Her smile vanished. “The truth, Jase. Something’s wrong. You’ve been quiet all day.”
I leaned down and kissed her on the mouth. “If you don’t get in, I might throw you in.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” I knew from the look on her face that the idea intrigued her.
“You know I would.”
She stepped forward and slipped her hands beneath my shirt. “Take off your clothes.”
Seeing the look on my face, she laughed. “I’ll bet you think it’s sexy when you cock your brow like that, and it is. But I’m immune to your charm. You could strip naked and lick every inch of my body and I wouldn’t blink an eye.”
“You want me to do that.”
“God, yes. Why haven’t we been having sex?”
I slipped my hand around her wrist and hauled her against me. “I was giving you time.”
“I don’t want time. I want sex.”
My cock was rock-hard. “With me?”
Her forehead crinkled. Clearly, she was caught off guard by the question. “Of course with you.” She licked my neck, unaware of what I was thinking. Again, her hands slid beneath my T-shirt, lifting it high.
“Cori, stop,” I said, but it was too late, she’d already seen it.
Her breath caught, and her fingers traced the letters of her own name inked into my skin, filling the gap between the broken U in trust. She didn’t say anything, just stared silently at my tattoo while the doubt inside of me began to rise. This isn’t how I wanted her to find out.
The silence grew until I was unnerved, completely on edge. I forced myself not to move, to let her look her fill while she tried to figure out what exactly it meant. I saw her throat move as she swallowed. Her eyes met mine. I had no idea what she was thinking. “You tattooed my name on your chest for my birthday.”
“No. I didn’t do it for your birthday.”
“How long have you had it?” Her voice trembled.
“I got it two weeks and six days after we broke up.”
“Were you drinking?”
It hurt that she thought she had to ask that. “No.”
I could see that she wanted to ask more questions, but our friends were calling us. It would have to wait until later, just like the issue of Prescott would have to be dealt with later. I prayed that we’d survive the night.
As soon as I shut the door to her apartment, Cori launched herself in my arms. I caught her against my body and sucked in a sharp breath when she kissed my neck.
“I think I’ll die if you don’t make love to me now.”
I felt the same way. Part of me wanted to be with her one last time before we talked about Prescott, but I couldn’t put it off any longer. I held her gently, away from me and looked into her eyes.
“You’re not going to break up with me again, are you?” Hurt glinted in her eyes.
“Never.”
“Then what?” she asked worriedly.
“I love you Cori. Hell, I’d do almost anything for you, but I can’t share you. That’s not who I am.”
She didn’t seem to understand what I was saying. “If you’re upset because of the party, I didn’t know that they were planning that and—“
“Jesus. I’m not talking about your friends, Cori. You know me better than that. I’ll happily share you with all of them. It’s Prescott. Are you still sleeping with him?”
She froze.
I forced myself to say the next words. “You have to choose between us. I can’t love you like I do and know that you’re seeing another man. I’m sorry.”
She looked nervous. “You’re going to be angry with me.”
“I don’t care what you’ve done in the past. If you tell me you’ll end it with him, then I’ll believe you and we’ll move forward. I promise not to bring it up again.”
Cori grabbed my shoulders, her eyes hot on mine. “I’m not sleeping with Carter. I’ve never slept with anyone but you. Tonight is the first time I’ve seen him since the night you fought with him.”
“I heard the two of you at the hospital.”
She looked surprised. “Did you hear me tell him I couldn’t see him again? That’s the last thing I said to him that night.”
I closed my eyes, overwhelmed with relief. When I opened them again, Cori was staring at me in a way that made my heart swell like a balloon. “Why would I be angry with you?” I asked after several moments.
A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “I told Carter I’d introduce him to Lucy. He likes her.”
“What am I going to do with you?”
“Put your hands on me, Jase. Now.”
Her smile hit me in the heart. Picking her up, I carried her into the bedroom and did my best to make her dreams come true.
Cora
Jase slid inside of me, and I gasped with pleasure.
I screamed his name, moaned and sobbed while he pumped inside of me. I scared him so bad that he tried to withdraw and roll off of me. I would not allow it. Locking my arms around him, I held on tight.
“Cori.”
“Stay.”
“You okay?” His voice was strained.
“I didn’t think I’d ever be this close to you again.”
He brushed a tear away from my cheek, his eyes glittering with emotion. “I’d prayed that we’d get here. I’ve never wanted anything more. I don’t like to see you cry.”
“They’re happy tears. Don’t stop making love to me.”
He rocked inside of me, setting a slow, deep rhythm that left me breathless. I was hot, turned on, and eager for the tension that had built inside of me to be relieved. It kept building, hotter, tighter, until suddenly I fell over the edge of ecstasy. “I love you, Cori.” Jase’s deep groan of pleasure punctuated my own.
When it was over we lay in each other’s arms. I’d never felt calmer or more peaceful. My cheek rested against his heart, and I heard the strong, steady beat. I lifted my head and stared at his tattoo.
“Why?” I asked, feeling him watching me.
“I regretted the first one. Somehow this made it right.” He seemed worried. “If it makes you uncomfortable, I’m sorry. I was going to tell you.”
