Heaven

by Rebecca Julia Lauren

“Cori, it’s not what you think.”

  I was frustrated, upset about my hair, and too emotional, but I wasn’t mad at Jase. “I think Brianne kissed you.”

  He stared at me. “Okay, it is what you think.”

  I couldn’t help but smile.

  Jase’s worried gaze landed on mine. “You’re not mad.” It wasn’t a question, and I could see that he was relieved. “I was worried as hell about how I was going to explain that kiss to you.”

  “You’re irresistible to women harem-boy. She probably couldn’t help herself, and the urge to put her hands on you became too tempting until she lost control and threw herself at you.” I was playing around, being overly dramatic, and I could tell Jase didn’t know whether to laugh or explain.

  His cautious gaze met mine. “She kissed me. I pushed her away. I know it looked bad.”

  “Yeah, it did. Like I said, your appeal to women is extraordinary. If you’re not careful one day some average-Joe scientist is going to want to do an experiment on you hoping to find out how you attract women so easily.” I smiled at the look on his face.

  Ignoring everything else I said about his sex appeal, his eyes flicked to mine. “Am I going to get laid easily tonight?”

  His soft, deep question brushed over me like a sensual caress that promised pleasure. I shrugged. “You can have your pick of women.”

  When I tried to look away, he gently clasped my chin between his thumb and forefinger so that I looked into his eyes. “I pick you.”

  My heart swelled until the feeling was painful. Flashing my best flirty, teasing smile, I let my eyes glide hungrily down his body. “We’ll see.”

  His deep chuckle made my stomach dip. “I guess I’ll have to try harder to make you want me.”

  I dug my feet into the sand. His words conjured up images of us naked, and doing things that made me blush all the way to my black roots. “You know you don’t have to try.”

  “I want to try harder than I’ve ever tried in my life to impress you.” His gaze flickered with concern. “What’s going on, Cori?”

  He knew me so well. “We’re supposed to be engaged it would have looked strange if I hadn’t appeared upset.”

  Jase was watching me carefully, his expression thoughtful. “Is that why you ran?”

  “No. I wasn’t thinking. I saw you kissing her, and it felt like I’d been sucker punched. Forget it. I’m just having a bad day.”

  “Cori,” he whispered gently, pulling me against his chest. “You gotta know I’d never hurt you.”

  He’d never hurt me on purpose, but I wasn’t about to make things awkward by pointing that out. If I did, he’d start asking questions and it wouldn’t take him long to figure out I felt more than friendship for him.

  Something tickled my foot and I jerked it out of the stand, probably making myself look ridiculous.

  Jase lifted a brow, staring down at my foot. His slow, warm smile sent a shiver down my spine. “It’s just a sand crab, Cori.”

  I glanced down, but it was too dark to see anything. Pulling a mini-flashlight from his pant pocket, he clicked it on and pointed it at the ground. Dozens of tiny crabs scurried around in the sand, searching for holes. They were so tiny and cute.

  “That’s what I’ve been feeling.” I felt myself smile. “They’re incredible.”

  “They stay burrowed in the sand during the day, but at night they like to come out and play. When we were kids we used to see who could catch the most. I always won.” He grinned with a boyish charm. “We’d let them all go at the end of the night.”

  “Do they bite or pinch?”

  “Most of them are too small to hurt you.”

  “There sure are a lot of them.”

  He grinned. “Summer is their mating season.”

  I laughed. “Is it really?”

  “Absolutely. They can only reproduce the first year of life, and a female can lay up to 45,000 eggs.”

  I glanced up at Jase and my heart fluttered. “Any other cool facts you want to share?”

  His eyes held mine. “When you smile you’re eyes light up, and all I can think about is what I can do to keep that look on your face.”

  Startled, my heart tripped a beat and my gaze snapped to his. I laughed nervously. “Keep it up and you’ll definitely be getting laid tonight.”

  Jase brushed a piece of hair from my cheek, sending a shiver down my spine. “I didn’t say it to get laid. It’s true.”

