Heaven

by Rebecca Julia Lauren

  Without thinking I reached between her legs and felt her flinch. Dragging in a deep breath, her gaze flew to mine and she sat up. “Jase, I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize.” I felt her pain tearing through me.

  Two white teeth caught her bottom lip, and her forehead crinkled with dismay.

  God, she was killing me. “You don’t have to explain.”

  “I don’t want this to change what’s going to happen between us tonight, Jase.” Her hands clasped the sides of my face in desperation. “Please, I need you to make me forget. Promise me we’re still good for tonight.”

  My chest tightened. “I promise to never hurt you.”

  Cori’s eyes flashed with emotion. “I need you.”

  “Cori.”

  “Jase, please.” She was practically begging me and I couldn’t deny her anything.

  “Okay,” I answered, because there was no other choice. Crazy as it seemed I understood her need to erase that bastard’s touch by replacing it with mine. I fucking hated the guy who’d done this to her. He might not have raped her, but he’d stolen something precious from Cori. If I could help her get it back, I would.

  “Let’s go home,” I told her.

  She relaxed, an expression of relief clear on her face. “Thank you, Jase.”

  I smiled because I wanted to reassure her, but I was nervous as hell because the stakes had been raised. I hadn’t felt so damned nervous about having sex with a girl in my entire life, even the time I lost my virginity. One thing I knew with crystal clear certainty is that this night had to be perfect for Cori.

  Chapter 9

  Cora

  I think I scared the shit out of Jase. Again.

  He was not a man that frightened easily, but Jase was super protective of me, of all his friends, and I knew that he was worried. I guess I couldn’t blame him. Jase was the only one that knew what had happened to me when I was eight-years-old and Olivia’s latest boyfriend was babysitting me.

  Ellie suspected, but she didn’t know for sure and I didn’t like to talk about it. Jase was the only person I’d shared that secret with. I don’t even know why I’d told him. It made things awkward now that we’d agreed to include sex in our relationship. Maybe he thought I was going to spaz and go all horror-movie psycho-crazy during sex. The thought made me laugh.

  Jase cut his eyes my way as we entered my apartment. “What’s funny?”

  I told him.

  “Jeez, that’s not funny Cori.”

  I studied his chiseled profile. God, he was sexy. “I think you’re nervous about having sex with me.” The challenge in my voice was too obvious to be missed.

  His eyes flicked to mine. “You’re right,” he replied easily, unashamed to admit it. “Most of the women I’ve slept with I haven’t had a relationship with.”

  “I didn’t freak you out earlier?”

  He slipped his arm around me and tugged me to his side. Glancing down at me, I could see from his expression that he was choosing his words carefully. “It hurts me to think about what happened to you, Cori. I know you say you’ve dealt with it, but it still haunts you.”

  “Of course it haunts me. That doesn’t mean I haven’t dealt with it. It’ll always be there, Jase, lurking on the edges of my mind unless I replace it with new experiences.”

  “That’s why you want us to sleep together.”

  “Does that bother you?”

  “No, baby. I’ll do whatever you need me to do.” His hands slipped through my hair. “I’d do anything for you, Cori.”

  “Prove it. Take me to bed and fuck me senseless.”

  “Some other time.” Before I could protest, he was pulling me closer. “I’m going to make love to you Cori. Let’s not pretend it’s anything else. We may only be friends, but you’re not some random fuck. This will mean more.”

  His words melted the ice in my heart. I stood on my tiptoes and brushed my lips across his. “That’s beautiful. Just so you know I’m not expecting anything but sex from you.”

  Jase gripped my arms gently, holding me back far enough so that he could look into my eyes. “Just so you know, I’m not going anywhere when we’re done. You’re always going to be my best friend.”

  “Right back atcha’ babe.”

  Sweeping me high into his arms, Jase strode into my bedroom and lowered me on the bed. “Remember, I’m in control tonight.”

  I laughed, lifting a brow. “Do I need a safe word?”

  Surprise flickered in his eyes. “You really are a bad girl, Cori.” His deep, rich voice was gentle, teasing.

