Damaged and the Beast (Damaged #1)

Glancing up at the deck where Maddy argued with Tucker, I didn’t know where Bailey had gone.

“They don’t care about us. We’re not even on their radar,” Cooper said, nuzzling my neck with his lips.

Focusing on Cooper, I refused to freak out. We were just messing around, having a little fun. I wrapped my legs gently around his hips and he groaned into the crook of my neck. With a hand on my butt, Cooper moved me slowly up and down over his erection. I didn’t like the feel of it, so I focused on his strong shoulders. Caressing his golden skin, I didn’t think about anything waist down.

Instead, I ran my fingers through his wet hair, pressing a lock behind his ear. He was beautiful, so finely built like a model or fantasy man. Cooper was real though and I wanted him. Maybe I didn’t want the sex part, but I wanted the man who wanted the sex part.

I needed him to want me too because I wasn’t ready for us to be over. I wanted more time to enjoy his teasing and those hungry gazes he gave me. So I let him use me to feel good. I wanted Cooper enough to help a little by grinding against him. He liked that enough to find his relief.

When he looked at me, I knew Cooper worried I was angry. I liked the concern in his eyes and I wanted him to still care about impressing me. One day, he wouldn’t and I wasn’t ready for that to happen.

“You okay?” he asked, still concerned.

Smiling, I wrapped my arms around his neck. “You have a sickness,” I teased. “Did the treatment help any?”

Cooper laughed. “I want you too much to be healthy. I’ve never been in a constant state of heat before.”

“All part of my plan.”

“I’m glad I can tell when you’re lying. If I thought you were really messing with me, I’d take it personal.”

“Stop threatening me,” I said, giving his crotch a quick grind.

“Holy hell, you’re making me crazy.”

“I offered,” I said, pulling away from him and dipping my hair into the water to cool my head. “You said no.”

“You offered, but your heart wasn’t in it.”

Sensing Cooper’s feelings were hurt by my ability to tell his hot bod no, I reached out and caressed the cross tattoo on his chest.

“I always get nervous the first time I’m with a guy.”

“Have you been with a lot of guys?”

“Thousands,” I said as my finger traced the perfect lines of the cross. “Too many to count.”

Cooper watched me then glanced down at where my fingers slid over his nipple. “You’re the devil, Farah. No way you really run this hot and cold.”

“I’m not cold. Just nervous.”

“Seriously,” he said, tapping at my chin to have me look at him, “you’ve been with a guy before, right?”

“Yes,” I said quickly then added, “Just not with you. It’s different each time. For me anyway.”

“Oh, but not for me because I’m a slut.”

Pulling away, I frowned. “You did say you could fuck someone else and pretend she was me. I don’t think sex means as much to you as it does to me.”

His face a mask of hurt, he asked, “Do you like me at all?”

“Yes,” I whispered, frightened by his tone.

“Why? My money? Because I’m hot.”

“You make me laugh. You can also be gentle. When you are, I want you more than anything.”

Cooper’s expression softened. “If you like me and you’re not a virgin, why are you so nervous?”

“My life was never predictable and I get startled and nervous easily. I just need to mentally prepare for certain things. Sharing my body is one of them. I’m not confident enough to do it without getting ready first.”

Cooper studied me with those dark conflicted eyes. “I keep forgetting your shit childhood and how I need to adjust to that. I’m spoiled, I guess.”

“Hell yeah, you’re spoiled,” I teased.

A grinning Cooper stroked my cheek then let his hand slide down my shoulder to my waist.

“I need to know you like me for real,” he said, pressing me against him as the current gently tossed us. “That you feel what I do because I’m nervous now. Like if I fuck up, I’ll lose something irreplaceable.”

Staring at him, I had no idea how to respond. I kept worrying he was only conning me as a way to add another freshman to his list of bang and hang girls.

“I’m getting hot,” I said and Cooper immediately grinned. “Like from the heat. Could we go see your apartment? It’s air conditioned, right? I mean, a spoiled guy like you wouldn’t expect anything less.”

“You don’t like it in the water?”

“I do, but the sun is making my head hurt. We can stay if you want.”

“Screw the river. I’ve seen it before. You’re all shiny and new and I’m going to figure you out and make you worship me.”

“Good luck with that.”

“See the steps up?” he asked, pointing towards where the riverbank was the steepest. “We’ll swim over and walk up and then walk up some more and eventually we’ll walk up the stairs to my place. By then, you’ll be too tired to complain when I kiss all over you.”