Combust (The Wellingtons #1) (29 page)

Andi’s hands press against my chest, and when I look at her, I see that she’s giving me an appreciative smile as she slides them up over my shoulders and around my neck. “You know, one of the first things I noticed about you was your lean muscles. You weren’t a total beefcake and I loved that. I still do. However, I can feel how your body’s changed from all your time in the gym. It’s killing me that you won’t let me look or at least get a little peek. I know you want to go slow, but am I going to have to beg for you to go just a little bit faster? Because I’m ready for more, Cohen. I told you. I’m not going to run this time.” She rocks her hips against me for emphasis, and dammit if my dick doesn’t start to harden from the contact.

“Ruby,” I groan, but I’m cut off when she starts nibbling—first on my earlobe and then down my neck. Her teeth nip gently on my skin as she rubs against my erection. Resting my head back against the couch, I tell myself just a few more seconds and then I’ll stop her.

“Cohen, please,” she whispers into my ear, her tone both sensual and pleading. “Don’t make me wait any longer.”

Fuck. I’m both turned on and doused with a proverbial cold shower at her request. I want her so damn badly, more than I’ve ever wanted anyone. But not like this. Not after a studying session, and not to distract her from having to meet my parents tomorrow.

Stifling a groan, I bring my hands to her hips to still her movements. Lifting my head up, I see the disappointment on her face. She tries to move off me, but I hold her firmly in place.

“Baby, I promise I won’t make you wait long. But I’ve made two promises to you, and I intend to keep them both. When I take you again, it’s not going to be on my couch in the middle of the afternoon after we’ve spent hours going over scientific notecards. I promised to woo you, and that’s what I’m going to do. I also promised to fuck you all night long, and you better believe that, the first time I’m inside you again, we won’t be leaving the bedroom for at least a day. And seeing as how we have somewhere to be early tomorrow morning, you’re going to have to be patient.” She gives me a pout, but I can see the grin that’s threatening to form on her lips. “Now, that being said, since you were such a stellar student today, I do believe that, after I take you out for dinner, I have a payment that needs to be made.”

My hands loosen on her hips and she’s quick to climb off my lap. I don’t move from my spot on the couch as I watch her slip on her flats and head towards the door. She stops and looks back at me expectantly.

“I’m heading home to freshen up. Pick me up at seven?” she asks, placing her hand on her hips.

I look from her to the bulge in my jeans and then back to her. “Eager, Ruby?”

She leans back against the door, a slow, sexy grin spreading over her face as she nods and points towards my pants. “I’ve decided I’ll let you take me out and distract me for a little bit, but I’m changing your reward system. Tonight—that is my reward and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.” With that, she turns and opens the door, walking out as I sit and gape after her, wondering what in the hell she has planned for me and how I’m going to be able to resist.

AFTER LEAVING Cohen on the couch, I head home, more determined than ever to make him go further tonight. It’s only been a week since we’ve been dating, but he’s already driving me up the wall with his refusal to do anything other than kiss me. When I think about it, we’ve spent enough time to equal at least four dates, and after Teddy, I’ve always been a three-date-rule kind of girl, so he’s kind of making me crazy. He hasn’t even tried to cop a feel, his hand never moving farther up on my skin past my belly button.

I know he wants me as much as I want him. I’ve let my hand slide over his erection more than once, and every time I do, he closes his eyes as if steeling himself to remain impassive, but I haven’t been able to break through his resolve. Tonight, though, things are going to change. If Cohen wants to wait for sex, I’ll respect that, and I can even admire it. However, I’m not going one more night without getting to touch him, to taste him, and if I have to tie him up to do it, I’m prepared to do so.

When I get home, I find Reese lounging on the sofa, mindlessly flipping through the television stations. I’m thankful that neither Teddy nor Cy is home, and I flop down on the couch next to her, sighing loudly. She glances at me then sits up when she sees the look on my face.

“What, Andi? Why are you looking at me like you want to lick my face?” she asks, and I have to laugh.

“It’s not your face I want to lick. Or, well, anyone’s
face
for that matter.”

She snickers and crosses her legs. “Oooh, Andi Kane, are you trying to tell me you want to lick Cohen’s cock like it’s the most delicious Popsicle in the world? And that you haven’t already?” I’m not sure whether to nod or shake my head, so I do a hybrid of both and watch as her eyes widen. “Are you serious? You two have been inseparable since he decided you were his. I could’ve sworn you were doing the dirty deed in your bedroom by the second night.”

I wrinkle my nose at her. “Have you heard any sex sounds coming from my room?”

She mulls it over before looking back at me. “Well, no, but I told Cy you must just be the quiet type.”

“I’m so glad you two discuss my sex life. Jesus, Reese. Did you have your ear pressed up against the wall trying to make out noises?”

A guilty grin spreads over her face. “Okay, so Cy and I might’ve had a bet on whether you two were getting freaky or not yet.” I give her a mocking glare, but she simply shrugs. “What?! The sexual tension rolls right off you two. Even when you guys are just sitting on the couch, he spends more times staring at you than he does the TV, like if he looks away you’re going to disappear before he can get a taste, kinda like my dog used to do whenever we were eating at the dinner table.”

