Torn: Kory & Aimee (Oak Springs Book 5) Read online

  “I love you, Mrs. Harper.” He whispers in my ear while thrusting deep inside of me, softly and slowly. Painfully slowly.

  I slide my fingers into his hair, his lips are on my neck, my legs wrapped around his waist, his big body lying on top of me. “I love you, too. I love you so much, husband of mine.”

  He lifts slightly and looks me in the eye. I smile at him and rock my hips into him, pulling him deeper into me. There's something so passionate and sweet about the way he's making love to me. I've never known him be so gentle with me. Not even during the hours previous to this moment. Before now, he's been a beast, ravaging my body like a vampire starved of blood. But now he's the most gentle lover.

  “I'm sorry,” He whispers. And it was a tortured whisper, one that tears at my heart strings. “I'm so sorry, baby.” And I see it, the lonely tear falling from his eye.

  I know he's sorry. I know it deep in my heart. He didn't mean to hurt me, and I know he'll make it up to me. Because he loves me.

  I wrap my hand around the nape of his neck, bringing his lips next to mine. “It's okay, my love. I understand, I promise. I love you. I will always love you.”

  He says nothing else, but he grinds his hips against me. And I feel my orgasm right there, right at the tip. “Oh, Kory...” My head falls back against the pillow. My body is so tight I know this orgasm is going to be powerful.

  He sucks my left nipple into his mouth, sucking hard, and I can't take anymore. “Come for me, Aimee.” He demands. I didn't even feel him release my nipple. But I come so hard it's blinding and deafening, and it's all consuming. Yet I feel his seed flood my body as he holds me tightly against him. It's never felt this good. It's never taken me like this before. But I know in my heart it's because we're finally one. The way we were in the beginning. And who knows, maybe his baby will be growing inside of me sooner than I think. If it isn't already.

  * * *

  “This is so beautiful.” I'm in awe of this place. I've never seen anything like it.

  Kory brought me to the art gallery near our house. I love art, Kory knows this. So when he took me to lunch this afternoon, a French restaurant, no less. Small table for two with a small vase with a rose in the middle, I couldn't contain my happiness.

  We ate a light lunch of chicken salad, drank a small glass of white wine. Kory kissed me softly as we left. He then told me he had a surprise for me. He led me down the high street, past so many beautiful buildings.

  We didn't walk far before we stopped outside the art gallery. It looked more like a huge courthouse. The structure is so old, so perfect.

  We've been walking the aisles ever since. Everything I see, I love. But that's just me. I see paintings that would look great in every room of our house back home. I see sculptures that would look fantastic in my boutique.

  God, I could get lost in this place and the things showcased here.

  We don't have anything this grand in Oak Springs. Mores the pity.

  I wish he'd brought me here before now. All the weeks I've been here, months even, and we've never been here. Don't get me wrong, we've been many places, seen many things. And I do understand why Kory likes it here so much, the place is amazing, but I still don't want to live here. Not that Kory is making me, we're moving home! Just a little while longer and we can go.

  I'm willing to stay here until everything is sorted with Kory's business. I'm willing to put in the time for my marriage. That is the most important thing to me.

  I'm not one hundred percent sure how much longer it will take, but I'm enjoying making a baby with him. God, am I ever enjoying that! Sex with Kory is so much hotter now that we aren't keeping our marriage a secret. Of course, it was damn hot sneaking around, but this feels real now. So very real. Everyone knows about us. Everyone. I'm not a secret anymore, we aren't a secret anymore.

  Everything back home is okay, I've checked in with Lora and Roya a few times just to make sure. I've even tried to call my parents, but they won't answer me. Not that I thought they would, but I didn't expect them to ignore me either. It hurts. A lot. Will they ignore me when I go home? Will they ignore me when I get pregnant? Will they ignore my baby when it's born?

  That thought hurts more than anything in this world ever could. I can't see them ever doing that, I've searched my heart and I know they won't. But I don't think they'll ever forgive me either.

