The Bucket List

by Skyla Carter

  She smelt the coffee before she even opened her eyes. She knew straight away Corey was going to try some major sucking up.

  "What do you want?" she snapped.

  "I made you some coffee. I know how you don't function properly till you've had at least ten of these," Corey teased.

  Translated, he was hoping to have her in a better mood before his apology. She wasn't in the mood for it right now. She was still too upset with him. She knew she would eventually forgive him, sooner rather than later as she didn't have time to waste, but she wanted to hold on to her anger a bit longer. Friends didn't say shit like that to each other, they didn't try to put each other down.

  Rolling over and getting out of bed, she walked past him and his peace offering to go to the bathroom.

  "Rae," Corey started.

  "Not now, Corey," she snapped as she shut the door behind her.

  "I'm surprised she didn't throw the coffee at you," Alyssa said from her spot on John's bed.

  It wasn't the first time she'd crashed with these guys after a night out. She knew she could trust them. Normally she took Corey's bed while he had the couch but this morning she'd woke up in John's. After Corey's revelation the other night she'd got a bit self conscious around him, but John hadn't done or said anything to confirm this. She couldn't be sure if this was another of Corey's match-making tricks. Even now, while she lay in his bed, John was on the couch watching a film. He didn't even look like he was bothered that she was there.

  "What did she tell you?" Corey asked.

  "That you're a dick," Alyssa answered. "Honestly, Corey, how could you even say those words to her? She's your best friend."

  "I don't need this from you as well, Mandy. I know I fucked up. I didn't mean what I said."

  "Then why did you say it? Half the night she kept mumbling how she couldn't fucking believe you'd do that to her." Alyssa said as she got off the bed.

  "I'll talk to her when she's ready, I'll apologise."

  "You better. I'm going to my room to shower and pack. Tell Rae I'll see her downstairs when you guys are ready to go. I'm catching a ride to the airport with you."

  "John, Alyssa is going," Corey called out.

  John turned from his film and smiled.

  "Later," he said.

  When she was gone, Corey walked up to him and smacked him up the head.

  "Ow! What was that for?" John shouted as he rubbed the back of his head.

  "Later? You had a hot chick on your bed all night and you just sat on that couch like a rock. She says she's going and all you can say is 'Later'?"

  "What was I supposed to say?" John argued.

  "Something! Don't bore the girl before you've even asked her out," Corey said. "Khali has more game than you!"

  "I can't just go up to her and ask her out. What if she doesn't like me in that way? It'll just make things awkward when we hang out," John said.

  "You won't know until you try. I tried it on with her and she's still my friend even though she shot me down. I wasn't even looking for a relationship, just one hot, sweaty night."

  "When I'm ready, Corey," John said firmly. "Anyway, you've got other things to worry about than my sex life. I don't think a cup of coffee and one of you little smiles will work this time."

  Corey looked at the closed door of the bathroom and sighed. He and Rae never really argued. When he upset her, or she upset him, they normally kissed and made up the next minute. The fact that she hadn't even wanted to talk to him told him he had a long way to go before she forgave him.

  The door opened and Rae walked out wrapped in a little towel. She didn't even look at him.

  "Alyssa gone already?" she asked John, blatantly ignoring him.

  "She said she'll meet us downstairs when we're ready," John answered.

  "Rae, talk to me," Corey said, sitting on his bed while she walked around it to get some fresh clothes out.

  He had already packed for her. He'd thought it a good way to start on his apology.

  "I'm sorry, Rae," he said when he got no response. "I was a dick last night. I was just..."

  "I said not now," Rae cut in.

  "Let me explain. Please. I can't stand you not talking to me."

  "Listen. I said not now. Unless you want me to really go off and say some hurtful things of my own, just back off."

  Corey bit his lip. This was obviously going to be a very long day.

  His phone went off, preventing any further attempts at an apology.

  "Nate, what's up?" he answered.

  He noticed the way she tensed a bit at the mention of the caller's name and it got him curious. What had happened between them yesterday?

