Damaged and the Beast (7 page)

“Maybe you called her a bitch forty times.”

“Yeah, there was that.”

Forcing myself awake, I enjoyed the hot pizza. Never making a mess, Cooper ate three pieces without using a napkin. It was as if he willed the food into his mouth. He was the same way with his giant hamburgers. I’d never seen anything like it except with a man from Alabama who unlocked his jaws and shoved whole burgers in. Cooper didn’t do anything so horrifying, but he managed to eat cleanly. One of his many skills, I assumed.

I ate a second piece as Cooper finished his fifth. When he offered me more and I declined, he took the box and shoved it into the refrigerator.

“Does your mom have a guy?” Cooper asked, returning to the couch.

“I don’t think so.”

“She didn’t tell you?”

“We don’t talk.”

“Why?”

Wiping my mouth, I set the empty plate on the coffee table then glanced at him.

“Is your mom a bitch or something?” he asked when I didn’t say anything.

“You think everyone is a bitch.”

“Not my mom. She and I talk though. Why don’t you and your mom talk?”

“We don’t know each other well.”

“Do you want to know her well?”

“Not really.”

“Fair enough,” he said, leaning over and pressing me back on the couch. “Don’t panic. Kissing isn’t sex. Besides, you’ll be asleep in a few minutes so this is my last chance.”

My first instinct was to panic. I didn’t like tattooed guys lying on top of me. I also didn’t want my mom walking in on us. Hell, I didn’t want any of this, but I believed Cooper when he said we were only kissing. I believed he wouldn’t hold me down and force me. I wasn’t sure why I believed him, but I did.

His lips were soft on mine, maybe sensing my fear. He wrapped an arm under the pillow behind my head while his free hand caressed my hair and cheek. He felt warm and strong and I still believed he wouldn’t take unless I offered. Yet, I was afraid to show enthusiasm and make him think I was offering. I wanted to kiss Cooper, maybe run my fingers through his hair and over his sharp jaw. I wanted to play a little, but not too much.

When I used both hands to stroke his face, he deepened the kiss. As his tongue tasted me in an agonizingly slow and thorough way, I felt the panic returning. I couldn’t believe such a hungry kiss wouldn’t lead to sex. Would he pull his lips away and leave with the erection I felt pressed against my leg? Would I need to “help him out” first?

My hands found his strong shoulders and pressed gently, wanting him to stop. Instead, he tightened his hold and groaned as his groin nudged against me. I didn’t want to freak out, but I wasn’t sure how to make him stop without screaming and going feral. Before I acted, Cooper simply stopped. His kisses softened until he was tenderly pressing his lips against mine.

“The reason,” he whispered, caressing my cheek and neck with his lips, “guys obsess over these lips is because they’re so fucking sexy. Soft too. Little pink pillows that taste sweeter than candy.” When he lifted his gaze and stared down at me, Cooper laughed. “You’re pouting again.”

Unsure what would happen next, I said nothing. Cooper spent another minute kissing my neck then he climbed off of me and fell back into the corner groove of the couch. Running his hands through his hair, he sighed. “You’re still pouting.”

“It’s my lips. They always look like that.”

“No, they don’t,” he said, grinning. “I want to see you this weekend.”

“I told you I’m getting settled in and need to study.”

“A quick lunch.”

“You want more than lunch.”

“Yeah, but you won’t give me what I want so I’ll settle for lunch. Think about it as a free meal, plus my wonderful company. We can take a drive and I’ll show you fun places. Then, when you’re settled in, we’ll visit those places and I’ll get what I want.”

Glancing around the room as if looking for help from the walls, I didn’t answer him.

“You’re all alone here,” he said, his voice softer now as his dark eyes studied me. “You and your mom don’t get along. Your sister is gone. You’re lonely and I like you. I can help make your new life easier. There’s nothing wrong with having a little fun. Just working and going to school will burn you out. See how rational I am? Now, go to lunch with me.”

