Page 22 of Make Me Yours
“Hm?” I asked, innocently, when I realized Cohen was staring at me, a bemused expression on his face.
“Top or bottom bunk?” he repeated.
Way to burst my fantasy. “Top.”
Ashlyn bit back a grin. She knew how my mind worked.
We had our own bathroom up there too, with a large double-vanity sink and a glass-enclosed shower. It was nice, yet simple.
After a few more trips out to the car, the kitchen island was loaded with grocery bags and more bottles of wine than we could possibly consume in two days. Ashlyn and I quickly worked to stock the fridge and cabinets with enough food to feed a small village.
Since it was still early afternoon, we decided to head down to the beach. Ashlyn and I made sandwiches while the guys dragged beach chairs out from the shed and situated them on the shoreline. Ashlyn carried the plate of roast beef sandwiches, while I carried a small cooler of beer.
When we reached the guys, they’d each stripped off their T-shirts and sandals.
“Wow, look at that view.” I nudged Ashlyn.
“Yeah, the water’s so blue,” she agreed.
“I meant the guys.” I laughed at her innocence. As if noticing to the two shirtless hotties in front of us for the first time, she grinned.
Aiden was a little bulkier and more filled out, and his two tattoos were sexy. Cohen was leaner and hot as fuck. A rush of wetness dampened my bikini bottoms. This was going to be one excruciatingly long weekend. I squeezed my knees together and dropped the cooler unceremoniously in the sand at their feet, Cohen hopping out of the way in time to salvage his toes.
Ashlyn giggled at me and passed out the sandwiches to the guys.
I stripped off my tank top and shorts, grabbed a beer and slid down low into the chair. I hoped my dark sunglasses would keep my perusal of Cohen’s body incognito. I struggled with the twist-off top on the bottle of beer until Cohen, who I didn’t think had been paying me any attention at all, leaned over and removed the bottle from my hands. He easily twisted the top, his forearms flexing as he did so, then handed it back to me.
“Thanks,” I mumbled. In order to survive this weekend I was going to need alcohol. And a lot of it.
Chapter 8
At sunset Ashlyn and I sat on the deck watching the guys grill steaks. We gossiped and stared at their backsides while they discussed grilling techniques. It felt very domestic being here, coupled up like this. It had been a long time since I’d been part of a couple. But I had to remind myself that Cohen and I weren’t a couple. I tucked my legs underneath me and wrapped my arms around my knees, fighting off the chill. A glass of red wine sat untouched in front of Ashlyn, but I was on my third. I was serious about this whole getting-drunk-and-staying-drunk thing this weekend. It was my only defense against Cohen.
At that thought, he looked my direction and frowned. I hadn’t spoken to him much today, whether that was on purpose or not, I wasn’t sure. But he and Aiden seemed to hit it off well and Ashlyn and I stuck together too, which felt good. She was with Aiden so much lately, it was nice to get some girl time in.
Cohen disappeared inside the house and came back carrying his navy-blue fire department sweatshirt. He held it out to me. “Cold, babe?” Instead of answering, I took the proffered hoodie and slid my arms inside the sleeves, snuggling into the warmth. I fought the urge to bring it to my nose and inhale. Why was he always doing thoughtful things for me? And more importantly, why did that bug me?
Cohen pulled the hood up, and kissed the tip of my nose. “Better, Easy E?”
I nodded, obediently.
Ashlyn gave me a strange look, whether it was because of the nickname or Cohen’s taking care of me, I wasn’t sure. But thankfully, she didn’t say anything about it at that moment.
When the steaks were ready, the guys served us at the table. Aiden setting a plate in front of Ashlyn with a kiss and Cohen delivering my plate with a bow. “Eliza.”
“Eliza?” Ashlyn looked at me quizzically. “I never knew your name was Eliza.”
I shrugged. “Cohen. He insists on calling me that.” I couldn’t help the smile that crept onto my lips.
After dinner we sat inside on the leather sectional, soft music playing in the background. Ashlyn and Aiden cuddled together in the center, which left Cohen and I sitting on the two furthest ends, apart from each other. I sipped my wine, and scrolled through Ashlyn’s iPod, skipping through her playlists to find something I liked. Each time I looked up, I couldn’t help but notice Cohen’s eyes were on mine. I felt the tingle of butterflies dancing in my stomach, but told myself to let it go. He knew what he was looking for—and it wasn’t me.
About an hour later, Ashlyn suggested that we go in the hot tub out on the deck, and we all went to change. Cohen and I headed upstairs to our shared loft bedroom. He grabbed a pair of swim trunks from his backpack and went into the bathroom. I pulled my string bikini out from my suitcase and laid it out on the bed. I took my time undressing, finding I was a little uncoordinated from the wine, and buzzing with the secret desire that Cohen would catch me half-naked.
I removed my tank top and bra, and laid them on top of my suitcase. My breasts felt achy and full, and hungry for Cohen’s mouth and hands. Next, I slid off my shorts and panties and stepped into the plum-colored, barely-there bikini bottoms. I didn’t hear any sounds coming from the bathroom, but it was still easy to imagine what Cohen would look like undressed. I’d seen him without a shirt plenty of times, and just that was enough to send my libido into overdrive. He was perfect. I draped the bikini top across my chest, just when the bathroom door opened.
“Oh, sorry.” Cohen’s voice sounded thick and deep behind me.
“It’s okay. Can you tie me up?” I turned to face him, holding the cups in place over my breasts, and watched as Cohen’s gaze caressed my bare skin.
