearance. Her hair was pulled
up and pinned back, makeup was minimal. A very
professional appearance, she had concluded before
leaving home that morning.
“Dana? We didn’t have an appointment. I’m very busy
today.”
 “Good morning. I know how busy you are. I’ll only take a
minute of your time, Linda. You always show up without an
appointment or invitation, for that matter. I thought I would
mimic you.” She didn’t rise from her seat, choosing to
refold the newspaper instead.
“Make it quick. What do you want?” Linda busied
herself sorting through a short stack of messages on small
slips of pink paper, avoiding eye contact with Dana.
Slowly, Dana rose, walking the short distance and
closing the office door. When she sat back in her seat, she
waited until Linda gave her the attention she was looking
for. Tossing the papers onto the desk, Linda sat, a weary
expression on her face.
“First, about my application,”
“That meeting is scheduled for seven tonight. I’ll be glad
to discuss it with you then. If that’s all, I have work to do.”
Dana didn’t stiffen at Linda’s attitude. She had been
prepared for it.
“Second, let’s talk about Clay Hollister.” Linda’s eyes
finally met Dana’s. “Last month you made it clear to me that
I would get no permit for the mansion until I gave you Clay.
I’m here to tell you that will never happen. Clay and I are
together and very much in love. I will not hand him over to
you without a fight. I won’t allow you to have any claims on
him, ever.” Taking a cleansing breath, she continued. “It’s
very simple, Linda. Tonight, my permits will be issued with
full cooperation of the board. You will be very enthusiastic
about the project, especially the good it will do for the town.”
“And why would I do that, Dana? I told you we needed
feasibility studies.”
“Cut the crap, Linda, you and I both know the only
reason my permit wasn’t issued last month was your little
power play for Clay. You are professionally out of line here
by using him to block the project. You just don’t get it. The
project means a lot to me and so does Clay. I won’t walk
away from the mansion or Clay. I will have them both,
perhaps at your expense, along with the tax revenue it
would produce for the county.” Dana let her statement sink
in.
“Is that all you have to say? I have work to do.”
“No. Just know that if for any reason my permit isn’t
issued, I plan on taking you before the ethics board.” Dana
eyed Linda, waiting for her to strike.
Instead, she chose to push back in her leather chair, a
pencil tapping between her fingers. “You don’t have a case.
No one heard our conversation in the parking lot. It would
be your word against mine.” Thinking for a moment, a cruel
smile came to Linda’s lips. “Go ahead. You’ll make a fool of
yourself.”
“Unless I happened to have had a recorder in my pocket
that day.”
Linda sat forward, her eyes narrowed to slits. “It wouldn’t
be admissible,” she said dismissively.
“Maybe not in court, but I can think of a few ladies’ clubs
that would pay dearly to listen to that tape.”
“You’re bluffing.”
“Am I? Think of all the gossip, all the publicity it would
garner for the mansion project. Local girl fighting to keep
the man she loves and her dream of restoring her old family
home for the town’s use. A jealous, vindictive woman trying
to stop her. I can see the headlines now, Britton heir fights
town official for project and love.”
“Is that a threat, Dana?”
“It’s whatever you want it to be. You see, all I have to do
is mention to a few well-chosen people in town the
problems I’m having getting approval from the board, and
the loss of potential jobs and tax revenue it would produce.
When asked my opinion why, I’d have to be honest and tell
them it’s because Clay and I are together and in love, not
because of the project itself.” Dana let it sink in, gave Linda
time to digest her words.
“I’ll believe that when I see it. Clay won’t keep you long.
He needs a hot-blooded woman beside him, not a fluff
piece more worried about her hair and makeup than
satisfying him. A man like Clay needs…he’ll take what he
wants from you and then toss you aside. I’ll be waiting to
console him over his unfortunate choice of girlfriends. And
Dana, I’ll know how to please him in ways you could never
begin to imagine.” Thinking she had the upper hand, Linda
relaxed in her chair.
Dana had a fleeting thought that she must have found
Walker. But it still could be a bluff, especially since Walker
knew she had the tape of their special night together. Better
not to bring it up.
“Anything else, Dana?”
“Just this.” Slowly Dana stood up, tossing the
newspaper onto the desk. She reached into her purse,
pulling a small recorder from it. “I know it’s not legal, but it’s
proof. Leave Clay and me alone, Linda. We won’t play your
sick game. Clay and I are in love and going to stay that
way. My permits will be granted with much appreciation for
all the revenue it will bring, not to mention the jobs it will
create.”
“Dana, no one will care about your little tapes. I’m the
assistant DA in this county. I can make trouble for you and
Clay. And don’t forget your brother’s farm. I wonder if the
EPA needs to make a spot check of his farming practices.”
“Do what you will, Linda. We’re not intimidated by you.
Consider this a courtesy call. If I have to, I will go above your
head. I have an appointment with Uncle Charlie for lunch
tomorrow.”
“Charlie?”
“Yes, didn’t you know, Charlie Steffens, your boss? He’s
my Uncle Leo’s brother. But of course, they had different
fathers, so they have different last names. No one ever told
you that story before? You’re slipping then. Actually, it’s
quite interesting, quite a love story.” Dana stood still,
knowing the only thing that kept her from strangling this
bitch was the wooden expanse between them. “Oh, one
more thing, next time—” Dana watched across the desk,
hoping she would give her just a small reason to cross the
line. Linda stood up before Dana could finish her thought.
“You little bitch.” With her weight leaning on her desk,
Linda’s face was a few inches from Dana’s. It was then
Dana saw the cruelness she had always felt from this
woman. “You may have won round one, but I’m a patient
woman. Round two will hit you when you least expect it. And
I’ll be there, watching it unfold. It will be the best day of my
life.”
“More threats for the recorder, Linda? I’d have thought
you smarter. Even if I can’t make charges stick with the
ethics board, you’ve just given me enough to ask any judge
for an order of protection, should I ever feel I need one.”
With the relief of a laugh, Dana stood her ground. “No
wonder you graduated in the bottom quarter of your class.
I’m surprised you finished at all, unless, of course, your
basic mode of operation has always been blackmail and
threats.” She surveyed her counterpart, satisfied with her
performance.
Leaving, she turned back to say, “You underestimated
me, Linda, that was your first mistake. The second was not
realizing I was a fighter and that I want it all. I will have my
museum and the mansion, and I will keep Clay. You just
don’t have what it takes to compete with me. See you at the
meeting, Linda.” Hesitating just before she walked out the
door, Dana turned back to Linda. “By the way, I’ll tolerate no
more trouble from you, whether it be flat tires or visits to
Clay’s home early mornings. You never know who will
answer the door.” Linda’s eyes flamed. “Actually, Clay and I
had quite a laugh waiting to see how long you’d stay. I won’t
tell you the things he did to me with you just downstairs
pacing on his porch. I will say we had an amazing morning
together.”
“You bitch! Get out.” The newspaper Dana had dropped
on the desktop came sailing past her, hitting the wall about
two feet to her left.
“Temper, temper, Linda.” Throwing back her head with
wild abandon, Dana laughed harder than she had in
months. This new feeling of freedom was liberating. She
was going to enjoy it.
“Get out…get out,” Linda was yelling.
Opening the door, Dana caught the secretarial staff
huddled around the intercom on Mavis’s desk. With a large
smile, she exited the office. The ladies scrambled back to
their desks, giving Dana only a wink or a nod as she left the
office.
****
Linda stood at her office window, livid. She was
disgusted with herself for letting the little bitch put her in this
position. She witnessed Dana leave the building and walk
straight across the street, into the building that housed the
bank and their family attorney. In that time, Linda
contemplated her next move to get back at the bitch. And
all were technically illegal.
She watched the truck lettered with Britton Farms on its
doors pull up and park next to the blue BMW. Jeff Britton
walked briskly into the building. Leaving the bank together,
arm in arm, Jeff waited until Dana pulled away. Now Linda
had to decide how to play her trump card. She had to
decide if she really wanted to stay in this town or if it was
time to move on. Her decision would affect how she played
that card. Leaning across her desk, she hit the intercom to
Mavis’s desk, without a second thought to who she might
inconvenience.
 “Cancel all my appointments and find out where Mayor
Harris is today.”
****
“Hollister here.”
“Morning, Clay.”
“Dana? Now it is a good morning, what’s up?”
“My spirits. I’ve taken care of the business I had to
today.”
“How did it go?”
“Time will tell, I’ll know at the meeting tonight.”
“Is it time to finish our conversation?” he asked
hesitantly.
“Whenever you’re ready.”
“Meet me at the river house in two hours?”
“Could you make it the mansion, instead? I could use a
hand with some books I want to take back to the
guesthouse.”
“I’ll be there.” Dana hung up the phone and started
gathering a few things together. Once the trunk of the car
was loaded, she changed into a light summer dress and
headed out.
****
Clay arrived with just a few minutes to spare, finding
Dana’s car already parked in the driveway. Walking up the
wide staircase, he called out and then tried the door.
Pushing it open easily, he called out again. “Dana?” Dana’s
laptop computer and keys lay on the bottom step of the
stairs. On top was a piece of paper telling Clay she was
upstairs.
 He took the time to turn the old lock on the front door
before taking the steps two at a time. He got to the second
floor landing, calling out again, “Dana, where are you?” He
walked down one hall then backtracked to the center hall.
On the third floor, he again walked one way, not finding her,
only to realize the door to the attic was open. He didn’t call
up to her, just took the steps two at a time.
Stretched out on a plaid blanket beside an old trunk,
she laid with her eyes closed to the sun streaming in from
the open windows. An old journal lay beside her. He
decided she heard his truck pull up, heard him call, and
knew he would find her, so she didn’t jump when he sat
down next to her, running his finger along her arm.
“Hi.”
“Hi, yourself.” Reaching down he kissed her gently
before stretching out on his belly next to her. “Want to tell
me about your business meeting this morning?”
“Later. Besides, by the time we leave here, all of the
town will know about it.”
“Just what did you do, Dana?” He waited while she
rolled over onto her stomach beside him. Motioning to the
bottle of wine she put on top of the trunk, she passed him a
corkscrew as she unwrapped two long-stemmed glasses
from the basket.
“Okay, I’ll tell you.” She gave him a mischievous smile
before continuing. “I had a meeting with Linda Cole this
morning, unscheduled of course.” She waited until he filled
each glass halfway, and then continued. “I don’t think there’ll
be any more delays with the board.”
 Touching his glass to hers, he said, “You mean you
fixed the problem? Congratulations, sweetheart.” They both
sipped, Clay waiting for Dana to elaborate. When she
didn’t he finally had to ask. “Dana, what exactly did you
do?”
“I simply explained she had no right to use you as a
bargaining chip, that I loved you and this old house and
wouldn’t turn you over to her or give up the museum.”
“What?” He sat up quickly, confused by her words.
“Word for word, Dana.”
“The tape is in a safe-deposit box, just in case. I know
it’s not admissible in any court, but the ladies’ bridge club
would love to take a listen to it.” He watched her hesitate.
“And in case there’s ever any trouble we can’t explain.” He
loved her smile, warm and gentle. “Mavis was listening on
her intercom when I left. One thing, though, I sort of
embellished a little. I let Linda think that you and I were
together Sunday morning. Will you keep my secret, Clay?”
The fire was back in her eyes. Clay knew it had been
missing for a long time.
“Kiss me, Clay Hollister, the way you really want to.” She
put her glass to the side, taking his and doing the same.
Slowly, she turned toward him, her arms open.
