Keeping Claudia (Toby & Claudia Book 2)

by Suzanne McKenna Link

  “Oh, fuck,” he whispered, voicing the obscenity with a sense of awe, and in our paired distraction, I found I didn’t mind the sound of it. “I want to make this last, but it’s been too long. You feel too good.”

  He pulled my legs around him and directed my hands to the headboard over me.

  “Lock your legs around my waist and hold on. I want to make you come.”

  I hooked my ankles behind his back and grabbed onto the wooden spindles of the headboard. Concentration etched his brow, he propelled forward, throwing his weight into his thrust, until our hips met and repeated. A hot twist of synergy surged between us.

  “Okay?” his voice strained with concern.

  “Yes. You can go faster if you want,” I rasped out, my lungs spastically attempting to retain air.

  With a wicked smile, he picked up speed, gyrating his hips with swift, driven intensity. Everything around us became a blur. There was only me and him in a chasm of crazy hot sensations, mounting by the second. Still, I wanted more and began meeting his motions with my own. My rapid breaths carried the sounds of my enjoyment.

  “Your moans are my new favorite sound,” he said and kissed me.

  Maybe it was the awe in his voice or the feel of his mouth on mine, but my body detonated in the most wonderful way. Little zips of warm, tingly light shot out through all my nerve endings, and I felt like I was floating. A drawn-out moan broke from Toby’s lips, and he fell heavily on top of me, laughing. I didn’t know what he was laughing at, but I found myself laughing, too. The two of us lay there giggling like we’d heard the best joke ever.

  His breath continued to come in ragged rushes as he pressed his face warmly into my neck. After a few moments his breathing quieted, and he inhaled deeply. “Can we just stay here like this forever?”

  I stroked his back with a long, languid sweep of my fingertips. “Mmm, yes, forever.”

  Hunger proved the worst enemy of our forever plans, impelling a raid on our food supplies. I stood at the kitchen counter, wrapped in the blanket off the bed, smearing crackers with peanut butter and jelly. I fed Toby a few before I scarfed down a couple myself. He hadn’t bothered to put anything on. Every look I stole heated my insides.

  He came up behind me and pressed his naked, powerful body to mine.

  “Works up an appetite, doesn’t it?” He nipped playfully at my ear.

  “I see now I’m going to have to build up my strength to keep up with you.”

  “Yep. Hurry up and eat. I’m ready for round two.” He slapped a condom packet on the counter and dug his fingers into my hips.

  “Again, so soon?” I asked, but the hard ridge of his excitement straining against my backside generated an immediate sexual rush.

  Lifting my hair, he kissed my neck. “Uh-huh,” he murmured. “This time, I want to make you scream.”

  I dropped the crackers on the counter and twisted around to face him. “My, aren’t you a little sure of yourself?”

  “Only ’cause I know I can… and I will.”

  His hair was wild and disheveled from my hands pulling at it earlier. It made me want to pull at it again.

  “Hmm, how can I turn down such a blatant challenge?”

  “If you know what’s good for you, you won’t. You’ll let me do everything I’ve ever imagined doing to you.”

  “What have you…” I bit my lip. “Imagined?”

  “So, so many things. Slow and long.” He caught a handful of my hair at my nape and tugged my head back. “Hard and rough.”

  “We’re not talking about handcuffs and whips, right?”

  A smile rounded his lips. “We could try that if you want.”

  My eyes traced the contours of his face. “Is that something you’ve done with your other girlfriends?”

  “Don’t do that. This is about us. No one else.” He slammed the door shut on my curiosity. His hand tightened in my hair, and he pushed me roughly against the counter.

  I pushed back.

  He frowned. “What gives?”

  “You pushed me first,” I said.

  “You’d rather spend your energy fighting me off? Maybe I should spank you.” Dead serious, he gave my butt a firm slap. “Maybe then you’d behave.”

  I covered my mouth and laughed. “I don’t think so, Mr. Grey.”

  “Don’t be so quick to say no. You might like it.” He pulled my hand away from my mouth, his hungry gaze sweeping over me.

