by Emma Tharp
My heart hurts. That’s what Carrie did. I don’t want him to have an ounce of fear that I’ll turn my back on us. “Derek.” I pull his shirt up and place my palms flat on the smooth skin of his chest. “I was starting to fall for you. And when I wasn’t talking to you, I missed you so much.”
A grin tugs at the corner of his mouth and his thumb caresses my cheek. “I feel the same. Tell me you’re ready to be exclusive with me. I don’t want anyone else.”
Tears slip down my cheek to my pillow. “I don’t want anyone else either, but are you sure you want to be with someone like me? I don’t have my life together.”
His finger swipes away the dampness on my cheek. “It wrecks me when you cry. There’s no need for tears. I don’t care if you don’t have your life all figured out. I can help you.”
“From day one you’ve been trying to help me. But what am I doing for you?” I ask.
He cups my jaw in his hand. “You give me so much. Can’t you see that? You challenge me, you get me. I don’t know anyone smarter than you are. And don’t get me started on how insanely attracted to you I am. I get hard in my dreams when I think about you.”
A laugh bubbles up. “I want to be your perfect partner. Someone who has pride in her job.”
He clasps my palm and interlaces his fingers in mine and brings our hands to his mouth, kissing the back of mine. “Why don’t you go back to college? Get your law degree. Now that your mom is safe and settled with the care she needs, you can start thinking about yourself.”
I worry at my bottom lip, running my teeth over it. How could I afford to do that? It’d be difficult. The house is paid for, but not utilities. I’d have to pay for my car insurance and food, too. “I don’t know if I could make it work.”
“You already know how to make it work. You’re one of the strongest, smartest people I’ve ever met. And I know you don’t want to take anymore of my help, but I’m here for you. I have more money than I know what to do with. I’d love to help my math tutor follow her dreams.”
The tears fall faster now. “Maybe I could do it. I’m afraid I’m going to lose my job at Lolita’s anyway. My boss, Steve, hasn’t taken my calls in the last two days. But I could apply for financial aid.”
“Screw Lolita’s. You could always find something part-time at a nice Italian restaurant or something. Anything but the stripagrams. I’m pretty secure in my manhood, but knowing you’re going out to bachelor parties and taking off your clothes for dirty-minded men who want to bend you over and fuck you would be more than I think I can handle.” He’s smiling, but I can see in the set of his jaw that he’s serious.
“Thank you,” I tell him. “For being patient with me and encouraging me. I want to be a lawyer. I’m going to look into it and see if I can manage it.”
His eyes take me in with wonder, like I’m the most beautiful, intelligent woman he’s ever seen. “That’s my girl.” He tugs me in closer and I melt into him.
Pulling back, I angle my face toward his and place a kiss on his lips. He cups the nape of my neck and deepens the kiss. Closing my eyes, I wait to see if the room spins. It doesn’t. Maybe the conversation sobered me up. “I want you,” I whisper, barely breaking the kiss.
He tugs my dress up and I lean on one elbow to help get it over my head. He takes off my bra and underwear and tosses them on the floor. I shamelessly watch as he pulls off his shirt, pants, and boxers.
Lying back down, he hovers over me. His tongue traces my lips and dips in my mouth. He nips and teases me, creating a deep need in my core. “All I could think about was this when we weren’t together. But I never jerked off.”
My eyes widen at his confession. “Why not?”
“It wouldn’t be worth it. I craved your skin, your mouth, your touch. This is what I needed.” His hand comes up and cups my breast, squeezing my nipple between his fingers.
I moan and arch into his touch. He drags his finger slowly down my stomach all the way down to my sex. My skin tingles everywhere he touches me. Plunging two fingers in, his thumb works my clit. Derek sucks on my neck and my belly clenches. “I love how wet you are for me.” He nearly growls.
“That feels so good, but I want you inside me. Please,” I practically beg.
He’s up and off my bed, digging in his pocket. He pulls out a condom, rips it open, and sheaths himself. He’s back on the bed, balancing over me. His thick length aligned with my opening. “Did you miss this, too?” His voice is hoarse like he’s hovering on the edge.
