Damaged and the Beast (23 page)

The next day, I hadn’t seen him except in passing when he ran over, sucked on my lips a little, then told me that he was in a hurry. I spent the next few hours worrying he was in a rush to meet someone else. At some point, I’d become convinced he was losing interest.

On my way to the parking lot to wait for Skye, I heard a motorcycle approaching and turned to find Cooper pulling up. His gaze was dark and serious.

“Why don’t you like sex?” he asked, a smile fighting at the corners of his lips.

Glancing around in horror at everyone who heard him, I muttered, “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“Look, Farah,” he said, finally grinning while climbing off his bike. “One bad lay shouldn’t mean you give up all fucking forever.”

“That was very charming. It should be quoted on romantic Hallmark cards.”

“Yeah, I do have a way with words. Seriously though, sex is fun. Just because you fucked some limp dick who lasted only a minute or came in your eye or shoved it up the wrong hole or whatever the problem was doesn’t mean you should give up on getting properly fucked.”

“Stop talking,” I said, still glancing around at the other students. “People can hear you.”

“I don’t give a shit about people. Besides, I’m sure they’d agree with me. Even if they didn’t, my only concern is getting in your pants.”

“Well, maybe this weekend.”

“Don’t tease. Seriously, my dick gets hard every time I see you.”

“Stop saying stuff like that.”

Cooper leaned down and nuzzled his lips against my hair. “Did limp dick talk to you like that and so it brings up bad memories of his shitty moves?”

“Yes, he was a pig, just like you.”

“Fortunately, you love pork.”

Walking away, I wanted to either laugh or cry. Embarrassed, I felt exposed and betrayed.
Yeah, betrayed!
I told Skye in confidence my views on sex because I wanted her to understand why I hadn’t humped Cooper the moment I met him.

Cooper roared up behind me on his bike then reached over, grabbed my backpack, and pulled me to a stop. Turning to him, I tried not to cry right there. Yet, I hadn’t been so embarrassed since I leaked on my period and no one said anything for half of the day. I didn’t know why everyone was giggling until Tawny told me at lunch. While that was temporary high school crap, I’d enjoy this embarrassment for four years.

“Hey,” he said softly, wrapping his arm around my waist. “Don’t be sad. Bailey told me because she knows I like you. She wanted to warn me that you aren’t playing cold because you’re a bitch. You just have your issues. Don’t cry.”

Wiping my eyes, I refused to look at him. “I’m embarrassed.”

“Because some guy gave you a bad fuck? Shit, half of the girls in school can claim that from the last month. You need to stop taking everything so personally. You don’t like sex because you had sex with an asshole. They don’t know what they’re doing and don’t want to learn. I’m a good student though.”

Smiling slightly, I glanced at him and exhaled slowly. “I’m not a bitch.”

“I know. You’re sweet and I was just playing with you,” he said, wiping a tear from my cheek. “Want a ride home?”

“Yes, please.”

“Look at those manners. Like I said, sweet as sugar. Sweet like those pretty lips I’m going to suck on when we get to your place.”

“Of course, there’d be a condition for the ride.”

“Nothing’s free,” he said, giving me a wink.

“Just lip sucking?” I asked, staring hard at him.

“Oh, I want under your shirt too, but I’ll build up to that.”

“I have a lot of schoolwork.”

“So do I, but I’m planning to make time for my hands and your tits to become acquainted.”

Rolling my eyes, I climbed on behind him. “I told you how they don’t like being called that.”

“Well, if they want me to be sweet to them then they need to be sweet to me. As I pointed out, nothing’s free in life.”

Wiggling my breasts against his back, I waited for the groan. Cooper glanced back at me and frowned.

“I need to start wearing sweatpants or else you’ll kill me.”

“I don’t understand,” I said, batting my eyes innocently. “Are you talking about this?”

Wiggling my breasts against him again, I jumped when his hands went to my bare thighs. Stroking from my hips to knees, Cooper gave me a grin. “I’m getting you naked this weekend. Even if I have to lie, cheat, and steal, I’m hitting a homerun with you, baby.”

“Sure, whatever. Can we leave now?”

“Temptress.”

“Dickhead.”

“Beauty.”

“Stud.”

“A stud that needs sweatpants.”

“If it’s such a hassle, maybe we shouldn’t fool around at my place?”

Cooper just laughed while pulling away from school. He was laughing again when he parked at the curb next to my apartment building.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. When I don’t get enough oxygen to my brain, it gives me the giggles.”

Now, I was laughing as we walked to the front door. “My mom might be home.”

“I’ll be sure to feel you up silently then.”

Grinning, I unlocked the door and pushed it open to find the air conditioner running high.

“My mom sometimes gets overheated.”

“Lady issues. Check. No more info is necessary or desired.”

Shutting the door, I turned down the air conditioner before finding two sodas in the refrigerator.

“I need a shower.”

Cooper stared at me with a pained expression. “Sweatpants.”

Laughing, I left him to my crappy cable. After a quick shower, I changed into a loose tank top and shorts. Feeling daring, I chose to wear panties, but no bra.

Returning to the living room, I found Cooper stretched out with his legs over the coffee table and his arms spread out along the back of the couch. He looked large and menacing then he glanced at me and grinned.

“Would now be a bad time to mention I’m horny?” he asked as I opened my soda and joined him on the couch.

“If I never again heard a single thing about you being horny, I’d still be well informed.”

After a gulp of soda, I braced myself, took a deep breath, and willed a little courage. Straddling Cooper, I rested my hands on his chest and smiled.

“No sex,” I said, waiting a beat before adding, “Today.”

A grinning Cooper pulled me down for a kiss. Still feeling bold, I ran my fingers though his soft blond hair. He felt so perfect like he was mine.

Pulling away his lips, he gave me a questioning look. “No bra?”

