“I learned when Naomi was put in my arms and her mother drove away that a lot of things don’t matter when the few that do make themselves clear. My list is short, Mae.”
The food in my stomach churns.
“We’ve been on a few dates.”
“So what? Time doesn’t matter right now, remember?” he asks.
“But—”
Cooper silences me with his mouth, and I drop his hand to wrap my arms around his neck while he still manages to spin us around.
He brands his mouth to mine in a passionate kiss, and I forgot what I was about to say.
“You ready to get out of here?” he asks.
I nod, and he takes my hand, leading us out of Perry’s to his truck.
He takes off into the night, keeping his hand on my thigh, while we ride in silence, and I’m glad for it because I’m flooded with so many emotions I need a minute or ten to process. But what strikes me the most is that I finally know what it feels like to be pursued.
Cooper turns the truck onto my gravel driveway and parks in front of the garage. The engine is still running, but his hand hasn’t moved, and I don’t want it to.
“Do you have to get back to Naomi?” I ask, throat tight, heart nervous.
He squeezes my thigh and shakes his head.
“Do you want to come in?”
“I’d love to,” he says, and flips the truck off before jogging around the front to open the door for me and help me down.
He closes the truck door with my hand still in his, while his other grabs my hip and pushes me against the metal, making my breath hitch.
It’s dark, the inside light from the truck still on, glowing against his face. Hearts race, blood thrums, and heat blooms between us.
He leans in, brushing our noses together, and my knees go weak.
The interior truck light times out, plunging us into the moonlit night. The darkness and the heat of his body against mine makes everything feel more intense.
His large palms slide down my sides, and I’m putty in his hands. He could do whatever he wants to me, and I will thank him for it.
He squeezes my side, teasing me, as if he refuses to move first.
He’s waiting for me. He wants me to take the lead. I have tochoosehim.
I push to my toes and tentatively press my mouth to his. Cooper groans and grabs the back of my head, tilting it back. I open my mouth, giving him more access, and he consumes me until I’m dizzy.
He relents, and I struggle for breath as he trails kisses down my neck and grabs my knee, trying to lift it to his hip.
“My skirt is too tight,” I mutter, barely aware of his hands because his warm lips are distracting me to utter delusion.
“I’d ask you to take it off, but I’d rather do that myself,” he says, searching my eyes in the dark.
“Then take me inside,” I breathe.
He takes my hand, leading me to the front door, and steps behind me, snatching my purse, and sliding his arm behind my knees, picking me up. I yelp, wrapping my arms around his neck, and he chuckles, walking up the stairs.
“You’re a lot stronger than you look,” I mumble.
He stops in front of the door, and I turn the knob, pushing it open.
