Combust (The Wellingtons #1) (18 page)

I’m telling myself not to overanalyze things when a finger snaps in front of my face and I pull back.

“Hey, hooker. It’s about time you get here!” Reese shouts over the sound of the live band and the roar of the crowd singing along. She sets a Jack and Coke in front of me and then leans across the counter, giving me a tired smile. “We’ve been packed all night thanks to the new band in town. I’m surprised you were able to even find room at the bar to sit down, but I’m damn glad you did. I’m exhausted and I still have five more hours on my shift.”

Pushing Cohen out of my mind, I give her a sympathetic smile. “Sorry. I was trying to get ahead on homework. God, I am so ready for this semester to be done so I can graduate.” I lift the glass to my lips and toss my head back, downing half the drink in one long swallow.

Reese raises an eyebrow at me as she leans her elbows on the counter. “So it’s going to be one of those nights? Girl, what the hell is on your mind?” she asks. “Is it Teddy?”

Groaning, I take my drink and finish it off quickly before I give her the evil eye. “Don’t go there, Reese. You know how Teddy and I are. Like I tell you every time you bring it up, we’re fine. We always have been. Nothing is ever going to change between us, so you might as well get the idea of us out of your mind. For good.” She looks at me with disbelief and pours me another drink. This time, I take it easy, just taking a small sip. “I guess I’m just nervous about this semester. That’s all. I found out today that it’d be in my best interest to use a tutor for my required chemistry course. It’s just a precaution, but I agree with my advisor. I’d rather be safe than sorry. If I don’t graduate in May, I’ll go insane. Not to mention Dad will kill me.”

As she pulls the tap on a Budweiser, she wrinkles her nose as if she feels my pain. “I wish I could say I know how you feel, Andi, but fortunately, I lucked out with Cy as a study buddy. As much as I tried to slack off, he never let me off the hook, and I’m thankful. If it weren’t for him, I’d probably still be in English 101, wondering why a verb needed a conjugal visit.”

Rolling my eyes, I watch as she pours another drink. She drives me absolutely bonkers, yet I love her with all my heart. “Oh God. I can only imagine how that study session went.” Her eyes shine and a smile spreads over her face. “Don’t even think about reminiscing for me. There will be none of that during my tutoring sessions. I’ll be too focused on the periodic table and all that other stuff.”

I know I’m probably just fooling myself. Something tells me that focusing on anything other than Cohen is going to be a feat in itself, but I can’t afford distractions when it comes to graduation and my future.

“Who knows? Maybe he’ll be a hot nerd and he’ll be all about getting his proton inside your nucleus.”

Choking on the drink I just took a sip of, I try to cough it off. Little does she know, he already has and the reaction was a little too combustible all too quickly. “Do I even want to know how you remember those terms when you’re confused by conjugated verbs?”

“Let’s just say that Cy always made sure that our study sessions were memorable so that when I got to the test I’d be able to answer correctly. And well, they’re lessons I’ve never forgotten.”

I let out a groan as she winks at me then walks down the bar to take care of the rest of her customers, fortunately sparing me all the dirty details.

Not long after, Teddy, Cy, and a few more of our friends show up, and as the headlining band takes the stage, I decide that, for the rest of the night, I’m going to enjoy the music and keep my mind off Cohen Wellington and his gorgeous, green eyes. I just finish telling myself that when I feel a tap on my shoulder.

As I move to swivel in my stool, I begin to speak. “Whatever you want, I’m not interest—” My words are cut off when my eyes meets those gorgeous green ones I was just vowing to forget.

A sexy grin crosses Cohen’s face as he looks down at me and leans in close. “That’s all right, Ruby. You made it clear long ago you had no interest in what I want. I just wonder if that will still be the case when I’m finished with you.”

Warmth flows in my belly at the way he’s looking at me. Part of me wants to run away. The other part of me wants to grab his hand, run away, and let him get started with me right now.

I see Cohen give a nod of thanks to someone behind me, and when I turn around, I see two shot glasses, two limes, and a saltshaker sitting on the bar. I’m surprised when he picks one up and hands it to me, but I accept it gratefully. I move to take the saltshaker, but Cohen grabs it before I can. He then takes ahold of my hand, which is now trembling, and brings it to his lips. He never takes his eyes off mine as his tongue darts out and makes contact with my skin. Slowly, his tongue caresses the skin between my thumb and forefinger before he gently bites down on my flesh. A shiver runs down my spine, and at the same time, I feel as if the temperature in the room just rose about twenty degrees.

With one more lick, he reluctantly pulls my hand away from his mouth and breaks eye contact to shake salt on my hand. Without a word, he nods towards the shot in my hand and stands there, waiting for me to take it. I’m still reeling from his tongue being on my skin, and suddenly, tequila sounds like the perfect remedy to calm the inner schoolgirl who’s remembering just where else his tongue has been on my body and just how good it felt.

I pull my hand up to my mouth and lick the salt, relishing the fact that his tongue was just here. As much as I’d rather just skip the salt and taste him, he’s staring at me intently, unnerving me, so I press the shot glass up to my lips, tip my head back, and enjoy the burn. Immediately, I slip the lime in my mouth, closing my eyes as I suck the juice to help ease the burn. Images of Cohen’s mouth on me run through my mind, and suddenly, I can’t wait to return the favor.

