Chapter 3
His parting words run on a loop making it hard to breathe.
Take care of me.
Oh, dear Lord, do I want him to take care of me.
Every part of me.
With those eyes, that smile, and a body I’m currently trying not to think about naked.
I groan at how ridiculous I’m being. He’s probably just being nice to me because I looked pitiful when he found me.
I’m probably imagining things. I’m just seeing things I want to because I’m lonely, or more likely horny.
To convince myself it’s in my head, I start to tick off months to remember when I last had sex.
When I get to six, I know I’m in danger of throwing myself at a man who probably has women lining up to get in his bed.
Even if he doesn’t, it would be worse than humiliating to think his kindness was more than that it is.
Rather than dwell on how sexy he is, I start to think about all the times I’ve invested in a good-looking man only to have him bail on me when I let my guard down.
Three heartbreaks and it’s been easier to just be celibate rather than risk that inevitable moment when they walk out on me.
But despite my promise to myself not to look at men, I’m sitting lusting after a man who is probably just as bad if not worse than all the men who’ve let me down before.
On paper, Cooper looks ideal. Handsome, funny, considerate, and there’s enough sexual energy coming off him to power a small town for a month.
There must be something wrong with him.
Maggie assured me there wasn’t. That he was a genuinely nice guy who has invested in the town and hired a few locals to maintain his property in his absence.
I should have asked her a lot more questions. But she was more than willing, happy even that I was here and not on someone else’s property.
He’s single as far as she knows. But he must have skeletons lurking in his closet.
I eye him as he leaves the room, sink into the soft leather chair and look around at the lavish cabin.
It’s obvious he has money, properties like this one don’t come cheap. And in the brief moment I had to check, there didn’t seem to be any evidence he shares this space with a woman.
No pink razor, no tampons, no conditioner. No reason to think Maggie was mistaken in thinking he was single.
I shift my weight, and a twinge of pain shoots down my knee. I’ve probably put my recovery back another week, but if Grace is correct, I may not be back in the unit anyway.
If she has her way, I’ll be behind a desk in admin while she forces me to see the hospital counselor.
I know she has my best interests at heart, and I know she doesn’t want me to leave the unit, but I’m far too aware if I don’t follow the rules, she may not be able to do anything to help me.
It should be easier. But opening myself up to that level of scrutiny isn’t something I want to consider doing.
When Cooper returns, I’m caught in my thoughts, wondering if I’ll have to leave my job or transfer.
He’s carrying a tray, an ice pack and a cheese platter. “Thought you might be hungry,” he says as he places the tray down.
My surprise at his continued thoughtfulness only increases as he hands me the ice pack, grabs a few cushions off the sofa and drags the coffee table closer. “For the next few hours, you need something I get it, okay?”
I nod weakly, and I’m about to lift my leg when he sits at my feet and places his hands under my calf.
Heat blazes through my body as he gently lifts it and positions it so my leg is elevated.
My stomach is flip-flopping about as if trying to keep up with my heart as his fingers linger on my skin.
Thoughts sliding back to inappropriate, I have to suppress a moan of delight as he leaves his hand on my thigh.
His eyes lock eyes with mine and my breath seems to seize in my lungs as the tension between us grows.
When he finally removes his hand from my thigh his smile seems far too sensual as he takes the ice pack from my hands and places it on my swollen knee joint.
I have to swallow hard before I speak. “You’d make a great nurse,” I say.
He smiles warmly but there is nothing but heat in his reply. “You should see my bedside manner.”
Unsure as to whether he’s joking, a reply slips out before I can stop it. “That’ll take at least two more drinks.”
I’m so shocked I’m flirting with him that I cover with an awkward laugh. He doesn’t seem to notice, more interested in making sure my knee is padded and elevated correctly.
When he’s satisfied my leg is stable, he pushes the platter of food closer. “You want another whiskey? Or maybe two?”
I suck in a breath, as my cheeks flare to life. “One for now. I think,” I say quickly.
He just looks at me, a half-smile on his face. I think he’s about to say something else but he just turns his back on me and returns to the bar.
I slap my hand to my burning forehead. “Get a grip,” I mutter to myself.
To stop myself from staring at him, or from saying anything else, I glance out the window and note the sun hidden behind the clouds is getting lower, reminding me I need to get going.
That should be enough to provoke me into getting up and going, even if he’s making it hard to leave.
But Cooper doesn’t seem to be in a hurry, he just stands behind the bar and pours me another glass.
I’m still trying to think of a way to mention how late it’s getting when he hands it to me and takes a seat again.
“Wanna hear a joke?” he says.
I frown at him. “Um. Okay?”
