Finding Our Forever (Silver Springs #1)(31)

“You wouldn’t even look at me.”

“Because I knew where it would lead.”

“To this.”

“Yes.”

“Is that a problem?”

She sighed as he kissed her again. “It doesn’t feel like one right now.”

His fingers hooked the thin fabric of her thong and began sliding it down her legs. “Why hold back? Like I told you before, I’ll give you whatever you ask for.”

Except his heart. He’d made that clear. But, considering the situation, did it really matter? She was only here for the year. And once he found out she was Aiyana’s daughter—if she ever decided to tell him—she couldn’t imagine he’d be pleased that she’d allowed them to get so intimate without disclosing her true identity.

“Great. Then give me this,” she said and undid his pants.





Chapter Ten

Cora had never had sex outside of a bar or any other public place. She’d heard of other women doing things like that, but she’d never dreamed she’d be one of them. It was humbling to learn she could be that girl, but...what’d changed? What’d made her do such a thing?

It was Eli. He had such a profound effect on her. That animal magnetism, the immediacy of what they’d done, had been potent. She’d been so aroused, so sensitive to his every touch that she’d been able to climax when he did, making the fifteen minutes they spent outside quite an experience. She’d never forget him holding her up against the building, the moon full overhead as he drove into her, the only sound she could hear above the music filtering out of the building that of their own labored breathing—and then her groan at the end, which he’d quickly smothered with another kiss.

She was having a torrid affair—with her boss. Her ex-boyfriend would be shocked. Her parents would be shocked. Heck, she was shocked. She and Eli hadn’t even used a condom. They hadn’t had one, hadn’t come prepared because they hadn’t expected anything to happen. They’d been forced to use the withdrawal method.

“Where’ve you been?” Darci asked once Cora had righted her skirt, smoothed down her hair and returned to the table.

Cora hoped it was too dark to see the blush heating her cheeks. “It’s so hot in here.” She slid over as Eli joined them. He’d purposely let her go in first so that they wouldn’t come back at the same time. “I stepped out for some fresh air, and there were a couple of guys outside, smoking. We got into a conversation.”

“Oh. You were gone so long I was about to come looking for you.” She lifted her glass to catch the attention of the waitress.

Fortunately, Darci didn’t seem suspicious, but Dallas wasn’t about to let Cora off quite that easily. “Wasn’t it every bit as hot outside?” he asked with a grin that left little question he was messing with her.

Eli shot his brother a warning glance, but there was nothing he could do or say in front of Darci, who turned to look at her in expectation of her response.

“It was...a little warm,” Cora said, but the waitress Darci had called over appeared. As soon as Darci turned to speak with her, Cora leaned closer to Dallas. “Actually, after it was all over, I could’ve used a cigarette myself!”

Dallas burst out laughing and slapped his older brother on the back. “Damn, I like her. She’s definitely hooking up with the wrong Turner.”

“What’d you say?” Darci asked as the waitress left. “Something Turner?”

Dallas clinked his glass against Cora’s. “Not Turner, learner. I said Cora’s a fast learner.”

Darci blinked in apparent confusion. “What’d you learn?” she asked Cora but Eli dragged Cora onto the dance floor to save her from answering.

*

Cora was fairly certain she’d never had more fun. On some level, she knew she was screwing up her life. She was so taken with Eli, too taken for it to be safe. But she could hardly feel bad about what she was doing when she was still in the middle of it. She, Darci and the Turner boys talked, laughed and danced until the bar closed. Then Eli drove them all home, since he’d had much less to drink—barely two beers. Although Cora wasn’t much of a drinker herself, she’d been feeling more carefree than usual. After her stint outside with Eli, she’d quit holding back and simply cut loose. If she was going to regret this night, she figured she might as well go all the way.

Eli dropped Darci and Gavin off first, since they both lived in town. Cora would have to reclaim her SUV in the morning, but she was so happy and tired when she got home that she wasn’t worried about that or anything else.

After Eli pulled into her driveway, he walked her to the door. Dallas was probably watching from the truck as he kissed her, but she didn’t care about that any more than anything else tonight—and just to prove it, she pulled Eli back and kissed him a second time before letting him go. “You are so hot!” she said.

“And you are so drunk,” he responded with a laugh.

“I’m not drunk. I mean...not that drunk.”

“Yeah, you are.”

“I’ll never forget tonight.”

A thoughtful expression claimed his face as his gaze moved over her. “Neither will I,” he said. “But you’d better go inside if you don’t want your neighbors peering out to see what you’re up to.”