“Get a room!” The stranger’s voice was like a bucket of water.
Cora pulled away and immediately started to turn bright red. “I, um…” She blushed redder and turned away, looking for her shoes. “We should get back to the room.”
10
Cora
Oh my god, I kissed Gerard.
I don’t know what was worse, the pounding in my chest, or the throbbing between my legs.
Gerard. My best friend.
When his hand touched my lower back, I almost jumped out of my skin. “I’ve got our shoes. Come on, let’s get back to the room.”
I nodded and reached for my heels. I needed something in my hand, at least until we got to the street level again. Something I could hold onto to keep my head from spinning so badly. My whole world felt sideways, like I’d tumbled into an alternate universe, where everything was the same, except Gerard wanted me. If it hadn’t been for the asshole shouting at us, I wasn’t sure we would’ve stopped.
I wasn’t sure I’d wanted to. In fact, I knew I didn’t want to. Everywhere he touched me felt electric. The way he tasted was like the best dessert and wine together. I wanted him to consume me and never let me go.
God, I felt like a sex-crazed teenager. All I wanted to do was grab his hand and pulled him faster toward the hotel.
But at the same time, it was Gerard.
My best friend. My constant.
And I could hardly stand to look at him. He reached for my hand and I jerked away.
“Cora?” His voice sounded tense and shaky.
I turned and looked at him. “Gerard?” My heart was in my throat.
“Just hold my hand while we walk back, would you, Red?”
I swallowed hard and nodded. “Okay.” I held out my hand, the breath caught in my chest.
Gerard reached over and tangled his fingers with mine.
I squeezed a little, looking away from him. The heat creeped into my cheeks again, and I could feel it blossoming in my chest too. If the walk to the hotel took much longer, my whole body might’ve been bright red.
I could feel his eyes on me as we stood in the elevator, but I couldn’t look up. I couldn’t meet his eyes. I was terrified he regretted it.
If it was possible, I was even more scared that he didn’t.
“I’m going to shower before bed.” As soon as the room door closed behind us, I grabbed my pajamas and made a beeline for the bathroom.
I didn’t care about the shower. I didn’t want to shower. But I didn’t know what else to do.
I turned on the water as hot as I could stand it, and as soon as I was in the tub, I sunk down and started to cry.
This trip wasn’t supposed to turn out this way.
I didn’t have feelings for Gerard. I’d never even looked at him that way. Twelve years, and I’d never even looked at him as more than a friend. Someone to grab coffee with, someone I could always count on to grab dinner, to see a movie with. Someone I trusted with all my secrets and to be there for me unconditionally.
My relationship with Gerard was the healthiest relationship in my life. He’d been there for everything, through the good, the bad, all of it. I compared the men I dated to him.
All I’d ever wanted in my love life was a man who made me feel like I did when I was with Gerard. But someone who made my heart do a little flip flop when he kissed me, someone who twisted up my stomach, and made me question everything about myself and about him.
It had never been him.
Until suddenly, it was.
God, that kiss made me feel things Nick the banker couldn’t have in a hundred years.
It could’ve been so easy to just go back out there and crawl into bed completely naked. To find out once and for all what was going on between Gerard and me. But if I did that, and he rejected me, if he blamed the wine, the moonlight, the holiday, it would crush me. It would be worse than not finding out at all.
The water ran cold before I managed to stop crying.
Slowly, I dried off and dressed in my pajamas, wishing for the first time on this trip that I had something more to wear than these tiny shorts and tank top. I wanted a hundred layers. Medieval armor. Anything to protect me from the ache in my chest, from the fear washing over me in waves.
When I left the bathroom, almost all the lights in the room were off, and his back was to me. I slipped into my side of the bed, tempted to curl into him, to press my lips to his shoulder.
But I couldn’t. I couldn’t bring myself to touch him more, to kiss him or hold him.
Instead, I laid there in the dark, running every scenario over and over again. It felt like none of them ended in happily ever after, and that scared me more than anything else.
11
Gerard
I pretended to be asleep.
What the hell was wrong with me? I finally got what I wanted. I finally got a kiss from Cora, and it was incredible. It was hot, and sweet, and so much more than I could’ve hoped for. And instead of leading to more, I was the asshole who pretended to sleep.
The whole way back to the hotel, I’d tried to tell myself that it was just because we’d gotten caught, that she was embarrassed that someone saw me with my tongue in her mouth, and that once we were behind closed doors again, we’d pick up where we started.
But then she made a beeline for the bathroom, and practically barricaded herself inside.
And when she finally came to bed, I stayed still. I pretended to be asleep.
The next morning, Cora was gone, and I was grumpy. And horny.
I should’ve gone looking for her right away. It would’ve been the gentlemanly thing to do. It would’ve been the best friend thing to do.
Instead, I got into the shower and took my cock in my hand, stroking myself as I pictured Cora, her bright red hair spread out on a white pillow under me, her tight cunt wrapped around my length, squeezing tight as I thrust.
I groaned, stroking harder as I remembered her kiss, the way her tongue rumbaed with mine, the feel and taste of her lips against mine.
As I came, I grunted out Cora’s name.
