I bump him with my hip in an attempt to change the subject. “What is this, check up on Kimberly day?” I cross my arms over my chest and send him my most intimidating glare.
“Ahh…now I see what the problem is. Big brother has already made his rounds today, hasn’t he?”
“He left a couple of hours ago.”
Amusement lifts his brow. “Want me to go?”
I shrug like it doesn’t matter one way or the other.
“No prob, Angel baby.” He moves over and drapes his arm around my shoulder and pulls me up against his side. “Just wanted to hang, but if you’ve got other plans. No prob.” His arm tightens around my neck and he pulls me even closer placing a loud, wet kiss on the top of my head.
“Colt, it’s not a big deal.” I bite the inside of my cheek as I look up at him through my lashes, my brows furrow again. If I don’t watch it, I’m going to end up with wrinkles galore with all the furrowing, blinking, and frowning. “Don’t you have any bad guys to catch?”
Colt’s a local police detective and lately he’s been working on a pretty big case that’s all hush-hush. He’s also been pretty high-strung and distracted all at the same time so I hate having to turn him away tonight, but I definitely want some alone time with Cooper.
“Not tonight.” He grins. “Free as a bird.” He circles me. “Apparently you are not though.”
“Sorry, I’m not more inviting.”
“Damn, Angel baby.” He smiles a full-fledged smile again and I love it when he does that. Always makes me feel good. “I’m the last person to interfere with any of your plans. Anyway I’ve got shit I need to do. Busy. Busy. Busy.”
“Colt?”
He wraps one arm around my neck and with the other gives me a noogie as he drags me with him into the living room. He releases me to reach down and pick up his pizza box just as a knock sounds at the front door.
My body tenses at the sound. “Damn,” I mutter.
Colt’s smile turns downright evil. “Ahh…” He circles me again with eyes narrowed. “What do we have here?”
I give him a scowl and he responds by acting like a kid in elementary school.
“Kimberly’s got a date. Kimberly’s got a date….”
“Really, Colt?” I plant my hands at my hips again. “The jig? You’re resorting to the jig?”
“Kimberly’s got…” His words trail off when he opens the door and looks straight into Coopers chocolate brown eyes at the same time that Cooper looks into my green ones. “Well ain’t this something.” Colt steps back. “C’mon in, Sheriff.” He glances over his shoulder and winks of all things.
“Colt,” Cooper greets with one of those man head nod things.
“Just leaving.”
“Good.”
My mouth falls open at Cooper’s response.
“Angel baby, flies.” Colt’s left brow is cocked in that I know everything manner.
I slam my mouth shut and huff out the biggest breath on the face of the planet. Somewhere waves are crashing and trees are falling with that breath.
“Have fun kids.” Cooper and Colt’s eyes lock and I just want to run and hide. Lord, this mess is gonna be all over town tomorrow. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
I nearly choke on my own saliva when Cooper’s grin practically matches the mischievousness of Colt’s and he says loud enough for me to hear and not mistake his meaning. “Gives me a lot of leeway, Colt.” He punches Colt on the shoulder. “Much obliged.” I don’t miss the look that passes between the two. Brother. Lord, grant me some damn patience.
Colt doesn’t say anything else which surprises me. Just flashes a bunch of white teeth with one of his shit-eating grins, like he’s just given Cooper some sort of permission or something. As if I need his permission.
Calling over his shoulder, Colt wiggles his fingers as he goes. “Night, Angel baby.” He slams the door in his wake. Loudly. And I jump because now I’m in the privacy of my own house with the most gorgeous man on the face of the earth. A lot can happen when a girl finds herself in a situation like this. A lot.
Oh fuck. Fuckity, fuck, fuck, fuck. I throw my hands up in the air just as Cooper tosses out an I’m gonna get you smile.
Doesn’t matter time or place men are all the same.
