by Arell Rivers
Tying my robe as I leave my bedroom, I close the door quietly. McKenna is in the kitchen, making coffee. When she sees me, she puts the teakettle on the stove.
Rubbing sleep from my eyes, I say, “Good morning, McKenna.”
“Hi there, Sunshine.” I give her a wide smile. “I take it things went okay with you and Cole after you left the restaurant? I wasn’t sure if you came home.”
“Oh, they went better than okay.”
“I told you that you two would get back together.”
“I can’t believe it. It’s like a dream. Good things like this don’t happen to me.” I look down the hallway, toward my bedroom.
“Oh my gosh, is he here?”
“In the flesh.” I giggle.
“I love seeing you this carefree. Makes me feel okay about leaving.”
I join her by the stove and give her a hug. “I’m going to miss you so much. It’s been great having you here, even though it was an awful week.” That didn’t sound right. “You know what I mean.”
She grins. “I understand. I’m so happy for you.”
“I’m glad to see you made it home in one piece, too. Was Ozzy a gentleman?”
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, well, sort of.”
“What? Cole will kick his ass if he was out of line. Tell me.”
“Got the coffee ready there, babes?” Ozzy asks as he strolls into the kitchen.
My mouth falls open. I know it’s impolite, yet I can’t close it. I look from Ozzy, who is wearing only a pair of jeans, to McKenna in her usual pajamas. How did I fail to connect these dots before?
Snapping my mouth shut, I ask her under my breath, “Something you want to tell me?”
“Um, no?” she whispers back.
“Oh, hi, Flower.” Ozzy pulls me in for a big bear hug. Numbly, I embrace him while my sleep-deprived mind desperately tries to piece this situation together. Crap, he really does have his nipples pierced.
Leaving me, Ozzy walks over to my friend and kisses the top of her head. He begins opening and closing cabinet doors, looking for the mugs. When he finds them, he takes three down and puts them on the counter.
McKenna finds her voice and blurts, “No, the coffee isn’t quite done yet.”
Directing my gaze at Ozzy, I say the first thing that comes to mind. “Did you have a good time last night?”
Ozzy winks at McKenna, who has turned a dark shade of pink. “We always have a good time when we get together, right babes?” McKenna turns her back on us and busies herself at the refrigerator.
“Oh, I meant at the restaurant.”
“Watching my man Manchester squirm was an unusual sight, that’s for sure.”
The door to my bedroom swings open, and Ozzy’s “man Manchester” joins the party. He’s dressed just like Ozzy, in only his jeans. Minus the tats and piercings. Despite being wrapped up in the puzzle that is McKenna and Ozzy, all my thoughts seize when Cole kisses my lips softly. I can’t believe he’s mine again.
“I thought I heard your voice out here.” Cole gives Ozzy a fist bump. “Is there coffee?”
Blinking rapidly to clear the fuzziness left by Cole’s kiss, I say, “It’s coming.” The two men—boys—snicker at my unintended double entendre.
Shaking my head, I continue, “Let me help, McKenna.” I walk over to her and whisper, “I know I’m late to this party, but I take it Ozzy is your asshat?”
Rather than answer me, she prepares my usual tea while waiting for the coffee to brew. Flushed, she says, “Looks like your house is filled with them this morning.”
How did I miss this? After all, McKenna and I reunited in Ozzy’s hotel room in Las Vegas. But, whenever I asked her about her guy, she ducked the question. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“You had enough on your plate. I wouldn’t have told you now, but, well . . .”
“Kinda hard for me to ignore.”
Cole wraps his arms around me from behind. “Are you two whispering about me?”
“I was reminding Rookie here that I knew you’d get back together all along.”
Cole replies, “Wish you would’ve told me that, McKenna. Could’ve saved us both a lot of heartache.” I lean back into his strong body. Divine.
The doorbell rings, startling me forward, but Cole tightens his arms around my waist. McKenna scurries over to answer the door. She is so not getting off the hook this easily.
