Heaven

by Rebecca Julia Lauren

  All I wanted to do was get Cori alone and make things right between us. She might not be my real girlfriend, but we’d agreed on exclusivity and she shouldn’t have to watch me kiss my ex-girlfriend.

  I caught her gaze as we sat down, and she gave me a reassuring smile. I mouthed ‘I’m sorry’. She mouthed, ‘It’s okay’. My gaze latched onto her mouth and the urge to drag her into the nearest room and bury myself inside of her had my cock twitching.

  “Jason you have a lot of explaining to do.” My dad spoke to me in his harsh, no-nonsense tone that lifted the hairs at my nape, but I didn’t outwardly react to his remark. I’d long ago discovered that showing any weakness to my dad was a mistake.

  It pissed me off that he thought he could talk to me this way, and it was worse because Cori was witnessing it. Still, I remained calm. Unless I wanted to cut ties with my parents, there wasn’t much else to do. They’d never change. I made myself think of my sister and how she still believed we could somehow be a happy family. Charlie and I had given up long ago, but we continued to play along for Lucy’s benefit.

  “About what Dad?” I asked casually, taking a bite of my salad and chewing real slow.

  “About this ridiculous engagement! Don’t be stupid. It’s plain to see the two of you aren’t right for one another.” He jerked his napkin from his lap, threw it on the table and shot up. Glaring at Cori with disgust before turning to me, he snarled, “First you embarrass the family by taking that blue-collar job and trying to start up some piss-ant business with your loser friend Bentley, and now you’re marrying this—“

  I was out of my chair in an instant, in his face. “Think carefully before you finish that sentence.” Although the words were spoken quietly, no one could mistake their veiled threat, not even my father.

  “Douglas,” my mom said quietly, lifting her troubled gaze to mine. “Your father and I are only worried about you.”

  “I appreciate that, but Cori and I are fine.”

  Mom laughed nervously. “Please sit back down. Both of you are forgetting your manners. This is not the time or the place to discuss these matters.”

  Brianne had been silent up until now, but from the look in her eyes that was about to change. She turned to Cori and the smirk on her face made me place my hand protectively on Cori’s thigh.

  “This engagement must be sudden. I couldn’t help but notice you’re not wearing an engagement ring.” Her pointed gaze zeroed in on Cori’s bare ring finger.

  Cori didn’t miss a beat. “Jase and I decided to seal the deal with ink. At first I wasn’t sure about getting the tattoos, but I like knowing he’s wearing my mark.” Her eyes slid below my waist leaving little doubt about where my tattoo was.

  Mom gasped and Brianne paled.

  “Oh, it didn’t hurt at all,” Cori replied, pretending to misunderstand their reactions. “I wish you could see the ink,” Cori continued with regret. Lowering her voice and shaking her head, she said, “The tats are in private places if you know what I mean.”

  “I’ve no doubt you’ll be taking him to a jeweler in the near future,” my father announced dryly.

  Cori’s eyes flashed with hurt, and I wanted to shove my fist in Douglas Ford’s face. Before I could respond, Cori spoke.

  “Baby,” she said to me in a syrupy-sweet, almost whiny voice that was completely unlike her. “You told them about the piercings? I thought we were keeping it a secret?”

  The look on her face was comical. “Yeah, about that—“ I glanced at my father and shrugged.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Douglas roared.

  “Jase didn’t tell you about the diamond studs we agreed to buy for us?”

  Cori looked so adorably clueless that I almost laughed. The girl was crazy and amazing.

  Brianne looked horrified. “What did you pierce?”

  “Duh.” Cori laughed. “My girls.” She waved a hand over her breasts and her eyes slid to my crotch. Well, shit. “And little Jase.”

  My mom reached for her wine glass. Dad stared at me in shock, and Cori kept telling Brianne how incredible the piercings were. Hearing deep laughter, I glanced up and saw Charlie, his shoulder propped against the doorframe, watching the whole comedic scene.