  "I don't mean to bother you, but is Rae up yet? I really need to talk to her."

  "Yeah, she's up," he said. "Hang on."

  He held the phone out to Rae. She just rolled her eyes and ignored it. Obviously, he wasn't the only one who needed to suck up to her today.

  "Sorry Nate, she's a bit busy right now."

  "I'm not busy, I just don't want to speak to him," Rae snapped.

  "She said..."

  "Yeah, I heard," Nate said. "Tell her she left something in my room yesterday. I was packing when I noticed it."

  "You left something in his room," he repeated.

  "Tell him he can stuff it up his ass!"

  "She doesn't want it back," Corey told him.

  "Tell her if she doesn't come and get it herself, I'll have to come up and give it to you."

  "Why? Is it something I shouldn't know about?"

  He saw Rae tense again.

  "Just tell her, please."

  "He said if you don't go get it, he'll give it to me," he repeated, feeling a bit like a parrot now.

  With an irritated sigh, she grabbed the phone from him and put it to her ear.

  "What is it, Nate?" she asked.

  "You left your painkillers."

  "Give them to me at the airport."

  "If you don't come and get them now, I swear I'll bring them up. What's it going to be, Rae?"

  She frowned in irritation then noticed Corey was watching her, a frown also marring his features. Obviously Nate had got him thinking. The last thing she wanted was for Corey to go poking his nose around Nate and find out what Nate had more or less hinted he wasn't supposed to know. She would have to sort Nate out, make sure he kept his mouth shut.

  "Give me a few minutes," she said through grit teeth, then hung up.

  "What's that all about?" Corey asked.

  "Did I not tell you in words you can understand? Back-the-fuck-off!" she snapped, glad that she had an excuse not to answer him.

  She found the little dress and low heeled sandals she planned on wearing to the airport in the bag, ignoring him completely as she got herself dressed.

  "Hey," Nate said when he opened the door for her about ten minutes later.

  "Hand them over, then," Rae said.

  "Come in. They're in my drawer. I didn't want to leave them lying about in case Brian saw them," Nate said as he stood aside for her to enter. "In case you didn't know, I don't really have a good track record with them."

  She walked in, her arms crossed and a dark look on her face. He had to say, she looked absolutely gorgeous. He couldn't help himself as his eyes traveled down to her bottom, then over the smooth, long legs that the short dress she wore exposed.

  "Hand them over," she said again, turning around to face him.

  "Not until you let me explain," he said.

  "There's nothing to explain. You said what you said and now I know where you stand. If you give me my shit back, you'll never have to talk to me again."

  "No, you don't know where I stand. I'm going through a lot of shit, Rae. I know it's no excuse, but when you literally fell into my arms in the elevator I just freaked out. There's you with all these problems, and the drugs you're taking, I just... I couldn't handle it," Nate said.

  "Just give me my stuff, Nate," Rae sighed. "You won't have to handle anythin
g."

  "Hear me out," Nate begged. "I wasn't talking to you out of pity. I shouldn't have said that to you and I'm sorry."

  "Would it be easier for you if I just accepted your apology? Would you just give me my stuff and let me get out of here?"

  "Rae..."

  "No, you listen to me. I don't have time to waste with this shit," Rae angrily cut in. "Yesterday, I thought you were a nice guy, I told you stuff that my best friend doesn't know. I trusted you and you basically told me to fuck off."

  "I'm sorry."

  "Sorry doesn't cut it. It's my fault, anyway. I shouldn't have told you anything at all but I thought we were on our way to becoming friends. I don't have time to deal with two faced jerks."

  He ran a hand through his hair and turned away from her. How would he make her see how sorry he was? The words that had come out of his mouth were just that... words. When she'd started talking about all the things she would normally have been doing, he had just panicked. The last thing he wanted was to jump from one bad relationship to another. She hadn't come out and said it straight that she wanted him, but from what she had revealed, he knew she was looking for a relationship. Or at least, she was trying. She'd said she wanted someone to make her feel special.