The relief barely helped as I got dressed in a pair of board shorts and a tank top. I had no idea what Cora would be interested in, or if she’d even want to see me.
She was sitting at our usual breakfast table, but rather than just sit down and steal off her plate, I ran through the buffet before I joined her.
“Not going to steal my bacon today?” She smiled and reached across to steal a piece from my plate. “That means I can steal yours.”
I grinned and picked up a piece of my own. “You left bed early today.”
“Yeah, I wasn’t sleeping well.” She picked up her coffee cup and shook it. It was mostly empty. “This is my third.”
“Wow, you usually don’t get your third in before noon.” I picked up my fork. “What should we do today?”
“Actually, I’ve already got something planned, if you trust me.”
“Oh, a surprise? I like surprises.” I took a bite of waffle, watching Cora carefully.
She was acting like nothing was wrong. Like nothing happened. Did she not remember? Could it be that I had the chance to just return to what we were, to being flirty friends?
“Good. Then we’re going to have an excellent day. And I’m only going to say this once. If we’re going on my surprise for the day, then you’re not allowed to pay for anything. Not a tip, not a flower, not even chiclets.”
I pursed my lips. “Red, you —”
“No. You don’t get to make the rules all the time. I’m the boss today. If you’re coming on my adventure, you have to do it my way. And on my budget.” She leaned forward and grabbed another piece of bacon from my plate. “Do we have a deal?”
I pursed my lips before I rested my elbows on the table and leaned forward. “Red, we have a deal.”
She grinned and sat back in her chair. “Great. You’re going to need swim trunks.”
I shook my head. “You’r
e not going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope. Also, rule number two is that I drive. Everywhere today. In whatever motorized vessel necessary.”
Now, I was intrigued. “Vessel. As in, not just the car?”
“I’ll keep my secrets until we’re ready to go, Mr. Davis. And you’ll just have to deal with it.” She smirked and crossed her arms over her chest. “Now, I’m going to go get ready. Finish your breakfast and meet me out front in half an hour. I have a couple things I have to pick up for our journey.”
I watched her head back toward the elevators, wondering just what sort of plan she had in that pretty head of hers, and whether she really was this okay with everything, or if she just didn’t remember at all. Or worse, if she regretted it all.
“We’re going on a boat?”
Cora parked the car at the docks, and I scanned the signs, trying to guess where we were going. “Do I have to blindfold you? This is an adventure, just go with the flow. Enjoy the ride.”
I grinned and took her hand as we walked into the building by the docks. “Where are we going? I’m not being nosy, I just want to know. I want to be as excited as you are.”
“Then you’ll wait until we board the ferry in five minutes.” She had a covered basket with her, something that reminded me of a picnic basket.
“Will you at least tell me what you had to run out and get in such a hurry?”
“Nope. You’re just going to have to wait and see.” She stuck her tongue out at me, the tongue I now had far more intimate knowledge of, and all I wanted to do was grab her and press her up against the wall to kiss her again.
I rolled my eyes and reached for the basket, only to have Cora pull it away from me.
“No. Not until later.” She grinned and danced away from me, further into the crowded building.
I let her wander away, trusting that she wouldn’t leave me stranded, and I took in my surroundings, trying to put together where we were headed.
“Cinco minutos para Isla Mujeres. Five minutes for Isla Mujeres.”
Cora waved at me from across the room, and I headed over to her side.
“Isla Mujeres, huh?” I wrapped an arm around her waist and smiled. “This is our adventure?”
She grinned. “Is that okay? I stopped by that crazy rack of brochures, and this just seemed like a good little getaway in the middle of our getaway. Or, really, the last full day.”
I squeezed her gently. “No. Don’t talk like that. We’re on vacation. Just you and me. I don’t want to think about the fact that tomorrow we’re getting on a plane and heading back to Jubilee.”
Cora leaned against me and ran her fingers along my forearm. “We should get in line for the ferry. We have a big day ahead of us.”
I grinned and kissed her cheek. “All right then, Red, lead the way.”
The ferry ride across the bay to the island was comfortable, and Cora leaned on my shoulder as the boat sped through the water. She was quiet, but it didn’t feel tense, and it didn’t feel awkward.
And I felt like an ass. Cora kissed me, and all I could think about since her lips touched mine was doing more, of kissing and touching and tasting until we were both sweaty and replete. It would’ve been amazing.
But Cora had been drinking. She disappeared into the bathroom without a word. I didn’t know whether Cora had kissed me, or if she’d just been kissing the guy closest to her, and when she realized who it was, she freaked out.
But I didn’t think she’d been that drunk or even drunk at all. So, what was it?
The boat pulled into the harbor and Cora reached down to grab her basket.
“I could carry that. I promise, I won’t peek inside. Not until you tell me it’s okay.”
She shook her head. “No. You’ve done more than enough this trip already. You’re just going to have to deal with it.”
I waited until she was back on dry land, and then I scooped her up into my arms with a grin. “Fine, carry the damn basket. I’ll carry you.”
She laughed and squirmed. “Gerard! Put me down.”
I shook my head. “Hell no. Where are we going?”
