Текст книги "Chaser"

Автор книги: Staci Hart

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Текущая страница: 9 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

“Give us a spin,” she said slyly.

I spun around and smiled.

“Now, flip the chicken.”

“You want me to touch the breasts while you watch?”

“Give them a good fondling. They need to be hot before we eat them.” Her brow was up as she took a sip of her wine.

I laughed and made lewd noises while I poked at the chicken, knowing she was staring at my naked ass.

“All right,” I said when the show was over. “Truth or dare?”

She hesitated before answering, “Truth.”

I thought carefully, turning to lean on the counter again. Her eyes fell between my legs at David’s cock, and she giggled.

“I don’t know if I can take you seriously in that.”

I didn’t miss a beat. “What would it take for you to date me?” I threw the question at her knowing full well I’d catch her off guard.

Her smile fell. “Cooper …”

I shot her The Smile. “Don’t wimp out on me now, Williams.”

But her face was tight, unamused. “All right. It would take a time machine, a peace treaty with my brother, and proof that you were serious about something. Anything. Truth or dare?” she shot, closing the conversation.

I nodded and wet my lips, letting it go like I knew I should, even though I wouldn’t forget it so easily. I turned and took the chicken off the grill. “Truth.”

“What’s your deepest, darkest secret?” The question was pointed, and I turned to look at her.

You. I raised an eyebrow. “Wow, this escalated quickly.”

“You started it.” She took a sip of her wine.

I pushed off from the counter, part of me not believing what I was about to do. But she’d asked, and I found that as nervous as it made me to answer, I wanted her to know. “Come here and I’ll show you.” I extended a hand.

Her eyes widened as she took it and slipped off the stool. “Why am I a little scared?”

I chuckled and dragged her through my apartment to the door of my nerd sanctuary. I leaned against the wall, feeling more than a little scared myself. But I wanted her to know everything about me. I wanted to share all of myself with her simply because it felt good to do it.

“Go ahead. Open it.”

She clasped her hands in front of her, fingers threading together. She looked tentative, eyeing the door with uncertainty. “If there are whips and chains and butt plugs in there, I’m probably going to freak out.”

I smiled. “Just open it, Mags.”

She took a breath and turned the handle, gasping when she saw what was inside. “Oh, my God.” She spun around, gaping. “Are you for real?”

I wasn’t sure if her reaction was good or bad, but I stepped into the room and around her to explain. “I’ve been collecting ever since I was a kid, obsessively, really. I’ve just always loved comics and sci-fi, my dad too. You should see his collection.”

“Holy shit,” she breathed and wandered around the room, awestruck, stopping in front of my The Empire Strikes Back movie poster. “How do you have Stephen Spielberg’s autograph?”

I relaxed, smiling at the wonder on her face. “My dad’s firm manages his finances.”

“This is amazing, Cooper.” She moved to the shelves. “First edition Harry Potter … are these signed too?”

“They are. They were the first novels I ever read.”

She blinked. “I think I just had a bookgasm.” She reached for one. “May I?”

I nodded, and she pulled out the first book reverently, opening it to the inscription.

“Wow,” she breathed. “You are officially the most hardcore geek I’ve ever met.”

I laughed, relieved, feeling the unfamiliar comfort of sharing myself with someone else. Someone I trusted. “Now you know my deepest, darkest secret.”

She set the book back down and turned to me, her eyes soft. “No one knows?”

I shook my head.

“Not even West? How were you able to hide … this?” She motioned to the room.

“He knows a little. I’ve always collected comics, but he doesn’t know how serious it is.”

“Yeah, because this is pretty fucking serious, Coop.” She smiled, wandering past me and over to the Batman costume.

 My eyes were glued to the apron string that swayed back and forth as she walked. She turned to me, and my eyes snapped up to hers.

She shook her head, smiling. “Please tell me you’re not actually Batman.”

I walked up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist. “No, I’m not actually Batman.”

She leaned back into me. “Is it from a movie? You didn’t have it made, did you?”

I paused. “Maybe.”

“For Halloween?”

“ComicCon.”

A laugh bubbled out of her. “Put it on.”

“Can’t. We need one more person to assist.”

She laughed even harder. “I bet you look amazing in it.”

“I do. Have I scared you off yet?”

She turned in my arms. “Um, no – one look at the Harry Potter books has me seriously hot and bothered.”

