Author note:

Continuing Clay's birthday. I hope you all enjoy!

CH 90-The Perfect Day

Clay's surprise party had been a complete success. The weather cooperated and allowed them to enjoy the pool as well as the larger indoor gathering space. When they got home, they managed to get the new grill up to the apartment and out on the balcony. After the effort, he sat down on the couch to rest. He watched Koda give the gift bags and boxes a good sniff and once he was satisfied, curl up next to his kennel. Then Clay laid his head back and closed his eyes. He was thinking about what a great party it had been. From Jameelah's happy squeals as Ray took her down the slide into the pool, to watching Emma sit with RJ on her lap as the little one splashed in the water, and even his and Sonny's cannonball contest. (He knew his body would regret that tomorrow.) It had been the perfect day. It was exactly what they all needed before they had to deal with Bravo's upcoming deployment. As he was mulling all this over, Emma's soft voice broke into his thoughts.

"Are you tired, or do you want your gift now," she asked.

He opened his eyes to see her leaning against the bedroom doorway. She had changed her clothes and was now wearing his blue dress shirt. It hit her mid-thigh and she had the sleeves rolled up and just a few buttons in the middle fastened. She held a small box in front of her. Clay was up and across the room in a few strides, all his weariness gone. He wasn't sure which to unwrap first, her, or present she held out to him. Emma decided for him. She took his hand and led him over to the bed and sat down. He seated himself next to her as she handed him the colorfully wrapped box.

"I don't have a card. I couldn't find one that said what I wanted to say."

"It's fine honey. You didn't even need to get me anything."

"Yes, I did," she said as she leaned her head on his shoulder.

He tore off the paper and opened the box. Inside was a brand-new watch. It was an updated version of the one Jason and Ray had. He took it out and started to look it over.

"Honey, this is…this is great."

"I wanted to give you something that you would have with you when you're gone. But also, something that you could use. I mean, you can dive with this and it doesn't need batteries or anything…"

"Babe, it's absolutely perfect. Thank you."

He was just about to lean in for a kiss when he turned it over and noticed the engraving on the back.

~I will love U

4 all time

-Em~

He looked back up at her and could see her eyes shining with tears.

"I wanted to give you something to remind you of me, and of how much I love you."

He knew she was thinking ahead to his deployment. This one was going to be shorter than usual, 60 days. But, neither one of them wanted to be apart for even a day, let alone two months. His eyes got misty then as well.

"I know," she sniffed. "I know you have to compartmentalize when you're working. And I want you to. I want you to focus so that you and the guys can all come home safe. But this way…this way you'll have a piece of me with you no matter where you are, or what you're doing."

"You're always with me honey," he said softly as he covered her lips with his own.

As their kiss heated up, Clay fumbled to put his watch on the nightstand as she maneuvered him back onto the bed and straddled him. He started to work the buttons on the shirt she wore. As it slipped down her shoulders, he caught a glimpse of midnight blue silk. She pulled the shirt completely off and his eyes roamed over her. Her bra was all lace that barely hid her dusky nipples. He reached to bring her closer and slid his hands down her back to her ass and found it bare, confirming that the matching panties were a thong. Freckles dotted her rosy, sun-kissed skin. He couldn't keep his hands still; he wanted to touch and taste every part of her. He placed sucking kisses down her throat and continued to the valley between her breasts. Emma arched her back and swiveled herself against him.

Clay wrapped her in his arms and flipped them so that he hovered over her. Emma pushed her hands under the hem of his shirt and raked her nails against his abs. He pulled off his tee as she reached behind her back and unclipped her bra. He slid the loosened straps down her arms and pulled it off, tossing it to the floor.

"Em," he breathed reverently as he took in the beauty of her bare form.

His hands cupped her breasts and he could feel her hardened nipples pressing against his palms.

"God, baby, you're so gorgeous."

Emma pulled him down on top of her so she could have his mouth. The taste and feel of his tongue against hers drove her higher. Clay slid down, resuming his oral exploration of her body. He kissed and licked at her neck and shoulders until he was at her breasts. Using the tip of his tongue, he traced around her areolas and then blew across them, making her nipples painfully hard.

"Ahhh…oh God! Mmmm," she called out and then bit her lip.

He continued as he moved further down, licking at her navel, and sucking at the skin over her hip bone until he'd left his mark on her. He sat back on his knees and slid her panties off. Caressing his way back up her legs, he drew his fingers through her folds. She was hot and wet for him. Feeling hard enough to pound steel at this point, Clay stood and removed his board shorts.

Emma's eyes raked over him. She said nothing but bent her knee and slid her leg up in invitation. He could see her center, pink and perfect. Witnessing her offer herself up to him this way made it almost impossible for him to maintain control. He took himself in hand and rubbed his length against her turgid bundle of nerves, before plunging inside her.

Their moans filled the room as they moved together. Clay tried his best to keep a steady rhythm, and not lose himself in the frenzy. He lowered himself to his forearms and slanted his mouth over hers again.

She caressed his back with her delicate fingers, gliding over each muscle and past the dimples above his ass until she grabbed him and tried to pull him deeper inside her.

"Em...baby, yes!"

She was assaulting his senses. The taste of her on his tongue, the sound of her moans in his ears, the feel of her breasts brushing against his chest, and her tight, wet channel stroking him. It was all consuming. He could feel her legs start to quake and the flutter of her walls around him. He reached between their bodies and stroked her sensitive nub.

Emma could feel the sensations radiating out from her core as Clay continued thrusting inside her and fondling her clit. Every sane thought fled her brain and all she could think of or feel was him.

"Clay, Clay…Claaayyy!" she screamed as she went over the edge, clutching onto his shoulders to keep herself grounded.

He longed to freeze time in this moment. He wanted to burn this instant into his brain, into his soul. So that it would never leave him. To forever see her face etched with the expression of the bliss he brought her, to hear his name falling from her lips, to see her skin flushed with passion for him, and to feel her pulsing with pleasure around his body.

Emma's mind came back to her and she nipped at his lips and wrapped her legs around him, urging him on. His tempo faltered as he got nearer to his peak.

"Unh, unh…mmmm…Em, Emmie," he cried out as he poured himself into her.

He slipped from her body and situated himself behind her, enfolding her in his arms. He could feel the feather-light touch of her fingertips up and down his arms, and the occasional press of her lips to his bicep. He swept her hair back away from her face and kissed her neck and shoulders.

"Em, I love you. I love you so much baby."

"And I will love you for all time. I really meant that you know."

And he thanked God because he knew she did.

She brought his hand up to her lips and then held it tight, pressed against her heart.

"Happy Birthday, honey."

He swallowed back the emotion clogging his throat and gathering in his eyes. From the party today, to the watch and it's engraving, to the love they just made together, she was incredible. He thanked his lucky stars that she was his.

*If you like this Clay & Emma pairing-go check out my other story, (if you haven't yet), "The Times of Their Lives." It continues their story into the future*