Damaged and the Beast (Damaged #1)

Smiling, I finished my drink. “Whenever you’re ready, I am.”


“Girl, you know just the right things to say.”

Cooper paid the check and soon we were back into the hot evening. He wrapped an arm around me as we walked to his truck and I inched closer so I was right next to him. Even without looking, I knew he liked that gesture. His breathing came out unsteady like he was fighting for control. Once we were in the truck, he lost it.

I might have panicked at the suddenness of his kiss and how I was immediately wrapped in his strong arms. Despite his need, Cooper was gentle and I relaxed into the embrace. I understood him better now. At least, I hoped I did and wasn’t lying to myself because he was so beautiful.

Cooper’s strong hands were in my hair, pulling me closer. His passion should have overwhelmed me, but something changed in the restaurant. I felt like he knew me and this gave me power. Bravely, I wrapped my arms around him and pressed my body along his.

Moaning into my mouth, Cooper deepened his kisses. The hunger behind them intensified until my bravery felt insufficient. He wouldn’t stop and I wasn’t ready for him to take it all. He knew me and I had power, but it wasn’t enough. I wasn’t in the now with Cooper, but back to being Farah Smith.

Fear shot through me and I tried to break free. Cooper knew I wanted him to let go. He felt my hands wedged between us, pushing him off, but he didn’t stop. Not right away. His kisses softened, but he didn’t let me go for another few minutes until I was nearly clawing at him to stop.

There was a moment right then between us when I wanted to jump out of the truck and run away. His gaze challenging me, Cooper wasn’t teasing or horny. He was claiming me and my desires weren’t even on his radar. Now, we were on his timetable, not mine.

Instead of running away, I put on my seatbelt and stared out the window. Cooper started the car, turned up the radio, and let it sink in how he was in charge. I’d shown him how important he was to me so he wouldn’t beg. Didn’t have to beg when I needed him more than he needed me.

Fuck him!

His friends, money, and affection were shit next to my dreams. I didn’t need him. I needed to be a teacher. I needed my sister. Being fucked by this asshole wasn’t even on the top hundred things I needed.

Arriving at my apartment, Cooper looked for a spot to park, but I undid my seatbelt once we reached the entrance.

“I had fun tonight. I’ll see you at school.”

“Fuck,” he said, grabbing my arm before I jumped out of the still moving car. “You’re nuts.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“Yeah, but I’d rather be an asshole than a crazy bitch.”

Cooper was right. I did need him because the moment he called me a crazy bitch all of my confidence was gone. With those few words and his dismissive expression, I felt like nothing. Of course, he would hurt me. It was what guys like him did.

One of those silent moments passed where we just stared at each other. Cooper released my wrist and put the car into park. He didn’t turn it off though.

“Tonight was fun. I’ll pick you up tomorrow to go swimming.”

Cooper offered a truce. A deal where I got out of the heavy petting with him, but I still had to come to his house and run around half naked. I assumed this would lead to heavy petting. He’d just have to wait a day for it.

“What time?” I said, feeling defeated and desperate to call Tawny.

“Is ten too early?”

Shaking my head, I opened the door. “Thank you for dinner.”

“No goodbye kiss?” he muttered.

“You got it back in the parking lot,” I said, slamming the door.

When I heard Cooper pummeling the steering wheel, I couldn’t help smiling. I might need him, but I wouldn’t give him whatever he wanted. Or maybe I would just fuck him and get him away from me? Why was I wasting so much time pretending like he and I would be together when his needs were all in his pants?

Once in my apartment, I decided I would sleep with Cooper that weekend. Get it over with then he could dump me and I’d move on with my life and focus on what mattered. Soon, I told my plan to Tawny.

“What if you’re so good at it that he won’t dump you?” Tawny asked as we watched Paula Deen on TV.

Laughing, I nearly dropped the phone. “Yeah, that’ll happen.”

“You never know.”

“You should see this guy. He’s the stud of the campus. He just needs to nail all of the freshman girls so he can say he’s ruined them for everyone else. He thinks he’s got mad skills.”

“What kind of skills?”

“I don’t know. I’m afraid to ask. I’m assuming just sex stuff.”

“Ew. Yeah, I wouldn’t ask either,” Tawny teased. “So you got to eat Italian?”

“Yeah, it was delicious and not super expensive. Well, with salads and desserts it was. If we just ordered the pasta and water, we could afford it occasionally.”

“Cool. I can’t wait until I move there.”