  “Are you going to punish me?”

  “Yeah,” he growled, bending down and kissing my neck. I shivered.

  Feathery light kisses brushed along my neck, throat and breasts. Even through the material of my dress I felt each touch with astounding intensity. I thought he’d undress me, but he didn’t.

  Moving lower, he lifted my dress, his eyes on mine. “You have to talk to me, Cori.”

  I knew what he meant without him having to explain. “I want you to touch me.”

  I felt him tense. “Where?”

  “Everywhere.”

  Slowly, his gaze fastened to mine, Jase brushed his fingers against my core and I moaned. “It’s good,” I assured him quickly. “Take off my panties.”

  His fingers slipped beneath the thin material and he pulled them down my legs. Lifting up on my rear, I helped him. “Please,” I whispered.

  Jase’s hand slid up the inside of my thigh, but no higher. Moving to the other thigh he repeated the sensual caress that had my heart racing and heat throbbing in my sweet spot.

  Lowering his head, I tensed. He kissed the inside of my thighs until I was squirming with unfulfilled need. His mouth moved higher and then he lifted his head.

  “Jase!”

  Heat burned in his eyes. “What do you want me to do to you?”

  I squirmed.

  “Say it,” he commanded.

  I shifted, feeling my cheeks turn hot. “You’re mouth between my legs.”

  His deep chuckle made my nipples harden. “All you had to do was ask.” Then he bent his head, parted my legs with his hands and flicked his tongue over my quivering flesh. He licked, kissed and sucked. I shattered, crying out his name on release that left me weak and shaking in the aftermath.

  Gathering me into his arms, he held me against his chest and rubbed his hand in circles over my back. If I could stay like this forever, I would. I was safe, satiated and deliriously happy.

  My hand moved between us and I touched the rigid bulge in his jeans, but Jase gently plucked my hand away. “I told you I’m in control.”

  “I want to make you feel as amazing as I do.” I brushed my lips over his throat.

  “Amazing?” I heard the smile in his voice.

  “Keep that smug look on your face. You’ve earned it.” My eyes locked on his. “I want to know what you taste like.”

  He sucked in a sharp breath, and I noticed that his fist was white-knuckling the comforter. Jase was barely hanging on to his precious control, and something fierce inside of me wanted to make him let loose.

  My hands moved to his jeans zipper. Reaching inside of his pants, he lifted, and I shoved down his jeans. He was wearing gray briefs that barely contained his erection, and my eyes shot up at the size of the bulge.

  Jase’s deep chuckle as he kicked off his jeans made my gaze snap to his.

  “I can’t believe you’re laughing at me.”

  “I’m sorry, Cori. The look on your face is priceless.”

  “I wasn’t expecting you to be so big,” I blurted, realizing the moment the words were out how ridiculous I sounded.

  This only made him laugh harder. “Maybe I shouldn’t take off my underwear. You might faint.”

  “Funny.”

  “I’m not a small man.” He wasn’t bragging just stating a fact.

  I reached for his underwear, hooking my fingers inside of the waistband and peeling
them down his strong thighs. My eyes drank him in. He was beautiful. It felt like the most natural act in the world to lean down and flick my tongue over the velvety tip of his cock.

  He jerked.

  Resting my hands on his thighs I licked him. I kissed him. My mouth closed over his cock and I took him deep into my throat. A moment later, Jase hauled me off of him. His eyes were closed and he was breathing hard.

  “I only have so much control,” he told me, placing his hand on the back of my head.

  “You don’t need control.”

  He dipped his head and his mouth took mine. Oh, he was a wonderful kisser. My toes curled. I felt his cock straining against me, and then the bed sank with his weight as he got off of the bed. It took a moment to regain my breath and I saw that he’d slid on his underwear and jeans.

  “Rewind. You’re supposed to be taking stuff off, not the other way around.”

  He threw a smile over his shoulder, and my heart fluttered. “We’re done fooling around for tonight.”

  “What?” I asked with disbelief. “You don’t want me?”

