Chasing Dreams (Devil's Bend)

by Edwards, Nicole

  “I just know. I’ve been down that road.”

  She’d been married, he knew that. Based on the stories he had heard, the man she married had been the love of her life. He had died and left her all by herself.

  Cooper understood that he would never be able to replace that man, nor did he want to. But he knew for a fact that there was a passionate, intense woman hiding behind those walls, and he had a sudden desire to tear down every one of them.

  He planned to start tonight.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Tessa refused to listen to the naïve heart that was pounding like a bass drum in her chest. This was a man who made his living writing songs that made people fall in love.

  She wasn’t looking for love, but she was quickly warming to the idea of all of the tantalizing things he was offering when it came to physical gratification. However, when she told him she’d been down this road before, she wasn’t lying. Both the heart melting love which she’d had with Richie and then the erotic moments stolen between two lovers, which she’d experienced with another man a couple of years after Richie died.

  And, aside from the love she had shared with Richie, Tessa had sadly learned that nothing was sacred.

  Sex, even with astronomical, top of the Richter scale rated orgasms usually came with a price. As much as she wanted to let loose and go wild with Cooper – something she’d done more when she was a foolish young woman than any time in the last few years – she felt her self-preservation kick in.

  She had learned the hard way that she couldn’t give in to that reckless side of herself anymore because once her passion ran high, she did stupid things… like fall in love. That possibility had been stolen from her when Richie was killed by a strung out drug addict. She didn’t have it in her to risk forsaking herself for another man. Even a man like Cooper.

  “But you haven’t been down that road with me,” Cooper said, making her skin prickle with goose bumps.

  Just the rich rumble of his voice sent chills racing down her spine. That and the way the night cloaked them in darkness, adding another degree of mystery to the man who was quickly getting under her skin.

  She had to remind herself that she hardly knew this man. Just because he walked into her bar, singing sweet country love songs did not mean he meant them for her. And even though she did know some things about him, she still wondered what he was running from. Was it his career? Did he really get burned out? Or was there something more that he wasn’t telling people? Based on the pieces of the one-sided conversations she had heard, Tessa wasn’t so sure he hadn’t disappeared off the country music map for a reason other than the one he was giving her. And he was keeping those reasons to himself.

  “Same road,” she muttered. Different guy.

  When Cooper’s fingers grazed the bare skin of her shoulder, she couldn’t repress the shudder that rippled through her. Still staring into his mesmerizing brown eyes, she watched as they darkened, a compelling hunger reflected there. Oh the things this man could do to her body. She didn’t doubt his ability to make her body scream and beg for more, she just got the impression that he might want more from her than she was willing to give. And it had nothing to do with naked, writhing bodies.

  Tessa wasn’t interested in love.

  She wasn’t interested in romance.

  Dinner on his back porch, just the two of them alone, promised so much more for her than wine and roses and fancy, expensive restaurants would have. It gave her the opportunity to explore those more powerful feelings that fluttered through her. And she had known that was a risk she was taking as soon as she realized he was bringing her to his house.

  Her hesitant, uncertain heart knew better than to let her hormones make decisions for her. Right now, the term vulnerable was an understatement, and she’d do well to remember that.

  She wasn’t the type to fall in love quickly. Her brothers teased her that she should’ve been a man with her convoluted ideas of sex. Sex did not equal love. Nor did she want it to. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t get caught up in the moment.

  And yes, exploring a night in Cooper’s arms sounded like heaven to her. Waking up the following morning with his warm, naked body beside hers, now that scared the shit out of her.

  She didn’t have more to give.

  She compared all of her experiences on the love that Richie had showed her. Although he hadn’t been her first sexual partner, he had been her first true love. Her best friend. Mad, passionate sex hadn’t been in Richie’s repertoire of skills, but the lovemaking between them had been good. Heartwarming. Then again, she had known explosive, no holds barred sex, and she had learned that her emotions ran hot, made her do stupid things.

