Cocky Roomie: A Bad Boy Romance Novel (Cocker Brothers of Atlanta Book 1) (12 page)

“I’m really asking, Jake.”

I exhale and stare at him before I shrug, “She wants different things. And she’s eight years older.”

“Hot,” Justin mutters. “Why do you have a problem with that? Younger girls can be a pain in the ass.”

I huff, “The age difference doesn’t bother me, Justin, but it bothers her.”

He informs me, “Tell her Susan Sarandon was eight years older than Tim Robbins.”

“Didn’t last,” Jason reminds him.

“It lasted like fifteen years,” I say.

“Twenty, I think,” Justin says, then thinks about it. “Something like that. Then she dated some guy thirty years younger than her.”

“Total fucking douche,” Jason mutters.

“And Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell!” Justin says, poking my chest. “Tell her about them. She’s eight years older. They’re still together.”

“Tina Turner and that guy…can’t remember his name,” Jason says, thinking. “Sixteen years older.
And
they look happy.”

Justin leans in again, this time as serious as his brother. “The list goes on and on. I’m just saying, you like her. She’s a sweetheart. It doesn’t have to be forever. Show her some things. I guarantee she’ll thank you for it.”

Jason mutters, “Jesus, you’re an asshole.”

“What?” Justin asks him. “That girl blushes. She fucking
blushes.
She hasn’t seen her way around the right bed. Is she a virgin or what the hell?”

“Married,” I mutter. “One guy.”

“And she’s thirty-one?”

“You don’t know how old I am? Or did you forget how to count?”

“Whatever. Thirty-three. Only one guy her whole life. This is what I’m saying, she needs to learn what it’s all about.”

Jason starts laughing. Jason and I look at him and say at the same time, “What?”

“If that’s what she needs, she’s rented the right room.” He downs his whiskey and sets the empty glass down. Before calling Jenny over, he says to me, “If you don’t do it, I’m sure Justin will. Hey, beautiful! Can I have another?”

“You got it, handsome,” Jenny calls back.

With my eyes locked on Justin’s, I tell him firmly, “Don’t even think about it, Jus. I’m not kidding.”

He chuckles. “Better make a move, Jake. Just sayin’.”

“You better be fucking with me right now.”

“I probably am.”

“Probably?”

“Yep.”

I glare at him. Jenny interrupts just in time to see me jump off my barstool so fast it falls over. “I’m outta here. Jenny, Justin’s buying.”

Jason calls after me, “You’re not driving like this!”

“I’m takin’ an Uber,” I shout, pushing everyone out of my way.

DREW

I 
didn’t even realize I fell asleep until I’m awoken by the sound of the front door. I groggily pick up my phone for the time. Two twenty-two. I can hear him walking and from the sound of it, he and the twins had more than a few. Did he drive home? Is he walking toward my room?

He is.

Clumsy footsteps stop right outside my door. I’m frozen. Not breathing. Craning my head I see that I didn’t lock the door. Is he going to come in here?

“Drew,” he rasps through the wood. “You up?”

Stay quiet. Don’t answer him. You won’t be able to turn him away if you answer him.

If he comes in that door, I will give him anything he wants. Even if he is two sheets to the wind.

“Drew?”

I remain as still as glass.

After suspenseful moments pass, he trudges away. I listen to him go about his nightly routine until the door of his bedroom shuts. I’ve memorized the sound. I’ve tried not to, but when he’s home I’m very aware of his every move. It’s unhealthy.

I’m kind of relieved he’s going to Denver. I can’t take this for much longer. And at the same time, I’m going to miss him very much.

Seeing him with two of his four brothers didn’t help. He was so at ease around them, so himself without any guards up. Laughing often. Cracking jokes at each other. Having so much fun it made me wish even more that I’d been born into a larger family. And that I’d had one. My head sinks into the pillow as I think about what I lost, and what Debra has gained.

Although I wouldn’t want it to be with Edward. Having children with him would have been an un-escapable jail cell. At least now I’m free, even if I am childless.

Throwing the covers off, I head to the bathroom. My mouth tastes gross and I have to pee. When I turn on the light, his wet toothbrush says hello to me from the counter. He left it in a puddle of clear water, and his socks are shoved in a corner on the floor. I touch my toes to them and push them around a bit.

Oh, Drew, you are falling hard for this guy if you’re thinking of his cute toes right now.