  She wasn't his type, he was right about that. Yes she was gorgeous, yes she was sexy and yes he'd imagined fucking her, just as every hot blooded male who'd met her probably imagined. He was only human. But this was just an experiment to her. If he got with her, he would inevitably get all these unwanted feelings and then what? She would get bored and move on to the next experiment. Or she'd see what was right in front of her and end up with Corey. He'd be heartbroken all over again. It would be Beth all over again. He didn't want that. So he'd had to tell her that he was only there out of pity. It was mean of him, he knew that, but his first instinct had been to protect himself.

  "Rae," he started again. "I wasn't pretending. I did mean it when I said you could talk to me anytime and I do want us to become friends."

  "Nate, please," Rae sighed. "You don't have to do this. I understand where you're coming from. A girl passed out in your arms, told you she was dying and you felt sorry for her. Anyone would have done the same thing."

  "Rae, you're not listening to me. I didn't talk to you out of pity," he snapped.

  "Oh, so now you're snapping at me? Just give me the pills."

  "No! What I'm trying to say is, I could have just sent you on your way after you came to and not bothered about it. We weren't friends. Even with you telling me what you did, I could have just let you go."

  "Well, thanks! Tell you what," she said as she walked to the door. "Keep the damn pills. I've got more. I just came up here to tell you to keep your mouth shut."

  He pushed the door closed before she could fully open it and let his arm rest on it. He wasn't explaining himself well. It was a complicated situation, surely she could see that. He probably should have just let her go but something in him wouldn't let him. When she turned round, her eyes were spitting fire at him and he thought again how hot she looked when she was angry. He also realised she was trapped between the door and his body.

  "Open the door, right now," she spat out.

  God, she was hot! His body was reacting to her closeness, reacting in a way it hadn't since he had left Beth.

  "I lied to you," he said, deciding to go with the truth.

  "What?"

  "When I implied I wouldn't jump you the second you started flirting with me," he whispered as he moved his body even closer to hers.

  "I'm not flirting with you," Rae pointed out.

  "I know."

  Her hair smelt gorgeous, he couldn't resist burying his face in it. He would regret this, he knew, but for now it all felt right. He knew all about her, knew she would probably crush his already broken heart and feed it to the dogs. This was so wrong on so many levels and the loser would only be him.

  "Nate..."

  "Shh shh," he whispered, placing a finger on her lips.

  He knew what she'd been about to say. She couldn't do this, she was trying to change. He didn't really want to hear that. His hand moved from her mouth and slowly trailed down to her breast. She had already given in, he could tell. Her body reacted to his simple touch like he had never seen before. He could say in all honesty, that made him hornier than he had ever been in his whole life.

  Urgently, he took her mouth as his hand reached under her short dress and ripped her little thongs off. She had awakened an animal inside him without even trying, and the beast needed satisfaction. There was no time for preliminaries. When his fingers easily slid into her, he let out a hungry groan. She was already so wet...

  In seconds he had undone his belt buckle and zip. There was no time to take anything off. Later on, when he had enjoyed her, he would probably get pissed off with himself for doing the very thing he had said he wouldn't do. But for now he'd take what he was being offered. He pushed the thoughts of her with all those other guys over the weekend completely out of his mind. There was no room on his bed for them as well. It would plague him afterwards how he had given in to his desires so easily but his need was bigger than him. He had to have her. Even if it turned out to be for just one time.

  The first hard thrust released a loud cry from him and all thoughts ceased to exist. There, against the door with her long legs wrapped tightly around him, he saw heaven. He had never known anything more beautiful.

  Chapter Eight

  Rae sat next to Alyssa and John at the terminal as they waited for their flight. Corey had gone off to sort her a seat on their plane as another way to suck up. She hadn't said a word to him since returning from Nate's room. She had gone straight to have another shower and to change and the looks she had shot Corey and John had defied them to ask questions. She was in no mood to talk.

