The smile he gave me set my heart thumping hard, and I could barely breathe when he kissed me softly. Expecting more heat from his embrace, I frowned at his tenderness. Was he angry with me? When his gaze lingered on my face, I knew he was studying the swelling and bruising.
"You love me," I said. "I make you nuts."
"Hell yeah, you do," he replied and then added softer, "You're my girl, and we're making one hell of a life together."
Cuddling closer, I felt like the crap of the day was gone. I was starting over right this moment. I was no longer the Farah always wanting what she couldn't have. Or the Farah, who came to college pretending she was the person she hoped to be, instead of the person she truly was. I was just Farah Smith. The daughter of losers, I loved Cooper, missed my little sister, dreamed of being a teacher, and would fuck the rules when necessary. I was still a nerd in some ways, but I'd be that nerd on my terms. Not to please anyone else. Not to be anyone else. I was me and fuck anyone who didn't like it.
I knew Cooper liked it as he grinned down at me. "I texted Tucker," he said after our food arrived. "Told him to find that bastard who hurt you and make sure he didn't run. Also, told him to move out all your stuff. You're not going back to that place."
"Good. I never want to see the apartment or my mom again."
Cooper grinned. "I love when you get feisty."
"Will we drive home in the rain?" I asked, glancing outside.
"There's a hotel next door. We could stay overnight after picking up a few things at the convenience store. You'll need pain meds soon, and we'll hang out here until the storm passes. Then we'll drive home."
"I'm living in your apartment?"
"Unless you want to live somewhere else?"
Thinking about it, I really didn't want to be anywhere without Cooper.
"I belong with you, but what about Tawny?" I asked, finally pulling myself away from him so I could eat my burger.
"She'll stay with us once she gets here."
"At your parents' house because there's no real space at the apartment?"
"We'll need to get a new place together. A fresh start somewhere with space for Tawny."
"Really?" I asked, staring in an overly excited way.
Giving me a gentle smile, he kissed my forehead. "Really, baby. I want to start over in a nice comfortable way. I want you to feel safe. I want your sister to feel that way too. As long as you feel good about stuff, I'll feel good too."
"I'm not going to leave you. I promise."
Still smiling, Cooper nodded. "I didn't want to get your hopes up just yet, but my guy thinks he might have a handle on Tawny's whereabouts. He's tracking her down now."
"What happens when he finds her, though? My dad won't let her leave when she's seventeen and can still bring in money."
Cooper gave me an angry frown. "How did someone so amazing come from such shit stock? Man, your parents are evil fucks." Sighing, he cracked his neck. "My guy can handle your dad. He'll grab Tawny when she's alone and bring her here. Your dad can come looking for her if he wants, but that would be a mistake on his part. I'm not in the mood to put up with anyone messing with you."
Leaning against him, I smiled. "You are nice. The nicest boy ever."
Cooper laughed. "I've got many talents."
Soon, we ate in silence, though Cooper did give the waitress a hundred dollars to run to the pharmacy up the road and buy me pain medicine. By the time we finished eating, she had returned, and I downed four Tylenols as my face really started to hurt.
The hotel next door was pretty high scale, and we had a room with a king sized bed. Once we entered, I peeled off my wet shirt and headed for the shower. I expected Cooper to follow, but he stood at the door, staring at the ground.
"What's wrong?" I asked, returning to him.
"I pride myself on protecting those I love but look at what happened to you."
Caressing his damp arm, I sighed. "You can't control what everyone does. Amy and her dick are reckless people. You being scary wasn't enough for them to care. They're the kind of people who think they'll always make it out fine. They'll win at the casinos. They'll pay off the loan shark. They'll just squeeze by all the trouble they bring on themselves. You can't reason with them."
Cooper gave me a weak smile. "I thought you were so prissy when we met, and I wondered how you could ever fit into my life, but you understand a loser's bullshit in a way maybe I can't because I've had it too easy," he said, pulling off his shirt. "I'm not alone at the top after all. I have you."
"You'll always have me."
