A Change of Heart (Perfect Indiana#3)

by Barbara Longley

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “BE GENTLE WITH YOU?” CORY giggled against Ted’s lips, and a multitude of emotions swirled and chased through her: elation, arousal, anxiety, love—and relief. She’d been given another chance. He hadn’t written her off. Trust him. He’s your once in a lifetime love, like Mom had with Dad. “Your sense of humor is another thing I love about you.” She nibbled on his lower lip, loving the way her touch caused his hips to lift beneath her.

  “I wasn’t trying to be funny,” he whispered, nibbling back.

  A shiver sluiced through her, and it had nothing to do with revulsion. The bulge pressed against the apex of her thighs should’ve freaked her out, sent her running to her truck and racing down the drive. It didn’t. Answering heat and dampness flooded her center, and she rocked against him. “Off,” she mumbled, tugging at his T-shirt. He leaned forward, pulling the cotton hem out of his pants to help her. She lifted it over his head and dropped it to the couch.

  She couldn’t get enough of the sight of his bare chest, and skimmed her palms over his warmth and velvety smoothness. A patch of dark golden hair grew between his nipples, creating a path leading down to his jeans and disappearing below the waistband. Continuing to indulge herself, she stroked his lean, muscled torso, focusing on the strained, sexed-up expression on his beloved face. He watched her every move, his gaze heated and tender. Another part of her knitted back together. Let go. Trust this man who holds your heart. The voice of certainty whispered through her soul.

  Ted ran his hands under her blouse, up and down her back, finally coming around to cup her breasts. She gasped, arching into his touch. “Wait.” She leaned back and unbuttoned the top two buttons of her blouse. She pulled it over her head and tossed it to the floor. Reaching around for the back clasps of her bra, she started to unhook it.

  “Will you let me do that?” Ted ran his hands over her shoulders.

  Heat flooded her cheeks and her heart fluttered away inside her chest. She nodded. Slowly he reached around her, unhooked her bra and drew it off, letting it drop to the couch. The sharp intake of his breath went straight through her.

  “I am one lucky man,” he whispered. “You are so beautiful.” His hands came up to cup her breasts, running his thumbs over her nipples until they pebbled and ached for more. “Way too beautiful for a farm boy like me.”

  His hands slid down her waist and back up to her breasts again, setting off wave after wave of need. He leaned forward and took a nipple into his mouth, laving it with his tongue. Frissons of sensation rippled through her. Tangling her fingers in his curls, she drew him closer. “I haven’t seen the bedroom yet.”

  Switching to her other breast, he ran his palm over the one he’d left. Still damp from his ministrations, the friction almost sent her into an orgasm. “I’m a lucky, lucky woman,” she groaned. “Bedroom?” The rumble of his laughter brought an answering smile to her face. “Please?”

  “Wrap those gorgeous legs around my waist when I lift you, and put your arms around my neck.” Ted slid his hands under her bottom and brought them both up off the couch. They moved down the hall and through the door on the left. His large bedroom had bare white walls. A plain, generic bedspread covered the king-size mattress, which rested on a box spring set in one of those metal frames with wheels. A cheap, particleboard dresser with a thin veneer of real wood sat against the wall, with a flat-screen TV on top.

  “This doesn’t reflect your personality at all.” Puzzled, she studied her surroundings as he set her on her feet.

  “I know. I’ve been waiting for you.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “We’ll decorate it together, including an L&L bedroom suite of furniture made by yours truly just for the two of us.” Running his hands over her shoulder, he whispered, “The mattress is top-of-the-line, though. Want to check it out?”

  “I do.” She shivered at his touch. “Condom?”

  “I’ll be right back.” He hurried out of the room to the bathroom next door.

  She sighed and pondered the twisted road that had led her to this moment. Her experience with men was limited, and not all of it good. Nervousness had her clasping her hands together. She continued to stand where he’d left her, unsure what she should do. Lie down on the large bed? Take off her remaining clothing?

  “Cory, are you all right?”

  She shrugged, sending him a tremulous smile. “A little nervous.”

