Adam. Maybe this was nothing about “different worlds” and everything about Cora trying to distance herself.
“That sounded harsh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it as a criticism.” Cora sighed. “And I appreciate the offer. I’m sure your dad would have some great wisdom to share, but I need to get it across the line with my father before I show it to anyone else.”
“Why?”
“Because…” She slid the zipper down her back, and Trent watched the fabric peel away from her skin. “I want to know if it’s any good before I let other people see it. What if I am a horrible writer? I don’t want to embarrass myself.”
“But you’re not.”
“You don’t even read,” she said with a soft laugh. “I heard all about your disparaging remarks about Shakespeare today, by the way. Nobody cares what some dead dude thinks about life…really?”
He raked a hand through his hair. “Hey, just because I don’t appreciate the classics doesn’t mean I don’t know passion when I see it.”
She shot him a look over one shoulder as her dress slithered down her skin, creating a whispering whoosh as it fell to the floor. Underneath she had black underwear and no bra, and Trent’s throat was suddenly tight.
“Passion is all good and well, but I don’t want to be like those fools you see on American Idol who think they can sing because their families haven’t had the heart to tell them they sound like a dying cat.”
“A little encouragement wouldn’t hurt.” He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing his lips to the back of her neck. “Everybody deserves to be encouraged.”
“I deserve the truth.” She sagged back against him. “And doesn’t the truth matter more than protecting people’s feelings?”
Did it? How many times had he told a white lie to make someone in his family happy? Like that time Liv baked ANZAC biscuits that were hard enough to split a tooth clean in half, but he’d dunked them into his coffee and swallowed them down with a smile on his face.
Wasn’t protecting the relationship worth more than the truth?
You didn’t think that when you found out what Rochelle had been hiding.
Yeah, but that was different.
“I can tell you don’t agree with me,” she said.
“Relationships are important.”
“Says the town charmer,” she teased. “I bet you like having everyone wrapped around your little finger.”
She made it sound like a source of power for him, but truthfully, he’d never known any other way to be. Making people smile and helping others out was how he’d been raised. It was his personal currency.
“Have I got you wrapped around my little finger?” He swept her hair to one side and kissed the tender spot behind her ear. The resulting sigh was enough to send blood charging through his veins like a stampede of bulls.
“I’m worried about it.” Her hands slid behind her, clutching his thighs as she pressed back against him. “I’m worried you’re twisting me inside out and upside down.”
“Maybe I’m simply adjusting your worldview.”
She turned, planting her hands against his chest and shoving him so that he stumbled back and hit the bed. He dropped down, eyes wide as she stood proud and magnificent before him. Regardless of what she thought, Cora had transformed. Her time in Australia was a metamorphosis—because she was confident and sure and in charge.
She stepped toward him, eyes smoky and dark as she lowered herself to straddle him. She rubbed over his lap, giving him the barest hint of contact. It was enough to fully ignite him—turning him to ash and bone. Hardening him all over. Making him hers.
“I don’t need my worldview adjusted,” she said with a wicked smile. “The view is pretty damn perfect right now.”
He chuckled. “That so?”
“I’ve got a hot man at my mercy, a long sexy night ahead of me…” She pressed down, rubbing herself against Trent. He let out a soft moan and tugged her face to his, nipping at her lower lip with his teeth. “Another week and a half of bliss before I have to be an adult and face the real world.”
The words turned his stomach to stone. She was already thinking about the end. Her leaving.
“I want to make the most of this while we can,” she said, grabbing his hands and bringing them to her breasts, encouraging his greedy fingers to take, take, take. She moaned when he palmed the firm mounds, softly at first. Then harder. “Trent…you’re incredible.”