Room to Breathe (17 page)

“I am yours completely. I am yours body and soul. I don't want to belong to anyone else,” I confess, meaning every word. I stop just short of telling him that I love him.

“That is my sweet Cora,” he says pushing himself into me to the hilt rocking his pelvis against me. I am about to come undone that quickly. “You. Are. Mine,” he says punctuating each word with a thrust.

“Oh god!” is all I can respond. He keeps rolling his hips, grinding my clit as he moves in and out of me in a punishing rhythm. I can feel my body building as I clamp down around his perfect cock.

He leans down and whispers in his gravelly voice. “Let go honey. I want to feel you come. I want to know you come only for me.” His breath on me sends me over the edge as my orgasm moves through my body. I raise my hips off the bed meeting his continued assault.

With just a few more thrusts he follows me over the edge. He calls out my name as he slams into me pulling me hard against him. When his shuddering stops he collapses on top of me.

“Mine,” Eric murmurs against my mouth softly kissing me. He rolls off of me and on to his side. He pulls my back against him nuzzling his face in the back of my neck.

“Cora, no matter what happens I need you to know that you belong to me and I just need you. I need you more than I should,” he says in a sleepy voice.

“I think I got your message.”

“Good. Now go to sleep my beautiful sweet girl.” And with Eric holding me tightly, I do.

Chapter 24

I am late. Really late. Like last one there late. Eric is going to kill me. I am rushing through the house as fast as I can in stilettos and this gown. I am grateful that even though it is floor length it has a slit up one side to the top of my thigh.

The gala has been set up in a huge white tent on the lawn. I step through the opening into the large created space. There must be warm air being pumped in because it is really comfortable for how cold it is outside. Everyone is dressed to the nines and then some. The men are in tuxes with white ties and the women are in absolutely beautiful gowns.

I find Eric right away. He is in the middle of what looks like a very serious conversation with two men I have never seen before. I think I will wait until he is finished with that. Maybe he won’t notice how late I am. I need a drink anyways. I head to the nearest bar and get a glass of white wine. My dress is pale pink and I don’t want to risk spilling anything on it.

Claire is just a few feet away talking to Lucinda. As much as I want to avoid Lucinda I really want to talk to Claire. Before I can go over to say anything to them I feel a hand on the exposed small of my back.

“You are late,” I feel Eric breathe on my bare neck sending chills through my body.

“I know I am so sorry,” I turn to look at him. He is spectacular in his tux. My mind instantly jumps to taking it off him and my body responds in favor.

“It is fine. If you are going to show up somewhere looking like that you can arrive anytime you want. You know you can almost see the top of your ass in this dress?” He smiles at me. The spark of desire in his eyes makes me smile back.

“I think that is the point.”

“Well if you want to get people’s attention, you succeeded. I have had no less than six men and one woman ask me who the gorgeous blonde in the pink sparkling dress is. You have been here for less than ten minutes.”

“That is good to know but the real question is; did I get
your
attention?”

“I would love to show you how much of my attention you have but I feel you would object to me taking you in front of all these people.” With the way he is looking at me I am not sure I would. Right on cue, Dean walks up to kill the mood once again. I swear he stands by waiting for Eric and me to have a moment and then ruin it. I am going to have to make sure I am locking my bedroom door or he will end up in there next.

“Eric, there is a minor situation I need to speak with you about,” he says, very serious. He’s handsome in his tux too but he is so grouchy all the time.

“Just one moment, Dean. Cora, darling, please have fun. I will find you later.” He winks at me and rests his hand on my back for just a moment before rushing off with Dean in tow.

I finally make my way over to Claire with a slight spring in my step.

“Cora! There you are! You were so late I thought you changed your mind,” Claire’s happiness is so contagious I wonder how anyone could be in a bad mood around her but of course Lucinda isn’t just anyone.

“Hmm, wouldn’t that be a pity,” Lucinda sneers not looking at me.

“No, I just lost track of time,” I smile at Claire and pretend that I didn’t hear Lucinda.

“You look fantastic! This dress is something. I can’t believe it is completely covered in crystals.”

“Thank you. I really love it but it is so heavy. It has to weigh as much as I do.” I pick up the skirt and give it a little shake to demonstrate.

“As much as you? It must be made of lead,” Lucinda quips as she walks away.

“Oh don’t pay her any mind. You are almost rid of her,” Claire reminds me.

