"Oh hell yes." He bent and kissed her, just as he had the other night, and Cora practically melted in his arms. Then he pulled back and smoothed a lock of hair away from her face. "Though I should probably run out to the store first. I didn't exactly come...prepared."She was touched by his restraint and responsibility. Going up on her tiptoes, she kissed his cheek. "Let me check. I don't have any, but I think Marla has a big stash in her bathroom. I can replace them later."As she turned to leave, he caught her hand. "Just so we're on the same page - I'm not looking for anything long-term, Cora. Maybe it's a baby-of-the-family thing, but I'm just not ready for commitment yet, and you're the kind of woman who deserves that."What a sweetheart. She shook her head. "My career takes up so much of my time right now. Maybe in a few years I'll be in the market for something permanent, but not right now. We're on the same page, Val. Company and a little fun while it lasts, but no strings a
Val was amazing. Slim as he was, Cora hadn't expected to see muscle definition, but it was there, in his cut chest and six-pack abs. A fine layer of dark hair curled around both coppery nipples and down to bisect his stomach then flared out again around his jutting erection. She hadn't seen all that many in real life, but this one was impressive, long, not too thick but rigid as a steel bar and curved upward with anticipation."Come here." His command was soft and confident. Cora didn't hesitate a moment before walking into the circle of his arms. The warmth of his skin against hers, the crisp hair of his chest against her cheek and the musky scent of him all swirled around her, swamping her senses to the point where she could barely separate one from the other.Val eased onto the bed, pulling her down on top of him. He held her with both arms while he kissed her until her limbs felt limp as noodles. There was nothing limp about Val though. He was lean but solid and strong as he roll
Cora had no idea how much time had passed when Val finally eased himself off her and collapsed beside her on the bed. His hand gently cradled her face and he used one thumb to wipe a tear off her cheek. Where had that come from?"You okay?" His voice was gravelly, and she couldn't help feeling a thrill of pride at the tremor in it."Yeah." She had to swallow twice before she could manage another word. "Never better.""Amen to that." He leaned over to gently kiss her swollen lips. "Thank you.""Mmm. You too." She gave a sleepy yawn before continuing. "But you cheat. Now I have to go with you, who could resist a whole weekend of that?""Not me, that's for sure. I'd love to spend the weekend having sex with you." He slipped out of bed and disappeared into her bathroom, though he didn't bother to close the door.Cora was just beginning to nod off when he came back to bed and pulled the covers up over both of them."Sorry," she murmured. "I know it's too early to go to sleep." It was
He was all packed and ready to leave at first light tomorrow morning, but Val was actually nervous when it came time to pick Cora up that evening. Since their flight was early, they'd decided it would be smarter to spend the night together at his place.Yeah, even he knew that was a lame excuse. But he did want Cora to see his loft and he didn't want to spend the night alone. So, he was having dinner at her place, meeting her roommate, and then taking her home with him afterward. From what she'd said, her roommate was the closest thing she had to a family, so he figured he'd better make a good impression. He stopped for flowers and a bottle of wine along the way.Cora answered the door, all smiles and rosy cheeks in jeans, heeled boots and a fluffy pink sweater. She'd put on makeup, he noticed, and even a tiny pair of silver heart-shaped earrings. Something in his chest clenched that she'd gone to such effort just for him. Mindful of the other woman looking on, he settled for a quick
Fun while it lasted. That's all this was about. Cora set her carry-on down and turned to loop her arms around Val's neck. "So. Shall we get a head start on our vacation?"His slow, sexy grin reassured her that he still wanted her as much as she wanted him. "Hell yes. Now that I've got you in my lair, I have no intention of letting you sleep."Cora licked her lips. "Good." That was all she said before his mouth descended on hers, making talking impossible.One kiss was all it took to have her jeans soaked and her body quivering with need. As soon as they broke off for breath, she pulled her sweater over her head while he yanked off his shirt and stripped down his jeans and boxers, kicking his sneakers to the side in random directions. Cora had to sit on the bed to take off her new boots. When she stood again to shimmy out of her jeans, Val tugged down the covers and paused to stare at her in the new pink satin push-up bra and thong Marla had talked her into buying."Oh sweetheart, y
Cora was barely conscious through the limo ride to the airport, security and being ushered in to the comfy first-class section of the plane. There were very few others in first class, so she and Val had an entire row to themselves. A very deferential flight attendant brought them coffee then a full, surprisingly excellent breakfast, most of which Cora was too tired to eat. Val, however, had apparently worked up an appetite before their showers this morning. He ate everything on his tray and most of hers. They both turned down alcohol in favor of coffee though. As soon as breakfast was over, Val popped up the arm between their seats and patted his lap."Take a nap.""What about you?" Even in here, he could barely stretch out his long legs. She couldn't imagine him getting comfortable enough to sleep."I'm good." He pulled a small ereader from his carry-on case. "I don't need a lot of sleep, so I brought a book to read. You, on the other hand, are still beat. I'd rather have you rest