From the front door, my neighbor’s voice booms, “I couldn’t let you leave without a proper Grandma Gertie breakfast, McKenna. Here are some muffins that I made this morning, and . . .” She stops talking mid-sentence.
“I think she just saw you, Cole,” I whisper in his ear.
Stepping into the dining room, Grandma Gertie bellows, “Hot Stuff, is that you?”
He kisses my temple and then, clearing his throat, says, “Hi there, Grandma Gertie.” He takes my hand, and we leave the kitchen to greet my neighbor.
She looks him up and down before redirecting her attention to me. “Do I need to take him into my backroom for you, Rose?”
I laugh, loving her twist on the title of Cole’s first album. “We’re working things out,” I reply. Beaming, he puts his arm around my shoulders.
“I can see that.” She turns to Ozzy, and asks, “And who might you be?”
Ozzy pours on the charm and sidles up to her. “I’m ‘Hot Stuff’s’ friend, Ozzy Martinez, at your service.” He makes a big production of bowing and kissing her hand.
“Were you their chaperone last night?”
Ozzy chuckles while McKenna lets out an unladylike snort. Cole pulls me in for a peck on the lips.
McKenna replies, “Nope. Cole and Rose sorted things out themselves, by the look of things.”
“I’m glad. Been way too gloomy around here lately.” She pauses while giving the two men a once over. “Did someone steal both of these boys’ shirts and shoes?” We all laugh.
Looking at my boyfriend, I say, “I like the view.”
Grinning at me, Grandma Gertie continues, “I brought muffins and a special bon voyage breakfast drink over here for McKenna.” She winks and points at what appears to be her famous Berry Smoothie. “I have some more at my house that I can bring over.”
“No, that’s fine. Please stay,” I say while Ozzy swipes one of her homemade muffins. From previous experience, I know that they are divine.
Crumbs at the corners of his mouth, Ozzy remarks, “This is the best blueberry muffin I’ve ever tasted.” He drops to one knee before her. “Marry me, Gertie!”
Rolling her eyes at Ozzy’s antics, she taps his forearm. “You’re a right cheeky one, aren’t you? With all those tattoos and piercings, I would never have pegged you for the marrying kind.”
Ozzy wraps my neighbor in a huge hug. “Just for you.” She hoots with laughter when he lifts her off the floor.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see McKenna back in the kitchen, pouring the coffees. She looks troubled. I need to talk this out with her. It’s going to be an interesting ride to the airport.
McKenna announces, “Coffee’s ready. Grandma Gertie, would you like some coffee or tea?”
“I’d love some, but I can’t stay. Come over here and give me a hug, McKenna. I’m going to miss you.” McKenna returns to the dining room, and the two new friends hug.
Wanting to give them some privacy, I lead the guys back into the kitchen. Cole and Ozzy retrieve their mugs, and we head over to the living room. I set McKenna’s mug down on the coffee table by a chair, then Cole and I sit together on one end of the couch. Ozzy plops down in the other chair.
“You two look happy,” Ozzy notes.
I reply, “We’re definitely on our way.”
“I’m glad. I couldn’t take much more of Hot Stuff’s moping.”
“Liberace, only Grandma Gertie can get away with calling me that,” Cole grumbles.
I wasn’t the only one. I turn to Cole. “You were moping?”
“Flower, you would�
��ve thought The Stones broke up.”
“That’s enough. Last week is history, dude.” He glances over to where McKenna is still saying good-bye to Grandma Gertie, then back at Ozzy. “How did that happen? It’s not like you two were chatting it up during dinner last night.”
All ears, I lean forward. Ozzy says, “You asked me to give her a ride home, remember?”
Before I can censor myself, I blurt, “Literally, not figuratively.” Both men chuckle.
McKenna walks into the living room. “What’s so funny?”
“You don’t want to know,” I mutter before the guys could make some crude comment.
She covertly wipes at the corner of her eyes as she sits down in her chair and picks up her mug. “You’re probably right. So, what’s next for you two?”
Cole lifts my hair and kisses my neck, sending goosebumps cascading down my arms. “Well, I thought we would start by rechristening every surface in my house.”
