Waiting for Us

by Stanton, Dawn

  The doors open and we step into the otherwise empty elevator. Cory pushes the button that will take us directly to the garage and waits till the doors close before placing his briefcase on the ground. He turns to face me and the next thing I know his body is pressing me against the side wall of the elevator. He grabs my hands with one of his and holds them both above my head, quickly leaning in for a kiss. I turn my head forcing his lips to land on my cheek. He doesn't seem bothered by me shunning him as he continues placing slow, soft kisses down my neck and to my collarbone.

  "Cory, you need to stop." I manage to gasp out as his lips send tingles throughout my body and directly to my core.

  "Relax Hailey, I just want a little taste." His deep voice whispers in my ear, sending shivers down my spine as he licks the spot where my neck and shoulder meet. He is the devil incarnate and I can't let myself fall for his bullshit.

  "Cory," I say putting more force behind it.

  He raises his head, looking at me.

  "Let me go. I don't want to do this with you." He releases my hands and steps back from me.

  "I'm sorry Hailey," he shakes his head from side to side and looks lost in thought. He rakes his hand through his hair making the front stand up and look sexily tousled.

  "I shouldn't have done that. It won't happen again." Although he seems sincere, I can’t help doubting him.

  The elevator doors open after a few seconds of silence and I quickly make my escape. I need to keep my distance from him and this powerful attraction between us somehow needs to be extinguished.

  Chapter Eighteen

  June 2015 - Marcus

  Hailey sent me a message earlier that she was staying at work and would be late. She didn't mention Cory, but he's with her, I’d bet the bank on it. I was in the middle of work myself, when the text came in, so I just sent a quick reply. I try not to use my phone when I'm on the clock and when you are trimming someone's rose bushes it's kind of difficult to text. I've been working for a buddy of mine doing landscaping for the past month, since school let out. I'm hoping to make enough money that I won't have to work in the fall and I can concentrate on my second year of graduate school and my internship with a top notch architectural firm, here in Boston.

  I've always been interested in architecture. It may stem from the fact that my dad is an architect and shared his love of old buildings with me as a child. Before he and my mom divorced, that is. These days he lives in California, where he moved to join his college buddy's firm as a partner. They're located in Los Angeles so they get many A-list actors and actresses as clients. Dad's done really well for himself. He loves to ask me when I'm moving to Cali and joining their firm. I typically just laugh because I have no interest in living on the west coast, especially having spent four years of college there. I'm an east coast boy through and through. I do usually make it out there for a visit each year though and we always have a great time while I'm there. The last couple of visits, Hailey has come with me. My dad and his wife Mary adore Hailey, but then again, most people do.

  I glance at my watch and notice it's coming up to ten o'clock and she's still not here. I haven't received any messages from her either which is unusual. Even at her busiest she always takes the time to say a quick hello. I can't help but let my imagination run wild as I picture them in a passionate embrace. I'm making myself nauseous with these crazy thoughts so I grab a beer from the fridge and lay down on our couch to watch some ESPN.

  I must have dozed off for a few minutes because I'm woken by the sound of the front door closing. I can hear keys being placed on the table in the foyer and the sound of shoes hitting the floor as Hailey removes them. I smile to myself at how much of a creature of habit she is and how well I know her after all these years.

  The instant I see her face as she walks into the living room, I know something's wrong. I decide not to ask her and see if she will open up on her own.

  "Hey baby girl, how was your day?" I ask, as I sit up, making room for her to sit next to me. She sits at the other end of the couch, dropping her head back on the cushion behind her and groans. "My day was long and busy. All I want is to go to bed but I'm too exhausted to move right now."

  "I saved you some dinner. Do you want me to heat it up for you?"

  "No thanks. We had Chinese food while we worked. I don't think I could eat another bite." I grimace at her mention of "we."

  I know exactly who she is referring to, but I don't let on that I know.

  "Who did you have to help tonight?" I ask innocently.

  "Cory." She says, just his name and nothing else. I'm quiet at her reply, still waiting for her to offer some sort of explanation. Now I know in my gut that something happened between them, tonight. I've got good instincts and I trust them and they are telling me to leave it alone for now. I need to give her an opportunity to tell me on her own. It will mean more if she comes to me with it than if I force her to talk about it.

  “Do you want to watch a movie with me?” I ask.

  “No thanks,” she yawns. “I’m going to bed, I’m beat,” She says as she gets up, leans over to kiss me briefly on the lips before she heads into her bedroom. She closes her door and I take that as a sign that she doesn’t want company tonight. We both have our own rooms, but we spend most nights together, sharing one of our beds. Some nights she likes her space and I don't push it. Tonight seems to be one of those nights and I really dislike that Cory is the reason for it.