When his lips met hers, he had finally come home. Clay
wanted to devour her, then and there, but knew better.
Instead, he lazily stroked her all over while he thoroughly
kissed her lips, moving to her neck then back to her lips.
Her leg came up over his, pulling him closer. Her boldness
excited him more, its evidence against her leg.
 “Clay, I love you,” she whispered when his lips toyed
with her neck.
Leaning back, he propped his head on one hand,
watching her lay beside him. Her cheeks were flushed, her
lips full from his kisses. Her eyes were hazy, her hair
tousled.”God, Dana, I’ve waited three years for you to say
that. Wait here, don’t move.”
“Clay?”
“I’ll be right back.” He left her lying on the blanket,
returning to find her just as he left her, waiting in the
sunlight. Sliding back down beside her, he pulled her close.
Her arms wrapped around him, inviting him to her. He had
planned to have a quiet talk about their future, give her the
deed to the river house and property, but Dana had other
ideas. “Sweetheart, we need to talk,” Clay said.
“Yes, I know, later.” Her hands ran across his chest,
unbuttoning his shirt as she went. With a light trail of kisses,
she worked her way across his skin. A thin layer of
moisture beaded on his forehead as she assaulted his
senses.
Clay was lost in the haze of her touch, wanting more, not
daring to try to take it. Dana surprised him when she went
to unbuckle his belt. His hand came up over hers, holding
her in place. He now knew from the last time they were
together, Dana gets what she wants or takes it. The
concept of her being submissive and dominant had his
cock throbbing.
“Dana?”
“Clay, I know what I want. Let me have it,” she
whispered. With one arm covering his eyes from the sun,
the other around her shoulders, he let Dana take control.
“My God, Clay, you’re huge, swelling harder just from
the touch of my hand. What will happen if I lick you or suck
you down my throat?” she whispered as her hand closed
around him. For long, excruciating minutes of ecstasy, he
let her explore his body, fighting his urge to take her. She
had him close to the edge, too close, he knew. With all the
strength he could muster, he held her hand in place, leaving
it over his aching erection.
“Dana, honey, in my front right pocket…”
She continued to stroke him as she used her free hand
to search his pocket. “Clay, there’s no condoms here.
Besides, I thought you wanted skin to skin? Remember, I’m
on the pill, and we were both tested.”
It took a moment to realize she was searching for the
wrong thing. “Dana, that’s always in a man’s wallet,” he
teased.
“Then give me your wallet.” Her breath against his
exposed erection made it throb. Her lips brushing against
the tip jolted him. Taking her in his arms, he pulled her up,
kissing her deeply.
“Okay, we’ll use the condom. Give me your wallet,” she
whispered, pulling back from his mouth.
“My front pocket first.”
With a confused look, she only shook her head. When
she didn’t respond, he pulled the small object from the
depth of the cloth that surrounded it. Dana lay across his
half-nude body. Clay decided she was finally enjoying his
touch and feel for the first time. Her excitement was almost
as evident as his as she stroked her body against his. She
tried again to shift back, frustrated when he held her across
his chest.
“Clay, please,”
“Dana, first…” He pulled her left hand off him, reaching
to slide the ring on her finger. “First, promise you’ll marry
me.”
“Clay,” was all she could say as he slipped the gold onto
her finger. Without looking at it, she buried her face against
his neck. “God, Clay, are you sure, maybe we should just
date for a while, see how it goes.” Her words were as
shaky as her breath. Rolling on top of her, he took her hand
to his lips.
“This was the ring Holly gave my mother. It brought them
luck for many years, Dana. Will you wear it, will you marry
me? Right away, as soon as possible. No long
engagements, three months at the most for your plans.”
“Yes,” was all she managed before his mouth captured
hers. Clay felt something different from her. She had finally
relaxed, stopped holding back from him. Slowly, he began
to make love to her. His kisses trailed to her breasts. With
the pull of a string on each shoulder, the dress fell away
from her skin. His hands lightly skimmed over her as his
mouth captured first one then her other nipple in his mouth.
She arched a silent plea for more.
Without thinking, one hand skimmed to her legs, pulling
back the material, freeing him to explore. When his hand
stroked her thigh, she didn’t freeze against him. Instead she
allowed her leg to fall to the side, granting him access.
Slowly he began again, his hand on her thigh, his lips to
hers. Her hands were knotted in his hair, pulling him closer
to her waiting mouth. With a light touch, he let his fingers
dance across her most private place. He waited for her to
tense. She didn’t. Instead, the moan she released gave him
courage to continue. Slowly, with his lips to her nipple,
sucking lightly, he let his finger slip along the side of her
panties, pulling them to the side, finding her hot and moist,
waiting for him.
“God, Dana, you’re hot to my touch,” he whispered,
switching to her other nipple. His hand rested against her,
her heat radiating to his palm. With careful strokes, he felt
her shift under him, felt her hips arch to meet his hand. His
index finger stroked her lips, using her moisture to ease his
way. Dana was going crazy under him, she wanted more,
she wanted it all, from him, now. He felt the urgency of her
movements. Pulling his lips from her breast, she pleaded
with him, “Please, Clay,” was all she got out as his finger
slipped inside her.
He let the weight of his hand lie against her, his finger
inside her, then a second, and felt her clasp him, felt her
pussy go creamy. Clay assaulted her mouth with his, riding
with her until she finished. His kiss lightened slightly, but he
didn’t stop.
“Dana, do you know how crazy you make me? Do you
have any idea how erotic you are?”
Her hands twisted in his hair, she wanted more, wanted
him to complete her. “Clay, please, I want to feel you inside
me.” She felt his groan build deep within him as he pulled
her under him, fighting with his jeans. “That’s what I need
from you right now. Remember I’m a very demanding
woman. And after you fuck my pussy, I want you to fuck my
ass. Now are you going to do me, or do I have to make
you? Or is that what you want right now, to lay back and
leave me in charge? You pick, but make it quick.”
 Chapter Sixteen
Pausing, he saw she was glowing as the sunlight swept
across her face and hair. Her eyes were closed, her hands
stroking his chest as she waited. Clay studied her for one
last moment, knowing there was no going back.
He decided, too, they should use the condoms until they
were married, just as an extra precaution. He wanted his
children conceived after their wedding. As he pulled the foil
package from his wallet, he stilled. Dana reacted, pulling
him back. Clay resisted, touching his finger to her lips.
Listening, he heard it again.
“Dana? Where are you, child?” A few seconds later,
they heard it again, closer this time. “Dana?”
“Did you lock the door, Clay?”
“Yes, of course. Who else would have a key?” The voice
rang out again.
“Dana?”
“Aunt Mary?” One look at Clay and Dana dissolved into
laughter. Clay collapsed on top of her for just a moment,
before rolling to the side. Dana quickly tied the straps over
her shoulders with Clay’s assistance. Before she rose up
from the floor, she paused, taking Clay’s cock against her
lips, claiming him as hers before she left him. He watched
as she looked for her shoes, and then dismissed them.
Running her hands through her hair, she called out when
she reached the door.
“Aunt Mary? Is that you?” With a few steps, she was
gone from his sight. Clay took a moment to compose
himself then set about straightening his clothes. He couldn’t
quite get the grin off his face as he joined Dana a short
time later on the third-floor stairs, where she had blocked
Mary’s way.
“Hello, Mary?” With that, she gave him an evil-eyed look.
He and Dana both watched as she looked from him to her
and back. Clay eased Dana back against his body, an
automatic reaction to protect. His hands slid to her
shoulders.
“Well, it’s about time,” Mary declared.
Dana turned to Clay, smiling when he realized he must
look as tousled as she did.
“Come downstairs. I can’t stand on these steps all day.”
Turning, Mary started the slow descent of the stairs, Dana
and Clay following. As they went, Mary continued speaking.
“I suppose there’s no place to sit in this house, or
nothing cool to drink?”
Clay squeezed Dana’s arm then started back up the
stairs. He met them walking into the old kitchen. Mary was
right, there were no chairs, so he put the bottle of wine
down and lifted Mary by the waist up onto the counter.
****
“There are some paper cups in the cabinet to the left of
the sink, I think.” Dana made a show of looking for the cups,
buying time to compose herself. When she turned, Mary
and Clay were eye to eye. Sidestepping them both, she
slowly added the liquid to three cups, handing one to each
of them before taking her own, coming to stand beside
Clay. His arm went around her as she snuggled against his
large chest.
“So, are you going to make an honest woman of my
niece?” Her brusque words and tone didn’t intimidate Clay
as they did so many others. He had been around long
enough to know her gruff exterior led to a heart of gold, or
grief when need be.
“I’m working on it, Mary.” Dana pulled her arm from
Clay’s waist, presenting Mary with her hand, sporting the
square-cut diamond. Clay sipped from his cup to hide his
smile as she pretended to take stock of his ring.
“It’s about time. This means you’re home for good?”
“Yes, Aunt Mary. I’ve come home to stay.”
“Good, it’s where you belong. You’ve had many
advantages in this life, Dana. You’ve traveled and worked,
have several degrees. You’ve learned there really is no
place like home once you find it.”
“Yes, Aunt Mary.” Dana went to hug her aunt, enjoying
the rare moment of closeness between them.
“To the happy couple.” She lifted her cup and drank
greedily. “Now, I think it’s about time you told me what else
is going on.”
Dana looked to Clay. “I’m not sure what you mean.
Where’s Uncle Leo?”
“Don’t lie, child, you were never good at it. I dropped
him off at Charlie’s office. Tell me about that broad-hipped
bitch you went up against this morning.”
Dana laughed outright, Clay following close behind.
“How did you hear, did Jeff call you? I told him he wasn’t to
tell anyone.”
“Mavis phoned, told me it would be in my best interest
to show my face at the board meeting tonight.”
“Mavis.” Dana understood the chain of information. “I
may have moved thirty miles away when I married, but this
is my home, Dana. Don’t ever forget that. Now, talk. Clay,
my glass is empty.”
Clay filled Mary’s cup as Dana gave her the condensed
version of events, concluding with the tape now in
residence in the bank’s vault.
“I figure if there’s ever any trouble we can’t understand,
I’ll have some backup.”
“Leo’s with Charlie now. They’ll make sure everyone is
safe.” A small smile appeared on her lips. Dana watched
as Clay waited through Mary sizing him up and down. She
didn’t care, she knew they were a match. Both were strong
in character and deeply in love. What else did it take to
make a marriage work?
“Well. Mavis was right, and you owe her a thank-you.
She’s your unsolicited witness, even if she was snooping.
She’ll back you if it comes to it. It won’t. Everyone in town
will know some version of it by the time the meeting starts.”
Mary drank from her cup, mulling something over. “She
likes roses, but a bush, not fresh cut.”
“I’ll take care of it this afternoon, Mary,” Clay told her.
“See that you do. Yellow would be nice against her
white house. Have the nursery arrange to have it planted
Saturday morning. She should be home then to supervise.”
“Yes, Mary. Consider it done.”
 “Well, it’s late, and Lisa is probably in a tizzy since she
got my call. I decided to have supper with her and Jeff
tonight before the meeting. Wanted to see Adam while I
was here. You’ll both be there for supper.” She told them.
“Actually, no. I won’t, but I’ll see you at the meeting.” He
brushed a kiss on Dana’s forehead and then added, “Let
Jeff drive you, and we won’t have to worry about two cars
later.”
With a smile, she nodded her agreement. Clay placed a
kiss on Mary’s forehead before lifting her to the floor. “See
you later,” he called back to them. He wasn’t past the
doorway when he turned back. “Mary, wasn’t the door
locked when you got here?”