  Not that she was promiscuous anymore because Chad Harper – the only man she’d been with after Richie – had pretty well put the nail in that coffin a long time ago, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t a healthy, sexually motivated woman. She just wasn’t willing to let her heart get involved. As far as she was concerned, Richie would forever hold her heart, so it wasn’t up for grabs.

  Cooper leaned in, his warm breath tickling the sensitive skin just beneath her earlobe. “Take a chance with me, Tessa. One chance. I promise, you won’t be sorry.”

  She doubted that. Her fight or flight instinct was kicking in, and she knew she should run and hide as fast as possible. Only she couldn’t get her feet to move. Her hands were defying her direct orders as well. Her palms flattened against the hard muscled wall of his chest, desperately aching to feel her fingers against his bare skin.

  She could so get lost in him. One night. That’s all she needed. Except she would have to see him every day and the way her body responded, she knew she wouldn’t be able to control herself. If he was expecting sweet and innocent, she wasn’t sure she could give him that. No matter how badly she wanted to be that woman, she just wasn’t.

  If Tessa was going to go all in, per se, she wanted wild, hot, passionate sex. All or nothing. Without the nuisance of that something more that he said he was looking for.

  “I’m not interested in anything more than sex,” she blurted, confused at the lack of filter on her mouth, but not at all sorry she said the words out loud. He deserved to know after all.

  Cooper took a step back, still looking down at her. He slid his hands through the strands of her hair that had spilled over her shoulder. He twined them around his fingers, pulling her forward as a thrilling tingle penetrated her scalp.

  God, she wanted him to pull her hair. How fucking crazy was that?

  “All right. We’ll leave it at sex for now. But I’m warning you, Tessa, I’m not a man who gives up easily,” Cooper stated firmly, keeping a tight, spine tingling grip on her hair.

  Tessa wanted to believe him; however, the very fact that he had ended up in Devil’s Bend rather than chasing his country music dream made her wonder how much truth was in the statement.

  “So you’re willing to give me one night?”

  “I never said anything about one night,” Cooper leaned down, his lips hovering dangerously close to hers, his hands sliding up until he was cupping her jaw, tilting her head at the perfect angle that would align their mouths if he decided to kiss her.

  God, why wouldn’t he just kiss her? Then she wouldn’t have to think anymore. “But nothing more, Cooper. However long it lasts, you have to remember, I only want sex.”

  Cooper nodded, his lips pressing down on hers and she pushed up on her toes, forcing him even closer, opening her mouth to let his tongue tangle with hers and the world began to spin.

  He tasted like beer and man and heaven all mixed into one and Tessa found herself suddenly addicted to his taste. Sliding her palms up his chest, she had to reach to wrap them around his neck, but once she did, she pulled him down closer, taking the reins and deepening the kiss.

  The growl that rumbled in his chest sent vibrations straight to her clit and Tessa found herself practically climbing him. She wasn’t a wisp of a thing like most of the w
omen he was probably used to, but Cooper didn’t seem to have any problems handling her.

  When his mouth separated from hers, Tessa groaned, the loss of his taste making her body work harder to touch him, to ensure he didn’t disappear. His firm lips began trailing scorching hot kisses down the underside of her jaw, then he moved on to nibble her neck and Tessa was almost positive she was going to come right then and there.

  “Do you want to take this inside?” he asked, his mouth never leaving her skin.

  Tessa shook her head. She didn’t want to go anywhere. This was right where she wanted to be. Under the stars, with this man, right here on his back porch without another soul within at least three miles.

  “I’m going to have you naked in under a minute. Are you sure about that?”

  “Positive,” she answered, holding his head tighter, forcing his mouth closer to the vulnerable area between her neck and her shoulder. God, she loved what his tongue was doing.

  She felt the ties at the back of her neck give, the rasp of the strings tickling her skin when he pulled them along with him as he stood to his full height, stealing his wondrous lips away from her eager body. Staring up at him, she watched as his eyes widened, the once golden brown darkening.