"Everything about this place is amazing, isn't it?" Cora stood in the bathroom doorway, her cosmetic bag in hand."Almost as amazing as you." Val took the case and popped it into an empty drawer. "Come here, Cora."She walked into his arms without a moment's hesitation, returning his kiss with that eager enthusiasm he'd already come to expect."I want you," he murmured as he nuzzled her ear. "Right here, right now.""Oh good." She reached down to unbuckle his belt. "I don't want to wait either. Condoms?"He whipped one out of his pocket and set it on the counter before shoving his pants down around his ankles and whipping his polo shirt over his head. He'd been prepared on the plane, just in case the opportunity arose, but he'd figured it was more important to let her sleep. Now he was more than ready to go. Apparently, Cora didn't want to wait either - she'd kicked her slacks off and pulled her top over her head. Silky scraps in turquoise blue were all that stood between him and
Cora couldn't get over the resort. The more she saw the more awestruck she became. There were several restaurants, from black tie to a tiki bar on the beach. Everywhere she looked, turquoise waters or tropical blooms met her gaze. Inside the main hotel was a whole floor of exclusive shops, from estate jewelry to swimwear to one devoted to sex toys. She didn't quite get up the guts to go in that one with Val. Besides, she was pretty sure there was enough in the room to keep them busy for the length of their stay.He paused by the jewelry store and looked in. "Should I buy you some diamond earrings as a souvenir?" he teased.Cora shuddered. "I hate diamonds. My foster mother had this huge engagement ring that was her pride and joy. When she smacked me with that hand, the diamond used to leave wounds. I don't have any scars from it, but they still creep me out."Val kissed her cheek. "No scars on the outside," he said softly. "But plenty where it counts. No diamonds for mi corazon."D
Sam watched Evie survey the last few kids out and about. He was just about to turn off the lights and call it a night. Time for one last interlude with the woman he loved. Her song had haunted his mind all day. Likely it would the rest of his life.He saw the young teen walking alone and heard the car come around the corner far too fast. In the moonlight, his heart lurched as he saw Evie start to run.Sam vaulted the porch rail and nearly caught up to her just as she shoved the kid out of the path of the car.He was just close enough to see it strike her, to see her beautiful face as she screamed and fell.The car screeched to a halt and the driver burst out of the door as Sam frantically searched for Evie, calling her name.But all trace of her was gone. No blood marred the pavement.The kid picked himself up off the grass and turned. "What the fuck?" Eyes wide, he looked up at Sam. "Dude, you saved my life. But I could have sworn it was a chick."Sam swallowed hard. He remembe
She pulled back to look him in the eyes. "Me too, Sam. I don't regret a moment, not for myself. Knowing you was worth a hundred-year wait. But you...you have to go on living. Promise me you'll try to find someone. A kind woman who can make you laugh again, who can share your life, maybe give you a family to fill this old, lonely house.""I can't promise that." He wiped the tears from her cheek with his thumb. "After you - I don't know that any other woman would ever measure up."No, this couldn't be happening. It was all right for him to care about her, and it was fine for him to have broken her heart. She'd given it freely. But Sam had so much life ahead of him. "You have to promise to try. The Fates wouldn't be so cruel, Sam. There's a living, breathing woman out there for you somewhere. Please don't give up." She sniffled as more tears spilled down her cheeks."Don't cry anymore, Evie." His voice, already hoarse, cracked. "I promise, sweetheart. I'll try. Just maybe not right awa
It was Evie's last day and he wanted it to be perfect. He'd offered her the option of doing anything she wanted. He loved handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, but he'd happily skip this year if there was something else she wanted to do.As it turned out, Evie's preferences were pretty simple. They spent the hours from midnight 'til dawn in bed. Then he showed her the joys of shower sex, taking her up against the wall with the water spraying all around them. He shaved her legs for her because she wanted to look more modern, if only for him.And that led to his carefully shaving her all the way up, until her luscious pussy was as bare and pink as could be. Of course he couldn't resist diving in to taste then filling her so she could feel the difference without hair.Then he finally let her get dressed. They were both moving gingerly when they made their way down the stairs for brunch. He hadn't had a workout like this since - well, ever."I have a birthday gift for you," she told