Chapter Twelve
In the matter of making calls it is correct for the caller
who arrived first to leave first
Wellthat wasn’t awkward at all. My brothers have always had a way of turning my life upside down and sideways all at the same time in their efforts to protect. Unfortunately, this seems to be the norm for me as of late and doesn’t look as if it’s gonna change anytime soon so I just need to get that hope right on outta my head. Just wasting unnecessary energy on that hope.
I stand here staring at Cooper and he in turn follows suit staring right back with the corners of his mouth quirked up in a grin. His gaze sweeps over me from the top of my head to the tips of my painted toes and they curl into the hardwood flooring.
Why is it I feel like an antelope being circled by a lion in the wild who’s about to pounce before he finally breaks the silence.
“Hey.” His slow, easy smile broadens.
I greet him with a guarded smile and a steadying breath. “Hey.” For some reason my voice is a little too husky, so I clear my throat.
Not knowing what to do with my hands, I stuff them in the front pockets of my jeans not realizing that by doing so I drag the waistband down to dangerous levels. That’s until I notice where Cooper’s eyes just happen to be drawn. I yank my hands from my pockets with a blush, kicking out my foot and shaking it a little before dragging it back and forth over the polished wood floor.
I actually have to work at holding back a smile because it seems like he has to work at peeling his dark and serious eyes away from my stomach which does nothing to lessen the increased heat his mere presence encourages.
“How’re the ribs fairing?”
I flick my hand in the air, making a dismissive gesture. “Fine.”
His eyes flicker back down to the exposed flesh of my belly. I tug up the waistband of my jeans, linking my hands behind my back which I realize a little too late manages to push out my meager breasts with the movement. Cooper’s lips turn up, his dimples deepen, and my blush heats to inferno levels. I glance down to see my nipples so tightly drawn there’s no way he can’t see them through the soft cotton of my T-shirt and know that’s exactly what he’s grinning at.
I gulp in a lungful of air when I realize that I’ve been holding it, then huff out that same breath loudly. Something bubbles deep inside at his inspection even though it’s my own damn fault. I avert my eyes. No bra. What the fuck was I thinking? Noticeably I wasn’t thinking at all.
I harrumph, but I can’t stop the crooked grin from spreading over my face. I cross my arms over my chest trying to sound put out. “Not as bad as they felt while I was hanging upside down in my Jeep with all the blood running to my head and my eyeballs feeling as if they were going to pop out at any moment.”
“Glad to hear it.” A low rumbling laugh sounds with his words. I can tell he’s trying hard to disguise it by glancing around the living room.
I splutter and reply sarcastically even though heat flashes over my cheeks giving my discomfiture away. “It’s my goal in life to please you.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I could’ve kicked myself. Damn! That’s probably exactly what he wanted to hear.
Yes, Master.
What a bunch of crock. Are all guys such pieces of shit?
“Glad to hear that as well, Angel.” His dimples show right before he barks out a laugh and it’s magnificent. Loud, vibrant, hearty, and real. “I love a woman who’s confident in her abilities to—please.”
He stares deeply into my eyes, heavy lidded, his pupils slightly dilated, his breathing heavy and slow. My pulse races as I stare back at him with my arms still crossed firmly over my chest. The suggestive tone in his voice sends a wet,
tingling heat rushing between my legs.
“Are you really gonna go there?” I ask in a haughty little tone.
He lifts a brow.
My breath catches in my throat and I choke out, “You’re impossible.” I whack him on the arm and exhale, pressing my lips together but it does little to stop the small burst of laughter that escapes right before I slap my hand over my mouth to smother the sound.
“Ask any man and he’ll say the same or he’s a fuckin’ liar.”
“All men think about is their own pleasure.” I fling back, pursing my lips and lifting one brow challengingly. “I’m sure there’ve been way too many studies to count on this topic.”
“That I can’t deny, Angel.” He studies me for a long moment, then shakes his head before moving one of the bags he’s been dangling from one hand to the other leaving one hand free to crook a finger in my direction. His chocolate eyes glitter with unbridled desire that enthralls and has me caught in its powerful web.