  If he kept saying stuff like that it was going to be impossible not to slip up and say something that would reveal my feelings.

  “Let’s do something fun,” he said suddenly.

  “You want to go to the beach house.”

  He smiled. “Not yet. I was thinking of something that didn’t involve us getting naked. I don’t want you thinking I’m just using you for hot sex.”

  I had to laugh at that. I also needed to keep this relationship of ours in perspective. “Isn’t using each other for sex the point of having a fuck buddy?”

  Folding his arm across his heart in mock anguish, he answered, “Keep saying stuff like that and you’re going to hurt my feelings.”

  “What am I going to do with you, Jase?” I’d whispered the words so low that I didn’t think he heard me.

  “You really want me to answer that question?” His suggestive but charming smile made my lips pull at the corners.

  “Hey, you said you didn’t want to get naked,” I reminded him, then immediately wanted to kick myself.

  He looked startled. “I never said that.” His gaze was hot. “Just so there’s no doubt in your mind, I always want to get you naked and I always want to have sex with you.” Rubbing his thumb over my lips, I felt my skin tingle. “But even if we aren’t naked and having sex, you’re still more fun than anyone else to hang out with.”

  The sheer sweetness of his comment had me aching with emotion that I should not be feeling for Jase. I was trying hard to keep our relationship all about sex, and Jase seemed determined to do the opposite. Since he was a guy, he probably wasn’t analyzing our every comment like I was. He liked to have sex with me, but I was still his buddy.

  We ended up going to the beach house after all, but instead of dragging me into the bedroom to keep our relationship all neat and completely sexual, he took me outside on the beach with blankets and wine. He made a fire with wood that we’d gathered on the beach, and the ease with which he did this was damned impressive.

  Jase could do anything. He was six-feet-two inches of male perfection. I wondered with a pang of sadness if I’d ever find another man that would make me feel the way he did. I pushed the thought from my mind.

  Lying next to each other by the fire, drinking wine and playing our question game, I was content. I thought about my next question. “If you could live with an endless supply of money but had to give up ten years of your life in return, would you do it?”

  “That’s easy. No.” He looked over at me. “Would you?”

  I didn’t hesitate. “No.”

  “Knowing what you do now about my family and crazy ex-girlfriend, do you regret coming here with me?”

  Maybe it was the wine, but I smiled. “My Goth hair is starting to grow on me.”

  “You didn’t answer the question.” He watched me intently.

  “I’ve no regrets, Jase. What about you?”

  “None at all.”

  I gave him a playful punch to his taut abs. “I’m serious.”

  “So am I.” He peered down at me. “Why do you not believe me?”

  “Sometimes I wonder if you’d rather have brought one of the harem. That way it would have been easier. I know they don’t freak you out the way I do.”

  “You do not freak me out. It’s just different having sex with someone I care about, but I like it.”

  While I was smiling like an idiot, I forgot to guard my expression, thinking his next question would also be about sex.

  “Do you want to get married?” he asked suddenly, s
urprising me.

  Keeping it light, I grinned. “Maybe. If you ask really nice and get down on one knee.”

  “Smart ass. You know what I meant.”

  “Yeah, I do,” I replied, honestly. I’d always thought the answer would be no, but suddenly I realized how much I wanted what Ellie and Isabelle had been lucky enough to find.

  He looked shocked.

  “You expected me to say no? I thought you knew more about women than that.”

  Jase shifted, uncomfortably. “I didn’t think you wanted to do something as conventional as marriage. You’ve always seemed different.”

  “Just because I haven’t fallen in love and don’t hookup with the guys that offer doesn’t mean I’m that different from other women.”

  “I didn’t mean it in a bad way.” He frowned. “What do you mean the guys that offer? How many guys have offered to hookup with you?”

  He wasn’t trying to hurt me, but I was upset that Jase thought no other guy had ever wanted to be with me. “You think I was a virgin because no one else wanted to sleep with me?”

  “No,” he replied tightly. “I just don’t like to think about other guys hitting on you.”

  “It’s gonna happen, Jase.”

