CHAPTER TWELVE
The weight of Clay Watkins was heavy and sweaty as he leaned across her back. When he pulled out, Katie took in a sharp breath, the nerves in her swollen clitoris sending aftershocks throughout her entire body. He gently turned her around, and she had to grip the back of the couch to maintain her balance as she looked up at him. They both panted, Clay’s naked body glistening in the dim light.
He offered her a cockeyed smile as he bent over to pull up his jeans that were still around his ankles. Her skirt had floated over her exposed area, and she reached under her shirt to adjust her bra back over her breast. She watched him scowl and run his hands through his damp hair.
“Shit, Katie. I’m sorry. I…I didn’t use a condom.” His eyes were full of worry. “I got caught up in your amazing blowjob…”
“Clay, it’s okay. I’m on birth control. I’m clean too. I was going to tell you that this weekend, but we haven’t done much talking…”
His expression showed relief as he exhaled. “I’m clean too.” Filling the small space that was between them, he kissed her forehead. “You’re amazing.” He brushed the pad of his thumb across her cheek before he picked up his t-shirt and her panties from the floor.
“I need to go freshen up if you don’t mind. Care to show me to the bathroom?” She took her panties out of his hand.
He smiled and walked over to the barn door, sliding it open for her on the track system, his bare back muscles flexing magnificently. Flicking on the bedroom lights, he motioned with his free hand. “The bathroom is right in there. Please, make yourself at home.”
Katie nodded and grabbed the handle of her suitcase. The wheels clacked along the hardwood floor as she rolled it across the room into the master suite. The ample space was sparse with only a king-sized bed, dresser, and nightstand. Looking up, she noticed a vast skylight, the lights of a giant skyscraper flooding the bedspread in spheres of light.
“What is that building?” she asked. The distinctive architectural design with dark windows was impressive.
Clay looked up. “That’s the Batman building.”
She looked at him with chagrin.
“No, really. Doesn’t it resemble the mask of superhero Batman? That’s what everyone calls it. It’s the AT&T building, but the Batman building sounds way cooler.”
“Huh…” Katie contemplated, looking up at it with wide eyes. The giant building did look kind of like Batman’s mask.
Behind the closed door of the giant master bathroom, Katie cleaned herself up and quickly refreshed her makeup. Smoothing her hair back with a bristle brush, she couldn’t help but smile at her reflection in the giant mirror, thrilled to be connecting so passionately with Clay. She hoped that they could have a heart-to-heart conversation at some point about his past issues from his childhood. It saddened her that he had gone through something traumatic that kept him from moving on his career. For him to truly open up to her would speak volumes about his character and his intentions. She hoped their relationship could continue to evolve and she could get closer to him. However, if all he wanted were random weekends of great sex, she wasn’t opposed to that either. He was an incredible lover. Just the thought of his hands all over her body made her face flush. But she was ready for more, Clay Watkins making her heart palpitate like no other guy. It would be very easy to fall for him, hard.
“Just breathe,” she told her reflection in the mirror.
“That was quick,” Clay said, standing up with a beer bottle in his hands. He had already dressed, looking extra hot with his messy hair.
Katie grabbed her beer off the island and took a big swig. “What do you want to do now?” She leaned against the sturdy marble and watched him approach her.
“I’m kinda hungry. You want to walk down the street and check out some of the local hangs? All the tourists should be clearing out by this time of the night.”
“Yeah, that sounds great.”
They walked hand in hand on the old sidewalk in the summer night not saying a word. Katie stole glances of her handsome date, wondering what he was thinking. They walked several blocks down the busy stretch of road that reminded her of the Vegas strip with all the multi-colored neon signs blinking in bar windows and live music filtering into the air. They finally came up to an old, renovated building called Acme Feed and Seed. As Clay pulled the handle of the big door, she could tell he was grinning.
“Not what you were expecting, huh?”
“Not unless you’re hungry for some chicken feed.” Her comment made him laugh out loud as she walked into a vast open space with a two-toned wooden ceiling. The famous Acme red and white checkerboard print was prevalent in the dining area.
Because the earlier Thursday tourist crowd had thinned out, it didn’t take them long to order food and drinks from the bar on the first floor. Clay helped her carry her Moscow-mule up the stairs to the third-floor rooftop where they found a table for two with no problem.
“This is the best scenic view of the city,” he informed her, taking a sip of his whiskey on the rocks. “That’s the Cumberland River right there, and you can see the Batman building over your shoulder.”
She swiveled her body and looked up to see the familiar skyscraper. The earlier humidity had dissipated, and a light breeze had picked up. “It’s a beautiful city.”
“That it is,” he replied with a smile. “I’m glad you’re here… with me, Katie.” He looked at her with intensity, tiny flecks of gold noticeable in his caramel eyes.
Heat rushed to her cheeks, delighted by his remark. “I’m glad to be here with you too.”
A waitress delivered the food in red plastic baskets. They were overflowing with hot chicken sandwiches with American cheese and pickles on white bread and hand-cut sweet potato fries. Katie didn’t realize how hungry she was until her taste buds exploded after the first bite of comfort food.
“You like it?” Clay asked, his expression youthful.
