by Skyla Carter
"If you want me to leave you alone, just say so," Nate chuckled.
"All right then. Fuck off," he growled before taking a sip of his beer.
Chapter Nineteen
Rae's heart was beating so loud, hard and fast as she led Corey by the hand up the stairs to her bedroom. What she had thought had turned into the worst day of her life had suddenly turned into the best.
Corey loved her? And more than that, he actually wanted to spend the rest of his life with her? What a big mess they'd made of everything! If only they'd just talked to start off with, then none of this shit would have happened.
"Baby... I don't know what to say," Corey started when she'd closed the door behind her.
"Then don't say anything."
"What?" he asked; clearly puzzled.
There was no need to explain anything, at least not right then. She was still trying to get her head around the fact that he loved her...
"Do you really love me?" she asked, craving to hear those words from his lips again.
"Of course," Corey answered without hesitation. "I'm sorry I did all those stupid things to make you doubt me, but I couldn't live without you, Rae. I love you more than words can explain."
"And I love you," she whispered, walking forwards until she stood right in front of him. "I never stopped. I never cheated on you, or lied. I'm sorry. It was my fault, too, for just making assumptions. This has been just one big, very fucked up misunderstanding."
Her hand came up to the side of his face and he leaned into it. Was this shit really over? This shit that they had brought totally on themselves? She was almost afraid to believe she could be happy again, that he would be in his life again. She'd been foolish and almost ruined it by not talking to him in the first place, like John and Nate had begged her to do.
"It was all my fault," Corey said, looking away before he swore under his breath and started pacing the way he had done outside.
She'd known him long enough to know he did this when he was extremely anxious.
"No, baby. It was mine. John told me what was happening, I should have believed him and come kicking your parents' door down," she said softly as she put her hand on his arm to stop him.
"But today... that shit out there... I was way out of line; I've probably scared you off now."
She chuckled a bit at that.
"Sweetie, you go psycho on me at least once a week. If that shit scared me, I'd never have been your friend for so long," she smiled.
He searched her eyes as if he was trying to see the truth of her words, then he let out the first smile she'd seen on his face since he'd discovered Nate in the backyard.
"We do have a lot to talk about, Corey," she said, biting her lower lip, "but I'm not really in the mood to do a whole lot of talkin' right now."
She saw the way his eyes instantly darkened. God, she'd missed him! She'd come a long way in a short space of time, from going from bed to bed to craving just this one very sexy man. She couldn't help wondering if, had she not had the cancer scare, she would ever have realised how she felt for him. And if she hadn't got with Nate, even if it was briefly, if she would have recognised these feelings as more than lust. And if she'd have had the guts to do anything about it if she had.
Corey stood a little away from her, still looking at her intensely, sending shivers down her body the way only he could. She was trapped in his gaze, falling deeper in his smouldering baby blues as he slowly came to stand right in front of her, towering over her as his tortured breath mingled with her own. He didn't even touch her but she could swear she came a little right there.
"I will never hurt you again, baby. I promise," he whispered.
"And I will never hurt you again," she promised.
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her so deeply and thoroughly she felt the earth moving at her feet. This man was her life, and she would never let him go ever again. She would never give him reason to ever doubt her love.
Slowly, her fingers found the bottoms on his shirt and started undoing them. She was trembling all over, feeling safe and loved again in Corey's arms; feeling things she had never thought she would feel again as her limbs weakened from feeling his lips on hers, his tongue dueling with hers. Finally, her hand found his flesh and they both let out a gasp at the contact. It was like a million sparks going through their bodies, connecting them, molding them into one and evoking a whirlwind of emotion in every nerve in her body.
It had been way too long since she had touched him, and for once in her life, touching anyone else had been completely out of the question. Two months back, she would never have believed she would be in this position; in love, with only one man, willing to spend her whole life with him.
As if he sensed her thoughts, he gently pushed her away.
"Wait," he said breathlessly against her mouth as he broke the kiss.
"Corey___"
"Shh," he whispered, quickly kissing her again to silence her. "I've fucked everything else up. Let me do this right."
A bit dazed, she watched him search his pockets before he knelt down in front of her. Her hands went up to her mouth and she started tearing up when she realised what he was doing.
She had expected this, she had known it was coming from when he'd blurted it out and taken the box out during his little rant, but this moment was the most beautiful she'd ever known. Corey, the gorgeous sexy beast, on one knee in front of her, his shirt hanging open and revealing his toned stomach as he held up a perfect looking diamond ring.
"Rachael Taylor," he started, holding her gaze the entire time, "I can't imagine my life without you. I'm sorry it took your illness to make me admit how I really feel about you, and I regret thinking even for a second that I could let you go. I love you, Rae, and I will till the day I die. I've been yours since we met at the playground almost twenty-five years ago; will you be mine? Will you spend the rest of your life with me? Will you make me complete, and marry me?"
"Yes!" she cried without hesitation. "Yes, yes, yes."
