by Susanna Carr
“Now, listen,” Aaron said. “This is what we’re going to do to neutralize the threat.”
Neutralize? Cooper shook his head. Aaron Brock didn’t know the meaning of the word. He annihilated the enemy. Eradicated and eliminated the opponent. Cooper could not let that happen again with Serena.
“No, Dad,” Cooper interrupted. “I asked what happened with her father fourteen years ago so I knew what I was dealing with. If I had known that you would have interfered, I would have looked for the answer elsewhere.”
“You wouldn’t have found it. I kept that botched deal quiet. No one knew about it. I thought I had erased every piece of evidence,” his father said wearily. For once, he sounded like his age. “And then this Dominguez woman shows up with a file about what happened in Rio.”
Cooper stopped and looked off into the distance. His father only knew about the one deal. He didn’t know Serena had found information about the others. Cooper would like to keep it that way or Aaron would use every weapon in his arsenal to destroy her.
“Dad, you are retired. I am in charge,” Cooper reminded him. “I don’t allow anyone to try to do my job. I don’t care if it’s a summer intern or my father. I will speak to you later.” He ended the call and turned off the phone.
He walked along the pool, his heart leaping when he discovered Serena standing at a shaded bar. She was talking to an overly attentive male. Cooper went unnaturally still when his gaze traveled down her scarlet bikini. She tossed back her dark brown hair as an earthy laugh erupted from her throat.
He should have anticipated this, Cooper decided as he marched toward her. He had made his claim on Serena and now she was trying to shrug it off.
Her eyes widened when she saw him. “Bom dia, Cooper,” she said with a wide and cautious smile.
He didn’t respond as he stared down the man next to her. He knew his expression was ferocious. Cooper didn’t react when the man paled and stammered before he made a quick excuse and left.
“Intimidation must be a Brock trait,” Serena murmured as she set down her drink.
He stood next to her and bent his head. “Was I intimidating last night?” he whispered in her ear, inhaling the faint scent of her perfume. “Was that why your heartbeat had been racing? You should have told me that I scared you.”
* * *
Serena wanted to close her eyes and hide the turmoil that had been whipping through her all morning. She didn’t like how he kept turning the tables on her. How he continued to surprise her. She could usually predict Cooper’s next move. She knew how he thought. And then he did something unexpected.
“I had nothing to be scared about,” she declared. She had been wary but not for the reasons Cooper thought. She had woken up feeling content. Serena hadn’t recognized it at first. She didn’t trust the unfamiliar feeling or the need to do whatever was necessary to hold on to it.
“Then why did you run away?” he asked gently.
“Run away? Me?” She scoffed at the idea and yet that was exactly what she had done. She was so used to hiding when she felt vulnerable. Concealing her fears under the guise of indifference. She didn’t like how she reacted but she hated that Cooper knew. “You don’t know me very well, do you?”
He rubbed his thumb against her jawline. She wanted to pull away and yet she wanted to move closer. “I would like to get to know you better—” Cooper’s voice was rough and low “—but you are making that impossible.”
Serena watched him carefully. He sounded sincere. But why did he want to learn more about her? Was it because he was truly interested in her or was he trying to find a chink in her armor so he could use it against her? Was he trying to find a way to demonstrate power over her as she had done to him?
“I woke up in your bed and you weren’t there,” he said.
Serena thrust out her jaw when she heard the rebuke in his words. She didn’t need to explain herself. While she felt the darts of pleasure knowing that Cooper had looked for her, she didn’t want to get used to it. No one kept track of her, not even her mother. “I decided to get some exercise,” she finally said, and winced. It was a poor excuse and they both knew it.
“You should have woken me.” He glided his hand into her hair. “I would have kept you company.”
Serena wanted that and yet the idea made her nervous. She could easily imagine spending all of her time with Cooper. It was clear that she should create some distance as soon as possible. “You were sound asleep. Exhausted.” She pursed her lips. “I hope I haven’t been too rough with you.”
There was a wicked glow in his eyes. “I like it rough. And gentle. Slow...fast...I especially liked it when you took me in your mouth and...”
“I got it.” She pulled away and quickly looked around but no one was paying them attention. “You can keep up with me. Glad to hear it.”
Cooper’s smile faded. “Tell me the truth, Serena. I ran you out of your room.”
“Nonsense.” She had woken up in his arms and stayed there, luxuriating in the feeling of being held and cherished by a strong and powerful man. By Cooper, a man she admired and was beginning to trust. But she couldn’t get used to it. She had a tendency to scare men off and she refused to pretend she was weaker than she was to maintain a relationship.
He leaned forward and placed his mouth over hers. “Don’t make it a habit,” he warned against her lips.
“A habit?” She jerked back. No, no, no. One time, one encounter, was all she could allow herself. “I’m not looking for an affair, Cooper. Last night was a one-night stand, nothing more.”
He watched her as if he knew that was going to be her response. Anger bubbled inside her. She really didn’t like how well he knew her.
