Propose To Me

by Caroline Andrus

  He kissed her forehead gently. “Untrue. This is the first time I can ever remember you kissing me. What happened to patience?”

  Cori laughed, hugging him. “I was afraid you might never get around to it.”

  “I might not have,” he said gently, kissing her cheek. “You’re engaged, Cori.”

  His gentle words were like ice water flowing over her naked skin. “I know,” Cori said. She flushed and stepped back out of his embrace. “I—”

  “You don’t have to explain,” Dustin said, grabbing her arm before she got out of reach. “But we should go back now, or you won’t get your dance.”

  With her thoughts churning between desire and her chagrin, Cori followed Dustin back to his car in silence.

  ~ * ~

  They entered the dance at a quarter to ten. About half of the people had already left, but a few tables were still occupied. Several couples were slow dancing to Lionel Richie’s Say You, Say Me. Dustin led Cori to the dance floor, put his hands on her waist and began to sway to the music.

  Cori hung her arms around Dustin’s neck, adopting his swaying motion so they moved together to the slow beat. I’d forgotten, after learning how to dance for real with Stefan, that this was how we danced as kids. Pushing the thought from her mind with a sliver of guilt, Cori closed her eyes, luxuriating in the feel of Dustin’s touch.

  Why couldn’t that night have ended differently years ago? We could have had this and so much more.

  Thoughts of that long ago night flooded Cori’s mind. Dustin got the tent from his brother and pitched it near the river. They prepared over a matter of weeks slowly, so that no one would be wise to the fact that they weren’t going to the after prom parties. Even enlisting some of Dustin’s friends, like Allen to help cover for them. Cori packed an overnight bag, along with some snacks and a bottle of champagne. Her giddy excitement as she dressed in her strapless baby blue prom gown and applied her makeup. Then the anxious wait while her dad and stepmother snapped pictures, and she worried something would occur to stop their magic night from finally happening.

  Cori sighed. If only.

  The prom itself had been fine for the short time they had been there. After saying hello to all their friends and posing for some pictures, Cori and Dustin had separated, changed their clothes in the bathroom and snuck out separately. Meeting back in the parking lot, they had walked to their tent, triumphant and exultant over what was to come. And then ...

  Cori hugged Dustin tighter but couldn’t stop the relentless march of her memory.

  We’d forgotten glasses for the champagne, and neither of us liked the taste anyway. He was dressed for a night of camping; I’d dressed in lace lingerie under my clothes ... and the temperature was unseasonably warm, close to eighty degrees. We were both way too hot but afraid to open the tent flap and let any more mosquitos in. My hair fell flat and my makeup ran. And then ...

  Cori let out an involuntary sigh. In the stories, the hero and heroine always come together, even the first time. Yet, all I felt was pain for a while. Dustin didn’t want to hurt me, but he wanted me so badly that it frustrated him terribly to have to wait. And we touched and kissed, trying to make it work, trying to give me time to catch up to him. But when he finally loved me, he came quickly, leaving me with only faint stirrings of pleasure. The second time was the same, only worse: by then, I was dying for want of him, desperate to be filled and fulfilled. Instead, he came again, without me.

  Cori burrowed into Dustin’s shoulder, not wanting him to see how upset she was. I remember lying there afterwards, Dustin still breathing hard beside me, and resenting the hell out of him. My own bitter determination took hold of me. I straddled him and ground away for all I was worth. The sheer relief when I finally came made me cry out. But my disappointment rose up almost before that pleasure faded. I didn’t come with him. He hadn’t waited for me.

  Hell hath no fury like a disillusioned teen. And I gave him all my wrath the next morning, one cutting remark after the other, until he finally gave up trying to find out what was wrong and walked home alone, leaving me there with the tent.

  “I’m sorry again,” Cori whispered. “For everything.”

  “Don’t be sorry,” Dustin replied tenderly. “This is your dance, and by the looks of it, the DJ’s packing up. Enjoy it while it lasts, with no recriminations.”

  Cori nestled her head on his shoulder and didn’t reply.

