He scooted over to the night table and pulled out lube and condoms. My body felt curiously empty as I watched him roll the condom down and generously slick himself up.
As before, Cort refused to be rushed, and instead of the hard and furious fuck I’d come for, he kissed and caressed my stomach and thighs, nuzzled into my groin, and blew hot breaths across my stomach until I writhed with a need so desperate, I couldn’t remember a time when I didn’t want him.
“Please,” I moaned, holding out my hand. “Please.”
“Only ’cause you asked so nicely.”
Cort slid the head of his dick around the rim of my hole, then eased inside me halfway. He stopped, his gaze as fierce as a Nordic warrior prince’s.
I wanted to look away, look anywhere but in his eyes, yet I was transfixed by his naked passion and desire for me. Then he began to move, not hard and thrusting, but so slow and tender, I could feel every inch of him imprinting on my skin, branding me as his. I fell so fast and hard, the breath slammed from my body and I came, spilling over my stomach, the fire extending from the soles of my feet throughout my bloodstream to electrify my heart back to beating.
Cort increased his pace, and then his intense stare faltered, his eyes widening as if in shock. After a sharp intake of breath, he groaned deep and fell on top of me, his lips buried in the crook of my neck.
Slowly, very slowly, I put my arms around him. I wanted all that strength and power he’d given me. I felt his lips curve against my skin.
“I’m glad you moved, ’cause I wasn’t sure if I was still alive or died and gone to heaven.” With a grunt, he slid out of me, got rid of the condom, and came back to pull me close. “Darlin’, that was like nothing else I ever imagined.” His eyes fluttered closed, and his even breathing let me know he’d fallen asleep.
When he said things like that, I could almost believe I deserved him.
Chapter Nine
CORT
Iwoke up,and he was gone. The space beside me felt cool to the touch, and I sat up so quickly, I got dizzy for a moment.
“Dammit.” I slapped the bed, then scrambled out of the tangle of sheets, hoping like hell I’d find him in the living room. Knowing somehow I wouldn’t, it was no surprise when I opened my bedroom door and found the rest of the apartment just as empty. No note, nothing. His bag of clothes, which had been sitting on top of the kitchen table, was gone.
So that was it. I slumped against the sofa. “Where the fuck did you run off to, Harlan?” I muttered to myself, knowing full well he must’ve freaked out after having sex. But I could tell it wasn’t his first time being with a man, which surprised the hell out of me. I would’ve sworn on a stack of Granddaddy’s bibles that Harlan was straight. Then I remembered his face when I jerked him off. Maybe not so straight.
At the moment, though, figuring out his sexuality was less important than finding him. And without a cell phone, it was near impossible. Harlan was gone and had made it clear he didn’t want to be found.
I stomped to the bathroom and noticed he’d taken a shower before he left. I turned on the water and let the hot spray beat down on me, hoping it would clear my head. But even after a shower, getting dressed, and making breakfast, I was no further along than I had been waking up to an empty bed and no Harlan.
My mood was fouler than a bull in a rodeo when I walked into the bookstore. I’d half hoped Harlan would be there, but it was no surprise to see Race sitting behind the desk, alone.
“Where’s your other half?” He took a sip of his coffee.
“Don’t know.” I made myself a cup and flipped through theNew York Post, but even their usual snarky headlines couldn’t make me feel better.
“Uh-oh. What’s wrong?” His sharp eyes peered at me over his wire-rimmed glasses. “You look miserable.”
“Nothing…everything. I don’t know. Don’t wanna talk about it right now.” I couldn’t. I felt so stupid. Everything everyone had told me was right. Harlan had used me. “What do you need me to do?”
“It’s hard to admit sometimes we were wrong. But you tried. Much more than anyone else would’ve. I give you credit.”
I didn’t want his admiration. I wanted Harlan back in my bed, shaking so hard from me kissing him, I thought he’d fall apart.
I shrugged and gulped down my coffee.
“No big deal. I see you got some boxes. How ’bout I open them, and you can decide where you want me to shelve them.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Race knew me enough by now not to push. Besides, I had nothing to say. Harlan was gone, and I had no idea if he’d be coming back.
By three thirty, I’d finished unpacking all the boxes and rearranged the shelves to put the newer bestselling titles in the front. The customers came in steadily, which meant I didn’t have time to think. Race’s back was giving him trouble, so I offered to stand behind the desk and help people with anything they needed. I’d spent so much time here, it wasn’t a hardship, plus it kept my mind from dwelling on Harlan and where the fuck he disappeared to.
When Race closed at seven, he turned to me with a rueful smile. “Well, partner, how was your first day?”
