Open House Dance Party for two at Cord’s patio bar was probably the most fun I’d had since college.
Then things got a little R-Rated when Maxwell came on. Somehow, after two margaritas, I was sitting on the bar in front of him, my dress pulled down at the top and up and the bottom, watching him study me in the light flickering from the tiki torches.
My feet propped on his knees, he moved my ass to the edge of the stone bar so he could tease me with his mouth. Hands behind me, holding myself up, I was stuck in the moment.
What a moment it was.
He licked, then blew air over my wet skin. My breathing had become shallow, and my eyes burned from needing him the way I did.
He looked hungry and present and focused and it was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen. His devastating gaze was locked on mine, and with his mouth full of me, he lifted two fingers to my lips and watched me suck them.
Causing him to moan.
Causing a throbbing desire so strong I climbed the wall to my first orgasm that very moment.
When he added the two fingers I’d wet for him, his name raced from my lips, but no sound came out with it. My hips rolled as I came down, and I leaned to one side so I could tug his hair with a free hand. Against the erection in his pants, my foot rubbed back and forth.
“I need you,” I confessed. “Right now.”
Instead of letting me up to go inside…
Instead of blowing the lights out, turning the music off, and taking me to bed…
Instead of delaying my request, he tore his clothes off like they were on fire and climbed atop the counter behind me. He slid his leg between mine and lifted my thigh, then slowly pushed himself inside.
I held onto the edge of the stone and craned my neck to meet his lips. Unable to hold back, he’d started out fast and hard.
I fucking loved it.
His mouth moved to my neck, and as I came apart again, he raked his teeth across my skin which had me arching into him even more.
After what seemed like hours on end, things finally slowed down. When my heart beats weren’t slamming against my chest anymore, I worried.
“Cord, I wanted you to come.”
He pressed his forehead against my shoulder, stopped moving, and then cleared his throat. “Baby, I already did.”
“You did?”
How’d I miss that?
“Yeah, but then I tried to keep going because you were about to again.” He pushed himself flush against my ass. “Yeah, this isn’t going to last much longer. I’m sorry.” He sounded embarrassed, which was both dumb and completely adorable.
Hell, I needed sleep anyway, if I was ever going to make it through the weekend. I’d never had so much damn sex in my life.
“Don’t be sorry. I was about to tap out. I think you’re trying to kill me.”
He placed a chaste kiss on my neck and parted from me, slowly hopping off the counter.
“You left your socks on.”
He looked down, past his naked cock just hanging to the side, and wiggled his covered toes. “What was I supposed to do? You said right now. There was no time.”
I was too worn out to giggle, but on the inside, it felt the same as if I did. “Are you always so weird?”
He picked up his clothes and my thong, while I situated my twisted dress and climbed down.
“Just with you.”
When we finally got upstairs and into the room, he dropped everything, fell onto the bed and started up the next episode of Shameless like it was the most natural thing ever.
What was I going to do with a broken heart?
ME: You left your phone charger.
CORD: Shit. I have one in the truck if I need it, but I have a full battery.
I wound the cord and stashed it in my purse so it wouldn’t get misplaced.
CORD: Are they there yet?
ME: No. They got held up at my mom’s. They’ll be here in about an hour.
Another hour that would feel like six hours at the cabin by myself.
I knew the other three would be there later morning or early afternoon, but I wasn’t sure about an exact time. I didn’t even ask him to leave that morning. I mean, it was his house and all. But after a sex-free shower with Cord and re-warmed rolls for breakfast, he got on his way without much rush.
That was at nine thirty, it was almost two and they still weren’t there.
He could have hung out longer before he left.
CORD: What have you been doing all day?
Besides wandering around, snacking, repainting my toenails, washing the sheets, moving all my stuff to a different room down the hall—which was still just as big, but didn’t have a private bathroom—and drinking three Cokes?
ME: Nothing.
His cabin was great, but without anyone there to keep me company it was just a big, empty house. It was a good thing he’d been there when I’d arrived or I might have been bored to death.
To think I’d been annoyed. I was such a bitch sometimes.
Then again, my monthly lady friend was due to show up on Monday, so I could blame it on her. In fairness, I also gave her the credit for making me so fucking horny the day before. I’d been a live wire for most of it, but he hadn’t seemed to mind the side effect.