“Just wait until I show you my Tolkien collection.”

She smiled, lips parted as she angled her face to mine. There were maybe two millimeters of slinky fabric between us, and I could feel the warmth of her body just on the other side. When I brought my lips to hers, she wrapped herself around me and tightened her arms until I was as close as I could be.

My hands roamed down her back and to her bare ass. I squeezed, and she laid her hands on my chest, pushing gently, moving us back to the only piece of furniture in the room, my black leather recliner. The backs of my knees hit the seat, and I sat down, but she didn’t follow right away, just stood in front of me, smiling. My hands were on her hips, fingers on bare skin.

She touched my face as my hand moved down her thighs and under the apron, trailed up the inside of her thigh and between her legs to cup her, squeeze her. My middle finger rested against the line of her, and I ran the pad down the length before slipping inside. She leaned into me, eyes closed, her face soft and relaxed as I stroked her.

Her arms rested on my shoulders, and she bent down to kiss me, a slow kiss, a heady kiss. She slipped a knee next to me, and I leaned back as she climbed onto my lap, reaching behind her to pull the apron string with a zip. I yanked it off and tossed it, her curly hair bouncing as it passed through the neck. Her hand skated down my stomach to the hem of my apron, her eyes down as she moved it out of her way and wrapped her fingers around my base, lifting me. She licked her lips as her hips rose, and I watched her lower her body onto me with a sigh. Our bodies met in a seam, no space between us, her hands on my chest, arms pushing her breasts together. The sight of her naked body straddling mine, her hair in her face, her hands on my chest as she rocked gently – I committed the moment to memory.

My hand found her breast, and I traced the curve and squeezed. The other hand rested on her hip, riding along as her body rolled in waves. Her fingers clenched against my chest, and her brows came together, the softness in her face shifting as she came closer. I knew her body so well that I could almost count down the seconds. A shallow breath she took – three – a small moan passed her lips – two – her nails dug into my skin – one. She came with a cry, grinding against me, pulsing around me.

After a moment, she slowed, lifting a hand to move her hair from her face, smiling at me lazily as she leaned back. She reached behind her, resting her hands on my thighs as she rolled her body, lifting her hips every time she rocked back. I watched our bodies meet and separate, my hands on her hips as I flexed into her, pulling her down faster with each motion until I couldn’t hold on. Her name was on my lips, my heart stopping for a long moment when I came, my body thrumming inside of her.

When I finally opened my eyes, she was smiling at me, lip between her teeth as she shifted to lie on top of me. Her lips found mine, soft and sweet, and my fingers tangled in her hair, not wanting to separate.

But she broke away, smiling down at me as her hand found my jaw. “Do you bring all the girls in here to impress them with your collection?”

“No one else has been in here besides you and my maid,” I answered quietly.

She watched me for a moment. “Why me?”

I smiled and touched her cheek. “Because we were playing a game, and I trust you.”

Some emotion passed across her face in a flash, too fast for me to catch it before she kissed me again. But the kiss was different, laced with longing, burning hot.

When she backed away, she seemed fine, just smiled at me once more and said, “I’m still hungry.”

And I let it go, because that was what she wanted. “Well, put that apron back on and let’s get you fed.”

She climbed off of me and grabbed the apron from the ground. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

She headed to my room, and I cleaned up in the hall bathroom with every thought on her. And then, I made my way back to the kitchen to finish dinner, feeling lost and found, together and broken, all at the same time.

I had the bread and bacon on the flat top and was busy slicing tomatoes, grateful for the mundane distraction, feeling a little more together by the time that Maggie returned looking fresh as a magnolia blossom. She snickered, her eyes on my ass.

“I kinda forgot you were wearing that.”

I smiled as I set the bread on plates and smeared garlic aioli mayo on them, then laid the chicken breasts on the top.

She took a seat and sipped her wine. “Oooh, fancy sandwiches.”

I topped them with tomatoes, spring mix, and bacon. “I can’t help it. I’m just a fancy guy.” I made my way over to the bar and set her plate in front of her. “Bon appétite, Madame.”

“Merci beaucoup, monsieur.”

I took a seat next to her, my ass sticking to the leather.

She picked up her sandwich and adjusted her grip. “So what are you up to tonight?” She took a bite.

“Actually, West and Patrick are coming over in about an hour.”

Her eyes widened, and she froze mid-chew.

