Sinking into her chair, she gulped down her cool water, not stopping until the glass was empty. God knew she needed all the help she could get in cooling the heck off.
“You all right over there?” Cooper asked, a brow up.
“Yeah, sure.” She set down her glass, then pointed to his untouched drink. “You going to drink that?”
Cooper held his cup out to her. “It’s all yours, sweetheart. Thirsty much?”
“God, yes.” Snatching the glass out of his hand, she tipped it back and emptied it without a break. After she was finished, she swiped her hand across her wet lips. “Thank you.”
His eyes on her mouth, he reached out and wiped away a drop she must have missed with his thumb. “You’re very welcome.”
She shivered, his thumb leaving a trail of fire in its wake. So much for cooling off. “Uh, I need to read over my speech one more time.”
“Go ahead.”
She pulled back. “You’re touching me. I can’t.”
“You can’t read while I’m touching you?” he asked, his voice light.
“Nope.” She pulled the paper out of her purse with a trembling hand. “So hands off, mister.”
He held them up in surrender. “Yes, ma’am.”
She shot him one last look, then focused on the words she’d written instead of the man at her side. Somewhere in all the pretending and kisses, her body was forgetting that this was all for show. He didn’t really love her, and she didn’t love him, either. This was all fake.
Fake, fake, fake.
She needed to focus on something that wasn’t pretend.
She lowered her head and checked him out from under her lashes. Thank God he’d packed a suit just in case he had a business meeting. He was so handsome in it…and the fabric grazed his whipcord lean body just right. What she was going to do with him once they got back to the hotel definitely wasn’t fake.
The microphone crackled and Cooper jumped. He glanced over his shoulder then turned back to her. Tugging on his collar, he shifted in his seat and asked, “When do you go on?”
“I’m first, so in a couple of minutes.” She peeked at him over the top of her paper. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Do you need a drink stronger than water before you get up there?” he asked, his voice tight. “A Xanax? Sex? Something to help you relax?”
A laugh bubbled out of her. “Uh, no thanks? I’m fine. I worked on this speech for months because I wanted it to be perfect. Susan deserves perfect.” She shifted closer and squeezed his knee. “You look like you’re about to panic, though. What’s up?”
He averted his eyes. “I just don’t like stages, is all.”
She studied him closely. He wasn’t kidding. He had sweat on his forehead and he looked ready to run for the door, and he wasn’t even going up there. “Sweetie, you’re not going up there. You’ll be okay.”
She had forgotten his fear of public speaking, or being on a stage. The fact that this big, strong man could be scared of something at all, let alone something so trivial, struck her as oddly cute. He seemed so invincible the rest of the time it made her want to hug him and kiss him now that he wasn’t.
If anything, it made him hotter.
He swiped his forearm over his sweaty forehead. “I know. It’s stupid, but I hate those things. And having the spotlight on you is just as bad. Everyone watches you.”
“It won’t come near you, don’t worry. You can stay here. It’ll give you a break from acting as if you love me. You’ve got to be sick of it already.”
“I’m not, though.” He met her eyes. “This isn’t all an act, you know. Well, the love part is, but that’s it. I do like you, and I like being with you. I’m having a lot of fun. If things were different and I wasn’t leaving…” He shrugged. “Well, it doesn’t matter. Because I am.”
Kayla swallowed hard, her heart stuttering and then speeding up. He had to stop saying things like that, or she would want to spend more time with him, too. And that just wasn’t possible. She didn’t want a real relationship any more than he did. He was leaving. And she wanted to live her own life free of meddling family members and husbands trying to tell her what to do.
But then again…
No. No buts.
This was not real.
She shook her head. “Cooper…”
“I know. But when—” He cut himself off and glanced at the stage. Kayla waited, wanting to see what he would finish that sentence off with. Instead he said, “I think they want you to go up now. They’re staring at us.”
