Combust (The Wellingtons #1) (36 page)

“I knew you could do it. Just think, six more weeks and a final is all that stands between you and graduation. You’re close, baby. But no more talk about school. We have the next ten days off and I want to wipe all thoughts of school out of our minds and just enjoy this time together.”

Andi nods, and then looks down at her plate. “This looks delicious. And the candlelight? Nice touch. It definitely beats sitting on the couch in front of the TV.”

The candlelight illuminates her smile, and for a split second, the image takes my breath away. In this instance, I know that what I’m doing tonight is right. We may have only been together for a couple of months, but our story started a long time ago and has been pushing forward ever since she came back into my life. For once, medical school, making rounds, and picking a specialty aren’t the only things I care about anymore. When I see myself in Memphis, I see Andi right there with me, and the thought of letting someone all the way in doesn’t scare me like it used to. Sure, it’ll be hard, but I know that, with her, it will be worth every single second.

“You’re going to have to remind me to thank your mother profusely for teaching you how to cook. This is divine, Cohen,” she says, practically moaning as she takes a bite of the tenderloin. The sound causes my groin to tighten, and I take a sip of my wine and adjust myself discreetly, knowing that we have a while before we move things to the bedroom tonight.

Dinner continues as we fall into easy conversation. As I refill our wine glasses and we both eat and talk about our days, I’m suddenly aware of how normal this is. How domesticated it feels to be sitting across from her at the dinner table like this. Usually, we either eat separately before we meet up for the night or while sitting in front of the television. This intimate meal is entirely different, and I know that, after tonight, it’s something I’m going to crave. The same way I already crave falling asleep to the sounds of her steady breathing. And just how I crave waking up with her in my arms every single morning.

Andi once told me that she was a fiend for me, but now, the tables have turned. She intoxicates me in a way that no drug or drop of alcohol ever could, and if there was a twelve-step program to curb this addiction, I’d pray to God to keep all forms of serenity away because this is one addiction that’s worth living with.

“Oh, hey. Before I forget, we can’t entirely forget about school during spring break. One of the other seniors was going to cover a concert next week in Nashville, but something came up and he gave me the tickets when I said I could fill in. I figured we could go and make a night of it in the city. Maybe get a hotel room…” She trails off at the last part, and I look up to see a devilish gleam in her eyes.

“I suppose I can suffer through another concert with you if it’s for an assignment. Just let me know when and I’ll book a room for the night. Who are we seeing?”

“We the Kings,” she tells me, and I groan. “Oh, come on. Their music is pretty good. It’s catchy!”

“Aren’t they a punk rock band? Hell, we’ll probably be surrounded by teenagers all night.”

“Maybe, and if it’s like that, we won’t have to stay for the whole show. But I promise I’ll make it worth your while,” she teases, and I reluctantly agree. “Plus, you didn’t think I’d drag you to that without giving you incentive, did you?” She’s fingering the stem of her wine glass, and I let my eyes fall to her pert breasts before looking back up at her.

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll give me plenty of incentive that night, baby.” Thoughts of what we could do in a hotel room roll through my brain, and suddenly I can’t wait to be among the crowd watching some punk band sing.

“Not that!” She laughs when she sees the look of disappointment that crosses my face. “Okay, well, yes that, but not just that. I wasn’t sure how on board you’d be with seeing We the Kings, so I may have picked up tickets to another concert. One I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy.”

My interest is piqued, so I lean in closer. “Okay, I’m listening…”

She looks down at our now empty plates and wine glasses then pushes her chair back. “When I came in earlier, I put my purse in your room and left the tickets in there, too,” she informs me.

I chuckle as I shake my head. I have a feeling Andi and I are on the same page with how tonight’s going to end up. A twinge of nervousness flashes through me, but I quickly push it away.