Brushing my teeth is done on automatic with my mind on walking through the gardens with him. The way he touched my leg in the car like it was a normal thing to do. Him pouring me coffee before we started our workday like we were a couple. Swinging me around when I tried to escape his brother’s embarrassing comments about my chest.

Who am I kidding? I don’t want him to leave.

Opening the bathroom door I run right into Jake.

“Oh! God, you scared me.”

Of course he’s wearing no shirt. But black boxer briefs? Really? Is he trying to kill me?

He rasps, “Hey,” his voice filled with sex.

Oh. Fuck.

“Umm…hey?”

His gorgeous features darken. “You still against casual sex?”

“Oh my God. Yes, Jake, I am.”

I can smell the minty toothpaste on his breath. I guess he can smell mine, too. Especially since he’s leaning in this close. I go to back up, but he reaches around me and closes the bathroom door, putting his forearms on it and caging me between them.

“What if the fuck I gave you was so good you didn’t mind if we weren’t serious about each other?”

The heat of his body lashes through my cells. “What if pigs turned into giraffes and ate the top of pine trees?”

Jake blinks at me. “That makes no sense.”

“Well, you’re scramblin’ my brains Jake Cocker!!”

For a second it looks like he’s going to laugh, but lust replaces humor. “You’re scramblin’ my everything, Drew Charles.” He brushes his lips up my neck, sending wet flames into my surprised pussy. The fact that he can light me up this fast is a miracle. I used to be slow to get riled, but not with him. Not with the right guy.

My chest expands on a gasp as he growls in my ear, “I want to lick you until you cum on my tongue.”

“Fuck,” I whisper, arching my back until we’re pressed together. He groans and buries his face in my neck, gnawing on it. “Jake, remember you said you didn’t want me to lose focus.”

“Mmmmhmm.”

“You promised not to distract me.”

“I’m leaving Tuesday. You’ll have plenty of time to study then.”

I won’t be able to think, if I’m missing you! I will ache for you every day, you idiot.

One hand goes around me and the other palms my breasts through my tank top. “I want to bury my cock in you again.” His erection presses into me and I moan.

But this isn’t right. I already feel pain. I can see the future and it is lonely.

“I can’t, Jake. I’m sorry.” I push him off of me. “Please stop.” He staggers back and runs both hands through his hair to get in control of himself. My eyes are on the tent in his boxer briefs. I try to bend the door with my body by hiding against it. “I want to, but I’m not made that way.”

“I know. It’s why I like you. And why I hate you, too.”

Appalled, I cry out, “Don’t say you hate me!”

A few quick strides and Jake is on me. He grabs the back of my head and kisses me so deeply and so desperately that all of my objections turn to ash in his arms. He claims my tongue and lifts me up by my thighs, grinding his angry length against the damp crotch of my pajama shorts. I moan into his mouth as my body responds and softens to him. He sets me violently down and careens away from me, gasping for air. I’m panting, staring at him, needing more.

“Drew, if I still feel like this when I’m in Denver, I’m going to come back and fucking make you MINE.” His eyes violently flash to me. All his muscles are tensed. His restraint is barely winning a war with his primal instincts. “YA HEAR ME?”

Breathless, I whisper, “Yes.”

He marches to his room and slams himself inside. “Lock your fucking door AGAIN!” he shouts through the wood.

I’m going to come back and fucking make you mine.

Jake Cocker is second-guessing single life, because of how he feels…about me.

I float to my room, knowing my dreams tonight won’t be half as good as my reality.

JAKE

^“
J 
axson’s here!” Mom calls to everyone in the backyard. My oldest brother Jaxson appears behind her in his usual country-plaid shirt and faded blue jeans. He picks Mom up and spins her around. Laughing, she hollers at him, “Come on now! You know I get dizzy!”

He plants a kiss on her cheek as he stands her up, then strolls onto the patio deck, taking in the stings of lights, long table of net-covered, homemade family specialties, and finally nodding to all the familiar faces.

“What’s this I hear about Jake leavin’ Georgia?!” He calls to the crowd.

Everyone boos and grumbles.

“Blame Don!” our dad shouts with a cupped hand.

Dad’s assistant and her husband smile. Further down the yard, their two kids chase after the neighborhood cat nobody owns but everyone feeds and has a different name for. We call him Pippin.

“Alright, alright!” Don calls back. “I’m never gonna live this down, am I?”

“No, you are not,” Jaxson mutters, eyes on me as we head to each other.

