Nemesis(37)

I drink half of my glass of wine in one large gulp. “Okay, let’s change the subject. How are things with Ian.”

“They’re pretty good,” Sadie says, beaming. “Not as intense as you and Cohen, but still great. He’s amazing in bed, infatuated with me and we get along really well.” She pauses. “His cock could be bigger though, but I can’t be so choosy now, can I?”

I start choking on my wine. Sadie actually gets up and comes over to me, slapping me on the back. “Stop being so dramatic, Jacinta.”

I glance up at her, flashing her a dirty look. “Really?”

She grins and kisses the top of my head, then reclaims her seat. “Did you like the roses? I know your mum always gets you the sunflowers, and now Cohen, so I wanted to get you something a little different.”

“Loved them,” I tell her, smiling. “Thank you, Sadie. You didn’t have to. I thought you taking me out to dinner was going to be my present.”

She waves her hand in the air. “You’re my best friend. If I can’t spoil you a little then who can I spoil?”

I open my mouth, but she cuts me off. “And don’t say Ian. He’s the one meant to be spoiling me.”

I shake my head at her. “Poor Ian.”

“Poor Cohen.”

“Touché,” I say, raising my glass in the air. “To my ride-or-die bestie, here’s to many more years of friendship to come.”

“To our friendship,” she toasts.

We both drink.





Chapter Twenty


Cohen comes over the next night; Sadie lets him in then makes herself scarce. I didn’t expect him to drop by, so my hair is wrapped in a towel on top of my head, and I’m still in my bathrobe because I couldn’t be bothered getting changed after my shower. Instead, I’m sitting in front of the TV and eating popcorn.

“Hey,” he says, sitting down and giving me a once-over. “I decided I’m going to come here and talk, and you’re going to sit there and listen.”

“Okay,” I agree.

“Okay?” he repeats, looking suspicious.

“Yes, okay, I’m listening.”

He takes a deep breath. “Ever since I started talking to you, having lunch with you even as friends, I’ve never been with anyone else.”

Relief mixed with pure happiness spreads through me.

“Really?”

He nods, reaching his hand out and taking mine. “But yes, what Rebecca said was true. I’d never be exclusive to one woman; I’d be f*cking a few on different nights of the week. That’s what I was used to. No commitments, no attachments, no feelings getting hurt. The women knew what they were getting into. There were no lies, just straight-up honesty.”

“And when we got together, you assumed you could carry on that lifestyle?” I ask, remembering the ‘no commitment speech’ he gave me at the start. I assumed it was just about him being scared of letting another woman in, especially after his ex-girlfriend lied about losing his baby. That has to do damage to a man, and I guess every other woman who wants him has to pay for her mistake.

“Yes,” he says, and I can feel my chest tighten. “I told myself that nothing had changed, but really everything had. I didn’t want anyone else, Jacinta. I was never tempted, I only wanted you. I still only want you. There is no one else for me now. All that bullshit is over. There’s no point trying to protect my heart anymore when it’s already yours.”

“You haven’t been with anyone since we had our first lunch together?” I reiterate, placing my hand on my heart over my bathrobe.

“Of course not,” he replies, grinning. “I can barely handle you, Jacinta, how the hell am I supposed to—”

I kiss him.

He tugs the towel off my head and fists my hair, using it to pull my head back. “I want you, and no one else, okay?”

“Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?” I tease, my voice coming out breathy.

“No,” he says against my lips. “I’m telling you that you are. You’re mine.”

He slams his lips back down on mine and reaches forward to undo the ties on my robe. I suddenly realise we’re on the couch and Sadie can walk out anytime—in fact, she’s probably been listening to the whole conversation—so I stand and lead Cohen back to my bedroom.

As soon as the door is shut, my robe is on the floor; I have nothing on underneath. My hair is still slightly damp, but I ignore it and concentrate on Cohen, who takes his time taking off his shoes and undressing, while I stand there naked, our eyes connected. He stalks over to me, brushing his fingers over my nipples. I squirm a little, something he doesn’t miss, going by the amusement that dances in his heavy-lidded green eyes. He circles me, stopping when he’s behind me. His hands come around and squeeze my breasts as he kisses up the side of my neck, then down again, concentrating on the spot he knows drives me crazy. I tilt my head to the side to give him more access, loving the feel of his mouth on my skin again. And even better, this time I know he’s all mine. No more stressing about where I stand with this man, because now I know.

And it’s the best feeling in the world.

He reaches down and slides his finger against my clit. “Are you wet for me?”