Damaged and the Beas(12)

Laughing, I ran my fingers over the bicep he flexed for my inspection. His skin felt warm and inviting. As his body heat traveled into me, I rested my head on his chest and wrapped my arms around him.

"I know I'm doing this dating thing all wrong," I said as his arms draped me. "I should ask lots of questions and flirt, but I haven't dated a lot of guys, and I don't really know how to flirt. I like you, but I'm scared you'll hurt me or make fun of me. I feel like I should get away from you except I don't really want away from you. I just don't know what I'm supposed to do or say. I'm doing everything wrong, but I'm not doing it to be mean." 

Staring up at Cooper, I found the needy look from earlier, and its intensity made me shiver. "I don't care if you're doing it wrong, just keep doing it. You're driving me nuts here."

Pressing his lips against mine, Cooper wrapped me tighter in his strong arms, and I let myself enjoy his affections. Even with the loud music playing and bikers hanging around, I enjoyed the feel of Cooper against me. In his arms, I felt like someone new and better. After a long life of doing what I had to do to survive, I really needed to be someone new and better.

The kiss deepened to the point of sending hot waves of desire to parts of my body I really didn't want to desire anything. Soon, my nipples were tips of arousal pressed against his chest. Between my legs, I felt an unfamiliar sensation. Before I might think about what kissing Cooper like this in a public place could lead to, he eased his lips away.

"If that bastard who hurt you were here, I'd tear off his head and let my dogs eat him."

Smiling, I thought he was full of shit. "Going to jail over something that happened years ago doesn't make any sense. Even though, it's a hella sexy thing to say."

"I kill him around here, and there's no jail."

"You're that special?"

Pressing his forehead against mine, Cooper smiled. "Yeah, I'm that fucking special."

"Good to know," I said, lowering my gaze.

"I'm not going to kill you," he slowly whispered like I was dumb or nuts.

"I hope not. Your sister did say you and Tucker would leave me in a shallow grave if I used her nicknames for you."

Cooper exhaled hard and glared at Bailey, who sat on Tucker's lap while Maddy rested her head on the table.

"Let's play a game," he said, easing out of the embrace, so only one arm hung loosely around my shoulders. "If you win, I'll give you a hundred bucks. If I win, we go back to your place, and you lose the shirt and bra. Full second base action, but nothing more."

"Why would I agree to that?"

"Duh, so you could win a hundred bucks. That's like a week of tips from a twenty-minute game."

Lowering my head, I thought about what he was offering. While I wouldn't mind getting closer to Cooper, I wasn't ready for such intimacy.

"Why do you assume you'll lose?" he asked, fixing the balls and setting them back in the middle of the table. "I'm good, but I'm not pool shark good. A hundred bucks is easy money, and I'll just have to find another way under your shirt." Cooper inhaled and studied me as if thinking hard. "I can imagine a few ways to get that shirt off, but we'll leave them for later."

"Okay. I trust if you win you won't do more than second base. My pants remain on, and you'll respect that. I trust you."

"If you say how you trust me a few more times, it'll sound like you really mean it."

Rolling my eyes, I took the stick. "Can I start?"

"Sure, baby. I'll just sit back here and watch you bend over."

"Making pervy comments won't distract my concentration. I'm accustomed to freaks cheating."

"Whatever you say, but I'm mostly interested in the view. A hundred bucks is shit to me."

"Must be nice," I said, caressing the stick as if it might be my buddy and help me win.

"Money makes life all kinds of nice. Oh, and the way you're fondling the stick is making me super horny here. I also suspect you're doing that on purpose. Now who's cheating?"



       
         
       
        

Glancing back at him, I grinned. "You're in a constant state of heat. I'm not taking the blame for that."

Throwing his head back, Cooper laughed. "Fair enough."

For the next few minutes, I made great shots until a creepy biker guy stood too close and I missed. Cooper took the stick and studied the remaining balls.

"Don't cry when I beat your ass."

"Hell yeah," the biker said, laughing. "Some girls just love it rough."

Giving me a quick glance, Cooper glared at the guy. "Who in the fuck are you?"