  “This is the most interesting family dinner we’ve had in years. I’m glad I could make it.” He grinned and plucked a wine glass from a server’s tray.

  “Since we’re all confessing secrets I’ll come on out with mine.” Charlie paused dramatically before announcing, “Mom, Dad, I’m gay.”

  Mom cried out and Dad began yelling. Yeah, we were one big happy family. It was great to be home.

  Cora

  The ocean waves crashed against the shore in a peaceful swish that was comforting after the cluster-fuck dinner with Jase’s parents and his ex fiancé.

  I slipped my arms around his waist, and his hand covered mine. Pressing my cheek against the warm, taut muscles of his back I asked, “Are you okay?”

  He threw a curious look over his shoulder. “I was working up the courage to ask you that question.”

  I laughed because I knew he was full of shit, but he didn’t laugh back. “You were joking, right?”

  He turned and faced me. “No. I shouldn’t have brought you here. I’m sorry for the way my parents treated you and for the kiss with Brianne.”

  His parents didn’t upset me. The kiss with Brianne bothered me more than it should, but I’m glad I was here to support Jase. I got the feeling he needed me. “You’re not to blame for your parents’ actions, and you shouldn’t apologize for your feelings.”

  “If you think I’ve still got feeling for Brianne let me set you straight now, I don’t.”

  I took a deep breath. “You kissed her.”

  His eyes flicked to mine. “I didn’t push her away as soon as I should have, but I did not kiss her, and I’m not getting back together with her.”

  I dug my toes in the sand, smiling sadly because I knew that he didn’t want to hurt me just like I knew that he could. “Jase, I saw the look on your face when you first saw her. Look, we’re friends and I don’t want to get in the way of you fixing something that could change your life.”

  He grabbed me and crushed his mouth against mine in a hungry kiss that stole my breath away. My knees went weak and the rest of me was hot all over. His tongued flicked mine, and I tremors danced along my spine. When it was over I was a quivering mass of unfulfilled desire.

  Holding my face in his hands, he rested his forehead against mine and looked into my eyes. “I don’t know what you think you saw, but the only woman I’ve got feelings for is you.”

  My chest tightened, and body tingled where he touched me.

  “Cori I know we’re friends, but ever since that night you showed up at my house and suggested we have sex I can’t stop thinking about it, about you.” He brushed a feathery kiss over my lips. “If I wanted to get back together with Brianne, I’d tell you. What can I do to make you believe me?”

  “I believe you, Jase. I’m sorry for bringing it up. I just needed to be sure.”

  “That’s what I love about you. I never have to wonder what you’re thinking because you come right out and tell me. Nothing frustrates a man more than asking a woman what’s wrong and she says ‘nothing’ when it’s damn sure something.”

  I laughed. He bent down and nipped my neck, sending tremors trickling down my spine. “Come on. Let’s get you to bed.”

  I definitely wanted to go to bed with Jase, but something was bothering me that needed attention. “Should you go talk to your brother?”

  “Nah, I’ll catch him tomorrow.”

  I frowned at his attitude. Jase was the most loyal person I knew, and it didn’t seem right that he’d neglect his brother when he needed him the most. “Don’t you think he might be upset?”

  Jase shook his head. “He’s used to family dinners at the Ford house. I’m sure he’s fine.”

  “But he just came out,” I said carefully, st
arting to get upset. “Maybe you should make sure he knows that you’re okay with that.”

  Jase stiffened, frowning and then, unexpectedly, he laughed. “Cori, Charlie isn’t gay. It would be okay with me if he was, but he only said that shit tonight to get some of the heat off of me. He does that a lot. He’s a great brother.”

  “He’s not gay?”

  “Trust me on this. Charlie isn’t gay. He’s got a gay friend, and my parents gave Charlie hell about it for years but he never cared.”

  I relaxed, feeling instantly better that Charlie wasn’t in need of Jase’s attention because I wanted the younger Ford brother all to myself. Jase led me to the house, up the stairs and to his room, where we came face to face with his mother.

