Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
CORA
Sex is a funny thing. You either love it or hate it, depending on who you’re having it with. A lot of the time, I love it. I’ve always been a sexual person and never once thought of myself as a prude. But I feel naive and inexperienced compared to Arlo’s standards.
He bounces me on his cock, and my already sore clit loves the friction from it. The rest of my body is basically on fire.
This man can fuck me any time he pleases.
Just as an orgasm begins to build, he leans forward and bites my neck, then proceeds to suck it.
I’m too wrapped up in what his cock is currently doing to immediately notice one of his fingers slide into my ass.
“You like that, don’t you, sweetheart?”
Fuck, I hate that term of endearment. One of my mother’s husbands used to say that to her and then go out and get drunk. Arlo knows I hate it, and it’s why he plays on it.
See? He’s an asshole.
His cock pounds into me, establishing a punishing rhythm with the thick digit sliding in and out of my tender ass.
And before I can stop myself, I’m biting down hard on his shoulder to stop a scream as my orgasm tears through me.
My vision goes dark, my breath shallow, and my body a live wire of never-ending sparks.
My pussy pulses and flutters, contracting around Arlo’s girth, his low groans and rapid breaths hitting my skin as every ounce of his warm cum fills me to overflowing, the excess trickling down my thigh in a sticky, explicit mess.
He clutches both of my ass cheeks as I manage to catch my breath while I continue to grasp hold of his shoulders.
“You can put me down now,” I tell him, managing words.
At first, I don’t think he will, but then he lowers me slowly until my feet hit the floor.
I take a step back and then do a slow perusal of his body—his incredibly hard and chiseled body.
He has perfectly tanned skin that complements his dark hair.
Blood coats both of us now, and I try not to focus on it too much as I say, “I’ll get you a bandage. ”
He cages me in and demands, “Look at me.” Sucking in a breath, I raise my eyes to his. “I can see you trying to deny this.” I shake my head. “Just let it happen. I promise you’ll like the outcome, just as you liked this one.”
His hand touches my face, and I note that the beads are once again wrapped around it. He watches me looking at them, and a sexy growl rumbles in his chest. “Next time, I’d like to try them here.” His fingers gently caress my neck. “Don’t worry, I think you’ll enjoy it.”
I don’t know what to say or do. Emotions are running rampant through me right now.
When I say nothing, he steps back, and I try to maintain eye contact, but I can’t help dropping my gaze. He is probably the most beautiful man I have ever been with in my life, and not only did he just give me multiple orgasms, but he wants to do it again.
Even after I assaulted him.
“I think you should leave,” I manage to say.
He nods, picks up his discarded shirt, and puts it on, leaving it unbuttoned, then slides his pants up and tucks his semihard cock away. He glances down at the glass scattered over the floor and then to my feet. Before I can say a word, he picks me up.
“Put me down.”
“Get me a broom to clean this glass up so you don’t cut yourself.
” Moving me to a glass-free area of the room, he sets me down.
Then he raises a brow, waiting for me to go get the broom.
“If you want me to leave, then get it.” He waves a hand at me in a shooing motion, then drops down and starts picking up the larger shards.
Turning toward the kitchen, I feel his stare on me, but I don’t bother looking back. I find the broom and a dustpan in the pantry, then carry them back to where I left him. He’s still kneeling on the floor, but now he has a small pile of glass in one hand.
“You don’t have to clean any of that,” I tell him.
“Pass them here.” He holds out his empty hand, and I give him the dustpan first so he can dump the glass that’s in his hand, then I hold out the broom. I can’t say I’ve ever had a man tidy up a mess in my home before.
I watch as he works, and when all the glass is swept into one pile, he sweeps it into the dustpan, takes it into the kitchen, and tips it into the trash. Then he returns and says, “Good night, Cora.”
“Take care of your hand,” I tell him.
His gaze falls to the blood coating my inner thighs. “If you weren’t so sore right now, I would fucking take you again.” I raise a brow at him. “Don’t tempt me,” he growls. And then he walks out, leaving me standing here covered in blood.
I immediately turn and go to shower. I watch, transfixed, as the blood mixes with the water and turns the bottom of my shower red before it goes down the drain.
What have I done?
* * *
The following week, Arlo came to my office. I told my staff to inform him I was not in for the day. The week after that, he knocked on my apartment door.
I didn’t answer it.
I’ve avoided going out unless it’s for work. That is, until Delaney asks me to go out with her. I haven’t managed to catch up with her since she got back, so I don’t say no to the opportunity because Sebastian will be there as well.
We sit in a booth at a local jazz bar, where soft music plays as we order some appetizers and drinks.
“So, how is James? Tell me all about it,” I prod, and her cheeks go red at the mention of him.
“He’s good. I see him about every other day. He buys me flowers and tells me how pretty I am,” she gushes. “Honestly, I don’t know how much more perfect he can be.”
“Make sure he isn’t love-bombing you,” I warn, and her smile instantly drops.
“No, I don’t think he would do that.” I trust her judgment, even if sometimes she can be too nice to people who don’t deserve it.
“How is Mr. Graves?” Sebastian asks me, waggling his brows.
“No idea, haven’t seen him.” I smile as the waitress places our drinks in front of us. Mine is a blueberry margarita, and it looks amazing.
“Mr. Graves?” Delaney asks.
“Arlo Graves,” I tell her. I have mentioned Arlo before, and she met him that night we went out for her birthday.
“From the restaurant?”
“Ladies… and gentleman. Sorry to interrupt.” We all turn at the sound of the voice to find Soren standing at the end of our table.
“Maya over there was just telling me about the gala.” I peer around Soren to where a woman with black hair and bright red lipstick is seated nearby.
“Arlo thanked you publicly,” he adds with a smile in my direction.
He isn’t as friendly as he was that night in the bar.
He seems more standoffish right now. “It’s a privilege to have a man as powerful as Arlo on your side. How are you two doing?”
The table falls silent as the music continues to play quietly in the background. I hear his words and contemplate my next words before I say them. “He’s your friend, right? Why don’t you ask him?” I smile and grip my drink in my hand, looking away from him.
“Yes, he is. Well, have a good night.” He nods and returns to his table.
“Isn’t that the billionaire media mogul? I swear I’ve seen him in articles about the hottest single bachelors before,” Sebastian says.
I hum in response as I watch Soren retake his seat across from his date. He glances in our direction and nods his head at me once before he looks away.
“That was weird,” Delaney says, and I couldn’t agree with her more.