Tease (17 page)

I stopped by the grocer’s on the way home.

Did I expect to see her tonight?

No, but if she did come, I wanted to be ready. After filling my basket with everything I needed, I paid and went home. On the way, I passed the diner where Mia had been re-introduced to her love for cheesecake. I slammed on the brakes, causing the person behind me to swerve around while screaming obscenities out their window.

I parked in front of the diner and got out. Inside, I walked up to the counter and ordered two slices of baked cheesecake to go. I paid, took the container out to the car, and continued my drive home.

Standing back, I surveyed my handiwork. The balcony looked pretty amazing, and would look even better after the dusk. The red blanket I had laid out looked inviting, and the string of lights left over from Christmas added a little romance to the scene. I’d put out the food a little later.

At twelve, I finally gave up. She wasn’t coming. And I was an idiot for sitting
there
, waiting for her.
I walked back inside and switched on the TV, settling down on the couch.
I glanced outside at the picnic I’d set up and felt like an even bigger idiot. Fucking idiot. That’s what I was.
A fucking dickhead.
Of course she wasn’t coming back to me. She could do much better than I could ever offer her. I’d gone in there declaring my
feelngs
to her, and all I had to offer was . . . nothing. No job—sure I had savings, but how long would that last me? I’d need to move out of my apartment.

And what the hell was I going to do for work? The truth was, without Mia, I didn’t
care
. I didn’t want a normal life if she wasn’t going to be a part of it. The hell with that; I’d rather stick to escorting. At least it was something I knew I did well.

I turned off the TV; I gave up. Trudging down to the bedroom, I unbuttoned my shirt and threw it on the ground. I unzipped my pants and stepped out of them, too.

I climbed between the sheets, my head throbbing from overwhelming thoughts. I’d had enough. I was so
tired,
I could barely keep my eyes open.

All this? It would have to wait until tomorrow.

My eyes opened, trying to register to the darkness that surrounded me. I struggled to figure out what was going on. I glanced at my clock.
Two in the morning.
What the fuck was I doing awake at two in the morning?

Then I heard it.
The door.

I almost fell out of bed, my legs tangling in the sheets. I grabbed my robe and hobbled to the door, swinging it open and slamming the corner into my chest.

Mia smiled at me sheepishly.

“Did I wake you?” she asked. She looked edible in a pair of faded blue jeans that hugged her curves like a second skin. What I’d do to that ass . .
. And
that top
—
was she teasing me, showing that much cleavage?

“Nah. I’m always awake at two in the morning,” I replied dryly. “Would you like to come in?”

She nodded, squeezing under my arm and inside.

I shut the door. “Late shift?” I joked, rubbing my eyes.

“No. I finished work at five.” She turned around, her hands shoved in her pockets. “I’ve been going over and over in my head all the reasons I shouldn’t be with you. The list is quite convincing, actually.”

“Good to hear,” I joked. Then I felt sick. That didn’t sound good for me. “So, why are you here then?”

She paused. “Because, no matter how many things are on that list, there is one thing on the other list that outweighs everything.”

“Is it my ability to do my own laundry? Because I’ve been told that’s pretty impressive.”

She laughed. “No, you fucking dickhead. It’s the fact that you’re all I think about.”

“Really?” I smiled, my hand running over the curve of her ass.

She nodded, her hands resting around my neck.

I threw her up against the wall, my hands desperate to touch every inch of her. Ripping off her top, I squeezed her breasts through her bra as she moaned softly. I lifted her onto my hips, and she wrapped her legs around my waist. My lips crushed against her mouth, every taste of her leaving me needing more.

I walked into the kitchen with her still in my arms, my cock throbbing as she grinded herself against me. Fuck, she was so sexy. I lowered her onto the kitchen counter, my arm curving around her back to unclasp her bra.

“Oh, Coop,” she whispered softly as I ran my tongue along her neck.

I moved back for a moment, taking in the sight of this incredibly hot woman, her full, rounded breasts and her hard, erect nipples. I reached out, my finger stroking each nipple, until the slightest touch made her squirm away from me.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” I mumbled, fumbling with the button on her jeans. It popped open. I lowered her zipper as she lifted her butt off the counter, allowing me to slip them and her panties down her legs.

“How the fuck do you get these on?” I grumbled, my patience wearing thin as I struggled to ease them past her ankles.

She giggled, eventually leaning down to help me.

“That’s better,” I sighed.

My cock was rock hard and aching as it pressed against my pants. I un
zipped
did
them, reaching into my wallet for a condom, and shrugged them off along with my boxers. Kicking them aside, I stood between her legs, my cock sitting at her entrance. She kissed my neck as I pushed myself inside of her, so tight and wet. I groaned, pumping faster and deeper, unable to get enough of her.

“I love you,” she whispered, her legs around me, clenching me inside her.

“I love you too,” I mumbled, kissing her soft lips, slipping my tongue into her mouth.
Oh god, after thirty seconds I was going to come and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
I gasped, holding onto her as my body jolted, spraying inside her.

Fuck, that was intense.
I kissed her again, this time slowly, tilting her mouth up to mine.