  I hadn't realized I'd been staring at the painting in front of me for so long. The painting of a little girl with wings, her arms reaching towards the sky and the butterfly she's trying to catch. She has such a happy smile on her face. But I can't help thinking this little girl is what my mother calls an “Angel baby.”

  The strokes of the brush, the colors, the lighting, everything about this painting is perfect. It's so personal. It makes a girl feel a little emotional.

  I smile and turn my eyes to Kory when he strokes my cheek with the inside of his finger. He looks so handsome today. He's wearing snug black jeans and a long-sleeved thermal shirt that's so tight it showcases his muscles perfectly. God, he's so handsome, and he's all mine.

  It's cold out today so I'm wearing jeans and a red sweater. My hair is loose, simply because that's how Kory likes it best. Loose and curled down my back. Yeah, it's getting a little long.

  “You okay, beautiful? You were a little lost looking at this painting.”

  “I was just taking in its beauty. I wonder what the person was feeling to have painted something so perfect.”

  We both turn back to look at the painting.

  “I think,” he begins, “that you'd be feeling a hell of a lot to come up with something like this. But then, I imagine every artist, no matter what kind of art, draws inspiration from life experience, things that are happening around them, etc.”

  “I believe that,” I tell him with a smile.

  I haven't felt this happy in a very long time. I know it's going to be different this time. Just walking with him hand in hand, eating lunch happily, walking around this gallery, it's all been perfect. This is all he had to do in the beginning to show me he meant what he said.

  Yes, in the past I would have been worried that any moment he was about to run out on me, but he hasn't run out on me. Something deep inside of me is telling me that I never have to worry about such things ever again. My husband is home and it's time for us to move forward.

  I don't know where life is going to take us, if we'll actually become parents or not, but I know it's going to be fun finding out how perfect our life is going to be from here on in.

  “I love you, Kory.” He turns to me with a sexy smile on his face. “I know everything is going to be perfect. Isn't it?”

  He pulls me close, a giggle escaping my lips as he wraps his arms around my waist. “Nothing is ever going to take me away from you again. Just a few more days is all I'm asking so I can sort things with Greg. Once I know he can handle everything here, we'll be going home, baby. Home where we can get our life started, finally.”

  I wrap my arms around his neck excitedly. God, I've never been so excited about anything in my life! We're going home very soon. I'll fix things with my parents and everything will be amazing.

  This will be my first Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas with my husband and I cannot wait!

  Eleven

  Kory

  “This is massive, Kory. I can't believe you're actually moving back home.”

  “I'm doing it for my marriage, Greg. For the past six years, she's lived without me, living the life I forced on her. It's time for me to really put her first.”

  My brother isn't handling any of this very well. I've been in his office for the past hour sorting my case load into something lighter. Just until I've got the new office open back in Oak Springs. Of course, he knows I'm going, he's known since the day I decided to go back home.

  But I don't think he believed me when I told him it was happening.

  Guess it is a little hard to believe when I swore I would never go back to Oak Springs u
nless someone we loved died.

  But I have to do this. I have to put Aimee first. We're about to start a family. She wants it more than anything else in this world. I want to give her that. God, I want to give her everything her heart desires. After everything she's put up with over the years, she deserves it.

  She's stayed here with me for the past three months. Sure, for the first month she hated me, ignored me, wanted to kill me. But the past two months, she's been the perfect wife. Hell, she's always been that. But she's been one hundred percent with me in everything.

  My baby sorted everything back home with her boutique in order to stay here with me until I'm ready to leave. I told her she could go back home and I'd follow her as soon as I could, but she was adamant that she was going nowhere without me.

  What more could I ask for?

  I look at my brother for a moment, he's staring at me, wondering if I'm actually going through with this. He needs to get used to it because I've never been more serious about anything in my whole life.

