Fool For You

by Megan Noelle

  Corey stopped his kisses long enough for my lips and tongue to find his neck. A soft groan escaped from deep in his throat; the sound alone lit a fire deep within me. The little noises he made only drove me to want to hear them more. Corey grabbed hold of my shoulders and held me back; the arousal in his eyes made him even more irresistible as he searched my ever-waiting body. After a beat of our eyes locked in silent confirmation of the act we were about to do. He lifted me around my waist and flipped me over his shoulder. I couldn’t suppress the squeal that emanated, as he carried me off towards what I assumed was the direction of his room.

  “Nice place,” I joked as I hung upside down; Corey laughed.

  When we reached his bedroom, all joking attitudes were gone. I was back on my feet and Corey’s hands skillfully removed my shirt in seconds. His hands pressed against the small of my back as his mouth trailed along the top of my breasts. A moan escaped, as I felt the bulge in his jeans pressed against me.

  “Can I tell you something?” he asked, his hands moved up to unhook my bra.

  “What?” Please don’t let this alluring man be a sex-talker. All I wanted right then was to hear heavy breathing and moans of pleasure. Most importantly—to have this good-looking guy take me into another world; not to sit and have a conversation.

  “If you had tried to leave with someone else tonight, I’m pretty sure I would have beat their ass.”

  My lips smirked up at the unexpected possessive tone. “Oh really? And why’s that?”

  He placed a kiss at the base of my neck as my bra fell from my arms. His eyes stared appreciatively before looking back up to meet my gaze.

  “I saw you first.” My body instantly ignited at one of the hottest things I’d ever heard, before being swept away in passion.

  The Beginning

  Corey sat up in bed, his back resting against the pillows; watching as I crawled out and began moving around the room to collect my clothes. I shot a glance in his direction and couldn’t help but smile. Black and colored ink stood-out against his tanned body, as I took in his perfectly sculpted chest. The tattoos stretched across the muscles of his arms and pecks while his delicious—I know, I’ve tasted—six-pack remained ink free. That sight paired with the look of satisfaction resting over the planes of his face—was a wonderful view. My body was sore but sated. It had been a while since I’d had sex and even longer since I’d had sex like that. My eyes lingered on his godlike body a little longer, as the memory of the intense connection we just experienced flashed through my mind. Corey let out a chuckle when I realized I was still staring longingly at his body. Thankfully, I wasn’t an easily embarrassed person; his laughter only made me wink.

  This was exactly what I wanted and needed—truthfully, it was more. Corey knew exactly what he was doing and my body was still reeling from the way he made me feel. He knew when to slow down, when to speed up and he knew better than any other what I liked—without even knowing me.

  After pulling my gaze from his all-too-tempting body, I found my bra and panties and pulled them back into place. While I re-fastened the belt on my jeans, I turned back to Corey; he was still watching me. The look in those gorgeous blue eyes told me he was ready to rip the clothes from my body—again. The desire building in me once more was completely okay with that idea, but I knew I needed to leave. Now. If I didn’t, I would certainly pass out from exhaustion and wake up the next morning in his bed. That was not part of my plan.

  “So, tell me how you ended up taking a shot of tequila with my grandmother.” Corey let out a single laugh and laced his fingers together behind his head.

  “For my 21st birthday I was out at a bar and she was there talking with the owner, since they supplied the liquor for her inn. Well, I’ve known her for a while since she is friends with my mother; being that I was drunk, a beer in my hand, I went up to her and said hi. When I told her it was my birthday, she rolled her eyes at me insisting I had to do it right. She told the bartender to get two shots of the best tequila and we took them. It was great, so we did another and then she left. The next morning I went back to pay the tab I forgot about and found out that Violet had paid it.”

  I smiled, sliding my shirt into place. That sounded exactly like my Grandma; tough as nails but still harboring a compassionate side that came about when you least expected it. As much as I wanted to know about how he knew her—that wasn’t what the night was supposed to be about. My presence there was solely for one thing and I could go home satisfied. More than satisfied—if I was being honest.

  At that point I could only imagine the mess my hair was; I used my fingers as a brush to at least smooth it down into place. Once I felt I was decent (under the circumstances) I turned to face Corey while slipping on my heels.

  “Well, I better get going.” Corey sat up, I saw the confusion spread over his face; I wasn’t sure what he thought I was doing by getting dressed. He flipped his legs off the bed, giving me a brief peek of toned thighs and his fantastic ass, before he yanked on a pair of sweatpants.

  “Oh, alright.” There was a hint of disappointment in his voice.

  “Thank you though, this was…fun.” Corey smirked at me, crossing his arms over his bare chest. If I didn’t get away from that amazing body and sexy grin, I was going to be in serious trouble.

  “That it was.” Looking down at the top of his dresser, my eye caught a glimpse of a grocery store receipt and a sharpie. Before giving myself a chance to overthink it, I grabbed the sharpie, scribbling my number on the top of the receipt.