  Heat rushed to my face. And other places, too.

  “Claudia, I need you to trust me, to be open, and let go of some of your … reservations. Let me love you.” He dragged a heavy thumb across my bottom lip. “Can you do that?”

  He was asking me to open a door when I had no idea what was behind it. If I could release my need for control, for a bit, an hour, a day, we could move forward.

  “Giving up control is easier said than done.”

  “You can do anything you set your mind to. I have no doubt of that. I love you, Claudia. Don’t be afraid with me. I will never do anything to hurt or embarrass you, I promise.” He kissed the side of my face, knowing I’d need that extra bit of reassurance. “I want to make you feel good, but you have to talk to me. Don’t be shy about telling me what you like and what you don’t.”

  He kissed me hard then, searing his pledge against my mouth. Once again, it all came down to trust, trusting him enough to loosen the reins and step out of my comfort zone. I wanted to show him that I was capable of letting go, that I trusted him to expose me to things and places that were unknown to me.

  I batted down my nerves and met his eyes. “I do trust you, so give it your best shot, stud. Make me scream … if you can.”

  I thrilled at the way his eyes glittered at the taunt. A quick swipe of his hand tore the afghan from my shoulders, exposing me to him. He lifted me up onto the counter and aligned his hard body to mine.

  I knew then mutually satisfying sex would require me to be far bolder than I’d ever been. I leaned back just enough to spread my legs wider and gave him an undisputable invitation.

  He rolled on the condom and palmed my backside, drawing me to the edge of the counter. Impossibly turned on, I put my hands behind me to support myself and arched my hips up, offering him easy access. He pressed himself to me. Eagerness trilling, I waited to feel the full length of him.

  He had other things in mind, though, and stirred me with short little bursts. Each stroke teased mercilessly, and the inadequacy whittled away at my patience.

  “I want all of you.” I begged, my eyes on his.

  “All of me?” He raised his brows, remaining maddeningly in control. “Are you sure? I can be a lot to handle.”

  “I can handle you.” I heeled the cabinet beneath me, arching further to meet him. “I can.”

  “I hope so too ’cause I’m going to give it to you. All of it,” he whispered tightly. He cupped my butt, his grip bordering on too firm, and with an animalistic growl, he gave it all to me—all at once.

  One hard, fast stroke and he sank blissfully deep inside of me.

  In that instant, like a match to oil, my body went aflame. A divine spasm ripped through my core, and a forceful, shriek-like moan roared from somewhere deep within my chest.

  He’d done it. He’d made me scream.

  * * * *

  Out of food and supplies, we cleaned the house and hopped aboard the early evening ferry back to Sayville. Toby left all his tools behind. The rain stopped, and we went up to the top deck and snuggled into each other to keep warm in the cool breeze off the bay. If I could’ve stopped time, I would have. Locked in our own world, still buzzing from the aftermath of our lovemaking, exchanging kisses, and knowing glances—this is where I would have stayed.

  “You didn’t finish the work Sal wanted you to do,” I said, a stray afterthought. “I sort of feel bad.”

  “I don’t.” He rubbed my back. “I’ll go back tomorrow.”

  “I won’t be able to come with you. I’m going to a brida
l expo with April.”

  “I know.” He flicked a finger across my nose. “Without you distracting me, I’ll be able to get the job done.”

  I fluttered my eyes at him, playing coy. “I distract you?”

  “Absolutely, in the best possible way.” He lifted his fingers to his nose and smiled. “I can still smell you on me.”

  Effervescent energy flowed between us, my heart tight with the kind of ache that felt so good I never wanted it to go away.

  I pressed my chin onto his chest and smiled up at him. “You know what?”

  “What?”

  “I like you. A lot.”

  His expression grew soft, and his eyes shined with a warm glow. “Yeah? That’s interesting. I haven’t made up my mind about you yet.” He winked at me, and I swatted his chest.

  His expression softened as he tucked a wayward strand of my hair behind my ear. “I’m hopelessly, shamelessly in love with you, Claudia Chiametti. Whatever little I have to give is yours.”

