Damaged and the Beast (6 page)

“I don’t think your mom is home,” Cooper said as I unlocked the door.

“She likes to sleep in absolute darkness and silence. You should go.”

“Bullshit,” he said, pushing past me and finding a light. Once he lit up the room, Cooper flopped on the ugly brown couch. “Let’s order a pizza.”

“You just ate.”

“I burned a lot of calories beating the shit out of those guys.”

Standing over him, I crossed my arms and frowned. I couldn’t think of a gentle way to tell him to go eat pizza at his own place.

“I don’t have money for pizza. I don’t know the number of a place. I need to take a shower.”

Cooper glanced up at me and scowled. “Like I was going to make you pay. Take your shower and I’ll get the pizza. Anything you don’t like on it?”

“No.”

“Anything you do like on it?”

“No.”

Cooper sighed loudly like I was pissing him off. Taking my backpack into my room, I imagined him on the couch when Amy came home. I had no idea how that would play out.

After collecting suitable clothes for after my shower, I stopped in the living room and found Cooper watching bowling.

“You have shit for cable,” he said, without looking at me.

“Could I please have ham on the pizza?”

Cooper glanced up at me with a soft expression. “You really like the other white meat, don’t you, baby?”

Smiling, I nodded. “I’m going to clean up. If my mom comes home, please be gentle with her. She gets jumpy around new people.”

“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. Yet, 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 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 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’d 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 like your brother said?”

“My brother is a turd. I told you that,” Cooper said, taking one of my legs and resting it over 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 bad. 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 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.”

Watching Cooper with my half closed eyes, I wasn’t sure why I thought he was so scary? He seemed gentle and beautiful. Just the boy next door with a few tattoos. He was really a sweetheart and I read too much into his appearance.

“Do you have any siblings?” he asked, his voice sounding far away.

“A sister. Tawny. She’s almost eighteen.”

“Irish twins?”

Smiling, I nodded. “I miss her so much. She’s my best friend, but she’s gone.”

One minute, I felt my eyes growing hot and wet from thinking about Tawny. The next minute, I heard knocking on the door and Cooper’s voice low and distant. Opening my eyes, I realized I had fallen asleep. I checked for drool then watched him pay the delivery guy before locking the door.

When I started to stand, Cooper waved for me to stay put. “I’ll get plates.”

“Sorry about falling asleep.”

“Yeah, you were halfway through a word then you were out. I’ve never seen a sober person crash like that.”

“The last couple weeks have been stressful.”

When Cooper returned from the kitchen, I noticed he strutted no matter what he was doing. It wasn’t a showoff thing in front of guys, but the actual way he walked. Cooper set down two cans of soda then placed a slice of pizza on a plate and handed it to me.

“This one is heavy on the ham.”

“Thank you,” I said, taking a bite as my eyes fought to stay open. “I don’t know why you want to hang out when I’m half asleep?”

Cooper leaned over and kissed me softly. His lips sucked at my bottom lip for a second before he pulled back and relaxed into the corner of the couch.

“You pout when you sleep.”

“Huh?”

“Like an angry little pout,” he said, demonstrating with his lips. “It’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. I thought you might give me a real talking to like my old gym teacher. Man, did that bitch hate me.”

“I’m sure she had her reasons.”

Cooper snorted. “Of course, you’d take a stranger’s side over the guy who’s feeding you.”