Opening her door, I helped Cori into the cab and caught her warm smile. My breath hitched. Damn, she was beautiful and I felt it in my gut when she smiled.
“Cori—“ I felt like I needed to say something to reassure her after the dinner from hell with my family. God only knew what she was thinking about me now.
“Just say it.” Her voice was soft and inviting.
“What can I do to make this up to you?”
At first she looked surprised by the question, but her expression turned thoughtful. When she fastened her deep blue-green eyes to mine my heart began to pound.
“My first thought was that you could strip all of my clothes off and kiss every inch of my body and have your way with me.”
My gut flipped. Holy shit, I loved the sound of that, but she wasn’t done talking. I remained silent, waiting while she pieced together the words that had me on the edge of my seat.
“On second thought if you really think there’s anything to make up, then you don’t know me at all Jase Ford.” Her eyes sparkled.
I swallowed hard. “I think we should go with door number one,” I laughed.
“Me too,” she whispered, her eyes hot with emotion. “You could have told me about your dyslexia.”
“It’s not something I want everyone to know.” That was an understatement. School had always been difficult for me. I didn’t even learn to read until I was in the third grade, and I always struggled. Even though I tried my hardest, it was never enough and I kept falling behind until I eventually quit trying.
I knew Cori wouldn’t judge me, and I didn’t mind that she knew. Okay, I minded a little and it had nothing to do with Cori and everything to do with my insecurity. Cori was the one person I wanted to impress. I cared about what she thought more than I liked to admit.
I thought of that douche she’d dated, Aaron. Shit. The guy had a master’s degree. I was lucky to have a high school diploma.
As if she could read my mind, she said softly, “I don’t want to change you, Jase.”
“I appreciate that, Cori.”
Her eyes held mine. “You should. It wasn’t some random-made comment that was empty and meant only to make you feel better. It’s true.”
“I should have said that I appreciate you. I’ll never have a more supportive best friend.”
“No, you won’t. So you’d better start trusting me like I’ve done with you.” She paused, her eyes flicking to mine. “You didn’t tell me you’d proposed to Brianne.”
I felt like I’d somehow let her down. “It was a long time ago. Hell, I proposed with twisty while we were picnicking at the park.”
A flash of pain on her face had me frowning. “Jase, that’s so romantic,” she whispered.
I’d never seen Cori so moved. “You’re not going to cry, are you?”
“I might,” she said cheekily. “It’s not everyday I find out how sweet you are.”
“Brianne didn’t agree with you.”
“I’m sorry, Jase,” she replied softly.
“I’m not.” My eyes locked with hers. “The army was good for me, and Brianne and I, well, we were wrong for each other. She did us both a favor by dumping me. I have no idea what she’s thinking now.”
Cori’s gaze snapped to mine. “She’s realizing she made the biggest mistake of her life in letting you go.”
I put the truck in park, and looked at Cori. “You think she’d like to be the harem-boy’s wife?” I was joking, but she seemed to consider my question carefully before replying.
“She’d be damned lucky to have you. FYI I know you’re not the ruthless seducer of women that I once thought.”
I sighed, wishing I could let this subject drop but I cared about her too much to withhold the truth. “I may not have a harem, but I’ve slept with too many women Cori. You should know that.”
“You’ll be gifting me with your experience.” Her tone was hollow, strange. I wasn’t sure if she was being sarcastic or serious.
“Dammit Cori, I’m not bragging about it. I wish I could take back some of the things I’ve done. You probably deserve better than me, but if you’re still willing I’ll do my best to make your first time something you’ll never forget.”
She glanced up at the small beach house in front of us. “Is that why we’re here?”
“Only if you want it to be.”
Her eyes flicked to mine. “I do.”
“Cori, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the proposal. Talking about my feelings and shit isn’t something I’m comfortable with.”
“I know. You’re a guy. I’m not holding it against you.”
I felt my lips curl in a smile. “So you forgive me?”
“I’ll forgive you if you kiss me.”
Hauling her into my arms, I kissed her like a man starved for a woman and that’s what I was except that I was discovering, to my dismay, just any woman wouldn’t do.
I wanted Cori.
Cora
I wanted Jase.
The brush of his lips, the feel of his hands on my body, the sound of his breathing and the tantalizing smell of his skin catapulted me into a sensual nirvana.
We got out of the truck, kissing and touching one another as we made our way inside the beach house. During a moment when we both took a breath, I glanced at the ocean and asked, “No sex on the beach?” I laughed.
He pulled back just enough so that he could see my face. “Is that what you want?”
It wasn’t that late. People would still be strolling the beach, and the idea of being interrupted after I’d finally gotten Jase naked was unthinkable. “Another time.”
Jase relaxed.
I smirked. “I guess it’s true what they say about sand getting everywhere.”
He shrugged, his mouth kissing the side of my neck and driving me wild with longing. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never had sex on the beach.”
“You’re joking.”
“I’m serious.” He glanced down at me. “We can test that sand theory out sometime if it’ll make you happy.”
Being with Jase, anywhere, anytime, doing anything made me happy. “Tonight I want you to show me how to please you.”
