by Susan Arden
But it hadn’t gone wrong…had it? She glanced over to Brett and her chest constricted. Last night in his hotel room felt so darn right, and she wasn’t ashamed, not one bit.
“Look, aren’t they beautiful?” Gillian held out another flower arrangement. Inside the room at least a dozen bouquets of flowers had already delivered. Gillian walked over to the side of the bed. Matt plucked the card, tore open the envelope, then handed the card to Carolina.
Cory nudged Brett, “Are you ready?”
“You mean leave?” His questioning gaze flickered and was replaced by the darkening of his eyes. “Do you want to come with me?” His question came out a low rumble that made the skin over her body tingle.
“I want to. Yes. They’re going to have to get used to the idea of ‘us’ sooner than later.”
“Well, alright then.” He pressed his fingers to the small of her back.
“We’re going,” Cory announced, making her way over to Carolina and her brother. They hugged and Matt smiled at her.
“Don’t do anything silly,” Matt whispered. “And if you do, try to keep it under your hat this time.”
She punched his shoulder. “Coming from one who lived in a glass house.” Turning from Matt, Cory met Stephen’s eyes across the room. For a second, she gazed at her other brother and Gillian. Both of them waved at her and Gillian sported a thumbs-up. She winked before turning back to face Brett.
He stood next to her and he held out his hand to Matt. “Looks like you’re set. A boy and a girl. Congratulations again.”
Matt rose from Carolina’s side and removed a cigar from his pocket, and extended it to Brett. “Take it easy.” Both men shook. Maybe not exactly friends for life, but a whole lot better since the first time.
Brett placed his hand on her shoulder as they exited the room. Her parents had gone down to the cafeteria to grab a bite to eat. Not everyone could fit in the suite large as it was. Most of the cousins and friends from Gillian’s bachelorette party had gone back to the hotel once the babies had arrived. So far Ashley had not shown her face. Cory had heard a few comments and laughs in the waiting room, really snickers, as to her idiot cousin’s night. Apparently, it had only gotten a lot more shocking, to put it politely.
“I should tell my parents I’m leaving. You want to stay or come?”
“I’m not letting you out of my sight.” Brett smiled down at her and had her insides fluttering.
“Cory,” her father’s deep voice came from behind them. She swung around and sucked in a breath, staring at her parents coming down the hall. Her mother looked drained after spending the night at the hospital.
“Mama, please go to the hotel and lie down. Daddy, really.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“Simmer down,” Daddy said. “We’re coming to see the babies and then we’ll go. So don’t start.” He came up to her and grabbed her shoulder, squeezing gently.
“We’re going, too,” she said softly, keeping her eyes trained on her mother. Watching her parents’ reaction, she hoped this news wasn’t going to be too much on top of everything else. She tacked on, “We’re getting hungry.”
“Jesus, I expect so. The cafeteria is good for coffee and such, but breakfast not so much,” Mama responded, stopping before Cory and smoothing a hand over her arm.
Seeing her parents before her, Cory let go a sigh, treading lightly when deciding what to say. She couldn’t throw her intentions into her parents’ faces, not when they both looked worn out. She doubted she’d ever be blasé about having a grown up affair.
“Brett,” Mama said. “It was good to meet you. I hope we see more of you soon.”
Surprise of surprises, her father patted his shoulder. “Son, take care.”
CHAPTER 13
Out in the parking lot, with his keys in one hand and his other tightly wrapped around Cory’s hand, he led her to his car. He squeezed his fingers, holding off from kissing her mouth. Damn, he wanted to taste her all over. “Baby, where do you want to eat?”
“Are you hungry?” she asked, licking her lips and staring at him with those incredible blue eyes where any second he’d lose himself. “For food?”
“Devious girl. So what you said back there a second ago was for your parents’ benefit.”
“My mama is sick, and even though I thought I could be just as grown up as all my brothers in openly seducing their girlfriends, I can’t,” she said, glancing away.
“Hey. If you want us to start again, I’m willing. I’ll do whatever you want.”
“I want us to get to know one another. I also want to feel your hands all over my body.”
They stopped at the passenger side of his car. “Spend some quality time with me. A couple of hours and then I’ll take you back to the hotel.”
“I’m game. Do you live in Dallas?” she asked, her eyes wide and innocent staring up at him.
God, when she looked at him like that, he had to concentrate on what to say. “Near enough. Come on. No one will bother us. It’s a little ways out, but scenic. If you like the country.”
“Impossible to deny my roots. I’m country to the core.” She laughed and pressed her hip against his leg.
The drive went by in a blip and he swung his car onto the last road before the rise on which his house sat. “Up ahead,” he said, pointing to top of the hill.
“Jeez Louise. That’s not what I imagined when you said country.”
“It fits the bill when I need to get away.” He drove forward and at this time of morning, the horses were out in the pasture, frolicking to warm up.
“How do you care for the horses when you’re away? They’re beautiful.”
He nodded, clicking closed the electrical security gate. “I’ve a farm manager. He comes by to feed the horses and my dogs when I’m away.”
“You know how to drive that tractor?” she asked, looking over to him.
