Page 29 of Down & Dirty (Holden Cove #1)

CHAPTER 29

SKYLAR

Elle: How’s it going? Still on your honeymoon? You kill each other yet?

Sky: Not yet. It’s been kind of amazing actually.

Elle: Oooh, I knew it! Tell me everything.

Sky: He’s been sweet and caring. We’re driving home from a hockey game and dinner and earlier he ran me a bath and left me alone.

Elle: Shut up. That sounds like heaven. Did you two do the naked dance yet?

Sky: No.

Elle: And . . . ? Don’t hold out on me, woman.

Sky: We might. Things are . . . good.

Elle: “Good” is a shitty use of your extensive vocabulary.

Sky: I’ve got go, we’re almost home.

Elle: No, no, no, tell me more. I need to live vicariously through you!

Sky: Love you, bye!

“ W hat’s that grin for?” Cory asked me as he put the car in park in front of his dad’s house.

I shoved my phone back in my purse. “Nothing. What does ‘drafty’ mean?”

I’d noted the nickname when Grady used it earlier, but couldn’t piece together what it might mean.

Cory smiled fondly. “I was always fast on the bikes, so I used to tell people it was cause of the wind I kicked up.”

I paused on the top step, savoring his easy energy in the yellow porch light. “But the real story?”

His chin dipped bashfully. “But I was slow everywhere else. Grady used to say I ran like a draft horse. So...”

“Drafty.”

“Yeah. He’s pretty much the only one who still calls me that. I’m sure you’ll hear it again tomorrow.”

Considering how possessive Cory had been around his friend, I was looking forward to the game even more. It wasn’t every day a man got all puffed up to claim me as his, and even as a modern woman who didn’t need any man, it had been fun to see him get jealous.

When we walked into the warm house, Jacob was reclined in his chair by the fire, a National Geographic magazine in his hands and a pair of reading glasses perched on his nose.

“Picked a good game to catch,” he said as we kicked off our boots.

“Yeah, Portland held their own for a while.”

Jacob scoffed. “That team’s had more challenges than I can count. But it seems like they might be on the upswing. Finally.” He pulled his glasses off and gave me a grin. “Did you have fun?”

“I did. The seats were great and it’s been a long time since I’ve been to anything but a motocross race. It was a nice change.”

“I bet,” Jacob said, a little too enthusiastically.

Aside from what Cory had told me, I’d gathered that Jacob didn’t have any appreciation for Cory’s sport. And even though it wasn’t my place, I felt the urge to defend him. I didn’t know why they were so against his career, but I could see on Cory’s face that he’d caught the dig too, and I hated the defeat in his eyes.

“We’re going to head up,” Cory said on a sigh, his hand landing on the small of my back and guiding me toward the stairs. “Have a good night.”

Jacob picked up his magazine and reset his glasses. “Sleep tight.”

As soon as I crossed the threshold into Cory’s room, he tugged me by the wrist into his chest and closed the door. His lips were to my ear as he reached behind me to lock it, and a shiver went down my spine.

“If I don’t get my hands on you right this second, I’ll fucking explode.”

My body braced, every cell pulling taut at the rough timbre of his voice. But that tension turned liquid as his lips met my skin and deep aching desire pulled me under. His hands roved greedily over my body, skimming the velvet of my dress like he’d been holding himself back all night and was finally set free.

I gasped when he took rough handfuls of my breasts, tweaking my nipples between his fingers as his teeth sunk into my neck.

“This fucking dress,” he grit out, smacking my ass like I’d offended him by wearing it.

“You don’t...like it?” My airy question gusted from my lips in spurts, as I struggled to catch my breath.

Cory pulled back, his hands wrapped around my ribs as he droppe d his forehead to mine. “I do. But I’d like it more crumpled in a ball on the floor next to the bed I’m fucking you on.”

His eyes were dark flames, and he licked his lips, as if he could see the vision he’d just conjured in his mind.

So could I.

“Turn around,” he whispered, his lips trailing through my hair as I did what he asked. “Hands on the door.”

I wouldn’t say I was the obedient type, but there was a promise in Cory’s voice that had me responding before I could think myself out of it. I flattened my palms on the wood, as his hands wrapped around my shoulders and he came up behind me. His body pressed into me, the heat radiating between us like a building inferno.

“Tell me you want this too, Sky.” His voice was a rough, ragged sound, his breath gusting over the shell of my ear as he said, “Tell me this isn’t just all in my head.”

My throat had gone thick, desire closing in around me. “It’s not.”

“You want me to touch you?” His fingers moved the hair from the back of my neck, the slow swipe followed by the graze of his lips.

“Yes.”

“You trust me?” The words scraped out and he froze, waiting for me to wave the green flag as if he needed more from me than just my returned affection. It made me feel precious. It made me feel safe.

“Yes.”

He leaned heavily into me, his breath leaving him in a rush. “Good.” Skimming his hands down my back again, like the feel of it was more than he could resist, he asked, “Were you trying to drive me insane? Wearing this tight little dress?”

