Damaged and the Beast (Damaged #1)

Imagining the many girls who enjoyed their time on the bed, I wondered how many used Cooper as much as he used them. I wished I could be confident about sex like those girls because I really wanted Cooper. Mostly, I wanted to know if he would like me in a week or month.

Hearing him at the door, I ran back to the couch and acted casual while watching soccer. Cooper entered with a box full of food in his arms and a bag dangling from his hand.

“I brought your clothes, so you can change.”

Standing up, I grinned at him. “Thank you.”

“I’m getting the hang of this.”

“Stop talking like I’m a grumpy person you need to maneuver,” I muttered, giving him a grin so he knew I was teasing.

Ignoring my comment, Cooper licked his bottom lip and my gaze was immediately glued to the gesture.

“You can get naked in my room. I promise not to join you and…”

Rolling my eyes, I grinned. “You want to get yourself riled up.”

“Maybe. Getting horny feels good.” When I took the bag with my clothes and glanced inside, Cooper sighed. “I did look at your panties and bra. How could I not? I didn’t sniff them or anything inappropriate like that.”

“Sniff them?”

Cooper grinned. “Tucker sniffs Maddy’s panties. He’s very proud of this fact.”

“I think it goes without saying that I’m not commenting on that.”

“No need. The fucker sniffs panties and runs around telling people like he’s discovered the cure for cancer. That shit speaks for itself.”

Leaving Cooper to set out all of the food he brought over, I shut myself in his room then in his adjoining bathroom. It was clean, functional, and male. Upon smelling his cologne, a weird hot sensation grew in my stomach then moved south. I’d never gotten aroused from a smell before. Staring in the mirror, I realized I was screwed.

No more keeping Cooper at arm’s length. No playing it cool, I had fallen hard and wanted to keep him. The thought of being tossed aside already stung, but it was coming one day. Maybe soon. Yet, I might be able to keep him interested for a while.

Again, I considered having sex and testing his interest. My nerves would prevent me from doing anything really sexy like actively participating. I still needed to know if I could keep Cooper after the wait for sex was over.

As soon as I changed into my shorts and tee, I returned to the living room and considered asking Cooper for sex. He was only interested in food though. Hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, coleslaw, and pounds of potato salad along with sticky buns his mom made after we left. Joining him on the couch, I took the plate he offered. Too nervous to ask, I dug into the food. Cooper sat at the other end of the couch with his feet propped up on the table. When I scooted sideways to face him better, he smiled.

“I can’t believe how much food I’m eating,” I said after a few minutes of pigging out.

“Why didn’t you eat before you came?”

“I did. A piece of toast.”

“Watching your weight, baby?” he asked. “Girls are always obsessing. Fucking Bailey thinks she’s fat and she’s a damn board.”

“Watching the checkbook, stud. Gotta make every penny count if I want to pay for school and move Tawny here.”

“I could help.”

Avoiding his gaze, I shook my head. “You already think I want you for your money.”

“Or my hot bod. They’re both worthy of worship.”

Grinning, I still refused to look at him. “I want to work my way through college. That way when I graduate, I’ll know I earned it.”

“Doesn’t anyone help you?”

“I get a little financial aid and my grandma pays for some stuff. She’s not a nice woman, but she doesn’t want more losers in the family. Without her help, I wouldn’t be here.”

“I love her then,” Cooper said, leaning forward and stretching so he could kiss my cheek. “She got my girl to New Hampton.”

Once he sat back in his groove, I considered smooth ways of asking for sex. Instead, I chickened out again.

“Your mom is a great cook,” I said, enjoying the macaroni salad.

“Yeah, self taught. Trial and error. Can you cook?”

“We usually didn’t have a kitchen in the motel. I can warm stuff up, but that’s it.”

Cooper studied me then nodded. “I’d have my mom teach you, but she’s pretty scary in the kitchen. Her way or the highway thing. They have evening classes at the college where they teach cooking. Maybe once you get settled in, you can take a class. I know how my girl loves to learn.”

Swallowing hard, I blurted out, “After we eat, can we go to your bedroom?”

Cooper glanced at the television and sighed. “No fucking way.”

“Why?”

“Your face is why. You look like you might puke.”

“I’m nervous, but I want to.”

“No fucking way times ten, baby,” he said, glancing back at me. “Today is going too damn well. There’s no way I’m ruining it by having sex when you’re still not sure about me.”

“When then?”

“When you look at me and I know you want it. When I know you’re giving with your heart and not that big head of yours.”

“My head isn’t big.”

“Figuratively.”