“Of course it was.” Her sly grin told him she had her
ways, and he’d probably be better off not knowing.
Laughing, he shook his head as he left them.
****
Clay stood in the back of the meeting room taking stock
of what was unfolding before him. He had caught Dana’s
eye before it started, but chose to stay in the background.
The first row of chairs read like a family history; Uncle
Charlie, then Leo with Mary. Dana was next, with Jeff at her
side.
The first several motions on the docket were dispensed
with quickly. When the room settled back down, Dana’s
permit application was read aloud. Clay couldn’t remember
when a board meeting had gotten so much attendance.
Comments were asked for. Several questions from the
audience members were addressed by Dana. Standing
before the crowd, her presentation was concise and
accurate, her numbers in order. She fielded the questions
with ease, charming every person there, including Clay. Her
choice of the peach suit with the white blouse was the
perfect look for tonight, wholesome yet professional. Clay
couldn’t wait to take it off piece by piece.
When it came time for the board to make the final vote,
he slipped up the side aisle, going to her side. Jeff moved
down a seat, making room for Clay to sit beside her. He
and Jeff exchanged a look, a small, resigned smile forming
on Jeff’s lips. Clay was glad he had made time to stop and
see Jeff earlier in the day. While they were friends, he didn’t
want the news of his engagement to Dana to come from
another source. They had both shared a hug, and then Clay
listened while Jeff gave him the lecture about hurting Dana,
with important parts of Clay’s body being broken at best. It
had ended with them laughing.
He held Dana’s hand in his, and they waited while the
vote was taken. He knew she hadn’t taken a breath. When
the unanimous vote was completed, she finally gulped for
air.
Clay choked back his anger as Linda stood, taking
control of the meeting. “If that’s all that’s on the docket, I’d
like to add one last item.”
She had dismissed Dana’s victory while shuffling some
papers before her. Linda waited for the crowd to come to
order. “It is with sincere regret that I take this opportunity to
advise the board that my resignation will be handed in
tomorrow morning. While I’ve enjoyed my time working for
the betterment of this community, I find it’s time for me to
move on. I’d like to thank…”
Neither Dana nor Clay heard the rest of her words, until
the final statement. “Private practice and becoming Mrs.
Jason Harris will keep me quite busy.” Her phony smile
didn’t fool many people in the room, most of whom had
gotten her number a long time before. Everyone knew it
was a power play, deflect the gossip and make them
wonder.
As the meeting ended, the Brittons stayed to thank the
board members for their support. Mary was the one who
confronted Linda Cole. Leaning in to hug the woman,
Mary’s stage whisper quieted the room.
“My dear, we’re so happy for you. What did you
blackmail Jason with to accomplish this feat?” With a wide
smile, Mary pulled back.
Clay was glad she was moving to the next county. As
mayor of that county’s largest city, Jason Harris already had
his hands full. Having Linda as a wife would make his life a
living hell. From what he knew of Jay, they deserved each
other.
“Dana, Clay.” Linda leaned in, kissing Clay on the lips.
An instinct told him to wipe it away with the back of his
hand. He didn’t suppress it. “Congratulations, Linda. I hope
you and Jason will be as happy as Dana and I are.” With an
exaggerated move, he brought Dana’s left hand to his lips,
running them across it lightly. The diamond glinted from the
light. He knew it was a cruel moment, one Dana deserved
but wouldn’t take for herself. With a grunt, she moved past
them.
“Everyone back to the Mansion,” Jeff told Dana.
“What, why?”
“To celebrate, of course.”
“But…”
****
Dana was surprised to see the cars in the driveway.
She recognized a few as she and Clay walked from his car.
“What is going on, Clay?”
“Go inside and find out.” Taking her arm, he all but
dragged her up the front stairs. Lisa opened the door for
them, taking Dana into her arms for a warm hug.
“Congratulations, honey. We’re so happy for you.” Dana
glanced at the faces gathered in the foyer. Somehow Lisa
and Ruth had transformed the area. Candles glowed from
every surface. The center table was covered in white linen,
with trays of cookies and mints laid out. Bottles of
champagne sat iced in a huge copper bucket, waiting their
turn to be opened.
“Lisa, how did you do all this?” she asked, accepting
the glass of cold wine.
“Ask Clay. It seems with a few phone calls, he can
accomplish a great deal.”
“Clay, you did this?”
“You earned it, sweetheart. For all the hard work and
planning.” He tipped his glass to hers, sipping lightly. “And
to all the work yet to come,” he added, getting a round of
applause from the rest of the guests.
Dana counted eighteen people when she glanced
around. Mavis was deep in conversation with Mary, Leo,
and Charlie. Within an hour, everyone slowly headed out.
With just her core family left around her, Dana finally let hers
tears come. Not a huge body-racking cry, but a few stray
tears of understanding. Finally, she knew what it was like to
be home with her family, and especially with Clay.
“Just leave this for tonight, honey. I’ll come with you in
the morning and give you a hand to straighten it up.”
“Thanks, Lisa.” Hugging her aunt and uncle, Dana was
surprised when Mary pulled her closer.
“Dana, your mother would be proud of you. So would
your father.”
“Thank you, Aunt Mary. That means so much to me.”
“Take good care of my childhood home. It was a grand
place in its day, make it that way again.” Releasing her,
Mary stood straight, looking around her. “Well, isn’t
someone going to take us home? It’s been a long day, and
I’m sure Jeff and Lisa would prefer to see me and Leo
safely tucked away in their guest room for the night.” With
one of her rare smiles, she swept from the house, her exit
complete.
“You two coming?” Leo asked.
“Actually, no. Dana and I have a previous engagement.
Why not plan on having lunch in town with us before you
head home tomorrow?”
“See you then.” Leo gave Dana a hug, then followed
Mary out to the car. Jeff grabbed a bottle of champagne
from the bucket, smiling at Lisa. With one eyebrow raised,
she accepted his arm. “See you at lunch,” Jeff told them as
he and Lisa left them alone in the old mansion.
“Clay, I don’t know what to say. Thank you doesn’t seem
to cover it.”
“Let’s get out of here, and maybe I can think of
something that will.” Teasing her came so naturally. They
bantered back and forth until most of the debris had been
cleared away. Clay took the last bottle of champagne from
the bucket and waited while Dana went about blowing out
the candles.
Outside, there was a light breeze, and the air smelled
clean. Seated in the Corvette, Dana finally asked, “Where
are we going?”
“Home, kid. Home,” was all he would tell her. She
assumed he meant his home, and that was fine with her.
Instead, he took the road for the river house. She glanced
at him as he shut off the ignition and released his seat belt.
Taking a flashlight from beside his seat, he went around,
opening the door for Dana.
“Clay?”
“It’s all right. I know the owner.”
“What?” She followed him to the garage doors, holding
the light as he fitted the key in the lock. Once inside, he
made a point of locking the door and double checking it. In
the darkness of the house, Dana held tight, following the
light he held. Up the stairs and to the right, the master suite,
she knew.
Just outside the doorway, Clay turned. “Wait here.”
Standing in the hallway, Dana wasn’t sure what emotion
to feel. They swamped her all at once. The relief of the
permits, her love for Clay, being in someone else’s house.
Light flooded the dark room, forcing Dana to shut her eyes
against it. When she opened them, Clay stood before her.
He swept her into his arms, carrying her toward the bed he
had prepared in the center of the room. Gently, he laid her
down. Dana slipped off her shoes as she looked around.
Candlelight flickered all around her. There were glasses
set out, waiting. Clay went about opening the wine before
he settled next to her. Handing her a glass, he smiled.
“Dana, do you think we could be alone here for a few
hours?” he teased.
“I don’t know, what about the owner, won’t they mind
us…christening their home?”
“Probably, but let’s do it anyway.” Taking the glass from
her hand, she laid back on the layers of sleeping bags and
blankets he had laid out. Following down beside her, he
unbuttoned her jacket, pushing it aside.
“Where were we when we were so rudely interrupted
this afternoon?” His lips teased her ear and her neck as he
talked. She struggled to get out of the jacket, finally pushing
him away, standing to take it off. .
Clay looked like he hadn’t taken a breath. Standing
before him, she slowly took off her clothes. First the jacket,
then the skirt. As she unbuttoned the silk shirt, it fell away
with the rest of her things. She hadn’t worn a bra. She was
bare to him except for a scrap of white lace that covered
her femininity. Slowly, she lay back down next to him.
“Is that about where we were?” she asked.
Clay seemed to have lost his train of thought, as if the
sight of her slow strip before him had turned his brain to
dust. Lying next to him, she knew she was the luckiest
woman alive.
“Well, is that about where we were interrupted or not?”
Teasing him, she slowly eased his shirt over his head, her
nails dragging against his nude skin.
“Dana,” was all he could say before she dragged him to
her, mouth to mouth. For a long time they kissed, touched,
and explored. Her hands were light and graceful against his
skin. Her fingers found his erection through his pants,
stroking him as she had earlier.
“Clay, get rid of these, please.” She tugged at the
waistband of his pants. He seemed reluctant to release her
but eventually stripped away the barriers that kept him from
her.
He didn’t hesitate this time. Clay made love with Dana
the way she had always dreamed he would, long and slow,
teasing and tasting. Her hands were all over him, touching
him everywhere. His mouth locked with hers, he pulled the
last barrier away from her, tossing the lace underwear into
the darkness. “Dana?” In the candlelight, he was even more
handsome, if that was possible.
“Don’t stop, Clay, please don’t stop,” she murmured
against his chest. Her hands were on him, holding him as
they changed positions.
 Chapter Seventeen
Clay was warm and giving. She didn’t hesitate to
explore him with her mouth. She took her time, glancing up
at him occasionally, asking him what he liked and didn’t.
His moan was her only answer, so she kept going.
“Clay, remember when I was a kid and you used to
torture me, all the time?”
“Uh-huh,” was all he could manage. Her laugh surprised
him, and he opened his eyes just in time to watch her engulf
his hardness with her mouth. Clay let his head fall back.
She was enjoying the sweet torture she was providing him.
His hands found her, pulled her up to him. Dana understood
if he left her alone, she would finish him. Apparently, he
wanted more, and so did she, much more. The discomfort
at waiting only prolonged his enjoyment. His hand found her
center, touching her in the most intimate of ways.
Dana remembered their afternoon, how he had given
her such a gift, now she wanted it again. Sensing it, Clay
slipped his finger inside her, feasting on her nipple as he
had. Again, she felt the wave hit her, a soft cry escaping
from her lips. With that, Clay moaned against her breast
and then left it.
Dana opened her eyes just as she felt his kiss to her clit
and then long licks of his tongue along her pussy lips. She
could never describe the pleasure he gave her at that
moment. When she closed her eyes, lights flashed against
her eyelids, dancing in patterns as she gave in to his
actions. His lips and tongue moved over her again and
again, his hand somewhere in the mix, until she thought she
couldn’t take any more.
Clay kept his hand against her and started at the
beginning. His lips to hers muffled her plea for more.
Moving against him, against his hand, Dana finally pulled
away from him.
“Clay, please come inside me,” Her raspy words were
his final undoing, as her hand sought him out.
Pausing only to slide a condom over his erection, he
whispered, “Just until the wedding,” and then his lips went
back to hers. Straddling her, he held her head between his
hands, forcing her to look. “Dana, I love you. I’ll never hurt
you, sweetheart. I will accept any and all of your
unconventional ways when we’re alone together. In public
we’ll have to show some restraint, but in private…”
“I know that now, Clay. I love you too.” Her hand pulled
his head to hers as he slowly entered her. She wanted
more, writhing under him, trying to get him to hurry. He
pulled back one last time and smiled down at her. Then he
engulfed her nipple as he pushed his way deep inside her.
