Chapter 34
CHAPTER 34
C orinne. Friday
My relationship with Elijah seemed to have a theme of meaningful, important, and at times passionate things happening on couches.
We had made plans to go out Friday night. But first, I had him sit down with me on the sofa in his living room and said to him, “There’s something I need to tell you.”
I could tell he didn’t quite know what to think. But, he couldn’t possibly have been prepared for what I was about to say.
“Should I be worried?” Elijah asked.
“Not really,” I said. “I mean, I don’t think it’s something that really should make a difference in our relationship. And, I hope it won’t make a difference to you. But, it’s something that you should have known going in.” Inwardly, I winced at the way I’d put that. There should have been a better wording for it.
“Okay…” he said, concerned.
“The only reason I didn’t tell you,” I said, struggling with my words, “is that I thought it might make a difference. I was afraid it might make you think twice about being with me. But then, I just went ahead with things without telling you, and it really wasn’t fair.”
He took my hand and said, “Whatever it is, Corinne, you can just tell me. We can work it out. I’ll understand.”
I took a deep breath for courage. “You see, Elijah, before you…there really wasn’t anyone. Not like the way we’ve been.”
He blinked, uncomprehending. I really wasn’t doing a good job.
“What do you mean?” he wondered. “There was someone else. There was another boyfriend back in Youngstown. You weren’t happy with how it was going, he wanted to keep things the way they were, and you broke it off and decided to move here and start fresh, right?”
“Yes, that’s true,” I said nervously. “But, that’s not all of it.”
“What more could there be?”
“My ex-boyfriend,” I said, “wanted to be the way you and I have been. And, I never let him. The truth is, until you… I never let anyone. Ever.”
Poor Elijah jerked back his head a bit. He was struggling as badly as I was. He was getting the implications of what I was saying, but I could tell that he couldn’t quite believe it.
“What do you mean, you never let anyone?” he reacted. “You can’t mean that before me, you never…” He trailed off, searching my eyes.
All I could do was nod and say, “Never.” Suddenly, I felt like the most inexperienced, naive person in the world. It was the most awkward feeling that I’d ever had in my life. I seriously wondered what Elijah would think of me now.
“But… But,” he stammered. “But all those times I did it to you — here, in my bed, on your…” Letting go of my hand, he stared off into space for a minute. “But how can that be? The way you were all those times with me, the way you responded to me… Corinne, you never hesitated to…you know, go down on me. And, you loved it; I could tell. And every time I was inside you…”
“It was because it was new and it was exciting — and because it was you, Elijah,” I said. “I felt things that I’d always felt, and wanted what I’d always wanted, but I’d always resisted before. With you, I just couldn’t resist. I wanted you too much.”
He brushed his hair with his fingers as if he could brush the disbelief out of his head. “My God, Corinne, I had no idea. Really, I absolutely couldn’t tell, that first time on your couch, that you’d never let a guy fuck you before. Oh my God.” He took the most sincere, profound demeanor and took my hand again. “Corinne,” he said, “you could have said something. You could have told me.”
“Would you have still wanted to?”
“Definitely! Absolutely! Hell yes! Corinne, I went over to your place that day not knowing what I was going to do about all the feelings I’d had building up inside me. I didn’t know what I’d do with them. And, there was the whole thing about being your boss, and wondering what you’d think if I asked you. And just like you said, I couldn’t resist. I couldn’t stop myself. It became an ‘all or nothing’ situation. And, it was the only time I was ever scared with a woman.
“Still, if I’d known you’d never had cock… It was hot and it was fantastic and beautiful, but I would have wanted to make your first time something more special than that. Oh, Corinne, it should have been more special.”
My heart was dancing, but my mind felt like crying. “It was special,” I told him. “It was special because it was you, because I was excited about you. ”
“The way you were that day,” he recalled, “it wasn’t awkward. I could never have known the difference. And, you’re saying that it really wasn’t awkward because it was me? ”
I nodded yes and touched his beautiful face. “It wasn’t the least bit awkward. It was like there was a part of me that was preparing for it all along. And, it was perfect. You made me feel so totally wanted. So it was my first time, but it felt completely right. It was exciting and it was perfect.”
He touched the hand with which I touched his face and accepted my words. “Okay. If that’s how you really felt, I’m glad. But, if I’d known it was your first time…” He laughed softly. “Remember that hotel suite I talked about? If I’d known I was going to be the first man to fuck you, I’d have gotten that suite, and I would have had someone go in and spread rose petals all over the bed. I would have had the hotel get a bottle of their best champagne and a bucket of ice ready for us. I would have made it the sweetest, most romantic first fuck you could have ever wanted.”
He pulled me into a hug, and the most tender warmth spread inside me. Somehow, Elijah could make pure lust sound like the most romantic thing in the world. In his arms I said, “We can still do that, you know.”
“First chance we get,” he said.
_______________
There’s something about being relieved when my worries turn out to have been for nothing that gives me an appetite. After my confession to Elijah was met with his complete understanding, I was more than ready for a great dinner at a great restaurant.
Elijah had gotten us a reservation at a French restaurant that had me looking forward to some fantastic cuisine in a romantic setting. It was as gorgeous and atmospheric as I expected, with low, soft lighting and filled with the most wonderful smells. The hostess showed us to our table, which I was surprised to find was a table for four.
Elijah pulled out a chair for me, and as I sat down, I asked, “Why two extra seats? Who’s eating with us?”
He sat down beside me with a coy and mysterious kind of smile and said, “I’m not spoiling the surprise.”
I hadn’t been in Cincinnati long enough to know anyone, really, except Elijah and Barbara and Ben, and I hadn’t really socialized with anyone from the office except Elijah. I had no idea who could it possibly be.
Soon enough, a waiter came with the wine list and some warm bread and butter and right behind him, Elijah’s surprise showed up. Elijah gestured to someplace across the restaurant, and I heard a familiar male voice call his name. I looked, and sure enough, there was Ben, along with the fourth member of our dinner party.
In spite of our elegant surroundings, I couldn’t help letting out a squeal as I jumped up and threw out my arms for a hug with…my sister.
She gave me the biggest grin in return. “Surprise, Sis!”
We hugged almost tightly enough to crack each other’s ribs, and by this time Elijah was standing up, shaking hands with Ben. Leanna let me go and turned her attention to Elijah, and I got just a little nervous. What was my sister going to say to the man that she knew took my virginity and at least temporarily broke my heart?
“So,” she said. “The famous Elijah.”
Seeming a bit humble, Elijah said, “And, the big sister.”
Time stood still at our table until Elijah offered Leanna his hand, and they shook. They were actually okay. I didn’t know what confounded me more, that my sister didn’t hate Elijah or that my sister was actually here.
Seriously needing to be brought up to speed, I asked Elijah, “How did all this happen? Did you invite them? How did you…”
Leanna cut in. “Ben and I… We started talking. A lot. He assured me that Elijah is okay. And, since I happen to think Ben is okay, I agreed to him and Elijah setting this up as a little surprise for you.”
Feeling relieved for the second time this evening, I said, “Well, it worked. I’m definitely surprised.” I gave Elijah a look that told him, In a good way.
“You’re a sly one, aren’t you?” I said to Ben.
“Sometimes you’ve got to get one in under the radar,” he said.
We all laughed at that, and now I really had an appetite. We sat down and Elijah called the waiter to bring menus.