Chapter 11

Eleven

Cory

I pushed the door open with a gentle creak as Elena nestled against my chest. The guest room was a sanctuary of tranquility, illuminated by the soft glow of moonlight seeping in through sheer curtains. A vibrant quilt adorned the bed, adding a burst of color to the otherwise neutral space. Photos of Jake were proudly displayed on her dresser.

I entered reverently, scanning every detail of the room with eager curiosity. “This room…it’s so you,” I whispered, feeling my heart swell with emotion. In the moonlight, Elena’s green eyes shone, and her tender smile radiated with expectation.

The mood shifted subtly, and I could sense our charged anticipation. As we stood there in her cozy guest room, beneath the watchful gaze of the Texas stars outside, I knew that this was where we belonged—rekindling our intimacy in the familiar comfort of her home.

“Let’s invite the night air in,” Elena whispered seductively as she glided over to the window and pulled it open. The cool breeze wafted in, carrying with it a wild freedom that was synonymous with Elena and me. Memories of our youth flooded back, of late nights filled with adventure and rebellion. I watched as she brushed her delicate fingers against the spaghetti straps of her dress, causing them to slide gently down her smooth shoulder.

A desperate need churned inside me as I watched her approach, my hands instinctively sliding my belt out of its loops. She was like a siren, pulling me deeper into her spell with every step. I unbuttoned my shirt in response, eager to feel her skin against mine.

“Cory. I’ve… I’ve missed you so much,” she whispered, her voice like a gentle caress.

"Come here, sweetheart. You're so beautiful." Her arms reached out for me as I carefully pulled her dress over her head, revealing the soft curves of her full breasts. "Ummm, ten-plus years have treated you well," I murmured in admiration.

Giggling playfully, she unzipped my jeans, and I shrugged off my shirt. Her hands eagerly slid down my hips, removing every last barrier between us. "You don't need these," she breathed, pulling down my underwear to expose my naked body to her hungry gaze.

I lifted her up in my arms and carried her to the bed, where I gently laid her down. The light from the window illuminated her flawless skin and the tousled sheets around us, creating an intimate and passionate atmosphere.

She looked up at me with desire and longing in her eyes, and I knew that this moment would be unforgettable.

I lowered myself gently beside her, our bodies entwined and our lips meeting in a passionate exchange. I peppered soft, fluttering kisses along the curve of her neck, tracing each delicate line with my lips. As I moved lower, she arched her back, pressing her body against mine and releasing a soft moan of pleasure. My fingers danced over her pulse points, feeling them quicken under my touch.

"I just want to hold you," I whispered breathlessly, savoring the moment and the way our bodies fit perfectly together. We melted into each other's embrace, lost in a sea of memories and emotions.

“This feels so familiar, yet so different,” Elena whispered as she took control, running her fingers through my hair before stopping for a deep kiss. She then continued to trail kisses down my torso, igniting sparks of desire with each touch.

She raised her eyes to meet mine, a mischievous smirk playing at the corners of her lips. Slowly, she ran her tongue over the head of my cock, sending an electric current of desire coursing through my body. My breath caught in my throat as I tensed, anticipating her next move.

Then Elena’s lips slid up and down my shaft, teasingly brushing against the sensitive skin just beneath the tip. With each bob of her head, her tongue flicked out to tease and tantalize me further. I groaned in pleasure as she took more of me into her mouth.

With an overwhelming sense of losing control, I couldn't help but blurt out, "Lay down and spread those legs wide for me, sweetheart, just like you did in the backseat of my old Chevy."

The memories flooded back all at once, filling my senses with the familiar scent of leather and the soft caress of her skin against mine. Her sultry gaze met mine, igniting a fire that had never truly died between us. As she slowly parted her legs, I felt myself grow weaker with desire, longing to relive those passionate moments from our past.

My heart thumped erratically in my chest as I knelt eagerly between her thighs, feasting on the soft folds of her flesh. A heady, intoxicating scent filled my nostrils as I added first one finger, then two, to the dance of my tongue. Elena's eyes screwed tightly shut, her breath coming in gasps and moans as she bucked against me with fervent abandon. The taste of her pleasure coated my lips and tongue, driving me onward in a frenzy of desire.

As her breath hitched and she begged me to continue, I could feel the tension building inside her. Her body trembled beneath me as my tongue expertly explored her most sensitive spot. She cried out in ecstasy, lost in a blissful abyss of pleasure. "Oh, God, yes. Yes. Oh, holy shit, yes," she gasped between moans and sighs.

I swiftly moved up her body, my lips eagerly seeking hers in a desperate and passionate kiss. Our tongues intertwined in a heated dance as we consumed each other, the taste of her mingling with the roughness of my unshaven jawline. We relished every moment, losing ourselves in the all-consuming fire of desire.

As her breathing slowed, I removed my fingers and entered her in one smooth motion, my words tumbling out like water cascading down a roaring mountain stream. "I am so deeply sorry for not keeping in contact with you, Elena. Can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?"

She gasped in surprise as I slid into her again, her breasts bouncing against my chest. Elena silenced my apologies with another searing kiss, her tongue exploring my mouth as my cock found that perfect spot inside her. Elena's fingernails dug into my skin, leaving fiery trails down my back as the bed frame rattled against the wall.

The soft moans and gasps that escaped her lips fueled my desire, and I could feel our juices dripping onto the quilt beneath us. With a sudden move, I flipped her over and pulled her hips up, feeling her heat and wetness against me.

As I entered her from behind, she let out a passionate cry that sent shivers down my spine. It was a move I had discovered drove her wild back in our younger days, and it still worked its magic on her.