“So much.” I grasp the curve of his ass and apply downward pressure as I raise my hips up.
Sinking into me, he tilts his head back and groans. “You’re perfect. Nothing feels as good as you.”
The heat of his body against mine and his smell intoxicate me. I drag my fingers up his back and into his hair; the strands are soft and silky to the touch.
He flips us over and I’m straddling him. “I want you to ride me,” he says, breathless.
My hands clutch his chest and I rock up and down his length. He reaches under and grips my ass and guides me, controlling the rhythm. He pounds up into me, hitting the sweet bundle of nerves deep inside. One of his hands comes up and works my clit with skilled pressure.
My orgasm blindsides me. A rush of pleasure surges through me. I cry out his name as spasm after spasm cascade over me.
I take him in, every beautiful inch. I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I won’t take it for granted. His eyes are lidded and his mouth is parted. His abs get rigid and stiff seconds before he shudders.
“Cora,” he breathes out and pulses into me.
I lie on him, my breasts against his hard chest and kiss him. It’s several minutes before we come down from the high.
Derek’s fingertips make sweeping circles on my back and my eyelids get heavy. Laying my cheek on his chest, I say, “Stay with me tonight.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
SIXTEEN
Derek
“This is the last of it,” I tell Cora as I set the box on the floor of Adeline’s new room at Riverview.
The room is large by assisted living standards. She has a bed in one corner with a white comforter and all the walls are painted white. There are blinds for the two windows in the room and, you guessed it, white curtains. It has a clean and disinfected feel. That’s why Cora wanted to bring some of her mother’s favorite items to liven the place up a bit.
“Great. Thanks.” She’s organizing the windowsill with a few framed pictures of their family.
I’ve helped her pack up a few of her mother’s belongings and bring them over to her room. It’s been emotional for Cora, but I’ve been here for her through all of it over the last couple of weeks.
“Look at this one, Mom.” She carries a picture of her and her parents in Rome, the Coliseum behind them. “Wasn’t this the best trip? It was in August. We were so hot. I think we ate gelato five times a day to stay cool.”
Her mom smiles: half of her face tugs up, the other side is immovable, and she nods. She’s been improving and has regained some of her function, but still is fed through a feeding tube.
It’s been a hard pill for Cora to swallow, that her mom needs to be here, but she knows that her needs are far beyond Cora’s scope now.
We empty her mother’s favorite books onto the bookshelf in the corner and scatter a few trinkets and knick-knacks around. She has figurines of herons and owls all over. Cora also brought a brightly colored quilt for her bed.
“Looks homey in here,” I say.
Cora’s hands are on her hips as she scans the room, and then a smile forms on her face. “It does, doesn’t it, Mom?”
Adeline nods her head.
Cora sits on the edge of the bed and squeezes her mother’s leg. “Don’t worry. I’m going to be here all the time. Remember we have a wedding to go to tomorrow, so I’ll stop by in the morning before we go. Ok?”
Her mom nods and smirks.
I gather up the boxes to take with us on our
way out. “See you in the morning, Adeline.”
“Bye, Momma,” Cora says and follows me out the door.
Down the hallway, she puts her arm around me. “Thanks for being here for all of this. You’ve helped make this transition easier for me.”
“I’m here for you. But… I know a way you could repay me when we get back to your place.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her, lightening the mood. It’s been heavy long enough.
Licking her lips, she says. “That can be arranged.”
NORMALLY SITTING through full Catholic mass wedding ceremonies feels long and tedious. Not today. I listened to the priest talk about love and the sanctity of marriage and it struck a chord with me. I thought what I had with Carrie was what love was supposed to feel like. Now I know how different real love is. With Carrie it was passion and lust and a whirlwind of constant chaos. That’s not what it feels like with Cora. This is different. Of course, we have passion—fuck, I can’t keep my hands off her—but we’re settled and content in the day to day instead of always looking for more. There’s a safety in it that I don’t take for granted.
