Damaged and the Beas(26)

"You're so frisky when wet," he teased, stepping back even as I tried to keep hold of him. "Feel free to snoop around my place while I'm gone. I have no secrets from my girl."

"I'll watch TV."

"Aren't you the least bit curious?"

"If I want to know something, I'll ask."

"Spoken like a true goody-two-shoes. I love it," he said, disappearing out the door.

Returning to the couch, I took the giant remote and pushed forty buttons before getting the damn TV to turn on. The next few minutes, I flipped through channels, completely disinterested in anything not Cooper-related.

Finally, I ran into his bedroom to see where so many girls shed their panties for Cooper. I would be one of those girls soon. A little part of me wanted it to happen as soon as he came back. Mostly, I wanted to know if Jodi was right about him falling for me. Or was Cooper just horny for the girl who dared tell him no?

Staring at the bed, I thought it looked comfortable. Extra large and partially made as if he yanked up the covers in a halfhearted attempt to fix up the place. The image of us having sex terrified me, but the thought of lying there with him talking and cuddling made me smile.

Imagining the many girls who enjoyed their time on the bed, I wondered how many used Cooper as much as he used them. I wished I could be confident about sex like those girls because I really wanted Cooper. Mostly, I needed to know if he would like me in a week or month.

Hearing him at the door, I ran back to the couch and acted casual while watching soccer. Cooper entered with a box full of food in his arms and a bag dangling from his hand.

"I brought your clothes so that you can change."

Standing up, I grinned at him. "Thank you."

"I'm getting the hang of this."

"Stop talking like I'm a grumpy person you need to maneuver," I muttered, giving him a grin, so he knew I was teasing.

Ignoring my comment, Cooper licked his bottom lip, and my gaze was immediately glued to the gesture.

"You can get naked in my room. I promise not to join you and … "

Rolling my eyes, I grinned. "You want to get yourself riled up."

"Maybe. Getting horny feels good." When I took the bag with my clothes and glanced inside, Cooper sighed. "I did look at your panties and bra. How could I not? I didn't sniff them or anything inappropriate like that."

"Sniff them?"

Cooper grinned. "Tucker sniffs Maddy's panties. He's very proud of this fact."

"I think it goes without saying that I'm not commenting on that."

"No need. The fucker sniffs panties and runs around telling people like he's discovered the cure for cancer. That shit speaks for itself."

Leaving Cooper to set out all of the food he brought over, I shut myself in his room and then in his adjoining bathroom. It was clean, functional, and male. Upon smelling his cologne, a weird hot sensation grew in my stomach and then moved south. I'd never gotten aroused from a smell before. Staring in the mirror, I realized I was screwed.

No more keeping Cooper at arm's length. No playing it cool, I had fallen hard and wanted to keep him. The thought of being tossed aside already stung, but it was coming one day. Maybe soon. Yet I might be able to keep him interested for a while.



       
         
       
        

Again, I considered having sex and testing his interest. My nerves would prevent me from doing anything sexy like actively participating. I still needed to know if I could keep Cooper after the wait for sex was over.

As soon as I changed into my shorts and tee, I returned to the living room and considered asking Cooper for sex. He was only interested in food, though. Hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, coleslaw, and pounds of potato salad along with sticky buns his mom made after we left. Joining him on the couch, I took the plate he offered. Too nervous to ask, I dug into the food. Cooper sat at the other end of the couch with his feet propped up on the table. When I scooted sideways to face him better, he smiled.

"I can't believe how much food I'm eating," I said after a few minutes of pigging out.

"Why didn't you eat before you came?"

"I did. A piece of toast."

"Watching your weight, baby?" he asked. "Girls are always obsessing. Fucking Bailey thinks she's fat, but she's a damn board."

"Watching the checkbook, stud. Gotta make every penny count if I want to pay for school and move Tawny here."

"I could help."

Avoiding his gaze, I shook my head. "You already think I want you for your money."

"Or my hot bod. They're both worthy of worship."