I wasn’t complaining either.
Sex with him was sex. Real sex. Me-just-being-me sex. I didn’t think about how to please him or doubt anything. We just did it and—God help me when he got that needy look in his eyes—it was glorious.
There was no faking that look, and he couldn’t have been that good of an actor. I could see right through him, and it was like he didn’t mind one bit. I loved the way I turned him on.
It was obvious—often physically obvious—and he rarely tried to hide it either.
We never mentioned it or even verbalized those moments, but what could I have said anyway?
“Yeah, we both see you’re hard, let’s go fuck about it?”
Who knew humility was so enticing?
Then again, I’d turned my filter off with him at the start. So maybe he’d just get a good laugh.
That was another thing I enjoyed. Making him laugh.
I ran my finger over my lips, still feeling his kiss goodbye, smiling as another text came through.
CORD: I’ll let you get back to it then. Have fun and make yourself at home.
ME: Will do.
CORD: You know you can call me if you need anything, right? I’m just across town.
It was hard to place my finger on the emotion I felt when I read that one. My chest tightened and it was close to uncomfortable, like I’d been startled.
I guessed they called it a crush because it felt like one.
I panicked and sent him a thumbs up emoji.
He replied with a K.
We were on our second pitcher of Margaritas, after it was decided we’d just chill at the cabin that night, and then hit the bars the next.
I was already comfortable there, having spent the past two days with Cord. On more than one occasion, I had to break away from staring at the bar where Finga Bangz entertained me less than twenty-four comfortable hours earlier.
Becca sat on the opposite end of the outdoor sofa on the lower patio, where we’d all ended up that afternoon, and took a sip of her drink, looking like she’d just remembered something.
“Mmmm. That’s so good.” Her brown eyes flared, thirsty for gossip. “Have you talked to Joe while you’ve been here?”
My feet were tucked underneath my ass, and I adjusted as the left one tingled and discreetly crossed my lying fingers. Still, I couldn’t tamp down the smile spreading across my face. I blamed Jose Cuervo.
“We’ve talked some.” Talked and other things.
“What’s up with all that? You better bring him to the wedding.”
That didn’t take long. I’d presumed one of them would bring him up at some point, but I’d hoped by then I’d have figured out what details I was and wasn’t sharing.
“Oh, I think he’s busy,” I said.
“Who’s busy?” Jodi asked as she and Jyl came back to their seats across from us. “Are you bitches talking about Joe without us? What did we miss?” She looked at Becca for the answer.
My best friend recapped, “Nothing. They’ve just talked a little since she’s been here and he’s got other plans the day of the wedding. That’s all I’ve gotten so far.”
God, that description seemed so dull. So lack luster. So false.
“No good shit. Okay,” Jodi confirmed.
I didn’t appreciate the word good referring to us in that context. It was good. I was compelled to interject for my personal sanity. I couldn’t let them think I was completely striking out when I’d been having the best time of my life.
“It’s plenty good, thank you,” I contended and flipped her off—because I’m mature.
“Someone’s touchy.” Returning my gesture, she blew me a kiss from her middle finger. “If you’re getting laid, I need to hear about it. I haven’t had sex in two months.”
I was shocked and almost gave Becca a golden margarita shower ala spit, but successfully swallowed after additional effort.
Becca sat forward, pointing an index finger at each of us. “Okay. Hold on. Sex trumps no sex—story-wise—but we’re circling back to your dry spell in a minute. Two months? Fuck.” She sat back, got comfortable and then—like it was her weekend or something—instructed, “Okay, how big is Goofy’s dick?”
That’s how Friday night went.
After Jodi told us about the problems she and Matt were having, Jyl confessed how stressed out she was about her classes, and Becca spent about an hour on the phone with Reuben, we cleaned up and caught the last half of Pitch Perfect on TV.
We were party animals, but the weekend was only getting started. It was probably wise that we were getting sleep that night.
Later, alone in my new room, my legs roamed, restless in the sheets. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was in yet another bed or what, but the last few new beds I’d slept in shared one thing in common.
Cord.
Just past midnight, I turned the volume down on the television, clicked off the lamp and grabbed my phone.
ME: Goodnight.
CORD: Miss me?
Yes.
ME: Don’t push it. I’ll see you Sunday.