  ~ * ~

  Dustin forced himself to breathe, his mind coming up with scenario after scenario of how to stop the night from ending. The love of his life was in his arms, just like she’d never left. And that kiss they’d shared had been hot as lava. But she’s wrong that everything’s the same between us. She’s got a fiancé. And even though we talked for more than an hour, I never brought up my own romantic troubles ... or the fact I’m freshly divorced. How can I move us forward and out of the past, so she believes we could have a future together?

  Dustin hugged Cori tightly as the last strains of the song ended. There was so much he wanted to tell her, but would any of it be welcome? If he let her go tonight without saying what was in his heart, would he ever be able to live with himself?

  Cori separated from him then looked up at him. “Thank you for the dance.”

  “You’re welcome,” he managed.

  A classmate of Cori’s came up, wishing her a goodnight. Dustin felt hands pulling at him, too. Allen and several of the other guys asked where he’d been all night, the former giving pointed looks at Cori and a nod of congratulations. Dustin fended them all off as fast as he could without being rude then turned to Cori, only to see her slip out the door. Cursing, he ran after her.

  He caught up to her at her car, just as she was about to open the door. “Wait!”

  Cori turned then dropped her keys. She cursed once herself, then picked them up, casting a musing glance his way. “Didn’t we just do this?”

  Dustin raked his hand through his hair, trying to find the right words, knowing that whatever he said would fall short of how he was feeling.

  I love you. Don’t leave. We can make it work somehow, if you only give me a chance.

  Before Dustin could speak, his phone rang. He stared at Cori for a moment as it continued to ring.

  “Shouldn’t you answer that?” she asked finally. “I can wait.”

  Reluctantly, Dustin answered the phone. “Hello.”

  “Hi, son.”

  At the first tones of the gravelly voice of his father, Dustin inwardly groaned. He never calls me, and he chooses this moment of all moments to start ... Dustin drew a shuddering breath, knowing instantly that something had happened, and it wasn’t good. “What’s wrong?”

  “Your mom’s had a heart attack. She went to the emergency room at General Hospital. She’s stable, but I thought you should come. I’ve already called your brother and sister—”

  “I’ll be right there,” Dustin answered hollowly, then hung up. He turned to Cori, only to see she was already in her car, the window rolled down. “Get in,” she said. “I’ll drive you.”

  Dustin didn’t stop to wonder how Cori knew something was wrong, or why she wanted to drive him. He just eased shakily into the front seat and sat back, worried thoughts flooding his mind. “My mom’s in the hospital. General, on the south side of town. Head to the emergency ward.”

  ~ * ~

  At the hospital, Cori let Dustin off in front of the emergency entrance. He jumped out of her car and hurried into the hospital, straight to the receiving desk. He was still waiting in line when Cori joined him a few moments later.

  “How is she?” Cori asked him breathlessly.

  “She’s still in the emergency room,” the desk clerk said to Dustin. “She’s going to be staying tonight. They’re getting her room ready now.” The woman handed him a printed out map. “Just follow the path marked in red arrows.”

  Dustin thanked the woman then headed to the emergency wing with Cori in tow. After a bunch of twists
and turns, they found Dustin’s mother in one of the emergency bays, protesting to the staff doctor who told her she had to stay the night.

  “I’m fine—”

  “Mrs. Bergman, I’m advising you to stay the night for observation. You’ve had a mild heart attack—”

  “She’ll stay,” Dustin interrupted, going to his mom’s side. “Do what he says, Mom. You can’t risk your life.”

  Dustin’s mother looked about to reply but noticed Cori, who offered her a tentative smile. “You look well, Cori. It’s good to see you, in spite of the circumstances.”

  “Your son is right,” Cori said persuasively. “You should stay the night. You don’t want ... um, you want to stick around.”

  Dustin shifted his weight. Just what Cori needed tonight on top of everything else, to be reminded how she lost her own mother when she was eleven to a heart attack.

  Mrs. Bergman opened her mouth as if to reply then closed it and nodded. “I guess I can stay one night.”

