It was such a wonderful invitation. She knew he was worried, that the unresolved situation with Harry and his cohorts left him feeling something bad would eventually happen. The offer wouldn’t always be there—she couldn’t make assumptions about the future, and didn’t want to anyway—but tonight was all hers, so she said, “If you and Sugar want me here.”
There was an infinitesimal widening of his eyes before he caught her in a heated kiss, his tongue taking possession, ramping up her need.
He wanted to take over. Coop was the type of leader that, even in sex, would be dominant. She liked that about him.
This time, however, she’d lead the way.
“Shh,” she whispered. “Lie back.”
His nostrils flared and he asked with suspicion, “Why?”
“Because I’m not done enjoying you.”
It was slow to come, but his small, sexy smile told her that he wasn’t intimidated. In fact, he seemed to like the idea.
“Now,” she said, and rolled the condom onto him. He was fully erect again, throbbing in her hand. She recalled the taste of him and her breathing deepened.
Widening her thighs around his hips, she braced one hand against his body and with the other, she held him in place against her, moving the head against her own wetness, teasing herself and him with each glide against her swollen lips. Her breathing quickened. She wanted to make this last, but she wasn’t sure she could.
Just as she nudged him a little inside her, he reached up to cup both her breasts, his rough thumbs drifting back and forth over her nipples.
No, she definitely wouldn’t last. He, on the other hand, had already gotten off once, and now seemed plenty patient.
He caught her nipples, flattening them between a thumb and finger, tugging gently. She arched her back, her body flooded with sensation.
“Nice,” he murmured, still tugging, twisting carefully. “Once you’re done torturing us both, lean forward so I can get my mouth on you.”
That did it. Phoenix closed her eyes and, rocking her hips, took every wonderful inch of him. She felt full, a little stretched, and she loved it.
Cooper gave a husky growl. “Come here.”
Leaning forward only sent him deeper, stealing her breath. Groaning, she flattened her hands at either side of his head while pressing her hips to his, back and forth, back and forth, seeking, needing. When his mouth latched on to one puckered nipple, she knew she’d lost the game. “Cooper...”
“Let me,” he whispered, and then his hands were on her hips and he took over, thrusting into her while working her nipple with his tongue. The position kept her open, her clitoris exposed to his every stroke. The relentless rhythm sent her glasses sliding down the bridge of her nose.
She didn’t care.
The pleasure coiled. Her hands clenched into the bedding. She tipped back her head, groaning, reaching, wanting—and finally, finally, the climax rushed through her.
She heard Cooper’s answering murmur against her breast, felt the tensing of his body beneath her, the way he pressed hard into her with his release.
God, it was so perfect, lasting until her thighs trembled and her arms refused to support her.
He released her nipple, his hands now caressing her hips as she sank down against him, her glasses almost falling off. She adjusted them quickly before sliding to the side of him, her limbs weak.
Cooper turned his head to see her. After several deep breaths, he said, “We should celebrate more often.”
She huffed a laugh, not only happy, but also content. It felt good. She felt good.
Ridley was going to be thrilled.
12
While they both caught their breath, Coop thought about Phoenix, her uniqueness, her sweetness blended with scorching sex appeal.
He’d never gotten a blowjob from a woman in glasses. The thought made him smile.
As if she sensed it, she peered up at him. “What?”
He traced the top rim of her glasses, from one arm, over her nose, and to the other. “It takes talent to do that wearing these.”
Adorably prim, she stated, “I do everything in them, except shower and sleep.”
“They’re hot.”
She made a sound between a full laugh and a silly giggle. That happy sound swelled inside him, chasing out shadowy remnants of grief. Almost from the first moment he’d met her, Phoenix had affected him that way. She’d kick-started his emotions when he’d thought them long dead. The sensation was a little uncomfortable—but he liked it all the same.
Rubbing his fingers into her silky hair, he tilted her face toward him and asked, “So David showed up, and he made this big difference in your life?”
Her brows pulled together behind her glasses. “It’s hard to explain. It’s like...” Her inky lashes swept up and she gazed at him. “I was dragging this rock. Uphill, you know?”
Coop nodded, encouraging her.
“It was hard, but I was getting there little by little. When I met you, you started helping me and so I was making more progress, getting that damn rock up the hill—for what reason, I don’t know.” She ducked her face, her lips moving against his skin. “But then David showed up, and it was like he told me there was no rock.”
Oh, God, Coop heard the tears in her voice and it crushed him. He drew her full against him, his arms around her. “No reason for guilt?”
She nodded, and when she looked up at him, she was smiling, tears clinging to her lashes. “You’ve helped me so much, Cooper.”
From everything she’d said, David should get the credit. “I’m glad.”
“You don’t realize, do you?” She scooted up until she could put her elbows on his chest.
It was a pose she favored, and one he enjoyed because it pushed together her impressive breasts, creating amazing cleavage.
“The things you do,” she said, too seriously, “the way you give, even who you are—you have no idea how special any of that is, do you?”
It made him uneasy, all these extreme compliments. Anna used to say the same, almost in the same way, and that struck too close, making him want to sidestep.
“I’m not,” he teased, turning her under him again. “But if you actually want to get any work done today, I suggest you get a move on.” He put a love bite on her shoulder. “Before I recover enough to convince you to stay.”
For one heart-stopping moment, her gaze searched his and he wondered if she’d feel slighted, if she’d misunderstand his reasons for dodging. She was opening up to him, sharing herself, and here he’d just—
“Right you are.” She gave him a loud smooch and squirreled away from his hold. “I can make it back at 7:00, if that’s okay?”
He stared at her back while she pulled on her panties. After coming twice, he should have been spent, but the sight of her perfect ass caused a spark of heat. “Seven is perfect,” he murmured, watching as she hooked her bra.
Phoenix didn’t wear expensive lingerie, but then, she didn’t need to. Her body was enticing enough not to need decoration.
Sugar yapped, so Phoenix opened the closet. The dog peeked out, watching as she finished dressing. Coop knew Sugar didn’t want her to go. Hell, he didn’t really want her to go either, but he needed some time to think—and he wanted to find out more about David. Why had the man really showed up today? Was it as simple as the explanation he gave—or did Coop have reason to distrust the timing?
He’d do some research before he decided.
And he’d try his best not to let jealousy influence him.
*
Ridley, along with everyone else, knew that Phoenix had gone up to the house with Cooper, and then stayed long enough to have lots of fun.
Silently, she cheered her sister. You go, girl.
Any man who could bring Phoenix around was a hero in her book.
As she finished stacking fresh white towels in the small linen closet of the cabin, Ridley saw her sister through the narrow window. She was striding down the hill to the main path.
Phoenix wore a huge smile.
Hurriedly, Ridley finished what she was doing and darted out to catch her. “Phoenix.”
She looked up, her smile widened, and Phoenix veered off so that they could meet at the lane opposite the scuba shop.
“Well, look at you,” Ridley said as soon as she was close enough. “A little ‘afternoon delight’ agrees with you.”
To her surprise, Phoenix said, “It really does.”