“Anytime you want to throw me down on the table and have your way with me, I’m up for that.” Mia smiled at me as she sat up, looking as giddy as I felt.

Yeah, I’d lost control, and it felt damn good.

She gazed past me and saw the balcony outside, a puzzled look on her face.

“Coop?” she asked. She hopped off the counter and walked over to the door, not caring in the slightest that she was completely naked. Sure, it was three in the morning, but who knew who was sitting in an apartment opposite with a telescope in one hand and his dick in the other.

She turned around, her expression amazed. “You did all this for me?”

Ah, shit. I’d forgotten to pack up the picnic. It’d been a stupid idea anyway. Kitchen counter sex had been much more efficient, and with much less planning.

“No, I did it for the postman,” I retorted. “Yeah, I did it for you,” I muttered, embarrassed. “I wanted to have something nice ready, just in case you did come.”

She glanced over my bare chest, her eyes resting on my dick.

“Trust me,” she said, with a faint smile, “you definitely managed that.” She walked back over to me, her arms snaking around my waist. “Now are you going to take me to bed, Mr. Cooper, or what?

I chuckled. “What did we just do?”

She shrugged, playfully, biting her lip. “Come on, don’t be a tease. You can call that a preview. Now I want the whole show.”

“Are you sure this is a good idea? I don’t want to scare her.” Mia eyed me with uncertainty.

“Come on. Just go with it. Some days she’s better than others.”

We walked into Mom’s room. She was sitting at her table, attempting a crossword puzzle.

She looked up at me, her eyes clouded with the confusion I’d become so used to seeing. She moved her gaze over to Mia. What happened next shocked me.

“Mia,” she gasped, her lips parting into a smile. “How lovely to see you, dear.”

Mia turned to me in shock. I shrugged helplessly. In my head, it made sense
—
sometimes patients have a much easier time remembering things or people from their past
—
but it still hurt that she didn’t recognize me, yet she knew the girl who was friends with her daughter twelve years before.

“Hi, Mrs. Cooper.”

“Are you here to see Nicole? She’s around somewhere. Probably
mucking about
goofing off
with Liam,” she chuckled. She raised her eyebrows at Mia. “You know that boy is crazy about you, don’t you?” She giggled.

Mia laughed and nodded. “I’m crazy about him too,” she replied, sneaking a glance at me.

“That’s lovely. I remember you three, always together. I could never get you inside for dinner. And this boy,” she pointed to me. “He’d follow you to the end of the earth. He would have done anything for you.” Her eyes clouded over as she remembered, a smile breaking through as she chuckled.

“Mom,” I muttered, embarrassed. Mia squeezed my hand.

“You look after that boy of mine,” Mom warned, pointing a finger at her. “He’s a good boy with a big heart. He deserves the best.”

A single tear trickled down my cheek. At this moment, Mom looked more alive than I’d seen her in years. The way her face lit up when she saw Mia, the sparkle in her eyes, it was incredible to watch. I walked over and took Mom’s hand and squeezed it as Mia smiled.

“I will, Mrs. Cooper. I promise I will.”

THE END

“Did I tell you Beth is coming over tonight, too?”

Mia shot me a look. Okay, I probably deserved that. I knew they weren’t the closest of friends, but until now, Mia had respected my friendship with her.

The truth was, I was worried about Beth. She was almost manic in some of her behavior recently. If I thought she was carefree before, then this was just fucking insane. One minute she was hyper, and the next she was a mess.

“Lucky I cooked extra,” Mia grumbled. She handed me the salad to put on the table.

I set down the salad and walked over to Mia, wrapping my arms around her. My hand slipped under her shirt, running over her soft skin until it cupped her breast.

“I have the sexiest woman in the world right here,” I whispered as I sucked on her earlobe.

She smiled and squirmed away, turning in my arms to face me. She giggled as her hand “accidentally” brushed past my cock.

“See what you do to me? If we weren’t expecting visitors in the next fifteen minutes, I’d be wiping this table clean and throwing you down on it.”

A knock on the door made me groan. Mia reached into my pants and stroked my cock.

“Down boy,” she whispered, biting her lip.

I watched her as she swayed over to the door, leaving me hard and hanging.

Tease
.

She came back minutes later with Nic and Jake. I watched her chat to them, loving how happy she looked right then. It had taken me a month to convince her to move in to my apartment permanently, even though she had been staying there the whole time. We had officially lived together for one day.

It had been her idea to have Jake and Nic over for dinner to celebrate her moving in. I hadn’t meant to invite Beth, but I was worried about her. She had been different in the past few weeks
—h
er behavior odd, even for Beth. I’d been hoping to get some time to talk to her while she was over.

I smiled as Nic approached me, kissing me on the cheek.

“Hey,
dickface
,” she said grinning.

“How are you, twat?” I shot back. I pulled her into a hug. “Things are good,” I whispered in her ear.

“I’m glad to hear it,” she said, squeezing my hand. “So what’s this I hear about medical school?”

“I wasn’t going to say anything because I don’t know if I’m in yet,” I muttered.

Mia and her big mouth.

