I slowly nod my head. “Yes, I do. Is that okay?”
She leans back against me. Quiet again. “We should do something with it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know just yet, but something. Something that will help people.”
I kiss the top of her head. “I like the sound of that.”
“You’d want to do that with me?”
“Cora, I want to do everything with you.” And that’s the truth. In fact, one of the things that has most stood out since I told Cora about my family growing up is how much I would hate to be working away from home five days a week and only see her on weekends, like my pa did with my ma. How did he like that so much that he did it for years? How did he stay away from us? Selfish bastard.
She lifts up and presses a kiss to my jaw before settling back against my chest.
We stay like that, silent and cuddled into each other, until we reach the Waldorf Astoria.
Along with my change of clothes, I snuck in some clothes for her so she doesn’t have to wear her dress tomorrow morning. With the overnight bag in one hand and my girl on the other, I lead the way to the front desk. We check in and make our way up to a suite. It’s not too big, because it’s just the two of us, but it does offer a view of Lake Michigan, a balcony, a sitting area, and a huge bed. Everything we might need.
“This is so romantic,” Cora says, taking in the room. “I can’t believe you did this.”
“I can’t believe this hotel room is bigger than our actual apartment.”
She chuckles and walks over to open the balcony doors. The wind lifts her hair, causing it to blow in the breeze as she steps up to the stone wall.
Instead of joining her right away, I take a moment to observe her silhouette, the curves and beauty of the woman in front of me. Going into this, I was hoping to just make things bearable between us to save the foundation, hoping that Cora wouldn’t annul the marriage. I didn’t know her well enough to expect anything more, if I’m honest. But she’s surprised me at every turn. I don’t know how she’ll handle the truth of my pa’s threats, but I can hope that her love for me will endure that challenge. The connection we share is once in a lifetime, and I know I’m lucky I actually found it.
Her.
I walk up behind her and bring my hands to her shoulders before moving my lips along her neck. “You’re gorgeous,” I say while moving one of the straps of her dress over her delicate shoulder.
She lets the strap fall, the elegant fabric cascading down until she slips her arm out. I smooth my hand up her naked arm, all the way up to her jaw so I can tilt her head to the side, and light up the side of her neck with my mouth.
A soft moan falls past her lips as I drag the other strap of her dress off her shoulder, letting it fall until the silky fabric pools at her waist. Still kissing her neck, I torturously glide my fingers up her front until they reach her breasts. I knew the minute I saw her she wasn’t wearing a bra with this dress, and I’ve been yearning to do this, to takes her breasts in my hands.
“Your nipples,” I whisper. “They’ve been hard all goddamn night. Taunting me.”
With my thumb and forefinger, I roll her right nipple, pulling a sweet hiss of pleasure from her.
“Is that what you were trying to do? Torment me?” When she doesn’t answer right away, I tweak her nipple. “Answer me.”
Her head rests on my shoulder and she says, “Yes.”
“I knew it.” I nibble on the spot just below her ear. “It worked.”
One hand still on her breast, I drag the other to the zipper on the side of her hip and pull it down, allowing gravity to do its job. The dress gathers at her feet and she steps out of it, leaving her in nothing but the black lace thong, which I fucking love, and a pair of high heels.
“Fuck, Coraline,” I say as my hands drag over the delicate waistband. “If I knew you were wearing this underneath, we would’ve left a lot sooner.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” She turns in my arms and links her hands behind my neck. “I enjoyed the wait, the surprise.”
She stands on her toes and her mouth finds mine in a passionate, open-mouthed kiss. I seize her arse and pull her in closer until she wraps her legs around me, deepening our kiss at the same time.
With a firm grip on her, I carry her back into the hotel room and close the door of the balcony behind us with a kick of my foot.
I want this woman . . . desperately.
And even though I’ve fucked her in more ways than I can count, I’ve never made love to her.