Chapter 23
23
Christ! Jeremy couldn’t remember the last time he’d come so hard. All the descriptions of fucking he’d ever heard paled in comparison. Seeing stars? Fireworks? Eyes rolling back in his head? Heart nearly leaping from his chest as it pounded so hard? Struggling to breathe? Draining every drop until he was wrung dry?
He lowered his head and stared at the woman now on her back, her legs confidently opened to allow his body access, her perfect breasts on display, and his cock still nestled inside her slick channel. And all he could think of was how beautiful her eyes were as she shined up at him. Not like he was Prince Charming, but as though he was just a man who’d rocked her world as much as she had rocked his.
He leaned over to balance his weight on his palms flat on the mattress beside her. Still catching his breath, he stared deeply into her eyes and said, “God, you’re beautiful, Cora.”
Her hands glided up his biceps to rest on his shoulders as her kiss-puffed lips curved into a smile that lit her whole face. “You’re not so bad yourself, Detective.”
His elbows bent, and he captured her lips once again. Angling his head, he traced her lips with his tongue, then nuzzled her neck and began kissing over her breasts and down to her tummy as his cock slid from her body.
“I can’t believe we slept so long,” she said.
“I’m sure you know that’s what happens when you work straight through the night.”
She nodded. “I told the hospital I wouldn’t be in today unless they called me. What about you?”
“Same. Unless there’s anything new I need to deal with, I’ll go in tomorrow.”
“So that means you have nothing pressing on your time right now.”
He caught her slight grin and nodded slowly. “I guess that’s right, Dr. Wadsworth. Do you think I need a checkup?”
“Oh, Detective Pickett. Instead of a checkup, how about I just keep checking you out?”
He barked out laughter, then kissed her quickly before standing. “I gotta take care of the condom, but I’ll be right back.” He took care of business and returned to the bedroom to see her sitting up.
“Hungry? I can fix us something to eat? How does breakfast for a midafternoon meal sound?”
“I’ve never turned down breakfast food at any time during the day,” he quipped. “In fact, I’d have to say that’s just my favorite.”
“Then we’ll get dressed and have something to eat.” She picked her panties off the floor and slid them up her legs. She walked over to her dresser and pulled out a T-shirt. As she settled it over her body, she turned to stare at him, then cocked an eyebrow.
“Are you gonna keep standing naked in the middle of my bedroom?”
“I’m just enjoying the view. I’d have to say the scenery in this room is my favorite.”
He pulled on his boxers and pants, jerking his T-shirt over his head in one smooth motion. His fingers reached out instinctively, and hers met his halfway. Their hands linked, a quiet promise in the touch, as they strolled down the hall together.
Max and Mia skittered at their feet, their tails wagging furiously as if they had waited a lifetime for this attention. He chuckled, scratching behind Max’s ears. The thought of Tommy Girl flickered in his mind. He’d left food for her. She’d need tending soon, but for now, this moment was his.
In the kitchen, they moved with practiced efficiency. Cora whisked eggs for omelets while he busied himself with bacon sizzling in the skillet. The smell of crisping meat mingled with the buttery aroma of hashbrowns filled the air with warmth.
English muffins popped from the toaster, golden and steaming. Butter and jam found their place on the table, and soon, they sat opposite each other, their plates piled high. They dug in, forks scraping across ceramic, their hunger overriding conversation.
Minutes passed in contented silence until Cora suddenly laughed, the sound light and unguarded. He looked up, his brow arching in question.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, a smile tugging at his lips.
She swallowed a bite of omelet before replying, “You and I have practically stuck our heads in our plates, eating the way Max and Mia do!”
“Hey, I was hungry!” he defended with mock indignation, pointing his fork at her. “And for the record, your food is amazing.”
Her smile widened, and she shook her head before diving back into her plate. When the meal was finished, they pushed their plates aside.
Jeremy leaned back, cradling his coffee cup as he studied her. She lifted one foot onto her chair, resting her chin on her knee, her gaze soft as it settled on him.
“I hate to bring up work after we’ve just eaten,” he began hesitantly, “but I couldn’t help noticing something last night.”
She tilted his head, curiosity etched on her features.
“You… talked to the deceased,” he continued, his voice low but steady. “You told her you’d find out what happened and treat her respectfully.”
Cora nodded, wrapping her hands around her coffee mug. “You’re wondering why I speak to the dead?”
He shrugged, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips. “When you put it like that, it does sound odd. But when I saw you doing it… it felt right. I guess I’m just curious.”
She drew a deep breath, her gaze dropping to the table. “I had a brother who died,” she said quietly.
Her words struck him like a blow, his body tensing involuntarily. “Fuck, babe,” he murmured, his voice laced with sorrow. “I’m so sorry.”
“I was five when Adam was born,” she began, her voice soft and steady. “The doctors knew something was wrong right away. His brain hadn’t developed properly. They told my parents he wouldn’t live a long life, but they were determined to give him a full life, no matter how short it might be.”
She paused, her lips curving into a bittersweet smile. “There were so many things he couldn’t do. He couldn’t walk or even hold a spoon because of severe cerebral palsy. But we didn’t dwell on what he couldn’t do. My parents taught me to cherish what he could do. And let me tell you, Adam could smile like no one else.”
Her eyes glistened with the memory, and Jeremy’s chest tightened.
“He lived to be twelve,” she continued, “before a seizure caused a stroke. We were with him at the hospital when he passed. And that’s when I witnessed something I’ll never forget.”
Jeremy leaned forward, hanging on her every word.
“Throughout his life, we were surrounded by doctors and therapists—some who were incredible, and some who treated him like he didn’t matter because he couldn’t respond the way they expected. But at the end, I saw something different. The nurses and doctors spoke to him as though he could still hear them. They touched him gently, as if he might feel it. And when he passed…” Her voice caught for a moment.
She steadied herself with a sip of coffee before continuing. “When he passed, I’d been playing soft music for him with my phone. I had forgotten it when we walked down the hall and went back to his room to retrieve my phone. That’s when I saw one of the doctors leaning over his body, her hand resting on his chest. She whispered that he was at peace, and she would ensure he was treated with care and respect.”
Cora closed her eyes for a few seconds, and he stayed perfectly still, not wanting to intrude on her moment of memory.
Looking at him again, she continued. “That moment stayed with me, Jeremy. It shaped everything. I realized that even in death, every person deserves dignity. That’s why I do what I do.”
He couldn’t hold back any longer. Reaching for her hand, he pulled her gently into his lap. She came willingly, her arms circling his neck as his arms wrapped protectively around her.
His chest felt impossibly full, his heart beating harder than it should. He hadn’t been looking for love when he met Cora. But now, holding her, he knew he’d found it. Maybe it was too soon to say it aloud, but he didn’t care. He’d hold on to the feeling until the moment was right.