For one deafening second, Clay froze. She could feel him
straining above her. Finally, he began the small jutting
motions with his hips that pushed him farther inside her
pussy. Her fingers grasped his butt cheeks and pulled him
tighter inside. “Damn you’re huge inside me. I knew you
would be. I’ve dreamt about you stretching me with your
cock. Please, Clay, don’t stop, not now.” Her body writhed
under him, forcing his movements faster and harder until he
was consuming her body with his cock. She felt the shift in
him. He was taking from her too.
He sucked her nipple deep into his mouth as he pushed
deeper. She felt his warmth inside her and used her inner
muscles to milk him toward orgasm. Dana had never
experienced a man like Clay. Now, her mind and body
worked together, telling her what she needed, and she
followed its lead, taking from him what he had waited so
long to give her.
“Dana, look at me,” he whispered. Her eyes opened
halfway; her gaze at him took his last breath of restraint. He
pulled back and grabbed her thighs and held her in place
while he thrust a few last times, his body spent.
She pushed him over the edge when her eyes flew open
at the sensation he had created within her. Her only word
was his name, “Clay,” whispered as she gave in to the
feelings he stirred inside her. He moved with her, working
through her second peak as his own overtook him.
For a long time they stayed together. Clay tried not to
collapse on top of her, using his arms to support his weight.
Dana held him close, refusing to let him move off her. When
her breathing had settled, she whispered in his ear, “More.”
With that, she started to move under him, forcing him
back to life inside her. “I’ve created a monster,” he teased,
raising himself back up to complete the rocking movement
she was working toward.
“Be careful what you wish for,” she told him, pulling his
lips to hers. His kiss was a beginning, and she relaxed
back as he slid down her body. His tongue to her clit, he
used his fingers to punctuate his movements, and Dana
came again, a short ripple of climax rushing through her
body. Finally, Clay moved back beside her. She was
exhausted and watched as he rolled to the side. He’d
ditched the used condom, but she didn’t know where, didn’t
care right now.
Dana lay in Clay’s arms, sated for the first time in her
life. As if reading her thoughts, Clay asked what she was
thinking.
“I’m almost embarrassed to tell you.” Her smile let him
understand the nature of her statement. Even in the
candlelight, he watched the blush creep up her neck,
warming her cheeks.
“But, since you are going to marry me.” Suddenly, she
pulled back, searching his face. “Well, you are, aren’t you?”
“Yes, kid. Yes. Tell me.” Her slight hesitation started to
alarm him, then he felt her warm hand engulf him. She
stroked him gently, enjoying the texture of him
“I want to do it again,” she whispered.
“God help me, I have created a monster.”
“Of your own doing. Like it or not, now you’re stuck.”
“I like it, Dana.” She felt him come to life against her
palm, thrilled she could entice him to his current state.
Surprised by his body’s quick reaction, they relaxed in a
slow joining, Dana learning what she liked him to do, telling
him what she wanted. As he finally rolled off her, spent and
exhausted, she went to his arms, laying her head against
his chest, loving the rhythmic motion of his breathing.
“There’s one thing, before I forget.” He rolled out from
under her. Suddenly she felt naked. Sitting up, she groped
for her shirt. Clay caught a glimpse of her and tossed the
closest item of clothing, his shirt, toward her as he
searched for his pants. When he lay back down, he had an
envelope in his hand. Dana sat cross-legged in the center
of the now-mangled bed of blankets. Clay watched her pull
on his shirt. It was huge on her, and it carried his scent. He
never looked more handsome than this very moment. He
handed her a refilled glass, taking a long drink from his
before putting it aside.
“I wanted to give you this earlier, but we got interrupted.”
He held out the envelope, and Dana took the sealed item,
turning it over in her hand. She gave him her glass then
studied what she held. “It might be easier if you opened it.”
With a light kiss, he rolled away, bringing back a large
candle, placing it close to where she sat. “Just open it, kid.”
Slowly, Dana slid her finger under the sealed flap,
breaking the contact. From inside she pulled out several
sheets of paper. Holding them up to the candle, the words
leapt out. Deed of Sale. The words blurred before her as
tears filled her eyes. She didn’t want to cry, but tears came
anyway.
“Clay?”
“The land is yours, Dana. Do with it what you will. We
can remodel this house or just tear it down and start over.”
“But, Clay, how? When?”
“I bought the house two years ago when it came back
on the market.”
“That’s why you had the key. Why didn’t you ever finish
it?” Her eyes were wide with shock. Of all the things that
could have been in that envelope, this was not one of her
initial guesses.
“I figured if you were going to live here for the rest of
your life, you’d probably want some say in it.” He watched
her reactions carefully, almost afraid he had gone too far.
“Clay, I don’t know what to say. It’s all so much. You, and
getting married. And now this, our home, oh, Clay, thank
you.” Her arms went around his neck, and she buried her
face against him.
“Don’t forget your project at the Mansion.” She pulled
back sharply from him, using her hand to steady his face
before her.
“Clay, it means nothing to me compared to you.”
“Dana, now you can have it all.”
“All?” Her raised eyebrow got his attention. He watched
as she carefully folded the documents and put them back in
the envelope. She placed it to the side, moving the candle
he had brought for her to read by. Her hands went to the
hem of his shirt, her arms pulling it over her head, tossing it
aside. “Can you guess what I want right now?”
“Give me a hint,” he said, tugging her to his chest, his
fingers going directly to her nipple.
“We should christen it now that I know it’s our home. I
won’t be so uptight.” She held a straight face for about
three seconds before grinning at him. “Did you bring the
box of toys here?”
“God, help me,” he whispered as she lay on top of him.
He hardened at the touch of her soft skin once again. This
time all the hesitancy was gone. She took what she
needed, using her hands and mouth to tease him until she
straddled his legs and slowly let her weight impale her on
his cock. She shifted until she had him where she wanted
him. Dana grasped his hands and brought them to her
breasts, pushing them hard against her skin.
“I want to ride you for a while, Clay, and then I want you
to turn me over and fuck me from behind.”
“That’s what you want?”
“For now. The rest can come later.” She increased her
hip movements, grinding tighter against him. “After, you can
fuck my ass while you spank me for keeping you waiting so
long.”
Clay had no words for her, only a sly grin forming on his
lips. “Who’s in charge, Dana?”
“For tonight, we both are. Tomorrow we’ll figure out the
rest.”
“I can live with that,” he said, grasping her around the
waist and turning her under him.
****
The next day Dana finally knew what real happiness
was. After her evening with Clay at the new house, she
decided to accept life as it came at her and deal with it day
by day. Their lunch with the family had turned into an
engagement luncheon with much love and well wishes for
her and Clay’s future. She’d arranged with Clay to have
supper at his home that night, telling him she’d take care of
the food. He reminded her where the spare key was in
case he got tied up with work, telling her to make herself at
home.
She packed a small overnight bag and carefully packed
up the meal Ruth had made for them, along with a plate of
her famous oatmeal raisin cookies. The chicken smelled
delicious, and Dana knew she wouldn’t fuss with the meal.
Instead, she had other things to get ready.
“Just reheat this for fifteen minutes with the foil on, and
you’ll be ready to eat.”
“Thanks Ruth, you’ve saved me again.” Dana gave her
a hug.
“Go, get out of here and enjoy that man of yours.” Ruth
turned away when tears threatened. Dana gave her a
second hug and loaded the cooler into her car.
Once at Clay’s, she put the food away and set the
kitchen table. It just felt right for them to eat in that room
instead of the formal dining room. Then she headed
upstairs to his master bedroom. After turning back the
coverlet and tossing extra pillows on the corner chair, she
set out a few new things she’d brought with her. Candles
were placed on the large bureau. She knew once lighted,
they’d reflect in the mirror. She also took a large bath towel
and laid out all her toys, lubes and condoms on the bedside
table, leaving them covered with the other half of the towel.
Then she changed into her new lingerie. Dana laughed at
herself while trying to tug the damn corset into place.
Thankfully, it tied up the front, so after some maneuvering,
she was encased in the white satin and lace. Her breasts
were pushed up, all but spilling over the cups, and her slim
waist narrowed further.
 After several attempts, she finally got the fit she was
looking for along with being able to breathe. Then she
pulled on the matching panties. She fluffed out her hair and
darkened her makeup. Taking a few turns in front of the
mirror, she was pleased with her overall look. It was so far
removed from her everyday Dana look, she knew Clay
would be surprised. She pulled on the silk kimono robe
she’d brought as a cover-up and went downstairs to wait.
She decided to forget the high-heeled shoes she’d brought,
opting for bare feet in the kitchen. The wine was chilling
along with a plate of cheese and crackers. Now she just
had to wait for Clay to come home. She sighed with relief
when he called a few minutes later and told her he was on
his way.
At first, she thought she’d be nervous, but the butterflies
never came. Instead, she was anxious to get her hands on
him, all over him.
Clay looked exhausted when he came in, but his mood
changed immediately when he took one look at her.
“Give me five minutes for a quick shower,” he said,
pausing beside her. “Unless you want to join me?” His
smile told her it was a genuine invitation. His kiss was hot
and tempting, pushing for more. She let her hand drop to
his crotch and stroked his erection through the material as
they reconnected. It was hard to pull away with his hand
running up and down her body. “What do you have on under
here?” he asked, feeling the corset stays.
“A surprise. You go clean up, and I’ll pour the wine.”
“Never argue with a lady who looks this amazing.” He
gave her one last peck on the cheek and disappeared
upstairs.
When Dana heard the shower running, she decided to
meet him upstairs with the wine. Dana was hungry for Clay,
not for food. She let her hand drop to her pussy and stroked
her clit a few times. It felt wonderful, but she knew Clay
would make her feel better. With wine bottle and glasses in
hand, she went upstairs to meet him. She was standing at
the window with her back to him when he came into the
bedroom. Turning, she held back the gasp that came to her
lips. He was amazing. Nude except for a towel wrapped
around his waist and a second he was using to dry his hair,
she eyed him up and down.
“You are a very sexy man,” she told him, and went to the
bureau, where she’d put their filled wine glasses. She
handed him one and paused to light the candles. Dana held
her glass in one hand and let her other hand run along his
naked chest, following the line of dark curling hairs that led
down to his cock. “Are you hungry?”
“For you, yes. Food can wait.” He tossed the towel he’d
been drying his hair with to the floor and wrapped his arm
around her waist, pulling her closer. “To our future, where
ever it leads us.”
Dana touched her glass to his and repeated his toast.
After taking a sip, she put the glass aside and tugged off
his towel. His cock sprung to full attention, and she instantly
covered it with her hand, stroking him back and forth.
Dropping to her knees, she licked the tip before taking the
whole head between her lips, swirling her tongue around
and around. Then she started to suck him down her throat.
She felt him surge on her tongue and held back a smile.
Having his body react to her attentions was what she’d
longed for.
Clay stood with his feet firmly planted a shoulder width
apart and gave her complete control. She knew he had put
his wine glass on the bureau and was watching her intently.
She’d glance up to see his expressions, her mouth full with
his cock. She could taste the droplets of pre-cum she was
creating and sucked him deeper. When she reached one
hand to play with his testicles, he dropped his hands on her
shoulders.
“Dana, you’ll make me come,” he whispered.
