Your Fierce Love (The Bennett Family 7)

“Tipsy. Just tipsy.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Blake

Daniel and I used to stick around for the show after party, give press interviews, but not anymore. It doesn’t help Bennett Enterprises, but it does attract people like Vivian.

“We’re going too fast,” Clara mumbles. She’s adorable when she’s had too much to drink. By the time the cab pulls in front of our building, she’s steadier on her feet, but something in the way she moves gives her away. Doesn’t matter. She’s safe with me. I’m here to look after her, every step of the way.

“Would you like to come in?” she asks once we’re in front of her door, batting her eyelashes in an exaggerated way.

“Are you trying to flirt?”

She pouts. “If you have to ask, I’m failing miserably.”

“I was going to come in anyway, make you sure you get into your bed safely.”

She nods eagerly, turning around and unlocking the door with surprising ease. Once inside, I take her in my arms and kiss her like I’ve been meaning to ever since we left. Christ, I can’t get enough of this woman. She got under my skin, and I want her to stay there. In fact, I’m determined to get under her skin and stay there. The recognition startles me because this is another first for me. I’m out of my depth when it comes to this, but I’m determined to make this woman the happiest she’s ever been. I can’t go wrong with that.

“What are you thinking?” she asks when I kiss down her neck. “I can feel you thinking.”

“I’m thinking that I can’t get enough of you. This was just an apartment before, but now it’s home. You made it home. You’re real, open, honest.” I kiss back up the side of her neck, then her cheek.

“Especially when I’m drunk.”

“I thought it was just tipsy.”

We both laugh.

“Right, tipsy. I’m much better now, though.” She steps back and twirls around as if to make her point. Okay, I’ll give her that, she’s steady on her feet. “This dress is so pretty. It’s the kind of pretty that makes me feel pretty.”

Her words slice through me. “You are beautiful, Clara. Never doubt that.”

“Not like you, though. Not in your league.”

“What?”

“You’re Blakealicious.”

“That’s not a word.”

“It should be. Blake and delicious combined. You’re so hot, you’re down right lickable,” she explains seriously, “and I’m—”

“Mine. You’re mine.”

“I really like that label,” she whispers, her eyes wide and uncertain, like she just confessed a deep secret. I meet her admission with one of my own.

“Me too.”

She’s still not one hundred percent sober because she wouldn’t talk so freely. Despite being a chatterbox, Clara keeps her cards close when it comes to her feelings. Except after drinking. Lucky me. And I know exactly how I will convince my woman that she’s fucking beautiful. I will show her.

I kiss her hard, tasting her frantically. I need her—now, all night. But I want to take my time and pace myself. Then again, I set that goal every time we’re together, and I end up being rough and demanding with her. We’re a tangle of limbs as we head to her bedroom, and once we’re inside, I pull her to a wall, turning her around.

“Put your hands against the wall.”

She does just that, and I lift her dress inch by inch until my fingers feel her soft and smooth skin. I skim my hands between her legs and she immediately splays them wider, giving me access. I drag my thumb along the scrap of fabric covering her entrance, rubbing her over her panties in a slow, lavish movement. Pushing her hair to one side, I kiss the back of her neck as I continue driving her crazy with my thumb. Her soft moans fill the silence, and I lower my other hand to cup one ass cheek. Her skin turns to goose bumps under my grip. I love how responsive she is to me. When I feel her soak through the fabric, I take my hands off her. She swirls around, eyes wide and pleading.

“Blake,” she protests. I scoop her in my arms, drowning her protests with a long and hard kiss, and she laces her arms around my neck, deepening the kiss. She tastes sweet, and for a moment, I consider simply kissing her the entire night. Then I lower her on the bed, and we share an accomplice smile before ridding each other of their clothes.