“If that was your plan,” he said, “you’re going to fail.”
Her mouth gaped open. “Excuse me?”
“You probably don’t remember a lot of what was said and done last night,” he whispered, “since you were having one mind-blowing orgasm after another.”
“Cooper!” Her skin flushed as she remembered the uninhibited way she’d responded to him. He knew just how to touch her. He knew what her body craved more than she knew herself.
“Let me refresh your memory.” He nipped her earlobe, sending a shower of hot sensations just under her skin. And still, she didn’t pull away. “You can’t get enough of me. You couldn’t stop even if you wanted to.”
“That’s not true.” Her voice came out in a whisper. He had demonstrated extraordinary power over her. She had liked it far too much.
He teased her earlobe again. “Shall we put it to the test?”
“No.” She would fail. After a month of keeping him at a distance, of rejecting every proposition, she could no longer do it. Now she knew what she had been missing.
“All I have to do is touch you and you would light up like a firecracker.” His warm breath wafted over her skin as he outlined the shape of her ear with the tip of his tongue. “You wouldn’t care if we were outside, in public. You would forget all of that because your entire world would center on my touch.”
She forced herself to take a step back. It was her way of showing that he was wrong. He didn’t need to know how her body trembled for his touch. “Don’t forget, you would react the same way.”
He nodded. She was surprised that he didn’t deny it. “I knew you were a passionate woman,” he said as his silvery eyes darkened with pleasure. “I had no idea just how passionate. You were stunning. You took my breath away.”
She was uncertain about that passion. She had no idea how strong or how deep it ran inside her. Only Cooper brought it out. And only Cooper could use it against her. “Hold those memories close,” she said with a touch of defiance, “because it’s not going to happen again.”
“Why?” He splayed out his arms. “Why would you deny us what
we want the most?”
“I’m leaving today, remember?” She needed to get away. The sexual hunger inside her was gaining force, threatening to take over.
His features grew harsh. “Change your plans,” he ordered. “You had reserved your room for the rest of the week.”
“How do...?” She stopped and pulled away. It didn’t matter whom he talked to. That didn’t change what was going to happen. “Listen, Cooper. This has been fun...”
“Fun?” The word came out like a flick of a whip.
It was the wrong description. What they had shared had been intense. Life-changing. A fantasy. For her, she reminded herself fiercely. He probably acted this way with the woman of the week. “I have work to do,” she insisted. “I need to get back to my life.”
“Your work was getting revenge on the Brock family,” he argued. “It was your obsession. Now that you’ve put that to rest, you have nothing to hurry back to.”
She didn’t like how he said that. It made her life sound empty and lonely. And maybe it had been at times. She wanted to change that. She was ready to live to the fullest. Live without fear holding her back.
Cooper tilted his head and studied her carefully. “Or have you put it to rest?” His voice went cold. “Is there a final piece to your revenge that you haven’t told me?”
“What do you think?” she asked as she glared at him. She had considered it but that was before he convinced her that getting rid of this revenge was the only way she could save herself. Her emotions flared when he didn’t answer. “Do you think I would sleep with you if I still saw you as the enemy? That I would let you strip me bare?”
“Sweetheart, that is your classic defense move,” he said with a lopsided smile. “It’s your armor.”
She pushed away and crossed her arms. “What are you talking about?”
“I’ve watched you at all the business events in the past month. You don’t like it when someone gets too close to you, especially a man.”
He had noticed. How? She raised her hand to make him stop. “Okay, now you’re just making things up.”
“But instead of hiding, you flaunt your curves,” he continued. “You know men are dreaming about taking you to bed, imagining having that body against theirs. They don’t notice your quick mind until it’s too late. They don’t notice that you won’t even let them touch you.”
This man saw too much. He had seen how she kept her distance from him but he hadn’t mentioned it. All this time she thought Cooper didn’t look for the small details. But he saw everything. He just never let on. “I let you touch me.”
“You did more than that.” His voice was heavy with satisfaction. “You gave yourself to me. You’re mine.”
She ignored the heat suffusing her skin at his words. “No, Cooper.” She poked her finger against his chest. “You are mine.”
Surprise flashed through his gray eyes. His mouth twisted as if he wanted to deny it but couldn’t. “I should drag you back into bed and prove my claim on you.”
He could try but it would also prove her point and he knew it. “Don’t push your luck, cowboy.”
She should have known that her words were like waving a red cape in front of a charging bull. Maybe that was why she had said it.
“Are you trying to tempt me?” He reached out and caressed his fingers along the length of her throat. The pad of his thumb rested against her jittery pulse point. “Yes, I think you are.”
She batted his hand away.
“You want me to drag you into bed,” he said with dawning realization. Cooper’s smile was slow and sexy. “Serena, you don’t need to wait for an invitation.”
She clenched her fists at her sides. “I’m leaving today.”
“Why?” He curled his arm around her waist. “Everything you want, everything you need, is right here.”
