My heart ached, and looking down at my glass, I no longer wanted anything to do with it. I placed it on the counter and grabbed the tray of cheese and her soda. Setting them on the coffee table, I debated my seating options. Too close would make her even more uneasy, and too far would make me yearn for her. I chose the middle, making sure to give her enough space where she felt comfortable.
I knew for the time being her past would be off limits. I'd have to ease my way back into that like I had done earlier. Sticking with our memories seemed to lighten her mood too. "The first time we brought a blanket to the ballpark late at night to watch the stars, I was so nervous I think I dropped the blanket fifteen times. Do you remember that night?"
Cory's mouth curved into a smile, her coffee-colored eyes sparkled, and I knew I got through. She even leaned forward as she chuckled. She grabbed her soda bottle. "You waited until the last night of that summer. I was so mad at you for that."
"Well, if you were going to shoot me down, I didn't want to have to face you again."
Cory rolled her eyes and took a small sip of Orange Crush. Her eyebrows pulled in as she shook her head. "Why'd you wait so long? We'd already had our first kiss."
I shrugged. "Well, after that huge kiss, how was I supposed to top that? What if I sucked at it the second time around?"
She shook her head and then frowned as if she remembered something else. Then I realized what it was and my heart sank for her. My next visit was for her dad's funeral.
Cory cleared her throat. Her eyes glistened but she shook away the tears that threatened. "So, do you still want to build skyscrapers?" She said the word as if I had wanted to be Superman.
I chuckled. "Not really. We actually just started building one now, though it's not exactly a skyscraper." I shrugged. "Building a new construction isn't what I thought it would be." Thinking about our current project that Cal was working on, I realized I hated it. "I actually prefer to rehab old buildings. It's what we started out doing, but then Jay and Dad pushed for this project. I love taking old structures and trying to figure out how to fortify them and bring them back to life. It's what we started out doing." Then Dad had wanted to change the vision of the company, since he had all three of his boys to order around.
"You still don't get along with your dad very well, do you?" I noticed that talking about my problems seemed to relax Cory a little. She placed her elbow on the top of the couch, resting her head in her hand.
Crossing my ankle over my knee, I started picking at the hem of my jeans. Seemed like the tables had flipped and I was the uncomfortable one now. "Yeah, it's actually worse than what you probably remember. He's still ordering us around, but even more now that we work at the company together."
"What about working with your brothers? Is Jay still such a slacker?"
"Actually, Dad made him CEO of the joint." I laughed as Cory's eyes widened. Her hand fell and hit the couch as she shook her head. Jay had always been the kid that got in trouble. Lots of it. Because of that, he always had all of Dad's attention. Cory knew I had always been jealous of the attention he got. My straight A's never brought me any attention. All I ever heard was how Jay did this or Jay did that, and why couldn't I talk my brother into being a good kid. Cal used to get the same talks. We talked about it a lot.
"How is that possible?"
I shrugged. "Well, after college, he started taking an interest in the operations of the company. I guess that got Dad all excited, and he went ahead and took him under his wing. He pressured both Cal and me to join him."
"Pressured you?" Cory knew me too well.
"Okay, so it wasn't really pressure but that need to get his attention." I shrugged.
"How's it going now?"
I let out a strangled laugh. "It sucks. I've been trying to figure out a way to get out of working with them. Jay turned into an asshole."
"Well, being the big boss I can't imagine how that would work. He's gotta tell you what to do."
"Yeah. Where were you when I was thinking it was a good idea?" I meant it as a joke, but as soon as she frowned, I felt bad. "I just meant…"
"I know what you meant." Her voice was soft and understanding. She ran her palm under the bottom of the bottle and stared at it before placing it on the coffee table. "I always thought you'd go to New York City and work for the most elaborate architecture company and win awards. Now look at you," Cory said as her eyes scanned my living room. "All grown up and successful."
