Текст книги "Chaser"

Автор книги: Staci Hart

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Текущая страница: 7 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

I must have caught him off guard because he didn’t respond right away. “Possibly. I know a guy.”

I chuckled. “I’m sure you do.”

“What did she say?”

I rolled over to face the room. “She wasn’t happy. She thought you took advantage of me.”

“If she only knew that you were the mastermind behind the whole operation,” he joked.

I laughed at the irony. Talking me into stuff was his best magic trick. “I can’t help the fact that I have needs.”

“Is she going to tell West?”

“She said she wouldn’t.”

“Good. We’ll be more careful.”

I sighed. “God, that was so dumb, Cooper.”

“But so worth it. I couldn’t stand it anymore.”

“Me neither. Next time, let’s just leave.”

“I wish we had just so I’d have you for the night.”

“It’s probably for the best. I can’t stay at your house until three, not when I’ve got to get up early. For work!”

“I wish I got that excited about working.” I could hear him smiling.

“Never know if you don’t try.”

He laughed, and we sat in contented silence. “So you didn’t call when you went to your interview today, which I can’t say I’m not a little hurt about.”

“Aww, is Giant Hammerhead Cooper pouty?”

“Nah. The beast has been fed and is content. For now, at least. I can wake him up, though – just say the word.”

I laugh burst out of me. “Oh, my God, Coop. Never call it ‘the beast’ again. Like, ever.”

“You and your rules. Ever think about just throwing them all out the window?”

“Nope, not really.” I smiled. “Sorry I didn’t call. I knew I’d see you tonight, and I didn’t want to bother you.”

“You’re never a bother, Mags.”

“You say that now, but wait until my brother’s chasing you with a baseball bat and then let’s talk.”

It was his turn to laugh. “Are you sure I can’t change your mind?”

“I’m sure. I’m already in bed.”

“That’s not a convincing reason. I’m right around the corner.”

I pulled a pillow into my chest. “We’ve got to be smarter about this. Your face is too pretty to risk West’s wrath.”

“You think I’m pretty?” he asked.

“Ninety-eight percent of all humans who have seen your face think you’re pretty.”

“Only ninety-eight percent? My numbers have slipped.”

“The other two percent just think ‘tall, dark, and handsome’ is passé.”

He laughed again. “Text me tomorrow and let me know how your day is.”

“I will.”

“And Maggie?”

“Yes?”

“I really am sorry about tonight.”

“I wouldn’t take it back, but I don’t want to put ourselves in this spot again.” I squeezed the pillow a little tighter.

“I know. Me neither.” He took a breath and let it out. “All right. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Sleep well, Mags.”

“You too, Coop.”

I hung up and laid my phone on the nightstand before clicking off the light. And then I lay in bed, the room in such deep shadows that I couldn’t make out much, though I stared into the dark all the same, trying to make sense of what was right in front of me.

Two weeks. Really, it was twelve days before we’d end it. I was resolute, not willing to hurt anyone else for something I wanted, someone who I couldn’t have in any real way, anyway. The thought gave me comfort. I ignored the niggling of dread.

STARVING

Maggie

I PULLED OPEN THE DOOR to Project Homestead the next morning armed with textbooks, my laptop, iron will, and a smile, ready to crush the day. I headed back to my new boss’ office and found her sitting behind her desk. Her hair was a dark, rich gray, pulled back in a clip, her brown eyes shining from behind red-framed glasses.

She smiled up at me with rosy cheeks and stood.

“Good morning, Maggie.” She extended a hand.

“Hi, Susan,” I said as I took it. “Good to see you.”

“Have a seat.” She motioned to the chair, and I sat down. “Thank you so much for starting on such short notice. We’re lucky to have you. Our benefactor is coming in tomorrow, and we’ve had a lot of trouble finding a qualified candidate to run the reading enrichment program.”

“It’s my pleasure, really.” I set my bag down next to my chair and folded my hands in my lap.

She leaned on her desk. “Your credentials are just outstanding, and the references we spoke to had nothing but good things to say. We’re feeling a bit like we’ve won the lottery,” she said with a smile. “Today I’ll need you to fill out some paperwork, and we’ll be touring the facility. I want you to meet the kids, and then we’ll need to sit down and talk through some curriculum points. I’d like to have a loose plan in place for the meeting tomorrow.”

“I’m sure I can get something together in time.”

Susan adjusted her glasses on her nose. “Perfect.” She picked up a packet of papers from her desk and handed it over to me. “So, just to go into a bit more detail on what we touched on yesterday, your volunteer position will be three days per week for the kids in the shelter, similar to library programs. We want to bring reading into the children’s lives in a way that shows them the magic of books and imagination. We’d also like to discuss an adult reading workshop, which we would schedule based on the interest we receive.”

I flipped through the packet, a set of paperwork to fill out and some program overviews.

“This summer we’ll have larger groups of kids than you’ll have starting out, once all of the kids are out of school. It’s when they need us the most, the time when they’re unsupervised. Our shelters are mostly families trying to get back on their feet. Most have jobs, the kids in school, trying to maintain their lives even though they’ve lost their homes. It’s a transitional place for them, a place for them to find solid ground again. Any questions so far?”