  His eyes glittered and he stared at me with disbelief. “I want you too damned much, Cori. Hell, I’m going crazy with wanting you. But I don’t want to rush this.” He dropped a kiss to my nose.

  “Who’d have guessed you’d be such a tease?”

  Jase smiled. “Can I stay the night?”

  My heart swelled and flipped over. “Suit yourself,” I replied as if I didn’t care either way. “The bed is big enough for us both.”

  Jase pulled me into his arms, and I let him, loving how incredible it felt to be held by him. It felt good, too damned good. For the first time since I’d suggested we hookup, a shadow of doubt fell over me.

  Jase

  A woman’s scream pierced my dream. My eyes snapped open and I was suddenly awake, alert and ready for anything. The years I’d spent in the army had taught me to always be aware of my surroundings, and as a result I’d become a light sleeper with the ability to wake up quickly.

  I sat up in time to see Cori running to the bathroom and closing the door. Fuck. Torn between knowing she needed a moment to herself and wanting to comfort her, I sat there wondering what to do before getting my ass out of bed and lightly tapping on the closed door.

  “Cori, you okay?”

  The door flew open and she stood before me, looking more beautiful than any woman I’d ever seen, her eyes sparkling with emotion and her deep auburn waves loose around her shoulders. I was an ass to notice how her nipples pebbled beneath her T-shirt, and I yanked my eyes to her face. The tear stains on her face felt like a punch to my gut.

  “Stop looking at me like that. I’m fine, Jase,” she said with a small smile as she pushed passed me.

  I was confused. “I heard you scream.”

  “Damn, I’m sorry for waking you up.” She smiled mischievously. “It’s probably not the first time you’ve had a woman screaming in your bed.”

  Raking my hand through my hair, I studied Cori, wondering how she could act so freaking calm after screaming bloody murder only moments ago. “They only scream when my hands are on them.”

  Her eyes flashed at my remark and I knew I’d hit a nerve. Cori was jealous, but I was too consumed with what had happened to enjoy it. She glanced away and again I saw traces of tears on her smooth skin.

  “You’re the only woman I’ve ever slept with, Cori.” I didn’t want to give her any more information that would add to my reputation as a harem-boy in her mind, but I was desperate to see her smile. “I usually leave after we’re done.”

  Her face lit up. “Really?”

  “Yes, really. I can see you’re pleased about that.”

  “I am.” A line of concern appeared between her brows. “I mean I’m not happy that you did the wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am to those women, but I like that I can share a first with you. Makes me feel special.”

  I wanted to tell Cori that none of the women I’d ever slept with expected more from me because I was always honest with them. Hell, most of them were looking for the same thing as me—hot, meaningless sex. “Are you gonna tell me what happened?”

  She turned and a beam of moonlight caught the side of her tear stained face and I drew in a sharp breath. Her pain made my heart ache.

  “I sometimes have this dream and I wake up screaming, but I never remember what it was about.”

  I tensed. “Does it have something to do with what happened to you?”

  “No. I don’t think it does. It’s strange, but I’m almost positive that it has something to do with my dad.”

  I looked at her, surprised. “You’ve never mentioned him before.”

  “Olivia hated him and they were always arguing. After a while, he just stopped coming around.” I swallowed the painful lump of emotion that caught in my throat.

  “I’m sorry, Cori.”

  “It was a long time ago. I hardly even remember him.” She shrugged, trying to act as if she was fine.

  I felt her eyes on me, and I didn’t miss the shift of energy in the air or the unmistakable affect she was having on me. Wearing only my underwear, it was impossible for Cori not to notice how much I wanted her. I felt my face burn with embarrassment. Maybe she wouldn’t notice.

  Her gaze slipped lower and her eyes widened, snapping to mine.

  “Sorry.”

  Cori’s eyes slid over me again, stopping to stare at my chest. I didn’t move. If she wanted to look at me, I’d let her. It was unbelievable that I could be so turned on from simply having her eyes on me.

  “Jase, you’re beautiful.” Her voice was raspy and her eyes were hot. “I can’t believe you’re blushing, but I like it.”

