“Relieved?” Matt repeats, one black eyebrow raised.
“Well, yeah. Both Marky and I are better off this way. I dodged a bullet, in a way. Think about it –” I shake my head again, imagining the ‘what if’ – “If Marky and I had gotten married, imagine how miserable we both would have been. Him because he’s in love with a man, and me because I would always feel like I wasn’t enough for him.”
“That’s true,” Matt offers hesitantly.
“And then what if we’d had kids and then ended up getting a divorce. Everyone would have been upset and confused.” I sigh deeply, feeling truly relieved for the first time since that hard conversation in front of Frankie’s just a week ago. “No, I really hold no grudge against Marky, and I wish him nothing but the best.”
I smile at Matt while he continues to look at me strangely.
“Matt?”
To my complete astonishment, Matt yanks me to my feet and cups my face between his two hands and pulls me close to his body.
“Cora, you are the most loving, forgiving woman I have ever known. You are mature, passionate, and kind. And I have been wanting to do this since the moment I met you.”
With that impassioned speech, Matt continues to hold my face while he leans down and kisses me, deeply. My body leans hard against his masculine figure, and I melt into the kiss.
It’s electrifying, being kissed by Matt Harrison. Part of me wonders if we shouldn’t, and if we should stop before the situation gets out of hand. But being held in this strong and sexy man’s arms, I find myself caving in. I lean into Matt even more, and surrender myself to the kiss – and to whatever may come next.
14
Matt
Finally holding Cora so tightly in my arms feels surreal. I kiss her, with every ounce of longing in my heart. I want this woman, because she’s sexy and beautiful, yes, but also because she’s kind and fair and generous. Her generosity to my son is astonishing, and my heart pounds with gratitude and something more … love.
I didn’t mean to start kissing Cora, but now, in this perfect moment surrounded by charred furniture, ash-stained walls, and puzzle pieces, I’m happy.
Finally, after several moments, I pull back from Cora and stare at her, panting. Neither one of us speaks but we stand dangerously close, weighing what to do next.
I’m the first to break the silence.
“I had to kiss you.”
“I know.” Cora sounds just as breathless as I feel, and it makes my whole body long for her. I feel my pants tighten as I imagine what it would feel like to kiss her again.
“I want to kiss you again,” comes my growl.
The curvy girl doesn’t have time to answer because I lean down and catch her mouth with my own. I nibble on her lips a little and then pry them open, slipping my tongue into her mouth. I hold her head close to mine so she can’t escape my desperation.
But Cora returns my fervor with her own passion. She presses her full, sexy body deliberately against me as her tongue slides against mine. As the kiss becomes even more intense, I feel Cora’s full breasts press against my chest and I groan.
I want her.
I’ve wanted to feel and taste and hold Cora ever since I first met her, and now, she’s mine for the taking. Feeling her press her soft body into mine, I know she wants me, too.
I step back from the kiss, and again we’re both left panting, staring at one another. Flickers of need shine in Cora’s deep brown eyes, reflecting my own.
“Come with me,” I growl. Cora nods her assent so I take her hand and lead her out of the kitchen and up the stairs. I pause at the bedroom door and look back at her.
She’s so fucking beautiful, I nearly moan aloud.
Cora’s eyes are still full of desire and I am certain mine must look similar. “I want you,” is my harsh statement.
“You – you do?” Cora seems surprised and it only serves to maker her that much more appealing.
“Yes.” With a growl, I pull Cora close to me and begin to kiss her with an entirely new intensity. It’s almost as if I can’t taste her enough.
We stumble into the bedroom. A small part of me wonders if I should stop all of this before we get too carried away, but feeling Cora in my arms, I suddenly realize that I never want to let her go.
As if having the same internal battle, Cora pulls back from me ever so slightly. We look into one another’s eyes, as if trying read the other’s mind.
Slowly, deliberately, Cora steps out of my arms and backs up until her legs hit the bed frame. Keeping her eyes locked on mine, she slowly pulls her sweater over her head to reveal an ample and heaving bosom barely contained by her lacy bra.