Damaged and the Beast (Damaged #1)

“Why would I complain?”


“We’ll be alone near a bed. You’re bound to get nervous.”

“No sex though or will we? I need to plan in my head for it.”

“Baby, I want you to ask me for sex, not the other way around. If you don’t ask, it ain’t happening.”

“So no sex then,” I said, kicking away and swimming towards the edge.

“Bitch,” he muttered.

“Dickhead,” I called over my shoulder.

“Temptress.”

“Playboy.”

Cooper said something else, but I didn’t hear. When I glanced back, he was watching me with an odd expression. I decided not to worry and just swam the rest of the way to the edge. Soon, he joined me up the stairs where Cooper dropped the inner tube on the deck. Tucker had given up on Maddy jumping, so they were making out instead. I didn’t see Bailey, not on the deck or as we walked up the stairs to the main house.

Cooper found me a towel and I had it wrapped tightly as we made our way to his place. Upon arriving, I wasn’t sure what to expect for an apartment over the garage.

“It smells good,” I said then covered my mouth.

Cooper pressed up behind me. “Why wouldn’t it smell good?”

“Men are stinky,” I said, grinning at him over my shoulder. “It smells good though. Like a model home.”

Cooper started to speak then thought better of it. As we entered, there was a small modern kitchen on our left. Straight ahead was a little area with a huge leather couch, giant TV, and enough electronics and video games to keep a teenage boy happy.

Cooper stopped in the kitchen and found two drinks from the refrigerator. A beer for him and a soda for me.

“My girl doesn’t drink alcohol because it’s illegal,” he said in a little girl voice. “What would the man say?”

“Shut up. Laws exist for a reason.”

“Yeah, as a way to keep a boot on the neck of people. That and to give certain assholes a sense of power. Nothing more than that.”

“Fine, then give me a beer.”

“No way. You’re too young,” he said, taking my hand and leading me to the couch. “Now, we’re pretty dry from the heat and the endless walk up here. We should be fine on the furniture, but if you’d like to strip down and go bare ass, I promise not to complain.”

Sitting next to him, I cuddled against his chest. “If I was naked, there’s no way you’d stop nagging for sex.”

“You’re that hot, huh?”

“Oh, yeah, irresistible.”

“Don’t I believe it? You’re so hot in that ugly suit that I’m ready to do some begging right now. But I won’t because of how you need to mentally prepare.” Frowning, I thought he was making fun of me, but he just winked. “No pressure. I’m happy you’re here and not looking for reasons to leave.”

“I do need to study.”

“Oh, lord,” he grumbled to himself.

When I licked his jaw, he shut up. “Do you have anything to eat?”

Cooper grinned. “Let me go to the house and get something good. I’m sure there’s a shitload of leftovers.”

“You don’t have to. I can eat anything.”

Cooper jumped up. “I know, but you don’t ask for much. When you ask, I’m at your command, baby. Watch TV if you want,” he said, walking towards the door before coming back and kissing me hard. My tongue met his tongue halfway and I suddenly didn’t want him to leave. Wrapping him into my arms, I kept him still and the kiss lingered until he finally let go.

“You’re so frisky when wet,” he teased, stepping back even as I tried to keep hold of him. “Feel free to snoop around my place while I’m gone. I have no secrets from my girl.”

“I’ll watch TV.”

“Aren’t you the least bit curious?”

“If I want to know something, I’ll ask.”

“Spoken like a true goody-two-shoes. I love it,” he said, disappearing out the door.

Returning to the couch, I took the giant remote and pushed forty buttons before getting the damn TV to turn on. The next few minutes, I flipped through channels, completely disinterested in anything not Cooper related.

Finally, I ran to his bedroom just to see where so many girls shed their panties for Cooper. I would be one of those girls soon. A little part of me wanted it to happen as soon as he came back. Only part of that part was interested in the sex though. Mostly, I wanted to know.

Was Jodi right about him falling for me? Or was Cooper just horny for the girl who dared tell him no?

Staring at the bed, I thought it looked comfortable. Extra large and partially made as if he yanked up the covers in a halfhearted attempt to fix up the place. The image of us having sex terrified me, but the thought of lying there with him talking and cuddling made me smile.