Can't Slow Down (4 page)

Maybe getting lost in a moment of bliss with Coen will help distract my mind from worrying. I stand up to grab the empty plates and clear the table, but when I glance over at Coen, his cock is standing at attention and straining against his boxer briefs. I can’t help but stop dead in my tracks.

He quickly pulls me into his lap and I yelp, “Coen! You’re going to make me drop these plates!” He has one arm around my waist and uses his other hand to take the plates from me one at a time and sets them back down onto the table.

“You think you’re stuffed now, sweet cheeks. Wait until I get you back into that bed.” He winks at me and smirks as he slowly slides his hand up the inside of my thigh, slipping his middle finger under the side of my panties and between my wet heat. His other hand slides up my neck and fists the back of my hair, pulling me into a passionate kiss. His hands are saying he wants to ravage my body but his lips are trying to be gentle. I relax into him and moan in ecstasy. I need this. I need to get lost in him.

A short moment later he breaks our kiss and with lust-filled eyes he groans as he sucks my juices from his fingertips.

“Mmm, damn, Lexi. So fucking good.”

Taking my head in his hands, and placing his forehead against mine, he sighs.

“I’m sorry, sweetness. I just can’t keep my hands off you. I’m thinking with my balls and not my brains today. You should be resting.”

Coen kisses me and tenderly lifts me off of his lap. I’m not sure whether I’m pissed off or impressed that a man has thought about putting my own needs before his own. He starts cleaning up the dishes.

“Why don’t you go on back to bed and relax and I’ll clean this up real quick,” he suggests.

He looks so sexy standing at my sink, his boxer briefs snug against his firm ass. It isn’t helping to calm the fire he already started when he pulled me into his lap. His back muscles are covered with tattoos and are so defined. I’m convinced that a fit, tattooed man washing the dishes in his underwear has got to be one of the hottest things on this planet.

Coen told me to go back to bed, but I plan on having a surprise waiting for him when he returns from the kitchen. I walk into the bedroom and over to my dresser, opening drawer after drawer trying to find anything even remotely sexy to put on.

I really need to go shopping, apparently.

I settle on my only matching bra and panties set. They are teal and trimmed in black lace. Just as I’m closing the draw the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and a shiver runs down my spine. I turn around quickly, expecting and hoping to see Coen standing there, but there’s no one. Glancing to my left I notice the window is open just a crack. Maybe Coen opened it when he got up this morning.

Calm down, Lexi. You’re just on edge because of Patrick’s bullshit yesterday. There’s a perfectly reasonable explanation for the window being open.

I shake my head, trying to ignore the paranoid thoughts that are starting to creep in. What if Coen
didn’t
open the window? What if it was Patrick? What if he snuck inside the house while Coen and I were having breakfast? I quickly check my closet and under my bed. There’s no one in either place. And I just realized how badly I need to sort through my messy closet. I take a big deep breath. I have to get past this. I change into the bra and panties and lie down on the bed, propped up against the headboard.

Hurry up, Coen. Please.

The blinds are open just enough where I can see across the street over to Derek’s place. He’s outside washing his truck. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the trees are swaying in the gentle breeze. All seems to be right in the world. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Coen’s here. Derek is home across the street. I am safe.

Suddenly I feel the air shift around me and my pulse starts to quicken. My eyes shoot open to see Coen standing next to the window with a set of clean clothes in his arms. The sight of him calms me.

“Wow, Lex.” The tip of his tongue wets his lips and his green eyes are full of lust and desire. “You aren’t exactly making it easy for me to keep my hands off of you so you can rest,” he says, closing the window. “I hope you don’t mind, it was a bit stuffy in here this morning, so I opened the window to let some fresh air in.”

My cheeks flush and I smile. I was being paranoid after all.

“How did you get those clothes?”

“I keep a clean set in my car.” He gives me a sheepish grin. “I’m used to being prepared to not stick around somewhere very long.”