Laughing, I said, “You make it seem like I’m some oil tycoon.” My smile faltered as I swallowed and my eyes met her sparkling ones. “I’m really the same guy you used to know.” My voice was low, needing her to understand I was still the guy she was meant to be with.
Her eyes darted to my lips and she ran her tongue along hers. "You're nothing like the boy I used to know." She quirked up her brow as her voice lowered with a hint of tease to it. Then she leaned in toward me.
I inhaled and all blood rushed to the parts of me that she had never gotten to see. Cory had the power over me like she did way back when we were younger. She held all the cards, and my heart was a puddle in her hands.
"My Alex was shy and barely able to make a move on me,” she whispered. “I had to make the first move." The timid girl that came out of the bathroom was gone completely, and in her place was the Cory I had known so well. Confident, fun, and sassy.
My heart flipped a couple of times, and my stomach filled with that same excitement I used to get before I'd see her. "Is that what you're doing, Cory? Are you making the first move?" I teased her as I leaned in, our lips mere moments from touching.
Cory nodded and closed the distance. Her lips touched mine and the warmth spread through me like wildfire. Tasting her now was nothing like when we had kissed earlier in the breakroom. Where before I had wanted to take away her pain, now I wanted her to be with me. For both of us to have what we weren't able to before.
I pulled her onto my lap and she spread her legs on either side of me, pressing herself against me. My hands shifted to her hips, unable to control the animal desire that was growing inside of me. I'd waited so long to have Cory, dreamt of being inside her too many times, envisioned her moans, and every woman I was with, I'd fantasized it was Cory. Now I had her and I was going to savor every single moment.
My tongue explored the warmth of hers. Every second that passed, seemed to build our desire to increase our pace. I didn't want that—another time maybe. For now, I wanted it to be drawn out. As much as I had to be inside Cory, I battled to take it slow.
The feel of her soft hands as she placed them on each side of my head was enough to drive me insane, but nothing compared to the grinding her hips did as she pressed harder into me.
"I need you, Alex," she whispered in between our hurried kisses. "I've always wanted you."
My lips grazed her chin as I gave her soft kisses and picked her up. Her legs encircled my waist and I loved how she felt wrapped around me.
Cory kissed me roughly, as if she couldn't get enough of me and wanted to rush it. That wasn't going to happen. She remembered a boy but was about to get a man—one that would cherish her, making sure she was thoroughly pleasured. With her hands thrusting through my hair, her core grinding right against my hard cock, and the way she kissed me as if we'd never see each other again, it was going to take every ounce within me to savor this.
Standing on the side of my bed, begrudgingly I unwrapped her legs from around my waist. When she stopped kissing me, her hands dropped and her shoulders sagged. The rejection was clear from her expression, and I didn’t intend to make her feel that way.
The corner of my mouth turned up as I reached for the hem of her sweatshirt. "I've fantasized about this moment for what seems like forever. I want to taste every inch of you." I carefully pulled it over her head and tossed it to the side. My thumb ran along her full bottom lip before feathering along her jawline. She shuddered and I hoped it was the first of so many more times to come. Her eyelids fl
uttered closed as I continued my exploration.
The backs of my fingers skimmed along her shoulders down to her hands, and she whimpered when my thumbs touched her abdomen.
I knelt before her, and her hands immediately went to my shoulders as if she needed to hold on or she'd buckle. It was exactly how I'd always pictured it. Except in my mind, we had been much younger. I’d waited so long to be inside of her.
I ran my fingers along the waistband of her leggings and slowly removed them as I went down to my knees. Cory stood before me in only her bra and panties, and my eyes roamed over her body until I reached her eyes. Her lips were pressed together and the way her chest lifted, anxiously awaiting my next move, I knew I'd remember that moment forever.
Eye level with her core, I pressed my mouth against her clit. Through the fabric of her panties I tasted how wet she was. She moaned, digging her nails into my shoulders. The more pressure she put on my shoulders, the more I swirled my tongue against her mound.
My fingers teased the lace of her panties before finally dragging them down, skimming my fingers along her sensitive skin.