“Nowhere, unless I can walk there on my own. You’re ridiculous.” She giggled, kicking her legs in a feeble attempt to make me let her go.
With a sigh, I set her down, but I grabbed ahold of her free hand and kissed her knuckles. “Fine. Lead the way. I am all yours.”
We wandered down the beach for a while in easy quiet, my fingers still entwined with Cora’s.
“We’re here.” She grinned and came to an abrupt stop.
“Here? Where’s here, exactly?”
She smirked and gestured at the small shack we stood in front of. “Wait here.”
I was tempted to go for the basket again, just to needle her a little more about her secrets, but Cora might’ve clocked me across the head with it if I did.
She slipped inside the little shack, and a few minutes later she came back holding a set of keys. “Ready?”
I looked around, trying to figure out what she could possibly need keys for. There weren’t any cars nearby, and other than a small boat that looked like it had seen better days, that I wasn’t even sure had a motor, there weren’t any water vessels. “For?”
She pointed behind me at a golf cart painted neon green and white. “We’re exploring.” She tucked her basket into the compartment in the back seat and then climbed behind the wheel. “You coming?”
I shook my head and laughed as I sat next to her. “Of course, Red.”
12
Cora
Okay, so a golf cart rental on a secluded island wasn’t exactly on the same level as Gerard’s plans usually entailed. But with the wind in my hair and the smell of the ocean, it wasn’t half bad.
And, it kept me from just staring at my best friend, hoping he’d kiss me, or bring up the kiss.
We cruised around the southern tip of the island, taking in the pristine blue waters and the white sandy beaches.
Gerard held my hand, our only connection as I drove. Without music blaring from car speakers or tons of other tourists around, it almost felt like we were alone, like Isla Mujeres was our private island for the day.
“I think here’s a good place.”
“A good place for what?” His brow furrowed and he looked around. The only things in our immediate view were water, palm trees, and sand.
“You’ll see.” I shut off the golf cart and got up, grabbing the basket before I headed toward the ocean. Near the waterline, I pulled off my dress and kicked off my sandals, leaving them in a pile next to our picnic. I knew I’d need sunscreen soon, but I needed to see what Gerard would do without anyone watching, with just the ocean for company.
I dove into the water, quickly resurfacing so that I could turn around and watch him. “The water’s great. And I think there’s room enough in here for two.”
He laughed and pulled off his tank top, revealing those glorious pecs and abs that I had no problem staring at. “If you’re not careful, you’re going to get burned, Red.”
“You’ll just have to lotion me up in a bit. I couldn’t wait. The water was just too tempting.”
He splashed in and surfaced near me. I wondered if he’d been admiring me in my bikini, if he even noticed. “Mmm, you’re right, this is perfect.” He leaned in like he was going to kiss me.
And suddenly a spray of water hit me in the face as he splashed me.
I groaned and pushed away from him. “Asshole.”
He laughed and swam after me, chasing me around our seemingly private stretch of ocean.
When he started to get close, I heard him humming the Jaws theme, and I let out a playful shriek and swam faster. He caught me by the leg and pulled me backwards toward him, occasionally stopping to pretend to take a bite. “We should get you sunblocked, Red.”
I smirked. “You just want to get your hands all over me again.”
“That is a perk.” He winked at me and grabbed my ass. “Lik
e this?”
The move shocked me. I gasped and flailed away from him. “Hey!”
He laughed and grabbed me again, tickling my sides. “Oh, relax, Red. I’m just teasing you.”
“You’re still an ass.” I swam away and headed to the shore. “Now are you going to help me with the sunscreen, so we can have our lunch?”
Gerard followed me, and soon I had beach towels spread out under palm trees, our picnic basket settled between them.
“Remember how we met?”
He flopped down on one of the towels, and then pulled me down with him. “How could I forget? You were sitting outside on the steps during lunch, all alone.”
“Oh, make me sound like a loser, why don’t you?” I grabbed the bottle of sunblock and handed it to him. “It was the first day of freshman year, and the friend I thought was going to meet me, who was supposed to be eating lunch with me on those steps, decided that hanging out with Bradley Greene was more important. I had just moved to Jubilee Falls, and Nina was the only person who had even talked to me, and she blew me off for Bradley Greene.” I focused on the story, fighting the urge to lean into his hands, into his touch. “And you walked up, all gangly teenage boy, thinking you had swagger.”
His fingers dug into my ribs a little, making me jolt. “I did have swagger. And that was the first time I called you Red.”
“Not only that, but you shared your lunch with me.” I pulled open the basket. “Do you think you’d like to share lunch with me again?”
He wrapped his arms around me from behind, and he kissed my cheek. “Anytime. Even after twelve years of putting up with your crazy, I’d still walk up to the sad little redhead sitting all alone and force her to eat with me.”
I laughed. “You paint me in such a pretty light. Why am I your friend again?” I shoved away from him and handed him a pre-made sandwich and a bag of chips. “It’s nothing fancy, but —”
“Shut it, Red. It’s perfect.”
I shifted to the other towel and grabbed my own lunch from the basket. “I was figuring, we’d finish lunch, maybe go swimming again before we continue our tour.”
Love Struck Page 10