  “Me too.”

  “You?” Everything about him screamed confident and self-assured and always had. She’d always found that extremely reassuring about him. He made her feel safe. She flashed him a puzzled look. “What are you nervous about?”

  “This counts.” He placed a couple of foil packets on the bedside table. “Sure, I’ve had sex, but never with someone I saw myself with for the rest of my life. I love you, Cory. This is it. You’re my one and only.” He gaze sought hers, and he raked a hand through his hair. “I’m so nervous my hands are shaking. What if you get scared, and we can’t break through the association your subconscious makes between me and bastard who hurt you?”

  “I won’t let that happen.” Her ears were still ringing with his declaration. He saw himself with her for the rest of his life? Her heart dissolved into a puddle of warmth, and her hands unclasped.

  “What if I don’t live up to your expectations?” His face screwed up for a second. “In the sack, I mean.”

  He really did look nervous and uncertain, and an achy tenderness welled up inside her. “That’s not possible. You’ve already far exceeded my expectations.” She took a step closer. “Can I tell you something?”

  “Of course. You know you can tell me anything.” He reached for her hand, and she took hold.

  “I have a therapist now. During my sessions with her, I’m going to spill all the ugliness I’ve experienced in the past couple years. I’m not bringing that to you anymore, and I agree. Tonight counts.” She stepped into his arms. “From here on in, we’re making new memories together. I want us to join the monthly poker games, have Sunday dinners with your family, go on dates, share secrets and build a life together. You’re not going to be the sounding board for all my crazy anymore. You’re my best friend, my lover—my life partner.”

  “Why Corinna Marcel, are you asking me to marry you?”

  She laughed and tangled her fingers in his wonderful curls. “I’m telling you I want to move forward. With you. If there’s going to be any marrying going on, I want to hear a proposal. Now, let’s get busy.” She smiled at the way his eyes widened, then darkened as she backed him into the bed. “I know you, Ted. You’re going to ask me if I want to be on top, so I don’t feel hemmed in. I don’t.” Running her hands over his chest, she peppered his jaw with kisses. “I’ve given this a lot of thought, and—”

  “A lot of thought?”

  “Sure,” she said, lifting her eyes. His crooked grin and heated perusal sent thrill waves cascading through her. “At least since I got in my truck to head over here.”

  “Ahh, I see.” He fell back onto the mattress, taking her with him. “Kiss me, Cory. We’re done talking.”

  She did just that, melting into him, reveling in the feel of his bare chest against hers. Heat built between them, and she forgot to keep her eyes open, only wanting to give herself over to the feel of him. He ran his hands down inside the back of her jeans and cupped her bottom, pulling her closer. She rolled off.

  “Did I scare you?” His hoarse voice was filled with concern.

  “No. I just want to get out of these clothes, and get you out of yours.” She unbuttoned her pants, pulled the zipper down and wiggled out, taking her panties along for the ride down her legs. She kicked them to the floor. Turning back, she found Ted looking over her, his chest working away like a bellows. “Now you.” Cory reached for his belt buckle, her knuckles skimmed his belly, and his muscles bunched and danced in response. He sucked in an audible breath as she unzipped his pants.

  “Boxers or briefs.” She tugged at the d
enim. “I’ve always wanted to know.”

  He lifted his hips to help her. “I’m a boxer man.”

  She got his clothing down, and his member sprang free. She stared, and her hand followed the path her eyes took, stroking him from tip to balls. The sight of him sent pulse after pulse of throbbing heat to her sex. She needed to feel him inside her, filling her.

  “Ohh, yeah.” He bucked into her hand, pushing himself against her palm. “You have no idea what you do to me.” He came up, tugged his jeans the rest of the way down and tossed them aside. “Let me look at you, Cory.” Gently, he laid her down. His face filled with awe, he smoothed his hands over her, his touch leaving fire in its wake as he took in every part of her anatomy. “Can I?” His hands were on her knees, putting on the slightest pressure.