“No,” I lied. I knew just how many favors this dress did for my figure. “I packed it in case there were cameras,” I finished in a rush, my heart starting to race. That part was true. I had no idea Maine was just for us until last night .

His lips were in my hair as he dragged in a long inhale. “I should have told you before that this trip wasn’t part of the act.” His lips dusted the shell of my ear before he sucked the skin over my pulse, licking the spot where it was hammering. “Does that surprise you?” he asked, and for the first time I heard doubt in his voice.

“No,” I answered quickly, reaching over my head to run my fingers through his hair. “I didn’t know what you wanted, but I’m happy it’s just...” This? Us? What even were we?

“ Us ,” he finished on a shaky exhale, tucking his head into my shoulder. His arms cinched around my waist and tightened as I dragged my nails through his hair. “Us and this sexy fucking dress,” he growled, his chest vibrating against my back, making me arch into him. He growled again when my ass skimmed over his cock, and he pulled me into him harder, grinding himself into me. “Fuck, you are going to feel so damn good.”

I dropped my hand, slapping it against the door, as my body went soft. The room was suddenly a million degrees and my dress was too tight. But when I went to reach back to unzip it, Cory stopped me. He took both my wrists in one hand and held them in place against the door.

“Not yet. First, I’m going to make you come in it,” he whispered, the devilish smile I couldn’t see soaking his words. “And then you’ll never wear it again without thinking of me and turning your cheeks that sexy fucking pink.”

The blush already on my face only burned hotter and I released a stuttering gasp, the world going unsteady beneath my feet.

Cory’s free hand trailed up the seam of my leg, from my knee to the hem of the dress, pausing only a moment as he nuzzled into my neck.

“Let’s see if I’m right?” His fingers coasted higher, until they hit the apex of my thighs.

“About what?” The words sputtered out of me, my legs already wobbly. He was torturing me, and he knew it .

His snicker was pure arrogance, but his lips were soft as they ghosted along my jaw. “About how wet you’d be when I finally got you home.”

“A little sure of yourself, huh?” I managed, annoyed that my body was going to prove him right without my permission.

His fingertip traced the lacey edge of my thong, skirting the center of my pussy as if he knew how badly I needed him to touch me there.

“No, gorgeous. I’m not sure of anything with you.”

His admission hit me in the chest, but he didn’t let the feeling linger.

Tucking one finger under the edge of the fabric, he slipped it between my folds, gliding it over my clit so delicately I shuddered. “But that little noise you made when you kissed me, when you felt how goddamn hard I was for you, that was a good sign.”

I’d wanted to climb him and ride him right there in that hallway. It was like I’d been possessed and the only thing that I could see or feel or hear had been Cory. The way he turned to solid stone pressed into my belly. I felt the same way now. Consumed by the need to touch him, to feel him, to let him unravel me.

His hand was moving now, slow, steady strokes, the lightness of the pressure sending waves of pleasure radiating through me. I rose up on my tiptoes, trying to get closer, to get more. And then my hips began to rock, moving in time with his fingers, finding a delicious rhythm. The one that would send me over if he didn’t stop.

“Every fucking eye on you in that hallway,” he got out through gritted teeth, his grip on my wrists tightening. “I wanted to murder every fucking one of them just for looking at you.”

He sped up, his breath coming out in shorter bursts as I arched back into him, trembling as the wave built.

“You weren’t theirs to look at.” He was panting now, as if he was going to come with me, without anyone even touching him. “You weren’t theirs...” he trailed off, his teeth digging into my neck as a whimper rose from my throat .

“I was yours,” I gasped, the orgasm shooting through me so hard I bucked in his arms, shaking and quivering as the waves of it knocked me off my feet.

Cory didn’t stop, his finger gliding over my slicked skin, pulling every drop of pleasure from my body until I finally went lax and toppled gently into the door. I could hardly breathe.

“Fuck, I can’t wait to make you do that again.” He dropped my wrists and scooped me up.

Finally, I could see him, brow misted with sweat and his cheeks a shade brighter. Even his scruff couldn’t hide the tinge of pink beneath it, and I bit my lip. He got that turned on just from touching me? What the hell was he going to be like when it was my turn?

But before he’d set me down on the bed, my purse began to vibrate and I heard the worst possible sound. Circus music.

Cory froze, holding me aloft at the foot of the bed. We were still winded, still trembling from one of the hottest orgasms of my life. But there was no way I could ignore that call, and I saw in his eyes when he realized the same thing.

“I’ll be fast,” I said when he set me on my feet and I grabbed for my bag on the floor.

“It’s okay.” He blew out a breath, lacing his hands behind his head and pacing to the other side of the room. He was like a caged animal, keyed up with nowhere to go.

“Hello?”

“Hi Mommy!”

My heart rose and sank at the same time. “Hi sweetheart, how are you?”

I heard Tommy’s voice in the background and then the call was switched to video. Micah’s adorable face appeared, with Tommy’s alongside it. I scrambled, combing my fingers through my mussed-up hair, and wiping the corners of my mouth, praying the dim lighting in the room would conceal the flush I knew was all over my cheeks and neck.