  His words melted my heart, and I kissed him, sure I would never again willingly leave his side.

  The ferry engines quieted to a hum when we reached the harbor. We were home. The ferry crew hastened to secure the ties, and after a few minutes, we joined the throng of other riders and filed down the steps to exit the vessel’s large sliding door. The ship’s hands stood on the dock platform, acknowledging the passengers.

  “Well, if it isn’t the notorious Toby Faye,” an unusually resonant, feminine voice called out.

  We both looked up to see a young, blonde woman smiling at Toby.

  Toby’s lips bowed with recognition. “Kate,” he said.

  He let my hand slip from his and moved forward to hug her. They embraced as old friends often do, laughing and patting the others back with apparent fondness. Toby drew me forward and introduced us. Kate wore her straight hair in a simple ponytail. Her fresh, air-kissed complexion showed no noticeable traces of makeup. She gave my hand a sturdy shake.

  “What are you doing with this troublemaker?” she asked, her blue eyes bright with teasing.

  “I’m teaching her how to make trouble,” Toby answered for me. “Seems things haven’t changed much—I’m still up to no good, and you’re still working for the ferry service. You’ve been at this a long time.”

  Kate nodded. “Except I’m a captain now.”

  “No shit? That’s great,” he replied, clearly impressed.

  The two of them chatted a few minutes, and then we left Kate with a wave and made our way to the parking lot, my curiosity simmering.

  “How do you know Kate?” I asked when we arrived at the car.

  “We used to go out.”

  “Oh.” First Hannah, now Kate. “She was nice, but it’s hard to picture you two together.”

  “Ouch,” Toby said, opening the back hatch of the Jeep and tossing our canvas bag inside.

  My cheeks heated at odds with the animosity in my stomach. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “Yeah, I get it. She wasn’t the norm for me. She wasn’t brash or fussy about her appearance. She had that unassuming, sexy, smart-girl vibe that I find incredibly hot. Kind of like you.” His lips curled in a playful smile. “And man, I crushed hard on Kate.”

  I tugged my hand away, and he swung the hatch closed, unaware of my growing angst.

  “If you liked her so much, why did you break up?”

  “She was too nice for me.”

  “Hey!” I smacked his arm. “Are you insinuating that I’m not nice?”

  “Chiametti, you’re feisty, smart, and beautiful.” He lugged me into a crushing, bear hug.

  “But I’m not nice, not like Kate.” I fought against his hold but couldn’t escape.

  “Nice doesn’t fit you. It’s bland. You’re so much more.” His fingers angled my chin up, impelling me to look up at him. “You’re sweet and kind—a principled girl, who knows her worth—but you can be tough, too. Best of all, you don’t take my shit.” He dragged a thumb over my jaw, spurring my heart to batter the cage of my chest. “I can be myself, be that stupid asshole that I sometimes am, without worrying that I’ll break you. I need that, Claudia. I need to know I won’t scare you away.”

  The testimony in those grey-blue eyes made my pertinacious walls crumble.

  “You won’t scare me away,” I said, lifting my hand to the face I loved so much it sometimes felt painful.

  Our relationship was moving forward. Hours ago it’d taken a giant leap forward. It was inevitable that his past would come into play. There were more Kates and Hannahs, ones I’d yet to hear about, and in a small town like ours, we were bound to come across a few of them occasionally. I’d have to learn to handle it in a more mature fashion.

  Chapter 8 • Toby

  “I don’t like it. I think it’s too much.” I shifted in my seat, aware my opinion had earned me a dirty look from El Capitán. Claudia and I were sitting with her father at the kitchen table, where all-important family matters always seemed to take place.

  Claudia opened her mouth to respond, but her father beat her to it.

  “Claudia has always been sensible about planning her time.” He laced his large hands together and rested them on the table. “I’m sure if she thought she couldn’t handle working in addition to taking classes, she wouldn’t take on the responsibility.”

  “I’m not saying she can’t handle it,” I told him before turning back to her. “But night classes after working all day, Claude? If you don’t have to, why set such a tough schedule for yourself?”