  The ass even tried to blackmail me, telling that he'd never manage without me, the place would go under. Greg is more than capable of handling things here. He's smarter and stronger than he gives himself credit for. I have faith in him. And it's not like I'm leaving the business completely. Yes, I'm going to be opening up my own law firm in Oak Springs, but I'll still be taking on cases here at Harper Brother's Law.

  Greg and I own Harper Brother's Law together, but we have three other lawyer's on our books. So it's not like I'm leaving him on his own, he'll have Rick, Paul, and Chantel to help him.

  In all honesty, I thought I could convince him to come back home with me. We're not joined at the hip or anything, but he's my only brother and we've always been close.

  Trouble is, he doesn't believe Maya will want to move to Oak Springs. He doesn't think she'd want to leave her mother behind. I told him to damn well bring her, she'd fit right in. He said he'd ask, but I'm not holding my breath.

  As much as he wants me to stay, I can't. Like I said, I need to do this for Aimee. She really wants the small town life, the family, and I want to give it all to her.

  “I'm just gonna miss you, that's all.” He finally says without looking away from me.

  “I'm only going to be a couple hours drive away. If you need me anytime, you call and I'll be right here. Plus, you can come home anytime, you know? You'll always be welcome.”

  He nods.

  “I can't believe you're actually settling down. You'll be having kids next.”

  “That's the plan.”

  “Really?”

  He seems shocked. I don't know why. Okay, maybe I do. It's not like I've ever given the impression I wanted kids. But I can't deny the idea is appealing all of a sudden. And it's not like we haven't been trying these past couple months. God, I can't wait to see my baby growing inside of my wife.

  I'm going to be there through it all. Nothing is going to take me away from my wife this time. Nothing. I won't let it. No matter what happens, I will be with her through it all.

  I want, need her to trust me completely. I know it's hard for her and will be for some time. But I won't stop until I prove to her that I mean what I say.

  “Really. She wants a baby, and I'm gonna give it to her.”

  “Wow.”

  “Yeah.” I adjust myself in my leather seat on the other side of his desk. “She deserves this, Greg. After everything I've put her through these past six years, it's her time to be happy.”

  He nods with a smile.

  “She's been loyal to you since the day you got married. I do understand why you're doing this, Kory. Really I do. Just take care, yeah?”

  I get out of my seat and motion for him to come to me. He laughs, gets out of his seat and hugs me. I sometimes feel like he's still that little kid who used to look to me to chase away the monsters in the night.

  My brother is without a doubt my best friend, I'll miss him, but it's not like we can't call and text, even visit all the time. He'll be all right soon enough. He'll get used to me not being here. And maybe he'll even follow me home sooner rather than later.

  Only time will tell.

  By the time I get home, I'm exhausted. Aimee is on the sofa watching some eighties comedy, laughing at what probably isn't even funny to most. She's eighties crazy. But that's just one of the billion things I love about her.

  I stand in the doorway after hanging my coat and taking off my shoes, just watching her sitting there with her legs crossed under her, eyes glued to the TV, a huge smile on her face. I breathe deeply. I haven't seen her this happy in the longest of times. Her smile is so genuine. It's beautiful to see.

  “Evening, beautiful.”

  “Kory.” She jumps out of her seat and rushes me, arms around my neck, legs around my waist. “I missed you so much.” That's what I like to hear.

  “I wasn't gone long.” I laugh.

  “Long enough.”

  I drop down on the sofa with her still in my arms, our lips fused together, and I can't get enough of her taste. I tear her shirt over her head as she attacks the buttons on my shirt. I want her naked, I want inside of her. She stands only to tug off her little shorts and to allow me to removes my pants before she's sinking down on me. Fuck, I am always so hard for her. My beautiful wife.

  She leans back as I suck on her nipples, her hips grinding into me, taking me so deeply. I grab the back of her neck, pulling her up, I want to kiss the shit out of her.

  So I do, all the time pounding into her tight little body. Harder and harder, until she can't take anymore and she's coming, calling my name and clutching at me. My own orgasm rushes her body, my head drops back as I grip her hips tightly, holding her still.