  She still couldn't believe that Nate had fucked her. Over and over again, actually. And he'd been amazing. She hadn't expected that at all. From the first earth-shattering orgasm against the door, Nate had promptly moved her over to the table where he'd bent her over and quickly brought on yet another orgasm with his long, hard strokes. Then somehow they had ended up out on the balcony, naked in the light of the morning with the view of Orlando stretching ahead of them. He'd taken her over the railings of the balcony, gripping her butt to sink himself deeper into her while she'd quivered in his arms. No one had ever done her so... thoroughly... before. And she was certain a few people had heard her screams, seen Nate urgently nailing her in plain view of whoever wanted to watch the show. It had been just the sort of crazy thing the old Rae would have done. Eventually, he'd carried her to his bed. She'd been surprised he still had the strength to do that as her own legs had gone completely useless. On the bed, he had made love to her. Slow, sweet and tender. He had made her feel like the most precious thing in the world, which was what she had been looking for in the first place. He had held her eyes the whole time and for the first time in her life, she felt like she had made a connection on a more deeper level. Nate had touched something in her that she had not even known existed. It had scared her.

  Before she'd gone to his room she had already decided to find someone else, the whole morning had just confused her. She had not come on to him at all, which was an amazing feat in itself so his reaction had been a complete surprise. Her first reaction hadn't surprised her at all. She had gone a full 24 hours without sex, her body had almost been in withdrawal. One single touch had lit her up like a Christmas tree. The sparks, when his body had brushed against her, had been all-consuming. She'd stood no chance whatsoever of declining what her body craved for. It was when he'd gently placed her on the bed and done whatever voodoo that he'd done that she'd freaked out.

  After that shattering explosion, when they'd been fighting to catch their breaths, he had been about to say something but Kendrick had walked in and she'd seen her chance to escape. She had just pulled her dress on, found her shoes and left. Of course, Brian had stood there like an idiot th
e whole time and watched her dress while Nate had begged her not to go, to let him explain. He'd probably been about to pull the 'we can still be friends' speech that she had used a million times in the past. She'd been too freaked to listen.

  This whole thing was confusing her. She had never had sex like that. Yes, she liked to connect, that was what always ensured the sex was always off the charts. She let her senses take over her, let her mind, body and soul connect, but Nate had taken that connection to a whole new level. She had started getting these... feelings. She had no idea what they were or where they'd come from, she'd never felt anything for anyone before except lust. She didn't know what to do. Plus, where did he get off telling her she wasn't his type one minute then jumping her bones the next? Why did people say one thing when they meant another? Had he been trying to sleep with her all along? And the big question was, would she be able to stand him now that she'd had him? Even though she had experienced something different, made a connection with someone, would she want to do it again with him? She'd never gone back for seconds before, no matter how good the first time was.

  So now she had no idea what to do. Should she seek Nate out and find out what the hell was going on, or should she run in the opposite direction and find someone totally different so she could control the whole situation until the time came for her to leave?

  The light was blinding her, even with her big sunglasses and she still had a splitting headache. Alyssa looked as pitiful as she did sitting next to her. She also wore sun glasses to protect her eyes and she looked sickly.

  "So are you going to tell me about this man with the big pipe?" John asked.

  "What man?" Rae frowned.

  John chuckled.

  "He had something that couldn't fit in the hole."

  Both ladies looked at him as if he was losing his mind.

  "What the hell did you two do last night?" John laughed.

  "We had a drink then came back to the hotel," Alyssa said.

  "You don't remember, do you?" John guessed.

  "Not a damn thing," Alyssa answered.

  Nate chose that moment to walk to them, his hands in the pockets of his baggy jeans, the hood of his top pulled low over his eyes so people could only see his the tip of his nose and his mouth. She'd noticed him the second he had arrived and had known he'd been watching her, the little headphones of his iPod in his ears as always. She hadn't expected him to approach her, though, at least not with all the Final Battle roster watching him.