Grinning, I still refused to look at him. "I want to work my way through college. That way when I graduate, I'll know I earned it."

"Doesn't anyone help you?"

"I get a little financial aid, and my grandma pays for some stuff. She's not a nice woman, but she doesn't want more losers in the family. Without her help, I wouldn't be here."

"I love her then," Cooper said, leaning forward and stretching so he could kiss my cheek. "She got my girl to New Hampton."

Once he sat back in his groove, I considered several smooth ways of asking for sex. Instead, I chickened out again.

"Your mom is a great cook," I said, enjoying the macaroni salad.

"Yeah, self-taught. Trial and error. Can you cook?"

"We usually didn't have a kitchen in the motel. I can warm stuff up, but that's it."

Cooper studied me and then nodded. "I'd have my mom teach you, but she's pretty scary in the kitchen. Her way or the highway thing. They have evening classes at the college where they teach cooking. Maybe once you get settled in, you can take a class. I know how my girl loves to learn."

Swallowing hard, I blurted out, "After we eat, can we go to your bedroom?"

Cooper glanced at the television and sighed. "No fucking way." 

"Why?"

"Your face is why. You look like you might puke."

"I'm nervous, but I want to."

"No fucking way times ten, baby," he said, glancing back at me. "Today is going too damn well. There's no way I'm ruining it by having sex when you're still not sure about me."

"When then?"

"When you look at me and I know you want it. When I know you're giving with your heart and not that big head of yours."

"My head isn't big."

"Figuratively."

"Oh, I still don't think it's big. I'm an average student. Steady like a tortoise."

"Don't talk shit about my girl," he said, gnawing at a corncob. "She's fucking brilliant. She likes me after all."

"Yes, she does," I said and then added, "Very much."

Cooper watched me and an emotion flooded his handsome features and then was gone.

"We're good together," he said, returning to eating. "Different but complimentary. Don't you think?"

"Yes," I lied.

"My parents are like that."

My stomach flipped. My heart raced. My mind screamed, "You're eighteen! Stop thinking forever! Think of now!" Then my heart told my head to shut up.

"My parents are too similar," I said. "Maybe that's why they didn't last."

"Probably. Can you imagine how difficult it is to argue with yourself?"

Smiling, I finished the food and set the plate on the table. After wiping my mouth, I wondered if I should brush my teeth first.

"I should get home soon," I said, and Cooper's expression was what I expected. "Do you want to kiss more before I leave?"

As I hoped, this question distracted Cooper from his regret over my leaving. "Hell yeah," he murmured before his lips were on mine.

Shoving his plate on the table, Cooper leaned me back on the couch. He kissed my lips, lingering on the thicker bottom one, before kissing both of my cheeks.

"Why can't you stay later? It's not even dark."

"I didn't get a chance to study a lot during the week. I need to catch up."

"We could watch a movie," Cooper said, his left hand caressing my bare thigh. "Eat dinner and talk. We can talk about Tawny, school, whatever. I'm not ready for you to leave."

"What if we make out for a while and then I leave?" I asked, tracing his pouty lips.

"Or we could make out and then watch a movie?"

"How long is the movie?"

"Just long enough for you to stay for dinner."

"I just ate."

"We could go swimming in the pool and build up your appetite again."

Grinning at him, I sighed. "I should leave soon."

"No, you should relax. Let me help."

When Cooper's lips found my neck, I shuddered. My body sent all kinds of unwanted signals to my brain. The hot tingles were unhelpful hints screaming, "More!"

As my arms wrapped around his wide shoulders, I leaned my head to the left. His lips sucked softly, probably too softly to leave a mark. When his tongue slid up my neck to my mouth, I met him hungrily. Quickly, my legs wrapped around his hips, tugging him closer.

Cooper groaned into my mouth, and I felt him tighten his grip on me. My body didn't care about anything except how good he felt and how he promised pleasure. I deserved pleasure, my body assured me. Did I deserve Cooper, though? Was he too good for me? Wouldn't he use and then forget me?