Will to Love (13 page)

But having realised minutes earlier that her feelings for him were much stronger than she thought, Clarise's doubts and insecurities threatened to derail her plans.

What if he doesn't get jealous?
 
Clarise pushed the thought away, not wanting to think about that possibility.
 
Keep going.

She pretended to check the time.
 
"Oh," she said and put on a thoughtful look.

"Something wrong, Clarise?"

"I was supposed to call...," she began but stopped when discomfort rushed through her.

With a split-second decision, Clarise decided to stick to her original plan.
 
She didn't want to complicate things any more than necessary.
 
She decided to try the direct route first and kept her fingers crossed.
 
It was obvious he was attracted to her anyway, so how could he say 'no' to a mere dinner?

 
"No, nothing's wrong.
 
Say, Will, do you have plans for dinner tonight?
 
I thought maybe we could grab a bite to eat after we wrap up here."

Will looked at her for a long moment, looking absolutely torn.
 
Yes, he wanted to have dinner with her.
 
Hell, he wanted to have more than dinner with her.
 
So much more.
 
But it wouldn't be right.
 
He didn't want to lead her on.
 
He didn't want to let anything more develop between them.
 
She'd just get hurt eventually.

"Ah, I'm afraid I do have other plans for tonight, Clarise."

"Oh, okay, some other time then?"

He gave her a tight smile that was almost a wince.
 
Avoiding her eyes, he said, "It may not be for a very long while."

Oh.
 
Ouch.
 
That means never.
 
Lancing pain attacked Clarise's heart.
 
It hurt like hell.

It's for the better.
 
You'd want a real boyfriend, not someone like me who wouldn't be able to give you want you'd want
, Will thought with a strength of purpose.

"Did you say you were supposed to call someone?" Will asked her, desperate to change the topic.
 
He was just barely managing to stop himself from taking her in his arms and kissing her and comforting her.
 
The pain that settled in her eyes hurt him just as much as it hurt her.
 

Suddenly quiet anger simmered within Clarise.
 
Anger at herself for letting herself get hurt - again - and anger at Will for daring to be attracted to her only to reject her - again!
 
That anger also conjured up her pride.
 

"Yes, I was supposed to call Victor to let him know if I was going with him tonight", she said, standing up from her chair and smoothing her skirt down.
 
She didn't look at him.

"Victor?"
 
Will sprang up from his chair.
 
He felt a tight squeeze in his heart as he remembered the possessive way the man put his arm around his Clarise not so long ago.
 
Will mentally shook his head.
 
She's not yours, Will.

"Yes. Victor.
 
He found out I might be here until about 6:30 and offered to pick me up.
 
His mum had invited us for dinner at her place."

"Are you - is he - wanting to get back together with you?" Will asked rather shakily.
 
Why he felt scared all of a sudden, he didn't know.

Something in his voice alerted Clarise.
 
It was true that Victor had invited her to his mum's place for dinner.
 
It was a back-up plan if she didn't go out with Will tonight.
 

Clarise gave him an 'I don't know' shrug.
 
"Victor's just a naturally sweet guy and, like I said, we're good friends.
 
He knows I love his mum's cooking."

Sweet guy, my ass.
 
I bet he just wants to get back in your undies and is using his mum to woo you back.
 
Will felt jealousy and possessiveness boil uncontrollably within him.

"So... what do you plan to do?"
 
He knew it was none of his business.
 
But the thought of Clarise being comforted by Victor after he'd just said 'no' to her disturbed him.
 
Keeping her at arms length was one thing, but pushing her onto another man's arms?
 
It was the last thing he expected himself to feel, but right then, Will felt like throttling himself.

Clarise looked at him with challenge in her eyes and said rather coldly, "Well, it looks like I'm free tonight after all and it would be nice to be in the company of people who would love to be with me tonight."
 

"I would love to be with you tonight, Clarise."
 
Will's eyes grew wide with surprise.
 
He didn't mean to say that out loud, but around Clarise, his mouth seemed to have a life of its own - just like his cock.

"But... but you said you had other plans, and... and you said, it would be a long while before you become... free."
 
Clarise was flustered all of a sudden.
 
Flustered and confused and elated.

"Well, I just realised I'm the boss and I could change my plans if I wanted to.
 
It is Friday night, after all."

Clarise just stared at Will, not exactly knowing what to make of his sudden about-face.

"So," Will continued nervously, "can I take back what I said earlier and answer your question again?
 
I really would love to have dinner with you tonight, Clarise."

But Clarise wasn't ready to give in.
 
She was still hurt that he said 'no' in the first place.

"You don't need to feel obliged or pressured, Will," she said coolly.

Will closed the distance between them and cupped her chin with one hand.
 
"Clarise, I would really love to be with you tonight...," he said insistently.

"But?"
 
Clarise asked, sensing some hesitation on his part.

He sighed deeply, "But I wouldn't be able to give you what you need, expect, deserve," he explained sombrely.

"What do you mean?"

Okay, here goes.
 
"You deserve to be treated right, Clarise.
 
I wouldn't be able to give what you would eventually expect such as enough time with you, or...commitment.
 
My time frame for my business expansion is tight.
 
Very tight.
 
My business goals are my number one priority and I cannot let anything get in the way of that."
 
His voice was soft but certain.

"It's part of your vision, isn't it?
 
For your parents?"

"Yes."
 
Will was surprised she understood.
 
He braced himself for her rejection.
 
