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HARLOW

“Because there isn’t anywhere else in the world I want to be.”

Even after a handful more orgasms, I still can’t get those words out of my head.

It goes against everything he said about not wanting a future or anything serious. He wanted to be here again with me, and he’s still beside me with his arms locked around my body.

“Stop thinking,” he whispers into the top of my head.

My fingers pause where they were trailing around the lines of his six pack, and I risk a glance up at him.

His eyes are tired and hooded, his lips swollen from our kisses, and his jaw is covered in so much scruff it could almost be classed as a beard.

My thighs clench as I remember just how it scratched them not so long ago.

“I can’t help it,” I admit. “Today has been …” I trail off, not really knowing how to describe it.

“A clusterfuck?”

I laugh, “Yeah, that’s a good way to put it. When you sent me that text, I thought …”

“That was it between us?” he guesses, regret darkening his eyes.

I nod, not wanting to say it out loud.

“Honestly,” he says, blowing out a breath, “it could have gone either way at that point.”

I move to push myself from his body, but his arms lock, keeping me in place.

“I don’t know what I’m doing here, Harlow. I’ve never … I’ve never done this before.”

“And what is this , exactly?”

“I have no idea. All I know is that when I’m with you …

” He pauses, glancing over my shoulder, giving himself a moment to process his thoughts.

“When I’m with you, everything goes quiet.

My memories drift away. The only other time I find that kind of peace is when I’m working. I didn’t think it existed elsewhere.”

A giant lump forms in my throat and tears pool in my eyes faster than I can control. When he looks back at me, two have dropped and are making their way down my cheeks.

“Fuck. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I whisper. “I just … I get it.” I wipe at my cheeks, embarrassed. “I spent a lot of years trying to drown stuff out. Years that I’m not proud of.”

Corey rolls me over so I’m on my back. He brushes his thumbs across my cheeks to clear the fresh tears.

“Let me help.” His lips find mine and, just like he described, everything falls from my head as I focus on him and the things he does to my body.

“I can go home if you’d prefer,” he whispers when I’m just on the verge of drifting off an hour or so later. “I don’t want to keep you awake again.”

“You’re not going anywhere. I can handle nightmares. I have enough of my own.”

He falls silent but thankfully, he doesn’t move. His chest rises and falls steadily beneath my cheek. His arm is wrapped tightly around me, and his hand is locked on my hip.

I feel safe. Secure. And, I hate to say it, hopeful.

In just a short time, Corey has given me something I never thought I’d find.

Peace.

Clearly, we both still have a lot to deal with. But suddenly, everything feels that little bit more possible.

“Will you tell me about them one day?” he asks, shocking the hell out of me.

My knee-jerk reaction is to say no. I don’t talk about my parents. I barely even mention them to Brooke and my aunt, but never to anyone who doesn’t already know the story. It’s always been too painful to drudge it all back up again.

“One day,” I whisper. “How about you. Fancy talking about it?”

“One day,” he repeats. I might hate that he’s keeping things hidden, but I can’t exactly argue because I’m doing the same.

I drift off in his arms and don’t surface again until my name being called stirs me back to life.

I crack my eyes open to find the sun streaming in through the crack in the curtains and glance at the clock.

Shit, it’s late.

I look at Corey, who’s still sleeping soundly beside me. He’s on his back with his arm thrown over his head, the covers so low that it exposes his toned and inked chest and stomach.

I lose myself following the lines of his tattoos, so I don’t hear the footsteps heading for my bedroom door.

Before I know what’s happening, it flies open, and Brooke comes marching in.

“Harlow, why are your clothes all over the living room flo … oh, fuck.” Her eyes go so wide, I half expect them to pop out. “Is that the Brit?”

“Yeah,” he grumbles, “and he’s sleeping.”

“No problem. Could you just push the sheets a little lo?—”

“Out, Brooke.”

“But—”

“OUT,” I hiss. After rolling her eyes, she backs out of the room.

“It’s not like I haven’t seen one before,” she mutters seconds before the door closes.

“Exactly. Your wealth of knowledge is vast. Use your imagination.”

“Bitch,” she calls, making both Corey and me laugh.

“I’m so sorry,” I say, dropping my forehead to his chest.

“There’s something wrong with your best friend.”

“I’m well aware. You know she’s not going to let you out of here until she’s grilled you for at least an hour, right?”

“She can try. I’m not one to kiss and tell. Although, I’m not sure it’s going to be necessary.”

“How comeeee,” I squeal as he flips me onto my back and looms over me.