  Orderlies arrived with a bed and collected Dustin’s mother. As they were leaving, Dustin’s brother and sister arrived with their spouses and some of his mom’s things, taking Dustin’s attention. They all walked his mother up to her new room to get her settled in. It was close to midnight when he finally exited his mother’s room and noticed Cori, dozing in a chair just down the hall. He crouched down in front of her then touched her arm lightly, giving her a start as she opened her eyes.

  “Sorry,” he said tenderly, taking her hand. “You didn’t have to stay.”

  “I thought you might need a ride home,” Cori said with a yawn.

  “Actually, I do,” Dustin said apologetically. “My siblings all came in the same compact car, and there were no extra seats. Not that I need to hurry, as they’ve commandeered my mom’s spare bedroom and couch too.” He forced a smile. “But I’m so tired the floor looks good to me.”

  “Stay with me,” Cori said, the words falling unbidden from her lips. She colored at once but didn’t take the offer back.

  Dustin looked at her searchingly. “You don’t mind? You’ve got room?”

  “My room comes with a sleeper couch in the sitting area,” Cori explained quickly. “It’s separate from the bedroom. You can use that.”

  Dustin nodded. “I’d be grateful.”

  Exhausted, Cori drove Dustin back to pick up his car in case of emergency, and then had him follow her to the hotel. She led him inside the room, kicked off her shoes and sank down on the couch with a sigh.

  You’re in my bed, technically. Jerk, don’t say that, she’ll think you just accepted her offer to sleep here hoping to get laid. “Thanks for saying what you did, Cori. I wouldn’t have put it past mom to check herself out and try to go home.”

  Cori’s smile faltered. “I was glad to do it. Losing my own mom wasn’t something I’d wish on anyone else, least of all you.”

  Dustin sat down beside her, being careful to keep his distance, lest she think his motives were more than just comfort. “You never answered me before. How’s your family?”

  Cori grimaced slightly. “Everyone’s the same. My father is still self-absorbed, and my stepmom is still trying to climb the social ladder and getting nowhere. The most I’ve seen them is lately, when we’ve been planning the wedding.” Before Dustin could reply, Cori hurried on. “But I’m glad you’re getting along with your mom. I always liked her.”

  “She always liked you,” Dustin assured.

  “And your dad?” Cori added quickly.

  “About the same as yours: into his own thing, like he’s been his entire life,” Dustin said with a shrug. He took her hand in his. “Do you really want to talk about this?”

  Cori’s pulse rate shot up as Dustin’s touch. “Did you have something else to say?”

  Yeah. Don’t marry him. Marry me. Dustin closed his mouth firmly, until he was sure the words wouldn’t escape. “Don’t you think we should talk?” he murmured finally, squeezing her hand in his.

  Cori swallowed hard then gathered her courage. “Yes.” She paused again, making herself force out the words. “Why did you leave without saying anything to me?”

  Dustin loosened his grip on her hand, though he didn’t release it. “You basically told me that I didn’t deserve you. I knew I’d let you down, even though I never meant to. What else was there to say?”

  “I’m sorry,” Cori said, bringing Dustin’s hand to her chest and holding it with both hands. “I never meant to hurt you.”

  Dustin’s lips parted even as he moved forward to kiss Cori’s parted, inviting lips. But as he bent down, the large diamond on her ring finger flashed as if in warning, and broke the spell.

  It doesn’t matter what might have been, only what is. “It’s okay,” Dustin said lightly. Releasing her hand, he moved back to the other end of the sofa. “Do you want the shower first?”

  “Please,” Cori said gratefully, getting to her feet. She walked into the bathroom and shut the door.

  As the shower began to run, Dustin went into the bedroom and grabbed the extra blankets and a pillow from the bed. When he removed the pillow, the vibrator that had been resting beneath it, rolled out onto the bedspread.

  Why did she bring this with her? Some fiancé. He must not be taking care of business. Carefully, Dustin put the vibrator back where it had been, put the pillow back on top of it and grabbed the other pillow off the bed. He made up the couch then took off his shirt, leaving on his jeans. Stretching back, he rested his arms above his head, listening to the water run.

  She’s in there naked.

