“If you’re a grown man, then why do I still have to pick up all your dirty clothes off your bedroom floor, hmm?”
“Mum!”
Duke waved a hand at me like her embarrassing him was not on, even though he’d been intent on trying to wind his brother up.
“Serves him right,” Raphi muttered.
I stifled a smile. No matter what Raphi said, his family was perfectly normal as far as I was concerned. There were a lot of them and they were loud, but I liked that. It was better than the silence at my house with me, Mum and Grandma. After Jonah moved out to go to university in Durham, things had become increasingly strained at home. Mum and Grandma were always arguing or ganging up on me with their snide remarks. It was a blessing to be away from the tense atmosphere for an evening.
The rest of dinner passed much the same. I engaged in conversation when I was asked questions by Raphi’s parents. The only person who remained silent was Cole. I could see his dad glancing at him every so often with concern as if this wasn’t usual behaviour for his son. I had a feeling it had everything to do with me being there.
When we were all finished and the dishes were being cleared, I asked Raphi where the bathroom was. He pointed out it was down the end of the corridor after all their bedrooms. I made my way out of the room and found the bathroom. There was a huge Victorian-style claw-footed bath and it was decorated in pale blues and greens.
After I’d gone to the loo, I walked out along the hallway to go in search of Raphi when a hand grabbed me and yanked me into a room. I barely had time to blink when the door was shut behind me and I was pressed up against it. There, towering above me, stood Cole with his arm resting above my head and his intense hazel eyes burning into my skull.
What the fuck?
Chapter Five
It was safe to say I was done beating around the bush when it came to Meredith. Sitting next to her the whole way through dinner had been absolute torture. The way she’d quite happily interacted with my family without a fucking care in the world pissed me off. Mostly because she wasn’t being the Meredith I knew. The one who spoke her own mind and didn’t care if she offended people. But no, she was on her best behaviour just as my family had been.
Having her pinned up against my bedroom door probably wasn’t my smartest idea, but no one could call me the nice boy you took home to your parents. Not like my brother.
“What are you doing?” she hissed when she’d got over the shock of me pulling her in here.
It amused me to see her surprised features. Meredith always had the upper hand in every situation she was in. Right now, I had it and I wasn’t about to let it go.
“What am I doing? What are you doing?”
“Going to find Raphi.”
My fingers itched to touch her. To tangle in her strawberry blonde hair and tug her head back, exposing that delectable neck. I watched her swallow and it only made me want to run my tongue along her skin.
“I don’t think so, Meredith.”
“What do you mean? I wasn’t aware I had to ask for your fucking permission.”
There you are my fiery little queen.
“Perhaps you didn’t get the memo.”
The blazing inferno in her green eyes made me smile.
“Look, Cole, I don’t know what your game is, but I’m not interested in playing. Now move and let me out.”
I leant closer, watching her breath hitch.
“No.”
Her hands fisted at her sides as if she was contemplating shoving me away. She could try. Pity for Meredith I wouldn’t let her move me.
“What do you want?”
So many things, Meredith, but most of all, I want you.
Reaching up, I curled a lock of her hair around my finger. Meredith’s eyes fell on what I was doing, confusion painting her features.
“What do I want?”
“Yes.”
My eyes met hers. I could think of many ways to take advantage of this situation right now. I wouldn’t since Raphi would come looking for her sooner rather than later. Plus, I wanted to make her want me back. I wanted Meredith to beg for a piece of me. To crave me and everything I’d give her.
“Do you like my brother?”
She blinked, then scowled.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but no. We’re just friends. That’s it.”
My fingers were close to her chest and her ample cleavage. Meredith had a curvaceous body. Visions of it filled my fantasies when I was alone at night. I wanted to touch her. To brush my fingers over her skin and see if it was as soft as I imagined.
“Good.”
“Good? Why do you care?”
I ran my tongue along my bottom lip, watching her eyes trace its path.
That’s right, Meredith, look at me. If you wanted, I’d quite happily lick your lip too. Fuck, if I don’t want to. I want to devour you. So. Fucking. Much.
“Raphi wouldn’t give you what you need.”
Those green eyes flashed with annoyance.
“Oh, and how the fuck would you know that? You don’t know a single thing about me and I don’t know you, so why don’t you let me go and we can forget this ever happened.”
I’d never forget Meredith, nor this moment. This encounter. The first time I’d had an actual conversation with her. Even if she probably wanted to punch my lights out right now. She’d change her tune soon enough.
“I know a lot about you. People like to talk and I like to listen.”
“Whatever. There aren’t any rumours about me.”
I smiled.
“No? So, it’s not true you’ve never been kissed then?”
“What? Where the hell did you hear that?”
The fear in her eyes told me it was true. Told me exactly what I’d wanted to know. Meredith was a virgin like me. The thought of taking her and making her mine completely made my dick swell. It’s not like I thought our first time would be some momentous occasion, but after that… I’d learn exactly how to tease her curvaceous body until she was screaming my name.
“Not from anyone who would spread it around the school if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“You know what, Cole, fuck you. It’s not your business, now let me go.”
Her hands came up and landed on my chest. A shudder went through her at the direct contact. Instead of pushing me away, she stared at where her hands were. I placed my own hands on hers and forced her to drag them down my chest and lower to my stomach. Meredith’s eyes were like saucers and her chest heaved with each breath she took. I stopped when we’d reached the tops of my jeans. Her touch electrified me and made me want so much fucking more. I wanted everything.
“It’s okay, Meredith,” I murmured. “I know you want to touch me.”
“Wh… what?”
I stepped closer until we were inches apart, keeping her hands pinned to my body.
“You want this. You want to know what it’s like, don’t you? To touch and be touched in return.”