“Isn’t that what’s supposed to happen?” she teased, her
hand still toying with his balls, her other stroking his cock.
When she spied a drop of cum, she licked it immediately.
Suddenly it all came into focus. This was the man she
wanted to act out her fantasies with. She felt no real
embarrassment, only the need to push for every feeling she
could get from him, and in return, everything she could
make him feel.
“I want to play with you a while first,” he told her and
pushed the robe off her shoulders. Dana let it fall back,
revealing the corset and how it highlighted her breasts.
“Christ,” he said, looking down at her. “Come up here
and let me see you.” He steadied her as she stood and
slipped the belt open. The kimono slid the rest of the way to
the floor, leaving her open to his view. “Don’t touch me,
Dana, I’ll lose my load just looking at you.”
 She smiled and reached up to kiss his lips.
From then on, she just let the evening develop on its
own. She’d done her planning, and apparently Clay was
impressed.
“Turn around and let me see you,” he said, reaching for
his wine glass. He leaned his hip on the bureau as she
walked to the window and back. “What an ass,” he said and
she smiled. “Turn around.”
Dana turned and watched his face as she ran her hands
up and down her waist. When she walked back to him, she
leaned over and licked his cock a few more times. She
took the glass from his hand and drank some before
handing it back. He was looking at her intently, and she
knew he’d seen the extra ribbon restraints tied in small
bows at her waist.
Dana had bought the corset as soon as she realized the
satin ribbons at the waist and back could be used to tie her
hands. Apparently, Clay had just figured that out too.
“How far, Dana?” he mumbled, pulling at the ties.
“As far as you want, as long as you remember this is
private between us and only on occasion.”
“I get the feeling you’ll let me know when you’re in the
mood for more than an evening of standard lovemaking.”
He dipped his head down and licked at the tops of her
breasts. Her nipples were already hard when he sucked
them through the cloth. Then he reached up and pulled them
from the cups, leaving them exposed for his sight and
touch. Dana felt a ripple of heat rush through her and knew
her pussy was getting wet. He’d know the second he
touched her that she was already creamy and ready. With
his lips to her breast, she let her head drop back and
closed her eyes, enjoying the sensations he created. When
he pulled away, he gave her a sly smile. “Do you want your
hands tied?”
“If it will excite you,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound
too desperate. “The ties work at the sides or from behind.”
Dana took a deep breath and turned her back to him,
letting him decide. She waited while he used the ribbons to
bind her hands at her waist instead of behind her. Then he
walked around her several times, admiring her. She knew
her body heated with embarrassment and lust. This was
one of her ultimate fantasies, to give herself to Clay
completely. It felt right to be here with him, right to allow him
to join her fantasies. From behind, his hands palmed her
buttocks and reached around to cup her breast. He’d roll
her nipple between his fingers while pinching her butt. Dana
sighed and let her weight drop back against his chest.
“Clay, I need you to fuck me,” she managed to tell him.
“I will, Dana. When I’m ready.” His tone was different,
decisive.
“I’m in control,” he reminded her. “Turn and face me.”
She did as he asked even though her face was still hot
with embarrassment from what she was asking for.
He ran his index finger along her pussy lips several
times while sucking on her nipple. Dana could feel the pull
of his teeth against her and his finger rubbing her clit. She’d
found her little piece of heaven. Then he used his finger
along her lips and pushed the material between them.
 “You’re hot to my touch, Dana. You’re already wet. What
got you all hot and bothered?”
“Sucking your cock,” she said without hesitation. “You
binding my hands and having your way with me makes me
excited. I trust you, Clay. But I need you to fuck me.” She
shimmied against his finger, and he lightly bit her nipple.
“When I’m ready,” he told her again. “I like you being
bound. It gives me time to play with you as I want.”
“Then at least put your finger in me,” she pleaded.
Clay laughed lightly and left her standing at the foot of
the bed. She watched him unfold the towel and appraise
the items she’d put out. “My call,” he asked again, picking
up one of the dildos.
“Yes, damn you, just put it in my pussy.”
“Patience, Dana.” He brought the toy to her, and she
immediately opened her mouth to accept it, sucking it as if
it was his cock. Clay had one hand on the toy while his
other skimmed her body. She was having trouble standing
still. When he dropped his hand and pinched her buttocks,
she melted inside. Dana felt him slide the material between
her cheeks, leaving him complete access to her ass. She’d
been hoping he’d be an ass man. But he took his hand
away and slid his finger along her pussy lips, pushing the
material against them, her own heat making the material
stick between her lips.
“What a sight,” he whispered, before taking the toy from
her mouth and dropping to his knees before her. “I wanted
to play with you a bit longer, but I’ll be nice tonight.”
Dana watched as he put the dildo between his lips and
tugged her damp panties down her legs. He lifted each leg
and tossed the panties aside. Pulling the toy from his
mouth, his lips were instantly at her clit and taking long licks
along her pussy.
Dana groaned when he swirled his tongue in just the
right way. Finally, as if he could read her mind, he slid a
finger inside her.
“Damn you are hot and wet, ready,” he mumbled as he
pulled his finger out and gently pushed the toy in her pussy.
Dana groaned with delight. “Thank you.”
Clay stood and went back to sucking her breasts and
nipples, one hand pinching her naked ass and the other
shifting the toy inside her.
“Dana, do you have any idea how amazing you are, how
you look? My cock is drooling just playing with you.”
“Then fuck me and come. We can always go back for
seconds later.”
Dana reveled in every touch and stroke Clay made to
her body. Whether with his lips or his hands, he made her
feel alive and sensual. He made her feel feminine.
“How far, Dana?”
“As far as it takes to get you off.”
She didn’t panic when he left her standing there, the toy
in her pussy and her breasts exposed from the corset. She
watched him as he circled around her several times before
going back to the toys she’d laid out and choosing a small
one.
“If you want to stop…”
“I want you to start!”
 Clay grasped her around the waist and lifted her off her
feet, taking her to lie across his lap as he sat at the foot of
the bed. She was squirming over him, trying to get his cock
in the center of her pussy to rub against. She didn’t panic
when his hand came down on her buttocks, rather she
found herself pushing upward to meet his hand. Over and
over he spanked her butt. She felt the tingling and knew his
hand would feel it, too. Wondering, she tried to glance back
and see what shade of red it was, but she couldn’t see.
What she did see was him take the small toy from beside
him and lick it.
“Do it, Clay, put the toy in my ass, stretch me so you can
fuck me.”
“Are you sure?” He sounded unsure to her ear.
“Yes, I’m sure. Do you think I would have fought you all
this time to hold back my secret fetish if I was unsure it was
what I wanted? Your cock is hard at my belly. I can feel you
surge against my skin every time your hand contacts with
my skin. Every tap moves the toy in my pussy, making me
even hotter, needier.”
“God Dana, when you said you were unconventional I
never would have guessed this was what you needed.”
“Now you know, so give me what I want.”
“Oh, so temperamental!” He swatted her butt a few
times before using his hand to spread her legs wider. He
slipped the toy between her lips and she sucked it greedily.
She felt his cock twitch, and he pulled the slick toy from her
mouth. He no longer hesitated. He pushed the toy in her
anus, and Dana finally came. Her whole body shuddered
over his. After only a few seconds, he started to fuck her
ass with the toy, pushing and pulling it from her body while
his other hand continued to spank her butt.
“Dana, I’m gonna come,” he told her, and he let her
body slide down to the floor between his legs. It was a bit
awkward with her hands still tied and a toy in each hole, but
she didn’t care. Finally settled on the floor before him, she
licked his cockhead over and over until he groaned and
grabbed his own erection.
“Where?” she managed to ask in between taking him
down her throat. “Where do you want to come, on me or in
me?”
Dana let his cock slide from her lips and set her weight
back on her heels, staring up at him. He was amazing to
her. So dark and determined. She smiled and rose up on
her knees, pushing her chest against his hand. Clay
stroked himself only twice more before shooting his load on
her tits. She loved the feel of his cum on her skin, warm and
creamy. She glanced down and saw the white fluid dripping
from her breasts. Clay didn’t wait, he grabbed her around
the waist and stood her between his legs. Immediately, he
began to lick and suck his load from her breasts. Her
nipples were hard, and she wanted him to bite her harder
but figured that could wait a bit longer. As Clay licked her
clean, she could feel his cock getting hard again.
“Lick me clean, then turn me over and fuck my ass.”
There was no hesitation in her voice. “That’s what will make
me come.” Clay glanced up at her and smiled. He pushed
her a step away from him and stood before her. He left her
for only a moment to grab a condom from the table. Back
beside her, he turned her and leaned her over the bureau,
spreading her legs wide. She watched in the mirror before
her as he tore the package open and covered his erection.
She wanted his cock inside her, but he again teased her
with the toys. She knew she was wiggling her ass at him
and didn’t care he knew what she needed to come. Finally,
he pulled the toy from her pussy and in one smooth move
pushed his full length inside her. Dana came just from that
one motion, her body shuddering while she watched the
pin-point lights the move created within her. He grasped
her by the hips and held her tight while he fucked her pussy,
pushing in and pulling out over and over until she finally
couldn’t hold back the words.
“Clay, rub my clit, and I’ll come.”
“I thought I was in charge?”
“Then fuck my ass and make me come.”
They stared at each other in the mirror for only a
moment before he gave her a sly smile. Pulling from her
pussy, he paused and took her toy, replacing it inside her.
Then he used his hand to twist the toy in her ass, not
pushing in or out, turning it in circles, first left than right until
she was writhing under him.
“Clay—”
 Chapter Eighteen
Her calling his name made him stop, and he finally
pulled the toy from her ass. Instantly, he was pushing his
cock in her, past her resistance, and finally became firmly
imbedded in her anus.
“Christ, Dana, with the other toy in your pussy, you’re too
full.”
“I’ll decide when I’m too full,” she told him and pushed
back against his cock. “Go on, you know you want to, spank
my ass and fuck it. That will make us both come.”
Clay seemed to have given up the idea of controlling
their fucking. She felt his left hand come down and spank
her ass cheek.
Then his right. After only a few more taps, she felt him
surge inside her.
“Clay you’re getting harder inside me, bigger…”
“Dana, I can’t hold back.” Clay spanked her only a few
more times before reaching around in front of her and
rubbing her clit. At the same time, he pulled his cock from
her anus, tore off the condom and shot his load over her red
buttocks. He let his body drop over hers for only a few
seconds before he took her toy and rubbed it in his cum.
Then he pushed it back in her ass and dropped behind her.
He used a hand on each toy to maneuver them inside her
while he licked his cum from her hot cheeks. She still didn’t
know how red they were, but she felt the heat tingling with
every lash of his tongue. Just the idea that she asked him to
do this to her was enough to push her over the edge into
another orgasm. Watching them in the mirror, she saw
herself with her hair mussed and her breasts exposed. Her
nipples were pebble hard. She could see him behind her,
felt his licking and touching. The idea that this night had
actually happened made her come again. Finally, she
relaxed over the bureau and let it support her weight.
Clay stood behind her and stretched to his full height.
He watched her in the mirror for several seconds before
turning her around and kissing her, sharing his cum with
her. Eventually, he untied her wrists. She automatically
rubbed the spot where the ribbon had bound her as he
grabbed her at the waist and all but tossed her onto the
center of the bed. He followed down over her and kissed
her again, this time using his knee to nudge the toy in her
pussy. In turn, it moved the one in her ass. With Clay
sucking her nipples and nudging the toys, Dana came
again. She was exhausted and spent. Clay seemed of the
same mind and slid the toy from her ass, tossing it aside.