Aunt Marie tells her husband, “No, Don, you really won’t.” She wraps her arm around him and lays her head on his shoulder.

Jaxson and I embrace. He’s a country boy, through and through. He lives on a ranch in the northern part of Georgia, outside the perimeter of Atlanta, and I don’t see him as much as the twins. Sometimes I go up and stay the weekend with him. It’s a nice change. He gets his milk from his own cows. Farms his own vegetables and sells to the local markets and restaurants. When I’m there I live like he does, up at the asscrack of dawn and reading until we can’t keep our eyes open, talking on and off, but mostly just being quiet.

There’s a depth to Jax that is felt anytime you’re in his presence. He won’t joke about this move of mine. I know I’m about to have my chest twisted, as we separate. He will dig deep.

“How ya feelin’ ‘bout this?” he asks in his lowest volume.

“Good.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

I hold his understanding stare. “Not good.”

He nods. “Yeah. We’re gonna miss ya. You wanna come up next weekend before you head off?”

“I leave Tuesday.”

His frown deepens. A lump builds in my throat as he grabs me and hugs me even harder than the first time. We slap shoulders and separate, clearing our throats.

“Chili time!” Mom calls out the kitchen window. “Justin, Jason, come help me!”

They both run in. Justin calls over to me as he passes, “Where’s Drew?”

“Don’t worry about Drew,” I tell him. He grins and disappears.

“Who’s Drew?” Jaxson asks.

“Roommate,” I mutter, clearly not wanting to talk about her.

“What’s he like?”

“
She
.”

His eyebrows go up. “So that’s why Justin’s asking about her. You got a hot roommate? That wise?”

“Keep it down. She works for Likuss now and I don’t want Uncle Don to hear us talkin’ about her.”

Jaxson grins, “So, you’re in a shit-storm is what you’re tellin’ me.”

“It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

His eyes glitter as he says, “If Justin’s asking about her, she must be memorable.”

“If Justin touches her I’ll personally castrate the guy. Blood or no blood.”

“Huh,” Jaxson mutters, eyeing me.

Marie announces, “Jaxson Cocker, give your aunt a hug!” walking over with open arms. She’s the female version of Dad. The leaf didn’t fall far from the tree there, both tall and fair-haired. I’m more like mom. Same with Jeremy. The other boys lean toward Dad’s side in looks. “I haven’t seen you in almost a month!” She squeezes him hard. “How’s the farm?”

“Good, Aunt Marie. How’re that herb garden coming?”

She waves him away. “Oh please! It’s four little pots in my window sill.”

“It’s a garden in my book,” he smiles. “Hey, Uncle Don!”

“How’re ya doin’ son?” They heartily shake hands.

“It’s nothing compared to your garden!” Aunt Marie mutters, smiling.

“Good, good. Workin’ hard,” Jaxson tells him, then adds to Marie, “Fresh herbs to cook with, made by you? That’s something to me.”

With a pleased face, she again waves him away. Justin and Jason come out of the house, with Jason shouting, “Dad, tell Mom to stop cooking and come join us. Shit!”

Grandma, who’d been quietly watching the children until this, shouts, “LANGUAGE!”

“Sorry,” Jason calls to her.

“She’s doing what she does,” Justin tells Dad, referring to our mother.

“Being a perfectionist. I know. I’ll get her.” He slaps Jaxson’s bicep as he passes. “Did you do that thing I told you about?”

“No, dad. I told you that
you
had to do it. Remember?” They share a stubborn look that says neither will budge.

As soon as Dad’s out of earshot, I ask, “What thing?”

“Nothing. Dad’s being Dad. Forget it.”

“C’mere Jaxson!” Grandma calls out from her comfy, cushioned seat. “Give me a hug, dammit!”

Jason laughs, “Hey!”

“I get to swear! I’m eighty-two!” Jaxson strolls over with a big smile for her, and pulls her into a big embrace. “I’ve earned it!” she says over his shoulder to anyone listening.

Dressed less Hip Hop than usual since it’s a family affair (and Grandma always gives him a hard time for wearing his hats backwards), Jason shakes his head as he calls back, “Beautiful hypocrite, that’s you, Grams.” He moves a couple dishes around to make room for the big pot of chili.

Next to him Justin grabs a square of corn bread, and loudly announces, “FUCK, that’s good.”

“Not funny, Justin. That’s the last F word I’ll be hearing today,” Grandma grumbles, taking her seat. “Jaxson, talk Don out of sending our Jake away.”