by Sky Winters
“Cherry pie?” Gordon offered, leaning across the table until she could feel the heat roiling off him.
“No thanks,” Corinne said, voice throaty from desire. “That’s not what I’m hungry for right now.”
Did she say that out loud?
She could swear she heard a low growl emanating from somewhere deep in his chest. His green eyes were smoldering, but also not quite clear – probably from all the beer and Corinne was feeling pretty uninhibited, too.
“You can’t drive like that,” she said when he laid some money down on the table for Loretta.
“My place is right across the street,” he said, offering a hand again when it was time to rise from the booth. “But don’t feel pressured. I can call you a cab and I’ll be happy to pay.”
“I’d love to see your place,” Corinne said, ignoring his chivalry. This was one princess who didn’t want to be saved from the dragon.
They grinned silently at each other as he slung an arm around her shoulder and walked her across the way. She at once felt both comfortable and familiar as she drunk in his spicy scent. He led her across the way to one of the red brick buildings she found so charming and helped her navigate the steps up to the door.
“You live in a duplex?” Corinne asked as the world spun around her. But as long as Gordon kept one arm securely around her as he fished for his key, she wasn’t worried.
“Yes. Well, the other unit is vacant. The other owners and I have been talking about maybe going in together to rent it and turn it into kind of a clubhouse for the kids around here. A lot of them are out on the streets with nowhere to go during the day.”
The door clicked open and Gordon helped her inside and to an overstuffed sofa. Comfy.
“Can I get you something? A beer?” Gordon asked, rubbing his palms on his jeans. He looked as nervous as Corinne felt. When Corinne got anxious though, she had a habit of saying things she’d later regret.
“I’m good on beer,” Corinne said, leaning back into the cushions. “Why don’t you come over here and show me how hot your dragon breath is.”
Like that.
Gordon sat beside her, making the couch sink in a bit. “Look, I don’t want you to do anything you aren’t ready—”
Corinne threw her arms around his neck and pressed her mouth over his. It was hot. Hell, everything about him was hot, she decided, as she yanked his shirt free of his pants and slid her hands up over the smooth, taut skin of his back, enjoying the heat and the feel of his rippling muscles.
To her delight, he kissed her back with abandon, sucking on her bottom lip and drawing his teeth back lightly over it, which sent shivers down to the bottom of her belly. His mouth moved down over the curve of her chin to her bare neck where he sucked at the tender skin, also lightly teasing it with his teeth as his hand slid up her side, cupping her breast through the halter and running his thumb over the bare top poking out of her low neckline. Her skin seared from the contact, prickles of desire awakening beneath his touch.
Corinne closed her eyes and laid back on the cloud-like cushions as Gordon pulled her shoes off and began working his way up her body with his mouth – starting with her toes. By the time he reached her inner thighs, she was dripping with desire and her hips arched in the air, legs opening to welcome him.
Slowly, he drew the bottom of her dress up toward her waist, lightly rubbing her skin with his thumbs until she moaned with delicious frustration. He chuckled softly as he tugged the thin strap of material that made up her thong to the side, revealing her swollen sex, waiting for him.
His tongue flicked against her clit, and she sucked in air like she was drowning. Whatever he was doing, it wasn’t anything she’d felt before, and it was amazing.
“What is that?” she gasped as he seemed to taste multiple parts of her at once.
“Forked tongue,” he said, rising up from between her knees.
“Oh lord,” she said, falling back into the cushions again.
Gordon stood and dropped his pants, revealing a cock about two inches longer and at least an inch thicker than Marcus’ pathetic junk. She could almost feel the heat roll off it as he positioned himself between her legs.
Now naked, he leaned down over her, body against body, hot and sweaty and hard as he tugged her breasts loose from their prison. She could actually see his long forked tongue this time as he controlled the tips of it individually to surround her hard nipple and tug.
But he didn’t enter her. What was he waiting for?
“Fuck me,” she cried when she couldn’t take it anymore. “For the love of God, please fuck me.”
Gordon grinned his gorgeous grin above her as he found her entrance, wet and hot and so ready. Bursts of pleasure exploded within her as he worked himself inside, farther than she thought possible.
“Is it okay?” he panted, fully inside.
“Yesssss,” she hissed, hips in the air.
Slowly he drew out almost all the way and then faster this time, plunged back inside, making her moan with pleasure. Encouraged, or maybe unable to hold back anymore, Gordon pumped his cock deep inside of her in a hard, fast rhythm as she adjusted the angle of her hips so that he struck gold with each thrust.
Corinne lost track of where she began and he ended. They were a single, perfect organism, in sync with the universe. Wave after wave of intense pleasure flowed through her until a final rush of ultimate bliss tore through them and he collapsed to her side, breathing heavy.
Corinne was a melted lump of jelly. Just lifting her leg a little sent shivers through her body. “Wow,” was all she could say.
“Was it okay?” Gordon asked, brushing some of her hair from her face.
“Okay?” she repeated, blinking. “No.”
His face fell.
“I would never describe what just happened as ‘okay’. Maybe earth shattering. But not okay.”
Gordon’s beautiful grin returned. “You’re good for my ego.”