I shuffle forward and he palms the nape of my neck, pulling me against the hard wall of his chest for a kiss. When his firm lips touch mine, the air crackles around us and my nipples turn into even harder buds that scrape against that same hard wall shooting electric shocks straight to my clit.
Immense pleasure floods through me along with a rush of heat as his taste oozes over my lips bathing my taste buds with his sweetness. His velvety tongue delves deep and plunders, sliding against mine in a carnal dance. His taste is explicitly sensual, immensely erotic, and masterful. He’s almost intimidating in his expert prowess and I’m glad my recollection of how amazing his kisses were, isn’t a dream. It’s one hundred percent spot-on.
My hands glide up his chest, gripping his broad shoulders, and I cling to him. A throaty moan vibrates inside me at the crush of his hard, demanding mouth. He’s good and aggressive which only manages to turn me on more. A major turn-on for me. He crushes me to him and I respond just as aggressively. My hands go to his waist with his sweatshirt gripped firmly in my fingers and just when I begin to completely let go, he breaks the embrace, leaning his forehead against mine, his breathing harsh.
Out of breath, I force myself to draw in air and make a concerted effort to step away. He lifts his head at my attempt.
“Where are you going?”
First I concentrate on releasing his sweatshirt one finger at a time. Next with my palms lying flat against his rock-hard abs, I push against his rigid muscles feeling his flesh clench under my touch and I can’t bring myself to move because I feel that his need is as great as mine.
“I need a little space.”
His gaze still full of hunger sends another thrill through me.
I wipe my damp palms on the legs of my jeans. “You kind of took me by surprise with that—kiss.” My troubled gaze collides with his. “I wasn’t expecting it.” With a shaky smile on my lips, my legs trembling, my belly doing a bunch of flippy-floppy things, and my brain going ninety miles an hour. “Your intensity is making me a tad nervous.” I hold up my finger and thumb with barely a space between them, my brow furrows, my bottom lip catches between my teeth, I finally step back and wait for him to say something else.
“Get used to it.” He flashes me a cocky smirk.
“Yeah, right.” I make a rude snorting noise. “So did you just come here to jump my bones?”
His lips curve up in a rueful smile as he holds up the bags filled with the Chinese take-out and I smell the delicious fragrant scent of dumplings. But he doesn’t answer my question, instead he asks his own, “Hungry?”
I cock my head to the side. “Starved.”
His eyes darken like I just said the sexiest thing ever. I may not have been around the block as many times as him, but I know how guys think. I’ve got two of the most lascivious brothers on the planet. Sex-starved maniacs most of the time, but guys like him get it on a regular basis with the club and all. It surprises me that he’s standing in my living room in front of me with a bag of Chinese food looking as if he’s starving for it and that I’m exactly what will sate his hunger.
Swallowing the knot in my throat, I ask the first thing that pops into my head to break my train of thought. “Do I smell dumplings?” I take a small step forward, lift my head, close my eyes, and inhale. “And garlic sauce?”
He brings the bag back to his nose and inhales, his eyes roll back in his head in an exaggerated manner of immense ecstasy. He holds it out in front of my face giving it a playful little shake. “The best in town.” He lifts his right brow which is kinda sexy in and of itself. “Or so I’ve been told.”
I laugh, looking up at him shyly. “Wanna watch some TV while we eat?” I gesture towards the sofa. “We can sit in the living room if you want.”
“Perfect.” He gives me another hard stare adding to my nervousness. He adds with another lift of his brow, “You sure you want me eating on your white sofa?”
“I do it all the time, silly.” I blow out a breath causing my bangs to flutter against my forehead and hold out my hand. “I’ll put the beer in the icebox and get some plates.” I grab for the beer pulling a bottle out for him before I take it to the kitchen.
“Much obliged, Angel.” He snatches the condensation covered bottle, plopping down on the sofa and stretching one arm wide along the back.
“Wanna fork?” I call over my shoulder.
Holding up his chopsticks, he taps them together. “Chopsticks are fine.”
“A man after my own heart.”
“Good.” His voice lowers intimately.