“What do Pandas back for camping trips?”
I shake my head, a tentative smile growing. “Tell me.”
He grins. “The bear necessities.”
It’s so stupid and such an obvious attempt to get me to relax, I snicker.
“That’s awful,” I say.
He shrugs. “So, you do better.”
I sip my drink, letting the warmth spread through me as I try to think of an equally terrible joke.
I settle on one we tell the kids in the unit. “Okay. What do you give a sick bird?”
He tilts his head. “I dunno.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Tweetment.”
Cooper snorts a laugh. “Why do you never give a bear the remote?”
I think for a second before I shake my head. “I give up.”
He waggles his eyebrows. “Because he keeps pressing the paws button.”
I laugh and roll my eyes. “Enough with the bear jokes.”
He nods agreement and relaxes into the sofa. “Nice to see you smile though.”
I swallow and my lungs can’t seem to find the oxygen I need. “Nice to have a laugh. Even if your jokes are appalling.”
He just smiles, and leans his head back on the sofa, his eyes on the rain trickling down the window beside the fireplace, seemingly at ease with my presence.
I’ve never met someone so entirely comfortable in their own skin. It’s like he’s so sure of himself, so confident, that he appears entirely relaxed even though I’m a stranger.
I’m growing more bewildered as neither of us speaks, the rain and crackle of the fire the only thing penetrating the silence.
With his attention elsewhere, I find myself staring at his jawline, his forearms, his wristwatch, and the way his plaid shirt fits his upper body.
He catches me staring but doesn’t seem bothered, just reaches forward and presses the button of a small remote. “Miles Davis okay with you?” he asks.
When I nod, he smiles, and soft jazz starts to pipe through hidden speakers, making the atmosphere even more pleasant.
I sip my drink, eyeing him, concocting all kinds of scenarios where he’s not as he seems.
But considering I plan to leave in a few days anyway, I’m not sure that really matters.
I’m not looking for anything or anyone permanent. And if he has secrets, what do I care? I have enough of my own.
I blow out a long sigh and wrap my fingers around my glass. “Okay. This is lovely. But I think we need to address the elephant in the room,” I say.
He frowns. “Which is?”
I take another sip of my drink. “You said you’re avoiding thinking. Do I need to be worried about what that is?”
His eyebrow rises. “You mean worried about whether it concerns you?”
“I guess so, yes.”
He places the glass down on the table and shakes his head. “It doesn’t concern you, no. Do I need to be concerned about you?”
I shake my head. “Of course not.”
“So, you wound up here rather than where you set out to go? And where was that again?”
Since I haven’t explained myself yet, and after he’s been such a gentleman, I sit up a little straighter as I try to explain how I got in such a mess.
“The plan was to go hike the trail and soak in the springs Maggie said were up here. After that, I was meant to find the nearest hut and stay overnight.”
His eyebrow rises. “But you took a wrong turn?”
I wince. “Several. And when it started raining, I saw the private property sign, and crossed my fingers someone was home and would take pity on me.”
His expression switches to serious. “Are you always that reckless?”
I shrug, feeling five shades of awkward as I near choke on a laugh. “Until recently, no.”
He stares at me so long, I can feel my cheeks start to heat. “What happened recently?”
My mouth suddenly runs dry, and I have to take a large gulp of my drink. My voice comes out hoarse when I finally answer him. “I don’t want to talk about it, so please don’t ask me again.”
He scratches his chin stubble and exhales slowly.
All my muscles tense, and just like when I'm at work, the pain in my knee seems to spread to my forearms, and hands while I prime for him to keep pushing.
But he doesn’t. He just leans his head back on the sofa, closes his eyes, and taps his fingers in time to the music.
I release a shuddering breath and carry on drinking until my head, and pain are fading and my body feels like liquid.
I lose all track of time as we sit in companionable silence, with him refilling my drink, passing me cheese and crackers, and keeping the fire burning.
When I finally check the time, it’s dark outside and I’m more than a little tipsy. “Um, I should go,” I mumble.
He turns and looks at me with such intensity my skin starts to tingle in anticipation.
I think he’s going to agree, but instead, he leans forward and gives me a wicked smile. “You want to soak in the springs first?”
My heart starts to thump a little faster. “What about the bears?”
He chuckles. “The pools are fully fenced, and I’m pretty sure the bears haven’t figured out the code to unlock them.”
I freeze, unwilling to break the tension. “It’s raining,” I whisper.
He looks out the window, then his eyes are on me again. “So, you’ll get wet before we get to the springs.”
Oh shit. Oh shit.
I swallow, heart now in my throat as his eyes drift over my exposed legs.