Kissing me gently but thoroughly, Cooper claimed me before stripping down. Both cold from sitting wet through dinner, we warmed inside the hot shower and were soon goofing around in bed. As Cooper sat against the headboard, I inched down until I had his cock in my hand.
When I licked the head, he inhaled hard and frowned. "If you think you'll cry, just stop. Don't push yourself."
"Roger that," I said, giving him a wink.
Relaxing, Cooper watched me leisurely explore him with my tongue. Just like he did, I tested what he liked. While I expected him to like it, I never imagined I'd feel so empowered by making him moan. As he grew thicker in my hand, I felt a nearly violent urge rush through me. All the tension was gone, and I just knew suddenly.
Crawling up, I kissed him and wiggled my butt. So horny he didn't ask questions, Cooper eased himself inside me. My hands on his strong shoulders, I closed my eyes while my hips lifted and fell quickly. I didn't know where all the desperation came from, but I couldn't stop.
Cooper might have understood, or maybe he was just his usual thorough self, but he caressed my clit gently as I moved faster. The orgasm building, I waited for a wall to take away the pleasure. Holding Cooper's gaze, I felt at peace in his embrace. Safer than ever before, stronger than I could have imagined, I felt the pleasure just keep building. The past faded, and my dreams were no longer out of reach. All of the pain and fear disappeared until I was at this very moment with the man I loved with all of my heart. Finally moving past where the panic usually took over, I broke through the wall.
Never did I realize how badly I wanted to orgasm until it happened. More than waves of hot bliss, I was tasting freedom. As the pleasure overwhelmed me, I closed my eyes and held onto Cooper. My face cradled against his neck; I soon settled my breathing before opening my eyes to find him smiling.
"One big ass wall just fell, baby," Cooper said, wrapping me tighter into his embrace. "You should have seen your face."
"I was with you, Coop, the whole time. Nowhere else and it felt perfect."
Wiping the tears from my cheeks, he stared into my eyes and I knew then we would never be apart again.
"More please," I whispered.
"Hell yeah," he said as I started moving again. "You lead. Show me what you want."
Grinning, I had all kinds of ideas for Cooper. My face might hurt, but the rest of me felt better than ever. As soon as I helped Cooper find relief, I wiggled free of his embrace and rested on my back.
"We're trying this again," I said, spreading my legs.
"You'll never want me to stop. It's addictive. Sure you can handle it?"
"No, but I'm feeling fearless tonight."
Cooper crawled towards me with that arrogant expression on his face. "You'll be my slave after this."
"Then we'll be equal."
Laughing, Cooper let his gaze roll over my naked body. I knew he saw the bruise forming on my stomach where Amy kicked me. For a moment, I thought he might be more angry than horny. I shouldn't have worried.
Chapter Twenty Two
The next morning, we returned to the Johansson property. When Kirk and Jodi appeared, the look on his face upon seeing my black eyes made me worry Cooper would one day seem so cold and unyielding. Then I figured Kirk likely hid his soft side for his wife and kids. He didn't know me yet, and I wouldn't get a glimpse of the other Kirk. Still, I knew he was pissed, and he and his boys would take care of things.
Jodi hugged me and told me it didn't look so bad. She also said her mother was a bitch, but we couldn't choose our birth family. We did have the power to build a new and better one, though. When she hugged me for a second time, I melted into her embrace. My mother was gone from my life, but I had a new mom. One who saw my value in a way Amy never could.
After lunch, Bailey and Sawyer insisted we play beauty salon where they braided my hair to make me feel pretty. I was a Johansson now. Finally, Cooper pulled me away from his family, and we retreated to his apartment where I found all of my stuff boxed up. This was my new home.
The rest of the weekend was spent making up for lost time. Cooper clung to me, and I was relieved to have him always nearby. While happy to be away from my mom and even happier to be with Cooper, I always felt uneasy with change. I also awaited word about Tawny, who was still barricaded in the motel room. Dad hadn't returned, and she was nearly out of food, but too scared to leave with the weirdoes hanging around. She was also penniless and couldn't buy anything even if she dared go out. I just prayed Cooper's guy found her soon.