"I know your pop."

"Good for you, but if you don't back off and stop skeeving out my girl, my pop, and I will be attending your funeral."

The biker opened his mouth to speak before changing his mind. Walking away, he cursed under his breath, and I grinned at Cooper.

"I like when you call me your girl," I said, caressing his arm. "It makes me feel warm all over, but mainly in certain places."

"Fuck no," Cooper grumbled even while grinning big. "I'm not getting distracted."

"Big baby," I said, sitting down and crossing my arms over the prize. "Fine. I'll let you lose the old fashioned way. By sucking more than me."

Cooper made the next two shots perfectly like he was trained from birth to con idiots like me into playing against him.

"Tell ya what," he said, having missed the next shot. "Why don't we call it even and I'll give you the hundred, and you give me second base?"

"So like you're paying me for sex?"

"Man, you're negative. No, Farah, it's a tie. We both get what we want."

"I want to win."

Cooper leaned down and glared at me eye-to-eye. "You just don't want me getting what I want. I think you only agreed because you figured it was a done deal that you'd win."

Standing up, I pushed past him, grabbed the pool stick, and aimed. If I missed this shot, I would likely lose, and Cooper would win. I really didn't want him to win now. I didn't want him anywhere near me either. With him glaring at me, I wished I'd eaten before the game so I could ask to leave once I beat his ass.

"I want a burger," Cooper said loudly at the exact moment I hit the ball, startling me and throwing off my aim.

The final ball rolled towards the hole and then stopped at the edge, having too little momentum to go inside. I'd lost! I'd fucking lost because he cheated and I never wanted him touching me. Anger rose up in my gut, and I glared hard at the ball. I didn't care about the money. I just never wanted the asshole putting his hands on me. 

Standing, Cooper hissed through his teeth. "So close."

Staring at the ball, I fought the tears and wiped angrily at my eyes when they fell anyway. Cooper stood next to the table and stared down at me.

"You're the prettiest girl I've ever seen, and I've seen some hot chicks before," he said, crossing his arms before bumping the table with his hip. "There's just something about you that's special."

The bump was enough to knock the ball into the hole. I watched it fall and then forced my wet gaze to him.

Grinning, Cooper gave me a defeated sigh. "I guess I'll have to find another way under your shirt."

"You're a jerk."

Uncrossing his arms, Cooper leaned down to kiss me. "I'm hungry. Let's order food."

As he turned towards where his siblings were seated, I grabbed his tee and pulled him to a stop.

"Thank you," I said, wishing Cooper knew how awful it would have been if he expected to touch me after he cheated. "I don't want the money."

"Screw that. You won fair and square. Besides, I don't want my girl going hungry."

Studying his face, I felt confused by how he bounced back and forth from asshole to gentle jerk. When he was sweet, I wanted him more than I'd ever wanted anything. When he was an asshole, he represented everything I hated in the world. Cooper was a complicated guy, but my feelings for him were a million times more complex.

Watching his brother and sister bicker, Cooper noticed my gaze on him. He focused his dark eyes on my face and stared hard like we were having a contest. I wasn't sure what he saw on my face this time, but he blinked and let me win.

"Are you hungry?" he asked softly. "We can go somewhere else if you don't like the food."

Breathing too fast, I wasn't sure what to do or say. He was being too sweet, and I started wishing he truly wanted me to be his girl. I wanted to be close to someone so badly, but Cooper was scary. Even looking at me like he was, I saw the tension in his jaw as if waiting for someone to piss him off.

"A burger would be great," I said, sitting at the table where his brother, sister, and Maddy waited.

Cooper pulled a chair from the next table and sat an inch from me. He was watching me in the way he sometimes did at Denny's. Like he was dissecting me, breaking through all of my barriers, and soon would know my every thought. Hating being scrutinized, I avoided his gaze.

"I should give you your money," Cooper said after we ordered. "I have a feeling you might freak out soon, and I don't want you storming off without your cash."

"Why would I freak out?" I whispered, hating to have everyone staring at me. "And I can't storm off when I don't know how to get home."