Page 38 of Over the Moon (Rosewood River #3)

I closed my eyes for a moment, a flashback from many years ago when I was drowning in grief after losing my mother, and my father forced me to talk about it. He dragged me out of bed and insisted I eat something after days of being down with what I thought was the flu. He said those exact words.

“You can talk to me, Ells.”

But this was different. If he knew about my relationship with Clark, it would bring him into an already sticky situation.

“I know that. Everything is fine.” I let out a long breath. My stomach wrenched, and I chewed on the corner of my lip. The guilt over lying to my father was taking a toll.

“All right, well I’ll see you tonight. Looking forward to spending some time with my girl.”

I smiled even though he couldn’t see me. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Of course. See you later.”

There was another knock on the door just as I ended the call.

“Come in.”

Clark strode in like he owned the place, closing the door behind him, and all I felt was relief.

His sage green eyes had a way of soothing me.

“Hey,” he said, studying me for a moment and standing in front of my desk. “You okay?”

I moved around the desk, brushing past him as I walked to the door and locked it. I turned back toward him, his arms open and ready, and I walked right into them. He wrapped his arms around me, and I breathed him in.

Cedarwood and mint.

“Tell me what’s going on,” he said, his voice low and deep.

“This is just—harder than I thought it would be.”

He held me there, resting his chin on top of my head. “I know.”

“I have to have dinner tonight with Sebastian and my father.”

He stilled at my words. “Who set it up? Your dad?”

I pulled back to look at him. “Sebastian set it up, but he did ask my father first. I’m sorry, I know we had plans.”

“Hey.” He stroked the hair away from my face.

“You don’t need to apologize. It’s just a shit situation.

But I’m telling you, the dude is interested in you.

I can’t confront him because he doesn’t know we’re together, so I can’t blame the dude for wanting you—because of course, he fucking does. He doesn’t know you’re taken.”

I groaned. “He doesn’t want me. It’s not like that. But all of these secrets are making things messy. I don’t like it.”

“I know. This isn’t sustainable, Weeze.”

My eyes widened at his words. Was he already throwing in the towel? “What does that mean? You’re already over it?”

I took a step back, and he frowned. “Of course, fucking not.”

He moved closer, wrapping a hand around my waist and tugging me against him.

“What options do we have?”

“I’m working on it,” he said before he dipped his head down and kissed me.

I was so stressed out that I didn’t even care that I was now kissing him in my office. He tilted my head, taking the kiss deeper. Both of us were frantic and needy.

He pulled back suddenly, staring down at me, his tongue sliding along his bottom lip.

“Look at me,” he said, his voice deep and commanding as my gaze locked with his.

“I fucking love you. So whatever it takes to be together, I’m willing to do it.

This isn’t a fling for me, Eloise. This isn’t something that I need to wait and see where it goes anymore.

I want it to go the whole way. I want you. All of you.”

My heart raced, and my eyes welled with emotion. I blinked several times as the first tear broke free. “I love you, too. I love you so much, and I don’t know what to do.”

“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll figure it out, okay?”

I loved Clark more than I loved my job, but should I have to give up my career to be with the man I love?

“Okay.” I swiped at the tear rolling down my cheek.

“No more tears. I’ll figure this out. I promise.” He used the pad of his thumb to swipe the excess liquid away. “Loving me shouldn’t make you cry.”

“I’m just nervous about what to do, you know? I feel sick about lying to my dad. I feel like Randall is suspicious because he’s constantly asking me questions about you.” I blew out a breath.

“You locked the door, right?”

I narrowed my gaze. “Yes.”

And without a word, he dropped to his knees, looking up at me with those beautiful green eyes. He pushed my skirt up around my waist and slipped my panties down my legs, helping me to raise each foot as he slipped them off.

“Spread those pretty thighs for me, baby. Let me make you feel good.”

My breaths were coming hard and fast. Was I really doing this? I pushed each foot farther from the other.

“Good girl. Now put your hands on your desk to brace yourself,” he said before he buried his face between my thighs. He pulled each leg over his shoulders, my black stilettos resting against his back, and his tongue swiped across my most sensitive area as I gasped.

He pulled his head back, a wicked grin on his face. “You need to keep quiet, baby. Can you do that?”

I nodded, my teeth sinking into my bottom lip.

He licked and sucked as his hands gripped my ass, and he held me close. My head fell back as my body melted into him.

His lips.

His tongue.

Tasting and teasing me in every way.

I leaned against the desk and tangled my hands in his hair, tugging him closer as I ground against him.

Wanting more.

Needing more.

“Clark,” I whispered. “This feels?—”

I lost my words as his tongue slipped inside me, and his thumb moved to my clit, knowing just what I needed.

My hands and feet tingled as bright lights skyrocketed behind my eyes, and the most powerful orgasm ripped through my entire body.

I used my hand to cover my mouth as I rode out every last bit of pleasure.

The sensation felt like it would never stop.

And I didn’t care.

Neither did Clark.

He stayed right there until my breathing slowed.

He pulled back, setting my feet on the ground and looking up at me, his lips wet with my pleasure.

“I could die a happy man right here with my head buried between those beautiful thighs.”

I couldn’t speak; my feelings for him were overwhelming.

Powerful.

All-consuming.

He raised each of my feet, slipping my panties back on and adjusting my skirt, before pushing to his feet. I reached over my desk and found our notebook. I quickly wrote out the only words that mattered.

I love you, Clark Chadwick.

“I love you, too, baby. And that’s all that really matters,” he whispered against my ear.

I just hoped like hell that he was right.