“You have an hour. Don’t worry.”

She made a face and started chewing again.

“I’ll call Bobby to take you home.

“I don’t need—”

I shook my head and picked up my own sandwich. “I’m not letting you walk through the park in the dark.”

“I can take a cab.”

“Maggie. Just let me call Bobby.”

She sighed. “Fine. What are you guys doing tonight?”

“Playing video games. You?” I took a bite.

“Well, I don’t have work tomorrow, so I’m not sure.”

I wiped my lips with my napkin and laid it back in my lap. “What’s left on your sightseeing list?”

“Chelsea Piers, Brooklyn Bridge, Coney Island, off the top of my head.”

I smiled and shifted the sandwich. “Let’s go to Coney Island tomorrow.” I took another bite.

She raised an eyebrow. “Who invited you?”

I shrugged and swallowed. “You shouldn’t go by yourself. Plus, when it gets dark, that place looks like where survivors of the zombie apocalypse go for group meetings.”

She laughed.

“Seriously. I once saw a guy beating a bench with a cane, laughing like a maniac.”

Her smile fell. “Maybe I don’t want to go after all.”

“It’s fine during the day, and with muscle.”

Maggie eyed me. “You’re telling me that you and I going to Coney Island wouldn’t be a date? How do you figure?”

“I won’t buy you a single thing, not even a hot dog or a soda. I won’t even try to win you a giant pink gorilla. I could, just to be clear. But I won’t. I’ll be good. But the second we’re back here tomorrow night, I make no promises.”

She laughed. “Sounds fun, but it’s a bad idea.” She seemed stalwart, but I pressed her anyway. I wanted to spend the day with her. I wanted to know if it would be everything I thought it would be.

“Give me one good reason why we can’t go to Coney Island.”

“Because …” Her face scrunched up. “Well, I don’t know. It just feels like a date.”

“I already covered that one. What else?” I took another bite, playing it off, watching her.

She was still trying to think of something, and I knew I had her. I went in for the kill.

I swallowed and set down my sandwich. “You want to go to Coney Island. We’re both free tomorrow. There will be no making of moves, buying of cotton candy, or any otherwise sinister, predatory shenanigans. Come on, Mags.”

Boom. 

She rolled her eyes with a sigh. “All right. It’s not a date, though.”

A smile stretched across my lips. “Of course it’s not.”

SORE LOSER

Maggie

HALF AN HOUR LATER, I skipped out of Cooper’s apartment feeling high. Constant surprises, that’s what being with him boiled down to. Just when I thought I had him pegged, he’d hit me with something that would send the dial spinning again. But as Bobby drove me home, I came down, and the second guessing began. I’d agreed to another not-date, this time at an amusement park.

I had almost zero willpower when it came to Cooper.

Coney Island on a spring afternoon with Cooper Moore. I sighed, feeling like an indecisive fool, needing to talk to somebody, but Lily was at the theater. I couldn’t call Brooke – it was too late on a Thursday when I know she had to wake up early. That only left Rose. I’d just have to play it off, be as vague as possible. No details, no names. Relief settled in at the thought of talking through it. She’d help me decide.

Bobby dropped me off around the corner from Habits, and I thanked him before climbing out, feeling like I should have tipped him or something, even though I knew he’d never take it. A driver. So freaking weird.

The night was cool and a little breezy as I walked the stretch to Habits and pulled open the door. Rose’s face swung toward the door, and she smiled when she saw me. Her black hair was in a high ponytail, her long neck exposed, cleavage bangin’ without looking overdone or showy.

I waved and headed down to the end.

She tossed a coaster on the bar, looking glad to see me. The feeling was mutual. “I didn’t expect to see you tonight, Mags. What are you up to?”

I took a seat and pulled my bag off, hanging it on a hook under the bar. “Not much. I was out, but … I don’t know. I wasn’t quite ready to go home to an empty apartment.”

She smiled. “I know the feeling. Maker’s and ginger?”

“That sounds like heaven. Thanks, Rose.”

“No prob.” She grabbed a glass and tossed in a scoop of ice. “How was your day?”

“Weird. Today at work, I met Cooper’s mom.”

Rose looked like something had exploded in her brain. “Oh, my God. That’s the charity she works for? You even told me the name and everything. I can’t believe I didn’t put that together.”

“It’s fine. I mean, how often do you talk about Cooper’s mom?”