His cryptic remark makes me smile even more. I carry in a try with some plates, napkins, and forks, just in case. I place it on the coffee table before sitting down on the sofa next to him tucking my legs beneath me, and pressing my back against the arm rest.
“You like action flicks?” He gestures toward the TV with his chin as he spoons out some food onto a plate, handing it to me along with the other set of chopsticks.
“Hmm…” I wrinkle my nose. “Depends.”
“Are you into romance?” He picks up some noodles and shoves them into his mouth, chewing while he waits for me to respond.
Shrugging, I pick up a dumpling with chopsticks, dip it into the garlic sauce and close my eyes on a moan as I chew. Love me some dumplings. I swallow and as I open my eyes, Cooper’s staring, his eyes are dilated to almost black, nostrils flaring.
He clears his throat at my look. “Remind me to never come over here unless I come bearing dumplings.”
I give him a look full of confusion, my eyes slightly downcast.
“The look on your face when you first bit into that dumpling was magnificent. Sensual. Fuckin’ erotic as hell.” He grimaces which for some reason has me glancing down at his crotch which makes me gasp. The bulge beneath his zipper evident and I grow instantly antsy, itchy, twitchy, distracted, and moist.
Definitely moist.
Oops.
Which only manages to bring to my attention the little fact that I’d ran out of time and made the decision to forgo panties when I dressed. God, I pray it’s impossible to tell since I seem to be growing wetter by the second and if he gets any closer, I’m afraid I might just drown. Happy, but drown all the same.
“Um…Okay,” I answer as he reaches over and skillfully nabs one of the dumplings on my plate with his chopsticks and stuffs it into his mouth without dropping a dang thing.
“Hey!” I rap playfully on his knuckles with my chopsticks drawing my attention to how masculine his hands are. How big and strong they look holding the tiny wooden sticks. How long and lean his fingers appear next to those same implements. How thick, dark hair covers the backs of his fingers and hands. Had I ever thought of a man’s hands before? Really thought about them? I’m thinking about them now. Pondering everything they can do as I snag another dumpling before he eats them all and pop it into my mouth.
“Damn, every teacher fantasy I’ve ever had just flickered through my mind with that little form of discipline, Angel.�
�
“See. I told you,” I begin in between chews. “All men are alike. They only have one thing on their minds.” I roll my eyes. See that’s what I mean. New staple facial expression and with that thought I roll my eyes again just for emphasis. “And it ain’t dumplings.” I cock my head to the side.
He chuckles softly. “I don’t know. You might have your own sweet little—dumpling.” He pops another whole dumpling into his mouth and chews with another exaggerated roll of his eyes, a quirk of his lips, and an appreciative sound from his throat.
“Whatever.” I can’t help but watch him chew and he watches me as I watch him chew. The hint of a sexy smile on his face sends additional flooding straight to my pussy. Now I wonder when I started referring to my—you know, as a pussy? Isn’t that a man word? I ponder that thought for a moment longer. Then I realize that I could pinpoint the exact moment I began referring to my womanly place in that way. The moment it started acting right, that’s when. The moment Cooper James showed up.
“Good, huh?”
He swallows. “Yeah,” he agrees, looking around as he eats. “You go to college?”
“University of Tennessee, Knoxville.”
“Impressive. Go big orange.”
“Yeah, go big orange.” One hand shoots in the air like a cheerleader with spirit fingers and my head cocks to the side. I plaster a big smile on my face and widen my eyes like I’m on crack.
“Were you a cheerleader?” He sits up straighter, his lips curving slightly as his eyes move down my body. “I bet you were a perky, cute little cheerleader.”
“Not in college. Cheerleading’s a full a full-time job in and of itself in college.” For some reason I say that with a hint of defensiveness in my tone. “Degree in Business and believe me, school didn’t come easy to me. I had to study.”
“College is a bitch unless you’re only there to party.”
“I was too reserved to be a partier.”
He eyes me skeptically. “I have a hard time believing that.”
When You Only Need To Ask (The House of Siin) Page 13