He sent me a shot of his actual thumb. His abs were conveniently in the picture too, but I would have rather seen his face.
I flipped on the light and snapped one to send back of me making the okay sign.
If Friday was tame, then Saturday started with a bang.
Jodi made breakfast and mimosas were the main course. I think we were all buzzed by ten, tanning on the upper deck. Even Jyl was feeling fine. Flipping over and taking her bikini top off, she’d smartly avoid tan lines.
Me? I was slathered head to toe with sunblock, but I was used to being the pale one. The three of them would brown, and I’d just get more freckles.
Then, after some time, we hit the hot tub, which was acting kind of weird. The jets would go on and off at whim. When it started making a weird noise that sounded like a washing mashing on the fritz, we got out.
Becca and Jyl got ready in the master bathroom, and Jodi used the other one upstairs. So I made use of the one in the basement.
We were going out for dinner at a bar and grill that had three stories. They were having a band that night, and for driving—or not driving—purposes, the location was practical to have everything we’d need for the night in one spot.
We didn’t make Becca wear a single dick, not that she would have. They were a good match that way—Reuben and her. She’d said he hadn’t even really wanted a bachelor party. That’s what the whole coed boat day was about, she didn’t want to be the only one of them having fun.
“I’m going to get another Captain. Need anything?” I asked her.
“No thanks.” She shook her beer bottle. “I still have half.”
“I’ll go with you.” Jodi threw her arm around my shoulders. “I think we need some shots to get this party started.”
It was unlike her, but who was I to argue?
Besides, it had been a long time since I’d been dressed up and out with my girls—just the girls. We all had the night free from our responsibilities, fiancés, school work, and families. Jodi, for one, was taking advantage.
Becca and Jyl took a deep breath, looking at each other, then agreed at the same time.
“Okay. Let’s do this,” Jyl said.
Shots were not my friend, but it was early and I’d eaten. Everyone else was doing them, so I had to suck it up and do them too. Maybe one or two.
“Here’s to Becca. May your wedding day be the best boob day of your life,” Jodi toasted before they shot back round three of lemon drops. I’d done the first two, but by the time they were on their third and the band had started, I ended up donating mine to Jodi.
“You’re going to get fucked up,” I warned her in the bathroom mirror as we washed our hands.
“So what? It’s my turn to get all wasted. Matt does it every fucking weekend. This is my night.” She rolled her eyes at herself and bared her teeth guiltily. “I mean—shit—it’s Becca’s night first, but it is also my night.”
I had to admit, I hadn’t seen her laugh so much since Max was born. Not that it wasn’t obvious how much she loved her son, or being a mother, but she needed a break too. It was good for her.
So my party night duties expanded. I was sure Jyl could take care of herself, but it was my job to make certain Becca—and now Jodi—had a good time.
When we came out of the bathrooms to make our way back down to the lower deck, where our friends were listening to the Jimmy Buffet-like band, I saw Nolan across the bar.
Every drink I’d had sloshed in my stomach when I put the brakes on to hunt the crowd for Cord.
Was he there too?
I searched and Jodi stopped beside me, grabbing onto my arm. “What are we looking for? Shit, where’s your purse?”
Without looking down, I slapped my wristlet just to be safe. “Nothing. I have my purse.” Making my search more efficient, I trolled for only tall guys.
A door opened and closed behind us in the hall, and I spun hoping it was him.
“Hey.”
“Reuben!” Jodi hiccupped in my face. “Dana, Reuben’s here!”
I tracked back with my drunk friend to say hi and my heart hammered.
“What are you doing here?” Jodi asked and hugged him.
“Nolan and I came out for a few beers.”
“Did Becca tell you where we were?” she nagged.
He smiled but didn’t incriminate his fiancé.
They were getting married so it was hard to be that annoyed with them, but Jodi was adamant that this was a girls-only night since we were spending time on the boat with Reuben and his friends the next day.
He only mentioned Nolan.
“Have you found Bec yet?” I asked him.
“No. We just got here.”
We stepped out of the way so a group of women could get past in the narrow hall. “We’re on the bottom deck. Becca’s dancing.”
He grinned. “Then I got here just in time.” And that was no shit. She didn’t dance unless she was hammered, and I was sure she was on her way.