“You’re good for my everything,” Corinne countered.
“Make yourself comfortable,” Gordon said, carefully navigating over her and up off the couch. “I’m going to go get us some water and draw a nice bath for you. Or maybe us, if you feel like more company.”
Corinne’s heart skittered, wondering if he’d make the water boil with his body heat. “Thanks, sounds good.”
She watched him go and slowly stood, still dizzy, but completely relaxed in every way. She worked her way out of her dress, which was now mostly around her waist and kicked off her panties.
She heard the rush of water through the pipes and smiled, about to go join in, when her purse, discarded on the ground, began to buzz.
Corinne hesitated, but finally snatched it up to check it out. It was Marcus. Apparently, his parking lot hook up was over.
WTF CORINNE?
All caps. He was yelling.
DIVORCE? And you couldn’t even clean up your fucking mess?
My mess? Corinne fumed as she punched the glass of her phone with her fingers.
Yes. Divorce. And you can clean your own goddamn mess from now on. Or ask Little Red Riding Hood to do it for you. She’d probably think it was adorable. At least for about five minutes till she meets the real you.
Corinne pressed send and held her breath for a second. She was extra dizzy, heart pounding, but she was also invigorated. She waited for two full minutes for a response and then…
You are fucking nuts. I’m not cheating.
Corinne laughed out loud.
She opened the Shifter app and took a screen shot of his page. Then she sent it along with another message.
Don’t bother denying. I saw you in the parking lot tonight at the Tiki Bar. Sign the papers.
She could almost hear him howl miles away.
Where are you? We can’t afford a hotel.
With a friend.
Bullshit.
Corinne couldn’t resist. She took a picture of the messed-up couch, along with both of their clot
hes – clearly both hers and a guy’s – messed up on the floor and sent it.
You’re right. More than a friend now.
Corinne powered her phone off and tossed it on the sofa before letting the sound of the bath guide her toward Gordon, who stood waiting with a glass of water, nude and glistening with the heat of their encounter.
The tub was oversized, and he’d set tea lights along the edge so that they flickered in the dark bathroom. A few rose petals floated on the surface of the now-filled tub and she smiled.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Best I could do on short notice. I didn’t exactly anticipate this. But I can’t tell you how happy I am it happened.”
Corinne pushed the picture of Marcus out of her head and slipped into the warm water, beckoning him in with her.
She’d planned on pleasuring him, the way Marcus always wanted, but instead he guided her forward so he could sit behind her, pulling her back against him, and working out the strain in her shoulders she didn’t even realize existed until that moment.
After a bit, she tried to turn around, but he held her firmly by the shoulders and buried his face in the soft spot between her shoulder and neck, his lips sending now familiar tingles up and down her body. She rolled her head back against his hard chest and moaned softly as his mouth worked up and over her ear.
“You make me crazy with desire with those sounds you make.” His hot breath covered the side of her face as his hands reached around, cupping her breasts from behind and running his fingers over her nipples.
“You’re not the only one,” she said as one of his hands slipped down her stomach between her legs.
“I want to make you come like this,” he breathed again as he slid a finger inside of her and massaged her clit with his thumb at the same time.
“What about you?” she asked, already building toward climax.
“This turns me on like you wouldn’t believe,” he said, sliding a second finger inside and pushing farther in as he tugged at her nipple, rolling it between his fingers.
Corinne’s breath sped up as he pleasured her, guiding her over him backwards and seated just as she was about to peak, his enormous cock sending her immediately over the edge as she cried out in ecstasy.
“I’m not done with you yet,” he said over her ear again as he held her hips firmly with his hands and thrust up inside of her, making the water slosh up and over the sides of the tub, extinguishing all but one of the tiny candles.
Corinne had never experienced multiple orgasms before. It was incredible how one explosion of pleasure after another coursed through her, radiating out over her entire body as she bounced on his lap.
When he finally finished, she was glad – not because she was uncomfortable – but because she was sure she had to be close to passing out from the intense rapture that coursed through her again and again.
“How was that?” he asked, helping her from the tub.
“I’m speechless,” she said. “You have a magical cock.”
Gordon laughed, catching her as she slipped a little on the spilled water on the tile. He scooped her into his arms and carried her to his bedroom, laying her gently on the queen-sized bed.
“I don’t know if I can take another one right now,” she admitted, slightly embarrassed.
“Good. Because I need to recuperate, too. Get some rest and we can pick up again in the morning, if you want. I make a mean omelet.”
Corinne was too tired to mention that they’d already had omelets that night. Instead she drifted off with a huge smile on her face as he tucked a warm blanket around her.
Screw Marcus. She’d just had the fuck of her life.
Chapter 4
The morning sun streamed through the window across from the bed and Corinne groaned. She hadn’t even opened her eyes yet and her head was pounding. Maybe with any luck Marcus had grabbed breakfast on the way in to work and she wouldn’t have to…
The smell of fresh coffee forced her eyes open and she gasped, sitting up a little too fast. The events of the night before came rushing in like a tidal wave and she threw a hand over her mouth to prevent the inevitable as she rushed for the little bathroom to her right.
