The Taste of Mr. Davenport (7 page)

“Nothing.”

“It’s not nothing. You’ve been staring out at the ocean for at least an hour. Talk to me. You might not want to be my lover anymore, but we can still be friends.” She started rubbing his back and shoulders, which made him relax a bit.

“I’m not sure you want to hear it,” he admitted to her even though he swore he would never tell anyone about his time with Claire.

She laughed lightly and stepped over to the railing of her porch so that she was facing him. “It’s the girl. Claire? Right?”

“How did you know?”

She shook her head and gave him a sad smile. “I know you better than you think. I saw the way you looked at her. And the fact that you didn’t want to share her, but rather protect her virtue kind of clued me in.”

“You aren’t mad, are you? I mean I know we were never exclusive, but I want you to know I respected what we had.”

“I know you did. Don’t worry about me.” She waved her hands, brushing off his assertion. “I just want you to be happy. And well, if she does that then so be it.”

“It isn’t like that. We were just having fun. She goes back to school tomorrow.”

“Give me a break, Carter. If you wanted to be with her—truly be with her—you could.”

He shook his head, denying her claim. “Elise would never have it. Her parents would never have it. It couldn’t work.”

“Look.” She placed a hand on his arm. “Nothing in life worth fighting for ever came easy. If you truly care about her, you’ll find a way to make it work. You need to decide if that’s what you want.”

“We’re just so different. What if she wants kids? I already did that with Elise. I’m almost forty-years old. I’m not sure I would enjoy starting again now. And let’s not forget I travel more than half a year. How could I ask her to uproot herself to be with me? Or to stay home while I’m on the road?”

“Isn’t all that her decision? She deserves the chance to choose for herself. And at this point, I think you are just looking for an excuse. Just think about it. You don’t have to decide today or tomorrow, but you need to decide soon.”

He grabbed Mary and gave her a hug, holding her tightly. He kissed her head and rested his cheek on the top of her head.

“Want to fuck for old time’s sake?” Carter wasn’t surprised she asked him that, and it made him smile.

“Sorry, can’t.”

She sighed and tightened her hold around his waist. “How did I know you were going to say that?”

* * *

“Oh my God! You didn’t!” Elise screamed and scrambled in the bucket for another water balloon. She and Claire were attempting to hide behind the grill from Bobby and Brian. Claire wasn’t sure how the war had started, but she was having a blast in the meantime.

“Look out,” Brian shouted as three balloons came at their heads. Both men ducked and went into their own arsenal.

Brian wasn’t Carter by any stretch of the imagination, but he was cute—in a boy next door kind of way—and he was funny. Last night at the club, he hung with her the whole time and bought all her drinks. At the end of the night he even kissed her lightly on the lips. It felt nice. What it didn’t feel was all consuming like it did with Carter.

Carter had practically ignored Claire the last few days. It was as if she didn’t even exist. She hated it, but was powerless to stop it. So she decided she would flirt with Brian and make out with him. Wasn’t that what you were supposed to do after a break up?

“Shit! We’re out of balloons,” Elise cried out and looked frantically at Claire. They both started laughing when they realized how into this game they were. It was just water for Christ’s sake.

“One of us is going to have to go back to the house to get the other package.”

“Not it.”

Claire bit her lip and cursed. She should have known better than to let Elise decide. Of course, she would choose to stay hidden while Claire put her butt on the line.

“Okay.” Claire squared her shoulders and braced to run. “I’m going in. If I’m not back in ten minutes you’ll have to come in after me.”

“Good luck. May the force be with you,” Elise patted her butt and shooed her along with her hands.

Claire shook her head, took a deep breath and ran. She was almost to the door leading into the house when strong arms clamped around her waist and hoisted her up over an equally strong and solid shoulder.

She looked around a tight butt to see it was Brian, who had her in a fireman’s hold. His one hand grasped her thigh while the other held her ass. His fingers were just inside her bikini bottoms, grazing her skin. This didn’t seem like the laid back Brian from last night, and she secretly enjoyed knowing he wanted her.