“Just lunch.”

“Yes.”

“No detours.”

“I promise nothing.”

Shrugging, I sighed with frustration. “Okay, but not tomorrow. I have laundry to do. Sunday would be okay though.”

“See how easy that was? I don’t know why you fight my charms when we both know it’d be a hell of a lot easier if you just said yes to everything.”

“I’ll try to remember that,” I told him, standing up.

“Oh, yeah, you need to sleep.”

Cooper took my hand and had me walk with him the six steps to the door. Cupping my face, he kissed me softly like the sweet boy next door. Could his crap be all for show? No, only a certain kind of person could hurt another human being without blinking an eye. I didn’t have it in me, but Cooper did. While those jerks at the party had a beating coming, it wasn’t Nick or anyone else who pounded in their faces. I suspected by morning Cooper would struggle to even remember why his knuckles were tender. Hurting those guys had meant that little to him.

Cooper would never be the easygoing boy next door. He still kissed me gently and gave me a very warm smile like we were old friends saying goodnight. I watched him from the window as he disappeared into the night. After the motorcycle roared away, I looked around the apartment and realized everything still smelled of Cooper. The mix of sweat, soap, cologne, and pizza made me shiver.

Despite my intention to keep Cooper at arm’s length, I could still feel him on my lips. Tasted him too so I didn’t brush my teeth that night. I fell asleep pretending he was a nice guy who wouldn’t use and discard me.

Saturday was spent doing laundry and schoolwork while thinking about Cooper. By the time Sunday arrived, I fought the urge to bail on our date. Was it even a date? Should I tell him I was sick? Realizing he wouldn’t believe me, I decided to roll with this new direction in my life.

Unsure what to wear for lunch, I wanted to look nice without looking too nice. Settling on jean shorts and a loose gray top, I figured any more effort might create the wrong impression. Or maybe it didn’t matter. Likely, he would come around until I put out. Then, he would forget my name like his brother said.

As I waited for Cooper, Amy appeared in the living room and looked me over.

“I’m going out with a friend,” I told her.

“Okay.”

“I’ll be back early.”

“You’re an adult. You don’t need to tell me what you’re doing.”

“Oh.”

Amy retrieved a coke from the refrigerator and grabbed a pack of smokes before disappearing into her room. Much like with Cooper, I didn’t know what I wanted from my mother? Did I want space and freedom? Or did I want a caring woman who gave a shit if I ended up dead?

With Cooper, I found him sexy and interesting. I enjoyed his teasing, but also felt he was making fun of me. He possessed all of the power. The only control I had was the ability to say no to sex. Eventually, this power would fade and he’d move on.

It wasn’t like I could decide he was great and keep him. Forever wasn’t an option. Besides, he was the kind of guy who set off all of my alarms. When I saw his tattoos or those dark eyes dissecting me, I felt like I was back in the trailer during the ugly thing never to be discussed.

Logically, I knew Cooper never hurt me, but I also knew he had the power to do whatever he wanted. In this town, he apparently acted with impunity. Could beat up random guys, get me fired, and hunt down someone who messed with him or his surrogates. No fear of the law or any kind of punishment. He didn’t even need to show up to class. Cooper’s money and family meant Bailey’s comment about dumping me in a shallow grave might happen and no one would care. My mom sure wouldn’t.

Hearing Cooper’s motorcycle arrive, I thought to go outside and wait, but didn’t want to seem too excited. Pretending to be casual was lame too, so I grabbed my bag and opened the door to find him ready to knock.

Wearing a black tee and faded jeans clinging to his strong hips and thighs, Cooper looked hot. He also clearly skipped shaving since Friday and had thick growth, making him appear more menacing and honestly hotter.

His gaze rolled over my body before returning to my face. “You have really great legs.”

“Thank you,” I said, a little flustered. “Where are we going for lunch?”

Cooper waited for me to shut the door then he cupped the back of my head and leaned down to give me a soft kiss. His tongue explored my mouth for a second then he pulled back and smiled.

