I burst out laughing. The sexual tension eases as we move on to other topics. Adeline lives in the suburbs in the kind of home every woman dreams of raising her family in. It’s surrounded by a lawn so thick and soft you could confuse it for a mattress.
As we cruise down the semi-circular drive that stops in front of the house, it hits me how much my sister’s place reminds me of Thomas’s place.
“We’re here,” Thomas says and kills the engine.
A few minutes later, my belly is in knots as we walk up to the front door, anticipating the scolding that we’re about to endure. Thomas rings the bell, and while we wait, his gaze sears my body.
The door opens, pulling us out of the haze of desire surrounding us. It unbelievable the things that he makes me feel with just a look.
Adeline stands at the door, but instead of the irritated look I was expecting to see, she looks as if she has just received shocking news. “Hi, Thomas. Welcome.” She flashes him her fake smile and then turns to me. “Can I see you for a sec?”
She takes my arm and pulls me out, shutting the door behind us. I can’t think what could be so urgent that it cannot wait until later.
“What?” I ask her.
“It’s Mom!” Adeline hisses even though no one can hear us. “She’s gone nuts. She’s wearing the most inappropriate clothes. She’s wearing a see-through skirt and a tank top that’s showing her stomach. It’s embarrassing.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You told me that she’s just having some harmless fun.”
Adeline continues like I’ve not spoken. “And she brought that guy from your gym, and she’s introducing him as her boyfriend. My parents-in-law are here. I want the ground to swallow me!” Misery coats her voice, and I feel sorry for her. I know how she feels.
“You have to do something,” Adeline says.
“Like what?” I cry out and then immediately realize how unhelpful that is. I soften my tone. “Listen, there’s nothing we can do now. Maybe we can all stage an intervention later, make her see sense.”
Adeline nods frantically and then takes deep breaths. “Okay. I can get through this evening. As long as you’re here.”
Chapter 12
Thomas
Cora is quiet on the ride home. “Are you okay?” I ask her.
She lets out a loud sigh. “Yeah, I’m fine.” After a beat, she continues talking. “No, I’m not. It’s my mom. How could she have thought that it was okay to dress like that and bring Ian with her?”
“She clearly did think it was okay. You shouldn’t let it bother you too much. I have an aunty who went through a similar stage about the same age.” I chuckle at the memories. “My cousins ranted and involved all of us to try and talk some sense into her, but nothing worked. She didn’t care what anybody else thought.”
“What happened?” Cora asks.
“Nothing. She stopped all by herself long after everyone stopped nagging her.”
“I don’t think my mom will stop,” Cora says. “We’ve decided to stage an intervention.”
I squeeze her knee and continue driving. It’s not my place to convince Cora of the futility of trying to control a grown-up’s life. I guess some things you just have to learn for yourself. “I like Riley and her husband. They’re good people.”
Cora smiles. “Yes, they are.”
The change of topic works, and soon she’s chatting away and laughing, her good mood restored.
We get to her place, and when I turn off the car, instead of getting out, I snap open my seatbelt, lean toward her, and cup her face. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you all evening,” I tell her before kissing her. No. Make that devouring her. She tastes like honey, and her lips melt into mine so that I can’t tell where they end and mine begin.
I caress her cheeks, and she scrapes her fingers through my hair. She makes little groans that make me want to strip her naked without a care of who sees us.
Cora draws back. “Let’s go upstairs.” Her voice is dripping with need.
“Good idea,” I growl. We reach for our respective doors simultaneously and get out of the car.
I take her hand, and we walk to the elevator. I’m glad there are no people around as my dick is obscenely hard, making a spectacle of itself in the front of my pants. In the elevator, I pull Cora against me and dry hump her. I brush my lips against her soft ones, but before we can get into it, the elevator comes to a stop, and the doors open.
Anyone watching us would think that Cora and I are going to put out a fire. We hurry to her front door, and she hands me her keys. She strokes my cock, and I let out a groan and get the wrong key on the first try. I warn her, “If you keep that up, we’re never going to get inside, and I desperately need to eat you.”