by Maree, Kay
“I have to say I have heard about jealous women before and it never did anything for me but seeing you jealous that’s a whole different story,” I wink as her eyes cut to me.
“I’m not jealous,” she spits.
“Uh Huh,” I nod, taking a sip of my orange juice before picking up a piece of toast and taking a bite.
“I’m n--”
“Think very carefully about lying to me, Little Mare. I have no hesitations about clearing this whole bench off, bending you over it and showing you again and again how mine you are. Watching as that sweet ass turns a beautiful shade of pink,” I groan low in the back of my throat just thinking about my handprint on her ass.
Her whole body shudders next to mine as a whimper slips past her lips.
She coughs, trying to cover it up. But I heard it making me laugh.
“Asshole,” she mumbles under her breath.
Making me laugh harder.
“You’ll get used to it,” I fire back, taking another sip of my drink.
A comfortable silence washes over the room as we eat, smiling at each other every once in a while until we have finished.
“I’m so full.” Cora rubs slow circles over her belly.
An image of her round with my baby hits me square in the chest, knocking the air from my lungs.
“Good, I plan to fatten you up.” I chuckle, pushing to my feet, scooping up the empty plates as I go, trying to shake off the irrational thought.
“I was married once,” she says, in a small voice.
“I remember you saying that last night,” I say, keeping my back to her my heart twists in the knowledge someone else has held her heart.
“Did you love him?” I blurt without thinking, but it’s too late now to take it back.
Looking down, I watch my fingers flex against the ledge of the sink.
“At some point, I thought I did, but over the last month or so I realized I loved him as a friend. He made me feel comfortable and accepted at the time. So when he asked me to marry him I said yes. Hoping with time it would change to a soul-deep forever kind of love, but after two years things didn’t turn out that way.” I turn, leaning my back against the sink, crossing one ankle over the other, still gripping the edge of the bench behind me.
She shrugs looking down at the wooden top of the breakfast bar tracing a finger over the wood grain.
“What happened?” I ask, feeling the mood in the room shift.
“Where to start,” she murmurs before sucking in a deep breath.
I stay quiet, watching as an eternal battle plays out across her face.
“We tried to get pregnant, but apparently I had an inhospitable uterus and our options became slim to none. When the doctor mentioned using a surrogate, I wasn’t completely opposed to the idea and Patrick didn’t want to foster a child because apparently, he was worried about how that would affect me.” She snorts, rolling those pretty eyes.
“He wanted someone with his blood running through its veins. So no sooner had I agreed to the idea we were at the doctor's office the next week, so they could remove some of my eggs. When we went in to pick the perfect match for us none of the women in the files suited us. When we got home that day my friend Janice, a girl I used to work with when I ran a bar in town, came over for drinks and she offered to do it for us. So anyway to spare you the boring details we agreed and everything was going great the baby was healthy and we decided we wanted to wait to know the sex of the baby. So everything was in full swing at home, doing up the nursery in natural colours, buying everything and anything we thought we may need. A month before Janice’s due date let’s just say my world broke around me and the wool apparently covering my eyes for the past 2 years fell away. Turns out Patrick and Janice planned the whole thing,” she sniffs tears shining in her eyes as she stares out the front window.
“They had been having an affair.”
Hiccup.
Sniff.
“Since about a month after we got married, the straw that finally broke the camel's back, so to speak was the baby. The one thing I had left to fight for wasn’t even mine,” tears are sliding down her beautiful face now fast and hard, the sob that she has been trying to hold off breaks free.
“My eggs were never used, apparently there is nothing wrong with me. I found out later on that Patrick went to school with the Doctor we saw. Patrick had paid him off to say that I wouldn’t be able to conceive. Turns out my eggs are frozen but nobody knows where they are or they won’t say where they are so they could be in the trash for all I know,” she shrugs.
“I was out shopping for a pram and I stopped in at Janice’s to see if she wanted to come with me when I caught them together. Turns out Patrick found out she was pregnant a week before he insisted I get checked out by the Doctor to make sure I wasn’t damaged goods. His words, not mine,” she says so flatly, as if she is reading directions off a box.
“He wanted his wife at home bringing up his lover’s baby while he and Janice did whatever they wanted. I filed for divorce the next day and because I moved in with him I was left with pretty much nothing except I was entitled to half of the house,” her fingers twist in her lap as the tears keep flowing and it’s breaking my fucking heart.
“He concocted this whole thing just so in his world he could have it all and so what if he hurt the poor foster child nobody wanted? He didn’t want my genes for a baby that was to take his name. That was his last parting shot to me besides the baby isn’t yours so why the hell can't I get the fuck over it?”
Through every word she spoke, I moved slowly to her side.
Now she’s within arm’s reach, I grab her up and sit down on my vacated seat, pulling her onto my lap.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” I coo as I rub my hand up and down her back.
Her little hands grip my shirt in a white knuckle hold.
“I got you, Little Mare.” I kiss her forehead as I try to wipe the tears away but it’s no use, they flow unchecked down her face crushing my fucking soul.