“Oh. Right.” Kayla stood. It was probably better he didn’t finish that thought anyway. “Wish me luck.”
He tugged at his collar again. “Knock ‘em dead.”
Kayla made her way to the stage. Her mother stood next to the microphone, smiling at the crowd like some benevolent queen upon her subjects. The spotlight made her mother’s diamond necklace sparkle, blinding everyone who watched.
Kayla closed the distance between them, smoothing her purple skirt as she walked. Her mom gestured her closer. “First on the roster, we have the maid of honor who is none other than my other wonderful daughter, Kayla.”
Polite applause filled the room at the unnecessary introduction. Most of the people knew who she was, after all. Clearing her throat, Kayla stepped up to the microphone. “My little sister might be all grown up, and might be getting married in a few short days, but to me, she’s still the little girl who used to keep me awake every night. She used to make me watch her until she fell asleep, so the monsters wouldn’t come get her. She was sure if I stayed up and watched over her, nothing bad would happen.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve such a vote of confidence from her, but I dutifully stayed awake and did what she asked. Sometimes when she couldn’t fall asleep, we’d just talk. Usually it was a different topic, but at least once a week, before she drifted off to sleep, she would tell me about her wedding day. She would look like a princess, and everyone would cry as she walked down the aisle. Everyone would be watching her, unable to believe she could be so lucky as to catch the man of her dreams. And she was going to marry a man as wonderful as our daddy. ”
Kayla had wanted that, too, at the time. So badly. She broke off, swallowing past the lump in her throat. Pull it together. Don’t buy into this emotional crap.
She looked at Cooper. He nodded at her, smiling, and she felt better. “I think Susan made the right choice in Max because I can tell he loves her very much. Heck, he’s been following her around since second grade. All you have to do is look at him when he thinks no one is watching, and you’ll see it. I’m also quite sure when we all see her walking down the aisle Saturday, there will be tears in our eyes.” She turned to her little sis, who was practically sparkling from happiness. Even the normally reserved Max was grinning ear-to-ear.
Family pressure and fake boyfriend drama aside, she was thrilled for both of them. It’s why she’d concocted this lie in the first place—so the focus wouldn’t be on when Kayla would find someone. Which, unfortunately, was exactly what had happened at Susan’s bridal shower a while back. Now, people would be content that Kayla was happy, and all eyes would be where they belonged.
On her sister.
“I’m so thrilled for you, Susan, and I wish you nothing but happiness in life—but I’m positive you don’t need any help from me anymore. I know you two will be together forever, and he’ll be the one standing guard over you from now on.”
She lifted the glass of champagne her mother handed her, smiling past her unshed tears. “To your happily ever after.”
Susan stood and called out, “And to yours.”
Kayla looked at Cooper…again. He still sat at their table, watching her with a light in his eyes that literally took her breath away. For a second, and only a second, she let herself imagine a future with him.
And it looked good.
But then she shoved the happily-ever-after forever thought away and focused on what she could have
.
The sex.
Her happily-ever-after for tonight.
Her mother came over, wiping the tears off her face hurriedly. “Thank you, sweetie.” Her mother hugged her, sniffing loudly. She whispered, “That was perfect. I love you.”
“Thank you,” Kayla whispered back. “Love you, too.”
“If I can pull myself together now…” Her mom turned to the crowd and laughed. Everyone joined in. “Everyone, let’s show our appreciation for Kayla.”
The room full of people clapped, and Kayla saw Cooper stand and clap, too. He made a face at her, something silly and so him. She grinned and rolled her eyes back at him. Then he burst into laughter.
God, he was hot when he did that.
She made her way down the stairs, and he came across the room. In the background, her mom talked about Susan and Max, but Kayla didn’t hear a word. Cooper pulled her into his arms under the guise of a sweet hug for her family’s benefit, but once he lowered his mouth to her ear, he said, “You did great. I promise a huge reward when we get back to the hotel.”