“It’s so permanent.” My lips brushed his inked skin.
“Yes.”
I was deliriously happy. “How do you think you’re name would look tattooed on me?”
“Don’t do it,” he laughed.
“How about right here?” I pointed to the top of my breast. “What do you think?”
He half laughed, half groaned.
“I could go lower.” I slid my hand down to my lower abdomen, and smiled wickedly. “Here?”
“You’re crazy.”
“But you love me anyway?”
“Absolutely. Are you ready for your birthday present?”
“There’s more?” My hand slid down his back and to his ass as he got out of bed. He was a stunning picture of masculine beauty with broad shoulders, taut muscles that tapered to a narrow waist and tight ass, and nicely defined legs. Jase didn’t have an ounce of extra flesh on him. It was easy to understand why he made women drool over themselves.
He glanced over his shoulder and his gaze pinned mine. “Are you checking me out?” he asked, a smile in his voice.
“Yes. I thought you were going to give me my birthday present again.”
I heard the deep rumble of his laughter. “Making love to you wasn’t a present.”
“It was,” I insisted.
“You’re easy to please.”
I thought he sounded nervous as he pulled something from the pocket of his jeans and turned to give me an amazing full frontal view of him naked. He sat back down on the bed, completely at ease despite not having a stitch of clothing on. My gaze landed on the little box in his hand.
“Don’t worry. It’s not a ring,” he assured me.
I hadn’t been worried. I was disappointed.
Jase’s expression was uncertain. “Did you want a ring?”
&nbs
p; “I’ll take whatever you want to give me.”
“Okay. Now, I’m thinking I should have got the ring. I figured it was still too soon and I didn’t want to scare you.”
He seemed so uncharacteristically uncertain, and it was charming. I placed my hand on his. “Jase, I want what you bought me, and I’m going to love it.”
Taking the box from his hands, I unwrapped it, slid off the string bow and lifted the lid. It was the loveliest thing anyone had ever given me. I stared at the tiny, gold violin with silver strings on a dainty chain. It was exquisite.
My gaze flicked to his. “I love it.”
Jase’s smile filled my heart. “Your name is on the back of the violin.”
It was. Four letters were etched into the gold. It read ‘Cori’.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d want your real name. If you want to change it, I can.”
“It’s perfect.” I felt like I might cry. “I’ll always be Cori to you. Will you help me put it on?”
His fingers brushed my neck as he fastened the necklace.
“I’ll never take it off,” I told him, turning in his arms. “Thank you.”
We made love one last time.
When I woke up the next morning, he was gone. I went back to sleep, but some time later something startled me awake. I shot up in the bed, the acrid smell of smoke thick in the air. Hearing the ominous crackle and feeling the heat, I looked at the window and saw the raging wall of fire. I jumped up and ran for the door, but it was hot and smoke was quickly filling the room.
There was no way out. I was trapped.
Jase
“Sorry to drag you out of Cora’s bed this morning. I’ll have to apologize to her later,” Reed said, raking a hand through his hair. “If I could have done this without you, I would have.”
“It’s no problem.” I’d been studying the building plans, trying to find a way to please the client and make everything work, but I kept thinking of Cori.
I glanced up at Reed. “If you take the wall down about a foot, they’d still have the shower bench and it won’t interfere with the solid glass door.”
Reed peered over my shoulder at the blueprint. “You’re right. I don’t know why I couldn’t see that.”
“You’d been looking at it too long.”
He took a drink of coffee. “You’re probably right. So how’d Cora like her birthday present?”
“She seemed to love it.” I shook my head, glancing up at Reed. “I didn’t give her the ring.”
Reed looked surprised. “What are you waiting on?”
“The right time, I guess. I’d marry Cori today if she’d have me, but I don’t want to move too fast. It’s got to be the right time for her.”
He nodded, cocked his head and reached for the volume on the TV, turning it up.
Firefighters have been battling the apartment fire on the North side of town all morning. There are reports of people trapped inside the apartment complex, and situation is becoming increasingly grim. Oh, wait. We’ve just confirmed the address at..
I didn’t wait to hear the rest of Cori’s address. I was already running for my truck. Reed was following me.
“She’s probably already out,” I heard Reed say.
Somehow I knew that wasn’t true. I’d had a strange feeling all morning, like I shouldn’t have left her and now I knew why.
“I can’t lose her.”
Reed didn’t say anything, but I knew he understood. I ran three red lights, several stop signs and made the drive from work to Cori’s apartment faster than I’d ever driven it before.
What I saw chilled me to the bone. Fire. Black smoke. God, no. There was no way anyone could survive that. Fire trucks and fireman where everywhere. Reporters were camped out.
I shoved open the door, scanning the crowd of tenants, but I didn’t see Cori anywhere. She was still inside. I knew it, felt it in my heart and soul. Then I saw him, Prescott. He was bent over, covered with soot and ash. I ran to him.
“Where’s Cori?”
Prescott looked up, his expression somber. “I’m so sorry.”
“No!” I turned back to the raging tower of fire, and I ran.
