A/N: I just wanted to thank you for all of your incredibly wonderful and supportive comments on the story! I've read them over and over again, and they always make me feel so happy and loved. This story has really taken off – and if you liked the last chapter, just wait! :) Again, I'd love to hear what you think of the story, and I'd love to hear from you all personally! Don't be a stranger – add me on Twitter and Tumblr (links in my profile!), or just shoot me a PM! I love making new Glee friends!

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LOVE YOU ALL! xoxo Therese

Chapter 13

I awoke from my slumber peacefully and calmly. It was a beautiful day yet again, from what I could tell from the stream of sunlight pouring in through the windows. And as I came to, I realized that something was different. I felt a heavy weight over my stomach, and I moved my hands to make out exactly what it was. My heart leapt and fluttered as I realized it was an arm, and I looked to the left of me. There Cory was, still sound asleep on the bed next to me. His lips were parted slightly, and he was inhaling and exhaling through his mouth. I do remember him coming to bed last night without a shirt on, claiming he forgot to take one to the bathroom with him. I'm not stupid, though – I know a show-off when I see one. And for the record, I wasn't complaining either.

Honestly, I was afraid to move. I didn't want to distract my sleeping beauty by trying to get up out of bed, or even rolling on his side. It was awfully nice to have his arm on me, too. I felt safe and secure, which is always what a girl wants to feel around a boy. So, I decided it was in my best interest to just lie there and wait. Maybe I'd even get a few more minutes of sleep in too. As I lay there quietly, I thought about all of the things that I wanted to get accomplished. Doing the laundry is a necessity, and I felt a kitchen cleaning coming on. I'd probably have to figure out how to clean the sand remnants out of the bottom of the shower, since not all of it was washed down the drain. We didn't have to do any more food shopping, I wasn't going to bother vacuuming, and I decided that the boys would have to figure out the menu for the night, even if that meant take-out.

But, the problem with long nights that include drinking with friends is that you inevitably have to use the bathroom. The longer I lay in bed with Cory, and the longer he pressed down on my stomach, the more I had to pee. I moved my head to look at him, and ever so slowly, I slid my body out from under the sheets, as if I was some kind of snake. His arm gracefully relocated from my body to the bed. Mission accomplished. I got up from the bed and tiptoed into the bathroom, shutting the door quietly behind me.

I wasn't even in the bathroom for two whole minutes before I walked back into the bedroom, and he had started to stir. I stood by the door and I watched him wake up and stretch his arms and legs out, awakening his muscles and getting his blood flowing. His hair was a tousled mess, and his scruffy beard was beginning to thicken. Slowly, he flickered his eyes opened, and I watched him stare at the ceiling as he adjusted to the light of the room. I couldn't be this creeper lurking in the shadows any longer, so I piped up. "Good morning," I said quietly with a smile, careful not to scare him.

He moved his head to look at me, and he smiled as soon as he saw me. I practically fell to the floor. "Morning," he happily groaned.

"Sleep well?" I asked as I padded back over to the bed. I crawled in, and I leaned on my elbows as I hovered over his body. I looked completely plain and unmade, but I felt comfortable.

"Mm-hmm," he moaned as he shifted his body towards me. "My head hurts, though. I think I need a few hours break from drinking."

"Agreed," I replied with a nod of my head. "My body is practically begging for water. I found some aspirin in the medicine cabinet last night, so if you need any, it's on the counter."

Cory nodded before replying simply, "Thanks."

It got awkwardly quiet for a moment. I was dying to bring up what had happened in the shower last night, but I wasn't sure if that act of lust and romance was connected to true feelings, or if it was just the alcohol. Lord, I wished and wanted it to be the true feelings, but I wasn't sure. Really, to get to the bottom of it, I knew I had to ask him. Just put it out there and see what comes of it. Figure out if he really meant what he did or not, because we hadn't spoken about any feelings. It was purely physical. I bucked up, looked him in the eye, and decided that I had to figure this all out, even if the man had only been awake for a minute or two, and he could possibly still be somewhat hungover.

"Cory, about last night…" I started, lowering my voice but still leaning in towards him.

Before I could finish, he interrupted me. "Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about that."

Oh hell no. No good conversation ever comes out of the prefacing sentence "I wanted to talk to you about that." You might as well just say "Hmm, I'll pass," or "No thanks, wasn't really into it." I swallowed a hard lump that had quickly formed in my throat, and prepared myself for what he was about to say.

"Okay," I muttered.

He let out a deep sigh before speaking. "I had a really good time with you last night. I just want you to know that it wasn't some fluke thing that happened. It's actually been something I've wanted to do now for a while, and I'm glad you gave me the green light."

Um, am I hearing all of this right?

"I want to go back to the beach later, and I want to take you with me. Think we could sneak away from the house for a little bit?" Cory asked me, his lips curled up into a smile.

"Uh, ye – yeah," I stammered, and then I nodded my head quickly. I smiled wide, and I knew that everything was going to be all right. Maybe I wasn't so crazy after all for having these feelings.

"Come here, you have something on your face," Cory said, motioning for me to lean into him.

I leaned in, and just as I did, he moved his face towards mine. Like a scene out of a movie, he kissed me, but it wasn't nearly as soft and as delicate like it was the night before. This one was powerful, and I could tell that it had a soulful meaning, as if I even know what that means. It was good, though, real good. In fact, even though the scruffy chin was irritating my face, I didn't even make a sound about it. I could tell that this wasn't something driven by alcohol or the moment – this felt real.

I pulled away from the kiss first, but I rested my forehead against his forehead, and we both had these big bright smiles on our faces. "I have morning breath," I giggled.

"Yeah, you're right. God, you're breath is kicking," Cory replied sarcastically before he gently took me by the shoulders and pushed me off of him. He was able to maneuver me down to the mattress, and now he had full control over me. "Guess I'll just have to stop kissing you then," he toyed as he lowered his head towards my neck, and his hands were now placed on either side of me, as if he was in some modified push-up position. He giggled as he neared my neck with his mouth, and I could feel his warm breath on my skin. I really thought I was going to wet my underpants. No man should be allowed to be this sexy. He nuzzled his head into my neck before running his lips along my skin, and I let out a soft moan. I couldn't have even kept it in for another moment. And as soon as he heard that tiny little moan, he knew he had me. He gave me one small kiss on my neck before he lifted his head and looked at me. "I was thinking maybe we'll head to the beach around 7?"

"What time is it now?" I breathed. I really couldn't produce proper words.

I watched Cory look at the clock at his bedside and he gasped for air before letting out a small laugh. "It's almost two in the afternoon."

"Oh my God," I muttered as I tried to sit up in bed. "How did we sleep so late?"

Cory just shrugged his shoulders as he moved out of the way, which allowed me to get out of bed. "I was comfortable."

"Me too," I admitted before walking into the bathroom to grab a hair tie from the counter. I gathered my hair and tossed it into a high bun. "After I brush my teeth, I'm doing a load of laundry. Want me to throw yours into my mix?" I offered with a small smile.

"No biggie, I'll just do it," Cory smirked before climbing out of bed.

I stood in the bathroom door as I watched him grab a fresh shirt out of his suitcase. He pulled it on over his head, and then he bent down, scooped up our laundry, and carried it out of the bedroom.

I didn't think that a man could be this freaking perfect. Clearly, I was wrong.