  She swallowed, doing her own journey of discovery as she took in his magnificent body. He was perfect. All fit male, and all hers. She nodded. He opened her wide beneath him. The sound of his heavy breathing filled the room, causing a throbbing ache like she’d never known before. No fear. Just need.

  “My beautiful Corinna.” He touched her, entered her with his fingers while his thumb circled her clit. “Come for me.”

  She lifted her hips, lost in the building pleasure racking her body. He stretched out beside her. Continuing the delicious torture, he took a nipple into his mouth, biting down gently then sucking hard. That’s all it took. She arched her back, struggled to get closer, increase the pressure building to an almost unbearable pitch inside her. He obliged, stroked faster, tighter, making love to her with his magical fingers. He held her close as she came, lost in shudders of ecstasy and safe in his arms. By the time she returned to herself, he was lying on his back and tearing open one of the condom packets.

  “Let me.” She took it from his hands. Still rocking from the aftershocks of her explosive orgasm, she raised herself to sit beside him. “I want to touch you first. Is that OK?”

  She watched his Adam’s apple bob as he nodded. A bead of lubrication had formed on the head of his penis, and that fascinated her. As he had done, she spread his thighs and ran her hands up his inner thighs, coming to his testicles. They tightened as she stroked and caressed them.

  “Ahh. I don’t think I’m going to last long, babe. It’s been awhile, and I’ve fantasized about having sex with you for months.” His expressions turned apologetic. “This is where that whole expectation concern stems from.”

  Chuckling, she smoothed her hand upward from his balls to his moistened tip, savoring the hiss of his sudden intake of breath, the way his muscles coiled. Hot, hard and velvety smooth, everything about him excited her. “I’m not concerned about that.”

  “Then please. Put me out of my misery.”

  She laughed again, and pulled the condom from the foil. Slowly she unrolled it over his erection. “I want to be underneath you. I need to feel your weight and your heat against my skin.” She lay down beside him.

  “You don’t have to ask this Indiana hog farmer twice.” He rolled her to her back, moving with her. Nudging her thighs apart with his knees, he propped himself on his elbows above her. “Look at me, sweetheart. I will never do anything to hurt you. This is me and you making a memory.” He kissed her deeply, and his wonderful gray eyes stayed open and fixed on hers. He entered her with a slow thrust, coming back just as slowly. He groaned, thrusting deeper the next time and pushing her thighs wider in his effort to get closer. Bracing himself up with his arms, he kept their gazes locked, increasing the pace of their lovemaking.

  Cory brought her knees up and lifted her hips to meet his, and they found their rhythm. Sexual tension coiled through her, building again and bringing her to the edge. He touched places inside her never before touched. Their bodies fit as if they’d been made for each other. Maybe they had. Everything about him was right for her. His straining muscles, the sound of his breaths, and the sexy look of concentration furrowing his brow turned her bones to liquid heat.

  He groaned. His eyes rolled back, and his steady rhythm faltered, grew more urgent and uncontrolled. “Ahh, Corinna.” He shuddered and dropped his weight to her, continuing to move inside her as he lost himself in his release. His jerky thrusts touched just the right spot, and she found herself racked with the tremors of another orgasm of her own.

  Sweaty and spent, she sighed. Bringing her arms around him, she held him close as he came back to himself. He tucked his head in the crook of her neck, kissing her lightly, sending a fresh slew of shivers through her.

  “Love you.” He slid to her side, gathered her up in his arms and peppered her face with kisses. “Love you, love you, love you. I like saying that. I hope you like hearing it.”

  She chuckled. “I do like hearing it, and I love you too.” They’d done it, gotten past the horror of what Sergeant Dickhead had wrought and made their own beautiful memory. She smiled into the darkening room, happy and content in the knowledge that if a nightmare should sneak up on her, all she had to do was reach out for Ted, her amazing man.

  “All the tension from earlier took a lot out of me. I’m beat.” Ted swung his legs over the edge of the bed and got up. “How about you? Are you ready to sleep?”

  “All the tension from earlier?” She sat up. “What went through your mind?”

  “I thought you came to tell me there was no way you could ever return my feelings.” He shrugged.