I can feel my cheeks flush, because I know she’s right. I’ve caught Cohen staring at me on more than one occasion, and it makes me want him even more. “Yeah, well, Cy wins, as usual,” I tell her, causing her to groan. “When he first stayed over last Saturday, I promised to keep my hands to myself and we’d only make out like a couple of teenagers. The thing is, I only meant it for that night, but since then, he hasn’t made a move, and when I’ve tried, he stops me. Hell, I just left his apartment where I was grinding on his dick—which was definitely hard—and he stopped me again, saying he wanted to take me out for dinner. He’s driving me absolutely insane, and if I don’t get him to touch me soon, I’m going to combust and start dry-humping his leg until he gives in to me. It’s like high school all over again, and I’m about to bust out my old R. Kelly CDs.”

Reese laughs at my comment and then checks the clock before standing up like a woman on a mission. “I’ve got a few hours before I need to get to work. Come on, Andi,” she orders, picking up her purse.

“Umm, where are we going?” I ask, unsure of how I feel about the wicked gleam in her eye.

“We’re going shopping. I’ve seen your underwear drawer, honey, and you need something more than bikini underwear and cotton bras if you want to some action tonight. Let’s go get the perfect outfit so you can properly seduce your boyfriend.”

SEVERAL HOURS, three shopping bags, and one Reese-insisted makeover later, I’m sitting on a stool at the island, sipping the glass of white wine Reese set in front of me.

“You look amazing, Andi. If Cohen can keep his hands off you after tonight, I’ll be convinced that he’s playing for the other team,” she says matter-of-factly, causing me to choke on my wine.

“Trust me, Reese. Cohen is not gay. He’s far from it.”

She leans her elbows on the counter and peers at me curiously. “You know, I’ve been meaning to ask you this, but I haven’t had a chance to catch you alone long enough to discuss it.” I glance at the clock, hoping I don’t have time for whatever her question is, but I’m let down when I see that I have fifteen minutes until Cohen is set to arrive. “What’s the story here? One day, some guy’s giving me a mix CD for you and then I never see him or hear you mention him. Then he shows up at the bar and gives Teddy an evil glare before you two start eye-fucking right in front of everyone before he storms out. And then, two days later, you go on one date and suddenly he’s your boyfriend? I haven’t known you to utter the ‘b’ word since you were with Blake, but you were so quick to jump into a relationship with Cohen. Why is that? What don’t I know about you two? What am I missing here?”

Sighing, I drain my wine and fill my glass again, knowing that it’s about time I finally come clean with her. Part of me feels bad that I’ve kept this from her all this time, but it honestly never came up, and there was never a good time to say, “Hey, Reese. I lost my virginity to a guy in a one-night stand and it lasted approximately two seconds.”

She’s watching me with curious eyes, and I decide to just bite the bullet and get it out.

“Do you remember how over-the-top excited you were when you found out Teddy and I had sex?”

“Of course I remember. It was the perfect setup. Us dating best friends.” She sighs at the memory. “You know I was devastated when you two decided just to be friends, even though I know now you two would be the worst couple alive. Why? What does that have to do anything?”

“Well…I know I let you think Teddy was my first, but he actually wasn’t.”

Her eyes widen at my revelation and she leans in even farther towards me. “Are you saying…? Cohen…? What the hell, Andi?! You lost your virginity before Teddy and you never told me?! Jesus, was I really that wrapped up in Cy that I had no idea you’d done it? Tell me everything, and tell me now!” she insists, her voice going to a high pitch that makes her sound like a yipping puppy who’s about to pee on the floor from either anxiety or excitement—possibly both.

With a heavy sigh, I launch into the story of how Cohen and I met at the party, my escaping with him, and I don’t leave out a single detail. She listens with an intent focus, only nodding and muttering under her breath when the story calls for it. Once I finish, I sit back in my seat and play with the stem of my wine glass, looking anywhere but at her.

“Wow,” she breathes out. My eyes move to her, and I see that she’s looking at me with a huge shit-eating grin on her face. “That is amazing!” she gushes.

Umm, what?
I lean across the counter and press the back of my hand to her forehead, where I fake checking for a fever. “Reese, were you listening? I lost my virginity to the guy, one pump, and then we didn’t talk for over three years. What about that is amazing?”

She swats my hand away. “Andi, think about it. You spent one incredible night together and clearly neither of you has moved on from it. Sure, your first time might not have been the greatest, but that’s not the part that matters. What matters is how he made you feel, and it’s pretty damn obvious that he made you feel something then, something you’ve never stopped feeling. Something you’re still feeling. It all makes sense now. I’ll be honest. It was kind of unnerving how into each other you seemed already, but I get it now. Even if your brain tried to, your heart hasn’t let you forget him.” She rests her chin in her hands and gives me a dreamy sigh. “It’s actually really romantic, Andi. And that makes it even sweeter that he’s holding out. He probably just wants to make sure it’s perfect this time around so you don’t go running off again. Gosh, I’m almost half in love with him myself.”