Rolling my eyes, I lightly smack his hands away. “Cole, I don’t think that’s what she was asking.”
McKenna’s mischievous latte-colored eyes meet mine. “Sounds like you’re going to be busy.”
I need to reroute this conversation. Fast. “How about you, McKenna? Are you ready to start working on your new project?”
McKenna gives us a quick overview of the scope of the project, including the non-profit in charge of running it. All of us give her our rapt attention. While my friend might act like her freelance business is no big deal, it’s obvious she’s downplayed it.
Noticing the time, I say, “I’m sorry to break this up, but I think we need to leave for the airport.”
McKenna sighs and starts checking out her luggage to make sure she has everything packed. Ozzy walks over to her, putting his hand on her shoulder. Cole helps me bring the mugs to the dishwasher.
“Can you wait here while I drop McKenna off at the airport? I’d really like some alone time with her before she leaves. I need to talk with her about Ozzy.”
“Ro, they’re adults.”
“I know. But there’s more to this than a random one-night hook-up.”
He runs his fingers through my hair. “Fine. I’ll wait here until you get back.”
I give him a kiss filled with promises, hope and most importantly, love.
While I change into jeans and a T-shirt, the guys load all of McKenna’s luggage into my rental car. After we say our good-byes—McKenna and Ozzy give each an awkward hug—she and I are on the road to the airport with Roberto tailing us.
As soon as we turn onto the freeway, I ask, “Are you okay?”
She gives me a sad smile. “I’m great. Don’t worry about me. I just can’t stop myself when it comes to Ozzy Martinez. I’ll be fine in a day or so.”
“I’m here if you want to talk about it.”
“I know. Although I think you’re going to have your hands full. Not to mention all your other parts.” We both laugh.
McKenna is quiet for a minute. “I’m going to miss you, Rose. This has been the best week of my life.”
“I can’t quite say the same, but I can tell you that you made an unbearable week actually fun.”
“That’s what besties are for.”
My heart expands when I hear her call me her “bestie.” Despite the time we spent apart, she is definitely mine. No matter what happens, I’m happy we reconnected.
“You know that I’m just a text or phone call away. And I can make sure that Ozzy—”
“No. Leave him to me. Promise.”
Exiting the freeway, I say, “You deserve so much better than to be treated like that.”
“It’s all on me, Rookie. I know his deal. Let it go.”
“Fine.” I sigh, knowing that I have no choice but to back off. “I’ll drop it for now. But if he pulls anything, all promises are off.”
When we pull up to the terminal, I pop the trunk. Luckily, Roberto comes over and gives us a hand with all the suitcases. She gives him a hug and kiss on the cheek, causing his ears to redden.
Helpless tears spill down my cheeks as I face the woman who kept me sane over this past week.
She says, “Don’t. You’re going to make me cry, too.”
Looking over at my friend, I realize it’s too late. We embrace. “Soon. We’ll get together again really soon.”
Roberto clears his throat, causing us to step apart. “McKenna, the skycap has your bags.”
“Thank goodness for curbside check-in.” She offers us a wobbly smile over her shoulder as she walks to the ticket counter. Soon she’s checked in and ready to go. She races back to us, hugs Roberto and me again, then disappears into LAX.
Roberto and I each get back into our respective cars and navigate back to my place. I miss McKenna already, but the excitement of knowing Cole is waiting for me pools in my gut. By the time I arrive back home, I’m a bundle of energy. Not even Greta’s brief check-in call dampened my spirits; I can’t wait to be with him again.
Walking in from the garage, I smell pizza. The dining room table is set with two plates, water goblets, napkins and a couple of unlit candles surrounding a vase filled with a dozen purple roses. Purple? I smile, remembering the three dozen roses that graced this very spot previously. Cole said then that light pink were for the past, yellow for the present and orange for the future. I wonder what purple means.
A pizza box awaits on the kitchen counter. Even though it’s barely noon and bright daylight outside, the curtains have been pulled and the room is dark. Jazz music plays softly, enhancing the romantic environment Cole created. For me. For us.
