Damaged and the Beas(8)

"Best behavior."

Leaving Cooper to watch the crappy cable, I hid in the bathroom, locked the door, wished I could barricade it, and peeled off my work uniform. The hot water eased away a long day. After emerging from the shower looking like a drowned rat, I was ready for bed. The idea of pizza and whatever Cooper wanted didn't sound appealing, but I couldn't think of how to get him to leave.

After brushing my teeth, I stared in the mirror. Now looking like a sleepy drowned rat, I hoped he wouldn't stay long. In the living room, Cooper messed with his phone but looked up when I entered. While I considered sitting as far from him as possible, I couldn't help admiring his full lips pursed in thought and how his dark eyes watched me. I also noticed how his muscles flexed while he shoved the phone into his pocket. He was a scary jerk who only wanted to add me to his list of hang and bang girls. 

Even knowing all of that, I thought he was so beautiful. He actually looked warm and safe. Even my sleepy mind knew I was lying to myself, but I sat on the couch a few spots over from him.

"Thanks for the ride home."

Cooper leaned back a little and then reached out and tugged at my size too large pink Minnie Mouse sweatshirt.

"You really wanted to put an exclamation mark on the no sex thing, huh?"

Balking, I smacked his hand. "Screw you. This is my sexiest outfit. It's frigging Minnie Mouse, Cooper. The chick exudes sex."

Grinning wider now, he played with my hair. "You can't know what I think about you."

"What does that mean? You're so mysterious that a mere mortal like me can't fathom your giant brain?"

"Sums it up pretty well," he said, twirling my hair around his fingers. "You get feisty after a shower. I'll have to remember that."

Crossing my arms over my chest, I was very aware of Bailey's comment about Cooper being a boob guy.

"So what are you studying at school?" I asked, watching the TV and not Cooper as he still played gently with a lock of my damp hair.

"Pre-law."

Glancing at him, I frowned and then forced myself to stop. "You want to be a lawyer?"

"Nope. Hate lawyers. Hate laws. Hate it all, but I'm the only one of my siblings with an IQ over shitfaced, so the burden is on me to be the lawyer."

"I don't get it. Tell your giant brain to dumb it down a little."

Grinning, Cooper leaned over and kissed the top of my head. "I like your shampoo."

"You're being weird."

"I'm just horny as hell. You were naked in the next room, and I wanted you naked in here."

"I'm not having sex with you."

"Tonight," he said with an exasperated sigh. "You keep forgetting to end your declarations with the word 'tonight.'"

"Why do you need to be a lawyer?"

Shrugging, Cooper returned to messing with my hair. "Occasionally, people screw with my family. Why should we shell out money to shyster lawyers when we can keep the money in the family?"

While I considered asking why people would screw with his family, I decided against this line of questioning.

"How many years do you have left?"

"Huh, you haven't asked around about me at all?"

"No, why would I?"

"Really?" he asked, frowning darkly now. "I asked around about you. That's how I knew where you lived."

"I don't stalk every attractive guy I meet. Besides, I've been busy."

"What about your boyfriend from the party?" Cooper asked, his angry gaze scaring the hell out of me. "Did you stalk him?"

"He and I have a few classes together. I didn't know his name until tonight."

"You seemed pretty cozy. Maybe he's your guy, and that's why you keep playing cold with me?"

"Why wouldn't I just say he was my guy?"

Cooper twisted his lips into nearly a snarl. "Maybe you like my tips too much and worry I'll ask for the bitch to be my waitress."

"You shouldn't call girls bitches."

"That chick is a bitch. I don't need to know her to know that much. The way she was looking at you the first night was like she wanted to kill you because you took her table. Who gets that pissed off about a fucking table?"

"She probably needs the tips."

"So you like everyone, huh? Is your nickname doormat?"



       
         
       
        

Crossing my arms again, I stared at the television and planned to ignore him. Except he was in my home, on my couch, and playing with my hair.

"Screw you," I said, smacking his hand away. "You're rich, and people kiss your ass. Great for you, but I'm not rich, and I have to get along with people. I have to take shit from people to keep my job and make enough money to go to school. So screw you for thinking I'm a doormat because I didn't punch Piper for giving me dirty looks."