Reuben dodged another person on the way to the restroom. “We’ll meet you ladies down there.”
I nodded and pulled my drunk step-sister away.
They joined us, and after thirty minutes with no sign or mention of Cord, I succumbed to the notion that he wasn’t there or coming. That made the time pass damn slow, but it never quite stopped the unyielding urge to ask myself stupid questions that I didn’t want to think about. No, that never went away.
Why didn’t he come too?
Where was he?
What was he doing?
Why was I going all girlfriend in my head?
Dana, you know better.
Soon, Jyl had taken a cab back to the house after not feeling well, but promised she wasn’t sick. Becca and Reuben danced to Wonderful Tonight, and it was clearly close to the end of the road for them party-wise, so to speak. She was all over her fiancé. They’d be gone soon, too.
That left Nolan, Jodi, and myself at the pub table. Me nursing a rum and soda. The other three of them sharing a pitcher of beer.
Jodi rolled her eyes, put her phone back into her purse, and finished what was in her plastic cup. “Come on.” She grabbed my hand. “Joe isn’t here, and Matt is being a dickhole. Let’s go have fun.”
I felt bad for her, so I let her pull me to the left side of the makeshift stage while the band played one of my Dad’s favorite songs by The Outfield called “Your Love.”
Fine. I loved it too.
A few minutes later, like I’d predicted, Becca was shouting in my ear, “I’m going back to the hotel with them. Are you guys okay?”
Jodi overheard and complained, “I’m not ready yet.”
“That’s fine. You stay. I’ll see you guys in the morning.” If she hadn’t looked so damn happy and drunk—which was the whole point of a bachelorette party—I would have been pissed that she was ditching us.
But who was I kidding? By that time, I would have ditched them for Cord.
Wait. Was that true?
I gave Becca a hug goodbye. “Have fun, bitch,” I said in her sweaty hair.
She didn’t look like she felt bad at all and her eyes shot to Jodi. “Oh, I will. Can you two make it back okay?”
We both looked at my sister who was wiping off the beer she’d spilled on her leg.
I answered, “We probably won’t stay a whole lot longer.”
Reuben grabbed her around the waist from behind and kissed her cheek. “Okay, we’re out. Nolan’s going back to the hotel with us.”
Then there were two. Me and drunkass Jodi.
Our trips to the bathroom became more frequent, but she insisted on staying for a few more songs. “Until the band is done.”
We’d all been there before. My feet felt like they were going to fall off, but we shut down the bar.
“Just get the fastest cab, Dana. That’s all I need. Okay? I need the fast cab, and I need to go to bed.” She leaned against my shoulder on the bench outside the bar where I tried to get one of the cab companies to answer the phone. I called the first one I’d tried again, but still got nothing.
People filed out, one after another, most walking down the street where there was either another bar or a twenty-four-hour restaurant. I couldn’t tell.
He’d said if I needed anything.
ME: You don’t, by chance, have a Jared at the lake too, do you?
“Oh, God,” Jodi groaned and leaned forward, holding her head in her hands. I rubbed her back and prayed she didn’t barf all over the place.
CORD: Are you okay?
ME: I’m having trouble getting a cab back to the cabin. I’ve called the three companies I found on Google, but they’re not picking up.
Jodi spit which was a bad sign. A very bad sign.
My phone rang, and it was him.
“Hi,” I said.
“Where are you?” He sounded groggy like he’d been asleep, but I was in a pinch.
I looked up at the sign. “The Wake Zone.”
“Dana, I think I’m gonna be sick,” Jodi whined.
“Just breathe with your mouth. Okay. Take deep breaths.” I moved her hair behind her shoulders just in case.
“I’m coming,” he said. I’d only heard him say those words a few times, but they never sounded better than they did right then.
Well… maybe that wasn’t true.
“Are you sure? Have you been drinking?”
“Haven’t had a drop since dinner. Are you out front?” he asked, and I could hear the jingle of his belt over the phone.
I rubbed my sister’s back. “Yeah. We’re on the bench next to the door.”
“I’m going to let you go. Stay right there. I’m only a few minutes away.”
“Thanks, Cord.”
He told me I was welcome. Still, I didn’t like doing that.
I heard the rumble of his truck before I saw the headlights, but I knew it was him. He parked in the handicapped spot right in front of us, but most of the cars had already cleared out and Jodi was definitely incapacitated.