“Hell yeah, girl.” He’d imagined, when the day came to retire, he’d think about some cattle and livestock. Maybe start small with goats or chickens. “I don’t just sit on the porch and rock.”
“We have a porch something like that with rockers. And I do know how to rock.” She laughed.
“I don’t come from ranching people,” he began. “Not like you do. I want to make this place my own. Put my mark on it.”
“Where did you grow up? You said you traveled.”
“I did, right up until high school. My mother was an actress. Stage. My father died in Desert Storm. My mother became ill and we moved in with my grandparents. During most of my childhood, I moved. This was the first place I’d actually set down my own roots as an adult.”
Even in his grandparents’ house, it never felt like his home. Their hushed whispers about their disappointment in his mother’s life—their only child—had kept him from reaching out to them with open arms. It had been hard when his mother bore their regret along with all her other frustrations. It had been too much, at a time when his mother needed unconditional love. During a time of coming to grips with learning that her health would not return, she should have had them to lean on. That was the past, and no need to mention it all to Cory with her supportive family.
“Well, you’re accomplished. Able to be citified and countrified all at once,” she said.
“You seem the same way.” He moved his hand along her shoulder. They’d arrived at the front of the garage on the far end of the circular drive. He inhaled, wondering how he’d be able to hold back and take things slow, when everything inside him wanted to go fast. “Wait. I’m coming to get your door.”
He walked around the car and Chase, one of his Blue Heelers, came trotting up to him. He scratched the dog under his chin, wondering where Crash, the female was.
Opening up the passenger side of the car, he was ill prepared for the sight of Cory’s legs, or really her thighs, uncovered by her dress hem that gathered around her hips. She swung her legs out onto the pavement, suc
king the breath from his lungs. He forgot his thoughts about his dogs—heck, swallowing took a great effort. During the night, he’d put aside his overzealous desire to spread her legs and climb between them, but now that door swung as wide as the car’s, if not wider.
“Jesus H. Christ, you make worth the wait seem like a plan,” he said, reaching down to help her up.
“Would you rather wait?” she asked, biting her full lower lip.
Drawing her up to him, he almost groaned. “I meant previously. No more waiting.” Scooping Cory into his arms, he took the front steps two at a time. She looped her arms around his neck, nuzzled his jaw with her mouth, sucking and biting across his skin.
He could hardly get his key into the lock. His fried brain didn’t want to concentrate on anything besides ripping off clothing and getting this woman naked in his bed. Inside the hallway, he had to think which way. Up the stairs, he turned down the hall and burst through the double doors into his bedroom.
“You’re the first woman I’ve brought here. Ever. Did I already say that?”
“I could listen to you talk forever, with that deep voice of yours. Don’t ever worry about repeating yourself.” Her large luminous eyes sparkled and he set her down on the bed.
He raked his fingers through his hair. “We can get something to eat. The kitchen is fully stocked. You want something? To eat or drink? I’m not being any sort of host except—
“Hush,” she whispered, pushing her finger against his lips. “You’re the perfect host.”
She shifted to kneel on the bed, unlacing her shoes, and the effect held him. Bewitched him. The way she untied the knots and then unwound the laces captivated his attention. He remembered he was clothed and began unbuttoning his shirt, yanking out the tails from his pants. He removed his shoes and socks, keeping his attention on Cory’s impromptu striptease as she slid off the bed. He undid her zipper and watched her dress fall to the floor just shy of his pants dropping and they were naked. Her body in the daylight was heart-stopping. He took her hand and led her back to the bed, stopped and pulled down the comforter.
“I want to taste you,” she said, and curled her hand around his erection.
“God, I want to feel those luscious lips wrapped around me. Get in bed, baby. We both can enjoy each other.” He watched her lie down. “Spread your legs for me.”
He climbed onto the bed, heading south down her body. He hoisted her over his shoulders, spreading her thighs apart. She was open to him. He kissed the inside of her legs, and with his fingers he separated her pink folds and blew a stream of air over her slick skin.
“Brett,” she whimpered, her voice shaking.
“Your turn to hush,” he said. He moved his fingers along the seam of her pussy. His muscles tightened as he found her erect nub. “You’re so wet.”
“And you’re hard as a rock. All over,” she moaned, taking hold of his cock.
He didn’t know if he could contain his hunger for her. His dick jerked in her hand as he moved his fingers over her, teasing her pink clit with the pad of his thumb. The feel of her silky hand on his cock and the vision of her spread before him had clenching his jaw. He flexed his torso as she leaned over him, stroking him and flicking her finger under the ridge on his shaft. Suddenly, her hot tongue swiped across the tip, licking him as though she had all day. Fuck, her mouth and hands on his dick blew his mind. Brett rocked into her hand, pumping his hips. He couldn’t see what she did and that only made each of her movements more erotically intense.
Sliding his finger into her opening, he pumped his hand to the rhythm of her stroke along his length. The tight coil of lust shot up into a red-hot flame along his spine. Brett pressed his mouth to her clit and licked her slowly up one side, and then down again. She arched, and he curled his hands over her hips, pressing their bellies together so he could return to suck on her erect clit.
