Something in his control snaps and he stops treating my body as if I’m a piece of fine china. His fingers dig into my flesh. His thrusts deliver the full strength of his body. The slap of skin on skin each time our bodies meet fills the room with the most erotic rhythm. Over, and over, and again. Driving me higher. Filling me deeper.
“Isaac!” I shout out his name as pleasure rips through my body. My muscles tighten, then shake with the ripple of each aftershock. I ride the wave, blissed out and content as he continues to slam his cock inside me.
“Cora. Fuck. I’m . . .” His muscles flex and strain with his orgasm. His body shudders as he comes. Our heavy breaths mingle, heartbeats racing, and bodies connected as we float down from that orgasmic high. “That was . . .” Isaac pulls out and rolls to his back.
“Yeah.” I stretch out beside him, turning to rest my cheek against the bedding as I stare at his profile. God, he’s beautiful.
“I should take care of this.” He glances down to where he cups himself.
“Bathroom’s through there.” I point to the open door.
He returns a few minutes later, scooping his clothes off the ground, and pulling on his boxer briefs.
“Stay?” He probably needs to get back, but I have to offer. “If you want.”
“I do.” He sits next to me on the bed, running a hand through his hair. He blows out a heavy exhale and reaches for my hand, linking our fingers to give me a squeeze. “God, do I want to, but I can’t.”
I release his hand and sit up. “I understand.”
“If it’s too much—too hard—I understand.”
“Isaac.” I cup his jaw and shut him up with a hard kiss. “I want you. That doesn’t change because you have a child to go home to at the end of the night. Believe me when I say I like my own space. It’s good. We’re good.”
“Okay then.” His lips draw up with the hint of a grin.
“Okay.”
He finishes getting dressed and gathers the rest of his things.
I walk him to the door, wrapped in a robe so I don’t accidentally flash my neighbors. It’s not until I’ve shut and locked the door that I realize I just told a lie. While the logical side of my brain understands why he needs to go, my heart doesn’t like it. And for the first time in my adult life, I really don’t want to be alone.
Twenty-Seven
Isaac
The next week rushes by in a series of stolen moments with Cora. A two-hour phone conversation on Sunday night after I put David to bed. Trading knowing smiles between takes on Monday. Tuesday evening, she visits me at work, and even though the coffee shop is busier than usual, I drag her into the back for a kiss that leaves us both breathless.
I can’t get enough of her. Can’t get her out of my head. And sure, it’s frustrating to not have the freedom of time to explore her naked body in my bed every night, but I’m okay with waiting. I want to do this right. Everything about her is good. Our conversation, her laughter, her smile—all of it brings a brightness that wasn’t there before. For some crazy reason I can’t understand or explain, Cora seems to feel the same about me.
“Beautiful! Okay, let’s switch up the cameras and lighting for our next scene,” the director calls out after Cora nails an emotional scene. “Everyone else take five.”
I nod to Frank and glance at the clock, realizing it’s already time for me to leave. I have class this afternoon, but I always try to say good-bye to Cora, even if I have to catch a later bus.
Cora stands next to Scott, but her gaze lifts to mine and she nods across the room. I follow her meaning and make my way over. We’ve become professionals at taking advantage of the moments we can get, even if it’s only a conversation near the craft table.
She gets there first, tosses me a bottle of water, and grabs one for herself. Sauntering closer, she glances around before lowering her voice. “I want to see you again.”
Yes. “This weekend. I can ask my sisters, see if either can watch David.” I wish I had already done so, but a tinge of guilt sours my excitement. I rely on them too much as it is, and they deserve to have a life outside of babysitting.
“Or we can do something together.” Cora leans into my side, bumping my shoulder with hers. “With David. That is, if you’re okay with that.” Her eyes widen as if she’s anxious for my answer. Like she genuinely wants to spend time with me and my son. I fall for her a little more. She keeps this up and I’ll be a goner.
“I would love that.” I can’t keep the smile from my lips.
“I have the perfect thing. There’s this little town up the coast.” Excitement bubbles from her features. “They host a fair each year and I’ve always wanted to go. It’s this weekend and it’s not too far. Maybe a thirty-minute drive. That’s not too long for David, is it? I can pick you up and we can make a day of it.”
My gut churns with apprehension. I don’t want to let her down, not when she’s obviously put a lot of thought into what we could do. It’s not like I can expect her to spend the weekend hiding out in my apartment. Still. “David doesn’t do so well with crowds.”
“Oh, well, that’s kinda perfect because I try to avoid them too.” She laughs, my concern not stealing her joy. “We’ll go early, right when it opens. The weather should be perfect.”
“Okay, yeah.” I guess we can try it. It makes me nervous because I try to avoid situations that might bring on one of his meltdowns, but I need to get over that. I can’t shelter him forever. Besides, he’s made huge strides in the past year. He’s older too. I’m probably overly cautious.
“Great.” Cora reaches out as if she intends to pull me in for a kiss, but must realize where we are because she stops, letting her hand fall back. Her grin widens. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
My sentiment exactly.
“Cora, we need you on set,” someone says from behind her.
She doesn’t look away from my stare but answers him, her lips pulling wider with her smile. “Coming.” She bites down on her bottom lip, her gaze raking down my body as if she’d like to have her wicked way with me right now.
“Stop.” I let loose a chuckle.
“What?”
“They need you.”
“Well, you’re distracting me.” She bites her lip again. “It’s your fault if I fuck up this next scene.”
“That so?”
“Yeah, but don’t worry. I’ll punish you for it later.” She gives a saucy wink.
“Go.” I laugh, loving that she’s struggling to get back to work. That she’d rather stay and flirt a little longer. “Call me later.”
“Fine.” She twists the water bottle in her hand before taking a few steps back. She’s a contradiction, sweet and sexy, sharp and humble, loaded but somehow into my broke ass. “I will.”
That night it takes me over two hours to settle David before he’s able to sleep. The kid’s mind just won’t turn off. I can see it in his eyes when he gets like this. I’m exhausted by the time I head out to the kitchen table to tackle my homework.