Cory hobbled over to the elevator and prayed that she would make it through the rest of the day in one piece. She was in physical pain this morning. Besides her leg, all over her body ached. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to have wild, wanton sex after such a long time. She felt like she had been through a military drill after trying all those positions with Adrian last night.
She inwardly groaned when she saw Jay already waiting for the lift. He was his flamboyant self in a lime green shirt and matching tie.
“Good morning, Ri-Ri. You look lovely this morning. All aglow,” Jay announced in his usually disgusting and very chipper early morning tone. The caffeine junkie that he was always got his morning high from consuming way too much coffee. It was only 6:30 and the steaming cup he sipped from was already half empty and more than likely his second or third fix by now.
“Morning, Jay,” she sang sweetly.
“Slept well?”
“Like a baby,” Cory answered, smiling. Well, for the three hours she managed, anyway.
As she got into the elevator with him, he remarked, “You look shorter than usual this morning.” Jay towered over her, his six foot four frame of lankiness looked down at her feet and saw flat sandals, instead of her usual heels. At five-five and wearing flats, Cory looked like a midget standing next to him.
“What’s the matter with your foot, Ri-Ri?”
“Oh. I pulled a muscle jogging yesterday.”
“Mmm. And judging from all those hickeys on your neck, you pulled other things, too,” he grinned.
“God, Jay! Mind your own business,” Cory said. Instinctively her hand flew to her neck.
“You slept with him, didn’t you?”
“Leave me alone, Jay.” Cory again prayed for the elevator to reach the fourth floor quickly enough so she could make her escape. Jay worked on the fifth floor with the big boys. The chairman, CEO, CFO and finance department were all located there. Thank God it finally stopped on her floor and she hobbled out again.
“So how was it?” he shouted after her.
“In-freaking-credible!” Cory threw back at him. Knowing Jay for so long, only a retort like that would leave him completely satisfied. He was laughing hard when the elevator door closed.
Cory grinned herself. It was the truth. She did find out something last night. What an absolutely amazing lover Adrian was. And after assessing her fair share of sexual relationships, he was by far the best she ever had. The lieutenant was right at the top of her list. His sexual prowess made her spirit soar to new heights, orgasm after orgasm, sending her to the edge and back. She truly lost count of the many screaming ones she experienced last night.
Forget about the battery-operated stuff, where had this man been all her life? It couldn’t get better than the real thing Adrian delivered. This was the only time she ever allowed a man to take total possession of her entire being like that. And he certainly had no qualms about pleasing a woman in his bed. Adrian made her do things she never dreamt of. She had become totally enslaved in his passion last night. And how was it possible that she still yearned for him this morning when she awoke, alone in her own bed? Cory couldn’t quite get enough, the fire, the heat and that burning desire for him. And she wanted so much more of it.
• • •
And that was exactly what she got for the next couple of weeks. For the first time in a long time, she felt happy. After all she had been through, Cory truly felt like she was living again. She felt free. Adrian Mendez freed her soul from the grasps of hell. And with each passing day, it became even more magical.
The only problem was … it was starting to be more than sex she wanted from Adrian.
She was falling for Adrian … and fast. How could she really resist him? On the outside, Adrian was gorgeous, sexy, and physically fit. On the inside he was kind, caring, intelligent, respected her modern femininity, very protective of her, and appreciated her for who she was really.
There was only one problem. This incredible package came all wrapped up in a military uniform. With the guns and ammunition included. The man killed people for a living. Could she really be with someone like Adrian?
And she had no idea of his feelings for her. He certainly never said anything to her to ever suggest he wanted more than sex from her.
She was busy packing for her upcoming Carnival weekend getaway trip with her family when she realized she needed to talk it over with a friend. And Cory knew her friends well so she couldn’t possibly call Gabby. Gabby was the girlfriend for those hardcore, ugly truth talks. She’d call Kerry if she needed a psychoanalysis of something. When she was in the mood for a hilarious, laugh-out-loud perspective, she’d consult Jay. So she dialed Elisha’s number.
“Hola, chica! Como esta?”
“Ah, she speaks Spanish. That means she’s in a good mood,” Elisha laughed. “So does this have anything to do with soldier boy?”
“Oh yeah. It has everything to do with him. These past few weeks have been just amazing. I’ve not been this happy in so long.”