  My eyes shot to Corey, as the slight smirk on his face turn into the full-fledged grin, bringing out the dimple that made my knees go weak.

  “Just in case you’re up for more later.” With another wink, I headed back through the apartment. I’d only caught an upside down glimpse of on my way in. It wasn’t much; plain walls, black sofa with a couple of matching chairs, and a T.V. This was more than likely going to be the last time I saw the inside of Corey’s apartment; so I put very little thought into my surroundings. While I left my number behind, I wasn’t naïve enough to expect a phone call later.

  “Wait a second. Do you have a way home?” Corey asked, running to me from the bedroom. I didn’t let myself turn around, because I was sure my self-control was dwindling. Seeing that half-naked body again was going to take the little I had left—away. Hell, my body was still reacting from the way that man ignited a flame of pleasure inside me, less than 30 minutes ago.

  “I’m just going to call a cab.”

  “Well, at least let me pay for the cab fare.” Corey began patting down his pockets behind me.

  I let out a snort. “Don’t be ridiculous—I got it.” There was no way I was about to let my one-night stand take care of my way home. I was an independent woman and the last thing I needed was a man to get me home safe. I’d never counted on anyone to take care of me.

  “Well, then you have a good night, Danielle 25.” With one last peek over my shoulder I said; “You too, Corey 27.” He smiled at me. I returned it before walking back out into the cool night air.

  Waiting for the cab, I let what happened completely sink in; I wasn’t upset and I didn’t regret it. That was exactly what I needed. For once, I didn’t have to think about what the other person thought or if he was going to call. Best of all though—I wouldn’t have to worry about tomorrow. I could go on with life as though there was no change. As the cab rolled up to collect me, I shot a glance in the direction of Corey’s apartment. There was a silhouette of my sexy bartender standing by the door; if he was watching, I decided to treat him to a little finger wave before pulling away.

  The silent drive through the black night, was a refreshing end. My mission concluded as a success. I never had to think of this again, if I chose not to. The cab pulled up in front of my house; I slipped the driver money and wished him a good night. After deciding to take a nice long steaming shower, I climbed into bed for the night.

  Even as I slipped into the covers, my exha
usted body still felt the intense and incredible release Corey had given me. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this way after a rendezvous with any of my previous boyfriends. At least if this was a one-time only thing, I’d picked the best person possible for that one-time. As my mind silenced thoughts of the past few days, I found myself thinking about Corey. Not just the way he made my body sing. How he made me smile, made me laugh and forget about everything but living in that single moment. And that confused the hell out of me.

  * * * *

  On Sunday mornings, when living in a small town, the rule was to abide by the ‘day of rest’. People around there spend hours reading the paper, gardening or picking up that old book they’d been meaning to read. The family gathered for nice dinners, where everyone reflected over just how much they meant to one another.

  This was a foreign concept for those living in New York City. Sundays were still beautiful days, but if you wanted to get further in your career—you worked. Maybe that consisted of a relaxing dinner or doing a bit of reading. However, the dinner was usually with clients or business partners, and the reading was frequently files or other paperwork that was far from fun.

  Being that I have lived and loved both of these ways, I chose to compromise. I spent the day in comfortable clothing, let the AC take over and allowed myself to stare out the window a little. I even splurged and ordered take out. To me, no dishes, was definitely a relaxing thought. Except, I planned on reading through just about everything I had for the Inn and its upcoming events. New York taught me many things; the most important, that time equaled money.

  The whole purpose of moving back to a place I promised myself I would never again step foot in, was to keep their beloved Inn from running into the ground. This was supposed to be my mother’s responsibility and when she eventually reached the age of retirement it would then go to me. My mom’s little three-year vacation to the slammer, put a kink in that plan. My grandmother was desperate, and as much as I hated this place, I could never abandon her. Sure, she had my grandfather, but he’d put in his time at their business already. My Gram told me before I came back, that the Hamilton Inn was completely in my hands. She would be around if needed, and would check in from time to time; she’d made it very clear though, that place was not her home anymore. However, what she failed to realize was that place had never been my home.

  What she wasn’t expecting were the plans I had for the Inn, once it was finally running smoothly again. I didn’t want to be stuck there any longer than necessary and the best way to get out—was to sell. I was sure somebody out there dreamt of owning a quaint little Inn. I just hoped they had the checkbook to make their fantasies come true.

  I knew I was getting ahead of myself. For the time being, I needed to make the business succeed better than my grandparents ever imagined it could. For starters, I would learn the ins and outs of the challenge I had in front of me—starting with the staff.

  In the mound of papers I’d received there were files on every employee. In each folder was their job description, attendance, and everything else I needed to know about their history with our Inn. I spent the morning hours looking over every staff member, creating different piles based on what I read. From everything I saw, the crew my Gram had working for her was top notch. All seemed to be very loyal to her, and loved that place just as much as she did. It was going to make my job much easier if I didn’t have to spend the first few months re-training everyone on proper work ethics.

  It was lunchtime when I was done reading the employee files, but I didn’t want to lose my momentum. So I opted for a peanut butter and butter sandwich with a Diet Coke, before pressing on.