He was the most arrogant man she had ever met. And yet she allowed him to drag her against his hard chest. “If you are trying to sweet-talk me, you’re going about it the wrong way.”
“When was the last time you had a vacation?” he asked. “I’m guessing you haven’t had one for fourteen years.”
It was true. Vacations had been an emotional minefield for her. There had been so many wonderful childhood memories associated with family getaways and trips. Suddenly, her parents no longer had the money or the inclination for a weekend escapade. Serena had tried to put together casual days out, believing that they needed some time away to keep the family intact, but her attempts had been disastrous. She couldn’t recapture the memories of her childhood or strengthen the bond between her parents.
Eventually, she couldn’t take any time off while she worked several jobs. When she grew her wealth, she had decided not to take a vacation because she was afraid the fire that drove her would dull while she was away. “Vacations are a waste of time and money. A distraction.”
“How often have you denied yourself a day off? Denied yourself pleasure?”
She bunched his fine linen shirt in her hands. “You don’t understand...”
“You had to stay focused,” he finished for her. “You had to keep chipping away so you could take care of yourself and your family. And you kept at it even when you dealt with setbacks and disappointments. You denied yourself any pleasure because you needed to put all of your energy and money toward your goal.”
Serena closed her eyes. He did understand.
“You don’t have to do that anymore,” he said quietly as he held her close. “You have the money and the power to provide for your family. You’re safe now.”
She didn’t feel safe. She may never feel that way. But when she was with Cooper, she didn’t feel alone. There were moments when she knew he was at her side and looking out for her. Cooper Brock was a man who protected what was his and he had claimed her.
“Stay here until the end of the week,” he urged as he stroked his hand down her back. “Forget about work for a couple of days.”
“I shouldn’t.” She wasn’t sure if she wanted his claim on her. What would it mean? What was she gaining and what was she giving up if she accepted it?
“Let me show you how to indulge. Get lost in pleasure.”
Serena sagged against his chest. The man knew how to tempt her. She wanted to explore the fullest extent of pleasure with Cooper. Only Cooper. So what if she was never going to be the same again? She was ready to move forward in her life...starting now.
“You win, Cooper. I’ll stay.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
COOPER LAY IN BED, the early-afternoon sun shining against his naked body. He heard Serena’s ragged breath soften and he turned to face her. Serena’s hair was tangled and spread across the pillow. Her face was flushed and her mouth reddened from his kisses. She had a faraway look in her eyes as if she was trying to figure out a problem.
“What are you thinking about?” he drawled.
“It’s just that...” Serena bit down on her bottom lip. “Never mind.”
Cooper cupped his hand against her cheek. Whatever she was thinking couldn’t be good. Serena was never one to hesitate. Part of him didn’t want to delve too deeply but he also didn’t want her to hide anything from him. “Tell me, Serena.”
She exhaled sharply. “Why were you reluctant to give up the Harrington shares?”
Cooper flinched. He hadn’t expected Serena to ask that question. He didn’t have a good lie in place. Cooper frowned when he realized he didn’t want to hide the truth. Not from Serena. It didn’t make sense when she still had the power to hurt him.
But this woman had gotten under his skin and into his heart. She was his mirror image, and while she would not have taken the same actions, she might understand. She had seen how her father had made choices under intense pressure. Would she forgive him the same way?
S
erena winced. “Forget I asked.”
“I needed the shares to keep John Harrington, Jr., quiet. He has information that could destroy me,” he admitted. It was more difficult to say it aloud than he had imagined. And to Serena. He wanted her to see him as perfect. Lovable. But that was a fantasy. Serena could never allow herself to be that close or vulnerable to him.
Serena’s lips parted in shock. “And as long as you have the shares,” she said slowly, “he couldn’t touch you.”
Cooper nodded.
“But you are selling the shares to me. Once Harrington finds out he will know that you have no ammunition. He could hurt you.”
“It’s more important to protect my father’s reputation.” He had struggled with his choice but always knew he would arrive at this decision.
“Why?”
“He created the Brock empire and I’m the guardian.” He had been preparing for the role all of his life. It was why he was born. If he didn’t protect what his parents had built, what was his purpose in life?
“Cooper, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” She placed her hand against his chest and gave him a pleading look.
“It’s not your fault. I got myself into this situation.” And no matter how many times he turned the problem in his mind, he couldn’t find a solution. If his business suffered, what would he do with his life? Just like Serena, he had no answer.
“I would refuse the shares but I need them,” she confessed. “I made promises.”
He had a good idea who she made the promise to. If Spencer Chatsfield knew he had the shares, then the secret was already out. His threat on Harrington was fading fast. John would retaliate and he had nothing to fight back with.
“John knows the details about my first deal,” Cooper explained. “The one I made for myself. Not for the Brock business.”
Serena swiftly placed her fingers against his mouth. Her eyes were wide with concern. “You don’t have to tell me,” she whispered.