"Ohh," she moaned, and I smiled as I pulled back just for a moment to see the pleasure on her face. The way she panted, the neediness in her moan, and the way her fingers begged me to continue almost made me want to torture her a little more.
Gazing at the sight before me, I leaned forward and ran my tongue along her, tasting her sweetness before pressing the flat of my tongue against her core. The buildup for her was too much, and I barely had time to enjoy her moans before her whole body shook as she came.
Her knees were already buckling, so I gently eased her onto the bed. She flopped back for a moment with a sigh before propping herself on her elbows to see what I would do next. Parting her legs, I leaned forward and smiled at her as our eyes met. Her mouth parted, anxious for more, and I was damned sure going to give it to her.
Pressing my mouth against her, I swirled my tongue along her seam before thrusting it inside of her. She moaned again and I continued to do the same until her sighs and pants turned into screams of delight. My hands gripped her waist to keep her still as she writhed while I fucked her with my mouth until she came again, crying out my name.
Hearing Cory finally scream out my name while I pleasured her was better than anything I'd ever heard before.
I kissed, sucked, and nipped my way back up to her mouth and then I pressed mine against hers. Her fingers gripped the back of my neck, pulling me tighter to her. Again I pulled back and ran my fingers along her neck, down to the strap of her bra. I dragged it down until it gave slack to the cups of her bra. I pressed a kiss to the cleavage before tugging at the lace to expose her perfect breasts. My tongue encircled her taut bud before taking it into my mouth.
"Oh, God. Alex," she moaned as she thrust her hands through my hair. Her hips raised and pressed against my abs, searching for another release.
Lifting myself off her, I stood and admired her beautiful body. Everything about her was exquisite, and I wanted to be inside her and hear those same moans.
I unbuttoned my jeans as she propped herself up to watch. Pulling them off, I watched her eyes roam over my body and widen when my cock jutted out. She smiled as she sat up and leaned forward. I reached for my nightstand drawer. The moment her hands touched the skin on my shaft, I almost lost it like a teenage boy. Her hands glided up and down as they ran along my cock. I swallowed and thought of everything not related to sex to try to keep from coming.
I grabbed a condom and quickly tore the wrapper as she kissed the crown of my cock. I moaned and realized the tables of power had turned.
There was not a position I hadn't fantasized about trying with Cory. Each one was emblazoned in my thoughts. Yet right then, the only one I really wanted was the most fundamental one of all. The one where two fumbling teenagers would start.
Hooking my hands under her arms, I pulled her farther onto the bed and kissed her tenderly. I sat up and rolled the condom onto my cock, hoping I'd be able to last and not embarrass myself. Cory deserved as much pleasure as she could stand.
With her hands roaming over my torso and mine on the side of hers, I kissed her feverishly, allowing my mouth to let her know how badly I wanted her. How much I’d always needed her.
I hesitated for a moment as all that we'd talked about flashed through my mind. Was it too soon since finally seeing each other again? Was she ready for it after all she'd been through?
"I want you, Alex. I've always wanted just you," she whispered.
My eyes searched hers, making sure she was really sincere. She tilted her head up and smiled at me before pulling me in close and wrapping her legs around me.
The sensation of feeling her core rubbing against me made me throb with need. As I entered her slowly, she bucked her hips, pushing my tip in farther. I began a steady rhythm, savoring every moan, shudder, and sigh Cory made. Finally being inside her was everything I had wished it would be and more.
Taking her harder and faster with every thrust into her made me lose my mind.
“God, Alex. Yes, right…”
With those words, I thrust harder, my shaft hardening as all my blood rushed, causing one huge explosion, and I cried out Cory's name.
We both lay there panting, kissing each other over and over as we started to come down from our high. Cory was addictive, and I was damn sure I would have my fix of her as much as I could.
Cory kissed me hard. “Mm, my Alex is definitely a man,” she teased with a drawn-out Southern accent.
I laughed as I pecked her lips again. “My Cory is most definitely all woman.”