“Let me down!” She yelled and laughed as he ran towards the water. “Don’t you dare throw me in.”

“Okay, I won’t,” he replied, and she felt his strides speed up.

Before long, the water lapping over the sandy beach came into view, and she knew she was fucked. Within seconds, he submerged both their bodies in the cool ocean.

Claire kicked herself away from him when his hold loosened. Breaking the surface of the water, she gasped and wiped the water from her face. She turned to find Brian standing with a heart-stopping grin on his face. She lunged for him in an attempt to dunk him, but he was too fast. She tried again, but this time he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him. Unable to tread water with his body so close, she wrapped her legs around his waist.

Next thing she knew his tongue was in her mouth, and his erection was pushing into her. She broke the kiss and pulled away.

“I’m sorry. I’m not looking to start anything with anyone right now.” Guilt flooded her. She instantly thought of Carter and even though she said she was going to move on, she realized she wasn’t ready.

“That’s cool. I just thought maybe we could hook up or whatever.”

“We should probably get back,” she gestured towards the house, and they both started swimming to shore.

“You’re a cool chick. You know that right?” Brian whispered in her ear as they rounded the patio.

“Thanks.” She ducked her head and attempted to hide her blush. “I wonder where Bobby and Elise went.”

Brian looked around and pointed down the beach to two figures that resembled their friends. They were obviously going at it in the water. Claire quickly turned around and bit her lip. This was slightly awkward.

“Want a drink?” She quickly toweled off and started towards the house.

“I’ll take an iced tea,” Brian called out after her.

“I’m on it!”

Standing at the counter pouring two glasses of iced tea, Claire jumped a mile when two male hands settled on the counter on either side of her.

“Did you like him touching you?” Carter’s voice was low and sounded almost menacing.

“What are you talking about?” She said breathlessly. She couldn’t help the reaction he caused in her.

“I’m talking about that asshole sitting on my patio. Did you like it when he had his hand on your ass? Or when his tongue was down your throat?”

“I’m not sure that it’s any of your business.” Claire suddenly felt cold. He was the one who wanted to end it with her. Not the other way around. He couldn’t decide now that he saw her with someone else that she was his again. She might not be experienced when it came to relationships, but she knew when someone was playing games.

“You’re my business. Do you want me to go out there and break every single one of his fingers for touching you? Because I can and I will.”

“No,” she whispered, not understanding his sudden possessiveness.

“Tonight you come to me. If you don’t, I’ll spank you like the naughty little girl you are.” He kissed her behind her ear and then he was gone.

Claire took a moment to compose herself and then joined Brian outside. She needed to think about what she was going to do.

* * *

Claire couldn’t believe she was doing this, but here she was about to sneak across the hall wearing nothing but her robe. Regardless of the fact that Carter sent her away and then ignored her, she still loved him. It might make her naïve and stupid, but she didn’t care. Tonight was probably going to be her last time with the man. She wouldn’t be back next summer after graduation, so this was her last chance.

She tiptoed across the hardwood floor, avoiding the creaky floor board she discovered earlier that summer. She gave one light tap on his door before opening it and slipping inside. Elise was planning on sneaking out her window to meet Bobby on the beach tonight, but Claire didn’t know if she had left yet or not, so she decided to be quiet and play it safe.

“I want you to bend over the bed. Keep your feet on the floor and your arms out in front of you.” Carter’s voice startled her. She turned and saw him sitting in the chair in the corner of the room. A thrill of excitement went through her at his words.

She walked over to the bed and dropped her robe. She spread her legs and bent at the waist. Her torso lay on the bed, and her arms went over her head.

Carter dropped to his knees behind her, and she felt his tongue probing her pussy and her ass. She fought the urge to squirm when his tongue licked her puckered hole. She wasn’t sure she was comfortable with this, but decided to see where he was going.