I heard the deep growl just before he lifted me high into his arms and carried me inside the beach house. When we reached the master bedroom my heart ached to see what he’d done. I was breathless as I took in the majestic scene. I felt him watching me.
“I stopped by this afternoon while you were getting ready for dinner. Harper came by later and lit the candles. You like it?”
Oh God. Tears filled my eyes. No one had ever done anything like this for me. Flower petals were scattered on the floor and bed of the candlelit room. The doors to the balcony were open so that moonlight spilled inside and I could hear the crash of ocean waves against the shore.
A bucket of chilled champagne and a crystal bowl of strawberries sat on a nightstand. Soft violin music filled the room and I realized that it was a CD of me playing.
“This is—like something I could only dream up.”
He gently let go of my legs and I slid down his body. His eyes fastened on mine intently. “You like it?”
Like was too mild a word to describe what I felt, but Jase was waiting expectantly for an answer from me. I breathed an enthusiastic, “Yes.” Taking a deep breath, my heart raced and my gaze flicked to Jase’s. “The flowers are stargazing lilies. You remembered.”
We stood there staring at one another, soaking up the heat in each other’s eyes and ignoring the feelings that neither of us was ready to acknowledge. The physical feelings, the ones that burned too close to the surface were what made us reach for each other.
Jase was an incredible kisser. He could make me melt just by brushing his lips to mine, and when his mouth kissed other parts of me I went weak kneed. I shook with longing, yearning for something I knew that only he could give me.
I began unbuttoning his shirt. He unfastened my dress and let the halter-top fall to my sides, givin
g him more than a glimpse of cleavage. Since the dress had a built in bra I was naked underneath, and from the sudden, hot look in his eyes Jase was just realizing this.
Pushing aside his shirt I slid my hands over his chest, loving the feel of the rigid muscles beneath my palms. I dipped my head and licked his nipple. Jase’s sharp drawn breath and his hand sliding over my ass had me moaning as I flicked my tongue over his other nipple.
I sucked.
He groaned.
Pulling down my dress, he bared me to the waist and I resisted the urge to cover my breasts as Jase’s hungry gaze melted over me. I ached for his touch. But he didn’t touch me. His hands slipped inside of my dress and pushed the material up my thighs leaving me in only a pair of bikini red lace panties.
“This is really going to happen.” My voice trembled the words and sounded strange to my own ears.
His expression turned pensive. “Having second thoughts?”
“I’ve never wanted anything more. Remember what it was like to be a kid on Christmas morning, excited and eager to find out what Santa had brought you?”
“Yeah.” He smiled.
“That’s how I feel now.”
He looked uncharacteristically uncertain. “I’m not sure I can compete with Santa Claus.”
“He never brought me anything as amazing as you.”
“Were you a bad girl Cori?”
I laughed. “Maybe that was the problem.”
His slow smile made my heart flutter. “I doubt it.” He leaned in as if he was sharing a secret. “You couldn’t be bad if you tried. Face it Cori, for all your talk and your smart mouth, you’re a good girl.”
I caught his serious expression and frowned, shaking my head. “Being a virgin doesn’t make me innocent.”
His hands cupped my face. “I wasn’t talking about your virginity. But since you brought it up what happened to you when you were eight didn’t take away your innocence.”
I was shocked that he’d read me so well. “I know.”
“Your loyalty to your friends, the way you’re always helping other people, standing up for what’s right and how you’ve taken Amber under your wing when she had no one else, these are only a few of the things that make you special.”
“Careful Jase, or I’m going to start to think you’ve got a little crush on me.”
He cocked a brow, his green eyes glittering intensely. “So what if I did?”
He was joking but I didn’t reply, unwilling to cross the line that we were dancing too close to. “I still have on my panties. You want me to take them off?” I asked, changing the subject.
In answer he crouched, kissed my belly, hooked his thumbs into the thin material of my panties and pushed them down. At the first flick of his tongue into my damp curls, I hissed a sharp breath and my hands tangled in his hair.
“You don’t have to do that. I’m already wet.”
“I want to make you come.”
Oh God, my legs were trembling. Jase guided me to the edge of the bed, spread my thighs with his hands and began to kiss and lick me until my entire body tensed. One last kiss to my sweet spot and I shattered, trembling my release as he held me in his arms.
“I’m still wearing my heels,” I said when I caught my breath.
He grinned. “That’s sexy as hell.”
“Should I leave them on while we make love?” The instant the words were out I realized how wrong they were. “When we have sex,” I corrected.
His hot gaze snagged mine. “You had it right the first time. We’re not strangers hooking up for a quick fuck. You’re my best friend, and I’m going to make love to you. I don’t want to pretend it’s anything less.”
The words were sweet, but I was afraid. “I don’t want this to get weird.”
“Got it. We’ll save the weird for later.”
“Ha, ha. You’re so funny.” I glanced down at him. “You’re also wearing too many damned clothes.”
He slipped off his shirt and I unbuttoned his jeans. When he was completely naked I drank in the magnificent sight of him. I reached down to touch him.
Jase growled and pulled me off of him. “Not this time. I’m too close.”