  Her expression was twisted in a mask of disapproval, and I didn’t blame her. Even though the place was the size of a hotel, it was still his parents’ house and it felt wrong to fool around here.

  Jase tensed. “Mom.”

  “Hi, Mrs. Ford.”

  Nodding at her son before snapping her cool gaze to mine she asked, “Did you forget where your room was, Cora?”

  Without a doubt I knew that Jase was about to leap to my defense, and I didn’t want to cause any trouble between them.

  “I was just about to go there now,” I assured her. “Thanks for the tour, Jase.” I stood on my tiptoes and brushed a quick kiss to his cheek before turning and heading to my room before he could stop me.

  Jase

  “I’m disappointed in you, Jason.”

  “You usually are.” My voice dripped with sarcasm, but she was too focused on saying whatever had brought her to my room at this hour. Catching Cori and I together had only given her ammunition to use against me.

  “I hope you don’t intend to disrespect your father and I by sleeping with that girl in our home.”

  “Of course not. I wouldn’t do that to her.”

  Frowning, she seemed to turn my words over in her mind and for whatever reason ignored my veiled insult. “Brianne was very upset this evening.”

  This was the real reason she’d come to see me. For the umpteenth time, I asked myself what the hell I was doing here. Nothing I’d ever done or would do would ever please my parents.

  I’d left home when I was eighteen and enlisted, and I’d been on my own ever since. I was twenty-five-years old, and didn’t need to play these games anymore. So why the fuck was I here? Because my sister needed me.

  With a sigh of resignation, I checked my temper. As long as they didn’t upset Cori, I’d play nice this weekend, but I wouldn’t be manipulated by Brianne or my parents.

  “Maybe you’ve forgotten that she was the one who broke up with me. I’ve moved on and she should too.”

  “The Salters are our friends,” my mother persisted. “Perhaps you’ve forgotten that. As for what happened between you and Brianne, that’s for the two of you to work out.”

  “There’s nothing to work out.” I turned away to go into my room, but she sidestepped in front of me.

  “Something you have yourself to blame for. Really, Jason, your behavior where Brianne was concerned was unacceptable and quite embarrassing.”

  I’d never told anyone about finding Brianne in bed with my friend Clayton. She’d gone off to college with him, and up until a few months ago I’d thought they were still together.

  “I’m sure Brianne and her parents would be happy for her to find some other guy, preferably one that’s interested.”

  Mom gasped.

  “Sorry to upset you, but this conversation is over.” I walked passed her into my room, shut the door and closed my eyes.

  I’d only been here a few hours and already I was sick of dealing with this shit. I was tired, frustrated and I needed to see Cori. A few minutes later, I tapped on her door and slipped inside the darkened room.

  She’d pushed open the drapes and moonlight spilled through the glass, illuminating the room and her shape beneath the covers of the bed. I hesitated, hating to wake her up. I was about to turn and leave when she called my name.

  “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  She lifted up on her elbows. “You didn’t. I was waiting for you.”

  “If this is weird because we’re in my parents house, I get it.”

  Cori nodded, her big blue-green eyes on mine. “It kind of is.” I heard the regret and apology in her tone.

  “I understand,” I told her, dropping a kiss on her forehead and praying she didn’t hear the crushing disappointment in my voice. “I’ll see you in the morning.” I was about to turn and leave when she stopped me.

  “Don’t go Jase.” Soft hesitation filled her sweet voice. “I was hoping you’d want to stay even if we don’t have sex.”

  I suddenly could breathe easy again. My relief was overwhelming, and I smiled. “I’d like that.”

  She let out a soft sigh and I realized she hadn’t been sure I’d want to stay. “You didn’t really think I’d say no, did you?”

  I caught an uncharacteristic glimpse of uncertainty on her beautiful face. She’d actually thought I’d leave her if she didn’t have sex with me. We might be best friends, but Cori, shockingly, didn’t know how much I cared about her.