Cooper very deliberately reached out and wrapped a lock of my hair around his fingers. All the while, he held my gaze, daring me to stop him.

"I get it," I said quietly. "What I want doesn't matter. I bow to your superiority. Should we just fuck now so you can forget my name as your brother said?"

"My brother is a turd. I told you that," Cooper said, taking one of my legs and resting it on his thighs. "Don't be so pissy. I just want you to admit you like me."

"Fine, I like you."

"Yeah, I know, but thanks for being honest."

Shaking my head, I grudgingly smiled. "Will the pizza be here soon?"

"Yes," he murmured, suddenly next to me. "You smell good."

Before I could speak, his lips were on mine for a brief touch. I froze for the seconds our lips met and remained a little frozen when he pulled away. As he leaned back, his lips curved into a gentle grin.

"Those lips of yours are fucking gorgeous."

Covering my mouth, I sighed. All of my life, I heard about my fat lips. As a kid, people would tease me about how my lips were big enough to eat my whole head. My grandma especially liked that one. When I got older, the comments were always sexual. I hated when people talked about my lips.

"You don't like them," he said as his fingers drifted along my calf. "Why?"

"I like them fine."

"Do guys want to do something with those lips?"

Resting my head back on the couch, I sighed. "I'm tired, and you're making me feel dirty."

Cooper's hand stopped caressing my leg. When I looked at him, he stared back with an edgy expression.

"You take things too personally," he said, holding my gaze.

"When guys talk about using my mouth for stuff as if it's all I'm good for, why wouldn't I take that personally?"

"Not all you're good for, but you have sexy lips. Like when I threw the bottle, you did this thing with your lips and made a perfect little 'O' shape. It was frigging hot, and I almost forgot I wanted to beat the shit out of those guys."

Nodding, I hoped he left me alone. Instead, he leaned forward and kissed me softly, licking at my lips without going any further. When he leaned back, his hand messed with the edge of my sweatpants down by the ankle. 

"I'm glad you needed a ride tonight," he said, his gaze on the TV. "I'm glad I was around when you needed that ride. It worked out, but you look tired."

"I am."

Cooper ran his index finger along my face and under my chin. "I'm messing with you, but that's all it is. I'm just teasing. I know you're tired, and nothing's going to happen tonight. You can rest your eyes until the pizza comes and I won't take advantage of that. I want you to want it too. Not to be an unwilling victim like with those assholes at the party. I don't take shit from girls. They offer it enthusiastically, and I know you will too eventually, but you need to make me work for it first. I appreciate you keeping my seduction skills sharp."

Grinning, I rolled my eyes. "Life must be great with your giant brain and even bigger ego."

"Yeah, it's pretty amazing."

As he cupped my feet, I wished I had gotten a pedicure in the last …  Well, I wished I'd thrown on a little polish. You know, just in case a pushy hot guy showed up and fondled my feet.

"Your sister is in my Algebra class," I said, resting my head against the couch again.

"Bailey's a cute kid, but don't show her up. She's insecure and turns mean when other girls get more attention. It's not personal. She's lost friends over the years for that shit, but she needs to be the center of attention. It's because she was the youngest for a long time until Sawyer came along. As the baby, Sawyer can't sneeze without my parents giggling like it's the cutest shit ever. Now Bailey's super competitive. You should just be aware of her mental fuckups because you take things too personally."

When Cooper ran his thumb along the arch of my foot, I moaned. Smiling softly, he continued both the massage and talking about Bailey.

"Even with the competitive shit, she's a good friend. Loyal as long as she gets to be queen bee. She'll pick you up in the middle of the night, hold your hair while you puke, punch a guy for treating you badly. She's cool, but don't show up looking prettier than her or she'll claw out your eyes."

Sharing his smile, I felt my eyes drooping. "How many kids are in your family?"

"Four. Two boys and then two girls. Sawyer's five and Daddy's princess. It's pretty lame how wrapped around her finger my pop is, but the kid is sharp and knows exactly how to get what she wants. She'd make a good lawyer, but likely she'll want to marry someone and spend her days wrapping her husband around her finger. She's got a talent."