  I reviewed the menus and the check-in/check-out policies that have been the same since the place opened. Everything with the Inn itself seemed to be running very efficiently. It was the events that were crumbling. Hamilton Inn was the only place in Serenity, that held weddings, along with many other special occasions. When people were constantly choosing surrounding towns for those meaningful moments—something on our end needed reevaluating. The Inn catered for the events and our employees worked as the servers. If the couple requested a bar, we used a local place and their bartenders. The one exception being, the Inn supplied the champagne and wine; that significant cost was killing our budget. I made a note to talk to whoever was in charge of alcohol, fully intending to change that.

  Before I knew it, it was time for dinner and Chinese take-out sounded great. After grabbing an ice cold Rolling Rock from the fridge, courtesy of Gramps, I ate my meal at the counter—with the provided chopsticks—while listening to some of my favorite music. It was those moments that I both loved and hated. They were exactly the type of things I enjoyed. I was at peace and didn’t need to worry about the hustle and bustle of the city. It was also in those moments that I saw just how alone I truly was. Staring into the empty seat next to mine at the breakfast bar, I was surprised to see Corey’s face come to mind. It had been a busy day, so I hadn’t thought much of what happened the previous night. Now in the silence it all came rushing back.

  His sultry lips against mine. Running down my neck; nipping at my earlobe, swooping to the swell of my breasts. Strong hands brushing along my arms, sides, grabbing hold of my hips. My hands pulling off his shirt; fingers trailing over his hard muscles and smooth skin. A sharp intake of breath encouraging me to continue my journey to the fly of his jeans. Then those eyes. The way his eyes held mine, I forgot everything else. I felt the burning passion and desire. My entire body detonating at the soft brush of his lips at the base of my throat. Pulling me into him, desperate for a bed beneath us. Fingers lacing together, as his skillful lips and tongue explored my naked body. My tongue teasing and tasting his chest, neck and ears. The sound of a condom wrapper only vaguely registering, as he looked at me as though I was the only woman on this planet. Then the feel of him inside me. Arching my back, eyes closing in pleasure, my body screaming for more...

  My erotic thoughts had me sweating in the chilled house, and the memory had me seconds away from

  going back to the bar. There wouldn’t be any searching for the right person; my eyes would only hunt

  for Corey. Once his blue eyes found mine, I would pull my shirt over my head letting him know exactly

  what I was there for. With one fluid motion he’d swing his long legs over the bar, his muscular arms

  tensing to hold his weight. Stalking towards me as though I was his prey, I’d be ready for whatever he

  wanted to give me. His hungry hands capturing the back of my head, as he pulled my mouth greedily to

  his. It wouldn’t matter who saw because in that wonderful moment—we’d be lost in each other. I

  wouldn’t even have to tell him what to do; he’d know instinctively as before what I craved.

  I felt my body shudder at the thought. This was insane. Sure, I’ve had fantasies about guys before but usually about my boyfriends and nothing quite so bold. So, why was Corey suddenly taking over my thoughts and making my body crave his touch?

  I wanted to use the excuse, that I just moved back and hadn’t made contact with my old friends; which was the reason I was simply lonely for company in general. Not only did I know that to be a lie but, truth was, I didn’t really have any old friends here—at least none I cared for. Prior to me leaving after graduation, I realized just how foolish I was in trusting the people I had. Having everyone I cared for turn their backs on me, then use every single detail of my life against me—was a pain that lingered long after.

  Then there was Oliver. I always saw him as my childhood best friend and buried deep in my heart was the wish that someday we would be together. It had been my intention to tell him the way I felt, but my best friend, Jayme told him first. That wouldn’t have been so bad, if she’d done it to help me. Instead, she manipulated the situation and stole him right from under my nose.

  Even if Jayme had done what she did with someone I had a little crush on, I still would have be
en upset. Except nothing about it was just a crush—I had been in love with Ollie. He was the first to have my heart and I thought he would be my last. Then, I ran into him yesterday and everything I once felt came rushing back. How could I take care of my family’s business, when in my heart I was still too terrified to face what I’d run from?

  When I finally went to sleep, I spent the entire night tossing and turning. My mind wrapped around Oliver, Jayme, the Inn and everything else I had loaded onto my plate. The demons of my past whirled through my dream, holding me hostage; drowning me, pulling me into the chaos I thought I had successfully escaped seven years prior.

  * * * *

  “You look great, Danielle!” Bailey said, as I entered Hamilton Inn at precisely nine a.m. the next morning.

  She wore a navy blue suit with an ocean blue long sleeved shirt underneath—I really needed to ask her

  if her clothes came with built in air conditioners. It wouldn’t have been such a bad combination if the

  outfit showed off her body; instead it hung loose hiding the figure she seemed to want to ignore. Then I

  looked down at my outfit, which I put way more time into than was necessary. After going through

  about a dozen different choices I ended up with a black pencil skirt that stopped just above the knees,