Love Sex & Other Games: Part 2 by Cheryl McIntyre

 
    Love Sex & Other Games (Part 1) Final Chapter Recap
     
     
     
    THE FRIENDSHIP
     
     
    Cooper
     
     
    As soon as we get inside my apartment, I head straight into the bathroom and splash cold water on my face. I press my palms onto the counter and stare at myself in the mirror.
    What the fuck was that Cooper?
    What were you doing?
    What are you doing now?
    Your dick is fucking hard.
    For Emerson Metz.
    For Roselyn’s baby sister.
    What the fuck?
    Seriously. What the fuck?
    I try reigning it in. Try to gain control of my speeding pulse. But damn. When Em said the light was green, I thought she meant she was good to go. That she wanted me, and fuck if I didn’t want her too. Badly.
    And there was something about her desiring me . Seeing me . Not my brother. I can’t even describe how that made me feel.
    Needed.
    Strong.
    Chosen .
    Jesus, she’s so damn sexy.
    No. She’s a virgin, Cooper. You shit. Saving herself for love .
    But the way she was looking at me in the car… The fact she’s still here, in my living room, waiting for me.
    Shit.
    SHIT .
    I like her. I can’t deny that. I like her a lot, actually. More than I thought possible. Way more than I probably should.
    We’re both grown adults. Both sexually frustrated. Both in need of a warm body and a good friend.
    We could take it slow, just see what happens. Find out where it leads.
    She’s Rosie’s sister .
    Shit. Fuck.
    Rosie’s sexy, funny, smartass sister .
    I keep staring at myself, fighting a losing battle with my internal thoughts.
    Fuck it .
    I push away from the sink, ready to rip the door off the damn hinges and let whatever happens tonight, happen. A knock, soft and hesitant perks my ears.
    “Cooper?” Em calls, her voice weak.
    I fling the door open and she’s standing right in front of me, cheeks flushed and eyes wide. Two steps. That’s all we need.
    I take the first one, moving out into the hallway. I reach for her just as Miles rounds the corner, his eyes dropping to my outstretched hand.
    “Your brother’s here,” Em murmurs.
    Fuck .
    “I need to…” She shakes her head, gaze fixed just over my shoulder. “I’m going to go.”
    FUCK .
    “Ems,” I plead. “Wait. I drove you.”
    She’s moving quickly, feet padding down the hall and into the living room. She grabs her purse and jacket, not bothering to put either on. I’m right on her heels. “It’s okay,” she rasps. “I’ll get a cab. You two should talk.”
    Fuck that. I don’t want to talk to Miles. I want to talk to her.
    She fumbles with the door handle, but I slap my palm flat against the wood, holding it closed. My chest presses into her back. God, she smells good . This is not how this night was supposed to turn out.
    “Ems, please don’t go.” If she leaves, it’s going to change everything. I don’t know how I know it, but I do. I feel it in my bones. I have no idea what we are. What this is between us. Or where it’s heading. But it feels like it could be the start of something. “Please,” I say again, my voice low, hoarse.
    I feel a shudder run through her body.
    “You okay, Em?” Miles calls, still standing halfway in the hall. She and I both go rigid at the sound of his voice. Why the hell is he here? Now, of all times?
    Em shakes her head and I’m not sure if it’s in response to him or me, but it doesn’t matter. She brushes my hand away and opens the door. There’s a moment, just a beat where she pauses, almost like she’s reconsidering. My heart gallops in my chest.
    I blink, and then she’s gone.

 
     
     
    I want a soul mate who can sit me down, shut me up, tell me ten things I don’t already know, and make me laugh. I don’t care what you look like, just turn me on. And if you can do that, I will follow you on bloody stumps through the snow.
    —Henry Rollins

 
    THE little BROTHER
     
     
    Cooper
     
     
    She’s gone.
    I stare at the door, debating whether or not I should go after her or give her space.
    “What’s going