I’m about to start clearing the table when Andi turns and leaves the room, giving me just a quick glimpse of her perky ass in those tight jeans. Not wanting her to get undressed without me, I stop what I’m doing and follow her, thankful when I see her bending over into her purse. She stands up and hands me an envelope. Eyeing her warily, I reach in and grin when I see what’s inside—two tickets to see The Neighbourhood.

“Ah, Ruby, this is perfect. I’ll sit through any punk rock show if it means you take me to concerts like this,” I tell her and look up to see that she’s giving me a nervous smile.

“What about the date? Is that okay? It’s not too advanced, is it?” she asks, and I realize that I didn’t even bother to check when the concert is.

Glancing at the tickets, I see that the concert is set for the middle of July. I look up at her. She’s biting her bottom lip nervously. I place them back inside the envelope and set it down on my dresser. Pulling her in close, I let my hands grip her shoulders. July. That means she sees this going past graduation. She sees us lasting at least into the summer. My heart swells at the thought, and I lean down and place a soft kiss on her lips before pulling back slightly.

Looking down into her eyes, I answer as honestly as I can. “Baby, with us, it’ll never be too advanced. I know we haven’t talked about this, but when I used to look into my future, all I could see were lab charts, stethoscopes, and god forbid, catheters.” She lets out a small laugh, and I bring my hands up to cup her cheeks. “But now? Andi, when I look into my future, what I see is you.”

Tears form in her eyes, and she blinks them away quickly. She leans in, her lips hovering over mine and I anticipate her kiss.

“Cohen, I want to be with you. I can’t wait any longer,” she breathes, her eyes pleading with mine.

I hadn’t planned on starting this early, but I’ve been wanting Andi for far too long, and the look she’s giving me lets me know that she feels the same. I’ve been so focused on making sure that it was the perfect time, the perfect setting—but in reality, none of that matters. It doesn’t matter where or when. All that matters is that we’re together, and there’s no way I’m going another minute without giving her all of me and taking her at the same time. It’s time I claim her one hundred percent. Even if she doesn’t know it, she has my heart and soul. Now I just have to figure out how to tell her.

WITHOUT A word, I slowly begin to undress her until she’s standing before me in nothing but black lingerie. The candlelight gives her an exotic glow, and I’m mesmerized by the sight of her. My trance causes me to pause, and she takes over before I can stop her.

Her hands run up the length of my torso, and a shiver of excitement runs down my spine at her touch. She removes my tie and slowly begins to unbutton my shirt. Her fingertips graze my skin when she uses them to push the shirt from my shoulders so that it falls to the floor. Her breath hitches at the sight of my bare chest, and when her fingers come down to graze the erection that's straining through my jeans, I have to bite my lower lip to control myself from throwing her down on the bed and plunging into her right now. She looks down and makes quick work of unbuckling my pants and pushing them down. After stepping out of them, I kick them off to the side, and I am left in just a pair of boxer briefs. Her eyes travel up my body, a look of appreciation in them until they meet mine and her look turns to one that's mixed with playfulness and hot desire.

We’re both standing there in absolute silence, drinking in the sight of each other. I pull her into my arms until our chests meet, my hands sliding up her back to the clasp of her bra. “You’re so beautiful, Ruby,” I whisper as I lean down for a kiss.

My mouth captures hers, and at first, the kiss is gentle, soft. When I undo her bra and she shrugs out of it, she presses her bare chest against mine. She quickly parts her lips when my tongue seeks entrance, and I ravage her mouth, wanting—needing—to taste her. My hands slide down her back, and I cup her ass as our tongues continue to spar—this is one fight where, winner or loser, I know I’ll be coming out on top.

Her own hands find their way to my ass, and she pushes my boxers down, allowing my cock to spring free. It presses against her belly, causing her to moan into my mouth. Pulling away from her, I hook my fingers around her panties and pull them down her legs. Once I step out of my boxers, I take Andi back into my arms and kiss her with a passion I’ve never felt before. I want to go slow, but I want her more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.