Cory whimpered, her muscles growing taut. “That’s it. Baby, I want to hear you yell my name.”
Her soft heat and sweet taste had him on edge. He groaned, teasing his tongue back and forth on her pert bud that sprang up against his tongue. Locking his hands on her hips, he moved her body, sliding her pussy over his tongue, sucking her juices. He curled his bottom lip over his teeth, and let his soul patch come into contact with her swollen clit, wantonly pressing and rubbing the triangle of whiskers against her until she cried out his name.
She clenched and her body flexed. “Brett,” she moaned. “I’m so close.”
“Don’t hold back from me.” He continued the rhythm of licking and sucking on her silky skin as soft, incoherent sounds spilled from her lips. Cory’s voice grew high-pitched when he dipped his finger into her warm pussy and pumped, curling his finger and searching for the spot that made her clench. “Is this the place?” he asked when she writhed and moaned, her hot breath caressing his cock and nuts.
“Oh. God.” She rocked against his hand. In the space between their bodies, he watched her round breasts and felt each time she grazed them across his abdomen.
He had to concentrate to keep himself under control as she sucked his cock into and out of her scorching mouth. Deeper and farther until he hit the back of her throat. The feel of her lips on his dick was beyond anything he’d ever experienced. He couldn’t help fucking her mouth as she hovered above him, sucking him so deep he thought he’d explode.
Cory released him and cried out his name. Her body tightened, bowing over him, trembling as her pussy contracted around his fingers. A sheen of perspiration glazed her body while her fingers dug into his skin, and he lapped at her sweet release. She went limp over him for a second until he licked across her soft folds, taking her clit between his teeth, and piercing her pussy with his tongue. He didn’t stop until she cried out his name again between deep sucks to his cock.
Fuck. If he didn’t get inside her or he’d lose himself in her mouth. Gently, he rolled her onto the mattress, then crawled over her body and parted her legs. Her pussy was dark pink, glistening, and his. He snagged a condom from the nightstand and tore the packet. It took forever to roll down the rubber on his cock as he gritted his teeth, thinking of nothing but returning to her silken sex. With her legs splayed open, he swiped across her slick folds. Perfect for his out of control, swollen, and granite hard cock.
This wasn’t just sex, this was an arresting coming together of their bodies, and yet more as he considered her pleasure and how to drive her wild. It had been a long time since his partner’s satisfaction paralleled his own in his mind. With Cory, he wanted her sated with his name on her lips. Only him playing on her mind in how he’d made love to her.
“Baby, I’ve got to get inside you.” The idea of making love took hold of him. Shook him.
“Brett, babe,” she whispered, separating her legs wider.
He gripped the base of his cock, swiping his head over her pink folds. She arched off the bed, taking hold of his wrists. The act made his skin tighten; his nipples went hard and his muscles tensed. One more glide along her sex was all he could stand. He fit himself at her entrance and dipped his body over hers. Warm skin sliding against warm skin, and he pulled her hips up to him as he thrust inside her.
Cory’s lashes fluttered and he pumped again, sliding farther inside her. “You’re so tight. I’ve got to start moving.”
“Please. Yes.” She flexed her hips and he slid deeper still.
Hot holy damn. He ground himself into her softness, bending his neck to kiss her lips. Cory rolled her hips again and ran her hands down his back, all the way to his ass. No reason not to give her what they both wanted.
“Tell me how I feel buried deep inside you.”
“Fabulous,” she moaned and then kissed his jaw, softly nipping a path to his neck. He began to move, thrusting into her in a steady rhythm until she rasped her nails along his skin, and then he began more powerful pumps, delivering long thrusts.
“Bite my neck,” he groaned. “Now, baby.” He wa
s going to lose himself in her. Fuck. This was so good. He sped up and plunged into her softness, hauling her hips up to him, covering her body with his. She squeezed around him, sinking her teeth into his skin, nipping and sucking on his skin as he drove his cock with mind-altering slams.
“That’s it. Please, Brett. More,” she cried out. Her skin flushed hot and she looked incredible under him coming apart.
He pushed up and pumped his hips in an almost savage need to get inside her deep. So fucking deep. His hungry pumping turned needier and wholly consuming. The tight coil at the base of his cock, splintered, and then lights exploded in his head. An electrical flash rocked down his spine, then tore through his cock. Fuck, he thrust back into her, shuddering and calling out her name.
He moved over Cory, wrapping her in his arms, reveling in the weightless feel of his body in the aftermath of his release. He inhaled her fragrance, pressing his face into the side of her neck. “Baby, that was pure ecstasy.”
For hours, they rolled around his bed, going down to the kitchen to collect trays of food that they brought back to bed. He hadn’t been able to let her go, not even when he invited her to shower; they’d ended up halfway across the room and then back in bed. She’d wanted to get to know him better, and over the last five hours had done so. It was midafternoon before they woke from a nap, her blue eyes soft and her lips swollen, and encircled by one of his arms as his other lay in the curve of her hip. He sighed, kissing her hair and swallowing the words on his tongue.
“I’d better get you back to your family,” he finally said.
“Shower?” she asked, tracing a swirling pattern over his ribs.