Why would she even consider being with him now when he'd just made it clear she wouldn't be the centre of his world, that a relationship with her will not be a priority for him?

"So, would going out with me tonight mess up with your schedule too much?"

"No," he said tentatively.

"Why don't we just take it one date at a time?
 
We could go out together when it suits both our schedules."
 
Clarise was surprised at what she had just said.
 
But all she wanted was to spend time with him.
 
She'd take whatever she could get.

Will's eyes widened with astonishment and hope.
 
"That would be okay with you?"

Anything for the chance to be with you, no matter what the future brings.
 
"Why wouldn't it be?
 
I don't even know if I'd want to go out with you again after tonight," she teased him as she demurely placed her hands on his chest.

 
"Oh, yeah?
 
Well, we'll see about that," Will murmured as he pulled her close and lowered his head to kiss her.
 
Soft moans escaped them as their lips touched.
 
And they melted into each other as they let their kiss convey the desire they both felt.

Someone rapped at the door.
 
They pulled apart and quickly composed themselves.

"Come in," Will called out loudly.
 
It was Liz, Will's personal assistant.

"I'm very sorry to interrupt, Will, Clarise," she said with an apologetic smile.
 
"Will, I just need to discuss something urgent with you before I head home, if that's okay?"

"Sure, Liz."
 
He started following his assistant.
 
"Clarise, I'll be back in a sec."
 

"Take your time.
 
I need to give Victor a call anyway," Clarise said absently.

Will stopped in his tracks and scowled at her.

"To let him know I'm not going with him to his mum's," she explained, as if to a child.

"Okay, then," Will responded grudgingly and walked out the door.

Clarise wouldn't have been able stop the happy grin that spread to her face even if she tried with all her might.

~~

They walked hand in hand to Clarise's building.
 
Dinner had been quick, both of them seeming to want to get it out of the way.

Clarise unlocked the building's front door, and without a word, took Will's hand to lead him inside.
 
He went with her willingly, a small smile playing on his lips.
 
They were both silent as they rode the elevator up to her apartment on the third floor.
 

Clarise's palms started to sweat.
 
After seven years, she couldn't believe she'd be having sex with a man again.
 
But this was not just any man.
 
This was Will.
 
And she loved him.
 
The thought filled her with warmth.

Will noticed the slight trembling of Clarise's hand as she opened her front door and was glad he was not the only one feeling nervous.
 
He didn't know why he did.
 
He'd never been nervous about sleeping with other women before, even if it was the first time with them.
 
But this time with Clarise, it felt different.
 
It felt - momentous.
 

"Umm, so Will, do you want something to drink, or, umm..."
 
How do you start with the sex part again?
 
Do I just go and start kissing him or do I start getting undressed?
 
How did it start the last time he was here?

Will smiled and gathered her in his arms.
 
"I'll take the 'umm', please," he said huskily as he captured her lips with his.
 
What started out to be a soft, gentle kiss quickly turned into something hot and heavy, and a craving for something more - much more as they tongues tasted each other.
 

"Where's your bedroom?" Will asked hoarsely.

Clarise pointed to where her bedroom was but kept kissing Will, who angled his head just enough so he could see where she was pointing without relinquishing contact with her lips.
 
Before she knew what was happening, Will had scooped her up in his arms and carried her to her bedroom.

Clarise was panting as Will laid her on the bed.
 
The room was dark, the only light coming from the open doorway.
 
Will reached out and fumbled with the 'on' switch of her bedside lamp.

With the room bathed in soft light, Clarise could clearly see Will's face.
 
He was kneeling on the bed beside her.
 
His blazing eyes, looking deeply into hers, revealed naked desire and tenderness.
 
Clarise's heart swelled and reached out to touch his face.
 
He smiled his swoon-inducing smile and kissed her palm.

Will leaned and showered Clarise's face with passionate, butterfly kisses.
 
He ran his lips on her eyes, her cheeks, her ear, before going back to nibble at her lips as he ran his hand underneath her blouse.
 

Clarise, wanting to feel him, ran her hands on his back and up his neck to clutch a fistful of hair as she held him to deepen their kiss.

Will moved to kiss and gently suck her neck while lifting her off the bed so she was straddling him as they both sit up face to face, short skirt bunched up around her waist.
 
Will started unbuttoning her blouse, one little button at a time.
 
He looked so hot, so aroused yet his movements were slow, deliberate.
 
It made Clarise pant just watching this gorgeous, sexy man undress her.
 
Blouse gone, Will cupped her breasts, and ran his thumbs on her already sensitised nipples over her lacy bra.
 
Clarise gasped, feeling the sensation all the way to her moist centre.
 
In the next moment, her bra was on the floor.

Will kissed the valley of her breasts before taking in one nipple in his mouth.
 
Clarise moaned and Will thought that was one of the most erotic sounds he had ever heard.
 
He continued to kiss, lick and suck one nipple, then the other.
 
The sensations that washed over Clarise were exquisite, heightened by watching Will's obvious enthusiasm at what he was doing to her breasts.
 
It was so erotic.

Clarise was desperate to touch his bare skin.
 
Fumbling, she helped him take off his shirt.

Will laid her back on the bed, and trailed kisses on her lips, her neck, down to her breasts, ribs and abdomen.
 
He made circular movements of his tongue against her navel and then moved on to kiss her thighs.
 
She gasped as he kissed her mound over her lacy panties, before he unzipped her skirt and took it off.