He scrambled between her legs and sucked her clit while
thrusting her pussy toy a few last times before taking it from
her body. He tossed it aside, too, and dropped beside her.
“Damn, Dana, I had no idea.”
Glancing at him, Dana saw that he was breathless and
coated in a layer of sweat. She knew she was coated in
layers of his cum. She’d never felt better or sexier. She
rolled onto her side and used her hand to prop her head.
“Are we still okay or is this too much to ask of you?”
Suddenly Dana felt self-conscious, and she scrambled from
the bed.
“Come back here. I’m not done with you yet.”
Dana had never heard the tone of voice he used, and
she paused to look at him. “I’m coming back,” she said,
holding back a smile. “I just wanted to get our wine.” She
refilled their glasses and brought them back to the bed,
handing him one while she slid across the mattress on her
belly to meet him.
“And to let me see how red your perfect ass looks?”
“That, too,” she said with a laugh. “I suppose you’ll want
food before I get seconds.”
“Kid, you got seconds, thirds and fourths.” He sipped
from his wine. “But if you want more you’ll have to feed me.”
“If I must,” she teased. “Shower first or food first?”
“Quick shower, food, and then we’ll see where the night
takes us.” They relaxed for a few minutes, sipping their
wine. Clay reached over and picked up the toy that he’d
used in her pussy, staring at it. “I don’t remember this one
from the carton you sent.”
“It wasn’t. I don’t know where you put those, I brought
these with me.”
“Dana, we’re gonna have to get a closet with a lock on it
so nobody stumbles into our collection.”
“As far as I’m concerned, nobody but you and I should
be in our bedroom drawers or closet. But, as a concession,
when we have kids, I’ll get a lock for the bureau drawers.”
“Deal, now quick shower and food, then I want you back
here, naked.”
“What are you thinking of doing to me?” She feigned
mock horror at the idea, laughing when she couldn’t hold
back.
“Feed me and I’ll think of something.”
“If you don’t, I will.” Dana winked at him and drew her
body from the bed, reaching a hand to him. “Come on, after
supper you can show me where you hid the box of toys I
sent you. There are some latex cock rings in there I want to
try on you.”
“Is this how it’s always going to be?”
“Probably not. I imagine some nights we’ll just fuck like
any other couple. But other nights, you better be prepared,
buddy.” Dana sauntered from the room, knowing her red
ass cheeks were the last thing he saw before joining her
under the shower spray.
****
Clay was sated like never before. He’d wondered what
Dana considered unconventional. Now he knew, and he
was thrilled. She’d sent him upstairs after their meal to relax
while she finished up in the kitchen. When she came into
the room, she wore only the silk kimono belted loosely at
her waist. His cock was hard again, had been during their
shower when she fisted him with soapy hands, and stayed
that way all through their meal as her robe continued to give
him glimpses of her perfect breasts. He was laying on the
bed, on his back, his hand toying with his cock when she
came in.
“Where’s the box of toys I sent you?”
“In the bottom right of my closet.” He watched her
retrieve the carton and place it on the chair under the front
window. It became obvious she was searching for
something, and finally she turned to him with a huge smile. It
was what she had hidden in her hands that he was
suddenly anxious about.
“What do you have in mind?”
“You should relax and let me just do you,” she said as
she sauntered to the foot of the bed. She unbelted her robe
and let it fall to the floor, and then slid between his legs.
Clay no longer cared what she had in mind, only that her
mind was working in the same direction as his. She
swallowed his cock and toyed with his balls, each stroke
and lick making him harder. He let his eyes slip closed and
just felt her movements. He startled when he felt her rolling
something over his length, glancing down to see it was one
of the latex cock rings. When she had it snugly at his base,
she went back to sucking and playing with him.
“You okay with this?” she asked between licks.
“So far,” he managed.
“Good, relax and just let me do you.” Her lips
immediately sucked his cockhead, and her hands went
back to his balls. He didn’t know how long she toyed with
him, only that it felt wonderful. Then he felt her lifting his
balls, felt her shift on the bed and start to lick his anus. She
pushed his legs toward his shoulders until they bent at the
knee, leaving him spread wide to her. Then she began
licking him again, this time using her fingers to tease his
opening. Clay wasn’t sure what she had in mind, but he
understood at some point, he was going to be penetrated.
His cock stirred fuller and Dana pulled back, laughing at
him.
“Your cock has a mind of its own.” She scooted up to
straddle his chest and fed him her breast, holding it to his
lips while he nipped and sucked her skin. Eventually, she
slid back between his legs and began her oral onslaught
again.
He’d never used rings like this, but understood he’d
have lost his load long ago if he wasn’t being restricted by
the damn thing. He wanted to come, and he wanted it to
last all night. Dana continued to suck him, using her tongue
in his anus as a mini cock until he felt her finger push all the
way inside him. His body reared up at the move, and she
steadied him with her weight. Swallowing his cock over and
over, she continued to use her throat muscles to tease him.
She’d lap up and droplets of cum that escaped and go
back to her play, continuing to use her finger as a small
cock inside him. Clay closed his eyes and let her have him,
opening them only when she pulled from his body. When he
glanced at her, she was sucking on a dildo. His first
emotion was panic, then embarrassment. Then absolute
surrender.
“Do it, Dana, that’s what you want isn’t it, to fuck me and
suck me at the same time?”
“For a while,” she mumbled teasing his anus with the toy
until she finally pushed it inside him. He groaned at the new
feeling as she wrapped her lips around his cockhead. He
thought he’d feel violated, but instead he felt his whole body
tingling with the new sensations the toy created inside him.
For a fleeting second he wondered if letting her do this
would diminish his masculinity in her eyes. Watching her he
realized their bond was being strengthened. By trusting
Dana, she was becoming more aroused and in turn, he
was too.
“You’re cum is oozing even with the ring.”
“Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“I want something else too,” she told him and left him
lying on the bed, his cock rock hard and a dildo up his ass.
When she returned, she had two lengths of satin rope from
the box. She straddled his chest and stared directly at him.
‘I want this too, are you still okay?”
“Just do it,” he told her and watched wide-eyed as she
took each of his wrists and pulled them over his head,
anchoring them to the headboard. Sitting back, he watched
a smile form on her lips, one he hadn’t seen before. It said
she was in charge, and she liked the feeling.
Clay assumed she’d go back to his cock, but instead
after a few long soul wrenching kisses, she turned around
and dropped her pussy over his lips. Leaning over his belly,
she captured his cock and began to suck him. Occasionally
she’d tap the dildo in his ass, sending chills through him.
“You just surged harder between my lips,” she teased.
He was in no position to talk back, licking her pussy
juices and sucking on her clit as she moved over him. Time
stood still, he didn’t care how long they were there, only that
she allowed him into this private part of her life. Hell, he
decided, using his tongue as a cock to fuck her pussy, if
this was what she considered unconventional, he’d be as
unconventional as she wanted and needed. Suddenly, she
moved from his face, scooting down, and with her back still
to him dropped her weight onto his cock, her pussy
clasping him as her hand might.
“Oh, Dana,” he managed, twisting the cording that had
his hands tied to the bed. “What a view,” he added,
watching as her body moved up and down over him, her
ass cheeks still red from his hand earlier in the evening.
“Is my butt still red?”
“Not as red as it could be. Untie my hands and I’ll fix
that.”
“I like your hands tied, I like being in complete control of
you and your orgasm.”
“Kid, you’ve been in control of me one way or another
since that day in the closet at Jeff’s wedding. One taste of
your pussy was all it took to wrap me around your finger.”
“Would you rather my fingers instead of the dildo?” She
glanced over her shoulder and smiled sweetly at him.
“I want to fuck you.”
“I know, but I love how it feels to be impaled on your
cock. How my body reacts to yours, how you react to me.”
“What’s gonna get you off, Dana? Tell me.”
“Just being able to be me, as we are, without fear of
repercussions, gets me hot. Being in control of you gets me
hot. And fucking your ass while I fuck myself on you is the
ultimate.” With that, she lifted from him and leaned forward
to lick her pussy juices from him. “I know we said we’d use
condoms until the wedding, but I’m on the pill and just this
once I wanted to feel you skin-to-skin.”
“I don’t know how much longer I can hold back, even
with the damn cock ring. You’re gonna have to let me come
soon.”
“We’re getting there,” she told him and continued to lap
at him, using one hand to twist his balls and the other to tap
the edge of the toy inside him.
“Dana,” he whispered, knowing she’d gone too far,
knowing his body would react regardless of the ring.
“Oh all right,” she teased and finally turned to face him.
When he thought she’d drop her pussy over him, she did,
but only for a few strokes. Then she lifted her body and
pushed down, sending his cock deep inside her anus. She
stilled over him, shifting until he was in the right spot, and
then looked at him.
Facing him, she began to shift her weight, moving him
inside her as her hands pinched her nipples. Clay couldn’t
keep his eyes off her. She was an amazing sight. He could
feel her body tensing and what she did next pushed him
over the edge. Dana continued to pinch one of her nipples
and dropped her other hand to her clit, rubbing herself in
small circles. He didn’t hold back his groan as his hips
started to buck upward. Then she shifted her weight back
and let her finger slip in her pussy. When she added a
second finger, Clay came deep inside her. He could still
feel her fingers in her pussy, thrusting deeper. He felt her
other hand at the base of his cock. She tucked her finger
under the ring, releasing the pressure around his cock. Clay
came a second time, his release just as powerful as the
first one just moments before.
Dana continued to use him as a toy in her ass, but his
cum had lubricated her so much it felt completely different.
Finally, she dropped her chest to his and relaxed. His cock
slipped from her body and his cum started to drip onto his
thighs. She scooted up to his chest and seductively leaned
over him, her breast near his lips. He went to lick her, but
she reached to untie the silk cords from his wrists. When he
was free, he grasped her tightly to him as she nuzzled
against him.
“So, are you sorry you said you could deal with
unconventional?”
“With you, kid, never. Exhausted, yes, but not sorry.”
“Good, because this is just the beginning of what I’ve
been thinking about us doing together.”
“God help us both, Dana because I want it all.”
“So do I, Clay, but more important, I believe we deserve
each other in all ways. I’m just thankful you don’t mind my
way of thinking.”
“I know this isn’t sexy right now, but was there a plate of
oatmeal cookies on the counter downstairs?”
She leaned upward and pushed the hair from her face.
“Yes there is. I suppose that’s your way of telling me you’ve
had enough.”
“For a while. Feed me and we’ll see what else we can
find to do with all your toys.”
“Is it always going to be like this, a little sex and then I’ll
have to feed you?”
“Probably,” he admitted and relaxed his hold on her as
she moved off him. Clay lay where he was, stretching each
muscle in turn until he could move. With each stretch, the
damn toy up his butt would shift. His cock started to stir,
and he knew his life would never be ordinary or staid again.
 Chapter Nineteen
Dana leaned on the upstairs railing, watching the party
below her. The renovation had been a success. Her
dreams of renewing the Britton Mansion as a museum and
town center were fulfilled. She breathed deeply, feeling the
history of her family around her.
“You’ve done a good job, Dana. Your grandfather would
be happy. So would your parents.” Mary came from the
shadows. Her walk was a bit slower, her hair a tad grayer,
but her mind had kept its edge. Using Jeff Senior’s cane,
the polished silver knob held tightly in her hand, Mary joined
her at the railing.
“Thank you, Aunt Mary. Are you happy? After all, it was
your childhood home.”