“Thank God! Don’t get me wrong I am going to miss having you and Brad around but it will be nice to have Eric to myself for a while.”

“Oh, I don’t take it personally. How long is it you have before Ellie and Marissa arrive?”

“Ellie and Marissa?” I run through the conversations I have had with Eric in the past few weeks. Those names don’t trigger anything.

“Yeah, the new charges. I think it is a week. Does that sound right?”

“Yep, that sounds about right.” I lie, unable to admit that Eric never mentioned anyone else would be showing up. Why wouldn’t he tell me? I am lost in my thoughts when Jane approaches.

“Hello Cora,” she says, smiling at me and then nodding at Claire.

“I am going to go see how Brad is faring,” Claire says as she walks off in the direction of the bar.

“Cora, you look stunning in that dress. That shade of pink is perfect for you.” Jane compliments. I appreciate her being nice but I still feel so plain next to her. Her long brown hair is pulled up in an intricate knot at the nape of her neck. It is secured with a clip that has probably twenty diamonds on it. She is also wearing a long sleeved grey lace dress that I recognize as made by Ellie Saab. Her petite features are set off by just a touch of make-up. She could make a super model shy about having a picture taken with her.

“Thank you,” I say simply and smile weakly. Since she has been here, she has occupied most of Eric’s time. It has made me a little resentful of her.

“I wondered if I might have a word with you outside for a moment.” She inquires. It seems rather odd to me but she has peaked my curiosity.

“Sure. It isn’t raining yet is it?”

“No, not yet anyways,” Tristan says placing his hand on my arm. “Cora, could I speak with you for just a moment?”

“Oh actually I just on my way out to speak with Jane.” I feel awkward being stuck between husband and wife but what a pair to be stuck between.

“Well I am sure Jane won’t mind. Will you darling?” Tristan asks his wife with a toothy smile.

“Of course not, but Cora I really do need to speak with you before the night is over.”

“Oh good heavens Jane! You make it sound so serious!” Tristan chuckles.

“No, not at all. I just had hoped to get to know our young American better.” She smiles back at him but her smile doesn’t reach her eyes.

“Well, I think I have a way for you to do just that. Cora, right this way.” Tristan places his hand on my bare back to steer me in the opposite direction. His hand is cold on my bare skin causing me to shiver. “I love a woman that shivers at just a touch.” He says as he winks at me.

“I am sure your wife does too.” I say reminding him that his wife is only about ten feet behind us.

“Actually she does but she isn’t very keen on blondes,” he smiles at the shock that must be on my face. I guess when Claire said they have “an unusual” marriage she wasn’t kidding.

“Ah, there you two are,” Tristan says to Eric and Harrison. They look like they were in a serious exchange.

“Cora, you are breathtaking,” Harrison says while scanning his eyes over me. The way he is looking me up and down makes me a little uncomfortable standing so close to Eric. “I was just telling Lord Ashford here that I am in need of someone to accompany me on a month long trip to Japan. I know you had expressed some interest in the subject of ways to bring clean water to people and conservation. I was rather hoping you would want to be the person to accompany me.”

“Oh!” I feel my face start to flush. I am a loss for words and that never happens.

“Of course you two would want to get to know each other better first,” Tristan chimes in. “It is a rather hard thing to do long distance and I seriously doubt that Harrison will want to be traveling back and forth from the city. I do have a solution though, Cora you could always come and stay in London with Jane and me.”

“Oh, thank you but I couldn’t impose like that,” I smile aware that my face is still bright red. I look over at Eric. He is just watching us with a blank expression. Why doesn’t he say something?

“Oh no, you wouldn’t be. Honestly, our house is so large we would hardly see each other. Don’t you think it is a good solution, Eric?”

“If Cora wants to go to get to know Harrison better then, yes it sounds like a perfect solution,” Eric replies with his eyes locked on mine. I am sure I misunderstood him. It almost sounds like he thinks I should go.

“Well there you have it,” Harrison announces looking pleased with himself. “What do you say Cora? Would like to spend some time together in London and then travel to Japan with me?”

“I don’t know. Eric, do you think I should?”

“Well, you did say when I first met you that you wanted to travel to Japan and Tristan is quite right. His house is large enough to host a full brigade. So I think if you want to go then you should go.” he says, his eyes cold.