  “Fuck.”

  “My thoughts exactly, Mr. Harper.” I laugh as she bites my lower lip. “Are you hungry?”

  “Not right now.”

  “Good.” She mumbles around kisses to my neck. “Take me to bed and ravage me. I need you to fuck the hell out of me. I want it so hard, Kory.”

  “Damn, girl.”

  She giggles, but I lift her off me and into my arms. She wants me to fuck the hell out of her? Then I'll fuck the hell out of her. All damn night long.

  And that's exactly what I do.

  Twelve

  Aimee

  I'm holding my breath like you wouldn't believe. I'm both terrified and excited at the same time. I should have waited for Kory to come home, hell, I should have waited until we arrived back in Oak Springs. But this is me and I have waited too long for this moment to wait a second longer.

  Kory has been working hard these past few months to fix everything so we can move back to Oak Springs together. He said I could go on ahead of him, but I didn't want that, I wanted to stay with my husband, I didn't want to be apart from him.

  And I called Roya to let her know I'd be a little longer before I got back. She told me to take my time and fix my marriage, she can manage, Della had been helping out with sales now and again. They could manage, she said.

  I have never been more grateful to anyone for anything. This time with Kory has been just what I needed.

  We've had a wonderful few weeks, he's been so understanding about this whole baby thing. He's invested in it as much as I am. Well, if the amount of sex is anything to go by. Some nights he's like a wild beast on viagra. He seems to be forever hard for me. Not that I'm complaining because I'm always wet and ready for him.

  I have my fingers crossed that all that sex has worked. I'm trying not to get too excited because I know it may not have worked the first time. But I can't help the excitement churning in my belly. I haven't had a period in nine weeks, so by my calculations, I should be around seven or eight weeks pregnant. I hope.

  Why haven't I checked before now?

  Simple. I thought all the stress from the first month of being here has affected my periods at first. It happens to me when I'm stressed. Plus, I didn't want to get my hopes up. I hadn't mentioned anything to Kory
, I just enjoyed our time together.

  But I woke up this morning feeling very sick. That's when I realized just how long it had been since my last period. I took a trip to the drug store as soon as I'd showered. I think came home, cleaned, prepared dinner, all the time feeling the nerves in my belly.

  In the end, I couldn't take it anymore and I took the test. I feel so nervous and excited, but scared in case I don't get the result that I want so desperately.

  I take a deep breath and blow it out.

  I giggle to myself while placing my hand on my stomach. What if my baby is growing inside of me right now? My baby and Kory's baby. What could be more perfect than that?

  I hear the front door close and I rush from the bathroom, out of the bedroom, and into Kory's arms, mine wrapped tightly around his neck. I'm so excited right now. I didn't want to look at the test before he came home. Hell, I didn't want to do the test till he came home. I may have taken it, but I haven't looked. That's something we need to do together.

  But no matter the result, I'm not going to make a big deal out of it. Okay, so I lied. If it's positive, I'm going to scream and laugh and cry.

  “Well, hello to you, too.” He laughs while wrapping his arms around me. But I quickly pull out his embrace and grab his hand, dragging him along behind me as I make my way to the bathroom. “Slow down, what's going on?”

  I grab the test from the back of the toilet and shove it into his hands. “Tell me what it says.” I have my hands covering my face. I'm too nervous to look myself. And I can sense my husband looking at me with confusion laced across his face. “Please, Kory, tell me what it says.”

  “Isn't it a little soon to be doing this?”

  I remove my hands from my face and look at him. “No. You can tell from two weeks. Plus, it's been three months since you mauled me outside the restaurant. And I didn't tell you before now, but I haven't had a period in nine weeks,” His eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “I'm sorry I didn't say anything but there's was a lot on my mind and I just forgot. But this morning, I felt really sick, so I went to the pharmacy and got the test. I literally took it a couple minutes before you came home. I wanted to wait for you before I looked. It's probably negative, but I have to know. One line for negative, two for positive.”