"You are mine, Elena," I whispered breathlessly, my heart racing with love and passion for this woman. “God, I missed you so much."

Her response was interrupted by a plea of urgency. "More..." she moaned, pressing back against me as my cock grew larger inside of her. Her cries mixed with mine as we moved together in a dance of ecstasy, lost in our own world of pleasure.

And when the inevitable climax hit us both like an electric shock, I could feel every muscle in Elena's body spasm around me, pulling me over the edge with her. "Oh, shit. There it is," I groaned, feeling my release wash over me in waves. "There it is, Elena. You're so hot for me."

I could hear her whimpering through the spiraling darkness of our blissful moment. "Yes... oh, my God!"

Collapsing against her back, we tumbled onto the mattress in a heap of tangled limbs and heaving chests. We lay there panting and basking in the afterglow of our intense lovemaking, cocooned in the warmth of each other's embrace. Yet, sleep wouldn’t come, not with all the unspoken questions swirling in my mind. I felt her shift beside me, her fingers brushing over my chest the way she did when she was lost in thought.

She sighed softly, turning to look at me. “Do you want to go talk?” Her voice was barely a whisper like she was afraid to shatter whatever fragile peace we’d created tonight.

I nodded, smiling. “Yeah, I think we need to.”

We dressed quietly, the air between us charged with a mixture of familiarity and the weight of years gone by. Once we stepped out onto the back porch, the cool night air washed over us, refreshing and grounding. I glanced at my watch—3:00 AM and saw that the world was silent, everything still under the glow of the moon.

We settled side by side on the porch swing, our arms brushing as we rocked gently. I let out a deep breath, staring out into the dark, and finally broke the silence. “It’s strange… being here with you like this. It feels like nothing’s changed, but at the same time, everything has.”

She leaned back, watching me with that thoughtful expression that always made me wonder what was running through her mind. “I know what you mean. But somehow, here we are, reconnecting?” She hesitated, “Aren’t we?”

I nodded, feeling the weight of those words settle over me. “I keep wondering… did you ever think this would happen?”

She paused, her gaze dropping as a hint of frustration flickered across her face. “I mean… you didn’t even send a postcard. Not one. I would have at least known you were okay, that you hadn’t forgotten me completely.” Her voice softened, mingling with the night’s quiet. “But now, with you here… I need to understand. Why didn’t you at least try to reach out, just once?”

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her question settle heavily over me. The truth wasn’t easy to face, but she deserved to hear it, all of it. “Elena,” I said, squeezing her hand, “I thought I’d moved on, too. I thought it was easier to let go completely than to keep holding on to what I didn’t think I’d ever get back.” I paused, looking into her eyes, feeling the years we’d lost wash over us both. “But seeing you and Jake… it’s like some things never really fade. Now I realize what a mistake I made.”

Her gaze softened at the mention of Jake, and she gave a slight nod. “He’s so much like you,” she said, voice thick with emotion. “Every time I look at him, I see pieces of you. It’s been both beautiful and hard raising him alone—avoiding telling him about his father.”

The depth of her words hit me, and I swallowed, feeling that ache of lost years. “I hate that I missed it,” I said quietly. “Every moment, every milestone. I can’t get that time back, and it kills me. I knew something was missing and was miserable inside. But I want to be here now, Elena. For both of you, in whatever way you’ll let me.”

She squeezed my hand, her gaze dropping as she took a deep breath like she was organizing her thoughts. “I think we should take this slow,” she said gently. “You need time to get to know Jake, to build a relationship with him without… complicating things. I don’t want to overwhelm him—or you.” She paused, glancing up at me with a soft, grateful smile. “And… thank you. For tonight. For giving us a chance to reconnect. But Jake has to come first.”

Her words surprised me, striking a chord I hadn’t expected. I opened my mouth to respond, to promise her I’d be there, that I’d make this right, but something held me back. I thought of the guy I’d seen her with, wondering if I had any right to ask about him, to pry into her life. But the questions bubbled beneath the surface, tugging at my own sense of control. Instead, I held back, nodding slowly, grateful she was willing to let me in at all. “You’re right,” I said finally, swallowing my curiosity. “Jake should be our focus.”

The first light of dawn broke over the horizon as Elena and I sat on the porch swing, the weight of our conversation still hanging between us. The screen door creaked open just as I opened my mouth to suggest calling it a night.

“Mom? Cory?”

Jake’s voice cut through the quiet, pulling our gazes toward him. He stood in the doorway, hair sticking up, his face scrunched with sleep. “What are you guys doing out here? Did you stay up all night?”

Elena shifted beside me, her fingers brushing against mine, a silent reassurance that we were in this together. “Just catching up,” she said softly, her voice carrying the sweet tone I hadn’t realized I’d missed so much.

Jake yawned, glancing between us with sleepy curiosity. “So… you staying for breakfast, Cory?”

Elena chuckled nervously, and I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “If that’s okay with you.”

“Fine by me,” he said with a grin, his eyes lighting up. “But I get the good bacon, not the curled-up pieces.”

Elena laughed, standing up and ruffling his already messy hair. “Come on, Cory. Let’s feed him before he starts negotiating for waffles, too.”

Inside, Jake animatedly chatted about his team while Elena moved effortlessly around the kitchen. Her energy was both calming and invigorating. I leaned against the counter, soaking in the scene, and my heart felt fuller than it had in years.

“So, Saturday’s the championship,” Jake said, looking up at me with hopeful eyes. “You’ll come, right?”

“Of course,” I replied, smiling. For the first time in years, it felt like things were falling into place, the void I’d carried slowly beginning to heal with every shared moment.