But heaving until she was empty didn’t make her feel any better as she realized she was completely naked. Marcus cheating was one thing. He was a grade-A asshat. But she should have had more self-control. How many times had they done it last night? It was a bit of a blur, but the image of Gordon’s smooth dark skin, shimmering with sweat, made her squirm even sick in the bathroom.
That only made her feel worse. Gordon was a nice guy. A firefighter. A hero. Hell, hadn’t he said something about helping the neighborhood kids? Well, at least he’d had a good time. She hoped.
She splashed some water on her face and rinsed her mouth out before snagging Gordon’s enormous bathrobe from a hook on the back of the door. It felt like a warm hug, all soft and full of Gordon’s spicy scent.
She instantly felt better as she made her way to the main living area. It wasn’t going to get easier to confront him. But the coffee did smell good…
To her immense relief, when she stepped out of the bedroom, he was nowhere to be found. But on the small kitchen table was a note propped up in front of a plate, covered in aluminum foil.
Gingerly, she picked it up.
I wanted to be here to greet you, but you were sound asleep and I didn’t want to wake you. I made breakfast as promised. I’m so sorry I had to go, but I got called in for a fire on the west side. I had an amazing time last night and hope you did, too. Help yourself to coffee and whatever else you’d like. If you need a ride, go ahead and use my app. I have money on there. I left my tablet on the counter for you.
Gordon
The words began to blur in front of her and she realized she was crying. This stranger had shown her more kindness than her husband had in five years.
That’s when she remembered turning off her phone after drunk texting him.
Shit.
Corinne snatched her phone and clothes off the couch, where they’d been laid out so as not to wrinkle. She wiped at her eyes and pulled on her clothes, carefully replacing the robe in the bathroom.
Helping herself to coffee from the pot on the counter, Corinne shook as she powered on the cell.
Ten messages. All from Marcus.
Most of them were a string of swear words. Apparently, he also liked to play the let’s-see-how-many-bad-words-I-can-use-to-describe-my-spouse game. There was even a dick pic. Who knew how many diseases he’d picked up? Corinne may have dodged a bullet with him not sleeping with her for so long.
Then again, what did she really know about this Gordon guy?
A one-night stand. She’d never in her life done that before.
The last text from Marcus was recent and she almost didn’t open the pics attached. When she did click on them though, she saw the divorce papers she’d printed out with his signature scrawled across them.
He’d done it.
Just like that. It was over. Five years ended.
Corinne set the phone down and sat at the table. She peeled the foil back off the plate Gordon had left her. It was a perfect omelet with hash browns on the side. She glanced at the sink. No dirty dishes. He’d even cleaned up after himself.
She picked up the fork and snagged a bite.
It was delicious and suddenly she was famished. She must have expended quite a few calories the night before.
Corinne cleaned the plate and washed up after herself after having one more cup of coffee for the road.
But before she left the little duplex, she turned Gordon’s note over and wrote him one on the back.
Gordon,
Thank you for the night of my life. Yes, it was fun for me, too. Take care.
Corinne
She fished in her purse for her red lipstick, smoothed it on and pressed her lips to the paper, leaving a kiss behind.
Corinne slipped out the door and felt like a str
ange layer of protection had been peeled off. Drawing a deep breath, she held her head as high as she could and strode down the street, high heels and slutty dress at ten in the morning, trying to ignore the looks she got from passersby – ogling from the guys and daggers from the ladies.
It didn’t matter. She knew she wore her situation for the world to see. Maybe it was better this way. That’s what she got for losing all sense of morals.
It was a long march back to the club for her car, and only when she opened the door to the apartment did she suddenly consider what would happen when she saw Marcus in person. But once again, no one was there. The table still lay on its side, nothing touched since she’d discovered Marcus’ phone and stopped cleaning.
It already seemed ages ago.
With a deep sigh, Corinne set to packing her meager belongings. She could’ve kicked him out, and she didn’t know if it was her shame at the night of abandon she’d had or the feeling of nausea whenever she thought about staying in a place with so many memories, but she wanted a fresh start.
Time to fill in her friend, Eileen. She’d have to crash at her place until she found a job and an apartment. Maybe she should’ve thought through the divorce thing a bit longer or hired a lawyer. Then he’d owe her money. Maybe that’s why he signed them so fast.
Dickface.
Corinne laid her mother’s candlesticks gently on the top of the clothing in her suitcase and zipped it up. It had been slow going with Eileen texting her the entire time, but she felt better explaining everything to a friend. Besides, if anyone understood, it was Eileen. She’d had her share of shifter relationships, too. Even a vampire once, though she didn’t like to talk about it much.
Corinne tugged on her favorite skinny jeans – a little tighter than she remembered. Salt in the wound. All she needed was to gain a ton of weight and have Marcus thank his lucky stars for dodging a bullet when he saw her again.
Gordon hadn’t seemed to notice or care the night before though. The way he’d treated her, she felt like she had the body of a goddess.
Lugging her large suitcase out on the curb, she heard a honk. Eileen’s pickup was pulled up to the curb, music blaring out of the rolled-down windows. Her friend’s smiling face leaned out the side.