I feel like I am falling for a moment as my stomach drops. He really just said that he thinks I should go with another man. What was all of the talk last night about me belonging to him? He even said he needed me. Well I guess what he needed was someone to play with his dick.

“Well I guess it is settled then as long as you are sure I won’t be a bother, Tristan.”

“No bother at all,” he smiles and winks at me again. I look back to Eric and he is just glaring at me with an icy stare. The usual warmth in his eyes is gone.

“Cora what do you say to dinner Thursday? That will give you a few days to get settled in,” Harrison asks in an upbeat tone.

“That would be great,” I smile at him even though it is forced. All I can focus on is that Eric just sent me away. “If you gentlemen will excuse me, I just remembered something I neglected to do earlier.”

I need another drink. I start towards the bar and then realize that Jane is right next to it. I can’t deal with her right now. I am just going to go inside the house. Apparently I have packing to do anyways. My eyes start to fill with tears and I don’t want to be in here anymore. I am headed to the door when I bump into someone. I turn to apologize and see that is Claire.

“Cora, honey, what is wrong?” That is all it takes to send me over the edge. I can’t hold the tears back any longer.

“Come on let’s get her outside,” says a familiar voice taking me by the arm.

“Oh, hi Miranda. I didn’t see you there,” I say through stifled sobs as they lead me out of the tent. It is freezing but still dry, thank goodness.

“Holy fuck it is cold!” Claire exclaims.

“I am sorry. You both can go back inside. I will just go to my room,” I whisper.

“No, we will be fine. Now what is the matter?” Miranda asks.

“Eric,” is all I can manage to get out before I am cry too hard to speak.

“Um, kinda figured it had to do with Eric,” Claire says gently rubbing my arm.

“He wants me to go stay in London,” I respond after taking a few breaths.

“Oh, that isn’t a bad thing. That is great! I am going to be just around the corner from Eric’s London home,” Claire beams.

“No, not to his house; to Tristan’s and not with Eric at all. He wants me to go there to get to know Harrison better.”

“Oh well I guess that explains the tears,” Miranda says gently rubbing my other arm. “I hate to be that friend but I did try to warn you about him. He has been alone for a long time. That isn’t an easy thing to change.”

“I know. I just thought that if I love him this much then he had to feel at least a little bit the same way. I mean even last night he told me that I was his and that he needed me. It just doesn’t make sense,” I say feeling a little childish.

“Okay, but Cora were either of those things said during sex or after he had been drinking?” Claire asks.

“Both,” I respond looking at my feet.

“I don’t think I need to tell you that you can’t rely on what a man says under those conditions,” Claire shakes her head at me like I am completely absurd.

“I know but you don’t understand. This was different. He was different. I really thought we were moving forward as a couple.” I know I sound delusional but they weren’t there. I don’t know how I can explain to them that during sex is when I feel Eric and I are the most honest with each other.

“Cora, I think,” Miranda starts but doesn’t get to finish. At that moment Lucinda burst out of the tent and stomps over to us.

“You,” she glares pointing at me. “You meddling little bitch! It wasn’t enough for you to get me thrown out of here but you have to steal my opportunity as well?”

“Lucinda, now really isn’t the time,” Miranda states stepping between Lucinda and me. It suddenly occurs to me that I don’t ever want to be on Miranda’s bad side.

“I don’t care and you don’t scare me,” Lucinda responds but backs away a little anyways.

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” I reply to Lucinda’s accusation.

“Harrison MacGuire. I should be the one going on that Japan trip and staying at the Cooper’s London house. You just had to play your little innocent and sweet act. So now he wants you to go instead because he thinks it would be good for you to get out and see the world. Do you know where this leaves me? Wales. The middle of nowhere in Wales with my sister and her family.”

“Lucinda I am sorry. I didn’t know, honest. I still don’t think you having to live with your sister is my fault at all.” I try to argue back but I just don’t have it in me to fight with her right now.

“Well if it isn’t your fault then whose fault is it?”

“I believe the rest of us agree it is your own fault. You made this bed and you get to lie in it, Lucinda. The sooner you stop blaming everyone else for your mistakes the sooner you will be happy. Now I don’t know about anyone else but I for one have had enough of your shit. Please just go away,” Miranda says sternly steeping in front of Lucinda and turning her back on her, effectively shutting her out of our conversation. Lucinda stands there fuming for a moment before storming off.