Oh, God, yes please.
As happy as she was for her sister, and as much as she loved her family…
She wanted tonight to be over so she could collect.
Chapter Thirteen
Cooper closed the hotel door behind them, his eyes on Kayla. He watched her as she stepped out of her heels, wobbling a little bit as she did so. She looked so fucking pretty she stole his breath away, but he couldn’t stop watching. She was addicting.
He should be exhausted. Should be ready to collapse.
God knew she’d kept him up all night last night.
But he wanted her again. They would only be together for a few days and he was determined to have her as much, and in as many ways, as possible within that short time. He crossed the room and swooped her into his arms. Then he lowered his head and kissed her, his tongue claiming hers. Walking across the room, he carried her to the bed and set her down on it.
Her slender leg curved at the knee, and he crept his hand up her skin. He spread her thighs as he nibbled her throat, his stomach clenching down hard when she moaned and scraped her nails down his back. “Fuck, you taste good.”
He made quick work of removing his clothes and her dress, and then looked at her. Just looked. She was gorgeous. All pinks and creamy skin and perfection.
After a moment of hesitation, he closed his mouth around her nipple. She cried out and squirmed beneath him. Good. Desire formed a hard coil in his stomach and he slid his fingers along her pussy. His fingers were instantly drenched.
She flicked her tongue over his shoulder, then bit down. “God, I want you now.”
“You want more? You want this?” He slipped a finger inside of her, rubbing against her clit as he did so. Silk. Pure silk. “Or do you want my cock inside of you?”
She lifted her hips, rolling them against him urgently. “I want it all,” she breathed, her eyes drifting shut. “Give it all to me.”
“You need more…” He sucked on her nipple and slid another finger inside of her, thrusting his hand hard. “…Patience.”
Christ, she felt so damn good. His cock twitched, demanding to take the place of his fingers. But he wouldn’t give in to that yet. He wouldn’t give in until she was crying his name so loudly they woke up the entire fucking hotel.
He kissed a path down her stomach, his fingers still moving inside of her. She thrust her hips and buried her fingers in his hair as she tried to pull him closer.
“Cooper. Please.”
He groaned, lowering his head even more. He nipped the skin right over the small patch of curls between her legs. Her abs clenched, and her grip on his head relaxed. But a second later, her fingers tightened and she was urging him lower.
Now that, he would happily give her.
He rolled his tongue over her clit, closing his eyes when she arched into him. Her thighs tightened around his head, squeezing and trembling at the same time. She was close already. He increased the pressure, slid his hands under her ass, and lifted her up. He traced his thumbs over the curve of her ass, sliding inwards as he ravaged her with his mouth. She tensed and screamed, her entire body going tight as her juices coated his tongue.
He pushed up off of her and stood, crossing the room to grab a condom. She started to roll over, but he stopped her. “Stay where you are. I’m not done tasting you yet.”
Her eyes went wide and she fell back again, watching him as he walked. “Keep that up and I might want to keep you around even after the wedding,” she teased, a seductive smile on her face.
Ha! As if she’d want to. Sex was one thing. But once she got to know him better, she’d see that he wasn’t worth keeping around.
So he didn’t bother to reply.
Instead, he grabbed a condom and rolled it onto his cock. Once properly sheathed, he came back and lowered himself on top of her, biting back a groan at how intoxicating her skin felt against his. Would he ever get enough of her? Of this?
He captured her lips and, without breaking contact, rolled over, bringing her with him so she was on top, straddling him.
Grabbing her hips, he guided her in a position guaranteed to make her come fast, and folded her legs around him. He pumped his hips up and cupped her breasts, going so deep inside her he wanted to shout.
The feel of her tight pussy around him and the vision of taking all of him in, her breasts bare and her eyes closed in ecstasy, almost pushed him over the edge.
As he pinched her nipples between his fingers, she flung her head back. Her long brown hair cascaded down her back as she rocked against him.