“Do you understand now? I can’t lose myself again Nash, I just can’t. I won’t be able to survive it,” she stutters out hiccuping.
Taking in a few deep breaths, I couldn’t imagine going through what she has and coming out of it so strong.
“You are so strong, baby,” I murmur.
“I’m re-really n-not,” she stutters.
“You came here on your own not knowing what you were getting yourself into, you stand tall around everyone when you are falling apart inside. But you still get up every morning. If that’s not strong then I don’t know what is,” I say running the tip of my finger against her temple before catching a lock of her hair twisting it through my fingers.
“Through everything you have gone through, you are still willing to try this with me.”
I lean forward, resting my lips against her forehead.
“Surprisingly this is the easiest and most selfish thing I have ever done,” she breathes out, her glassy eyes staring back at me.
“Not selfish babe, brave,” I correct.
“You are unlike anyone I have ever met Nash, and it scares the shit out of me as much as it excites me. Every time I stare at you, feel you under my hand, my body goes into battle waiting for the other shoe to drop,” her warm breath hits my cheek.
“But I want this as much as I have ever wanted anything in my life.”
“Little Mare, there is no one else out there that could pull me away from you. Before this place was just wood, metal and brick now with you in it I really see what this place could be. A home where I get to crawl into bed with you at night and stare out the French doors in our bedroom and thank whoever sent you here to me. Because you are the best decision I have ever made.”
“You say the sweetest things, Nash Jacob Steel,” she murmurs, a small smile kicking up the corner of her lips when what I presume is a confused look on my face.
Shit, I never tell peopl
e my middle name.
“Your mum,” she giggles, shrugging as the tip of her finger runs over where my dimple pops out.
“Little Mare, you've been talking about me. What else did my dear mother tell you?” I cock an eyebrow and try to look stern, but I guess I fail when she throws back her head, laughter spilling from her open mouth.
“Tell me,” I growl playfully, tickling her she tries to push my hands away wiggling like crazy on my lap trying to get off but it’s no use she ain’t going anywhere.
Gasping and panting for breath, trying not to laugh, but she loses the battle, and it’s the purest sound I have ever heard.
“She didn’t t-tell m-me anything,” she chokes out when I stop tickling her.
A calculating look in her eyes.
“Ah shit, she pulled out the baby books, didn’t she?” I chuckle, making her laugh harder.
After a few minutes, when she finally gets her breath, back she cups my face.
“I know this is crazy and I shouldn’t want this but I do Nash I want to try with you, give it the old college try,” she smirks, cocking her brow at me.
“Old college try, hey?” I quirk a dark brow back.
“Abso-fucking-lutly,” she fires back my mouth drops open because I swear that is the first time I have heard her curse.
“Oh, I was wondering if you had a dirty mouth hidden in there Little Mare.” Leaning forward, I plant a chastise kiss on her lips.
“Oh, you have no idea,” she smirks right back before her mouth lands hard on mine, her tongue demanding access and like the goner, I am I open for her.
Addicted to anything and everything that is Cora.
That cheating piece of shit doesn’t know how precious Cora is, but I do, and I am never letting her go. Listening to her tell me her story tore through me like a hot blade and all I wanted to do was fix it for her, but knowing she didn’t love the dick eased the vice-like grip that was strangling my heart. I know it’s an irrational thought, but I don’t give a fuck.
I’m gonna make her fall head over heels in love with me that you won’t know where she ends and I begin.
We will be so tightly connected no other fucker could get between us.
How can one person deal with so much pain and rejection in her short life but still come out so Brave?
Cora Hope - SURVIVOR!
From the moment I opened up and let all the ugly out, I felt lighter than staring at the sunset the night before.
Something shifted inside me last night, but today I feel cracked wide open.
Only one deep dark secret remains, but as far as my mind is made up, it can stay that way. Some things are even too hard for me to deal with, and I allowed it to happen.
Pushing that thought to the back of my mind, wanting, no, needing, to think of better memories. It's been three days as Nash made a point of telling me earlier but in just three days my fear, anger, grief and every other fucked up emotion I have felt the last month or so are not weighing me down anymore.
“I need to go see Dad,” Nash calls out coming down the stairs.
“Yeah, I told your mum I would work with her again today but I think since it’s nearly three o’clock in the afternoon I missed my window.” I laugh.
Looking him up and down, taking in his tight blue jeans, the same belt from the day before shines under the overhead light and the black hoodie just tops off the look.
“Yeah, about that how bout you help around here instead of at the pub,” his gruff voice gives him away, the slight tick in his jaw is going and I know he's jealous.
My eyes snap back to his.
“Why?” I push.
“Because I don’t want my woman walking around in tight as fuck clothes for every dick in town to stare at,” he growls.
“Your woman,” I arch a brow, smirking.
“Yep,” he clips.
“So it’s a done deal.”
“Was my cock inside you this morning?”
“Uh-huh,” I swallow as he crowds me against the breakfast bar.
“Was it my cum dripping down your thighs?” his smooth whisper runs down my neck, planting a kiss just under my ear.
“Mmm,” vibrates up my throat.