“I don’t have work tomorrow. I know everyone is going to that party and I thought afterwards we could solve your sweatpants problem.”

Cooper caressed my lower lip with his thumb. “Earlier when I was teasing you, I realized you hadn’t been treated well. That’s why you don’t like sex, right?”

Nodding slightly, I let my fingers drift over his jaw as he teased my lips.

“I promise you’ll feel good with me,” he said without bravado.

“I heard all about your skills.”

“Finally asked around, huh?”

“Didn’t have to. People come up to me on the street to share stories of your escapades.”

Cooper laughed. “Hell yeah, they do.” Running his fingers down my back, he studied me as his expression softened. “I’ve wanted you since that first day in Spanish class and it’s killing me to wait. I know you’re nervous, but I’ll make you feel so good that you’ll forget about the loser from before.”

“I’m not really that good myself,” I said, losing my courage.

“You can lay motionless through the whole thing and I’ll still make you feel good.”

Smiling slightly, I had already started worrying over disappointing him.

“I want you,” he whispered, holding my face with both hands. “Fuck that. I need you, Farah. I need to help you knock down all of those walls. I promise it’ll be great if you trust me.”

“I do.”

“You do,” he said, his eyes locked on mine. “I feel you lowering another wall and nothing feels better.”

Staring into his dark eyes, I believed everything would always be alright as long as he was with me. It was ridiculous and my brain screamed for me to get a grip, but I ignored it.

“I have to be at work soon,” I said, leaning forward so my breasts were pressed against his chest. “Meaning, I’ll need to put on a bra soon.”

“Message received,” he said, kissing me while his warm hands slid under my shirt and along my spine. When I pulled back to allow access, those fingers caressed my stomach then moved between my breasts as if teasing. Before I could complain, his thumbs grazed my nipples.

Panic and lust rushed over me in equal amounts of intensity. My nipples didn’t react the way my panicked brain wanted. Instead, they hardened as Cooper teased them so gently. If he had been any greedier, I might have freaked out, but he was in his mama’s boy fucking mode.

Moaning into his mouth, I pressed my hands flat on his chest and tried not to freak out. It felt so good, yet I wanted to yank his hands away and ask him to leave. My body was on one page while my brain was in a whole different place.

“Are you okay?” he whispered as his lips tasted my jaw.

“Nervous is all. Don’t stop.”

“No, I don’t think I will.”

Cooper moved a hand from my breast to my hip then guided me against his erection. Understanding what he wanted, I focused on this and not my panic or lust. I would help him. Yes, I could do that instead of freaking out.

Groaning deep in his chest, Cooper suddenly shifted us so I was back on the couch and he was over me with his lips at my throat. I couldn’t think about helping him when my body was on fire. Even wanting more, I needed him to stop. Confused, I wished I could just relax and enjoy Cooper’s amazing moves.

Sliding lower on the couch, Cooper lifted my shirt and gazed at my breasts. I had no time to feel self-conscious before I felt the tip of his tongue across my right nipple. I cried out, wanting him to stop, yet my hands were in his hair as if begging for it to never end.

Cooper used those sexy lips of his to suck at my nipple slowly, sending me into a nearly brain dead state of horniness. I couldn’t think, could barely breath, and I thought I might lose consciousness. I’d never felt anything so hot before, never thought I could enjoy something so amazing, but here I was squirming in ecstasy as Cooper leisurely teased my nipple with his mouth. His fingers caressed the other nipple then he switched sides and I lost the ability to speak.

Knowing he was horny as hell, I didn’t understand how Cooper moved so tenderly. As if in no hurry, he stroked my nipple with his tongue, sucked softly, and stroked again. If we weren’t on the couch where my mom might walk in, I’d have asked for sex right then.

Suddenly, Cooper stopped and I opened my eyes to find him propped up over me. Frowning, he caressed my face.

“It’s okay,” he said softly.

“I know.”

“Then, why are you whimpering like that? You sound like a scared puppy.”

Having never realized I was making any noise, I lied, “I was worried my mom might come in.”

“Then, why didn’t you ask me to stop?”

“I didn’t want you to stop.”

Cooper nodded and sat back on the couch. Lowering my shirt, I felt awkward sitting next him.

“I know I said I was getting you naked tomorrow, but we don’t have to do anything if you’re not ready.”

Tears stung my eyes as I moved closer. “I didn’t mean to make those noises.”

“You just sounded scared. I don’t want you to be scared and think you can’t ask me to stop. I’m not the shitty lay you had before. You can tell me what you like and don’t like.”

“I liked that.”

“Why are you crying?” he asked, caressing my cheeks.

“It’s embarrassing. Other girls don’t make stupid noises. Now, you think I’m stupid.”

“I think you’re scared and so tightly wound you can’t ask for what you want.”

“I wanted that.”

A scowling Cooper studied me. “But if you didn’t, you’d tell me, right?”

Nodding, I knelt next to him on the couch and hoped he didn’t dump me. “I’d never felt like that before. Like it was so much better than I expected and I got weird.”

Cooper gave me a little smile. “You’re so hot, Farah. I don’t know how you haven’t been fucked well before, but I’m going to be that guy.”

Grinning, I wiped my cheeks. “Tomorrow, I’ll be ready. Like I’ll know how good it’s going to feel and I won’t make stupid noises.”

“It wasn’t stupid,” he said, losing his grin. “You need to relax and stop saying crappy things about yourself. Sometimes, you just need to let go and enjoy stuff, but maybe you’re not there yet. I can be patient.”

“But you’ve been waiting since the first day in Spanish class,” I whispered, giving him a grin. “How have you not died yet?”

Laughing, Cooper wrapped an arm around me until I was snuggled against him. “I’ve had a few close calls, but you’re worth waiting for.”