Chaser

by Staci Hart

  Cooper

  My doorbell rang early that evening — it was either Chinese food or Maggie. I tried not to hurry to the door, imagining it was her, and when I opened it, I wasn’t disappointed.

  She stood in the entry, rosy cheeked and smiling up at me, wearing a sweet dress with tiny flowers all over it and white sneakers, unfussy and perfectly beautiful. “Hey.”

  “Hey.” I wrapped my arms around her and laid a hot kiss on her lips.

  She looked up at me dreamily when she broke away. “I was kinda hoping you’d already be naked.”

  “That would have been awkward if you’d actually been the delivery guy.”

  She chuckled.

  “How was your day?” I closed the door and followed her into the apartment.

  “Long,” she said as she set down her bag. “I have a lot of work to do tonight. Our benefactor is coming tomorrow, and I’m supposed to put a proposal together for her.”

  I stiffened, smiling to cover my discomfort, hoping my decision to keep any details about her new boss to myself was wise.

  Her eyes narrowed. “Why do you look weird?”

  I grabbed her around the waist and dipped her. “I’m just hearing that you’re not going to stay very long, and I don’t like it. Not one bit.” I kissed her deep, and her arms wound around my neck.

  Her cheeks were flushed when I broke the kiss. “Well,” she said, voice raspy, “better make the most of it while we can.”

  I wasn’t one to argue.

  I kissed her again with intention, contemplating just how I’d like to undress her when the doorbell rang. I didn’t stop.

  Her hands pressed my shoulders, and she broke away, smiling. “That’s dinner.”

  “Fuck dinner. I’m ready for dessert.”

  She giggled and kissed me gently. “Well, I’m starving.”

  “Me too.” I covered her mouth with mine, and she pulled away, laughing.

  “Answer it, Coop.”

  The doorbell rang again, and I set her down, grumbling before flying to the door and ripping it open, glad I’d already paid and tipped when I called it in. I swiped the bag of Chinese food and closed the door in one motion, leaving a stunned delivery man in my entryway. I tossed the bag on the island on my way back to her.

  I scooped her into my arms.

  She laughed into my neck. “Seriously, I’m so hungry. Can we eat first?”

  “Nope.” I pressed my lips to hers.

  She pulled back, smiling. “If you feed me first, I’ll last longer.”

  I sighed. “Well, in that case …” I kissed her gently and let her go.

  “Thank you.”

  I made my way into the kitchen to grab plates. “Water or wine?”

  “Water,” she said as she sat down. “If I have wine tonight, I’ll never get my work done.”

  I stacked up plates and napkins. “Meaning you’d stay longer? Because if so, I think you should reconsider.”

  “You are the worst influence.”

  “Thank you.” I made my way to the island where she was already unpacking dinner.

  She opened a carton and took a long whiff. “God, I could eat a horse.”

  “How about a Giant Hammerhead Cooper?”

  A laugh shot out of her. “Why, did you get shark soup?”

  I snorted.

  She was still chuckling. “I’ve actually been thinking about The Hammerhead all day.”

  “Oh?” I sat down next to her, amused and very turned on.

  She nodded. “Mmhmm. Sometimes I just need your dick in my face.”

  My brows shot up, and I smirked. “Keep talking like that and I’m not going to let you eat first.”

  Maggie pouted dramatically, though her eyes smoldered. “Aww. I really wanted some egg roll.” She pulled one out of the paper envelope and inspected it. “They’re so hot and fat.” I watched as she opened her mouth and wrapped her pink lips around it, took a bite with a crunch and closed her eyes, moaning.

  I couldn’t tear my eyes away, and I realized distantly that my mouth was open. I wet my lips. “Mags …” The word was almost a warning.

  She opened her eyes and blinked up at me innocently. “What?”

  I turned and grabbed her stool, pulling her between my legs. “I thought you wanted to eat?”

  She set down the egg roll and dusted off her hands. “I did say that, didn’t I?” she asked as she slipped off the stool. “I’m hungry, Cooper.” Her hands trailed down to my pants and tugged at my belt, her eyes wide as she looked into mine. My hands found her waist. “Will you feed me?”