“I’m very pleased, child.” Dana slipped an arm around
Mary’s shoulders, holding her lightly. “That’s a handsome
family you have waiting down there for you.”
Glancing to her Aunt, Dana shook her head, a smile
forming on her lips. “I know, but it wasn’t always easy. I got
very lucky with Clay. He’s an amazing man.”
“I think you’re both amazing people, well matched to
each other. Even if your preferences are a bit…
unorthodox.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Of course you don’t. Just remember to keep some
things private. The whole world doesn’t need to know how
you to satisfy each other.” Mary winked at Dana. “I was
young once, Leo and I had our moments of unconventional
mating.”
“Any you’d like to share with me?” Dana was enjoying
teasing her aunt, especially when she saw her cheeks blush
red.
“No, use your own imagination.” Mary held her frown for
a few seconds before starting to laugh and deliberately
changing the subject. “Seems things always come in waves
with you. Last time we stood here, the old place was falling
down around us, and Clay had just given you an
engagement ring.” Mary paused and cleared her throat.
“Don’t think I don’t know what I interrupted that day.”
Dana laughed out loud, hugging her tighter. “Well,
almost. We never did talk about your timing.”
“Now the museum is ready. Your home is completed.
That little girl of yours down there takes after her mother,
you know, all questions and constant movement. She’ll
keep you busy for the next twenty years. And now with this
project complete, what will you do to keep you busy, a new
baby perhaps? It would make Clay happy.”
“I agree. It’s been a wonderful five years. I’ve been very
lucky. As to a second baby, time will tell.”
“You’ve worked very hard for the life you’ve built. Don’t
ever let outsiders ruin it for you.” They stood together for a
few minutes, watching the people come and go through the
open house.
Linda and Jay Harris walked from the living room with
Charlie. Dana didn’t miss the longing in her eyes as she
looked toward Clay. Beside her, Jay slipped his arm
around her shoulder, bringing her back into their
conversation.
“I’ve heard Jay just adores her. So much he hardly lets
her out of his sight,” Mary said.
Dana laughed lightly. “It’s a shame they reproduced.
The poor child will never stand a chance with her as his
mother.”
“I saw her approach you earlier, what did the broad-
hipped bitch want?”
“Just offering her congratulations, however
begrudgingly. I wouldn’t want to be Jay tonight when they
get home. Something tells me she’s not going to be in a
good mood.”
“From what I hear, she never is. Just what she deserves
for all the trouble she tried to stir up.”
“It didn’t work, though, did it? If anything, her meddling
brought Clay and I closer. We learned to talk openly and
honestly right from the start. Her actions taught us to
question what wasn’t in character. We’ve both grown from
that. Sometimes I wonder if we don’t know too much about
each other, but then he looks at me and I still get chills
inside.” Dana shook herself from the emotional moment.
Linda had started rumors, but none bothered Dana or
Clay. They would talk over the gossip openly, laughing at
the senselessness of it all. They even went so far as to
repeat the rumors to key people, reinforcing the foolishness
and nasty edge to the stories. Together, they had become
stronger than Dana ever could have imagined. So much
energy wasted, she thought. But their long talks had
become ritual at the end of each day. Defeating Linda’s
ploy, Dana had gained a strength she didn’t know she
could ever possess. It came from fighting for your loved
ones, she knew, from protecting her own. And she would
continue to protect them, for the rest of her days.
No one but Clay knew she had been keeping journals
and diary tapes of the incidents that had occurred. All safely
tucked away, insurance against the unknown. In the
beginning Dana wasn’t sure she could live with the
knowledge that at any moment something might happen to
mar their happiness. She had come to realized it could
happen at any moment, from any direction. Waiting for her
life to settle didn’t suit Dana, so instead she chose to
embrace it, wading through the day-to-day life she had
begun to cherish.
Having Clay beside her was the only thing that had
mattered. Elizabeth had come along, bringing so much
laughter and joy into their lives. It was hard to remember a
time before she was born. Now she was ready to give him
a second child. Already she loved it in the abstract, would
protect it at all costs.
As the thought crossed her mind, she was thankful she
didn’t cringe at the word “precious” anymore. It had been
Walker’s pet name for her and used to bring up bad
memories. Now it was just a descriptive word for her child.
Clay had shown her what love truly was supposed to be,
beyond the mechanics that never truly satisfied her before
him. He had a way of accepting her unconventional needs,
thriving on them with her. In their time together some of his
latent wished had surfaced, ones she was glad to fulfill with
him.
“Dana?”
“Sorry, I was watching my family,” she said in a whisper.
“Maybe I should go down and thank Linda for that.”
Mary let out a hearty laugh at the thought of thanking
Linda. Instead, Mary got serious. “You still have the tape,
don’t you?”
“Locked away in a safety deposit box. And that’s where
I hope it will stay.”
“As it should. Just remember, child, if you have to use it,
don’t hesitate. Hopefully you’ll never have to.”
“I’ll leave it as a legacy for Elizabeth. She’s already
picking out printed letters and words. Maybe she’ll be a
writer one day, and she can do our family history.”
“Whatever she does, if she’s half as talented as her
mother, she’ll have a good life. It’s time I joined Leo. Lisa
will want to get us home and settled so she can have a
rest.”
“We’ll see you for lunch tomorrow. I suppose I have to
head back downstairs.” Dana said with a sigh, wishing she
could take Clay up to the attic for a few minutes.
“I’m taking the elevator down.” With that, Mary
disappeared into the shadows once more. She called back
to Dana just before the elevator doors closed. “Dana, stay
out of the attic tonight. You have guests.”
She laughed openly as she started back down to the
party, not surprised Mary could read her thoughts. She’d
stay out of the attic until the guests were gone.
 ****
Clay watched as Dana slowly descended the wide
staircase, her hand barely dancing along the banister. She
wore an ivory-colored gown, formfitting and feminine yet not
revealing. The lace top just hinted at the roundness of her
breasts. It was an antique she’d found carefully packed in a
trunk in the attic and had restored.
After the party, it would go on display in the museum.
Wearing it tonight brought her closer to her ancestors and
the house. The skirt swirled as she moved. She’d added a
chiffon scarf the same color and wrapped it around her
neck. His breath caught in his throat as he watched her.
She was smiling as usual.
Jeff moved beside him, watching, too. “She looks like
our mom,” he told Clay.
“She’s beautiful, but she’s all Dana.” The two friends
shared a laugh together, having shared the ups and downs
of the last thirty years together. Scanning the room, Lisa
was talking to Uncle Leo, Adam’s hand in Leo’s.
Lisa’s rounded belly announced to the world that their
second child was only weeks from coming into the world.
Clay watched as Lisa caught Jeff’s eye, giving him a
seductive smile. He nodded back. Clay knew he wasn’t the
only one who would get lucky tonight.
Clay shifted Elizabeth from one hip to the other. Her
one-year-old curls were the same color as Dana’s, as well
as her chocolate eyes.
“Mommy.”
“That’s right. Mommy,” Clay told her. “She’s beautiful.”
 “Boot-u-ful,” she mimicked. Clay accepted her wet kiss
as her arms went around his neck. Jeff reached over to
Elizabeth, taking her from Clay.
“Hey, peanut, want to come and visit Adam with me?”
She clapped her hands and went willingly with her uncle.
Clay watched them walk away before turning back to Dana.
He met her at the bottom of the stairs, taking her hand in
his, pulling her into the large foyer, his arms wrapped
protectively around her. They danced to the background
music as people milled around.
“I’m supposed to be hosting the opening,” she reminded
him, her arms locked around his neck.
“Then you shouldn’t have worn that dress. It’s almost
bridal, you know.” His sexy laugh caught her attention as he
fingered the scarf.
“Why, Mr. Hollister, to think you have a wife and child.
Such thoughts!”
He kissed away her words, dancing her into the atrium
where it was quieter. Locked in his arms, she whispered,
“Tell me more.”
“Tonight, Elizabeth is going home with Jeff and Lisa.
You and I are going to have a quiet evening alone.”
“I like it so far. Go on,” she prompted.
“I’ll let you think about that for a while,” he told her,
dancing her into a darkened corner of the room.
He remembered her on their wedding day, just twelve
weeks after he had put the diamond ring on her finger. In
the small stone family chapel, Jeff had walked her down the
aisle.
 Dana had worn her mother’s gown, the ivory color
setting off her coloring. Its long, straight lines were perfect,
the minimal adornment totally Dana. Her hair was pulled
back, several strings of pearls intertwined in it. Fresh
flowers were tucked amongst the curls. With only
immediate family present for the ceremony, it had been an
intimate time for them before joining their guests for a
celebration.
Clay had been overwhelmed at the sight of her that day.
She walked tall and proud toward him on Jeff’s arm. She
had spoken her vows as strongly as he had, meaning the
words they were repeating. When Reverend Frost
pronounced them married, Dana had tossed her arms
around his neck, and Clay lifted her by the waist, turning her
in small circles until he held her in front of him, their lips
meeting for the first time as man and wife.
If he had been breathless then, tonight he felt even more
so. He had come to love her more each day. He was
amazed how she managed to put together the wedding, get
the mansion project started, and organize the renovation of
their home. She truly was a miracle worker, he knew. With
all that going on, she’d updated his family home to make it
more comfortable for them to live in while the rest of the
renovations were being handled. They’d had amazing
times in that old house. Some that made him blush to
remember.
When Elizabeth had been born, Dana insisted she be
named after Clay’s mother. She reasoned since she wore
her ring, it was right. Clay had been thrilled. Now, a year
later, the museum mansion was complete. Tonight they had
thrown a party for the whole town, to thank them for their
support and to see the end result.
In that amount of time, Dana had managed to have the
river house completed, and they were living there quite
comfortably for almost a year now. Dana being pregnant
had weighed heavily on the builder’s conscience, and he
managed to get the project done just before she gave birth.
Their goal was to bring Elizabeth home from the hospital to
that house.
The builder had been inspired, he had told Clay once.
The way Dana would talk to him about the project, he’d
realized it was a home she was building, not just a house.
Clay figured it didn’t hurt that the man had a small crush on
Dana. While she never acknowledged his longing looks, he
knew their builder had fallen in love with her. Since his
feelings were never returned, he’d gone on to marry a
friend Dana introduced him to and seemed truly happy.
Clay was just thankful their home was finished when
Elizabeth was born.
“What are you thinking about? You seem miles away.”
“I was thinking how beautiful you looked the day we got
married. But tonight as you came down the stairs, I realized
you’re more beautiful today. God, Dana, how did I get so
lucky?”
“Clay, we earned each other. We work hard to keep
each other happy.”
“That you do, Mrs. Hollister. You work very hard to keep
me happy.” He caught a hint of fire in her eyes, pulling back
to study her. “What were you and Mary talking about?”
“She was warning me to keep you out of the attic
tonight.”
“I was picturing a soft bed with a cozy fire, but the attic
might be a start.” They both laughed, knowing they just
might start there tonight. With Dana, Clay never knew. He
did know that he was crazy in love with her. That was all that
mattered, and the fact that she felt the same way about him.
“What?” Clay asked. “I suppose I have to let you go be a
hostess?” His lips brushed along her chin. He felt her
breath quicken.
“Well, there’s just one thing.”
Clay raised one eyebrow at her. “Dana, you promised
Gavin and Harry were staying in the guest house.”
“They are.” Again he searched her face, trying to put
together the pieces. “Still don’t get it?” She pulled back,
laughing at the look on his face.
“All I’m going to say is the attic was lucky for us with
Elizabeth. I think it’s time to think about a little brother or
sister for her.”
