Finding Our Forever (Silver Springs #1)(22)

He felt shaky as he pushed inside her. She was so wet, so tight he had to hold himself still. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have even half a chance of making her come. He didn’t want to be the only one who was fulfilled tonight. Then he wouldn’t have done anything right.

“God, you feel good,” he murmured, running his mouth up her neck.

“So do you,” she said. “I guess it’s true what they say about guys with big hands and big feet.”

That comment took him so much by surprise that he almost laughed, but she didn’t give him time. She grabbed hold of him—to pull him deeper inside her—and encouraged him to thrust.

“Give me a minute.” He could hardly recognize his own voice it sounded so hoarse. “You’re going to be disappointed if you don’t.”

Crooking her arm around his neck to bring him closer, she pulled his bottom lip into her mouth. “Quit thinking,” she whispered.

He shook his head. “You don’t understand. It’s been a long time for me. I’m not going to make it.”

“So what? Let go. Do it any way you want.” Her breath, hot in his ear, was followed by her tongue.

Her words, the freedom she gave him, sent a fresh deluge of testosterone through him, which did nothing to help his control. But if she wasn’t going to help him hold out, he figured he was facing a losing battle. So he closed his eyes and drove into her with an abandon he’d rarely allowed himself before, and felt the pleasure of each thrust escalate to the point that his whole body shuddered when he hit climax.

“Goose bumps,” she said as she ran a hand down his arm. “That must’ve been a nice one.”

He stared down at her while trying to catch his breath. “It was. But I know it was too fast for you. I’m sorry.”

“I enjoyed watching you,” she said. “I think you needed to let loose.”

Suddenly, he was so tired. “Give me an hour or so, and I’ll redeem myself. I promise,” he said as he curled around her. But he fell into such a deep sleep that it was morning when he woke up, and by then she was gone.

*

Elijah had a hard time being selfish. That was the most significant fact Cora had learned about him while she was in his bed. As she drove to town the following morning to meet Darci for breakfast, she couldn’t help chuckling as she remembered how he’d tried to rein himself in—and how guilty he’d felt when he couldn’t. Of course, she’d enjoyed urging him on, had wanted to see what Elijah Turner was like when he threw off all of that restraint. Not only was it gratifying to her that she could have such an effect on him, she figured that was the best way to discover his true personality—when he wasn’t closely monitoring everything he said and did. Although he came off as remote, she was beginning to understand that he was actually quite sensitive. He also seemed honest and intrinsically fair.

Her phone rang. Assuming it would be Jill, or maybe Darci, since she was running a few minutes late, she answered using her Bluetooth. “Hello?”

“Cora? It’s Aiyana. How are you?”

She froze at the sound of her birth mother’s voice. Had Aiyana learned that she and Elijah had spent the night together? Cora had slipped out of his place while it was still dark so that no one would see her. They were both consenting adults; she didn’t think what they’d done should be a really big deal, at least to anyone else. They did work for the same school, however. So, of course, that would be frowned upon.

Was she about to be confronted about her behavior?

A honk from the car behind her reminded her that it was her turn to clear the intersection. “Um... I’m fine,” she said as she gave her SUV some gas. “How are you?”

“Great.” Aiyana covered the phone as someone spoke to her in the background. “Sorry about that,” she said when she came back on the line. “We just got a new shipment of books for the library.”

“From what I’ve seen, we already have an extensive collection.”

“I won’t skimp on the library, either.”

What did she skimp on? Nothing, not when it came to the school. Cora had the impression she worked 24/7 to make sure the boys had everything they could possibly need. “Are you a big reader?”

“I am. I read more nonfiction than anything else, but I stock a lot of action-adventure, sci-fi, mysteries and thrillers for the boys. I encourage them to read by giving them books they’re going to like. Feel free to take a look and borrow anything that catches your fancy.”

Cora had an e-reader, which was well-stocked, but she didn’t say so. She didn’t want Aiyana to feel as though her offer wasn’t appreciated. “I will. Thank you.”

“I hope you’ll be able to adjust to living here in Silver Springs,” she said. “I know it might require a bit of an adjustment.”

“Living out here is...different,” Cora admitted. “But it’s not without its attractions.” She winced as those words came out of her mouth. She thought Aiyana would instantly guess that Elijah was the biggest and brightest of Silver Springs’ “attractions,” at least where she was concerned. But Aiyana didn’t seem to clue in—thank God.

“Your supplies should be in on Monday. I checked, wanted to let you know.”

Cora pulled in front of Lolita’s Country Kitchen, where Darci had asked to meet for breakfast. She had to admit that it was wonderful to find ample parking—that rarely happened in LA. She wouldn’t even have to pay for it. “Wow. How nice of you to follow up.”