  I would have laughed if my raging boner wasn’t straining against my underwear — I couldn’t even answer. She unzipped my pants and wrapped her fingers around my shaft. Her gaze was locked on mine, but when I leaned into her for a kiss, she backed away smiling, teasing me.

  She hooked her fingers in the elastic band of my underwear, eyes on her hands as they gripped me. I watched her tongue slip out to wet her lips, lips that smiled when I pulsed in her hand involuntarily.

  She bent over, ass out, breath hot, lips wet as she closed them over me. I sucked in a breath, but I couldn’t close my eyes, just slipped a hand into her curly hair and watched as I disappeared into her mouth. She pulled back and dropped down again, looking up at me, hand around my base as I hit the back of her throat.

  “Fuck,” I whispered, and her eyes smiled before her lids fluttered closed.

  Her body moved in a figure eight as she backed away and dropped down again and again, sucking and rolling her tongue when she came to the tip. I reached for the back of her dress and gathered it with my fingers until the hem hung in the curve of her waist, ass exposed, my eyes on her black G-string.

  My heart banged as I gripped her hair and pulled to stop her, and she popped off, lips swollen, lids heavy. In a breath, I was kissing her, our tongues rolling, lips a hard seam. I could have devoured her in that moment.

  But instead, I turned her around and bent her over my kitchen table. She panted, forearms on the surface, as I lifted her dress and hooked my fingers in the string of her panties, dragged it over the curve of her ass and down her thighs. She shimmied until they were on the floor and spread her legs. I gripped my shaft in one hand and slipped the other around her waist, down her stomach until I reached the sensitive spot to trace letters with the pad of my finger.

  F.

  I guided my crown to the wet line. She turned to look behind her, sucking in a breath.

  U.

  I dragged it up the length of her.

  C.

  “Cooper,” she moaned shifting her hips as I rested against the dip.

  K.

  “Are you hungry, Maggie?” I flexed my hips and filled her slowly.

  Her mouth hung open, lids fluttering closed, and she gasped when I hit the end. “Yes,” she whispered, lowering her cheek to the surface, her fingers clenching and releasing against the wood, looking for something to hold on to. I arched over her and took her hand, guiding it over her head as I pulled out and slammed back in. She threaded her fingers in mine, her other hand grabbing on as she used the leverage to press back into me. I nuzzled into her neck as I thrust again and again, rolling my hips until her breath sped up, legs trembling against mine, fingers white-knuckle, and then she came with a cry, squeezing me, releasing me. And I couldn’t wait, wouldn’t wait. I pumped faster, the soft pat of skin against skin driving me, and seconds later I let go, eyes pinned shut, breathing her name.

  I opened my eyes as our bodies slowed, and I wrapped her in my arms, lying against her back, still inside of her. I kissed her shoulder, and she hummed before mumbling something.

  “Hmm?”

  “Thatwasfuckinghot,” she muttered, her cheek still resting on the surface of the table.

  “You started it with your dirty egg roll.”

  She chuckled. “I told you. Sometimes I just need your dick in my face.”

  I kissed her shoulder once more. “Still hungry?” />
  “Kinda full right now.” She shifted her hips, smiling.

  I laughed. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but I like it.”

  “Oh, I think you know what’s gotten into me.”

  I rolled my hips. “You’re just going to keep going, aren’t you?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Let’s eat and then maybe I can work this out of your system.”

  She twisted to look back at me. “Who’s hungry now?”

  I brushed her hair back and kissed just behind her ear. “Me,” I whispered and pulled out.

  She sighed and rolled onto her back, looking like she could take a nap on my table as I grabbed a fresh kitchen towel for me and one for Maggie. She took it lazily.

  I cleaned up and tossed the towel in the general direction of the laundry room. I was washing my hands, still watching her with a smile as she made a half-assed attempt to get up.

  “I’m too tired to eat,” she said.