“He wanted to call, sorry it’s so late. ”

Tommy didn’t look sorry. If anything, he looked smug, and for the first time since our separation I got the sense he had actually used Micah against me. I stomped down that thought so I could give my son the attention he deserved, but I was not happy.

“I’m always excited to see you, baby. Though shouldn’t you be in bed by now?”

Micah’s face scrunched up like he’d tasted something sour. “It’s Thanksgiving Eve, momma. We can stay up later on holidays.”

“Oh, that’s right. Special rules for the special day.”

He nodded emphatically while Tommy slipped out of the frame.

“Have you been having fun in New Jersey?”

“I got to ride on a quad through the woods, and Peter said I could have my own next time I come.” Tommy had never given me details on Geena’s family, but I assumed Peter was her father or brother.

“That sounds like fun. Did you wear a helmet?”

Micah’s face scrunched again, but he nodded. “I didn’t like it. But it had a green mohawk on it, so Dad said I looked cool.”

“I bet you looked very cool. Always wear that, okay?” A.k.a. don’t be like your father.

“I will. When are we going home, Momma?”

My heart lurched. It was the first holiday we’d ever spent apart. Normally we’d be camped up with my folks and Ronnie in northern California. And he’d never been in a rush to go home when we were there. His question was normal, and I knew it likely didn’t mean anything, but it triggered something in me, something sad and scared. Like he needed me and there was no way I could get to him.

“We’ll all be back home soon. I’ll see you on Sunday night.” Ever since he was little, he’d liked details, precise timelines. I wasn’t even sure he’d known how to conceptualize them when he was younger, but knowing the timing of things helped to put him at ease .

“Okay,” he said, his expression dimming. “I miss you, Momma.”

My throat ached, and I had to take a breath through my nose to catch myself. “I miss you, too, bud. But it’ll only be a couple more days.” He could count to four, but I hoped he’d let that slide.

“And then we can see Elle and Grumpy?”

“Yep. Then we can see all of them.” He seemed reassured by this, and I let out a heavy breath.

“Okay, night Momma.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? And you can tell me how your turkey was.”

He giggled. “Gobble gobble.”

I laughed, doing the same back to him. He handed the phone to his father, and Tommy ended the call without saying another word. Asshole.

When I finally set my phone on the nightstand and turned to find Cory, he was sitting on a chest under the window, his eyes fixed on me. But the heat in them was gone.

“Sorry.”

He shook his head. “Never, ever apologize for that.”

“I got the feeling Tommy might have done that on purpose. Timed it like that just to mess with me.”

“Mess with us , you mean?” His lips curled and a spark of mischief lit in his gaze.

“Yeah.”

“Good.”

“Good?” I was pissed and Cory looked like he’d just been dealt the winning hand in a poker game. And he wasn’t worried about telling the table, either.

“He doesn’t like what’s happening here. And his discomfort about it suits me just fine.”

I let out a laugh, but it sounded watery, and behind it ran the remnants of emotion that conversation had dredged up.

Cory pushed off the chest, approaching me slowly. “What’s wrong? ” he asked as he sat on the bed beside me. He swept his hand down my back, his touch so gentle and patient. The complete opposite of ten minutes ago.

I inhaled in a rush, trying to push everything back down. “Nothing. It’s just the first holiday we’ve spent apart.” Saying the words out loud, picturing his face when he’d told me he missed me, it didn’t help to stem the flood of tears.

“Hey,” Cory whispered, pulling me into him. “That’s really hard, Sky. You guys are a unit, it makes total sense that you’d miss him.”

“But I can handle missing him. It’s him missing me...” I broke off, the words lodging in my throat. I didn’t know where all this was coming from. On the heels of that orgasm, I’d have thought I’d be riding high—and riding Cory—not falling to pieces in his arms.

“It’s okay,” he said softly, his lips to my temple as he ran his hands down my back over and over again, smoothing my hair out of my face with tender fingers. “He’ll be okay, Sky.”

I knew that. I did. In the rational part of my brain, I knew Micah was fine. He was probably already eating candy and jumping off the bed, or whatever else his father let him do that I never did. But hearing Cory say it helped.

I nuzzled into him, knowing I was getting his shirt wet with my tears, but needing his closeness. “Thank you,” I scraped out, wiping my cheek. “I’m really glad I’m here with you.” I tilted to glance up at him, and the look on his face was like a fresh stab to the heart. Hesitation and uncertainty swirled in his eyes.

“Yeah?”

I cupped his cheek, running my thumb along the hard edge of his jaw while he searched my gaze. “There is nowhere else I’d rather be, Cory, than right here with you.”

His eyes drifted closed and he nuzzled into my hand, and my heart felt like it was too big for my chest.

“Me too,” he whispered, his eyes still closed.

“I’m sorry I ruined the moment. ”

He smiled, his eyes opening up with a renewed light. “We’ve got time for lots more moments, Sky.”

And I didn’t know if he meant this weekend or the year of our contract, or something else. But I wasn’t going to ask. Whatever it was, I’d take it. Because what I’d told him was true: there was nowhere I’d rather be than in his arms.