  Dustin shifted, images of Cori’s luscious body swarming through his mind. His body responded automatically; an erection formed that was painful in its intensity. He tried to ignore it. The longer the water ran, the harder it was to keep his thoughts off his old flame.

  What if she uses the vibrator tonight and I hear her? Will I be able to stay out here, listening to her soft orgasmic cries and not go in there to answer them? Imaginative scenarios burst over Dustin’s eyes, flooding his senses with pictures of the two of them coming together, their naked bodies entwined, joined, moving in tandem until the sweet rush of climax engulfed them both.

  Dustin drew a long shuddering sigh. No way you’re going to get through saying goodnight, much less the few hours until morning, unless you handle this now. Saying a prayer that Cori would stay in there another few moments, Dustin undid his pants.

  ~ * ~

  Cori finished washing her hair, then went to soap up her face one last time. The well-used bar broke into several pieces in her hand. Muttering that the hotel bar was so decorously thin to begin with, Cori stepped out of the shower and walked dripping across the tile to the extra bars near the sink. She snatched one up and unwrapped it, then moved to the garbage can near the door. As she tossed the wrapper, a low groan made her pause.

  Another groan came, this one more insistent than the last. Riveted, Cori pressed her ear to the door and listened. As the moans intensified and quickened, Cori drew a long, shuddering breath.

  He’s out there masturbating.

  Cori’s first impulse was to open the door because she desperately wanted to watch, though she knew it was wrong. Instead, she stayed motionless on her side, trying not to breath.

  “Cori. Cori.”

  For a second, Cori thought somehow Dustin knew she was there listening. Then Dustin gave a loud groan then several more, the last trailing off into a satisfied sigh. Then came the sounds of a muttered curse and tissues pulled from a box.

  He came, thinking about me. Cori swayed, her one desire to open the door and go out to Dustin in her wet skin, showing him with her touch that she was all too willing to sate his every desire. Instead, she retreated to the shower and got back under the warm water. Shaking, she touched herself at once, rubbing the swollen nub between her thighs, an involuntary gasp of pleasure lost in the pounding spray of the water. The climax built almost at once, all the longing and lust for Dustin raging through her li
ke a flood, her back arched as she came, her soft cries lost in the pounding of the water.

  Slowly Cori sank down onto her haunches, hugging herself. When her breathing slowed, she turned off the water and got out, toweling herself dry.

  There was no noise from the other room.

  He hadn’t meant to be overheard. It was just a stressful day, and he needed some release. You were a convenient fantasy. Tonight just brought up all the old feelings, nothing more.

  Cori sighed, then wiped off the fogged up mirror with the edge of the towel. That’s all bullshit and you know it, except for the being overheard part. His feelings—and yours—are as real as they ever were. The only real question is what are you going to do about how you feel?

  Cori opened the door slowly, unsure what to say to Dustin yet determined not to hide her feelings. But she needn’t have worried. He was fast asleep, wrapped in a blanket with a peaceful expression on his face, his dark hair mussed.

  Cori looked down at him, then reached out and touched his cheek gently with her fingertips. When Dustin stirred then moved on his side away from her, the blanket covering him slipped off his shoulders to reveal his muscular back.

  Cori stood transfixed, watching the rise and fall of his deep even breathing. She reached out a hand toward him again then took it back. To wake him would ensure an inevitable outcome that they had both done their respective best to avoid. Stifling a sob of sheer need, she fled into her bedroom and closed the door.

  ~ * ~

  Dustin woke with a groan, his back stiff and sore. Blinking his eyes, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and sat up. Last night’s events came back in a rush when he realized the bed was instead a couch. Kissing Cori. Mom in the hospital. Staying here for the night. Fantasizing about Cori, then falling asleep after. He looked toward Cori’s door, but it was shut, with only silence on the other side.

  Dustin rubbed his eyes then yawned, wrinkling his nose. Everything else could wait until he had a shower.

  Several minutes later, he emerged clean under yesterday’s clothes and looked toward Cori’s door. Still shut. Not wanting to wake her, especially if she regretted last night’s conversations, he penned a quick note on hotel stationary and left it on the table.