Cole strolls into the dining room. His hair is wet and he’s wearing nothing but a towel. My mouth goes dry. He’s all bunched muscles, perfectly toned. I want to lick his “V.” I want to do a lot more than that.
Turning my head from side to side, I ask “Ozzy?”
“He left. It’s just you and me.”
“Cole.” Despite my fears, I can’t wait another second. I don’t want pizza; I want this man, the man I love. I race to him, wrapping my arms around his broad back and trailing tiny kisses all over his chest.
He threads his fingers through my hair, pulling my head away from his body. His lips crash down on mine like a starved man. I open my mouth and his tongue joins mine in an urgent prelude to the dance our whole bodies will soon perform.
Reaching down, I tug on his towel. Naked and unashamed, he stands before me. My breath catches in my throat. Oh, my.
Cole’s erection juts out toward me. When I grip his hardness between my palms, he moans and throws his head back.
“For you, Ro. I’m all yours.”
Cole’s hands reach for the hem of my T-shirt. He stops, seeking my permission. When I nod, he pulls it over my head, the music fading in and out with his movements.
“What’s that grin for, Ro?”
“I’m happy.”
“I’m about to make you a lot happier.”
My smile widens, as if being stretched from coast to coast.
Not waiting another second, he unhooks my bra and skims the straps down my arms. His fingers unbuckle my belt as he steps back, dropping to his knees. He quickly unzips my jeans and pulls them, together with my panties, down my legs. Using his amazingly muscular shoulders for balance, I kick each leg free. Now I’m as naked as he is, my body craving his with such hunger, nothing outside of us exists.
He runs his tongue up my leg to my hip, then traces the outline of my birthmark, which makes me squirm. With a feral grin, he moves his mouth toward my bellybutton. He doesn’t linger, moving swiftly upward to suck on both nipples before standing and ending on my lips again. I wrap my arms around his neck and return his deep kisses.
“Please, Cole,” I whimper.
Bending slightly, he picks me up and carries me to my bedroom. My lips trail from his jawline to his neck. He makes me feel so feminine. So cherished. Gently, he places me down on the bed and crawls up on top of me. He settles between my open legs. My s
kin comes alive like bottled lightning everywhere we touch.
Cole loves to drive me crazy and prolong our lovemaking, but I’m dying for him to be inside me. His finger traces my wet core, then he brings that finger into his mouth. “Mmmm. Perfect.”
It’s outrageous, but it only makes me hotter. I shake my head; no one has ever said or done to me the things Cole has. “Cole, I can’t wait any longer.” I push up against him, turning him onto his back. Sitting up, I straddle him and grind my hips against his enormous erection. I’m quickly beyond coherent thought, resorting to pants and groans.
His reaches toward the bedside table where the condoms are. Placing my hand on his arm, I say, “No.”
A confused expression crosses his gorgeous face. “Wait, what? Don’t you want me?”
He thinks I don’t want him? He must be out of his mind. Panting, I stammer, “No Condom. The Pill.”
Dark green eyes blaze up at me. “I’m clean.”
“I believe you.” I guide his erection to my opening, then slowly lower my body onto his. “I love you.” I’m so desperate for him, I’m shaking.
“Rose,” he exhales, entering me.
All of my synapses fire at once as I feel myself stretch to accommodate him. Sex with Cole has always been hot and passionate, but this new intimacy—this lack of boundaries—is even better. Not breaking our union, he turns us so that I’m on my back. He wraps my legs around his waist, then pulls out and pushes back in. Slowly. Our eyes remain locked. Love, lust, excitement and a myriad of other emotions flicker between us.
All of a sudden, he thrusts into me hard and fast several times, making me arch upward and moan. I can feel my orgasm shimmering on the horizon. “Ohhh.”
Immediately, he slows down and returns to thrusting into me at a measured pace. Running my nails down his back while putting pressure on his hips with my legs, I try to make him move faster.
“Ro. I want—”
“I need you, Cole. Now!”