His fingers spread her wide, and he explored her with his tongue. He fucked her with it. He licked her clit with it, and he lapped up her juices with it. She was mindless, moaning and trying to move against his mouth.

“I want to taste you, Carter. Please,” she begged and became excited when he climbed on the bed and positioned her so that she hovered over his face. She leaned over and brought his hard as steel cock to her lips, kissing it lightly before sucking. She moaned around his shaft, licking and sucking it. He waited until she had a rhythm before he grabbed her hips and buried his face in her pussy.

His cock was rock hard and silky in her hand and mouth as she sucked him. She worked him up and down while he buried his face between her thighs. When he thrust his fingers inside her, she moaned around him again. It made him lick faster, making her ache for release. She never wanted him to stop, his tongue was so good.

“Oh God! Don’t stop,” she moaned again as her climax hit her full force. She bucked and rocked against his face with each contraction.

“On your knees,” she heard him say, and she released him from the tight grasp she had on him during her orgasm.

She positioned in front of him with her ass in the air, and her head flew back when he drove inside her. “Yes,” she cried out unable to lower her voice when he fucked her like mad. He was hitting her hard and deep. It was the most wild and abandoned experience they had ever had together. That she had ever had period.

The bed rocked, and the headboard creaked. Carter grunted and groaned while he fucked her like an animal. Neither of them were aware of their surroundings. Of the fact that Elise might hear them. They only knew how phenomenal it felt to be with the other, and how much they needed to have each other. Even if only for the night.

“Carter, Carter, Carter!” She shouted when her orgasm exploded, and Carter wanted to howl at being able to make her come so hard.

He continued to pump inside her until she felt his cock twitch, and he planted himself fully in her, bathing her insides with his release.

Before either of them could fully come down from their high, the bedroom door opened and Elise stood in front of them with a horrified expression on her face.

“I knew it!” She yelled at them. “You are such a dirty whore! I can’t believe you seduced my father!”

Claire scrambled to cover herself up with the sheets as Carter chased after Elise as she cried hysterically. She felt numb inside watching Carter leave. She knew he would always choose Elise—she was his daughter after all. That didn’t lessen the pain inside her. Not only did her friend’s words cut her to the bone, but Carter’s lack of caring about her feelings kept that wound open and fresh.

Chapter Eight

Present day…

Claire sat in her room after replaying the summer in her mind for the millionth time. She wasn’t sure why she continued to torture herself. She only knew that she craved Carter more with each passing day. He had to feel the same way about her. It was impossible to believe that this fire was only inside of her. He had to have it inside of him as well. She continued to believe they still had a chance. It was what kept her going.

Elise hadn’t spoken to Claire since they left the beach house. Upon returning to school, Elise petitioned to have her dorm room changed and stayed with a friend while the arrangements were made. At first, Claire tried to get her to see reason. To explain how much she loved Carter and wanted to make him happy, but it was no use. Elise was locked up tight and in denial about the affair. She wanted to believe that Claire used her just to get close to him. Just the thought that someone could believe that about her made Claire’s heart break all over again.

Each day got lonelier and lonelier for her. Many of the friends she had before acted like she was a leper since hearing Elise spin the tale of her sordid love affair. She didn’t know how much lower she could get.

She picked up her cell phone and stared at it for several minutes, before performing what was becoming a daily ritual. She called up Carter’s contact in her phone, and her finger hovered over the call button. Would she follow through? She didn’t know. Until now, she had chickened out each and every time. For as much as Claire wanted to hear his voice, she was afraid of what he might say to her.

Calling on courage she didn’t feel she allowed her thumb to lower and press the button. The touch was too light and the phone did nothing. She sighed in relief and set it down.

A half hour later she picked her phone back up and went through the motions again. This time the call activated and she almost hung up. She couldn’t believe she had actually called him. The phone rang several times before he picked up. At first, she thought it might be voicemail, but then she realized he had said her name.

“Carter?” She whispered into the phone, unable to speak any louder.