I really should be offended by the way he is speaking to me but my body heats at the crass words sending vibrations running through me at rapid speed.
“So you tell me. Are you mine, Cora?” his hands grip my hips, hard.
Making me shiver.
“Y-yes,” I gasp.
My throat dries as his aftershave begins to intoxicate me.
The scent is so sensual my body hums, the hair on my arms stand on end wanting him to touch me from head to toe to put out the fire that’s now burning low in the pit of my stomach.
Taking a deep breath, I push against his chest needing him to take a step back wanting to clear my head.
“You want me? Cowboy, then you're gonna have to catch me,” I gasp out, ducking under his arm and making my escape. A low rumbling growl sounds behind me as he tries to swipe me up making me squeal but I don’t stop.
“Cora, I will always catch you, Little Mare,” he calls out chuckling.
Laughing, I run out the front door but I'm not fast enough as Nash grabs me around the waist and throws me over his shoulder, his hand landing on my ass making me moan.
“Fuck babe, you can't make sounds like that when we are out here,” he growls, making me laugh harder.
My breath stutters in my chest as he takes the front steps down one at a time.
My face hurts from laughing and smiling so much.
All I can see is my hair swaying from side to side and his jean-clad ass, my hands grip the waistband of his jeans.
“Put me down, you big brute,” I giggle.
“Never,” he chuckles.
“I could get used to this,” I smart out.
“To what?”
“You are so tiny I can pick you up and put you wherever I want,” he laughs when I smack his tight ass.
Pulling me from his shoulder he slides me down his hard body, I bite my lip to stop the moan that wants to slip out feeling every hard inch as my feet hit the ground.
Squinting my eyes, a playful scowl pulling at my lips.
“Ah, Little Mare, no need to get all pissy,” he chuckles running his fingers over my mouth, but I notice the twitch of his lips.
Leaning down he plants a small kiss to the corner of my mouth before kissing the other side making me smile.
“I’m not a doll you can’t just move me to where you want me,” I fire back.
“Watch me,” he winks before his lips hit mine in an all-consuming kiss.
Any protest dies on the tip of my tongue as I get lost in the way his mouth slides across mine. His tongue coaxes me to open up and let him in, my hands wrap around his neck, my fingers run through the hair there as I push up on my tiptoes wanting to feel everything that is him.
His hands slide from my hair down to my ass, squeezing as he lifts me off my feet.
I whimper into the kiss as every hard inch of the man pushes into me.
“Cora you cheating Bitch. Wanna get your hands off my wife?” a loud shout from behind me startles me and it’s then I realise I had climbed Nash like a tree.
“I don’t know who the fuck you are but you better get your ass off my land,” Nash growls, I feel every one of his muscles lock, his arms locking around my waist as his normally sharp beautiful eyes are looking over my head.
“I’ll leave once I have my wife back,” my head was so clouded from Nash’s kiss it didn’t register who was calling out to me.
I slowly turn my head.
The black Lincoln town car that has splashes of mud up the side catches my attention. It has to be the first time I have ever seen dirt on his car.
Pulling my eyes away they finally land on him, the object of everything I hate about myself and all those useless feelings come rushing
back as his eyes focus straight on me
“Patrick what are you doing here, how the hell did you find me?” tumbles out of my mouth, my body shivers, Nash’s hold tightens.
“You are my wife and I will always know where you are. Now it’s time to go get your shit and get your ass in the car. We are going home.”
“Have you lost your mind?” My body is shaking, my head is trying to catch up with what the hell is happening and how the hell he found me.
“Cora, I haven't got time for this shit I have been driving all night.”
“Get the fuck in your piss poor excuse of a car and get the fuck out of here,” Nash barks out his body tensing against mine.
“Cora, I ain’t--”
“Another word motherfucker and I will bury you in a hole so deep no one will ever find you. Now get the fuck out of here.” We stand there staring at each other, Nash’s body hard as stone behind me and I draw on his strength.
Thank God he was here otherwise I would probably be a mess trying to understand what game Patrick is playing at.
“Leave, I am your ex-wife and I have nothing more to say to you,” I grit out my voice coming out stronger now.
“I’ll leave but just know this isn’t over,” he spits onto the ground.
The driver’s side door slams shut with a loud bang, reversing with a screech before leaving with a cloud of dust following in his wake.
“I don’t understand what just happened,” I murmur rubbing my forehead, sagging into Nash’s chest.
“It’s gonna be okay Beautiful.”
“I’m not his wife,” I mutter.
“How did he find me, Nash?” I turn into his arms, burying my head into his chest.
The rough touch of his fingers under my chin title my head up so I’m looking into his stormy eyes.
“Besides Sophie and Lucy, does anyone else know you were here?”
“Um… No.” Shaking my head I pause trying to think of anyone but there's no one.
I stopped talking with everyone except Sophie when everything went down.
“Only John,” I murmur “but he wouldn’t tell anyone. He hates Patrick”
“Who’s John?” His voice is gruff, a tinge of jealousy coating his voice, making me smile even in this fucked up situation.
