“Don’t stop. Please, don’t stop.”
“There’s no need to rush,” he said, transitioning to the other breast and repeating the process.
The moans grew louder and her nails dug into his back. When her knees came up to cradle him between her thighs, Cooper teased her entrance, testing the limits of his control. Taking her mouth, his tongue drove deep and Haleigh demanded more, wrapping her arms around his neck and bucking against him.
“I need to be inside you,” he said, reaching for the nightstand. “I can’t wait.”
“Yes,” she purred, her fingers digging into his ass. “Now. Right now.”
Ripping the condom open with his teeth, he rolled to the side to sheathe himself and then pulled her with him, giving her the top position. With a gasp, she braced her hands against his chest and lowered her hips, taking him in until they were fully joined.
“God, that feels good,” he growled, unable to resist driving up hard against her.
Haleigh sighed in agreement, taking each thrust deeper. Setting a steady rhythm, her body bowed forward while damp curls danced across her breasts. Cooper cupped her breasts with both hands. She leaned into his touch, her skin flushed with arousal.
“So close,” she panted, throwing her head back.
As her hands locked on his thighs, Cooper slid a hand down between them to rub his thumb against her clit. Within seconds, Haleigh tensed as she hit the peak, clenching tight around him and sending Cooper flying with her. They trembled together until Haleigh collapsed on his chest, golden locks draping his shoulders.
Silent and struggling to catch his breath, Cooper held tight to the woman sprawled on top of him. If he never saw the light of day again, he’d had one night of perfection.
Chapter 23
“You better not be sleeping,” Haleigh mumbled against Cooper’s chest. She’d have looked up to check on his state of consciousness, but every muscle in her body remained useless. For all she knew, she’d dissolved into a puddle on the bed.
“Mmmm . . .” Cooper hummed, the vibration stirring her weakened limbs. “I was thinking about it.”
Resting her chin on his sternum, she tweaked one of his nipples. “Then I hope it’s only a cat nap to recharge, because we definitely need to do that again.”
His bark of laughter threatened to dislodge Haleigh, but she held on, averse to surrendering her cozy position.
“Now who is trying to kill who?”
“I think it should be whom.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Featherstone,” he replied, referring to their former English teacher. “Either way, you’re going to be the death of me.”
Twirling a finger through the fine hair on his pecs, she said, “At least we’ll go together.”
Pulling her up his body until they were face-to-face, Cooper lifted Haleigh’s hair out of her eyes and said, “If that’s the case, then I’ll die a happy man. How about you?”
Haleigh struggled to put her feelings into words. To say she was happy would be the understatement of her life. Cooper did more than make her happy, he made her feel cherished and protected, lighthearted and optimistic. He fed her spirit and drove away the voices of doubt and denigration. Most of all, he made her feel wanted. Not for what she could do, but for who she was.
Cooper was the first person in her life who had glimpsed all her dark corners, and found the light even she didn’t believe was there. A voice in the back of her mind pointed out that all of those feelings could be summed up in one word. A word that scared Haleigh to the tips of her toes.
“Yes,” she said lamely. “I’d definitely go with a smile on my face.”
As he ran his fingers through her hair, one corner of his mouth curled up in a sensual grin. “Does that mean you found the main event acceptable?”
“That means,” she said, pausing for a mind-melting kiss that ended with them both breathless and aroused, “I liked it so much, I demand an encore performance.”
Powerful hands locked on her bottom as he ground against her. “I do aim to please,” he said, before rolling to pin her beneath him. When her head settled on the pillow, he grew serious, his green eyes locked intently on hers. “I can make you happy, Haleigh Rae. Just give me the chance.”
Thankful for the fading light, Haleigh ignored the tear that rolled down her temple. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said, her voice heavy with emotion.
“That’s all I needed to hear,” he said, before proceeding to make Haleigh happy enough to scream his name many more times.
By Tuesday morning, Cooper still couldn’t believe the turn his life had taken. Haleigh Rae had spent every night since Friday sleeping beside him until just before dawn, when she raced home to arrive before Abby pulled in from work. He’d argued that they were adults and Haleigh shouldn’t have to hit some early-morning curfew to placate his sister, but their friendship meant a lot to Haleigh, and she hoped that Abby’s feelings would change before she and Cooper revealed how far they’d taken their relationship.