  “You’re beautiful,” he whispered, lowering her dress until her breasts spilled forth, unbidden without the bandeau top.

  The late summer breeze was warm against her skin, but her nipples puckered painfully beneath the scrutiny of his gaze. Tessa wouldn’t consider herself ugly, but she would never go so far as to say she was beautiful. Only, when Cooper looked at her, she felt as though she were a princess and he had never found another woman quite so exquisite.

  He continued to lower her dress until it bunched across her ribs, just beneath her sensitive, swollen breasts. Warm hands cupped her, lodging her breath in her chest. Splendid warmth enveloped her, her thighs clenching as her pussy began to throb with anticipation. Closing her eyes, she prayed he’d get on with it.

  Tessa squealed when her feet left the ground, her body lifted and turned until her butt was resting on the railing that surrounded the porch.

  “There,” Cooper said, sounding pleased with himself.

  Oh, hell! Cooper’s fiercely hot mouth surrounded one of her nipples without so much as an introduction, the suction sending electric shards of pleasure ricocheting from her nipple to her clit. She couldn’t stifle the moan, couldn’t keep from pulling his head closer as she bowed her back, trying to force him to suck harder. The sharp tug of his mouth had her praying he would never stop.

  Disappointment took up residence where the pleasure had been seconds before when he pulled away, her breast falling from his mouth with a sinfully delicious pop. He wasted no time before unleashing the same treatment on her other breast.

  “Cooper,” she moaned his name, holding him to her. “Don’t stop. Please, don’t ever stop.”

  Reckless.

  The thought flitted through her mind, but the pleasure was too intense, too all-consuming that she couldn’t focus on anything other than the way he teased her nipple with his tongue.

  This time he bathed her entire breast, licking the underside, then lapping at her nipple with gentle swirls of his tongue. She tried to focus on the intensity of his mouth, but his big, warm hand was sliding its way up her thigh. When his finger dipped beneath the elastic edge of her panties, she was afraid she was going to shatter right then and there.

  “You’re wet.”

  It wasn’t a question, and Tessa didn’t feel the need to say anything because her body was doing all the talking for her. She spread her knees farther apart, gripping his shoulders to keep from tumbling backward off of the railing as he slowly penetrated her with one finger.

  “Cooper!” Oh, God. She wasn’t going to last. It’d been too long. “Please! Oh, God! Please!” Grateful that they were so far away from civilization, Tessa didn’t try to restrain herself. She wasn’t sure she would’ve been able to if she had to.

  “Tell me, Tessa.” Cooper’s tone was firm, demanding, as he stood tall, looking down at her, his finger sliding ever so slowly inside of her, curling to the perfect angle that made her womb contract. “Tell me, darlin’.”

  She was momentarily stunned by the abrupt shift in his demeanor. The laidback, country boy had taken a backseat to the dominating man before her. She had no idea what she was supposed to tell him. Her brain had gone offline, granting all of the decision making to her body, and her nerve endings were suddenly in charge.

  “Do you want me to make you come?”

  The way he spoke had more sparks exploding inside of her. This was what she needed. What she wanted more than anything. She didn’t want to make love. She wanted to get wild. Go crazy. She wanted her body to soar, and the way he continued to fuck her with his finger was doing wondrous things to her insides.

  Cooper lifted the hem of her dress up until the cotton rested on her thighs, his tan hand between her thighs, her plain white panties pulled to the side as his finger moved in and out. Tessa couldn’t tear her eyes away from the sight.

  “Two fingers?” Cooper’s words came out as a question, but Tessa watched as he retreated before sliding two long, thick fingers inside of her, making her scream from the delicious ecstasy that tormented her.

  “Harder,” she begged.

  “Not yet. I want to watch you come just like this. You’re so fucking hot, Tessa. The way your pussy pulls at my fingers.”

  Cooper’s thumb entered the mix, slowly flicking across her clit and Tessa threw her head back, holding on to his shoulders as her orgasm ripped through her. She had to clamp her teeth closed as a scream tore from her chest.