She chuckled and poured whiskey into the glass. “True.”

“So that was weird. And then I went over to Mr. M’s. We got into a little … kerfuffle.”

Rose smirked and grabbed the soda gun to top my drink off. “Is that a euphemism?”

I laughed. “No, although I got some of that too.”

“At least one of us got laid.” She handed the glass over.

“How long’s it been?”

Rose sighed. “Too long.”

“Have you thought about dating?”

She leaned on the bar. “Of course. Just haven’t met anyone worth the risk.”

I nodded and took a sip, knowing exactly what she meant. “What about a dating site?”

“I’m not that desperate yet.” She leaned on the bar. “So what was the kerfuffle about?”

“Oh, it was silly – a misunderstanding. I’m just paranoid, I think. I’m afraid to trust him, you know? I don’t want to trust anyone.”

“I get that. I’m glad you guys worked it out, though. How long before his time is up?”

“A week and a couple of days. He wants to go with me to Coney Island tomorrow.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like a date.”

“That’s what I said. I just don’t know if it’s a good idea. But he swore it was friends only, nothing datey like holding hands or kissing.”

“Are you going to go?”

“I told him I would, but now I’m not so sure.” I looked into her eyes and begged her to just decide for me.

She nodded thoughtfully. “Coney Island is on your list, right?”

“Yeah. I just … I don’t know. I’m only supposed to be banging him, you know?”

“Right. What about upgrading from fuck buddy to friends with benefits?”

I considered it. “I mean, we are friends at this point.”

“And theoretically, you’re going to cut this all off in a week or so anyway, right?”

“Right.”

She shrugged. “I don’t see a problem here. Go on the not-date and have a good time. Then let him rock your junk out and feed you again. That sounds like a cycle I can get behind.”

I laughed, feeling better. “Can I just have you make all of my decisions for me?”

A laugh burst out of her. “I don’t know how well that would work out for you, but as long as you don’t get pissed at me when your life blows up like mine, then sure.”

“Thanks, Rose. I’m having a hell of a time with this, which sucks considering it was supposed to be easy.”

“You’ve been through a lot over the last few months, including a move to Manhattan. Don’t beat yourself up too much.”

I took a drink and did just that – cut myself some slack. She was right. I wanted to go to Coney Island, and I’d have fun with Cooper like I always did. I could handle it. Friends with benefits. Easy.

Cooper

A couple of hours later, I was sitting in my media room with the lights out, flanked by Patrick and West as Scorpion and SubZero beat the shit out of each other in Mortal Kombat style digital surround sound. We each had our own leather recliner with built in speakers, and the ninety-inch TV was close enough to us that it took up our entire field of vision.

The sound boomed as West’s player, Scorpion, yelled, “Come here!” then a splat as he stabbed SubZero in the face with his grappling hook and pulled, ripping his head off. We all groaned, laughing as blood splattered everywhere and the announcer said, “Scorpion wins!”

West crowed. “Bring it on, Coop.”

I grabbed the controller from Patrick and shook my head. “You may beat me on the basketball court, but this is my turf.”

I joined in as Raiden and squared off against Scorpion. The round started, and we went nuts on each other. I dodged as he tried to spear me, shooting him with lightning before I flipped over him and kicked him the back.

The click of the buttons punctuated hisses and swear words from West as we fought, but I just smiled, taking it easy on him to make him feel like he had a shot.

“177 IQ and you play Mortal Kombat like that?” West snickered.

I zapped him with electricity and made him explode.

“Dammit, Cooper!”

“Fatality,” I crowed along with the announcer.

West eyeballed me.

I shook my head, laughing. “You’re such a sore loser, dude.”

Patrick snorted.

“I am not. Fuck you guys.”

We laughed even harder.

“Y’all suck,” he tossed the controller at Patrick, who barely caught it.

He sat back in the seat, smirking. “You’re so mad. Like Blaingry-mad or don’t-touch-my-sister mad.”

“Well,” West huffed, “Blaine was a punk-ass fuck who hurt Lily, and if either of you touch my sister, I will beat your ass.”

Patrick laughed and held up his hands. “Yeah, yeah.”

I tried to play it cool, smiling crooked. “You know, some day she’ll meet a guy she really cares about, and you’ll have to find a way to accept it.”

“I can accept whomever she chooses, as long as it’s not one of you two.”

Patrick raised a dark brow. “That’s not what you said earlier about that guy Maggie works with.”

