Chapter 5
Paolo lay motionless and stared at the ceiling. He slept for no more than two hours and yet did not feel tired. He was too agitated to get some more sleep, anxious like never before. The cause of his state was lying next to him, snoring and occasionally muttering some nonsense. Paolo wished he could just sneak out and never face Cora ever again but that would mean saying goodbye to the plan; there was nowhere to run now. He was committed.
It all seemed like a perfectly good idea, hours prior. Paolo wanted to blame drinking, although he knew very well that alcohol had nothing to do with the way he reacted to Cora’s touches. Cravings he thought he had suppressed overwhelmed him and he was helpless to resist. This was becoming less and less about seduction and destruction and more and more about…Paolo didn’t even know what. He just knew it had to stop.
Apart from the physical pleasure, that night Paolo experienced something harder to achieve- a feeling of being appreciated. Cora actively enjoyed the results of the simplest bit of attention, even though she’d obviously been uncomfortable with the sex. In a way he was glad the sex hadn’t been that memorable. It showed him just how deep in she was. If she was far from satisfied but still wanted to be here…well, that was a good thing.
And that was the problem. Paolo expected different behavior, the one that he was used to. Impersonal, quick intercourse, minimal intimacy and the lack of post-coital tenderness, replaced by shame, awkwardness and guilt. That’s how it was before Cora and now Paolo had no idea what to do. When she was satisfied, Cora pulled Paolo’s trembling body close to her and announced she was in the mood for some cuddling. Then her arms ensnared Paolo, who was too stunned to protest in time and had to stay where Cora wanted him to. Pressed against her ample bust, listening to the beating of her heart, Paolo was extremely conflicted. Breaking free would have been easy. The point was he actually liked the proximity of Cora’s very warm body. That was such a new sensation, how did one deal with it? Cora made Paolo feel feelings and emotions, all of them confusing. After a while, Cora turned onto her back and released her prisoner. Still many hours until dawn. Paolo spent the rest of the night wondering what to say in the morning. What a dreadful situation! One moment of weakness got him in such trouble, unbelievable.
The sun rose at last and Paolo waited for Cora to stir. There was nothing to be afraid of, well, as long as Fridah was still asleep and unaware of the company Cora had. Ah, what was Cora Lafitte waiting for? Fridah could storm in any moment to shout,’ Good morning, roomie!’
‘Cora. Cora, wake up,’ Paolo whispered, poking Cora’s arm. ‘Lafitte!’
It did not go as planned. Cora opened her eyes only to stare at Paolo hungrily. Oh.
Paolo’s entire speech evaporated from his mind when Cora’s hips ground against his thigh. Two very insisting hands pawed at Paolo’s buttocks, squeezing and rubbing. Well, the sheets were already stained and a perfectly good morning wood should not be wasted.
Moments later, Paolo changed his mind. He was not informed that in the morning Cora Lafitte preferred slow sex. Almost affectionate, close to love making. Unlike the previous night, Paolo found himself looming over her, Cora’s legs wound around his back. That meant constant eye contact and oh, so many kisses. The unhurried pace of his thrusts could even suggest that she was genuinely enjoying the process and didn’t just chase her own climax. What did that mean? Did that mean anything?
Afterwards, Cora sprawled bonelessly under him, gasping for air and seemed quite comfortable. Not a single complaint about Paolo’s shortcomings or the mess caused by their bodily fluids. How odd.
Cora glanced at him from time to time, forming questions in her mind. What’s going to happen now? What does all this mean? Are you falling for me? Why are we still here?
“Umm, what… err-”
“Yeah, Snowflake?”
Staring at Paolo’s shoulder, now scratched, Cora whispered hesitantly, “I can make you coffee to go. Fridah usually comes in all high energy – you probably don’t want to see that.”
Paolo chuckled into Cora’s hair. “Why, was I that bad?”
“No. No. You were… I mean, you probably want to avoid getting caught in flagrante delicto with me.”
“I’m not so sure about that. I’ve always loved a nice little scandal. Imagine, Fridah, walking in from a wild night servicing shady characters expecting to find her virgin-adjacent roommate virginally asleep in her white cotton nightgown. The shock. Doesn’t that sounds like fun?”
Cora gulped at the ‘virgin-adjacent’…she should probably correct that impression already. Last night had been a fluke; a one-off. She had no idea what that was about. She didn’t want him to think she was some short of shrinking violet but she didn’t know what to say that wouldn’t sound like a lie.
“Fridah actually doesn’t really care that much about my sex life. She just wants to have her breakfast and crash usually.”
“It must be fun; living with a stripper. You can live vicariously through her. Must make your life seem more interesting.”
Cora seriously did not know how to answer that.
Paolo rolled them around, perhaps having noticed Cora’s labored breathing. Or maybe not, as soon as Paolo was on top, Cora grabbed his ass and dug her fingers into the soft flesh, hard enough to leave bruises, a handwritten signature. Paolo let out a keening noise, startled by how little the pain bothered him. He leaned down to join their lips in another heated kiss, sliding his tongue against Cora’s and nibbling on her lower lip. Such a simple, carnal pleasure, uncomplicated. Once Paolo realized that he felt the urge to mess things up.
“What are we going to do?”