“You can’t go in there!” Prescott grabbed my arm. “It’s too late! You won’t make it out.”
Shoving him off of me with all my strength I ran up the fiery stairs and kicked open the door. The flames licked my body, but I ignored the pain. I’d find Cori and get her out of here. There was no other option.
“Cori!”
She didn’t answer. The smoke was thick and I struggled to breathe. I covered my mouth and kept going, praying to God I’d find her alive.
“Cori! Answer me!”
It was hot. I felt like I was being burned alive. She wasn’t answering. And then I saw her. Cori was lying still on the floor of her apartment. I grabbed a blanket from the couch, wrapped her up and started back out. I made it halfway down the stairs when Prescott appeared before me.
“Let me carry her! You’re not gonna make it!”
He was right. I was fading fast and didn’t fight him when he lifted Cori from my arms and descended the stairs.
“Ford, let’s go!”
I stumbled.
“You’ve made it this far! Don’t give up now!”
Following Prescott’s voice I kept moving, until suddenly the stairs erupted into a ball of flames. I felt myself fall and knew I was going to die. My last thought was of Cori. I loved her so much.
I didn’t want to die, but if God had to take someone then I prayed for it to be me.
Chapter 26
Cora
Two weeks later
“Cora, you have to eat.”
I knew Ellie was worried about me, but I wished she’d stop telling me what I should do. If could eat, I would. “I’m not hungry.”
“You’ve lost a lot weight. You’re making yourself sick.”
I didn’t care, but I felt like I had to say something to make her happy. “I just want to see what the doctor has to say, and then we can go eat wherever you want.”
Ellie nodded, giving me a small smile.
I looked up and saw Charlie watching me intently. The rest of the family, Lucy, Douglas and Beverly, sat quietly waiting for the latest report on Jase. He’d been in a coma for the last two weeks. His chances of waking up decreased each day. I wondered where he’d gone and if he would find his way back.
“I have something that belongs to you.” Charlie stood over me. His eyes were red and his was expression torn.
I knew how he felt.
With trembling hands, he took something out of his pocket and handed it to me. “I was with him when he bought this for you. He loved you so much.” Tears leaked from his eyes. “I know he’d have wanted you to have it.”
I stared numbly at the sparkly diamond ring. Fresh tears filled my eyes. It was heartbreaking to see the ring, but it was even worse that Charlie spoke of his brother in past tense. He knew something that I didn’t. They all did.
When the doctor asked to speak with the family, I was shocked when Charlie took my hand. “You need to hear what he has to say.”
“No.”
“It’s time, Cora.”
I felt the doctor’s gaze on me, as if he sympathized with how I felt. “I’m sorry,” he whispered to me.
Then he led us to Jase’s room, where he lay still and lifeless, but unlike the other times I’d visited he wasn’t hooked up to as many machines. I stared at him in horror, wondering if he was dead.
“I’m very sorry,” the doctor told us.
Douglas Ford put his arm around his wife as she cried.
Lucy stood silently, staring at her brother.
I felt Charlie squeeze my hand.
“You said it was good that his burns weren’t severe,” Beverly said. “And he’s breathing on his own now. That’s good.” She looked at her husband. “That’s good, right?”
Douglas closed his eyes.
“He is breathing on
his own without life support,” the doctor continued stoically. “But he has no brain activity. He’ll never wake up.” The doctor’s gaze flicked to mine.
It was as if the last two weeks caught up with me, and a bitter cry of grief was torn deep from my soul. I walked to his bedside, needing to see him. Even if he was gone, I needed to touch him one last time.
“You should never have been there!” I was angry, and hurt and broken. “This is all my fault. Why did you do it?” I cried. “If I have to live without you, I’d rather have died.”
I leaned over his heart and sobbed. My body shook with grief, and tears seeped through his hospital gown onto his chest. It was the spot where my name was tattooed.
“I know you’re in heaven, but I need you here. Please don’t leave me,” I whispered brokenly.
Someone was touching my head. I hung on to Jase, thinking Charlie was about to pull me away.
“Cori.”
I cried harder.
“It’s not your fault.” It was Jase’s voice.
I was losing my mind. Lifting my head, I saw Jase’s green eyes staring back at me. I was shocked and afraid to hope.
“I hate to see you cry.”
“Jase?”
“I love you, Cori.” He felt the ring around my finger. “Does this mean you’re going to marry me?”
“Yes,” I answered through a blur of tears. “I love you.”
I turned to see the doctor, staring strangely at Jase, seemingly unsurprised with his patient’s sudden recovery. The family was watching the scene with a mixture of hope and joy. For the first time, I saw the doctor’s nametag. It read ‘Heaven’.
Jase’s recovery defied all scientific logic. No one had an explanation for his miraculous turn-around. What was even stranger was that Jase wasn’t just better, he was like the accident had never happened.
I watched him pull on his jeans, while the nurse who’d just walked in made no effort to look away.
“Mr. Ford, you should get back in that bed.”
“No, ma’am. I’m sure there’s someone that needs it more than me.” He pulled on his shirt and grabbed his bag. “You ready, Cori?”
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