“I guess we've both grown up.” Her eyes looked up at the ceiling. “It was definitely worth the wait.”
I thrust my hips again and her eyes widened as she gasped. She was definitely worth the wait. I couldn't wait to take her all over again. Cory was back in my life, and it was better than I could have ever imagined.
Sixteen
Cory
“What are you doing?” Alex’s arms slipped around my waist and his lips tickled my neck while he peppered me with soft kisses.
“Breakfast. I thought you’d be hungry after that workout last night.” I smiled and turned to kiss him back. “And this morning,” I whispered.
He spun me around, and his hands held me tight by my waist. The firm, determined kiss he place on my lips made me moan. I hated the thought of having to leave him to go back to work; being back with Alex was better than I could have ever imagined.
Not wanting the eggs to burn, I reluctantly turned back to the stove.
“Well, you didn’t need to. We could have gone out for breakfast or I’m sure…” He opened the fridge and began shuffling containers around before continuing. “…that Miriam fixed something for us.”
I almost dropped the spatula. “Miriam?” What was it about Alex that made me cringe when another woman’s name was mentioned or an image of him with someone else popped into my head? I had no right to act like that.
“Yeah, Miriam is great. You’ll love her—although I told her to take the weekend off.” He continued to sort through the fridge. “You’ll meet her after the weekend.”
Not likely, I thought. Heat rose to my cheeks and I pressed my lips together. It hadn’t occurred to me that he was already dating someone, especially since he had been pursuing me before he knew who I really was.
“Granny actually found her,” he said sheepishly as he shrugged his shoulders. “I know that makes me sound like a momma’s boy or something, but after she came to this place and it was a disaster, she found a friend of a friend to be my housekeeper.”
My shoulders gave way and I let out a huge breath. I shook my head, chastising myself for even having those emotions. Alex must have misinterpreted my reaction.
His hand slipped around my stomach. “I know. I sound like some spoiled brat or something, but having someone else clean and cook really makes things so much easier. Especially when I was doing my
internship.”
“No, it makes sense.” I set the eggs onto the plates I’d already put on the counter. Alex placed two pieces of bread into the toaster and pushed down the lever. I knew I had forgotten something.
“Do you still remember everything Granny taught you in the kitchen?”
I smiled at first but then it faltered. “Well, almost. I haven’t baked in so long.” I had worked such long shifts while I lived at Remy’s and well, we basically ate out a lot since we could get our meals for free at most places we went.
“Well, we’ve got a fully stocked kitchen. You can try again, if you’d like. I gave Miriam carte blanche to buy what she’d need to fix my meals, so there’s some pretty cool gadgets in here.” He started opening cabinets, and I laughed looking at all the utensils and equipment he had.
Smiling, I told him, “You really do have some nice stuff.”
His gaze returned to mine. “It’s all yours too now, Cory. Everything here, everything I have, you can use it all.”
Pressing a smile, I nodded as I felt his lips kiss my cheek. The toast popped up and he turned to grab them.
“Ow,” he exclaimed as he quickly dropped a piece onto a plate and I laughed, loving how normal and enjoyable just fixing a simple breakfast was.
After placing the plates on the countertop, I grabbed the silverware from the drawer I had found them in earlier. Alex took out some orange juice and poured it into glasses, setting them by our plates.
It was all so normal; we were being a regular ol’ couple. It made me smile until I remembered Lisa. Was she having breakfast at the shelter or was she back on the streets having to beg for her next meal? As I sat down next to Alex, I stared at my plate for a moment.
Alex knocked into me gently. “Hey, everything okay? Did you forget something?” He started to get up, but I grabbed his forearm.
“This is all seems too normal. It’s nothing like the life I’ve been living.” I shrugged. “I just know something or someone will take it all away from me. It seems that since my dad died, everything in my life has been one huge horrible scene after another. Maybe I wasn’t ever meant to have anything normal.”
Trust Me Forever (Forever Happens Series Book 2) Page 10