KORINNE
I was amazed at the variety of cars he had. He had a brand new Land Rover, a 1972 Chevrolet El Camino SS, a 1958 Chevrolet Corvette, and over in the corner I saw two motorcycles. Cringing at the sight of them, I silently prayed that he was careful when he rode. He opened the door, and once inside the house I was shocked at what I saw before me. Two sets of winding stairs led to the upper levels of the house while the lower level was open and full of life. What surprised me most was that it looked vaguely familiar. Why did I recognize this place?
"Does it look familiar?" Galen asked from behind me.
"Yes, but I can't place it," I said. Looking around the room, I took everything in; the patterns, the furniture, and the layout. It all looked like something that I would've designed.
Galen came up behind me and turned me around. For the first time he looked unsure, nervous even, as he stared into my eyes. "It's because you designed it," he revealed sheepishly.
Shaking my head, I stared at him bewildered and confused. "How? I don't understand."
He took a deep breath before explaining. "It was about a year ago. I knew you were married, and I didn't want to come between you and your husband or cause problems, so I had someone hire you to decorate their house. The design was actually for me. I know it might seem kind of creepy that I did that, but I didn't know what else to do. Someone's home is a personal place and I didn't want to put you in that situation."
He lowered his eyes and turned to put my bag on the nearby table. I wondered what I would've done if I knew it was Galen behind that project. At that moment, I knew I would never know, but after his admission something was urging me forward, something that pulled me to him like a moth to a flame. The feelings I had for this man were strong before, but nothing compared to the abundance of emotions I was feeling in that moment. If I didn't get them out I was going to explode. He had done so much for me, believing in me with every fiber of his being, and hadn't asked for anything in return. I knew what I was about to do would be life- changing. With each determined step, I made my way over to the man that was beginning to steal my heart … again. Fear and desire coincided within me, but I couldn't stop. I knew I shouldn't let him in, but I couldn't deny the way my heart was beating for this man. It was as if all of my desires, all of the pent up emotions and feelings in my body had me desperate for this man's touch, Galen's touch. The man I fell in love with years ago. His eyes grew wider the closer I got, but I knew I wasn't going to back down. I needed to feel him in every way possible, and I needed it then. In one swift move I crushed my lips to his and wrapped my arms around his neck, holding him tight. His arms engulfed me, protecting me in his embrace, but also unsure of what to do.
"What are you doing?" he groaned, breaking away from the kiss. "I thought you wanted to take things slow."
A fire so hot burned behind those pale blue eyes of his, and I knew taking things slow wasn't going to happen. "I don't think I can," I breathed against his lips.
"Please don't say that. I don't think I can control myself if you let me in. I've wanted you from the moment I saw you, and it's already hard enough to keep my distance."
"I don't want you to keep your distance." I sighed. "I need you, Galen, and I need you now." Those words were all it took for the fire to consume him, to consume us both.
In one quick motion, Galen picked me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist. I could feel him hard and ready against my core, and I ached to have that hardness inside of me. Moaning into his mouth, I kissed him feverishly. He carried me down a hall to where I assumed his bedroom was. Once we entered, Galen rushed over to the bed and crushed me into the mattress with his weight. He kissed along my neck, up to my cheek, and across my lips. Exploring his mouth with my tongue, I devoured him, tasting him greedily.
Galen broke away from the kiss and lifted my sweater over my head, tossing it to the floor. My bra was gone in the next instant, and was immediately replaced with his soft, warm lips, trailing across my breasts until he found a peaked nipple. He sucked firmly, kneading them hungrily, while I arched my back wanting him to take more. My core tightened and grew wet with need. He separated my legs with one of his knees and thrust his hips between them, rubbing against my inner spot. It had been so long since I tasted the pleasure of desire, and I knew I'd probably orgasm just by the movement alone. It was building and I wanted him to take me, to make love to me like he did all those years ago.
"Galen," I whispered. My voice was raspy with a want so great I could barely focus. Lifting his head, he licked his lips enticingly while he stared at my mouth.