“You look sexy. Awake too.”

“You look sexy too,” I said like a dork.

Cooper laughed then stepped back and raised his arms. “What specifically do you like?”

My face had to be bright red because it was on fire as I lowered my gaze and smiled grudgingly.

“I like your shoes,” I said, laughing. “That’s what makes you stand out.”

Laughing harder, Cooper rolled back on his heels and checked out his black boots. “Yeah, I can see that,” he muttered, grinning at me. “Anything else?”

“Uh, that tattoo right there,” I said, pointing to his forearm.

“The ‘I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die’ tattoo? Are you a big Cash fan or do you like murder?”

“Cash fan.”

Cooper touched my chin then lifted my gaze to meet his. “You had no idea what it said, did you?”

“No, I just thought it was cute.”

“Cute?” he said, kissing me quickly before sighing dramatically. “It’s like pulling teeth with you.”

Laughing behind my hand, I followed him out to his motorcycle. “I like to think I’m hot enough that I don’t need to flirt well.”

“Do you? Fortunately, I agree. In fact, this time when you walk in front of me and think I’m checking out your ass, it’ll be true.”

“Cooper, you have such a way with words. A real poet.”

“Don’t I know it,” he said, sliding on his bike. “Hey, we’re meeting my sister, brother, and his girl over at Whiskey Kirk’s.”

“Can I go into a bar if I’m underage?”

“Listen up, nerd,” he said, glancing over his shoulder while I wrapped myself against his back. “Man, you feel good like that.”

“Your huge brain is working at a wavelength I don’t understand. Repeat what you just said in a dumb way so I’ll understand what my being a nerd has to do with you liking this,” I said, wiggling my hips against him before raking his back with my breasts.

After giving me a groan followed by a naughty grin, Cooper sighed. “I can’t even remember what the hell we were talking about,” he said, wrapping my arms tighter around him. “Oh, yeah, you being a nerd. So don’t worry about getting carded. The Kirk in Whiskey Kirk’s is my pop and he doesn’t care if you get wasted. He doesn’t believe in laws.”

“I’m not drinking.”

“Farah, you need to relax and enjoy life.”

“I come from a long line of drunks and addicts, so I’m not relaxing and enjoying life if it means I become like my loser relatives.”

Cooper glanced back at me and smiled. “Did you take a shower before I showed up because you’re hella feisty?”

“Do they have good food at this bar?” I asked, ignoring his question.

“Burgers, hot wings, only the best bar food in Kentucky. You just keep holding on while I see if I can concentrate with your tits pushed up against me like that.”

“I had them pushed up the other night and you concentrated fine.”

“That’s because you were wearing your uniform and I forgot you had tits. No forgetting today.”

“If you ever want to be friends with them, you really need to stop calling them tits. They don’t like that.”

“Yes, mam,” he said, laughing as he pushed off and drove away from the apartment.

Resting my cheek on his back, I really loved the feel of him. I felt happy too. Like maybe I wasn’t a stranger in a new place, but a resident of this town. I wanted to be someone people recognized and waved at on the street. I’d never had that before, but I might enjoy it in Ellsberg.

Cooper pulled into the parking lot of Whiskey Kirk’s and parked next to another Harley and a red SUV sporting the vanity plate, “PrncsBtch.”

Once I was off the motorcycle, I fixed my hair. Cooper immediately messed it back up when he pulled me against him and glued our mouths together. His fingers slithered into my hair, caressing my scalp as his tongue and mine danced to the music playing in the parking lot. As Kid Rock serenaded us, one of Cooper’s hands left my hair and cupped my butt.

“Hell, boy, you gunna fuck her right here in front of your little sis?” Tucker hollered, flicking away a cigarette. “Not that I blame you. I remember when I met Maddy and couldn’t wait to get inside her.”

Cooper let me go and blew upward so his hair fluttered out of his eyes. He gave me a smile then glanced at his brother.