31 COREY
The afternoon sun streams through my office window as I finish another round of vendor calls. My ribs ache, but I've dealt with worse. The house feels too quiet.
"Rhea?" I call out, pushing away from my desk. No response.
My heart rate kicks up. She was reading in the living room earlier, but now the couch sits empty, her book abandoned.
"Rhea, you here?" I check the kitchen. Empty coffee mug in the sink, but no Rhea.
The garage door's still locked from the inside. Her car's in the driveway where she left it. My pulse pounds harder.
"Rhea!" I take the stairs two at a time, ignoring the protest in my side. Guest room's empty. Bathroom door's open, no one inside.
"Fuck." I grab my phone, dialing her number. A familiar ringtone echoes from downstairs. Following the sound, I find her phone on the kitchen counter next to her keys.
"God dammit." I slam my palm against the counter. After everything that's happened, she wouldn't just leave without her phone. Not without telling me.
I check the security cameras on my phone. No movement at the front door or garage in the last hour.
Through the kitchen window, I catch movement in the backyard.
Relief floods through me as I spot Rhea, her back to me, doing what looks like yoga. Her wireless earbuds explain why she didn't hear me calling. She's wearing those damn yoga pants that hug every curve, and a sports bra that shows off her tattoos.
I slide open the back door, stepping onto the deck. The late afternoon sun warms my skin as I watch her move through another pose. Her eyes are closed, completely in her own world with those earbuds in.
Walking quietly across the grass, I reach out to tap her shoulder.
"Hey-"
The world spins. One second I'm standing, the next I'm flat on my back, the breath knocked from my lungs. Rhea's thighs straddle my waist, her hands pinning my wrists above my head.
Holy fuck. My pulse races, and not from the fall.
Her eyes widen as recognition hits. "Oh my god, Corey!" She releases my wrists. "I'm so sorry! Are you okay? Your ribs-"
I grab her hips before she can scramble away. "Don't move."
"But I hurt you-"
"You didn't." My thumbs trace circles on her bare skin where her sports bra has ridden up. "Where'd you learn that move?"
"Julian." Her cheeks flush pink. "You scared me."
"Clearly." I can't help grinning. "Remind me never to sneak up on you again."
She shifts, trying to get up, but I tighten my grip. Her breath catches. "Corey..."
"Stay." The word comes out despite my better judgement. Her hands rest on my chest, and the light pressure sends heat coursing through me.
"We shouldn't-"
“Rhea, I’ve kept my restraint for too damn long. Take pity on the wounded and put me out of my fucking misery for a bit.” I see her unease leave her body as I lift my head and capture her lips with mine, swallowing whatever protest she was about to make.
She freezes for a heartbeat, then melts against me with a soft moan that drives me crazy.