Page 26

CHAPTER 26

SCARLETT

“ Y ou look stunning,” Cooper tells me.

Suddenly feeling shy, I lower my chin and tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. “Thank you. You’re pretty stunning yourself, and I’m feeling damn lucky to be sitting across from you.”

Dave and Susanah show up to deliver our meals. I’m so excited, I clap and cheer at their arrival. “You don’t understand how famished we are,” I tell them.

“Well, hopefully everything lives up to your expectations,” Susanah replies.

“I’m sure it will,” Cooper says.

We don’t even wait until they’ve left the dining room to sample the whipped potatoes with butter drizzled on top. And once we do, that’s the main focus for both of us. Although, I do steal glances at him between bites. Candlelight flickers across his handsome face, highlighting his blue eyes and chiseled features. When he catches me looking, I shrug, as if to say can you blame me? I don’t know how anyone in my position could keep from watching him. He’s hotter than a Greek god.

“This is delicious,” he says, gesturing to the plate with his fork.

“It is,” I agree. “How sad we didn’t know this place existed. We had no idea what we were missing out on.” I take a sip of wine.

“That’s true,” he agrees.

Placing my glass down, I lick my lips. “Imagine the number of life experiences that exist in the entire world and we’re completely unaware as we go about our daily living. I guess ignorance is bliss.”

“But is it really?” he questions. “In today’s age of spending too much time staring at our phones, it’s important to do spontaneous things like taking this little trip. Think of it as positive stimulation and a necessary reprieve for our brains.”

“We’re feeding our brains along with our stomachs.” I laugh.

“Speaking of feeding… Not to point out the obvious, but I didn’t even need your help cutting my roast beef,” he says, which makes me laugh even louder.

Dammit. I didn’t even notice. “Oh, honey, I’m so proud of you.” I briefly place my hand on top of his and try not to panic at the endearment I used.

“Thank God that damn sling is gone. I hope I won’t need to wear it again. I never realized how many things I do that involve using both of my hands.”

I titter. “Do tell.”

“Get your mind out of the gutter,” he scolds playfully, but then he leans forward on the table. “Incidentally, I didn’t have any problems in that department while being one handed.”

I fan my hand in front of my face. “We should table this conversation until we’re back in the room and then you can tell me all the dirty details. Or better yet, demonstrate.”

“Been there, done that,” he points out, drawing a memory of him stroking his cock for me.

I take a gulp of wine to cool off, then point my fork at him. “Behave.”

His smirk is the only reply I get, but I can tell this desire-filled pull runs both ways. But what are we going to do about it? That’s the million dollar question. I know what I want to happen. And I don’t just mean sex. Although, that’s definitely part of my short- and long-term plans.

After dinner, we share a slice of caramel cheesecake for dessert. I let him feed me the first bite, but then all bets are off because it’s too delicious. “It’s every person for themselves,” I say, and now we’re in a race to see who can devour it first.

Cooper laughs, taking a few more small bites before he lets me have the remainder.

“Giving up so soon?” I tease.

“Watching you have a foodgasm over this is more rewarding for me than eating the cheesecake.”

I snort. “For future reference, foodgasms should always precede orgasms.”

“I’ll make a note of that,” he says, pulling out his phone and tapping his fingers against the screen.

I laugh and finish the final bites of the desert before patting my stomach. “Everything about this meal from the entrée to dessert was delicious.”

“It was,” he agrees. “Should we head upstairs and relax?”

“Yes. I want to put my pajamas on and cuddle with you.”

“That sounds like a great idea.” Pushing back his chair, he rises.

I moan like I’m in pain. “I ate too much. You might have to help me up.” I stretch my hand out and he grabs it, slowly pulling me to my feet. “I feel like a toddler who’s milk drunk and needs to be carried to bed,” I joke, holding my arms up like I want him to pick me up. And he does just that. “Cooper!” I shout, laughing. I wrap my arms and legs around him. “I was kidding.”

“Well, I took you at your word.” He walks from the dining room into the hallway and starts up the stairs.

“Oh my God. What about your shoulder?” I ask.

“It’s fine.”

Holy crap, he’s strong.

“The fact that you can carry me like this is sexy as fuck. I’m not some little thing.”

“No, you’re perfect,” he says. “I couldn’t mean that more. You’re tall and statuesque and you’re a woman people notice. You command attention without even trying.”

His sweet words have me in a chokehold. I husk out his name and squeeze him tighter with my arms and legs.

He gets the door open and delivers me to the bed, gently tipping me backward. I splay out like a starfish while he closes the door and secures the lock.