  Long seconds later, her body relaxed. Thankfully Cooper was holding her once more because she would’ve easily slid right down to the floor, or worse, fallen off of the ledge she was perched on.

  Not that she would’ve cared either way.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Cooper wasn’t sure he’d be able to move. His cock was like an iron rod, painfully squeezed behind the zipper of his jeans. The discomfort probably the only thing keeping him from going off like a rocket.

  The way Tessa had responded to his touch, completely uninhibited, was a hell of a lot hotter than he expected. This woman knew what she wanted when it came to pleasure. Knew how to take what she needed.

  Honestly, he hadn’t expected that. In the short time he’d gotten to know her, Tessa seemed more than a little reserved, thwarting most of his attempts to get close to her. Clearly not the case, and it was another thing he found so damned appealing about her.

  Having had his share of women over the years, never had he been with one who made him feel as though he were experiencing the same pleasure she was. Never had he realized that giving could be as appealing as receiving. Until now. Until her. Cooper wanted to make her come in a thousand different ways and he had no intention of slowing down now.

  Pulling her down from the rail, he gave her a second to get her feet beneath her before he let her go. “Don’t move,” he ordered before turning to go inside.

  With hurried movements, Cooper grabbed the sleeping bag and the single pillow he’d purchased earlier before returning to the back porch. To his relief, Tessa was still standing where he left her, her dress still bunched beneath her full, luscious breasts.

  Spreading the sleeping bag out over the deck and tossing the pillow down, he beckoned Tessa over with a crook of his finger. The smile she dazzled him with had his jeans once more constricting as his dick pulsed.

  “I thought you were willing to endure splinters in your ass?” she teased, her sultry laugh hanging on the warm breeze.

  “We’re not at that point yet,” he told her as he eased her dress down her torso, then over her bottom before letting it slide down her legs to the floor. Her tiny white panties were the next to go.

  Cooper went to his knees then helped her down until she was sitting in the center of the blanket. It took him a minute to f
ree her feet from the sandals, but once he did, he took his time looking at her. Tessa was perfection. Her curly blonde hair wild around her face, golden skin glistening with perspiration. He continued looking his fill, letting his gaze travel over her breasts, admiring the dusky pink tips, still puckered, then over her gently rounded belly to the soft curls between her thighs.

  “Why am I the only one not dressed?” she asked, drawing his eyes back up to hers.

  “Because I’m not done with you yet. Trust me, we’ll get there. For now, I want to feast on your pretty pussy.” Cooper loved the way her green eyes darkened when he told her exactly what he wanted to do to her. He sensed she was turned on by the vulgar words, which only spurred him on further. “I want to slide my tongue deep inside of you until you’re screaming my name again.”

  And heaven help him, when Tessa screamed his name as she came, he’d damn near fallen to his knees.

  “What’re you waiting for, cowboy?”

  Fuck.

  Cooper didn’t need to be told twice. Easing her legs farther apart, he lowered himself to the floor, shouldering his way between her thighs, inhaling her sweet, musky scent. When she moved, he looked up the delectable curve of her body to see she was propping herself up on the pillow.

  So she wanted to watch, did she?

  Cooper took his time, running one finger through her wet folds, grazing her clit every so often before separating her swollen lips and baring her completely to his gaze. She was pink and wet and so damn perfect, his mouth watered with the need to taste her. Unwilling to rush, he used the tip of his tongue to glide down the outer portion of her labia, down, then up, stopping at the swollen bundle of nerves before flicking his tongue sharply.

  “Oh, God!” Tessa’s scream split the air and a surge of satisfaction filled him.

  Sucking her clit into his mouth, he teased her gently before releasing her, sliding his tongue lower until he reached her entrance. One hard thrust of his tongue had her hips bucking beneath him. He reached up, gripped her hip bones and held her in place as he began fucking her with his tongue. He increased the pressure, alternating between relentlessly flicking her clit, then returning to bury his tongue in her sweet, warm pussy.