"Are you okay? Do you need me to stop?"
Shaking my head, I moaned, "No, it feels too good for you to stop."
He smirked seductively before taking my bottom lip between his teeth, sucking and pulling, driving me over the edge. His hands left my breasts and travelled down to the waist of my pants. Unbuttoning them easily with those lithe fingers of his, he then slid a hand down in between my legs. Rubbing my nub gently, Galen slowly entered me with his long, warm fingers. A gratifying moan left my lips and I arched my back, moving my hips along with his strokes. I could feel the orgasm building and there was no way I was going to be able to stop it from coming.
"Galen!" I cried out. "Oh, my God, Galen!" I closed my eyes as the force from the orgasm had me exploding from the inside out. Galen's hooded gaze swept up and down my body while I rode the final waves of orgasm.
"You are so hot," he admitted heatedly once I came down from my high. I moaned, wanting more of him, more of his touch, and he eagerly complied. He began to pull my pants down slowly over my hips and past my thighs until he finally got them removed, along with my underwear. He kissed his way up my leg to my stomach, and then across my breasts until he reached my lips.
"Are you on birth control?" he asked with a hint of nervousness. I shook my head and looked away. There had been no reason for me to be on it since I hadn't been with anyone in a long time, but there was also another reason.
"No, I'm not." I sighed, and he turned my face to look at him.
"Talk to me, Korinne. Why do you have that look on your face?"
I took a deep breath before revealing my terrible secret. The tears threatened to spill, but I kept them at bay. "I'm not on birth control because I can't have kids, or at least it's really difficult for me to. Let's just say I have ovarian issues. Carson and I tried, but it turns out we couldn't." The tears began to fall and I felt ashamed with having to admit I was defective. If Galen wanted kids he sure wasn't going to get them from me.
"Korinne," he whispered gently. "Everything will be okay. You're perfectly fine the way you are."
I nodded, but the tears kept falling. The mood had cooled and what started out as an amazing and heat filled night turned into something depressing. Galen moved from in between my legs to lay down beside me. Propping himself up on his elbow, he wrapped a well-muscled arm across my bare stomach. He didn't seem angry at all about our abrupt stop, and I couldn't have been more thankful. When I got the nerve to look at him again he smiled gently, his eyes showing nothing except concern and understanding.
"Did you really want kids?" he asked apologetically.
I nodded. "I did and I still do. The misery I felt when I found out we couldn't have children was devastating. There's always that one percent possibility that I could still have one on my own, but the chances of that are very slim. We were going to adopt, but Carson passed away before we ever signed the papers." Looking away for a second, I hesitated before asking him the same question. "Have you ever thought about having children?"
He looked me in the eye and smiled. "I've thought about it sometimes. You know, there are a lot of children that need to be adopted. I think it was a good idea that you were going to do it." Releasing the breath I'd been unconsciously holding, I sighed with relief. I didn't want to deprive him of having children of his own, because if he stayed with me he wouldn't have them. Galen would make a great father. He was a completely selfless, caring, fun-spirited, and had the most loving heart of anyone I knew. However, what really sparked my interest was that he was single and not married. Any woman in her right mind would have jumped at the chance to be with him.
"Why aren't you married? I'm a little shocked that you're still single," I asked skeptically. I knew he was dating someone before, but I didn't know what happened to her or how long they had been separated.
He turned his head away and looked at the ceiling. Judging by his reaction, I guessed things with his last girlfriend didn't turn out too well. "You don't have to answer," I said quickly. "I didn't mean to pry, I was just curious. You're an amazing guy and I can't believe that you would even be single."
Galen shook his head and laughed in disbelief. "No, it's perfectly fine you asked me. Brady would tell you that I'm still single because of all the hours I work, but I don't mind telling you," he offered. "Do you remember Amanda? She's the woman who was with me at Brady and Jenna's wedding."