  “I didn’t want you to think I wanted to—“ Well, hell. I raked a hand through my hair, not sure how to finish that sentence.

  She smiled. “That you wanted to have sex?”

  “Right. I mean I always want to have sex with you, but you know what I mean.”

  “I do. And I love seeing you off guard. Usually, you’re so confident and sexy and beautiful that I wonder what you’re doing with me.”

  The sincerity in those softly spoken words tugged at my heart. “You should wonder because it’s obvious to everyone that you’re too good for me.”

  “Stop it, Jase.”

  “I’m serious.”

  Shifting, she planted her hands on her slender hips and locked her eyes with mine. “I don’t want or need false flattery from you.”

  I was shocked. “Cori, you do realize that you’re fucking gorgeous.” I hesitated, frowning at the look on her face. “Don’t you?”

  She scoffed. “I’m cute, and I’m cool with that. Stop looking at me like I need you to boost my self-esteem. I said cute, not butt-ugly.”

  Laughing at the absurdity of the conversation and knowing it was useless to argue with Cori Heaven, I lifted my hands in mock surrender. “Fine. But you’re still fucking gorgeous.”

  “Awe, you’re just saying that because I’m your best friend.”

  “No, I’m not.” I stared into those amazing blue-green eyes and let my gaze slide over her smooth skin, straight nose, high cheekbones and lips that drove me wild. Her face was adorably heart-shaped. I guess since she hid her sexy red curls beneath a baseball cap and mostly wore jeans and T-shirts, I could see how some men might mistake her for being simply cute. But she was much more than that.

  Letting my eyes slide over Cori’s body, I stared blatantly at her high, B-cup breasts, small waist, hips that curved just enough for a man to hold on to and legs that were shapely and surprisingly endless considering how small she was.

  “Jase Ford, are you checking me out?”

  “Yes.”

  Her pink tongue flicked her bottom lip. “Do I pass harem standards?”

  “Stop.”

  She stepped toward me and asked cheekily, “Or what?”

  “Or I might have to punish you?” I was hot. I’d never been as hard as I was now.


  A delicately arched brow lifted, and a gleam of interest sparked in her eyes. “You wouldn’t dare.”

  “Don’t you remember what happened the last time you dared me?”

  Her face was flushed. “Yeah, I had to spend some quality time with my vibrator trying to finish what you started.”

  What? I’d gone home that night and jacked off to images of Cori, but it still surprised me that she’d done the same. That was before we’d decided to cross the line of friendship. “You should have said something. If I’d known you needed to come, I’d have made sure it happened. No need to use a vibrator when you could have my hands and mouth on your body.”

  Her breath caught. “That sounds so hot.” A wicked gleam flashed in her eyes. “So fucking hot.”

  I reached for Cori with growl that came from deep inside of me, and she squealed with laughter as I hauled her toward the bed. “I warned you what would happen.”

  She cried out, still laughing as we sank onto the bed, the headboard bumping against the wall. Her hands slid over my chest and I found it suddenly difficult to breathe.

  Flipping her onto her stomach, she didn’t resist. I slid my hand through her silky-soft hair, down her slender neck and back, and over her small, firm ass. She gasped, her breathing ragged. Pushing up her T-shirt, I pressed a kiss into the small of her back and was rewarded with her moan of pleasure.

  My hand slid to her ass. “Are you sure you can handle it?” I whispered against her ear.

  She moaned my name, and I caressed her bottom. I lifted my hand and felt her tense. My hands encircled her waist, and I began to tickle her ribcage, where I knew she was most sensitive.

  “Jase!” she cried, laughing.

  I tickled her until she pressed her lips to mine in a wild, hot and hungry kiss. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold on. My body was aching, rock-hard and desperate for release. She straddled me and I grasped her hips.

  BAM, BAM, BAM.

  I thought the sound was the frantic beating of my heart, but it came again, more insistent this time.

  BAM, BAM, BAM.

  Someone was pounding on the door.

  Cori shook her head. “They’ll go away.”

  “Police! Open the door!”