“Oh, okay. You want to get right to it.” I glanced toward the bed, unsure of what to do next. My heart was racing. “What do we do now?”
The question drew his gaze to mine. “Whatever we want.”
I couldn’t recall ever feeling so hot.
His hand rubbed my back reassuringly, and then he did something so sweet that my stomached dipped with emotion. He slipped his arms around me, urged me closer and we danced to my music. I wondered if he could feel my racing heartbeat.
“Cori, are you scared?” His eyes were soft and his voice was tender.
The sound that escaped my lips said, ‘No way’, but I couldn’t lie to him. He was too perceptive. “It’s that obvious?”
“Yeah.” His lips brushed my cheek and ear.
I shivered. “I’m not that nervous about doing it.” Gesturing between our naked bodies, I confessed, “It’s being with you like this, close and bare, that’s tripping my crazy-switch.”
Lifting his head, his eyes locked on mine, his expression puzzled. “You’re embarrassed because we’re naked?”
I delivered a playful punch to his abdomen, and my hand smarted when it connected with the hard, solid muscle. “Being this close to you always makes me nervous.”
It would be just like Jase to flash me a sexy grin right about now, but surprisingly that’s not what he did. His gaze sharpened. “I make you nervous?”
“Not nervous like I think you’ll hurt me. It’s the kind of nervous that makes my heart pound and my breath catch. I can’t think of anything but having your hands on me and how it would feel to be as close as I could possibly be to you.”
Closing his eyes, he looked pained. “Cori, please. Don’t say anymore.”
“Did I make things weird?”
“No.” The word seemed torn from deep inside of him. “I won’t make it another second without being inside of you if you keep saying things like that.” His voice was gravelly, his eyes hot.
“Tell me what to do.”
“Trust me.”
“Oh, Jase. I’ve never trusted anyone more.”
With a sharp indrawn breath, he lifted me onto the bed, and I scooted up the mattress until my head hit the pillow. The bed sank beneath his weight and he knelt over me. Leaning down he, kissed my nose. “Don’t be scared.”
I was trembling. “I’m not.”
He swallowed and I watched the muscles in his throat contract. His eyes flicked to mine. “I’m scared enough for both of us, Cori.”
“You are so not scared to have sex with me.” I couldn’t help but notice that his arms were shaking.
His eyes snapped to mine. “I told you we’re making love and it’s different than messing around with someone I don’t care anything about. I don’t want to mess this up.”
“Me either.”
He laced his fingers with mine and brought my hand to his lips. Settling himself between my legs, he braced himself on his forearms, his eyes on mine. I felt his cock ease into me, stretching, withdrawing and stretching again.
“Okay?”
I nodded before realizing he needed to hear the words. “Hmm. It feels strange.”
He studied me intently. “Bad strange or you-want-me-to-do-it-again strange?”
“I want you to do it again.”
His chest was glistening with sweat and I saw the strain on his face. Without thinking I lifted up and bucked my hips against his, impaling myself. I cried out.
Jase swore and started to withdraw, but I held him tight. “Are you hurt?”
“I want you to move, Jase.”
Immediately, he lifted off of me and I knew he’d misunderstood. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him back down to me. “I meant move inside of me.”
He stared down at me. “Are you sure?”
My
hips jerked against his. Slowly, Jase began to move. I felt him everywhere. The feel of his naked body pressed to mine, his cock buried deep inside of me and rocking into me with a rhythm that left me breathless and close to the edge.
Jase reached between our bodies and touched me. I tumbled over the edge of heaven, crying out my release. I heard Jase’s deep cry follow mine and then he rolled to the side, pulling me with him.
Two things stood out in my mind. One: It was the most beautiful experience I’d ever had, and two: I was going to get my heart broken when we ended our charade.
Chapter 15
Jase
I couldn’t stop shaking.
The urge to get up, put my clothes on, and get the hell out of here was chewing at my nerves, but I ignored it and settled Cori closer. Her head was rested against my chest. I stroked her hair, knowing she felt the pounding of my heart and praying she didn’t know what I was thinking.
It was too much.
I don’t even know what just happened. Sure, I’d told her we’d be making love not having sex, but I hadn’t been prepared for the intense, mind-blowing experience that it had turned out to be.
Everything had started out fine. Cori was following my lead, and all was good. The second I entered her, my brain short-circuited and I lost control, taking her clumsily without skill or thought, until I shuddered against her, lost in the most powerful orgasm of my life.
If I was honest with myself it had actually started to fall apart when she’d started saying all that stuff about not being able to think without wanting my hands on her.
I felt trapped, and I was.
I may be a coward, but I wasn’t an asshole and ditching a woman right after sex was something I’d never done before and I wasn’t about to start with Cori. Unfortunately, when you slept with your best friend it wasn’t easy to hide the shit that you kept hidden from other people.
She was watching me closely. “You’re freaking out.”
I pressed a kiss to her forehead, prepared to lie like I’d never done before. The only alternative was to hurt her, and that was unthinkable. “You’re paranoid,” I said gently.
“Why?” she whispered, lifting up to look at me.
“Maybe because it’s your first time and you’re overthinking it.”
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