Collide(53)

At that Cooper’s blue eyes locked on Noah’s. This time it was Noah who shivered, and he could have sworn it vibrated through Coop, too.

Coop stared, then jerked his hands away and started to cry.

“God damn you, Noah.” Cooper’s voice snapped Noah out of the memory, as they still stood by the table. The same memory, that he knew Cooper was probably remembering, too. Because this was the only time other than that day, he’d seen that pain; that much devastating hurt in Cooper’s eyes.

“Go. I’ll take Wes home.” Braden told them. He nodded at the man, then peered down at Wes, who did the same, telling him to go. They had to be wondering what was going on. Why Cooper was acting the way he was, and why they’d both stood there for so long.

“Thanks.”

Cooper pushed his way through the bar. Noah didn’t catch him until they were outside. “We’re taking my car,” he told Coop.

“I can fucking drive.”

Noah grabbed his arm and pulled him toward Noah’s Mustang. “I wasn’t asking. Get in the fucking car, Cooper.”

He was surprised when Cooper did as he said. Coop slammed the passenger door behind him, as Noah climbed into the driver side. Noah revved the engine, his tires squealing as he peeled out of the parking lot.

The inside of the car was silent, thick with tension. Neither of them said a word as Noah sped home. The second he pulled into the driveway, Cooper was out of the car, the window rattling when the door hit.

Noah was going to kill him.

He was out of the car right behind Coop. Noah’s hand shot out to catch the door to the house as Cooper tried to slam it behind himself. It stung his hand but he ignored it.

“You’re acting like a fucking kid.”

Pacing the room, Cooper didn’t reply. The heavy fall of his steps and the flex of his muscles shouldn’t be sexy, but God dammit it was.

“What the hell is your problem?” Noah crossed his arms. “I was in your bed every fucking night, Cooper. You’re the one who kicked me out of it. You’re the one who said you couldn’t do this, and now you’re going to throw a temper tantrum because I’m not sitting around and waiting for you?” Not that he’d planned to have anything with Wes, because he hadn’t. But if he had, it was none of Cooper’s damn business.

“You think I don’t fucking know that?” Coop shouted. “You think I wasn’t telling myself to chill the fuck out, the whole time? That I didn’t know you had a right to be with him? That I don’t realize it’s my own fucking weakness that leaves me aching for you every fucking day? I know that, Noah.”

Noah hated admitting it, but his heart went crazy. His dick got hard. Christ, he ached for Cooper too.

“But my uncle…I owe him—”

“Fuck your uncle. You made the decision. I don’t blame you for it because I know this comes with a whole set of problems you’ve never had to deal with, but you still fucking made the choice, Coop. And, I won’t wait around for you. I won’t be my father, wanting someone who only wants them when it’s convenient. I’m not here to play fucking games, man. I don’t do the back and forth shit. We’re in or we’re out.”

He’d witnessed that too many times. His mom loved his dad when she messed up, when he threatened to leave her, but she seemed to forget that love when it suited her.

Cooper took a step toward him. Then another. “I don’t only want you when it’s convenient. I want you all the damn time!” Another step. Then another. “Jesus, I jack-off thinking about you, and I remember what it felt like to be in your mouth and how you tasted in mine. God damn you, Noah. Damn you for making me want you. For the fact that my eyes are always on you, and my mind always with you.”

He stood so close to Noah now, he felt the other man’s breath.

“Damn you for making me jealous when I’ve never been fucking jealous in my life. For knowing I would have gone bat-shit crazy if you didn’t walk out of that bar with me tonight, just like I would have lost it if you didn’t find me in the woods all those years ago.” A muscle ticked in Cooper’s jaw. Anger in his eyes. Anger at himself, or Noah, he didn’t know. But Noah saw something else there too…desire.

“Damn you for making me want you too, Coop. For making me want to keep someone off that edge when I’ve never cared about being that person for anyone else before. Just. Fucking. You.”

Noah went to push around him, but Cooper blocked him. Before he realized what was happening, Cooper shoved him against the wall, his mouth coming down hard on Noah’s. They battled each other, fought each other for dominance. Noah pulling Cooper closer, Cooper doing the same to him. Their tongues each trying to probe, to gain control of the hard, wet kiss. Their bodies collided, grabbing and grinding as though they were starving for each other.