  I’ve been in love with Hailey Morse since I was thirteen years old. My feelings for her have never wavered or changed. She owns my first kiss, my first time making love and my first heartbreak. They all belong to her just like my heart forever does. It’s been hers for a long time, but what really sealed my fate with Hailey’s was when we made love for the first time. It was perfection and even though I’d dated a few girls during my college years and been intimate with them, I’d never found what she and I shared with anyone else. There’s a feeling I get when I’m buried deep inside her, it’s all encompassing and it goes way beyond sexual pleasure. It’s as if my whole body is engulfed with love for her and it washes over me like a wave of flames. It leaves me flushed and fulfilled and yet I am always craving more from her. I’m never fully sated no matter how many times I take her. In the year that we’ve been involved my desire for her hasn’t waned at all. If anything the more I have Hailey, the more I need her. Sometimes I fear my dependency on her. I try to play it cool because she is skittish and I don’t want to scare her off by revealing the depth of my feelings, but I think she knows. How could she not, when I pour my soul into every passionate exchange we have?

  Chapter Nineteen

  June 2015 - Cory

  I think I fucked up big time with Hailey last night. I couldn’t help myself. I had to get closer to her and the elevator ride seemed like the perfect opportunity. I didn’t even mind that she shut me down when I tried to kiss her. She’s strong willed and right now she thinks she doesn’t want me and I have to show her that she does. Hailey is filled with passion for all aspects of her life. It practically oozes out of her and she gives everything she does her full attention and effort. I want to have that single-mindedness directed at me. I want to be her focus and the one she directs her passionate nature towards.

  Last night when I was lying in my bed, unsuccessfully trying to fall asleep, I started thinking about when I started having romantic feelings towards Hailey. I couldn’t really figure out at what point things changed for me. Maybe it was the time she almost drowned and I saved her? I remember my stomach feeling all woozy as I waited for her to open her beautiful eyes and when she did, I’d never felt so grateful for anything in my entire life.

  It may have been the time at her sixteenth birthday when I saw how beautiful she looked and I couldn’t keep myself from pressing my mouth against hers. I was careful not to take it too far and I kept it as innocent as possible but nothing was innocent about the way my body reacted to her petal soft lips. I had to take a cold shower th
at night to get my hard on to go away.

  Even though I’m not sure where my feelings for her changed, I do know that the moment I realized I would never stop having feelings for her was the first time I sank inside of her tight little pussy. I’d never felt anything like it and I haven’t in the years since. She has ruined me for all other women and I crave her like a drug addict craves his next fix. I have to have her again and this time I’m not going to screw it up. I’m not involved with anyone; hell I haven’t even had sex in the past six months. I must be getting old because no one is sparking any interest, no one except Hailey.

  Chapter Twenty

  June 2015 - Hailey

  Cory making a move on me in the elevator last night really fucked with my head. What is his motive for trying to kiss me? Does he think I’ll be an easy lay because he’s already been there and done that? I don’t know what to think about the whole situation and I don’t want to think about it at all. I want to be asleep, instead of lying here thinking about him at five in the morning.

  I should have told Marcus what happened, but I didn’t and now I’m feeling a little guilty about it. Now when I do share it with him, he will wonder why I didn’t say something when I first came home. He probably already has an idea that something happened. After all, he knows me better than anyone else does. I know we’re not in a “relationship” but we are exclusive and we agreed to stay that way until one of us changes our minds or finds someone else they want to sleep with. I love Marcus and I don’t want anyone else. I don’t tell him the extent of my feelings for him because they scare me. I don’t want to need him or anyone else. After what happened with Erik and then with Cory I made the decision to hold some of my heart back. I never want to give someone that much power over me again. I can’t let myself be vulnerable. It’s too devastating when it all goes south.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  June 2015 - Cory

  Hailey has been working at the firm for a couple of weeks now. We've settled into a nice rhythm together. I've been on my best behavior since the elevator incident and she's actually been pleasant to me. Maybe I'm wearing her down and she's letting go of some of the hate she harbors for me.

  I started to panic a little today when I realized she will only be here for another eight weeks. I need to have a plan to win her over and I have to stick to it because I'm on borrowed time as it is. Once her internship is over and she starts school again, I don't know when I'll see her. It's imperative that I carefully formulate my strategy to win her heart.

  Tonight is the third Thursday of the month, which means that most of the firm goes out together for happy hour. We meet at Charlie's Bar and Grille, which is about a block away from work. This could be a great opportunity for me to spend time with Hailey outside of the office. I want her to get to know me again. She cut me out of her life completely for the past five years so she doesn't really know who I am aside from my work persona. I've grown up a lot in the last few years and I hope that she’ll notice. I need to show her that I've matured and that I'm someone she wants to be involved with.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  June 2015 - Hailey

  Cory is sitting, reading over a contract when I walk in and sit down in front of his desk.

  "I delivered those briefs to my dad and he said he’ll be in touch soon to discuss them."

  He looks up at me and smiles before replying.

  "Thank you. It's a big help to me that you took care of that."

