Damaged and the Beast (Damaged #1)

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?”