  I dried my hands and made my way back to the take out cartons. “Hmm, too bad. There’s lo mien, pork fried rice, orange chicken, beef with broccoli.” I sniffed melodramatically. “Plus some hot, fat egg rolls.”

  She’s perked up a little. “Damn you and your crispy fried goodness.”

  I was still smiling as I filled my plate with my chopsticks. She washed her hands and sat next to me, piling on even more food than I did. I gave her a look.

  She raised her eyebrows. “What? I told you I was hungry. I don’t mess around when it comes to food.”

  “I can see that you take it very seriously.”

  Maggie scooped up noodles with her chopsticks and stuffed them in her mouth, smiling at me with the lo mien hanging from between her lips for just a second before slurping them up.

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “How much more work did you have to do again? Because I really think you should stay.”

  “The night? Come on, buddy boy. You know the rules.”

  “A few more hours. The night. Whatever I can convince you of.”

  “I do wish I could stay a while. But …” She sighed and fished around for some pork. “I have a lot to do. I mean, it’s not that big of a deal, just three programs a week, but I need a plan of attack, sort of like a manifesto.” She took a bite. “Mostly though, I’m worried about impressing our mysterious benefactor. I don’t even know that much about her other than that she’s a rich lady named Catherine who’s been in working with the shelter on some level since the 90s.”

  “Don’t worry about the meeting. You’ll do fine. I promise.” I hoped she did, at least. Knowing Catherine, Maggie would hit a home run.

  She seemed reassured and smiled. “Thanks. I’ve got a lot to do for sure, but I’ll get it done. Hopefully Lily is already at West’s because I’m not quite ready to see her again after last night.”

  “Was it that bad?”

  “No, not really. I just feel guilty for dragging her into the mess.”

  “I hear you on that.” I picked up a piece of orange chicken and popped it into my mouth.

  She sighed again. “At least we only have to sneak around for eleven more days. Then we’ll both be on our way.”

  I almost inhaled the chicken and started coughing.

  Maggie dropped her chopsticks and patted me on the back. “God, are you okay?”

  I nodded and croaked. “Yeah, wrong pipe.” I took a swig of my water.

  She picked up her chopsticks again. “I’m just feeling really awful about it. I hate lying to West, knowing how upset he would be. It’s selfish, us using each other, lying to everyone.”

  I watched her. “Maybe it’s time you did something selfish for once.”

  She looked over at me, eyes wide and open.

  “I’m just saying. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad for doing something you want to do.”

  “Even if what I want hurts someone else?”

  “No one’s going to get hurt.” I knew it was a lie as soon as it left my mouth.

  She shook her head and looked down at her plate. “Maybe we should just end it now while we can, before anyone else finds out. Before things get any more complicated.”

  Anxiety ripped through me at the thought of ending it now. I wasn’t ready — that was one thing I knew without a doubt. A very alarmed part of me wondered if I’d ever be ready.

  In a heartbeat, I was off my stool and holding her. I looked down at her, smiling to hide. “Let’s just enjoy it while we can. We’ll be more careful. We’ll be smarter about it. Because I’m not ready to stop yet. Are you?”

  Those eyes. Those eyes would be the end of me.

  She shook her head.

  “Then it’s decided.” I placed a soft kiss on her lips and sat back down, picking up my chopsticks like everything was normal, like my heart wasn’t hammering against my ribs. I glanced back at her. She was still watching me, though I couldn’t quite place the look on her face.

  I shot her The Smile. “You’d better eat that dirty egg roll before I do.”

  She picked it up, making a show of taking another bite, and I laughed, trying not to sweat the bullet I’d dodged.

  THE SURFACE

  Cooper

  BOBBY PULLED UP IN FRONT of Astrid’s building that night, and I climbed out to greet her.

  She smiled and made her way out from under the awning, her high, black studded heels clicking on the sidewalk. She was dressed in black — tight jeans and a tank, black leather jacket — even her blue eyes were lined in kohl, which made them shades brighter than usual. The only light was her blond hair and creamy skin.