  “If some asshole can’t keep his hands to himself around you, I’ll teach him some manners.”

  “What if I don’t want him to keep his hands to himself? What if l like him touching me?” I asked, knowing I’d moved us to dangerous ground.

  Something hot flashed in Jase’s eyes. “We agreed to only sleep with each other.”

  “This isn’t going to last forever.” I wasn’t sure which one of us I was trying to convince.

  Jase pulled me into his arms and I went eagerly, needing to be touched by him. “You don’t think I know that?” he whispered fiercely. “I don’t need you to keep reminding me that we’re just friends. I know it.” His hand caressed my breast and he flicked his thumb possessively over the nipple. “But as long as we’re pretending, you’re all mine. I won’t share you with anyone.”

  Crushing his mouth against mine, he kissed me hard and I returned his fervor, sending both of us into a storm of passion that I was no longer sure we’d survive.

  Jase

  I wanted to punish Cori.

  Why she felt the need to remind me that we weren’t going to last forever, I don’t know. I didn’t like it. Maybe she’d seen something in my eyes or it could have been something I’d said that gave me away. Whatever it was, I’d have to be more careful.

  I cared about her, but I wasn’t ready to settle down and I didn’t know if I’d ever be ready for that. The thought of letting her go and seeing her with another guy made me crazy. I shoved the thought to the back of my mind.

  My kiss wasn’t gentle and neither was my touch but she arched into me, seeming to like every bit of it. Moaning and threading her hands into my hair, Cori eagerly took everything I gave and returned it back to me in spades.

  Sliding my hand beneath her dress, I touched bare skin. “Where are your panties?”

  “Move your hand over further.”

  I did and felt the silky piece of material that had my cock twitching. “I didn’t know you wore thongs.”

  “It’s not comfortable, but it is easy to push to the side if you want to fool around.” Her eyes were dark and she raked her gaze down my body. “Take off your pants.”

  My breath hitched. “Jesus. Do you really want to do this here?”

  The look in her eyes said that clearly she did. “You said you’ve never tried beach sex.”

  “I’ve never tried snails either, but I didn’t touch the escargot tonight.”

  She laughed. “Where’s your sense of adventure? It might be fun.”

  “Yeah, if you like sand in your ass.”

  Cori lifted up and nipped my neck. “Please, I want you bad.”

  Shivering beneath her sweet mouth, I glanced down at the woman in my arms and then at the empty bottle of wine she’d almost drank alone. “You’re drunk.”

  “So?”

  “I can’t take advantage of you.”

  “Seriously?” She sounded disappointed.

  “I’m not going to have you regret this in the morning.”

  “Jase. Can’t you see how much I want you? Touch me,” she pleaded. “See how wet I am. If you don’t get inside me soon, I’ll die.”

  I laughed at the look on her face, but I stopped when her hands deftly unbuttoned and unzipped my pants and pulled out my cock. Making sure we were covered beneath the blankets, I rolled her over and mounted her as she gasped at the feel of me between her thighs.

  Cori’s hands were everywhere—my shoulders, back and ass. She’d even reached between our bodies, grabbed my cock and guided it inside of her. She was trashed, but I needed to be inside of her so bad that I was praying like hell Cori knew what she was doing.

  I rubbed against her slick folds, poised and eager to enter her, but I hesitated. “Tell me you’re okay,” I growled against her ear.

  Her tongued flicked my earlobe. “I. Am. Not. Okay.”

  My gaze flew to hers, and I saw the heat in her eyes. She arched against me, urging me to take her. “What the hell, Cori?”

  “Fuck me, Jase. Now.”

  Plunging into her, I took her deeply and we both cried out at the contact while Cori continued to whisper dirty words in my ear. I’d only thrust into her a few times when my body convulsed and I came with such force that I thought I’d blacked out. Hearing her soft whimpering cries of pleasure, I realized she’d come too.

  I closed my eyes feeling drained, content, and happy.

  “Admit it,” Cori whispered some time later, looking down at me with a soft look in her eyes. “You liked beach sex.”