Our hands are roaming each other, and I don’t come up for air as I push her back until we’re collapsing on the bed together. She pulls back and stares up at me with desire flashing in her eyes. Passion and lust are swirling all around us, and as she scoots up the bed, I settle in between her legs, hovering over her. I pause momentarily as I drink in the sight of her, sprawled out and beautiful beneath me. My finger makes a path from her collarbone, over both breasts, and down until I slip it in between her legs to see if she’s ready, and my girl doesn’t disappoint.

She's so wet for me, and part of me wants to skip the foreplay and sink right into her, but I want this to be perfect. I want to take my time as I savor every single moment, as I worship her body, not leaving a single inch of skin untouched, unkissed, unloved.

Andi, however, seems to have different plans. She wraps her legs around my waist and lifts her hips until my cock is poised just above her entrance, almost as if she’s urging me on. "Cohen, we've been engaging in foreplay for the last two months. We have all night to go slow, but I want you inside me—right now. Please don’t make me wait any longer."

Her words are the perfect aphrodisiac, and at her insistence, I lean over and take a condom from my nightstand, making quick work of covering myself. After repositioning myself between her legs, I’m instantly in heaven as I slowly sink into my girl for the first time in three years, filling her inch by inch. A small whimper escapes her lips when I'm seated in her fully, and I keep my hips still as I revel in the tightness of her pussy. She's like the perfect sheath for my dick—like it's the mold made just for me. I know I'll never be able to get enough of her now that I’ve had a taste, a tease, now that I’m getting my fill.

Slowly, I pull out and then push back in just as gently, not quite ready to go fast. The feeling of finally being inside Andi is intense and exhilarating, and I know this is what I've been missing. This is how it's supposed to be. This isn’t fucking. This isn’t a means to an end. Not even close. This is the start of something beautiful. This is making love, and it’s a brand-new experience.

Looking down, I notice that Andi's eyes are hooded. The look on her face is full of pleasure as her body responds to mine, and I know I can't keep with this slow pace. I begin to thrust in and out of her, quickening my movements with each pump, a groan escaping my lips every time her warmth envelopes my cock. She lifts her hips as she tries to match my rhythm. Her back arches with each thrust, and I bring my hand down between us in order to give her added stimulation, but she stops me before I can touch her.

“No. No hands, Cohen,” she whispers in a sexy, breathy tone. “Just you. All I want is you.”

Right now, she could ask me anything in that voice and I’d comply. Pulling my hand back, I lean down until our chests are pressed together, our faces only inches apart. My hands find hers, and I intertwine our fingers before placing them over her head. The position feels raw and primal as I continue to thrust into her, the increasing pace causing our bodies to get slick with sweat.

The only place I can look is down, straight into Andi’s eyes, and when I do, that’s when I know that what I feel is real. We’re moving together in perfect harmony. The room is silent, filled with nothing but our panting breaths, her moans, and the sounds of our bodies as they come together in unison. I’d originally planned for background music, but this happened faster than expected and I didn’t get a chance to turn it on. But that doesn’t matter because I now realize that the sounds in this room could be on the soundtrack to my life and I’d happily play it on repeat over and over again.

As I continue to rock into her, I roll my hips to create friction on her clit. Her legs tighten around my waist as she urges me to go faster, harder. My hands tighten on hers, and I rock into her at a frantic pace, knowing that she’s not far from coming. I can feel her pussy begin to tighten and clench my dick. She cries out as I drive my hips forward, burying myself inside her before pulling out just to thrust back in even harder. She’s so damn close. I can feel it, and I work that much harder to bring about her sweet release.

My heart is racing as every muscle in my body aims to please her. With everything in me, I rock against her, in and out, until I can feel her finally reaching the highest peak of her ultimate pleasure. Her entire body tenses up momentarily, and her pussy clenches me like the world’s strongest vise, causing my dick to jerk as I release into her, groaning as I feel her milking my dick for every last drop.