He hopped out, and the sound of his door made her head pop up from where she’d hung it, staring at the ground.
“Hey, Jodi. Is that you?” he said as he walked up, looking as good as ever. He gestured to me, lifting his right hand in that let-me-try-this way.
As if it weighed two hundred pounds, Jodi lifted her bobbly head toward his calm voice. “Hey, you’re my boss. I’m drunk.” She pointed in his general direction. Then she looked at me and repeated, “I’m drunk, Dana. Drunk.”
“Do you guys need a ride?”
She shook her head and laughed. “No. Dana is calling us a cab. A fast one.”
“I think it’s too late,” I finally told her. “We’re not getting a cab.”
“Shit. Want me to ask my boss to give us a ride?” Drunk Einstein, ladies and gentlemen. She lowered her voice, you know, but not really. Confidentially, she whispered, “He’s nice. He’ll do it.”
Cord stared at me and mouthed, “Can she walk?”
I shrugged.
“Jodi, get up.” I made my voice sound as optimistic as I could, hoping that would magically help her do it. “He’s going to drive us back. Let’s go.”
Miraculously, she made it to her feet. Shorter than her, I made for a good crutch as she walked all jackassed the few steps to the idling vehicle. Cord was right behind us.
His big truck was an extended cab with four doors, so I opened the front one for Jodi to climb in.
“I can put the seat belt on myself.”
She was a pain in my ass.
I shut her door, reached to the one behind hers, and pulled it open, ready to get the hell out of there.
Cord was still behind me, I could feel him. “I can manage. I’m okay.” I wanted to turn around, but I was so fucking weak that I feared I’d leap into his arms.
I hated myself.
Maybe after we got Jodi inside, I’d feel better about it. All I knew was I had to get my shit together, because we were going to be around each other, with our friends, the next day, and that was just the way it was.
That was our reality. No. Actually, it was proof that what we’d been doing really wasn’t reality at all. It sucked.
I climbed into the back seat and put my seatbelt on too. He gave me a questioning look, but went ahead and gently closed my door.
The ride back wasn’t long, but Jodi didn’t shut up the whole time.
“Cord, did you know that you’re too-hot?”
I slapped my hand over her mouth, around the headrest from the backseat. She was not about to do this.
She slumped out of my reach. “That’s why Dana’s with Joe.”
Oh, my fucking hell.
We were in his drive, but he hit the brakes a little sooner, a little rougher than he needed and met my eyes in the rearview mirror.
“Who’s Joe?” He eased his foot off the brake, and we coasted the rest of the way down his steep drive.
Why couldn’t she just puke everywhere like a normal person?
“Joe?” she asked and her head rolled, facing him. “I don’t know, but I bet they’re not hot like you.”
I just looked out the window and waited for the vehicle to stop because I was going to hop out that very second and drag her blabbermouth ass in the cabin. So that’s exactly what I did, like the back seat was on fire and my ass was catching.
“Thanks for the ride,” I said as I unbuckled Jodi—who apparently wasn’t capable anymore, and I yanked her arms to get out.
“Who’s Joe?” he asked quietly, but I didn’t miss that his hands were throttling the steering wheel, the muscles in his forearms flexing with each squeeze.
“She’s drunk,” I explained. “And crazy.” I did the universal sign with my index finger twirling by my ear and everything. He had to believe me.
He didn’t look like he believed me though.
“Jodi, tell him you’re crazy so he can go.”
She climbed down and then leaned over the seat. “I’m fucking crazy, Cord Taylor—my boss. But I can make coffee like a motherfucker. I don’t get drunk at work. Okay?”
I lugged her up and wrapped her arm around my neck, which seemed to pacify him enough to let go of the wheel and open the garage door for us.
“Thank you.” Quickly, I closed the door, hauling both our asses inside.
Jyl was probably already asleep, so I just brought her to bed with me. Plus, I’d be able to help her if she got sick.
“You were right,” she slurred as she flung her shoe across my room.
“About what?” I pulled up my purple sweat pants and unhooked my bra without taking my camisole off.
“He is too-hot. Guys like that will break your heart.”
I didn’t need a guy to break my heart. As it was turning out, I could do it all by myself.