  “It was—” fucking hot. I finished with, “nice.”

  Cori stared at me with her eyes-wide, mouth open, and a look of indignation on her face. “Nice? Jase, dinner and a movie are nice. A walk on the beach is nice. Having soul-rocking, mind-blowing, freaking-earth-shattering-sex is better than nice!”

  I cracked a smile before I could check it. We were inside, lying in bed and I felt the mattress dip when she sat up and straddled me. “You’re not an easy man to please.” Licking her lips, her eyes darkened. “I’ll just have to try harder.”

  My stomach quivered in anticipation as I waited to see what she’d do next. Her palms flattened on my chest and she leaned down to deliver a slow, hot kiss to my mouth.

  “Jase, I’ve been a very bad girl.”

  The hot, naughty-girl talk turned me on. Hell, everything about Cori made me want her. “Yes, you have.”

  “What are you going to do about it?”

  “I’m thinking.”

  She lifted a brow. “I could give you some suggestions.”

  “You should eat.”

  “Yeah, I should.” Her eyes glittered with mischief, letting me know exactly what she thought she should eat.

  She was killing me. “Not me. Even though I’d like that. You need something that will soak up the alcohol.”

  She bent and licked my stomach, and the muscles quivered. “I’m not that drunk.”

  “You’re not that sober, either.”

  “Fine.” Her gaze flashed with emotion and she began to tickle my sides. Seconds later I had her beneath me with her wrists in my hand pinned above her head. She giggled and I frowned. “I like this,” she whispered.

  I couldn’t resist Cori. Bending down, I kissed her and made love to her slowly. Hours later I was still awake, the glow of happiness dulled by the words Cori had said earlier, the ones I couldn’t stop thinking about.

  This isn’t going to last forever.

  What scared me most was that I wanted it to.

  Chapter 18

  Cora

  Sex with Jase was a lot like indulging in those little coconut bonbons I loved, only more delicious and I didn’t feel like I needed to stop at two. I could enjoy all the mind-blowing sex with Jase I wanted and
didn’t have to worry that I’d gain a pound.

  When I mentioned this to Jase, he looked at me like he wasn’t sure what he should think. I got the feeling he liked having sex with me. A lot. I’d been getting some strange vibes from Jase lately. While I was trying my hardest to keep us on the friend track, he seemed like he wanted more.

  Since any feelings between the two of us would screw up our friendship, I wasn’t in a hurry to analyze it. Whatever happened, I’d just go with it. That sounded like a simple plan, but sometimes the simplest things turned out to be the most complicated.

  My phone buzzed. I looked at the screen, closed my eyes, and counted backwards to ease the waves of pain. Olivia wasn’t good for me. I needed to let her go, but I wasn’t sure I could. Had I truly done everything I could to help her? I didn’t know. Not ready to talk to her, I declined the call.

  “Everything okay?”

  As if my day needed a killjoy, Brianne appeared at my side. It was eerie the way she could sneak up on a person.

  Unwilling to show any weakness to her, I smiled. “Sure. Everything is great.”

  She flashed me a sympathetic look that was faker than her nails. “I really am sorry about the shampoo. It must have been a defective bottle.”

  I’d like to think I was patient, kind and tolerant. I tried to be all of those things, but Brianne was a different flavor. Honestly, the bitch was crazy and I wasn’t going to take any more from her. “The only thing defective is your personality, Brianne.”

  She gasped. “Excuse me?”

  “I doubt you want me to repeat it.” I turned and walked away, dismissing the conversation and her, but she followed me.

  “You don’t really know Jason and what he’s been through. I’m practically part of his family.”

  “He’s my best friend.” Somehow I managed to keep my voice calm. “You’ve hardly spoken to him in the last eight years. I’m sorry for whatever problems you have, but I’m done putting up with your tantrums.”

  Brianne’s eyes grew wild. “Jason loves me.”

  O-kay. She clearly had a case of crazy that was too much for me to fix. I remained silent, and started walking away, again. She fell into step beside me, refusing to let the conversation die.