Clay’s mouth formed a slow smile as his hands went to
her waist, picking her up, spinning her in circles until he
slowly slid her down along his chest. Eye to eye, they
continued their dance.
“I’m thrilled, Dana. Do you really want another child? I
was afraid with everything you’ve got going another baby
right now might be overwhelming.”
“Let’s let Jeff and Lisa’s new baby have the spotlight.
Besides, just because we want to start trying doesn’t mean
a night in the attic will make it a reality.”
“We’ll just have to keep practicing until we get it right.”
“I just want you to know you’ve made me very happy in
all ways. You always have.”
“Thank you, Clay.” Dana tightened her hold on him. “And
before you even start to let your mind wander, I’ve hired
Mavis to run the mansion. I figured it would give me more
time at home with our family. Flexible hours to go home and
have lunch with my handsome husband, or for him to join
me in the attic.” Her one eyebrow raised, she had that fire
in her eyes again.
“If I recall, we never did get around to food that day.”
“No, but we made Elizabeth, and she’s better than any
lunch could be.” Dana smiled at the memory, and Clay held
her tight as he thought back. “Remember the last time we
were up in the attic going through the old trunks?” His smile
told her he remembered in vivid detail.
“We’ve been lucky in that old attic.”
Clay hugged her tighter. “Dana. You’ve made me very
happy, sweetheart.”
“And you’ve made me very happy, love.” Clay kissed his
wife the way he wanted to, full-out, not caring who might see
them.
****
Dana was anxious to get rid of her partygoers and lock
up the mansion. While she didn’t shoo people out, she
made it clear the party was over and it was time to go
home. After what seemed like hours, they were finally
alone. Clay was making one last check of the building to
make sure all the windows and doors were locked. She’d
gone to the attic, laid out their makeshift bed of blankets
and sleeping bags, and put the cold bottle of wine and two
glasses within reach.
She also laid out a few things she’d brought with her.
When Clay finally made it up stairs to her, he found her
standing in the middle of the room, naked except for the
scarf around her neck. She turned and reached for his
hand. “Any specific wants?” she asked.
He surveyed the scene she’d set and noted the toys laid
within reach. “I think I have too much clothing on.” He
stripped without hesitation while she poured their wine. She
held both glasses until he was naked. When she reached
one to him, he smiled and took the scarf from her neck
instead.
“Take a sip,” he told her, and she did, putting one of the
glasses aside. Clay took the second, drank from it, and put
it beside hers. He was running the scarf material through
his fingers when he asked, “Who’s in charge tonight?”
“You are, of course,” she told him, her smile an invitation
to continue.
“Turn around,” he told her, and she did, automatically
putting her hands behind her back. Clay used the scarf to
tie her wrists. “Now,” he said, and watched as she turned to
face him. Dana dropped to her knees before him and
immediately took his cock to her lips. She didn’t know how
long she sucked him, only that he was long and hard, hot
against her tongue.
“Dana, if you keep that up, I’ll come.”
 “What do you want instead?” She watched him take a
step to the side, appraise the assortment of toys, and pick
up the smallest of the toys she’d brought. When he dropped
his hand before her she immediately began to suck it as if it
were his cock.
“Lay back,” he directed her. She slid to the floor and lay
back. Clay came over her and propped a pillow under her
so she’d be comfortable. His hand dropped to her pussy
and stroked along her lips. “You’re hot and wet.”
“I’ve been waiting all day for you.”
“Wait a bit longer,” he told her, and easily pushed the
toy in her pussy. She groaned and shifted to accept it.
When he picked up a second toy she immediately took it
between her lips, his hand controlling how much of it she
swallowed and licked.
“I want you to suck me a bit more, but first—” he said,
taking the second toy and dropping between her legs. He
took the smaller toy from her pussy and licked it before
putting it aside. Then he pushed the larger toy inside her.
His lips followed, locking around her clit, sucking while he
maneuvered the toy in and out of her. Her groans matched
her hip movements, jutting to take the dildo deeper.
“Leave the toy and let me suck you,” she said, her voice
a groan.
“In a minute,” he said, grasping her hips and lifting her
higher. He licked her clit to anus, the toy shifting with each
of his movements. Clay grabbed the smaller toy and
brought it to her lips. She sucked it greedily until he took it
away and pushed it in her anus. He watched as her body
accepted the dildo. Finally he moved, kneeling beside her
head. She arched forward until his cock was between her
lips.
“Damn, Dana, you are one amazing sight.” He leaned to
grasp her breast, his fingers twisting her nipple. Each time
he pinched, she’d use her teeth against his cock, letting
them scrape along his skin.
“Dana, I’m gonna come soon. Where?”
“Not yet,” she told him. “Fuck me with the toys before
you fuck me.”
Clay reached over her, his cock still locked between her
lips, and was able to reach the dildo in her pussy. By simply
touching the end, it moved inside her and against the one in
her anus. She groaned and swallowed his cock deeper.
Clay knew she was close to coming and he was beyond
holding back.
“Dana,” he said, pulling his cock from her lips. “I want to
fuck you. Where do you want me to come?”
“In my pussy,” she told him, adding, “Forget the condom,
Clay, let’s see if we get lucky this time again.”
He laughed at her smile and moved between her legs.
She groaned when he pulled the toy from her body and
dropped to lick her pussy lips a few times before kneeling
back. He grabbed her hips and pulled her legs high on his
thighs, his cock just at her entrance. He left the toy in her
anus and thrust his erection in her pussy, taking her to the
hilt in one smooth, wet motion.
“Damn, you’re tight without a toy in your ass, but tonight
it’s like you’re a fucking virgin.”
 “Fuck me, Clay. Fuck me until you come inside me.
Fuck me until I can’t come anymore.”
“Your wish,” he whispered as he began the rhythmic
push and pull of the act. In a moment of clarity, he pushed
as deep as he could and used his hand to move the dildo in
her ass. It was too much. Dana’s pussy muscles grabbed
his cock and started to milk his cum. He let himself relax
and enjoy the sensations. His breath was uneven when he
pulled out, lying between her legs. He grabbed a clean
dildo and pushed it in her pussy, sucking on her clit, making
her come a second time.
“That was amazing,” he finally said, resting with his
head on her thigh.
“I agree. It was amazing. What do you have planned for
an encore?”
“Air first, and then wine, then we’ll figure out what’s
next.”
“Always thinking so practical,” she teased. Clay helped
her to lean forward to sip the wine before he finished what
was in the glass.
“Your toys are still in you,” he said, lifting to sit on the old
trunk beside them. Clay grabbed her by the waist and
dropped her over his lap. With her hands still tied behind
her and a toy protruding from her pussy and anus, he was
hard again without thinking about it. His hand came down
and spanked her ass. The tingling made his cock harder.
She squirmed over his legs. He knew she was trying to get
her clit against his thigh. With each tap of his hand, she’d
rub against him.
 “Dana, your ass is turning pink. How far?”
“Make me come, Clay, spank me until I come.”
“You want to come again, greedy girl,” he said, pausing
to push her toys in and out. “My cum is dripping down from
your pussy when I pull out your toy.”
“I know, and it’s getting you all hot and bothered. Your
cock is hard, and I can feel drops of pre-cum on my belly.”
Clay grabbed her by the waist and stood her before
him. He grasped her breast and started to suck her nipple
while his other hand pinched her red ass cheeks. When he
switched to her other nipple, he’d shift her toys inside her.
“Dana, you are a sight. Your hair is mussed, your lips
full, and your nipples are tight as pebbles.”
“Don’t forget that my ass is red from your hand and your
cum is dripping down my thighs.”
Clay gently pushed her to her knees between his legs.
She immediately opened her mouth to accept him, but he
took his cock in hand and after only a few pumps, came on
her breasts. He pulled her up to his mouth and started to
lick his cum from her tits, holding her ass cheeks, pinching
them while he licked her clean. Occasionally he’d let his
fingers jostle one of the toys inside her, and she’d groan or
moan.
When her thighs began to quake, he finally laid her back
on the blankets. Following down over her, he kissed her,
sharing both their essences with her. Finally, he untied her
wrists, but he continued to palm her butt.
“That was amazing,” she told him.
“I agree. I love fucking you without the condom.”
 “We only need one little swimmer to make its way
upward.”
“We’ll just keep trying until I get you pregnant again.”
“Promise?” She reached behind her for the second
glass of wine and after taking a sip, shared it with him.
“I promise,” Clay told her. “I like it when you’re pregnant,
and I like it when you’re nursing. Your nipples were so large
and hard, your breasts huge.”
“We talked about weaning Elizabeth when I did, I could
have kept going a bit longer.”
“I’ll just have to wait until the next one is born.”
“Until then, we’ll just have to practice.” Dana reached
down and pulled the dildo from her pussy, licking it
seductively before him.
“A move like that will have you over my knee again.”
Dana moved herself over his legs and kept licking the
dildo. “If you stay that way, I’ll have to fuck your ass.”
“Use the toy that’s in my ass to fuck me a bit, then you
can fuck me until you come.”
“I hope we made a baby tonight, Dana, I can’t wait until
you’re lactating again.”
“Practice makes perfect,” she told him, jutting her butt
higher in the air.
Clay let his hand drop down, landing on her ass cheek.
He watched it push the toy within her, and she groaned.
After several more spanks, he pulled the toy from her ass
and moved her onto her hands and knees. He held his cock
and pushed inside her anus, stilling before he could
continue.
 “Christ, even with the toy stretching you, you’re still so
tight.”
“Fuck me, Clay, fuck me until your cum is running from
my pussy and my ass.”
His hand came down and spanked her ass cheek,
redefining the color on her skin. Her groan was his reward.
Clay let his head drop back on his shoulders and just felt
how tight she was around his cock. He thrust in her ass
over and over. When he glanced down, he realized she was
pinching her own nipple with one hand and rubbing her clit
with the other. That was enough to push him into the abyss
of orgasm. He felt her body tighten around him and quake.
He eased up and lifted her to his body, dropping onto one
of the old chests with her on his lap.
Dana slid her body until she was facing him, her legs
wrapped around his waist. He could feel his cum running
onto his thighs from her pussy and her ass.
“That’s what I wanted tonight,” she said, nuzzling her lips
to his neck.
“And tomorrow night?” he asked.
“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what kind of
mood we’re in.”
THE END
WWW.LILLITHPAYNE714.COM
LILLITHPAYNE714@YAHOO.COM
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Having been born and raised on Long Island, New York,
Lillith and her husband were both eager to leave the urban
lifestyle and explore their futures. With his encouragement,
Lillith is living her dream of writing romance novels full time.
Their new rural setting allows them to enjoy time together,
and Lillith can spend many guiltless hours in her
imagination, indulging her other passion. When she
realized her works consistently tended toward the erotic,
she gave herself permission to explore places she might
not venture in real life.
You can learn more about Lillith and her work at her
website, www.lillithpayne714.com. She loves to hear from
readers and can be contacted at
lillithpayne714@yahoo.com.
Also by Lillith Payne
Siren Classic: Love Sabotaged
Siren Classic: Her Unexpected Love
Siren Classic: Her Cowboy Indiscretion
Siren Classic: The Arrangement
Siren Classic: One Second Chance
Siren Classic: The Gelid Woman
Siren Classic: Her Dark Dragon
Siren Classic: Lust or Love
Siren Classic: Magnificent Abandon
Siren Classic: Deceptions Revealed
Siren Classic: Just One Night
Siren Classic: Her Alpha Male
Available at
BOOKSTRAND.COM
 Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com