“She’s about to hear just how good I am.” He pushes my legs apart and settles between them as his fingers find my sensitive center. It’s deliciously sore as he pushes two fingers inside me, reminding me of everything that happened last night. “Always so fucking wet.”

“It’s your ink. I can’t get enough.”

“My ink, huh? You sure it’s not the promise of my cock?”

“Nah. I can take or leave that. Corey!” I cry as he bites down hard on my nipple.

“Louder. Make her really fucking jealous, Lo.”

By the time we roll out of bed sometime later, I have no doubt that Brooke—and possibly half the street—know exactly what was going on.

“I need to shower,” I say, padding to my bathroom as Corey stands deliciously naked at the window, staring at the glorious spring morning outside.

“Do you mind? You’ll give the neighbors a heart attack.

” I run my eyes down his sculpted back and to his ass.

I bite down on my bottom lip. It should be illegal to have an ass quite that peachy.

“Just checking out the neighborhood while you check out my arse.”

“Well, if you don’t move, you won’t get a chance to check me out in the shower. But I understand if the old woman over the street is more fascinating.” Before I have a chance to turn away from him, he’s halfway across the room and has my hand in his.

“Let’s go. There’s nothing more fascinating than watching bubbles run down your body.”

“Oh good, you’re both still alive. I started to get worried when all the cries for God and the banging stopped,” Brooke quips when the two of us make it down to the kitchen sometime later.

Thankfully, I found Corey’s discarded clothes neatly folded outside my bedroom door when I emerged to find them for him.

“Shut up, B. I might suggest you’re just jealous, but seeing as you didn’t come home until this morning, I’m assuming you had yet another successful Saturday night.”

“I’ve had worse, that’s for sure. But you have most definitely had a better morning. For someone who’s been celibate for?—”

“Brooke,” I hiss. “Enough.”

“What? I’m just saying that you seem to have remembered how to ride the bike perfectly well.”

“Like a pro,” Corey adds, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me back into his body.

My cheeks burn as Brooke barks a laugh, amusement and delight filling her features.

“Morning, Brit boy. I would say it’s nice to see you, but seeing as you clearly spent the night in her bed and not mine, I’m not so sure it is.”

“Who said we didn’t spend any time in your bed?”

Brooke gasps in mock horror. “Fair play. It was time you got your own back for that night I spent with Harry … Hugo … Henry … Ugh, I don’t remember his name. All I know is he had this massive?—”

“You’d better be joking,” I snap, cutting her off from the inevitable.

She winks at me. “I guess you’ll never know.”

“Jesus, you’re a nightmare.”

She shrugs. Her ability to not care about anything is one of the things I admire the most in her. She’s desperate to find the one, but even with her lack of success she still keeps her head up and continues kissing the frogs.

“Who’s for bacon?” she asks, pulling the refrigerator open and poking her head inside.

“As tempting as that sounds, I really need to head off.” Disappointment floods me, and apparently, he doesn’t miss it. “Walk me out?” he asks before directing me from the room.

“What? No kiss goodbye?” Brooke calls after us.

“Maybe another day.”

“Don’t even think about it. She kissed Fletch once and she’s never let me forget it. My life wouldn’t be worth living if?—”

“She kissed Fletch?” he asks curiously.

“Yeah, why?”

“No reason.” He pulls me into his arms and closes the space between us. “I wish I could stay.” He rubs his nose against mine, and I sigh.

“It’s okay. I’ve got some stuff to do,” I admit. I need to check on my aunt again.

“Meet me after I finish work?” Hope shines in his eyes.

“Hmm … that depends on what you’ve got to offer me.”

“Dinner and a bad night’s sleep?” he asks with a naughty glint in his eye.

“I’ve got work tomorrow morning.”

“Bring what you need. You can go from mine.”

An idea forms in my head. “Don’t worry about planning anything; I’ve got it covered.”

“Okay.” Intrigue fills his face, but I don’t let on.

“I’m going to miss you,” he murmurs before dropping down to capture my lips.

“I’ll see you later.” I watch as he walks down our driveway and climbs into the car I didn’t realize he’d ordered.

After waving him off, I head back in to join Brooke in the kitchen.

She looks over her shoulder at me from where she stands at the stove, and a smile curls her lips.

“You look really fucking happy.”

I sigh, dropping down into a chair and unable to fight my own smile.

“I know I joke, but he’s really good for you.”

“I think you might be right.”

“So, what happened last night? You never said he was coming.”

“It wasn’t planned,” I admit. “I was in bed trying to sleep, and he just turned up.”

“Oh, I love a good booty call.”