It took a little experimentation for Evie to find the motion that worked best - not that anything felt bad with Sam inside her and his hands on her breasts. Finally she settled on an up-and-down movement, with her hands braced on his shoulders. His cock rubbed her in just the right spots. She felt herself going higher, tighter than ever before.When Sam took one hand off her nipple, she almost cried out at the loss. She watched him lick his index finger and wondered what he was about to do, though she was so caught up in fucking him she really didn't care. She was close, so close to her climax, and she trusted him implicitly.He reached behind her and placed the tip of his finger on her anus, pressing it just a tiny bit inside the tight opening.Evie gasped. "Sam?""Do you like it?" he rasped.It was odd, but not unpleasant. She nodded, still riding him frantically. "Good," he grunted, thrusting up hard into her cunt at the same time as his finger pressed harder, up to the first k
"Want to light a fire tonight?" he asked as they rounded the last corner and approached their house. "We could make love on that rug in front of the fireplace.""Oh yes," she breathed, beaming up at him. A few minutes later she sat on his sofa sipping wine while he built a fire in the old brick hearth. She kicked off her shoes and socks, even removed her jacket and sweater, and waited for him in just her jeans and camisole, her hard nipples rasping on the silk as she watched the flex of his strong muscles underneath his snug knit shirt.When he was done, he went to wash his hands, returning in nothing but yet another pair of colorful cotton undershorts. He set a small bundle on the hearth then watched as Evie stripped off her jeans and joined him on the fluffy cotton rug.This time, she took the initiative, dropping to her knees in front of him and taking his face between her hands as she kissed him.He tasted of strawberries and wine and smelled faintly of his lemon-scented soap a
They settled Ghengis in his crate and made their way up the stairs. Sam laid out the clothes he'd bought then shaved and brushed his teeth, changing into a clean shirt and jeans while Evie watched. His ghost was quite the little voyeur. Then at the stroke of midnight, he met her in the hallway and this time it was he who pulled her down the hall to the bedroom - after a long, spine-tingling kiss.He swatted her backside playfully when she groped his cock. "None of that, woman. Not yet, at least. Now we're off to see the world." There was so much he wanted to show her, and so little time."Fine." She tugged off the nightgown she'd worn during the day and studied the garments on the bed. "You have excellent taste, Sam. I suppose that goes with being an artist." It took just seconds for her to pull on the silky bikini underpants and camisole. Slender as she was, she didn't need a bra.She eyed the jeans with delight. "I wore my brother's old trousers only once when I was little - my fa
Evie let Sam help her from the bed. He had been bigger than her fingers, and her body was fully corporeal this time. There was a bit of tenderness between her legs, but sex with Sam had been worth every pang and twinge. He sat her on a stool in the bathroom with a glass of water while he disposed of the used condom then filled his oversized bathtub with water. The scent of lavender and vanilla perfumed the room as fluffy white bubbles foamed up in the tub."Here." He watched while she bundled her hair into the now-familiar plastic clip then handed her two small brown pills from a plastic bottle. "These are pain relievers. They may or may not work on you, but they shouldn't cause any harm.""Thank you." She swallowed the tablets, marveling at how far medicine had come since she was alive. Willow bark tea had done some good but it had tasted horrible. These pills she couldn't even taste. "It doesn't hurt badly - and I don't regret it for a moment." He hadn't asked but she'd learned to
"Let's make sure it was worth the wait." Sam kissed Evie again, taking back control and making sure she knew just how much he wanted her. He pushed down her shorts then his and pulled back from the kiss just long enough to lift her top over her head. Once they were both naked, he cradled her head in one hand and her ass with the other as he kissed her until neither of them could breathe."Oh yes," she moaned against his lips when they came up for air.Evie sagged toward the bed, and Sam eased her down to the sheets and gazed at her, her pale skin glowing against the burgundy silk. He'd lit the candles again, their glow adding a burnished gleam to her skin and hair. Soft jazz played in the background and the scent of vanilla perfumed the room. The setting was as perfect as he could make it, though not as perfect as Evie. He lay down beside her and kissed her again, this time with all the reverence he was feeling.Her response was electric, sending jolts of pleasure through his skin a
He spent awhile working on his computer but couldn't concentrate. Forcing himself to wait until eleven to start preparing, he gave up trying to work. Instead, he spent a while sketching Evie in various poses, including some he'd only imagined, like outside on a rope swing under a willow tree. Finally, with just an hour more to wait, Sam went upstairs, put the new silk sheets he'd bought onto his bed and arranged the roses he'd smuggled into the fridge before she'd come into the kitchen. He had a pair of silk pajamas for her to wear between her appearances this time, and had carefully hand washed her own garments so they'd be ready when it was time for her to leave. He left a bottle of massage oil warming in a sink of hot water and went back downstairs to prepare her treat - a lightly baked wheel of brie with an apricot glaze and a warmed baguette. A crisp white wine waited in the fridge.Tonight he had an hour and a half. He was still determined not to take her virginity until tomorro