Damaged and the Beast (Damaged #1)

“This is Farah,” Cooper said, grinning. “She’s my girl. Don’t call her names.”


“How come?”

“Because she’s not a whore.”

“How do you know? You test her out yet?”

“Holy hell!” Cooper said, dipping her upside down. “Who is teaching you that shit?”

“Fuckwad!” Sawyer screamed as Cooper set her on the ground gently. “He said good girls get rings and bad girls get STDs. I want a ring.”

Rolling his eyes, Cooper sighed. “Tucker’s too stupid to know better. You aren’t so do yourself a favor and never listen to a word he says.”

“She’s pretty. I like blondes better,” Sawyer said, eyeing me from head to toe.

“No one is better than my girl,” Cooper said, giving me a quick kiss. “Is Mom around?”

Sawyer screamed, “Mom” until a curly haired blonde woman appeared from the house wearing shorts and a Harley tank top. Her bare skin displayed an assortment of tattoos from skulls to butterflies. Her blue eyes were bright as she looked up at her son then down at her still screaming daughter.

“Tucker is teaching her crap,” Cooper said.

“You’re the oldest. It’s your job to kick his ass for me.”

Cooper laughed. “Mom, this is her.”

“Ah, her,” his mom said, grinning. “The girl who’s got my son wrapped around her finger.”

Standing there awkwardly, I gave my best non-awkward smile as Cooper’s mom gave me the once over.

“I’m Jodi and you must be a special girl for my boy to want you so bad.”

Ignoring the special girl part, I forced my smile to grow. “Hello, Jodi.”

“You hungry? We’re getting ready to grill.”

“I ate earlier. Thank you.”

Cooper snorted. “She’s lying. I felt her stomach growling on the way over.”

Glaring at him, I felt my face flush in embarrassment. Jodi just laughed and took Sawyer by the hand.

“Come on in and get something to eat before you go swimming. Need to keep up your energy in this heat.”

Still irritated, I glanced at Cooper. Instead of giving a shit about my anger, he grinned at me like his pants were still too snug.

“Yes,” he said, nudging me towards the house, “we must keep up our energy. I have plans for today.”

“Okay,” I said, nervous about a lot of things now.

His mom was nice, but I’d never met a guy’s parents. Also, Sawyer was a little like Bailey and I feared being embarrassed. Then, there was Cooper’s horniness. I had woken up with the plan to have sex with him. When he said it wouldn’t happen, I relaxed. Now, I didn’t know what to think. His moods were all over the place. Sweet one minute. Terrifying the next.

Cooper kissed my neck before corralling me into the air conditioned house. I turned to look at him and his smile faded.

“What?” he whispered.

“Nothing.”

Cooper stood behind me and wrapped his arms around my chest, pulling me to him. “You work at that job. You never miss school. You deserve a little fun and we’re going to have fun. Soon, my pop will grill and you’ll pig out and I’ll lick barbeque sauce off your lips. Then, I’ll take you home, safe and sound. Do you understand?” I nodded again, but Cooper sighed. “Why do you look ready to cry?”

“I’m nervous.”

“Don’t be. My family’s a mess. We’re sloppy. We eat too much. Talk too loud. Fart constantly. Next to us, you’re a princess.”

Grinning, I nuzzled my cheek against his bicep. This time when Cooper sighed, there was longing behind the sound. “Today, I’m kissing you like you’ve never been kissed before. Prepare to be ruined for all other men.”

“Is that a threat?” I asked, squinting hard at him.

“Gorgeous.”

“Sexy jerk.”

“Let’s get something to eat.”

The inside of the house was even nicer than the outside. It wasn’t chandelier fancy, but warm and countrified. Even with the animal heads on the walls, the place felt grand because of the two-story windows facing the river and woods.

Cooper wanted alone time with me, but Sawyer was busy monopolizing his time. I didn’t mind the distraction as I worried about wearing a swimsuit around him and Bailey. This fear was soon realized when Bailey appeared and smiled in a fake way. Cooper glared at her until she punched his arm. Then, he chased his screaming sister out of the room. It could have gone better.

By the time I was alone with Bailey in her massive princess room, my empty stomach twisted with anxiety.

“I’m nervous about wearing a swimsuit in front of your brother,” I told Bailey who was searching for the right one.

She glanced at me full of irritation then her brain caught up with what I said. The annoyance washed away and she smiled. “He’s been with a lot of really hot girls. He’s bound to compare you.”

While I succeeded in making Bailey feel better, I’d managed to screw myself with her helpful honesty.

“He really wants to fuck you though,” Bailey added when I just stared at her. “He’s determined to fuck you, so it won’t matter how bad you look.”