Chapter 27: Lover's Embrace

                                    

                                          
Corey had agreed to take Sallie back to his place, and Sallie was fine with this. Returning to an empty house after such a good day left Sallie a bitter taste. There was an underlining fear that this was all fictional, that this whole day was nothing but a heated dream.
                          
So, she felt comfort in returning to Corey's apartment that night when the others left for their homes, fully enjoying the night-out.
                          
It was in the same state as she remembered, the last time she was here. When Corey crashed onto the sofa, Sallie placed her bag on the sofa beside him and turned to the kitchen. Corey dug his hands in-between the sofa cushions and hesitated, looking for the remote.
                          
But then he listened.
                          
"You better not be sorting out that kitchen, woman." Corey said with a soft smirk.
                          
Silence.
                          
"No...." Came the reply from Sallie at a length, and Corey shook his head, standing up.
                          
"Seriously, don't tidy. It's your birthday."
                          
Sallie appeared by the doorway to the small, neglected kitchen, cocking her head to the side.
                          
"Technically, it's not my birthday anymore." Sallie grinned, pointing at the clock that hung on the wall. "It's 1AM, so it's the 1st of November."
                          
"Fuck off." Corey chuckled. "Don't be so damn picky, you." He walked towards Sallie, grabbing her hand and pulling her out. "I'll sort out this shit-hole tomorrow, but until we wake up, it's still your birthday." He tugged Sallie to the sofa. "Tonight, you're sleeping in my bed."
                          
"But what about you?" Sallie asked, halting and looking at the sofa. Her eyes turned back to him. "I can't let you sleep on the sofa."
                          
"You're the guest. And the birthday girl."
                          
"But no, I can't do that to you." Sallie grabbed Corey's arms and held him. "I'd feel rude."
                          
Corey stared down at her, slowly reaching for her hands and holding them in his lean palms.
                          
"We could...stay in the same bed. I mean we've slept with each other before." He quickly corrected himself. "Not that way, but...you get me."
                          
"Yeah yeah, I get you." Sallie smirked, shaking her head softly as she drew Corey in a small hug. "Thank you for today. I haven't had such fun like that in a long time."
                          
Corey slowly drew his arms around her and hugged her a little tighter, face pressed into her hair, smelling it.
                          
"You're welcome. They're good guys, we look after each other." Though he didn't know Sid and Chris that well, he was certain he'd get along with them, so long Chris remained far away from Sallie...there wouldn't be a problem.
                          
He heard Sallie yawn against his chest, and tutting, he stroked her hair. "C'mon, let's get ready for bed."
                          
Taking her bag, Corey brought Sallie to his room. The light bulb was not working, so they had to carefully walk through the small room in the darkness, using whatever little moonlight they had seeping through the cracks of the boarded windows. The light from the kitchen remained on, granting them a bit more visibility. Respecting each other's privacy, Corey turned around and Sallie followed suit, not looking at one another as they got dressed and ready for bed. Sallie had finished promptly with her tank-top and shorts, turning around and stared at Corey removing his shirt, revealing his toned back, seeing the defined arch of his lower back, his ribs wide.
                          
Sallie had to force herself to look away as Corey bent down and removed his pants. But it didn't even matter, her best friend turned around and smirked, standing in his boxer-shorts proudly.