After much thought, I’d decided to apply for premed. My grades for my degree were high enough that I would probably get in, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up because it was something I really wanted.

“You’ll get in,” Nic assured me.

There was a loud knock on the door.

“Who else is coming?” Nic asked, confused.

“Beth,” I mumbled.

She rolled her eyes. “Seriously?” she muttered. “Do you have a death wish or something?”

I ignored her and went for the door.

Beth stood there, her eyes glazed, a smile on her face. “Coop!” she yelled, throwing herself into my arms.

Oh shit.
She was high on something, and it wasn’t life.

“Beth? Are you feeling okay?” I asked, walking her inside.

She wobbled, barely able to stay upright in her flat pumps. She giggled, gazing up at me. “I’m okay, Coop. Just loosening up.” She giggled again and slipped out of her jacket.

My eyes bulged. Oh hell no.

She was fucking naked.

“Coop, where shall I put this—” Jake stopped mid-sentence, his jaw dropping to the floor. He stood there, a bottle of wine in his hand, gaping. Not that I could blame him.

“Jake,” I said urgently. “Do
not
let either of them in here. I’m taking Beth home.” I quickly scooped up her jacket and wrapped it around her. Jake was still frozen to the spot. “Jake!”

He snapped back to reality, and nodded. “Okay, go.” He threw me his keys. “Take my car. I’m just out front.”

I bundled Beth into the car, panicking.
Should I take her to the hospital?
Or just home?

“Beth? Can you tell me what you’ve taken?” I asked her gently.

She roused, and looked at me. “Just some coke. No big deal,” she muttered, falling back to sleep.

Shit.

Starting the car, I took off toward the hospital. I dialed Mia on the way.

“Where are you?” she asked, annoyed.

“Don’t be angry, but think Beth might have overdosed. I’m taking her to the hospital.” I braced myself for the anger I was expecting her to unleash on me.

“Shit. Okay. Call me later. Love you,” she said, her voice worried.

“Okay, love you.” I hung up the phone and pulled into the emergency parking lot. I parked in the first available spot, jumping out and racing around to the passenger side. I lifted Beth out. She didn’t stir.

My heart raced as I carried her into the ER.

“Can I get some help!
”
I yelled, approaching the nurse behind the desk. She called out to an orderly to get a trolley.

“Bring her back here. What’s wrong with her?”

“She told me she took some cocaine,” I said, my voice shaking. The orderly wheeled the bed over. I lay her down, her body limp. Doctors raced over as the nurse led me away. I glanced
back,
desperate to make sure she was okay.

“Come with me. The more you can help me, the better your friend will be.” I let her sit me down in a cubical.

“Now, what’s your friend’s name?” she asked kindly.

“Bethany Masters,” I replied.

Her eyebrows shot up.

“Yes,
that
Bethany Masters.”

“Right,” she said, jotting it down. “Do you know how much she took? Were you there when she overdosed?”

I shook my head. “No. She came over to see me and I could tell something wasn’t right…” My voice trailed off.

The nurse stood up. “I’ll pass on this information to the doctors, and find out how she is, okay?”

I nodded, my body numb.

I had noticed her behavior had changed; why the hell hadn’t I done or said something earlier? I
knew
Beth. She didn’t do drugs. She never touched the stuff.

I sat there for what felt like hours before the nurse reappeared.

“Your friend is okay. They need to keep her in overnight, just for observation. She’s asking for you.” She nodded for me to follow her. Beth was in a bed in the corner, a curtain drawn around her.

“She’ll be a bit out of it. Don’t stay too long, she needs her rest.”

I nodded. The nurse left us alone. I sat down in the chair beside the bed and reached for Beth’s hand. It was cold. I rubbed it in between my hands, trying to warm it up. Her eyes fluttered open. She looked away, embarrassed.

“I’m sorry, Coop,” she muttered.

“What the hell, Beth? Since when do you do drugs?” I spoke with much more frustration than I’d intended.

She shrugged weakly. “It was stupid. I’m sorry.”

“No, you don’t get to blow me off. You’ve been acting weird for weeks. What the hell is going on?” I asked.

She shook her head, tears in her eyes. “Just leave it, Coop. Please.” She took her hand back and rolled over. “Please go. And don’t contact me anymore, okay?”

“What?” I said incredulously.

“Go!” she yelled. “Get out!”

I backed out of the cubical as the nurse came running back in. I shrugged helplessly as she glared at me.

What the fuck was that all about?

Nic, Jake, and Mia all met me at the door.

“How is she?” Nic asked, her eyes full of concern. I shrugged.

“She’ll be okay.” Still in shock, I hung up my jacket up.
“She was acting so weird. I’ve never seen her like that before. I know her. Something’s wrong.”

Mia stepped forward and hugged me. “She’s lucky to have you as a friend,” she said.

“Yeah, I guess. Only she told me leave her alone. As in forever.”

“She’s probably just coming down off the drugs,” Mia reasoned.

“Yeah,” I agreed uncertainly. “Maybe.”

Keep an eye out early 2014 for Promiscuous, the sequel to
Tease
(synopsis and excerpt over the page).