Slick and Rose’s wedding is beautiful from the flowers at the church to the decorations at the reception, but nothing is quite as gorgeous as my date. Sometimes it’s hard to catch my breath with her next to me. We’re sitting at the reception now, enjoying dinner. She’s in a pale pink number and half of her hair is swept up off her shoulders, exposing one of my favorite spots on her body to kiss, under her ear. My dick twitches in my dress pants when she turns toward me and licks her lips. She knows I’m staring at her. I can’t help it.
We continue to grow closer every day, even when I’m out of town for games. We make the effort whether it’s a call, a text, a note left behind, or an evening spent Skyping while we eat dinner. It’s important to each of us to make this work.
Cora eats the last bite of her salmon and sets her fork down.
“Dance with me,” I say. I’m not a big dancer, but I know Cora loves it and it’s an excuse for me to touch her.
Her blue eyes light up and she takes the napkin off her lap and sets it aside. “I’d love to.”
Reaching out my hand to her, she grasps it and we walk to the dance floor hand in hand. I wrap my arms around her slim waist and stare into her eyes. She gives me an adoring smile that I feel deep in my chest.
We sway in time with the music and over Cora’s shoulder, Slick and Rose are dancing close. He catches my eye and gives me a thumbs up. I wink at him and smile. I couldn’t be happier for the guy. He and Rose complement each other so well. She’s the calm to his storm. Today’s been the perfect day for them.
Not too far off are Teddy and Bri. The two of them look close, even though neither one of them can figure out how to handle the other. Maybe they’ll get it. Teddy told me he’d like to date her exclusively.
Cora kisses my jaw and says, “I love weddings.”
“Oh, yeah? Do they make you as horny as they do me?” I laugh, but I’m only half joking.
She playfully swats my chest, but she gives me that smile. It disarms me. I take her hand in mine and press it to my chest. “Do you have any idea how incredible and strong you are? And how fucking happy you make me?” I pull her closer to me. Weddings obviously bring out the sap in me.
“Really?” Her fingers graze my cheek and my heartbeat kicks up a notch.
“Yes. And being here today makes me realize that I can’t let another second go by without me telling you that I’m proud of you. For taking care of your mom when she needed you, and now for taking the steps to follow your dreams. You’re going to kick ass in law school. I know it.” She already got accepted back into the program she left five years ago. My heart beats wildly in my chest before I say, “And I love you.”
The air between us seems to sizzle as we stare into each other’s eyes. “I don’t want you to think I’m saying this just to say it, but I love you, too.” Her voice comes out as sweet and smooth as the perfect pass in front of the net. I shouldn’t be surprised that she’s saying the words out loud. She’s already shown me. It’s in the way she looks at me, like I’m the only man on earth. In the way she holds me and touches me. In the thoughtful little things she does, like the notes she leaves in my suitcase that I find when I’m at an away game. This is what I’ve always wanted. She is what I need.
“I don’t think you’re saying it just to say it. I know you mean it.” I lean down and suck her bottom lip into between mine. “How long do we have to stay here today? I’m desperate to take you home and get you out of this dress.”
“Oh, are you now? I think we can get going.” She clutches my shirt in her hand and tugs me in closer to kiss me again. It’s deep and full of promise.
“Let’s go and stay in bed for the next two days.” My hands move down her waist and grab the top of her round ass.
She shakes her head. “Didn’t I tell you, I have the lunch shift tomorrow at Nonna’s Kitchen.”
I sigh deeply. “Right. That’s okay. We have all night tonight and I plan to show you just how horny you’ve made me in that dress all day.” My beautiful, stubborn girlfriend refuses to let me help her pay her bills. At least she isn’t taking off her clothes for money anymore and got a job at a local Italian restaurant instead. The tips are good and she likes her co-workers.
“May I have your attention, please?” A man’s voice says over the microphone.
Cora and I turn to find the asshole, Marcus Reid, standing next to the DJ stand with microphone in hand and his girlfriend, Alex, is next to him. She’s peering around, her hands by her sides, most definitely looking uncomfortable to be standing there with all of the attention on her.
