Damaged and the Beast (Damaged #1)

“Oh, I still don’t think it’s big. I’m an average student. Steady like a tortoise.”


“Don’t talk shit about my girl,” he said, gnawing at a corncob. “She’s fucking brilliant. She likes me after all.”

“Yes, she does,” I said then added, “Very much.”

Cooper watched me and an emotion flooded his handsome features then was gone.

“We’re good together,” he said, returning to eating. “Different but complimentary. Don’t you think?”

“Yes,” I lied.

“My parents are like that.”

My stomach flipped. My heart raced. My mind screamed, “You’re eighteen! Stop thinking forever! Think of now!” Then, my heart told my head to shut up.

“My parents are too similar,” I said. “Maybe that’s why they didn’t last?”

“Probably. Can you imagine how difficult it is to argue with yourself?”

Smiling, I finished the food and set the plate on the table. After wiping my mouth, I wondered if I should brush my teeth first.

“I should get home soon,” I said and Cooper’s expression was what I expected. “Do you want to kiss more before I leave?”

As I hoped, this question distracted Cooper from his regret over my leaving. “Hell yeah,” he murmured before his lips were on mine.

Shoving his plate on the table, Cooper leaned me back on the couch. He kissed my lips, lingering on the thicker bottom one, before kissing both of my cheeks.

“Why can’t you stay later? It’s not even dark.”

“I didn’t get a chance to study a lot during the week. I need to catch up.”

“We could watch a movie,” Cooper said, his left hand caressing my bare thigh. “Eat dinner and talk. We can talk about Tawny, school, whatever. I’m not ready for you to leave.”

“What if we make out for a while then I leave?” I asked, tracing his pouty lips.

“Or we could make out then watch a movie?”

“How long is the movie?”

“Just long enough for you to stay for dinner.”

“I just ate.”

“We could go swimming in the pool and build up your appetite again.”

Grinning at him, I sighed. “I should leave soon.”

“No, you should relax. Let me help.”

When Cooper’s lips found my neck, I actually shuddered. My body sent all kinds of unwanted signals to my brain. The hot tingles were unhelpful hints screaming, “More!”

As my arms wrapped around his wide shoulders, I leaned my head to the left. His lips sucked softly, probably too softly to leave a mark. When his tongue slid up my neck to my mouth, I met him hungrily. Quickly, my legs wrapped around his hips, tugging him closer.

Cooper groaned into my mouth and I felt him tighten his grip around me. My body didn’t care about anything except how good he felt and how he promised pleasure. I deserved pleasure, my body assured me. Did I deserve Cooper though? Was he too good for me? Wouldn’t he use then forget me?

Ignoring those thoughts, I enjoyed every kiss from Cooper who even in the heat of his need didn’t lose his stellar tongue work. Slow, teasing, thorough, he tasted me. So good, I wanted to go to his bed immediately before the fear returned.

“Cooper, please,” I moaned when he nibbled at my ear.

“Stop?” he asked, looking at me. “What’s wrong?”

“No, don’t stop. I want to go to your room.”

Cooper gave me his little boy lost expression while stroking my face with his fingers. “Why do you look like that then?”

“Like what?”

“Terrified.”

“I’m nervous, but I want to go in your bedroom.”

“Why?”

Frustrated, I grinded my hips against his. “That’s why.”

“You look upset though.”

“I’m nervous. Please.”

Cooper brushed my hair away from my face then kissed me softly. “You’re not ready.”

“It’s not your place to say that,” I muttered.

“It is my place because I’m the one who will look at your face when we’re together and know you’re not really giving. I’m not sure why you’re offering, but you don’t really want it,” he said then added, “Yet.”

“I do.”

“I sense your body does,” Cooper said, grinning at my hard nipples and flushed face. “You’re not ready though. If we went into my room, I don’t think things would turn out the way we want. Let’s just play around then watch a movie.”

Touching his face, my fingers enjoyed the prickles on his jaw. Cooper was so beautiful and I wanted to keep him. While I didn’t know if sex would end our relationship or take it to a better level, I needed to know.

“Please,” I whispered.