  She pressed her cheek to mine as we embraced. “Hey.”

  “Hey.” I helped her into the backseat and slipped in behind her. “Take us to Church, Bobby.”

  “You got it, Coop.”

  “You ready for tonight?” she asked as Bobby pulled away from the curb.

  “How can I not be ready to go to a bar called Church?”

  She snickered. “I heard it’s all Gothic, and they have these amazing stained glass displays.”

  “I love concept clubs, if I have to go out.” I sighed and leaned back. “Is it just me or is this getting harder and harder to bullshit?”

  “It’s definitely not you. Think Ash is already there?”

  “He’s probably doing body shots off willing girls as we speak.”

  She laughed. “Ash is never going to grow up.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “He’d say the same about us.”

  “Yeah, well, we know better, don’t we?”

  I shrugged. “Maybe he’s faking it too.”

  We shared a look and burst out laughing.

  Astrid shook her head. “Yeah, okay, Ash is definitely not faking it.” She angled toward me in the seat with an accusatory look on her face. “So Lily had an interesting story to tell me today.”

  I shifted in my seat, knowing exactly what she was going to say and playing dumb anyway. “What’d she say?”

  “Oh, just that you banged Maggie in the bathroom at Habits last night.”

  I propped my elbow on the door. “Don’t look at me like that. Do you have any idea how … intense it is to be around her when no one knows we’re together?”

  “No, how about you tell me about it.”

  “I wish I could. There aren’t words.”

  “Lily also said Maggie told her about you and me. I had to explain Sam and everything just to calm her down.”

  “I’m sorry, Astrid.”

  She sighed and adjusted her bag in her lap. “It’s fine. It actually felt really good to tell her what was going on, even though she was pissed at me for not telling her about him. I think she gets it though. And plus, now she believes all of us.”

  “Maggie said she agreed to keep it from West.”

  “For now. She’s not going to lie to him. In fact, if he ever finds out about you two, he’s probably going to be pissed at her too.”

  “Thanks for piling that on.”

  “I’m ju
st saying,” she continued. “This isn’t the simple, easy thing the two of you like to pretend it is. More and more people are getting dragged into it.”

  “I know.”

  “So what are you going to do? Because you’re eventually going to have to do something.”

  “If Maggie has her way, we’ll be through in a couple of weeks.” I sniffed and ran a hand down my tie, feeling uncomfortable.

  Her eyebrow raised. “And if you have your way?”

  “I don’t know. She suggested ending it tonight, and I didn’t want to.”

  She shook her head. “Am I hearing you right? You want to date Maggie? Publicly?”

  “That’s not what I said.”

  “It’s what you implied.”

  “I don’t know, Astrid. I’m not ready to walk away, not just yet. But I won’t hang you out to dry with Sam.”

  She put up a hand. “Listen, if we have to end the charade, it’s fine. I don’t want to stand in the way of something you want just because of my own fucked-up relationship. But I’m just surprised to hear you say you want that much more from Maggie.”

  I frowned. “Me too.”

  She watched me for a breath. “So what are you going to do? Ride it out the next couple of weeks and then decide? Talk to West?”

  I laughed wholeheartedly. “There’s no talking to West. But I might be able to feel him out, see if I can figure out how bad it will be. But I don’t know exactly what to do about Maggie.”

  “What are your options?”

  “Do nothing. Wait and see. Talk to her. It’s just that I don’t know what to say.”

  “You better watch out — you’re gonna spook her.”

  I looked down my nose at her, smiling. “You doubt my skills of persuasion? I’m as adept at navigating social situations as I am sea charts and Prague. Which is to say, very good.”

  She rolled her eyes and laughed. “Easy for you to say. You weren’t just cheated on at the altar.”

  I frowned. “It’s been three months. I mean, she seems fine. She never talks about him, doesn’t act like she’s bothered by it.”

  Astrid looked at me like I was an idiot. “And you don’t think that’s a front? It seems pretty obvious that her rules are just something for her to hide behind.”