  She saw the hurt she’d caused in the slope of his shoulders, and the feigned nonchalance of his words. “I’m so sorry for what I put you through. It was tense for me too. I thought you’d finally given up on me. When you went away without a word, I figured you’d put me in the past where I belonged.”

  “I tried, but I couldn’t shake you out of my heart.” He leaned over and planted a kiss on her forehead. “I’m afraid you’re there to stay, so you might as well get used to having me around. I’ll be right back.”

  He disappeared into the bathroom again. Cory retrieved her panties and slipped them on, a wide smile breaking free. “Can I borrow a T-shirt?” she called.

  “Go ahead. Middle drawer,” came his muffled reply.

  She chose a USI T-shirt and pulled it on. The hem came to the middle of her thigh. She loved the worn cotton softness. “I’m stealing this one,” she muttered to herself.

  “Or you could leave it here for whenever you stay over,” Ted answered. “Grab me a pair of boxers, please.”

  She turned to find him picking up their clothing from the floor and draping it over the laundry hamper in the corner. “Where?”

  “Top left.”

  She opened the drawer and got him a pair of boxers. It all felt so domestic, so intimate. Easy. Why had she waited so long to get her head on straight when it came to Ted? “I’m sleeping here tonight. You know that, right?”

  “I was counting on it. What do you want me to do if you have a nightmare? We should have a plan.”

  “I was thinking you should shake me awake and then hold me.”

  “I can do that.” Ted pulled the bedspread and sheet back. “Come here, Cory. If you let me hold you now, maybe we can prevent any nightmares from getting through in the first place.”

  She handed him the boxers and climbed into bed. “I like that idea.” She scooted over to make room for him. “Remind me to pack a toothbrush and a few other things next time we have a sleepover.”

  Ted climbed into bed and turned to his side. He ran his knuckles over her cheek, and the minty scent of the toothpaste he’d just used filled the space between them. “I have an idea. Let’s stock up on things for you to keep here, so you don’t have to live out of an overnight bag.” He slid his arm under her shoulders, put his other arm around her waist, and drew her close, settling himself around her.

  “Good idea.” Cory snuggled close, took in his scent and closed her eyes. “Ted?”

  “Hmm?”

  “You fulfilled my…expectations. Twice,” she whispered against his chest. “That was the best sex I’ve ever had.” The p
urring noise he made at her comment vibrated through her, and she smiled and snuggled closer.

  “Perceptive. That’s what I love about you, sweetheart. Not only do you see me for the brilliant man I truly am, but you also see through the nerd facade to the super stud I’ve tried hard to hide all these years.”

  She laughed. “My super stud.”

  “Yours, only yours.”

  Ted made coffee while Cory showered. Could he feel any better, any higher than he did right now? She’d had one episode last night, and he’d helped her through it. They’d made love once more before she finally fell asleep in his arms and stayed that way. Bliss. Holding Cory close, knowing she’d be there when he woke—pure bliss, and he planned to do everything in his power to keep her by his side. Finally this apartment of his would become a home. Theirs.

  “Is that coffee I smell?” Cory emerged, dressed and brushing her wet hair.

  “Yep. Want a cup?”

  “Yes, please. Do you have any sugar?”

  He reached into a cabinet for his covered sugar bowl. “Sure do.” He gathered a couple of mugs and a spoon and set them on the granite island. “Do you want breakfast?”

  “In a while. Right now I just need coffee.” She sat at one of the two bar chairs by the counter. “There’s something I want to run by you before I make a decision. I had intended to bring it up last night, but you kept distracting me.”

  The way her cheeks colored had him wanting to distract her all over again this morning. Happiness like he’d never before known filled him with knee-weakening intensity. A burst of laughter came out of him, startling her. Startling him. Cory’s lovely brown eyes widened, and a puzzled smile lit her face. He laughed again. “Don’t mind me. I was just thinking about doing a bit more distracting. The way you said it, all shy and sweet like you did, it just tickled me. I’m happy. What can I say? You make me happy, Cory. Having you here…well, it just moves me in ways I can’t even explain.”