Page 86 of The Scars I Bare
Cora stepped forward, one hand reaching for the thick fabric that covered my prosthesis, the other on my waist. “You once asked me if I trusted you. Do you remember?”
I nodded as my forehead rested atop hers, and I let out a deep breath.
“Now, trust me, Dean Sutherland,” she urged.
Her fingers curled around the neoprene and gently tugged. I could already feel sweat forming around my temples as my eyes darted to my arm.
“Look at me,” she demanded.
I did as she’d asked. “Now, close your eyes.”
I swallowed the lump of panic working its way upward and forced my eyelids closed.
“Breathe,” she said.
“Right,” I replied, a poor attempt at a joke.
Cool air hit the upper part of my limb as she pulled the heavy fabric the rest of the way off and disconnected the heavy prosthesis. Her warm touch was the next thing I felt along with another trail of kisses moving up to the residual limb that remained. I let out a ragged breath, savoring the feel of her lips on my broken body. Slowly, as her mouth traveled up my shoulder, across my collarbone, and toward my mouth, the nervousness I felt dissipated, replaced by raw, relentless hunger.
“Water,” I growled. “Now.”
Knowing she had a certain proclivity for a few of my one-handed abilities, I bent down and made quick work of tossing her over my shoulder, and then I charged toward the shoreline.
All I could think of was having this woman wrapped around me, naked, wet, and willing. Cora was my ultimate fantasy, a pipe dream I’d thought was long gone until she stormed back into my life, like a gift from above.
I’d never stop being grateful. I’d never stop trying to be the man she deserved.
Before we got too deep, the water lapping at my waist, I tugged her back down toward my chest, her sexy little body sliding down around mine.
“Still hot?” I asked in regard to the one-armed maneuver.
She tightened her hold, pressing against me. “Very.”
Having her so close and my body so ready, I realized we’d forgotten one crucial ingredient to modern-day lovemaking.
“Cora,” I said, feeling like the biggest idiot on the planet, “I don’t have any condoms. I wasn’t exactly planning on sleeping with you for the first time at your parents’ house.”
She let out a small chuckle. “And you don’t carry one in your wallet?”
I grinned, sliding my hand around to her ass. “Only when I was seventeen and thought it might bring me good luck.”
“Oh, yeah? How long did you keep that lucky condom?”
I squeezed her ass, causing her to squeal. “Cora, focus. Your body is so fucking hot and I am currently experiencing the biggest hard-on of my life, so if we don’t figure this out soon, I might pass out right here, in this watering hole. And I really don’t think you want to explain that to your parents.”
Her lips pressed together, a sign that she was obviously trying to keep from laughing.
“I haven’t been with anyone for a long time,” she said. “Blake and I were separated for over a year, and before that…” She hesitated before continuing, “It’s been a while. I’m on the pill.”
I nodded, reaching down to touch her hair. “I haven’t been with anyone since Molly.”
She seemed to be somewhat surprised. “That was over three years ago.”
“I’m seriously messed up, remember?” I smiled, recalling her words from not too long ago. “I was tested though. Before Molly, I mean. I wasn’t exactly the relationship type back then.” I let out a breath as I scrubbed my face, the cool water dripping down my cheeks. “This is awkward.”
Her arms held me tighter. “No,” she said, “it’s honest. And, if you were any other man, you would have just taken what was offered without a single thought. But you’re not. And that’s why I love you, Dean.”
I looked at her under the glow of moonlight, her wide eyes full of promise and truth.
