Chapter Eleven
Conor gritted his teeth as he pulled away. Every part of him wanted to go back to that party and beat the shit out of Jason. The thought of that bastard with his hand on Claire just about pushed him to the limit.
He had been late getting there. A little earlier, and she wouldn’t have even had gone through that. He cursed himself for not being there, for pushing her away when he should have been pulling her in. All the time he’d wasted haunted him.
When he glanced over to Claire, he was surprised to find her sitting calmly. A large part of him worried that she’d retreat back into herself, and he’d never stand a chance. After all the times he’d fucked up, it would be justified. He just hoped that wasn’t the case.
They rode in silence to her apartment. When he pulled out front, she quickly got out of the car.
Conor jumped out.
“Let me come up,” he said. His voice faltered as he spoke, but he didn’t care. Even if she was going to turn him away, he was going to try.
Claire turned and walked over to him. As she looked at him, he wanted to believe those pale green eyes held love for him, but he couldn't be sure. She’d been emotional before, but that might have just been the excitement of the moment. Now that she had time to think and take it all in, maybe she had returned to what she figured sensible, rejecting him.
She slipped her hand into his and squeezed. Gently, she pulled him along, and he sighed.
They walked through the entrance to the apartment and into the elevator. When the doors closed, he moved in and pressed her against the wall. He kissed her, his lips lingering on hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in. She did want him, after all.
Her mouth moved over his, and when she timidly licked his lips, Conor opened to let her in. Their tongues moved with one another, and when the doors dinged open, he forced himself to pull back. Claire blinked open her sleepy eyes at him, and he wanted to press right back into her.
She yelped when he swept her up in his arms.
“What are you doing?” Claire laughed.
Conor moved quickly through the door and down the hall.
“Making sure we don’t have sex in the elevator,” he said.
Claire laughed again. “I didn’t know that was an option.” A thoughtful expression swept over her face.
Conor looked down at her. “Oh, it’s possible, but I figure the last thing we want is our sex video making the rounds.”
Her eyes went wide with shock. “You think they’d sell it?”
He couldn’t help the grin that came to his face. “With the way I’m feeling, I’m sure of it.”
She shivered in his arms, and he knew she understood his meaning.
Conor set her down outside her door and waited as she opened the door. They stepped in, and she quickly shut the door. He pulled off his jacket.
“Maybe we should eat some—”
He pulled her hard against him and turned to press her into the door.
“I can’t wait,” he said.
Her breath came in short bursts on his neck as she stared up at him.
“You look beautiful,” he whispered and leaned down to her collar bone.
He pressed open-mouthed kisses into her flesh, and she moaned.
“Conor,” she said, her voice coming out almost a mere breath.
She pulled his mouth to hers and pressed hard into him.
Claire groaned as he locked lips with her again. Her hands raced over the hard ridges on his arms, and she ached to feel his thick muscles under her fingers.
Her hands grasped the bottom of his shirt and yanked it out of his pants. Without waiting, she pulled the shirt open. The buttons clattered to the floor as she pulled them off. She yanked off his undershirt.
With the shirt gone, she slipped her hands over his hard muscled body. She scrapped her fingers down his chest and reveled in the feeling. Feeling bolder than she did the other night, Claire leaned forward and sucked on one of his pecs. Her tongue darted out to trace the line.
She licked and nibbled her way down his body, She paused on his stomach, scraping her teeth lightly over his hard six pack. Claire stopped at the line of hair leading into his pants. He groaned when she glanced up at him.
“Claire,” he whispered. It was all she needed. With nimble fingers, she worked off the top of the pants. Slowly, she slid down the zipper.
He strained against his underwear, pushing his way just past the top. Claire leaned forward and swiped her tongue across the top, licking away some cum that was already forming.
“Fuck,” he moaned and tried to pull away. She reached behind him and held firm to his ass. The strained muscles under her hand only seemed to excite her more.
She brought her hands back around front and slowly pulled down. His hard length bobbed in front of her face, searching for her mouth.
“You don’t have to,” he said with more force than she thought he could at this moment.
Claire looked up at him and smiled. “I want to.”
Keeping her eyes on his, she slipped the head into her mouth and swirled her tongue around. She could feel his heavy cock twitch at the new sensation. Bobbing up and down, she took him in deeper and deeper each time.
She paused to swirl her tongue again and looked up. His eyes were intensely watching her mouth. The look made her feel powerful somehow, like she could decide things.
Claire pushed past the burning in her jaw and forced him all the way in. He tapped the back of her throat, and she swallowed.
“Fuck!” he said.
Conor pulled out of her mouth quickly.
“What’s wrong?” She leaned back and stared up at him.
Conor gave her an odd smile mixed partially with pain.
“I was too close,” he murmured. Claire blushed at the knowledge.
“You could have gone ahead,” she whispered.
Conor growled as he pulled her to her feet. “I need to be inside you,” he whispered.
He pulled her dress right over her head, and she yelped in surprise.
“Wrap your legs around me,” he ordered as he lifted her up. The cold from the door made her shiver.
