Chapter Nineteen
Corey
Knowing I’m seeing Harlow again after work means my day drags. I used to crave my hours sitting on my stool and working on intricate designs for hours. But as I sit here now, all I want is her.
It’s really fucking weird.
I’ve never wanted anything serious with a woman. I joined the army when I was sixteen and knew that would be my life for the following God knew how many years, so I just enjoyed myself. I had a couple of regular girls I’d spend time with but never one I ever made any promises to. Even the one I probably should have never received any.
I sigh as I think about Carla and what became of her. She was one of my childhood best friends, and guilt eats me that I was a huge part of her downfall. If we didn’t have that drunken night together at fifteen, then things could have turned out very differently.
I sigh, trying not to be engulfed by my memories and mistakes, when a knock sounds out on my studio door.
“Hey, man,” Oz says with a beaming smile on his face. I’m just cleaning up for the day and am more than ready to get the hell out of here to meet Harlow.
“Hey, what’s the grin about? Shit your pants or something?”
“Nah, man. I’m just happy for you.”
“For me?” I ask, not having the fucking foggiest as to what’s going on.
“Yeah. It looks like you’ve got a sweet night ahead of you.”
“What are you—” It’s in that moment he moves aside and allows me to see through to reception.
“Holy shit.”
My eyes run over her light make-up and curled hair, and then the fabric of her dress that covers most of her body but reveals one hell of a cleavage and a hint at her curvaceous leg hiding behind the slit.
She throws her head back and laughs at something JJ says before glancing over to where we are.
Our eyes lock and something crackles between us. All the air rushes from my lungs as I stare.
Her lips curl into a wide smile and her hand lifts to tuck her hair behind her ear.
“Fuck, man. You need to get the hell out of here before I leave you with JJ,” Oz jokes.
“Keep your fucking hands to yourself, man.” He holds them up in surrender.
“Oh, you are so fucking whipped. Are your balls even still attached to your body?”
“Fuck off. Like you can talk. JJ has been wearing yours as earrings for fucking months.”
He winces as the visual hits him, but he soon shrugs. “It has its benefits.”
Suddenly all the things I never wanted, the same woman every night, the thoughts of futures and all the serious stuff that comes with it, doesn’t feel quite so intimidating.
“Right, I’m out of here.”
“At fucking last.”
I drop the last few things into my drawer before shouldering past Oz.
“Here he is,” JJ announces as I fly past her. “Your girl here was just telling me—”
Her words fade off as I take Harlow’s face in my hands and drop my lips to hers.
JJ and Oz holler behind us in excitement, but I ignore them. My only focus is on the woman in my arms.
“This is a nice surprise,” I say, running my nose against hers.
“I couldn’t wait any longer.”
“You and me both, baby.” Pulling away from her, I turn to look at my employees who both have giant smiles on their faces. “We’re out of here.”
“Have a good night.”
“You wanna drive?” Harlow asks me as we make our way to her car.
She holds the keys out and I take them from her in favour of getting us back as fast as possible.
“What is that smell?” I ask when my arse hits the driver’s seat.
“That’s dinner.”
“You cooked?”
“Sure did.”
“You are aware that I have no dining table or more than one plate, right?”
“I’ve got it all under control. You don’t need to worry about a thing.”
I shake my head, wondering how the hell this happened.
Turns out that having it all planned means that, along with our dinner, Harlow’s car is packed with everything we could possibly need. She’s even got an old fold-away camping table.
Once we get it all up to my flat, she turns to me and runs her palms up my chest.
“I missed you today,” The words are out of my mouth before my brain registers them.
“Yeah?” Her dark eyes light up as a shy smile tugs at her lips. “What happened to Mr. I Don’t Do Tomorrows?”
“Suddenly tomorrow doesn’t seem so scary,” I say quietly, dropping down so my lips brush against hers.
“What are you saying exactly?” She tenses in my arms. Her need to put a label on us amuses me.
“One day at a time, baby. One day at a time.”
“Okay,” she whispers, nodding and playing with the hair at the nape of my neck.
Lowering down, I take her lips with mine. She lifts up on her tiptoes and presses the length of her body against mine. A groan rumbles up my throat as her soft curves line up perfectly with my hard lines.
My fingers twitch to lift her into my arms and carry her to my bedroom. But I resist.
“You go and shower or whatever, and I’ll get dinner sorted.”
“You sure you don’t need help?” I ask, finding the slit in her dress and slipping my hand inside.
“Distracting, you mean.”
“Same thing,” I say, dropping my lips to her neck and licking her sensitive skin.
“No, no,” she giggles, squirming against me and making the situation a whole lot worse. “Go.” She slams her palms down on my chest and attempts to push me away. She’s nowhere near strong enough to move me, but after a few seconds, I take pity on her and step back.
“Okay, okay.” I walk backward down the hall, keeping my eyes on her.
I reach behind me and pull my shirt over my head, dropping it to the floor before swiftly removing everything else.
Her eyes watch my