“I wanted to take a second to congratulate the newlyweds on their wedding. Alex and I wish them all the best.” Marcus raises his glass and continues, “Cheers to Rose and Rick. May you have a long and happy marriage.” He takes a sip of his drink and many others around the room do, too. He sets his glass down and stands in front of Alex. “And in the spirit of the wedding today, I want to tell my stunning girlfriend just how happy she makes me.” He drops down to one knee and pulls a box out of his jacket pocket and opens it. “Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
Alex’s hands come up to her mouth and tears stream down her face. She nods her head and says, “Yes.”
Marcus slips the ring on her finger. When she holds it up and twirls it, it sparkles in the dance floor lights, sending a kaleidoscope of colors around where she’s standing. He lifts her up in his arms and spins her around.
Alex’s face is mixture of shock, joy, and dare I say embarrassment. Can’t blame her. What kind of jerk proposes at someone else’s wedding. I’d be humiliated if I were her, too.
Only Marcus Reid would have an ego that big and be completely clueless at the same time.
The wedding attendants cheer and golf-clap. Not Cora and me. We make our way back to our table and take a seat, completely ignoring the spectacle on the dance floor.
Cora’s eyes are wide and her lips are a tight line. “Holy shit. Did the asshole that’s been cheating on her all along just propose?”
“It appears that he did. Maybe he got it out of his system.” I doubt it even as I say it.
“Oh, no. There’s zero chance that he’s not cheating. Why do you think he’s in such a hurry to get married? He’s clearly not ready.” Her cheeks are getting red and she’s gripping her napkin like she wants to choke someone.
Resting my hand on her arm, I say, “Let’s not let the biggest asshole on the team ruin our night. Okay?” Everything today has been as close to perfect as it can get. We professed our love for each other and one of my best friends got married. I’m not taking anything for granted and I’ll be damned if Marcus is going to wreck it.
She blinks a few times. “You know what? You’re right. Let’s get out of here.” She stands and comes up behind my chair. Leaning down, she licks my neck. “You mentioned something about wanting to take off my dress,” s
he whispers.
I’m up and out of my chair so fast it scrapes across the floor. Running my hand from her shoulder down her arm to her hand, I clasp it in mine. I take in her gorgeous body, stunning smile, and underneath it all, her huge heart. She’s all mine. “Let’s say our goodbyes and head out. I’m going to take off your dress with my teeth, and then I’m going to lick your…”
Cora’s lips press the corner of my mouth. “If you don’t stop now, we aren’t going to make it out of the parking lot.”
“I love you, Cora.”
“I love you, too. Now let’s go.”
I do as I’m told and lead her out of the reception so I can show her just how much I love her.
The End
IF YOU’RE curious what happens to Alex, check out the next book in the Rules of the Game Series, Defending Your Heart, releasing March 2019.
I’D BE HONORED if you’d leave a review for my story on Amazon. Thank you.
TO KEEP up to date on all of my books, deals and giveaways, sign up for my newsletter here.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First of all, I need to thank my husband, Sam. Without him, none of this would be possible. Period. He’s there for me, supporting me, and cheering me on every step of the way through my writing journey. And to my kiddos, you guys are so awesome. I love you both to the moon and back.
A huge hug and thank you to Nicole Andrews Moore, my friend and mentor. You’re always there for me and I love you for it. My rock star editor, Theresa Schultz, you make everything better in my stories. Thank you so much. Megan Squiers Parker, thanks for the beautiful cover. Jack looks amazing. To my proofreader, Julie Deaton at Deaton Author Services, you are so good at your job. I swear, nothing gets by you! And to my critique partner, Lisa. You speed read this book for me with the same accuracy and honesty as you would any other of my books. You’re invaluable to me.
To all the awesome bloggers out there who work tirelessly to help get the word out there for my books. Because you don’t hear it enough, thank you. You deserve all the props for all the hard work you do for authors.