Claire wrapped her legs around his middle and moaned as his hard cock lined her wet pussy.
He reached up and pulled the snap on the front of her bra, causing her breasts to spill out. They both groaned when he placed his hands on her ass and slid her up and down over his hard length.
“I need you,” he groaned, his head near her entrance.
Claire pushed her panties out of the way and moaned as he slipped deep inside her.
“Conor,” she said, his name more a groan than anything.
“I got you, baby,” he said and pushed further into her.
The harder he worked, the more she needed to feel him. Claire moved her hand away from a slip of fabric to his amazing chest. She loved feeling his muscles as he pumped away at her, each muscle working hard.
She gasped when she felt a tug and then a ripping sound.
“You ripped my panties.” She blinked a few times.
Not stopping his movements, Conor pushed in harder. “They were in my way.”
Claire groaned at the new found depth.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Beads of sweat formed on his brow as his hips slipped between her thighs. Claire reached down and began rubbing her over-sensitized clit. Juices from them both coated her, and the extra lubrication only made her more excited.
Her insides fluttered. She was so close to coming.
She looked up and found Conor watching her with interest.
“Make yourself come,” he whispered.
She worked over her clit harder as he continued to pound into her. With each stoke and swipe, she was that much closer.
“No, Claire.” He gritted his teeth. “Come.”
She rubbed hard and shouted when her muscles started to spasm. His hands held her firmly as he pushed in with long, sure strokes. On the last, he slammed in hard and came deep inside her. She could feel him twitch against her cervix, which only made her come a little again.
Claire held tight to him as they caught their breath. She could feel him start to go down in size inside her and hated the idea of pulling off him. Reluctantly, she let her legs fall and sighed when she was back on the ground.
She started to walk to the bedroom and stopped. He might care about her, but was he willing to stay? Claire watched as he pulled his pants up, and her heart sank. It was all going to be the same. Nothing changed, no matter how many times they seem to connect emotionally and physically. When he grabbed his shirt, she couldn’t bother to watch anymore. Not stopping, she made her way to the bathroom.
Inside, she took deep breaths. Everything would be okay. She could work through this. She was better than this. Claire looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair had fallen from its tight bun. The black strands spilled over her shoulders. Her normally pale lips were pink from kissing, and she looked good. She turned to the door and made her way to the bedroom. She could handle this.
Claire was surprised to find Conor lying underneath her covers.
“I thought you went home,” she said and almost laughed.
Conor frowned. “Do you want me to go home?”
Claire shook her head. “I just thought... Last time—”
“Last time I was an idiot,” he said.
Claire nodded. “I agree.”
Conor grinned. “Well, now that we both agree I was an idiot. Why don’t you come over here?”
She paused to strip off her torn panties and bra.
Claire turned off the lights and slipped into bed.
“Much better,” he said in her ear. “Last night all I wanted to do was strip you down and pull you next to me.”
Claire smiled. She loved the feel of their bodies together.
“Get some rest,” he mumbled in her ear. “You’re going to need it.”
She giggled slightly. He was right. It'd been a long night. She wasn't even sure how it would affect her. Though she'd made a ridiculous public spectacle of herself, she'd also earned the backing of one of the most powerful men in the city.
“Goodnight, Conor,” she whispered.
He kissed the top of her head.
“Night.”
* * *
Conor woke up warm and pressed against the most beautiful naked woman he knew. It was the best sleep he’d had in ages. With Claire by his side, he was ready to take on anything. He rolled to his side, his thick cock slipped between them. First thing he was ready to take on was a little morning wood.
Claire moaned in her sleep and turned over, pressing her ass firmly against him. He bit back a few words.
He reached around and found one of her hard nipples. She moaned and pressed back against him.
Conor took deep breaths to control his painfully hard dick.
He nearly shouted when Claire moved again and pushed him suddenly partway in.
When he started to pull back, she pressed him in the rest of the way. Her hands found his, and she glanced behind her.
“Nice wake-up call,” she said.
Conor groaned, and his hips bucked forward.
“You are amazing,” he whispered.
Claire threaded her fingers with his and moaned with each thrust.
Faster and faster, he moved inside her.
“I’m not going to last.”
Claire took her free hand and traced along his cock powering into her slick entrance.
“Come,” she demanded.
His hands tightened on her hips, and she moaned with each hard thrust.
“Come, baby,” he moaned.
She clenched over him as he twitched deep inside.
Conor placed small kisses along her back.
“God, I love you,” he said and froze.
He hadn’t meant for it to come out and certainly not this way.
She pulled away slightly and turned in his arms.
“What?” she said quietly
He stared at her for a long moment before continuing.
“I love you, Claire,” he said. “I always have.”
She shook in his arms, overcome with emotions.
“It’s okay, baby.” He rubbed her back. “You don’t have to say it. When you’re ready, I’ll be here.”
She nodded and curled up next to him. Just having her with him was all he needed. Someday she’d feel she could say it back. Despite all the pain and despite working with Ennis, he had her back, and this time he wouldn't push her away.
He’d also do what he had to do to protect her. A little pain in the short run was preferable to much worse pain the future.