Damaged and the Beast (Damaged #1)

“You, grumpy? I don’t believe it.”


“That there,” he said, gesturing towards a small stall, “has a shower. We could wash off the chlorine then head inside. My girl needs more rest than she’s getting with her crap job.”

Even thinking to defend my crap job, I was actually really tired. A nap sounded nice, though I doubted I would sleep. We left the warm water of the pool and hurried to wash off before the slight breeze clung to our wet bodies.

After the shower, Cooper wrapped me in a towel while he remained nude. Taking my hand, he led me to a guest room where he lowered the shades and found an extra blanket.

“I always get cold during naps,” Cooper explained. “Plus, we’re naked.”

“We are so naked,” I said, licking my bottom lip.

“Stop making me hard.”

I undid the towel then dropped it on a chair before sliding under the covers.

“I’m cold. Do you think you could warm me up?”

Cooper grinned. “You had me at the lip lick.”

Soon overheated from his tongue’s affections at my stomach and chest, I still wouldn’t let him lick lower. When Cooper pressed open my legs, he didn’t struggle with me like the night before. I really felt in the moment until the pleasure grew too intense and I shut down. Cooper watched my face as he moved slowly in and out of me. If he thought it would make any difference, I think he might have held on for another hour.

When I ran my nails along his chest, Cooper gave up and just let go. Those last few thrusts were so deep that the sensations sent me somewhere between abject terror and intense pleasure. I was always so close to coming, but couldn’t get past the wall.

Cooper said nothing after we finished. Cuddled with me, he made sure we were snug under the blankets. I didn’t think I could sleep in a strange bed with a man wrapped against the back of me especially with the slightly painful tingles between my legs. While certain that I’d stare at the wall until Cooper woke up, I was instead asleep within minutes.

Waking to a murky room, I wondered how much time passed while I napped. I turned to find Cooper lying on his side watching me. He smiled when our gazes met.

“Have you been up long?” I asked.

“Twenty minutes top.”

I reached for his face and let my fingers slide across the stubble on his cheek. Lifting my head to kiss him, I felt him press something against my lips.

Cooper grinned. “A mint so you won’t have to worry about your breath.”

Opening my mouth, I took the mint before smiling so widely my face hurt. “You’re too perfect.”

“Yeah, I know,” he said, leaning down to kiss me. “Man, you’re hot when you sleep.”

I had no time for a response because his lips were on mine and the kiss stretched into us wrapped together. Our bodies were so warm under the blankets and I knew what Cooper wanted. Well, more like needed. I felt a little sore, but when he touched me just right, I opened my legs for him.

There was something extremely comforting about being in that room with Cooper. The house smelled like peaches from a nearby air freshener. It was quiet and warm and I felt safe with Cooper as if he alone could hold back all of the ugliness in my life.





Chapter Sixteen


Tawny answered on the first ring like her hand was hovering over the phone. While I thought maybe she sensed I would call, her voice sounded panicked for her to be expecting me.

“Tawny, what’s wrong?” I asked.

“We’re somewhere else now.”

“Is Dad around?” I asked, sitting in the guest room while Cooper readied our dinner.

“He’s got a con going and thinks he could have the money to pay off those people. I still don’t know what he’ll do about the cops, but he says he’s close to fixing one problem. Then, maybe we can move somewhere else and I can get a job.”

Tawny sounded like she was reciting Dad. I hated when she did that because it meant she was on autopilot. I remembered how when things were really bad my little sister would pull deep within herself and go through the motions. Sometimes, it was difficult to reassure Tawny enough for her to come out of hiding and I feared she’d lock herself away forever.

“Are you okay?” I asked gently, feeling guilty to have spent such a wonderful day while Tawny was trapped somewhere.

“Yes, I’m glad you called. Did you sleep with that rich guy?”

“Last night.”

“Was it good?” she asked, sounding more like Tawny now and I could see the little grin on her face.

“It was okay.”

“Was he mean?” she asked, the humor gone.

“It was just weird and…” I glanced around like someone might be listening even though I knew I was alone. “I cried last night and again today at Cooper’s house.”

“Why? You said he wasn’t mean.”