  “You gonna stand there all night staring at me?”

  “Maybe.”

  “That’s too bad. I was waiting for you to strip.” The corners of her pink lips lifted. “I love watching you take your clothes off.”

  Laughing, I reached back and grabbed the shirt, pulling it off. Next, I unfastened my jeans and shoved them down my legs while Cori’s gaze traveled over me like she was savoring every inch.

  “You’re gorgeous, Jase.” She licked her lips. “Seriously, you could get a job posing naked for a girlie magazine if you ever had the inclination.”

  “I’ll never have the inclination.”

  I slipped between the covers and she turned on her side, watching me. Her hand brushed my tattoo, just below my heart, and her fingers traced the letters.

  “What does it mean?”

  “It means I’m a dumbass that drank too much one night and made a stupid mistake.”

  “At least it wasn’t her name.”

  “Yeah. I have Reed to thank for that. Too bad I gave him hell when he tried to haul me out of the tat shop.”

  The more her fingers traced the inked letters on my chest, the more aroused I got.

  “I kind of like it. TRUST. She broke your trust that’s why the U is split in the middle.”

  “I guess that’s what I was thinking at the time.” I watched Cori stare at my chest, her fingers gliding over the ink. “You were joking about the piercing tonight, right?”

  She laughed. “I’m sorry for shocking your parents like that.”

  “It was funny. I enjoyed it.” I glanced down at her curiously. “You were kidding though, right?”

  “What if I said no?” she asked with a devilish gleam in her eyes.

  I hauled her against me and tickled her sides, where I knew she was the most sensitive. She cried out in laughter. “I give up!”

  Even though I was serious I couldn’t help but laugh at her outrageousness. “No way in hell am I piercing anything.” My gaze dipped to her perfect breasts. “I don’t think you should either.”

  “No?” she teased. “Jase, I was just trying to shock your parents. I don’t want to pierce anything.” She looked at me speculatively. “I’m beginning to think you’re not the bad-boy I thought you were.”

  “Disappointed?”

  “Intrigued.”

  We stared at one another for several heartbeats. When her head bent and she kissed my tattoo something happened that I could hardly describe with words. It was as if something snapped inside of me, and she claimed a piece of me that no other woman had come close to taking.

  Somehow Cori had managed to break through my defenses. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that or what it meant for our future.

  Chapter 13

  Cora

  Jas
e held me all night, but sometime in the early morning he got up and I immediately missed the solid warmth of his chest cradling my back. I stretched and sleepily said his name.

  “Go back to sleep,” he whispered, brushing a soft kiss over my lips.

  “Come with me.”

  “I can’t, not without us being discovered.” His voice was full of regret, and he glanced at me quizzically. “Do you like to fish?”

  “I’ve never been fishing.”

  I laughed at the look of pure horror on his face.

  “You’re joking.”

  “No. I’ve been on a boat before.” I said it as if I’d get bonus points for that.

  “I know. Hunter took me too. I guess you forgot.”

  I never forgot any time I spent with Jase, but I wasn’t about to tell him so.

  “Cori, you have to experience fishing. Charlie rented a boat. Come on. Get dressed.”

  “I don’t want to crash your fishing trip with your brother.”

  He gave me a strange look. “You’re not crashing. I like having you around. Now, get your ass out of bed woman.”

  I felt myself smile, excited about going fishing and loving the idea of spending several hours on a boat with Jase.

  “I’m gonna grab a quick shower. I’ll be back in ten minutes,” he informed me with a wink that should have made him look ridiculous. Jase Ford was flat-out sexy no matter what he did.

  I showered quickly, flipped open my suitcase and frowned. Amber hadn’t packed any fishing clothes, but she’d been insistent about which tops, bottoms, skirts, shoes and accessories I put together. She’d even left notes, apparently having little faith in my fashion sense.

  I wondered how pissed she’d be if I called her at this hour. Grabbing my phone I sent a quick text. Surprisingly, she responded right away.