Corey was on his feet like a shot, his eyes tearing up as well as he held out his hand for hers. The ring was a perfect fit, they both stood to admire it for a second before she was in his arms again, just holding him and relishing the feeling that he was his for always.
"You've made me so happy, Corey. I love you so much, and I promise I'll never make you regret taking a chance on me," she whispered.
"I'm not taking a chance, Rae. I'm a complete asshole at the best of times but you've put up with me near enough your whole life. You're it for me."
She believed him. She believed he'd never look at another woman again because she would never look at another person, man or woman, again. Whatever the future brought, whatever heartaches came, Corey would always be the one she would love forever. She knew life wasn't a rainbow, it wasn't all peaches and cream, but for that moment, it was.
"I love you so much, Rachael Taylor," he added. "So, so much."
He lifted her into his arms and walked over to the bed, carefully putting her down. His eyes never left hers for a second, even when he slowly slid his shirt off and threw it on the floor, even when he undid his belt buckle and his zip before sliding his jeans down his legs. For a moment he stood completely naked in front of her, like a sculptured god with his rock-hard abs, huge chest and large muscular thighs. His chest was rising and falling with his labored breathing and his erection proudly twitching as her inspection of the prefect male specimen turned him on a lot more. Her mouth watered. Damn it, she still couldn't work out how he did this to her. How had she got to be the lucky one who had him for always? He was perfect. He was huge. He was hers. She was shaking, nervous like this was going to be her first time again as he slowly advanced on her. In a way, it was. They'd fucked up royally and were being given a second chance; at love, at life.
He lay on his side right next to her on the bed, his body searing hers, even though she was still fully clothed. She felt his rock hard erection prodding her thigh
and moaned. She couldn't wait to feel him inside her again. Then his hand came up and he let his fingers trail her body from the side of her face, past the vein throbbing at the base of her neck, between her breasts, all the way down to the zip on her jeans. It felt like fire, irresistible fire; she couldn't help arching her body to his fingers as she helplessly moaned for more. Her body came to life, craving this touch that she'd only dreamed she would have again.
Then his lips started on the same trail, this time the contact more like larva that brought a little mewl from her lips even as it made her breathless. He was being so gentle, taking his time, kissing and licking a hot trail until he got to her jeans. Without breaking the contact, his hands went on either side of her and urged her to lift her hips up as he gently peeled the jeans and the panties she'd worn underneath them off, his lips following them as they kissed almost every inch of skin he exposed.
She was already beyond ready, but she could tell Corey had brought his 'A' game to her. He was going to tease her until she begged. Then he would tease her some more. She didn't think she could handle that, not when it had been so damn long since he'd touched her.
"Please..." she moaned, writhing underneath his lips.
But Corey only smirked as he came halfway up her body, completely ignoring where she wanted him the most. He lifted her wife beater up just a bit, and started his assault on her bare skin. She couldn't help but arch her back again, and he used this to his advantage as he pushed the top up her body. All the electricity, the weakening limbs, the blood rush that they wrote about in romance novels and movies... that was nothing compared to this. She had no word to describe the surge of feeling in her body. It had never been like this before, not even the first night they'd come together at Flair's party.
Again, he completely denied her breasts any attention even though he could probably see the hardened nipples straining against her lacy bra. He had the top off her in seconds, although it seemed like forever under his sensual assault. And all she could do was moan and groan and take it. And whimper helplessly.
The lacy bra went next, but still, even as her breasts were exposed, he was careful to avoid kissing her where she wanted him.
"Corey..." she tried again, this time bringing her hands around his neck an all but pushing him down.
He relented, but only for a second. Kissing one nipple, he gently took it in his mouth, earning a loud cry from her, and gently sucked it before letting it go. Then he blew on it. He was using all the tricks, driving her so wild she started to mumble his name, begging him to stop teasing her, begging him to fill her. He gave the other one the same treatment, this time she clawed his back as she tried to get her body closer to his. But he kept his pulsing erection away from her, only teasing her with it occasionally when he let it glide over her, moaning against her when she screamed.
And he wasn't done.
He went down her body again until he was only an inch from where she needed him. Her eyes had been shut, her lids heavy with desire, but she opened in protest when he stopped moving, only to drown again in his eyes. With her full attention, he went down on her. She didn't think she'd ever had it so good before, even when Corey had done it before her stint at the hospital. Her hands immediately left his body to clutch at the sheets beside her, her knuckles whitening.
He brought her closer to the edge, had her wriggling on the bed, screaming his name and throwing her head from side to side as she sort her release. His groans against her mingled with her own and she could feel his eyes still on her face, burning into her. She was so close to getting to the top of that peak, so close to going over the edge...
But then he stopped.
"You fucking bastard!" she swore breathlessly, earning a little chuckle from him before he moved his body up over hers.
He was just as breathless as she was as he hovered over her, positioning himself, his eyes still on hers.
"I love you," he whispered, just before he finally brought her the connection she craved.