“Jesus,” he groaned, lifting his hips again. “Come for me, Kayla.”
She leaned forward until their chests touched and nipped at his lower lip. He cupped her ass and repositioned her so her clit rubbed against him with each thrust. Her inner muscles tightened around him even more, her breath coming hard.
She was close. So fucking close.
Rolling her onto her back, he slid her legs onto his shoulders and plunged inside her hard. Fast. His pulse raced and his cock begged for release, but he wouldn’t allow himself to finish until she came one more time.
Just…one…more…time.
Her fingers fisted into the sheets and her back bowed, her whole body going tight. The walls of her pussy squeezed down on him as she came. Groaning, he pulled almost completely out then slammed back inside, his fingers flexing on her as he did so.
The room around him faded away, and the pleasure of his orgasm took over. Everything ceased to exist but this woman. This room. This moment.
Kayla.
He smoothed her hair off her face and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she gripped his biceps. The way she looked up at him, her eyes soft and her lips swollen from his kisses, sent a pang of something unfamiliar to his heart.
If he didn’t know better, he would swear it was something dangerously close to…feeling. Something more than attraction and lust. But that would be completely foolish under the circumstances. Whatever this warmth in his heart was, he had best terminate it with a kill shot. He was leaving soon.
He withdrew from her and pushed off of the bed in one motion. As he rolled off the condom, he headed toward the bathroom, needing a few moments of privacy before he faced her again. After brushing his teeth, he took a quick shower, hoping that would make him feel like himself again.
The Cooper from a few days ago.
But it didn’t work. She was on his mind the whole time.
The most he could hope for was that she hadn’t seen the vulnerability he was feeling, or sensed the tenderness in his heart that snuck up on him like a ninja. He couldn’t afford to be distracted by any doubts as to his goals, nor could he afford to want more than a few days with Kayla.
He had a lot of mistakes to make up for, and his first step to that end had been getting the job with Frankie Holt. The second would be going overseas and protecting
his men. With this job, he would be protecting the same team he had let down before. The men he’d failed. He would keep them safe, even though he hadn’t kept Josh safe.
He owed it to them. Hell, to himself, too.
As he dried off, he studied himself in the mirror. Same dark circles. Same haunted eyes. Same guilty conscience. Nothing had changed in the last day, despite the short-term happiness he’d found in Kayla’s arms. Good. The guilt was his constant companion, and he needed it with him.
Keeping him focused.
Chapter Fourteen
By the time Cooper came back from his shower, Kayla was a nervous wreck. He’d seemed…done. As if he wanted to leave her. And then…he had.
He’d walked away without a word.
The bathroom door opened, and he came out. He didn’t have a towel on, but he was scrubbing his head with the one he’d used to dry off with. He was gloriously naked and the black tribal tattoos on his chest danced with every movement he made.
He came to his side of the bed, then lay down beside her.
“Hey,” she said softly.
He turned his head toward her. His green eyes sucked her in, like usual. “Hey yourself.”
“You okay?”
“Yep.” He looked at her with a wrinkled brow. “After what we just did, why wouldn’t I be okay?”
“I don’t know. I just got a feeling—”
He rolled his eyes and laughed, but it sounded a little forced. “This isn’t a real relationship. You don’t have to worry about my mood swings. I’m fine.”
“But we should talk about whatever you’re thinking. I know there’s something on your mind, so don’t pretend otherwise.”
“You’re right. There is. But that’s where it’s staying—in the privacy of my own mind.” He turned over and cupped her cheek. “But if you want to talk about feelings, let’s do this. Tell me. Why do you feel the need to lie to your parents?”
She blinked at him, totally confused. “What do you mean?”
“They love you. Even I can see that. I think if you just explained that you’re perfectly happy single, or that you just haven’t met the right guy, they’d back off. Have you ever considered just talking it out with them?”
Temporarily Yours (Shillings Agency) Page 9
