A month slipped by. James and Corey managed to get together at least twice a week, then three times a week, then Thanksgiving break came around and Wes was invited to the coast with a friend. Corey was ecstatic when James asked him to come stay the entire break with him. He thought for sure that this meant they were finally going to have sex. Finally going to move past hand jobs, blow jobs, fingering… He’s barely been able to stop himself from begging James to fuck him.

But then… Thursday turned to Friday turned to Saturday… Wes was coming back early on Sunday and he and James were going to be hanging out. Corey was out of time and James hadn’t done more than blow him while shoving two fingers in him.

They were sitting on the couch finishing lunch while Chopped played. Corey cleared his throat to get James’ attention. “Why haven’t we had sex yet?”

James looked confused. He slowly lowered his sandwich. “I thought we had?”

“Anal sex. Full on penetration.”

“Oh.” James set his plate on the coffee table. “All right. Yeah, I don’t know. It just didn’t seem right. That’s such a big step and I don’t know. I figured you’d want to wait and do that with someone you were serious about.”

I’m serious about you, Corey thought… but of course, they weren’t really. It’d been months and Wes still didn’t know. They never went anywhere. Corey came over and they fooled around or they just hung out and Corey would stay the night.

Corey had make up in the bathroom. A couple outfits hanging in the closet and folded in dressers. It was hard to remember that they weren’t anything but friends with benefits. And that’s true now. Corey absolutely considered James a friend. An amazing friend. An amazing friend who gave amazing blow jobs and managed to make Corey feel not only normal, but normal and wanted.

He cleared his throat. “What if we, I mean, have you ever thought about us going out?”

James’ look was careful and guarded. “I… suppose that would be a part of what I agreed to. You’ve never been on a date with a guy either, right?”

“Right.”

“All right. Next Saturday, be here by 5, earlier if you’ll need the time to get ready.”

Knowing that James was only doing it, only taking him out because of their agreement and not because he wanted to go on an actual date kind of took the edge off his excitement in the moment. When next Saturday rolled around, though, and Corey woke up, the excitement inside was unbearable.

He was halfway through his shower when that unsettled feeling rolled across his skin and buried deep inside him. For the first time in his life, though, he wasn’t upset about it. He had a date. A date that he wouldn’t have to worry about finding excuses to not do anything sexual with. A date with someone who will call him Cora with a smile and a welcoming hug.

She shaved off her four day beard with a smile. She arranged her hair with confident hands. She stood and debated if she felt a need to tuck today… Then debated if her dress meant she needed to tuck.

Her phone vibrated as she was pulling on her favorite pair of lacy panties.

James: I can’t wait to see you.

James: I’ve been waiting all week for this.

James: If it’s too much, let me know and we can change the plans up as we go.

Cora laughed. He was great. He was the best. And he was interested in her.

Cora: Can’t wait. Coming now.

She pulled up to James' house. James opened the door with a big smile on his face as she climbed the front steps. He leaned against the door frame as she closed the distance between them. “Good evening, darlin’.”

Cora snorted and shook her head. James’ smile grew. “Miss me?”

“I did.” He pressed a short kiss onto her lips then stepped back so she could lead the way into the house. “I wasn’t sure how you’d be feeling, but in case you were Cora today, I thought I’d pick out an outfit for you. It’s on the bed.”

Cora slipped into the bedroom while James turned for the kitchen. She stared at the dress on the bed. It wasn’t one she’d brought over. She’d never seen it before in her life. Which meant that he didn’t just pick out an outfit, he purchased her an outfit. She didn’t waste time getting changed.

The dress was a forest green sweater dress. Tight until her midriff where it flared out slightly, just enough to hide the fact that she hadn’t tucked and wouldn’t force her into it. She hugged her arms around herself and tried pushing down that stupid level of joy she was feeling.

Makeup. She’d get her makeup done and get a grip on herself then.

Another surprise was waiting for her in the bathroom though. A long box with a note on top that said ‘open me.’ Her hands shook as she picked it up. Inside was a long, fine, golden chain with a single pearl on it. She gently touched it then snapped the box shut and set it down.

It was a little overwhelming. Her chest was tight and her heart felt it was attempting to escape her chest. The oxygen in the room was thinner than it had been before she opened the box. She sat on the edge of the tub and took a couple breaths.

James was playing a role. He was fulfilling their agreement. He was… perfect for her. Cora had to stop looking further into this. She had to stop assuming each of these little moments meant anything more than what they were. He still wouldn’t let them tell Wes. There was no point in assuming their relationship was anything more when he was keeping it a secret from his only family.

She shoved her emotions down. She shoved those thoughts away. Makeup. The familiar routine of perfecting her makeup soothed her more than any calm breathing would have. Half way through, she heard James rustling around in the bedroom. By the time she was done, the bedroom was quiet. Cora removed the necklace from its case and took it with her.

James was waiting on the couch. The tv was on but turned down low. James’ lips curled into a small smile as Cora came out. She held out the necklace and, without a word, James stood to take it from.

Goosebumps burst out as his fingers grazed her neck. She jumped when warm breath preceded his lips brushing down her neck. Cora played with the pearl on the necklace as James continued to pepper her neck with kisses. His hands skimmed down her neck, shoulders, arms and Cora struggled to find enough oxygen in the room.

She leaned into his touches. The heat of his body soaked through her dress and warmed her further. His hands fell to her hips and pulled her back so she could feel how excited he was pressed right up against her butt. She gasped as heat flooded her.

“We should go. I don’t want us to be late.” James’ voice was rough. His hands tightened on her hips and he pushed forward into her. “God, I want to take you right back into that room though.” His teeth scraped against her neck in an almost bite that caused her head to fall to the side in a silent plead for more. “Get you out of that dress as fast as I got you into it.” Cora pushed her hips back into him, but he chose that moment to step away.

James took some shaky breaths behind her, then cleared his throat. Cora rearranged herself before turning to him. James was flushed, his dark slacks were tented. Cora’s dick throbbed at knowing she was doing that to him. “We should get going,” she said. She wanted her date.

“Yeah. Yeah, let’s go.”

His hand was hot on her lower back as he led her out the door. He opened his truck door for her. Cora wanted to laugh, just in joy at how he was making her feel. Every moment. Every look. Every touch. He was perfect. He made her feel like she was perfect too.