The first thrust was just as slow as his whole assault on her senses had been, but he went in deep. She couldn't help screaming his name. In just one movement she completely lost her mind. The size of him, the feel of him as he slowly pushed himself all the way in... He filled her up so thoroughly, so completely.
"Baby... so good," he groaned, as he slowly pulled out of her again.
She screamed again, unable to put any words together as she pushed her hips up against him. He plunged into her again, and his cries echoed her own. It was too much for her. She'd never thought she'd ever see that day, but Corey inside of her felt so good it really was too much. She wrapped her legs around him, pushing him deeper and clenching herself tightly around him.
"Fuck!" he gasped when he tried to pull out again. "So tight... I can't..."
That was all she heard before she tipped over the edge and felt the most intense wave wash over her. And as she convulsed and tightened more around him, she heard him scream her name as he released his seed deep inside her.
Whoa, she thought to herself as she clung onto him for the exhilarating ride down. This had been more than making love, more than a deep connection. How could it be possible that something so good, so intense existed?
"Wow," Corey said breathlessly, still buried deep inside her as her muscles milked him for all he was worth. "I think we broke some kind of record."
"Orgasm in two strokes?" she chuckled.
"And quite a few others, I'm sure," he chuckled as he finally rolled over so she could lie on top of him.
"I missed you so much," she whispered to him, her head on his chest, listening to his erratic heartbeat as it struggled to slow down.
"And I missed you," he said. "I never want to go through that again."
They lay there for a while longer, still joined, enjoying the feeling of being back in each other's arms.
"There's a beautiful little baby that's been named after you," Corey said when he'd recovered enough to think. "Her dad told us to stop by whenever we wanted. I'd like to."
He explained the story, how that morning he had felt the first bit of hope since the whole nightmare had started, and that man had been the only one not to look at him as if he was crazy when he thought things would be okay.
She kissed him lingeringly, thanking God that he had been right, knowing his life would have completely sucked had she been taken away from him. She wasn't being big headed, only stating a fact. Had the shoe been on the other shoe, had it been Corey who'd been facing death in the face, she would have felt the same way.
"So I was thinking," he continued. "Small wedding on the beach or something, maybe just before the sunset? Sometime real soon?"
"Sounds perfect," she smiled. "I can't believe we're actually going to do it."
"And if I'm lucky, I might have just made you pregnant as well," he said smugly. "My shit is really potent!"
She hadn't gone as far as think about kids but the idea of carrying his child was suddenly very appealing.
"But just in case I didn't, I think we should try that again," he smirked.
She felt him harden again and shivered. She'd hardly had time to recover from the first time, but she was more than ready for him again. She kissed him softly.
"We have people outside probably waiting to find out how our 'talk' went," she chuckled against his lips.
"I'm sure they have a pretty good idea."
He stopped kissing her for a second as he said, "Maybe we should go downstairs. I have this inexplicable urge to have a word with your Daddy dearest."
But it was hours later when they finally walked out to the back, hand in hand and freshly showered. He had a stupid grin on his face that he knew would probably alert everyone what he had just spent hours doing with Rae, if they hadn't guessed already. Sara was back with the kids and Ethan had come to join in the fun as well. He was standing over the grill that someone had fired up and thrown steaks on. He was willing to bet that had been John's idea. Food was always Jo
hn's idea.
Irving was sitting with his wife as they watched the kids run around and the rest of the guys were standing together, laughing and talking.
"Told you they wouldn't miss us," he said to Rae as they lazily walked over to her dad and step mum.
The first thing she did was kiss her dad and hold him tightly. Irving held her just as tight, it looked almost as if he was about to cry. Rae did actually release a few tears, which Irving tenderly wiped away as he smiled at her.
He felt like he was intruding on a special father-daughter moment. Irving was letting go of his little girl, trusting another man to love her unconditionally. It was a bittersweet moment.
"So?" Sara questioned when they finally let go of each other.
Rae let out a squeal, immediately forgetting how she had felt only seconds before as she showed Sara her hand with her shiny expensive engagement ring on it. Sara immediately fawned over it, the way only women did. He could only chuckle as he watched the two of them walk away to where Mandy was standing with John. Amid the excited squeals and screams that came from Mandy as the three of them huddled together over her hand, he turned his attention back to the man in front of him.
First he held his hand out, and a set of keys was placed in it.
Irving then grinned at him in amusement.
"I don't think you're funny at all," he huffed as he sat himself down on the chair Sara had just vacated. "You knew what was really going on, and instead of setting me straight you let me make a fool of myself."
"I only regret not having a camera to video it," Irving chuckled.
"Don't you dare tell anyone! It's bad enough they saw me out here," he said quickly.
"Oh, somehow I doubt they'd believe me," Irving answered. "You beg? That's unheard of!"
"They'd believe it if it came from you."
"Yes, they would, wouldn't they?" Irving said.
The older man started laughing again. He scowled, turning away from him, his eyes immediately catching sight of Rae.