  Summer was sputtering out, and as soon as next week, Claudia’s days were going to be full enough. With classes, homework, and research, she still wanted to load on more.

  “I really like working with Liz,” she said, looking at me.

  “They’re not even letting you work with the residents like you wanted to.”

  “I know. Bill Ramsey personally asked me if I could swing keeping my daytime hours, and I really want to. I think by doing that he’ll be more open to instituting some of my program proposals.” She cupped my hands, optimism filling her eyes. “I was able to switch all but one of my classes to an evening schedule. I can manage it. I know I can.”

  I adored her confidence, but the new arrangement felt like a slack noose around my neck. We’d been together several months. My opinion should count for something.

  “I’ve no doubt you can manage it, but when will we see each other?”

  Her expression softened. “We’ll have the weekends together.”

  There was no way around this that didn’t involve a battle where I’d look like a selfish prick. What else could I do but shut up? Her father smiled, looking like he’d won. It was times like this that made me remember how much I disliked him when I’d first met him. He knew how to get under my skin.

  Discussion over, Claudia took a ride with me to pick up lumber for a project I was working on at home. The week before I had demolished the rutted old cement steps leading up to the front door of my house. They were uninviting and lacked any curb appeal. I'd demolished a majority of the hulking mass down to an uneven pile of cement debris over the course of the week, taking it down with good old-fashioned muscle power and perspiration. A new, larger wooden porch was underway.

  “Sterling is having an anniversary party in January, a formal, catered soirée. Do you want to go with me?” she asked, helping me steer an orange, oversize materials cart towards the lumber aisle.

  Ugh, I hated those kinds of bashes. “Is yacht club guy going?”

  “Dr. Berger? Yeah, I’d expect so.”

  Of course, he was.

  “I’ll go. Text me the date.” I made a hasty RSVP, but Claudia’s attention whirled away with the sights and sounds of the large home improvement warehouse.

  She stopped in front of a flooring display and stroked a sample of hardwood. “Oh, this is nice.”

  “That’s Brazilian cherry. My company just did a dining room in this. Turned out beautifully.”


  “I kind of like this one, too,” she said, pointing at sample of a darker, wider planked flooring.

  “Really?” The heavy-grained walnut wasn’t something I’d imagined she’d like. “Here’s an idea. Let’s pretend I’m building you a house. Show me the kinds of things you’d like to see in it.”

  Like a giant cat stalking its prey, I followed her down the aisles, salivating at the way her hips gently swayed as she walked. Since Fire Island, we could barely keep our hands off of each other. With her new jam-packed schedule on the horizon, I almost abandoned the idea of meandering through the store with her. I’d have much rather taken her back to my place and made the most of the final days of summer, but each time she stopped to point out colors, styles, and patterns she liked. I looked and listened with undivided attention.

  In the closet aisle, she gestured to the built-in components: shelving, draws, and specialty racks.

  “I like all the unsightly stuff neatly tucked away,” she said.

  “Someday I’m going to build you this house.” I pulled her close, my voice warm with conviction. “Your dream house. Whatever you want.”

  “As long as it isn’t anything overly showy. I prefer quality,” she said, pressing her chest to mine. “Like you, for instance, you’re durably built and all around well crafted.” Her hands slid over my ass setting all of me ablaze. “See what I did there? Double entendre.”

  “Damn. Who knew smart talk could be such a turn on?” I backed her into the steel shelving unit behind us and kissed her full and deliberate, undaunted by the public backdrop. I loved that I intimately knew every square inch of her body. There wasn’t a place I hadn’t touched or kissed. And I loved how crazy, out-of-my-mind in love I was with her. It fucking blew my mind that Claudia Chiametti was as impatient to touch me as I was to touch her.

  “Yo! Get a room for Christ’s sake!” Some dude bellowed down the aisle at us.

  Claudia pushed away from me, her face flushing crimson. I was annoyed until I saw the short, broad Italian strutting his way towards us.

  I tossed him a withering look. “Mind your own damn business, old man.”