Every fiber in my body is gravitating towards his, like an invisible magnet, I’m being pulled toward him.
Before I know what I’m doing, I lean forward so our knees are touching. “Are you propositioning me, Cooper?”
His lip curls as he slides his hand to my thigh. “Do you want me to?”
My entire body seems to be willing me to give in to this moment and to this man.
I shouldn't, but the words slip from my mouth before I can stop them. “Yes,” I say.
His eyes roam over my face then he presses his lips to mine. I open my mouth and taste the whiskey lacing his breath.
His hand leaves my thigh and he curls his fingers into the base of my neck. He pulls back, his stubble grazing against my cheek as I try to catch my breath. “You want me to stop?”
I shake my head, and in one move, push the ice pack off my knee, and carefully climb on his lap.
I’m barely aware of the pain in my knee, now numbed by the ice, and the alcohol as he jerks me closer and massages my tongue with his.
I can feel my nipples stiffening against the lace of my bra as a dozen thoughts run simultaneously through my mind. “Please tell me you aren’t married or in a serious relationship?” I say between increasingly frantic kisses.
He pulls back and looks me dead in the eye. “I’m not. Are you?”
I shake my head. “No.”
He doesn’t even bother to ask any more questions, and I’m done caring. I want him inside me so bad, I’m done caring about anything past achieving that goal.
I pull my t-shirt over my head and unsnap my bra. His hands are on my breasts in a heartbeat. He caresses them, his touch making me shiver with need.
His tongue flicks over each nipple until I’m groaning. He slides his hands around to my hips and lifts me up like I weigh nothing.
He carries me to the rug in front of the fire, and I drop on it, panting and desperate for his touch.
With a wicked smile, he tugs my shorts down and tosses them across the room.
My entire body is covered in goosebumps but I’m not cold, I feel like I’m burning up.
He starts to press kisses to my thighs and pulls back to remove his shirt. I’m near salivating when I catch sight of his incredible body.
He’s as ripped as I thought he’d be, not an ounce of fat, and when he tugs his jeans down, my jaw drops at the size of his extremely hard cock.
I’m about to crawl forward and take him in my mouth but he beats me to it. He drops to his knees and in one swift move pushes my thighs apart and starts to tongue my clit.
I press my back into the rug, groaning as he licks me so skilfully, I start to tremble in anticipation of what I know will be an explosive orgasm.
Like he knows what I like, he licks my entire pussy a few times, making me even wetter and leaving me dizzy with desire.
He grips my hips and buries his face into me never ceasing as the orgasm starts to build.
He keeps licking as I ride the wave of an orgasm so intense I’m still shaking and quivering when he decides to push a finger inside me.
With his tongue stimulating my clit, and his other finger inside me, I’m screaming again in seconds.
When I can’t stand it anymore, I wriggle back and grab him by the shoulders so I can push him back.
He smirks at me. “I wasn’t finished with you,” he growls.
I smirk back and position myself between his legs and slide my mouth over his shaft.
He moans as I lick the jizz from his tip, sucking and sliding until his cock fills my mouth.
I’m so horny, so into it I nearly miss his voice when he pleads with me to stop. I look up at him through my lashes, ready to say I wasn’t done when he moves back and rolls on top of me.
I think he’s going to enter me, but he just kisses me with enough ferocity to let me know that when he does fuck me, it’ll be as hard as I need it to be.
I wrap my legs around him, our bodies pressed together as our tongues seek each other’s out.
I’m entirely aroused, and so ready that my fingers creep towards his cock and I slide him inside without thinking.
He lets out a groan to rival mine as he starts to pump slowly, his cock sliding in and out of me.
I dig my nails into his back and draw him in deeper, spreading my legs wider as he starts to speed up.
His sex noises complement mine as he pounds me harder and harder until I’m coming again and exhilarating ripples of pleasure are resounding through my fevered body.
I arch my back, and twist my hands into the rug, as his face contorts in pleasure.
I’m so caught in our connection and his enjoyment that another climax starts to grow.
He speeds up, mouth open wide and we come together in one glorious moment.
His body shudders then he rolls off me, breathing hard as he gives me a lazy smile.
But I can’t return it. Because even in the afterglow of the best sex of my life, I know I should have thought this through.
He knows Maggie, and Maggie knows my boss. The last thing I need is the two of them knowing I had a hot one-night stand.
Grace already thinks I’m unhinged, and this will only prove that Cooper was right when he called me reckless.
Because this was reckless. Insanely gratifying, but reckless and borderline dangerous.
As he recovers beside me, I chew my lip and pray this wasn’t a huge mistake.