“No, ma’am.”

She smiled and stood. “Great. Let’s have a look around.”

I gathered my things and followed her out of the office and through the building – through the kitchen and rooms, the common areas, the playroom where I met the kids who weren’t old enough for school. We ended up in the common office, a room set up with a few older desktop computers, round tables and chairs, a wall of packed bookshelves, and one super hot guy.

He was a bit older than me, with blond hair and a killer smile that he shot at me like a laser beam.

Susan gestured to him, and I think his smile got even brighter. “Maggie, I’d like you to meet Brian, our illustrious chef and head of our kitchens.”

He stood and extended a hand. “Nice to meet you, Maggie.”

“Likewise,” I answered, taking it with a smile. He gave it a solid squeeze.

“Maggie will be heading up our reading program.”

He nodded amiably. “Great. Catherine will be glad to hear we finally found someone.”

“Yes, she will.” Susan sounded relieved and turned back to me. “You can store any supplies you have here and use the space for anything you may need. For the meeting tomorrow, if you could put together a proposal for your plan for the children’s program as well as a general supply list, that would be a great start. And, no pressure, but if you have any ideas for the adult program, I’m sure Catherine would love to hear them.”

“All right. I think can manage. I have some good ideas on where to start.”

“Wonderful, Maggie. Let’s plan on meeting this afternoon to go over what you come up with. I can’t thank you enough for your help. Are you all right to set up here in the office? Do you have everything you need?”

“I do. Thank you, Susan.” I adjusted my bag on my shoulder with my mind already turning over ideas.

“Just let me know if you have any questions or need any guidance.”

“I will.”

I moved to sit a table away from Hottie Von Chefpants as Susan left the room, feeling him watching me with his pencil hovering over his clipboard.

“You’re welcome to sit over here, if you’d like.”

I smiled politely, since refusing wasn’t an option, not after he’d offered. “Sure.” I set down my bag and took a seat across from him. “What are you working on?”

He leaned back in his chair and ran a hand through his golden hair. “Menus for the next month and our grocery list for Catherine. She helps procure the donations we need to keep this place up and running.”

I pulled a binder of lesson plans out of my bag and set it on the table. “How long have you worked here?”

“Two years. Doesn’t pay much, in money at least.” He smiled at me again – it really was a pretty smile, kind and genuine.

“Yeah, I hear that. I was a teacher in my past life.”

“You’re not from around here.”

“Is it that obvious?”

He smirked. “A little hard to disguise that accent.”

I dug around for a pen, wondering if I’d be able to get any work done in the office after all. “I just moved here from Mississippi.”

“Small town girl in the big city, huh?”

I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know that I’d call Jackson a small town. Maybe compared to New York, but isn’t everything?”

Brian laughed, his eyes twinkling. “Fair enough. Are you in the market for a tour guide? Because I know of a mean coffee shop around the corner that I think you’d love.”

I raised a brow. “Already asking me on a coffee date?”

He shrugged. “I’m not known for passing up opportunities with beautiful, charitable Southern girls who are new to the city.”

I smiled, shaking my head. “That’s awfully sweet of you, but I’ve got to pass.”

He nodded, unable to fully hide his disappointment behind a smile. “I should have known you’d already have a boyfriend.”

“Who says I have a boyfriend?”

His smile fell. “I’m sorry, I—”

I waved him off with a sigh. “I’m sorry. It’s not you, you seem perfectly nice, and I’m pretty sure that with a smile like that, you have no problems finding a date. It’s just that I’m just getting out of a serious relationship, and things are … complicated for me.”

“Bad timing. I get it,” he conceded.

I smiled.

“Well, let me know if things change. You know where to find me. And in the meantime, we’ll be friends?”

“Sounds more like my speed.”

“And we’ll have Folgers instead of the Sumatra blend.”

I chuckled. “Deal.”

He made to get up, smiling at me. “I’ll go start a pot so we can get ready for Catherine. Cream and sugar?”

“Just sugar, thanks.”

I watched him leave the room, shaking my head at myself. I hadn’t thought twice about turning him down, even though he was … safe. He was the kind of guy I should be going after – a nice guy who worked in charity with a kind smile and a great body. I bet he gave back rubs and bought girls flowers before he took them on dates to hip coffee shops. But I wasn’t interested at all. Not even a tiny little ovarian flutter.

It was so easy to say no to him, but somehow I couldn’t deny Cooper when he set his mind to something. I wondered what in the hell that meant, other than I was apparently a glutton for punishment.

My phone buzzed on the table, and I picked it up to find a text from Cooper. Never mind speak of the devil – I couldn’t even think of him or he’d appear.

How’s work?

I texted him back. So far, so good. Got a lot of work to do before tomorrow. What’s up?

Come by before you head home. I’ll order dinner. 

Ah, the old feed-and-fuck?

I mean, when you put it like that…

I smiled. Sure. I’ll text you when I’m on my way. I can’t stay late though, okay?

I’ll take what I can get. See you tonight.

I set my phone down and flipped through my lesson plans, trying to clear my mind of boys and their pretty smiles, and before long, I’d buried myself in the task at hand, feeling productive for the first time in a very, very long time.

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.