His reply reminds me of what he said last night before we got into the bath together.

“That reminds me, what did you mean last night when you said almost losing me was why you were nervous about more than just a one-night stand with me?”

Coen frowns and sits down on the edge of the bed. He places his head in his hands and sighs. This is a tough subject for him. Maybe it’s too soon. Maybe I should have just let it go for now and hoped he will tell me when he’s ready.

“I’m sorry, Coen. You don’t have to explain. I’m just happy you’re here and decided to stay.” I scoot down next to him and rest my head on his shoulder while placing my hand on his back for comfort.

I feel his back muscles tense and his body rise and fall as he exhales a deep sigh and runs his hand through his hair.

“No, its okay,” he says softly, “you deserve to know. If we are going to do this relationship thing, I want to do it right. No secrets.”

I nod my head in acknowledgement against his arm and just listen.

He wraps his arm around me and pulls me into him. He smells so good. Resting his chin on my head, we both stare out the window. I rest my arm on his leg and rub his knee with my thumb to comfort him.

Coen draws in a slow breath.

“When I was eight years old . . .” He swallows hard and pauses a moment before continuing. “ . . . My parents dropped me off at my Aunt Sarah’s for a sleepover because they were going to a wedding.” He gets up carefully, so that I don’t fall from leaning on him, walks over to the window and crosses his arms as he looks out. His green eyes are like glass. It’s like he’s not really here right now, but lost far away in his memories.

“They were all I had, Lex. My entire world. I don’t have any siblings. They were the only people on this earth to love me and they were taken from me in the blink of an eye. I woke up to the phone ringing very early the next morning, followed by Aunt Sarah screaming. They were killed instantly by a drunk driver when they were leaving the wedding reception. I never saw them again.”

I stand up and wrap my arms around him from behind, resting my head on his back.

“Coen, I’m so sorry.”

He shakes his head as if to shake the old memories, hugs me, and starts to get dressed.

“I guess that’s why I’ve always been afraid to commit to any relationship, Lex,” he says, slipping on his jeans. “In my fucked up mind, there’s a fear that everyone I love is going to get taken from me.”

Coen cradles my face in his hands and his beautiful green eyes look deep into mine, then he smiles sweetly. I’m falling hard for this man, and fast. I feel like we’ve known each other for years rather than days. This was meant to be.

“For the first time in my life, Lexi, I want more. I need more. And I don’t care what it takes. I’m going to do everything in my power to protect you. I couldn’t save my parents, but thank God I saved you. I’ll be fucking damned if anyone is going to take you from me now.”

I wrap my hands around his neck and pull him into a deep kiss. He gives me instant butterflies even with the slightest touch. I don’t ever want this feeling to go away.

“I want more, too, Coen.”

He smirks, gives me a kiss on the tip of my nose and squeezes my ass cheek with a growl. “Get dressed before I change my mind.”

“Change your mind?” I ask confused.

“Yeah, I’m taking you out for the day to show you how a real man treats a woman. But if you don’t put that sexy ass and tits of yours away soon we’ll end up spending the day in bed.” He wets his lips and pulls his T-shirt over his head.

“Well, I guess I better put these tits and this ass away then,” I jest. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going so I know how to dress?”

“Nope. That’s a surprise, sweet cheeks.” He winks. “Wear whatever you’re comfortable in.”

He gives me a swift pat on my ass cheek before he walks out of the bedroom. I smile to myself. The Chucks are a must. Now to decide what else to wear on this adventure.

I
’M SITTING ON
Lexi’s couch, waiting in the living room for her to get ready, when there’s a knock at the door. Before I even have a chance to get up I hear a set of keys jiggle in the lock and Lexi’s best friend, Brea, comes rushing in.