  "Isn't that why I'm here? To do all the menial tasks that you don't want to?" I jokingly ask. He laughs at my humor and puts his pen down on top of the paperwork on his desk. He leans back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest, stretching his shirtsleeves taut against his muscular biceps. My eyes are immediately drawn to them and it results in a flashback of those same arms holding me up against the lifeguard shack as he slammed into me repeatedly. I lower my eyes to look at my fingernails and try to think of something else...anything else would be better than remembering. I’ve worked so hard to forget about that night and to move on from it. I won’t let myself waste another second on it. When I look up at him once again, he’s staring at me with a pensive look on his face and a slight smile on his chiseled lips.

  “What do you need me to do next?” I abruptly ask. He’s probably wondering why my mood has suddenly done a complete one-eighty, but I don’t really care. I need to get busy and take my mind off of him.

  “I need you to make some calls for me and schedule some clients. Here’s the list of names and numbers. If you have any questions about my availability, just go into my calendar and double check prior to booking. I’d prefer not to have to reschedule any appointments, if possible.” I nod my head in agreement and take the papers from his outstretched hand.

  “Are you going to happy hour tonight?” Cory enquires.

  “Yeah, Sean mentioned it earlier today. It sounds like fun and there are quite a few staff I still have to meet. Are you going?” I can’t help but ask.

  “I am.” He nods once, looking intently at me.

  “I’m going to take care of this and then I’m going to head over to Charlie’s,” I tell him as I walk away from his desk and towards the door. I can feel his stare burning into my back and it makes my movements feel uncoordinated and ungainly. I'm just about to pass through the doorway when he calls me back. I stop and look over my shoulder at him.

  “Hailey, save me a seat, will you?” He winks before picking up his phone to make a call.

  “Oookay,” I shrug and make my escape. Save him a seat? Seriously? No thanks asshole.

  ***

  I’m sitting at Charlie’s next to Sean having a great time, laughing at something he said when Cory walks in. It’s like a pall falls over the entire bar and I shiver from the chill that washes over me. Just knowing he is now here makes my stomach feels slightly unsettled. Sean notices the change in my expression and looks around to see what could be causing it. He catches sight of Cory and squeezes my thigh reassuringly.

  “You don’t want any part of that Hailey, trust me.” Sean quietly tells me.

  “I know Sean. You don’t need to worry about me, but I appreciate that you do.” I say with a smile and I squeeze his hand that is still resting on my leg.

  Sean and I have been to lunch numerous times over the past couple of weeks and he and I have developed a much-appreciated friendship. As gorgeous as I think he is, there’s no real attraction between us. We do, however, share a similar sense of humor and due to our mutual love of sarcasm, we agreed that we needed to be great friends. Our hanging out together has been a point of contention between Cory and I. He thinks Sean has some nefarious plan to take advantage of me, which is laughable considering the source. Little does he know I have a grand plan to hook Sean and Shelby up at some point. I think they would be perfect for each other. Of course, I haven’t mentioned this to either of them yet and I probably won’t. I will just make it happen and watch the fireworks between them explode.

  Cory confidently moves towards us, through the maze of chairs and people in his way without taking his eyes off me. There’s something predatory about the way he’s looking at me that makes my thighs clench with desire, yet also makes me want to run screaming from the table. He sits in the empty chair next to me before leaning over and whispering in my ear.

  “Thanks for saving me a seat. I like it when you follow my instructions.” I just nod my head and I don’t engage him at all. I didn’t save the seat for him. I was praying that someone would take it before he got here, but no such luck. He’s sitting with his legs spread so his thigh is pressed close to mine. I try to shift my chair to the right but Sean is there so I can’t. I cross my leg over the other and angle my body towards Sean, hoping Cory will get the picture that I don’t want to talk to him. Instead, he rests his arm along the back of my chair and begins to play with the ends of my ponytail. I freeze up and hold completely still hoping if I don’t move that maybe he won’t continue to touch me. It doesn
’t work, he keeps rubbing the ends of my hair between his thumb and fingers. I don’t want to call attention to what he’s doing and I really don’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’s affecting me, so I ignore it and I flag the waitress down. If I’m going to have to deal with Cory Marshall for any length of time, I need alcohol and lots of it.

  ***

  Two hours, four tequila shots, and three margaritas later I’m practically sitting in his lap. Somehow my plan didn’t play out quite like I imagined it. He’s got his hand resting on the skin of my lower back under my shirt and just that simple touch has my thong soaked. God, I hate the effect he has on me. One touch from him and all my morals and intelligence fly out the window, along with my clothes. Fuck! I need to call a cab and get out of here. I should have taken Sean up on his offer for a lift home, an hour ago when he left but Cory was touching me and I couldn’t think straight. Ugh, I make myself sick. I’m pathetic and weak.

  I stand up from the table so suddenly that I rock back and forth on my feet before getting control of my balance. Cory rises too and smiles at me. He grabs on to my arm to help hold me still.

  “You alright there, babe?” I giggle before replying.

  “Yeah, these heels are a bitch to balance in.” He smirks at me and he looks so sexy. I want to rip his clothes off and screw him on the table. I close my eyes and slap my forehead with the palm of my hand a few times to either knock some sense into myself or to stop the dirty thoughts I’m having about Cory.