“You okay?” I ask as Cora slips my shirt back on and lifts her wet hair out from under the collar.
She nods and smiles at me as I sit up in bed. After she slowly brought me to orgasm again, we stuffed the turkey dinners in the fridge and took a shower together. If I didn’t just come twice in a short amount of time, I would’ve fucked her in there as well, but instead, we silently washed each other and then dried off. She spent a few more minutes putting on this really nice-smelling lotion and now she’s joining me.
“Great.” She climbs into bed next to me and on top of my lap.
I lift an eyebrow at her. “More?”
She chuckles. “Yes, but first I want to talk to you.”
My hands rub over her thighs. “Talk all you want, as long as you stay right here and you don’t have any regrets.”
She shakes her head. “No regrets. Well, actually, that’s not true.” My heart sinks. “I regret the way I’ve treated you these last few weeks, and especially yesterday.”
Oh.
“Cora, it’s—”
She silences me with her hand to my mouth. “No, I don’t want you to say it’s okay. I don’t want you to excuse my behavior.” She chews on the side of her mouth as she says, “I wouldn’t say you hit the jackpot by marrying me. I’m emotionally unhealthy. I’ve looked for love in all the wrong places, and I have a sordid past. Frankly, I don’t believe I’m good enough for anyone, let alone have any business being married to someone like you.”
“Someone like me?” I ask.
“Someone understanding. Someone who’s willing to work with me, be patient with me, deal with all the bullshit I throw in their direction. You should’ve left weeks ago, but you stuck around. I have no idea why, but you did.”
Guilt swarms me because I know exactly why I stuck around, but as the weeks went on, the lines began to blur. I wanted to stay because of the foundation—because my pa will do anything to belittle me and force his hand—but I also wanted to stay because of her.
Wanting to be at least partially honest with her, I say, “I was going to leave tonight.”
Her eyes snap to mine, tears welling up in them.
I soothe my hands over her thighs, attempting to calm her.
“But the minute I saw you, the moment I realized you were wearing my shirt, I knew there was no way in hell I would ever be able to part with you.” I reach up and grip her cheek, looking her in the eyes, and say, “I like you, Cora. I like your spunk, your candidness, your ability to be real, and even ugly at times. I like the ups and downs, the roller coaster, because it makes me feel alive, more alive than I’ve ever felt before. I know it’s not going to be easy, but I would really like to give this a shot with you.”
Tears crest in her eyes and I wipe them away.
“I hope those are happy tears.”
She nods. “They are.” She takes a deep breath and says, “I didn’t realize how much I wanted to try this until I realized I might have fucked it up forever.” Nervously, she presses her hand to my chest. “Pike, do you think you’d want to date your wife?”
Fuck. Yes.
I never thought I’d hear that question, but it’s so right coming from Cora’s kiss-stung lips.
I chuckle and curl my hand behind her neck, pulling her closer. “I would like nothing more.”
And then I press a kiss to her lips, and once again, we sink into bed. This time, we take it nice and slow.
Chapter Sixteen
CORA
Stella: Checking in. Haven’t heard from you. Wanting to make sure you’re okay.
Greer: Same. How are you?
Keiko: Quite well, thank you. Kelvin and I catalogued our romantic exchange into a bountiful pros-and-cons list that extended into three full legal-sized pages. We devoured five hours cross-examining each bullet point, made separate pros and cons for each pro and con, cross-examined those points, and then, in the end, performed coitus on the lists.
Stella: Umm . . . wow.
Greer: That’s, uh, great, Keiko.
Stella: So you’re back together and Kelvin is cool with the baby?
Keiko: Yes, we have agreed upon a mutual understanding that I am pregnant, he is the paterfamilias, and we shall raise this child together, under holy matrimony.
Greer: Wait . . . what? Are you engaged?
Keiko: We married at the courthouse two hours ago. Finished consummating five minutes prior to your initial text.
Stella: You got married without us???
Keiko: I assumed that was par for the course, given how Cora entered into wedlock. Am I mistaken?