“Where is she? Is she okay? I went to see her at work and she wasn’t there and Jo told me you called in and said she needed a day off. She also said she was supposed to give Lexi a ride home from work last night but when she left she was gone. She just assumed that you picked her up because she had been talking to you earlier in the evening. Lexi would have at least left a note on Jo’s car. What’s going on, Coen? Tell me now!”

This girl is like a tornado. Her energy right now reminds me of Six from that old TV show,
Blossom.

I walk over to Brea and place my hands on her shoulders until she finally settles down and makes eye contact with me, so I know that I have her attention.

“Breathe, would ya? She’s fine.” When her breathing finally starts to calm down I let her go and explain what happened.

Brea opens her mouth like she’s about to start in with more questions when Lexi walks in.

Thank God.

She looks so fucking gorgeous. Her auburn hair is tied up in a ponytail. She has just enough makeup on to highlight her beautiful brown eyes, even though she doesn’t need it. She’s wearing a black tank top, so her tattoo covered arms are showing, and
fuck
that turns me on. My eyes continue to scan down her perfect curves. She has on a pair of cut-off shorts that hug her ass in all the best places and are just the right length. She’s wearing her Chucks again, too. God, how I love the way she looks in those shoes. I almost forget Brea is in the room until she tackles Lexi in a bear hug and then grabs her by the shoulders and steps back at arm’s-length to look her over.

“Coen says you’re okay, are you okay? You can’t be okay, that’s fucking messed up, Lexi.”

I cross my arms and raise my eyebrow at Brea.

“Calm down there, Turbo. I wouldn’t lie to you. I’m the one that found her and took care of the piece of shit that attacked her. I’ll be fucking damned if I’m going to let anything happen to her.”

Lexi smiles at me and gives Brea a reassuring look.

“I’m fine, Brea. I had a small headache earlier. But I’m okay now. Just a little shaken up. That’s all.”

“Turbo?” Brea looks at me confused.

I laugh, and Lexi shakes her head at me and grins.

“Just checkin’ on my girl, stalker boy,” Brea says and she slugs me in the arm playfully. “Here Lex, Jo gave me your phone. She found it in the parking lot at the restaurant. She thought Coen had picked you up and you had accidentally dropped it and figured I would see you before she would. She had no idea anything was wrong.”

She looks back and forth between Lexi and me and realizes we were about to head out the door.

“Where are you guys going?”

“I have no idea,” Lexi says, pursing her lips together and raising an eyebrow as she snaps her eyes toward me. “You’ll have to ask stalker boy over there. I’m supposed to be skipping work to rest, or so he tells me.”

“You will be resting, sweet cheeks, don’t you worry about that.” I wink.

“Right . . .” Brea says, drawing out the word as if she doesn’t believe me. “Well, I suppose I’ll get going then, now that I see Lex is taken care of and in safe hands.” She hugs Lex and turns to head out the door.

“Text me tomorrow, Lex.”

“I will, Brea.”

“And Coen,” Brea says before closing the door behind her, “if you break her heart, you’ll have me to deal with. And you don’t want that, mister!”

“Ha! Is she always such a handful?” I ask, after Brea leaves.

Lexi sighs and then giggles. “Yes, but she means well.” She smiles.

I walk over to her slowly until our lips are almost touching. I want so badly to take her here right now against the living room wall, but I promised her a day out to get her mind off things.

Her breath hitches as I gently tilt her chin up with the very tip of my finger. I just need one small taste. Without hesitation I suck her delicious bottom lip in between mine and nip it with my teeth. She whimpers and I groan as I slip my tongue into her mouth. Our tongues dance in a perfect rhythm. My libido takes over and I run my hand under her shirt and bra and tease her nipple between my thumb and index finger.

We’re both getting lost in the moment when I remember why we’re standing here near the door in the first place. This chick could make me forget my own damn name. I keep getting lost in her so easily, and I never want to be found. As much as I want to continue this, I gently pull my hand out of her shirt, break our kiss, and rest my forehead against hers. We’re both panting. She was just as into it as I was.