“I know. Well, I’m just so happy to see you happy and actually living again, Cory.”
“But I think I’m falling for him, Ellie,” Cory blurted. “Really hard.”
“Hold up. Are you saying you’re falling in love with Adrian?” Elisha asked.
There was a long silence before Cory finally answered her. “I think I might be.”
“Okay.” Pause. “So how does Adrian feel about all this?”
“I don’t know, Ellie. I really don’t know. I mean I know he likes me, we spend a lot of time together and we really enjoy each other’s company and the sex is just so damn good … but I don’t know much else. He hasn’t said anything to indicate his feelings in that department.”
“Oh. I see.”
“After Preston, I never thought I could feel this way again. In fact, Preston can’t even compare to Adrian. Adrian is so different. He knows what I need and he’s not afraid to give it to me. He’s kind and patient and humble. And he’s so protective of me all the time. He even introduced me to new things.”
“New things like what?”
“Like hiking through the bush.”
“No! Way! You hiking, Cory?” Elisha burst out laughing. “That’s something I have to see for myself. Wait till Gabby and Kerry hear this.”
“Don’t laugh. It’s actually fun. You all should come with our group sometime,” Cory suggested.
“Uh-huh, sure,” Elisha continued laughing. “I could see Kerry now, in her matching hiking gear.”
“By the way, how’s she and Gabs doing? I haven’t seen them both in a while. I called Kerry sometime but she never returned my call. I thought that was odd.”
“Well, you know Gabs is busy finishing up her culinary degree. And as for Kerry … I think you two need to talk.”
“Talk? About what?” Cory enquired.
“Well, I think since that time you introduced us to Adrian at that party … she kinda felt you were being a — ”
“A what? A hypocrite?” Cory asked defensively. “Does Kerry think I’m a hypocrite, Elisha?”
“Look, I didn’t say that. I think she was probably hurt by your whole antimilitary thing the whole time. Remember her brother is a cop?”
“I know that. It’s not like I don’t like him or anything. I do. Besides, I’m not like that anymore. At least, I’m trying to change my way of thinking, Elisha. And I have to thank Adrian for that.”
“Well, whatever it is, you and Kerry have to work it out between yourselves,” Elisha proclaimed. “Anyway, let’s get back to your dilemma.”
“Okay, so you tell me this,” Cory said. “What do you call two people who spend every other day together, who go out with each other, who have so much fun together…”
“Wait a minute. You two actually leave his apartment?” Elisha laughed.
“Could you stop interrupting me here? And yes, we do go out. Sometimes,” Cory laughed. “And … we have the most incredible sex ever. Remember when I joked and told you all I needed four men to completely satisfy me?
“Yeah.”
“Well, Ellie … I only need half of that man. Okay. Only half!”
“Really?” Elisha squealed. “Damn girl, I knew soldier boy was hot.”
“So what exactly do you call us, Ellie? Are we dating, are we a couple? What are we?”
“Sex buddies!”
“I was afraid you were going to say that,” Cory sighed.
“But wasn’t that what you wanted to begin with? You wanted him just for the sex, remember?”
“Yeah, I did,” Cory muttered.
“And now you want more, don’t you?”
“Oh, Ellie. I want so much more. And I want it all with him.”
“Girl, you got it bad. It sounds like you’re hooked all right.”
“Ellie, I need some help here, please.”
“Cory, all I can tell you is to ask him how he feels about you. Or you tell him how you feel about him.”
“Are you crazy? I can’t do that.”
“What’s the matter with you? You always go after what you want.”
“Yeah, but this is different. He’s different.”
“Look, sometimes men just need a little prodding and prompting. Maybe he’s a little shy to admit his feelings just yet.”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right.” Cory doubted it was that, though. “Did you ever have to prod and prompt Curtis?”
“Of course I had to!”
Cory laughed. “Of course. What am I asking? Men will be men. Anyways, I have to get back to my packing. So enjoy the Carnival. I’ll call you over the weekend.”
“And you enjoy the beach.”
Cory groaned aloud. She didn’t exactly want to be stuck at a beach house this weekend, especially since all her friends would be playing mas’ without her, again. But if you weren’t a masquerader or spectator during the Carnival festivities, the beach was usually your domain.
By the time she was finished packing, Cory knew she had to find out where things stood between her and Adrian. And soon. Some way or the other. So maybe she really needed to start the prodding and prompting.