As he starts back toward the bed, I ask, “How do you feel about undressing me?”

He grins. “Is this a trick question?” He slips his shoes off.

I laugh. “Not at all.”

He rubs his hands together with eagerness and then unzips my knee-high boots. “Christ, these make your legs look a mile long,” he says, pulling them from my feet. They land on the rug with a dull thud. Placing both knees on the mattress, he positions himself between my legs. His caresses begin at my ankles and continue on in an upward trajectory. As his hands climb, they drag my loose skirt higher.

When he reaches the top of my black thigh-high stockings, he lets out a loud groan and asks, “Are you trying to kill me?”

I smile. “No, but Autumn might be. She’s the one who packed my bag. Wait until you see the rest.”

He pauses, staring into my eyes. “You’re the sexiest woman in the world.”

“I’m glad you think so.”

“I fucking do.”

I hold my breath as he pushes the material higher, inch by inch, until my sheer black panties are revealed. “Sweet Jesus.” He slides both of his palms up the front of each thigh before slipping inward, framing my pussy between them. “I can see your lips through the material.” He sounds like a kid in a candy store. “My mouth is watering. I have to taste you right fucking now.”

He won’t hear any protests from me.

While he drags my skirt down my legs, I remove my blouse. I leave my bra on because it matches my panties. When he notices, his lower jaw drops. It’s just the reaction I was hoping for.

He shifts backward, undoes the buttons down the front of his shirt, and drags it free of his muscular arms. He lowers to his stomach, lying between my legs, but I can tell the position is uncomfortable for his shoulder.

“Lie on your back and I’ll hover over you,” I say.

I’ve barely let the words loose when he’s already in position, waiting for me. Sitting up, I roll over to my knees and edge closer to him. I swing a bent knee over his face and place it on the mattress beside his head. His hands clamp onto my hips, tugging me down to his waiting mouth. He sucks and licks as if he’s a starved man and can’t get enough. It’s sexy that he’s so rabid for me, but he’s being too aggressive for my liking.

I rise up from his face.

“Get back down here,” he says, tugging on my hips.

“Wait. Do you want to please me?”

He nods and licks my slick arousal from his lips. “Yes. More than anything.”

“Then you need to be gentler and start out slowly. Getting me to orgasm is similar to how a wave forms. First there are little ripples caused by the wind. They gradually grow bigger as the wind continues to blow over the surface, creating even bigger waves. You can explore and tease me all you want as long as you start off with soft ripples and work your way up to the big waves.” I bend my knees, sinking down onto his face once more.

He moans as his tongue gently explores the outer edges of my lips before dipping between them to tease my entrance.

“That feels good,” I say, encouraging him.

His hands roam over my ass, mapping out every inch. He clutches each cheek tightly in his grip, squeezing. At the same time, his tongue gently lashes my clit. Back and forth, it sweeps like strokes from a paintbrush.

“Yes,” I sigh. He repeats the motion a few more times and then he switches it up by drawing figure eights with the tip of his tongue. Each time applying pressure on the outer edges of the bundle of nerves instead of directly on it. “Ooh… yes… like that.” My hips start to rock of their own volition, grinding down into his tongue as it continues to explore me with a delicious mix of gentle teasing and growing intensity.

His hands move back to my hips, controlling the rhythm and guiding my movements as I rock against his mouth.

“So good,” I say as the pleasure builds slowly just as I described—ripples growing into waves.

He hums in response, and the vibration only adds to my excitement.

“Flick your tongue over my clit.”

He’s quick to take my instructions, rapidly tapping the sinewy muscle over the engorged flesh until my thighs are tensing around his head.

I whimper. “So close.”

He doubles down on his efforts, his tongue working my clit relentlessly. The tension between my legs coils tighter until my legs are trembling uncontrollably beneath me.

“Cooper,” I cry out, tugging on his hair as my orgasm slams into me. I shudder as pleasure radiates through every inch of my body. He doesn’t let up, continuing to wring each wave of my release from me.

When I’m too sensitive for him to continue, I lift myself from his mouth and fall onto the bed beside him.

“Was that okay?” he asks, his eyes searching mine.

I laugh breathlessly. “That was freaking incredible.”

A pleased grin arcing his lips, he draws me onto his chest. “You tasted so good. I couldn’t get enough. I can’t wait to do that again.”

“I’m not opposed to that,” I say.

His expression turns serious. “Can we talk about something?”

“Yeah.” I hope he’s not going to give me bad news. Should I be getting dressed first? Bad news is horrible enough on its own, never mind having it delivered when you’re naked.