Remembering very well the woman he spoke of, I rolled my eyes and nodded. She was a complete bitch around me, and it took all I had not to say something to her. "How could I forget," I quipped sarcastically. "I do have a question though. Was she always a rude ass bitch, or was that just me she was acting that way to? I swear I could sense some rivalry there, but I chose to ignore it for the sake of Carson."
"Oh, her bitchiness was just at you." He laughed deeply. "She knew who you were and she knew of our past. Amanda actually accused me of still having feelings for you that night. She said she saw the way I was looking at you, and that I never looked at her the same way. Well anyway, we dated for a while and she kept pressuring me about marriage, which was the last thing on my mind. I didn't love her, not in the way I love …"
He stopped abruptly and our eyes widened at the same time. Was he about to say he didn't love her like he loves me? Waiting on him to finish his sentence, I was disappointed when all he did was run his fingers through his hair and laugh, completely trying to divert the attention from what he was going to say. He spoke again quickly, "Anyway, when I failed to profess my undying love for her, she cheated on me with one of my friends."
I gasped. "Oh wow! I know that couldn't have been easy to swallow. I'm so sorry you had to go through that."
He shrugged. "It wasn't nearly as hard as what you went through with your husband."
I turned my head away in shame. How could I talk about my husband when I was lying half-naked in bed with another man? The tears began to form, and before I could hide my face Galen leaned over me. "Don't cry, Korinne. I'm sorry I brought it up. It's just I know you went through so much and I want you to be able to talk about it with me."
"It's not that I don't want to talk to you about it," I whispered.
"Then what is it?" he murmured, taking my chin and guiding me to look at him.
Letting him turn my tear-streaked face to him, I gave in and openly admitted my guilt. "In a way I feel like I'm cheating on Carson by doing this, but I also know that he's gone and that I should move on. I can't deny my feelings for you, but I don't know how I'm supposed to feel. You and I have a history together, and that was way before Carson ever came along, but I can't stop feeling that twinge of guilt when even the smallest amount of happiness comes my way," I cried.
Galen placed both hands on my face and kissed me gently on the lips. When I opened my eyes, Galen's clear blue gaze stared at me with pure love. He replied warmly, "Carson would want you to be happy, Korinne. You're only twenty-eight years old. Don't tell me you were expecting to be alone for the rest of your life?"
Shaking my head, I replied, "No, I don't want to be alone, but I'm too afraid of losing someone else I love."
"Oh, Korinne, you don't have to be afraid. I'm not going anywhere."
"You don't know that," I snapped.
"Oh yes I do!" he commanded forcefully. "I promise I'll always be here for you. You have my word."
"How can you promise that? We're not promised tomorrow," I said softly.
"I know we're not promised tomorrow, but that's just a risk you have to be willing to take. You can't live your life in fear, because if you do you'll miss out on everything."
We stared at each other for a while until Galen smiled and jumped off the bed. "I have an idea to lighten the mood," he said excitedly. At my questioning look he left the room and came back with my bag. "Get your bathing suit. We're going for a swim."
"But it's freezing outside!" I shrieked.
He undid his pants and let them fall to the floor. Before he slid a pair of swimming trunks on, I got a good, long glance at his glorious body. Never have I forgotten that body or how it felt to be taken by him. Galen was a hard man to forget. Shaking my head to clear the thoughts, I looked up to notice Galen smirking at me. By the expression on his face I was sure he knew what I was thinking.
He leaned over the bed and gave me a quick, playful kiss. "The pool is heated, babe. I thought I would let you know there wouldn't be any shrinkage going on." My face bloomed bright crimson as he headed out of the bedroom and stalked down the hall. "Get dressed and meet me out there!" he yelled.
Sitting in silence, I tried to gather my thoughts and take some deep breaths. You can do this, Korinne, I assured myself. I'd lost one love of my life, surely it wouldn't happen again so soon. I could only pray it didn't, because no matter how hard I tried I didn't think I could stop myself from falling hard for the alluring Galen Matthews … again.