Outwardly, I was still smiling. Inwardly, I was nuclear. “What’s the story there?”

West scowled from behind his dark beard. “Apparently the chef at the shelter won’t stop asking her out.”

“She told you that?” I asked, disbelieving that she’d offer up any information about a guy who was hitting on her to her brother.

“Sorta. She told Lily.”

Patrick chuckled. “You should have heard him asking Lily questions about the guy like he was a criminal. He works at a homeless shelter for chrissake.”

I made a mental note to ask my mom about him, and Maggie too. For the sake of the rules, of course. “So did she agree?”

“No. She keeps shooting him down.”

Relief slipped over me, and I took the opening to press my point. “So you don’t want Maggie to date someone you don’t know, but you don’t want her to date someone you do know, either? Who exactly fits into that criteria?”

West’s brow was low, his face pinched as he tried to explain himself. “Who would meet my expectations? It’s not all that complicated. A man who’s got his shit together. Someone who will love her and treat her like the goddamn queen she is. Jimmy squandered the gift he’d been given, and she’s not over it. I don’t care how much she pretends like she’s fine and dandy. She’s hurting and alone, and I won’t see her go through that again, so until she meets a man who will protect her and care for her, who won’t drag her down with him, I’ll keep being a picky, overbearing son of a bitch.” His jaw was set, eyes hard as he stood. “I need a drink. Y’all want one?”

We nodded and muttered our agreement, subdued, and West blew out of the room.

The second he was gone, Patrick spun his chair around to face me. “Do you have a thing for Maggie?”

My face froze, along with my heart and my breath. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

But his eyes were wide. He leaned back in the chair and ran a hand over his mouth. “You’re seeing her.” His eyes bugged even more. “Wait. You’re educating her. Jesus fucking Christ, Coop.”

“Seriously, where is this coming from?” I feigned confusion, apparently poorly.

“I’m not gonna tell West,” he said, and I believed him. “It’s so obvious, I can’t believe I didn’t see it before.”

I glared at him. “There’s nothing going on.” It was worth a final shot.

He gave me a flat look. “Just fess up. How long has it been going on?”

I rubbed my face and sighed, knowing I couldn’t avoid the conversation. “A long time, and not long enough.”

He frowned. “What are you going to do? Is it serious?”

“I don’t know, Tricky. I really don’t. She gave me all these rules, put a time limit on me. It’s supposed to be over soon, and even though I don’t know if I want it to end, I may not be able to convince her to agree to more than this, whatever this is. And even if we did want to, you heard what West said. He wants her to be with the exact opposite of me, on top of telling me for the fifty thousandth time to never even think about seeing her.”

“That’s what West wants, but what does Maggie want?”

I looked away. “I don’t know that either. What she says and what she does tell me two different stories.”

“You’re the first guy she’s been with since Jimmy, and that was just three months ago. It’s risky, man. She’s not ready. And you’re serious about her.” He scanned my face like he could read me, shaking his head. “Wow, Cooper.”

“Wow, what?” West asked as he entered the room carrying scotch for all of us.

Patrick smiled and spun his chair to face the TV again. “Cooper was just telling me about this girl he’s banging.”

West raised a brow and handed me a drink. “The one you’re educating?”

Patrick snickered, and I nodded as I took it, avoiding eye contact, contemplating the ways I’d murder Patrick Mortal Kombat-style.

“What the story there?” he asked and took his seat.

“Not sure. Taking it one day at a time.” I took a drink and set my glass in the cup holder in the arm rest. “Come on, Trick. Time to die.”

He smirked and picked up his controller, and I played the game without thinking, my mind on Maggie and the mess we were making. The mess I’d rather kick under the bed than clean up.

That night, after everyone had gone, I lay alone in the dark with the mess still on my mind, trying to untangle it knot by knot. For a moment, I wondered if it was worth it – the risk of West’s friendship – and for what? I didn’t even know if she really wanted me for more than just a distraction.

But I pictured her face, thought of her smile, of those moments when she looked at me and saw more than I meant to show her. She felt more than she let on.

I didn’t want to let her go, not for the bro code. And I knew that West would find a way to forgive me, if I could convince him I wouldn’t hurt her. That I wouldn’t treat her like I had every other woman in my life. If I could convince him of that, everything would be fine.

The only other person who I needed to convince was Maggie.