Damaged and the Beast (Damaged #1)

Giving up on asking him or anyone else, I walked outside towards the bus stop. As I hurried through the parking lot, I realized Cooper never left after paying his bill. When I glanced in the direction where he was talking on the phone, I found him staring at me. I turned away quickly, not needing any trouble. Hearing his motorcycle rev, I prayed he was heading to a party and would speed right past me.

“Need a ride?” Cooper asked, pulling over as I walked down the street. “Let me rephrase that. I know you need a ride, but are you desperate enough to take one from me?”

“Why desperate?”

“You tell me. You act like I’m a stalkey douche you can’t shake loose.”

Uh, I wasn’t touching that statement.

“My ride cancelled and it’d be a pain to take three busses.”

“Is that your way of saying you’re desperate enough?”

Studying his grin and the rumbling hog, I figured the ride would take five minutes tops. As for owing him, maybe I could buy him dessert or take notes for him at school. You know, repay him with something besides my body.

“Yes, please,” I said softly, hoping he didn’t get mean or creepy during the ride.

“I don’t know,” Cooper said, scratching at his stubbled cheek. “I have somewhere I need to go first. Are you in a patient mood or will you give me crap?”

“I’ll give you crap so you should take me home first.”

“Nope.”

Grinning, I tried to seem friendly, but not too friendly. “Will another please get me what I want?”

“No, not a please, but I can think of other things that’ll make your case.”

“Never mind,” I said, walking away. “You’re busy.”

Cooper grunted. “Oh, lord, here we go. Now, I’m the one fucking begging. Just get on, will ya?”

“You’ll take me home first before your thing?”

“Sure.”

Walking over to him, I gingerly slid onto the back of the motorcycle. The feel of it between my legs returned my mind to the ugly incident never to be discussed.

“Hold on,” he warned, glancing back at me. “If you fall off, it’ll hurt like a muther.”

Remembering nearly the same words said five years ago, I held on like my life depended on it. My first ride on a Harley had been terrifying, but I reminded myself I was safe this time. Cooper was a pain, but he was mostly bark and no bite. The rich ones usually were.

“I live at…”

“I know, but we’re making a detour. I think I mentioned that.”

“Wait…”

Glancing back at me, Cooper grinned then revved the engine on his Harley. Quickly into traffic, we headed away from my apartment complex. Irritated, I held on tightly and closed my eyes.

To avoid freaking out, I imagined myself home for the evening. After a hot shower, I could watch something relaxing on TV while catching up with schoolwork. Maybe my mom would join me. We wouldn’t talk, but simply enjoy each others’ company. If Mom wasn’t available and she likely wouldn’t be, I could call Tawny. All I had to do was get through Cooper’s detour and his attempts to fuck me.

Without knowing the town well, I wasn’t sure where we were when Cooper pulled over and parked his bike. I lifted my head from his back and removed my hands from the feel of his beating heart. Stumbling off the Harley, I wasn‘t selling cool and I didn’t even want to know what my hair looked like. As for Cooper, he had the kind of windblown hair that made him hotter.

“What is this place?” I asked, hearing loud country music coming from a house with people flowing in and out of the front door. “A party?”

Turning to him with a look of horror, I felt stupid dressed in my Denny’s uniform while all of the girls I could see wore shorts and skirts. Hell, I was barely wearing makeup after a long shift.

“Yeah, you’ve looked better,” Cooper said, grinning as he flicked my loose hair out of my eyes. “A lot better.”

“Thanks,” I said embarrassed because I had hoped to make a good impression on people. I even wanted to find a boyfriend eventually and really embrace college life. Now, I would be that Denny’s girl who showed up at a kegger wearing grandma shoes. Better yet, if they really wanted to mess with me, students could show up at the restaurant so I could serve them. Just wonderful.

Crossing my arms, I glared at Cooper. “I’ll wait outside.”

“Hell no. It’s not safe,” he said, completely full of shit. “Especially not with you dressed like you are. Too provocative. You’ll need to stay close to me so I can protect you.”

Ignoring his grin, I shrugged. “Whatever. I’m waiting here.”

Cooper kept smiling like my embarrassment was the funniest shit ever. Then, he stepped closer and leaned over my shoulder to look at my hair. When I felt him messing with my ponytail, I considered complaining, but thought better of it. He pulled my ponytail loose then handed me the band.

“Much better. Shake it out and you’ll look sexy as hell. That is unless anyone looks from the neck down.”

“I’m waiting here.”

“Don’t be grouchy. It’s not an attractive look on you,” he said, stepping behind me and bumping me forward until we reached the front door.

Running my fingers through my hair, I tried to look my best as I entered my first college party.