“Oh. I see.” I nod. “That’s good. I’m sure the ISU rugby guys would love to have him work with them.”
“Aye,” she says, smiling nervously. “Quinn.” She steps closer, placing her palm on my shoulder. “He loves you. I can see why. You’re a nice girl. One who loves my brother for himself, not for his millions.”
“Millions?” I squeak. “What the fuck?” He’s got millions? My body flushes with heat. I had no idea.
Saffron throws her head back and laughs. “Yeah, you’re perfect.”
Chapter Fifty-One
“Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two,one!” everyone shouts at the stroke of midnight.
I lean down and kiss Cooke. It’s our first New Year’s Eve together, and it’s been perfect. “Happy New Year,” I whisper in his ear.
“Same to you, love.” He kisses me again, and then we both turn to look at our friends.
We’re having a New Year’s Eve party at Cooke’s new place and invited the entire gang, including Vic and Connie. Everyone seems to be having a good time. Not everyone could make it, though. Luke is working. Luckily, he hired another bartender to take over some shifts since I’m “flaky and unreliable.” His words. No worries, I’m not fired. I plan to work a lot next semester, even though Cooke wants me to quit. I can’t do that. Not yet.
The sound of holiday music is floating through the air thanks to the wireless stereo system I bought for Cooke as a housewarming gift. Sure, I used the Visa card he gave me. At least the money went to something for him. I’m okay with that.
I smile down at Cooke, then back to the party. The Beedle babes are here with their boyfriends. Bull and Robbi seem to be going strong. I think he’s completely smitten with her, and Robbi seems to be all smiles lately. Patsy and Kat, along with Susanna and Lindsay, are all here with their men as well.
I look around the room in search of Saffie. When I see her, I snicker. “Yo, babe,” I whisper down to Cooke. “Your sister and Dan.”
“I see them,” he grumbles. “I have a feeling she’s never going to leave now.”
“They just met.” I roll my eyes. Then I remember. “I guess I fell for you right away.”
“You guess?” He scowls. “Iknew.”
Kissing him softly, I decide it’s a good time for me to find something to do. Back in the kitchen, I replenish the platters of appetizers for the group while he remains camped out on the sofa with his leg propped up on an ottoman, while also being protected by two chairs on either side. Drunk people around external braces is scary stuff.
When I feel a hand on my ass, I jump. “Cooke,” I hiss, then laugh. “You shouldn’t be up walking around with all this”—I wave at the crowd—“going on.”
He takes my hand in his and tugs on it. “Come into the bedroom with me for a second.”
“Are you okay?”
He nods, but I follow him anyway. Once inside, Cooke shuts and then locks the door. “Is anyone in here?” he says loudly. When no one answers, he pushes me up against the door, raises my arms above my head, and kisses me. “I fucking adore you.”
I’m gasping for breath. We haven’t don’t anything since he got here. Saffron is always underfoot, as they say. “Me too.”
“I need you,” he says, licking my neck right below my ear. When he takes my earlobe in his mouth and sucks, I nearly jump out of my skin. “God, I want to fuck you.”
“Me too.” I do. I want to do it. “But your brace.”
“I read an article.”
I start to giggle, though it could be because his hands tickle as they make their way up into my shirt. “About having sex with a brace?”
“Yep. There’s even a couple YouTube videos. Who knew?” he says, taking my mouth again in a deep, searing kiss as he tugs the edges of my bra down with each hand until my baps are free.
“I’ve missed these,” he says, sliding his fingers over my already hard tips.
“I’ve missed your hands.”
He tweaks each nipple and I squeak.
He lifts my shirt, then slides his head between my stomach and the fabric until his lips land on my right nipple, sucking it into his mouth.