The thought is short-lived when I open my eyes just in time to see Cohen taking his own shot. Disappointment runs through me at the realization that Cohen didn’t wait for me to assist him with his own salt line. It must be apparent in my expression because he grins down at me, a goofy, green, limy grin. His cheeks hollow as he sucks the fruit. I can feel my nipples harden as I watch, wishing I could be the lime being sucked between his teeth.

He pops the fruit out of his mouth, and my cheeks flush as he gives me a knowing look, almost as if he can read my mind. “What, Ruby? I wanted a shot, and when I saw you sitting over here, I started feeling nostalgic.”

I shake my head and take his hand, holding it up to see the wet spot where he’d placed his own salt. “It’s not that. I just figured if you got to put the salt on me, I should’ve had the chance to do the same to you. You know I’m a tit-for-tat kinda girl.”

What looks like a mixture of desire and amusement flashes in his eyes as he takes in my words. “That’s true, and one of the many amazing qualities about you, Ruby.” He pauses and looks around before leaning in close—so close that his lips are hovering over mine and I can smell the tequila on his breath.

An errant hand lands on my thigh as the other grips the bar behind me. His close proximity is causing my mind to swim, wondering just what he’s doing. I swallow hard, waiting for him to continue.

“But I think we both remember that last time your mouth was on me, your tongue against my skin. While I can guarantee you my stamina has increased greatly since I was an eighteen-year-old virgin and I’d love nothing more than to take you back to my place and fuck you all night long, I’m not quite convinced your tongue wasn’t responsible for the premature ending of that night and I’m not about to let that happen again. Not to mention, I don’t think you’re ready for this. For me. For us. And you know what, Ruby? That’s okay. I’ve waited three years. I can be patient for a little while longer. I have a feeling things between you and me have only just begun.”

My eyes widen and my panties dampen as Cohen’s words echo in my mind. Fuck me all night long? This is definitely not eighteen-year-old Cohen. No, he’s been replaced with a cool, smooth, confident man who knows what he wants. Normally, I’d be offended at the implication that I’d even want such a thing, but by the knowing grin on his face, he can read my body language enough that any protest would fall flat.

HAVING BEEN so close to Andi at the tutor center has messed with me all day. A two-hour session at the gym with Seth wasn’t enough to get my mind off her, and I know I only have myself to blame. Seeing her was enough to get my blood burning, but the moment I placed my hand on her leg, I was a goner. I wanted to take her out of there and discover just what I’ve been missing for the last three years. And also to show her what she gave up. What she could’ve had. Not that I think she’d care. It was probably wishful thinking on my part. Either way, when I got back to my place, I had a restless feeling that I knew wasn’t going to go away, so I called up Seth and he agreed to meet me at the pub.

We were sitting at a booth in the corner, nursing our beers, and enjoying the live music when I saw her. For the second time in less than twelve hours, I was in close proximity with Andi. After watching her go to the bar and chat with the cute female bartender, I kept my eye on her. She appeared to be on her own, doing the same as me—enjoying the music. The fact made me smile to myself, and I was grateful that she still had an appreciation for good music. I knew right then that I had my in. Getting up from the booth, I told myself that I was just going over to see how she was liking the band.

Unfortunately, that’s not what happened. Apparently where Andi’s concerned, I have a one-track mind. I ordered the tequila shots from the other end of the bar and told the bartender where to deliver them. I hadn’t planned on helping her out with her shot, but when I saw that saltshaker, I just couldn’t help myself. Even though I knew it was dangerous territory, I couldn’t help tasting her, even if it was just the space between her thumb and finger. My cock sprung to life the moment my lips touched her skin, so when I saw her close her eyes as she savored the tequila, I made quick work of taking mine. I’m not sure how I would have reacted if she’d sucked on my skin, and I wasn’t taking that chance.
Calm the hell down, Wellington. You’re not an eighteen-year-old virgin anymore. Stop acting like it.

It was apparent, however, that Andi had other plans. She watched me with heated fascination as I sucked the lime. I could see the disappointment in her eyes, and when I caught her staring at my lips, her face flushed and I could’ve kicked myself for not giving her the chance. The fact that she’d wanted to repay the favor coupled with the shock on Andi’s face when I made a joke about our night together had my dick roaring to life and my brain failing to function.

Which is why I’m now finding myself staring at her after having just told her that I want nothing more than to fuck her all night long. I know I should rein myself in, give her space, and back the hell off since I’m going to be forced to spend time with her in our tutoring sessions, but then I see the desire flash in her eyes, and part of me—the hopeful part—wonders if a night in my bed is something she wants.

Her tongue darts out of her mouth as she licks her lips before she pulls the left half of her bottom lip between her teeth. Her beautiful, green eyes are wide and questioning and they don’t leave mine for a single second. We’re staring at each other like there’s no one else in the bar. It’s just Andi and me, closer than we’ve been in a very long time.

My hand is still placed firmly on her thigh, and as I begin to rub her leg, I can feel her squirm beneath my touch. I can’t help the grin of knowing satisfaction that spreads over my face. I don’t know what it is about this girl that makes me a fool, but I’m beginning to think that I need to go back on what I said, and I have a feeling that, if I offered, she’d be coming home with me, more than willing to see if the chemistry between us is still there.

I’m thinking of a way to make the offer in a joking sort of way when I feel a presence behind me and then hear a throat clear. Andi’s eyes leave mine and she looks over my shoulder, her eyes widening.

Taking my hand off her thigh but still gripping the bar, I turn sideways to see who has interrupted the moment. A familiar, tall, dark-haired man is standing there, looking back and forth between Andi and me.