Damaged and the Beast (Damaged #1)

“Won’t pretend otherwise,” I said, emphasizing each word.

“Fuck,” he groaned, pulling me against him and stroking my hair. “Pouting along with your bitching is even hotter than the pouting alone. You can’t know how horny I am right now.”

Wiggling free, I walked to a pool table. When Cooper joined me, I squinted annoyed at him.

“Stop talking about your horny level. I’m not having sex with you.”

“Today,” he teased. “Damn, you never add the disclaimer.”

“And I never will.”

Leaning against the table, Cooper sighed as he stretched out his long legs. I placed my hand on his chest and his expression shifted. Those dark eyes found my face.

“I like you,” I said softly. “Even if you scare me and hang out with bikers, I really like you.”

Cooper didn’t say anything, just watched me with a needy gaze. I was sure he was thinking about how horny he was and how pouty my lips were and a lot of other pervy things. Yet, I enjoyed when he watched me with such a gentle expression.

“Maddy might have puked her brains out,” Bailey said, strolling over to us. Standing under a fan, she pulled at her bangs to keep them from floating around. “She likes Fuckwad so it’s highly likely her brains didn’t work anyway.”

“True,” Cooper said, still watching me. “Bailey, you know Farah.”

“Yeah, kinda. You’re in one of my classes, right?”

“Algebra.”

“Yeah, I don’t really plan to go to that one much. It’s hard and none of the boys in class are cute.”

Unsure how to respond, I just smiled and nodded. Bailey didn’t seem to care. Glancing around in a grumpy way, she leaned against Cooper.

“I was supposed to meet someone here and he didn’t show. Will ya kick his ass for me?”

“Sure. Now, get off me so I can play pool.”

“With your girlfriend?” Bailey asked, making kissing noises while still leaning against her brother. “Tucker is ignoring me. He said I embarrass him. The name Fuckwad is a form of endearment.”

“Bailey, if you don’t get off me…”

“You’ll what?” she asked, glaring up at him. “Whine to Mom? Poop your pants, Coop?”

“I’ll tell Pop you got yourself roofied Friday night and he’ll make you take a chaperone to parties.”

Bailey pushed off of Cooper then looked at me. “Do you have brothers?”

“No.”

“Lucky. Mine smell like feet.”

With that comment, Bailey walked away and I fought the urge to laugh. Cooper watched me struggling against a grin. Sensing he was irritated, I figured having his little sister mock him on a date must be embarrassing.

“I don’t think you smell like feet,” I said, taking the pool stick.

Cooper grunted. “You give the best compliments. Award worthy really.”

Leaning forward, I aimed the cue ball at the pyramid. Even with Cooper likely watching my ass stick out, I concentrated and hit the ball. The triangle scattered and a ball fell into a pocket.

“It’s physics,” I said, glancing at Cooper who grinned.

“Is your gambling dad a pool shark too?”

“No, my mom was,” I muttered, turning towards him.

“And she taught you her hot moves, huh?” he said, trapping me against the table with his hips. “Bet you made a lot of grown men cry when you beat their asses. Not to mention the cash you won.”

Losing my smile, I waited for Cooper to move so I could make my next shot.

“What’s wrong now?”

“Nothing.”

“Bad memories or you think I’m a dick?”

“I know you’re a dick, but that’s not why I’m grumpy. Let’s not talk about my parents, okay? I shouldn’t have mentioned my dad earlier.”

“Why?” Cooper asked, crowding me physically and emotionally now. “Where is your dad now?”

“I don’t know. He travels a lot.”

“What does he do?”

“Odd jobs.”

“Is he messed up like your mom?”

“Can I ask about your parents?”

“Sure. My pop is great. My mom is better than great. Anything else? No? Fine, now explain why you’re pissed.”

“I’m not pissed. I just don’t want to talk about my parents.”

“Or is it because you were a pool shark and took money from unsuspecting assholes and that makes the goody-two-shoes nerd inside you sad?”

Staring at Cooper, I realized he wouldn’t back off until he heard details. “Yeah, I’m good at pool and I took money from unsuspecting assholes. Sometimes, they didn’t like that. The goody-two-shoes nerd inside me doesn’t want to think about the time one of those assholes cut off my ponytail and broke my nose. But if you’d like to discuss it instead of having fun, let’s chat away.”

Cooper stepped back. “Fuck. Your family is shit, Farah. Complete crap.”

Setting the pool stick down, I glared at him. “I want to leave.”