The fragrant aroma of coffee wafted from the mug he held out to her. What did she do now? Taylor took it. Lowering her gaze, she sipped at the strong brew, desperately buying time in an effort to sort her feelings.
“Good morning,” he said in low, warm tones. “Sleep well?”
She coughed. It was the very same question she’d thought of earlier. “Yes, thank you.” She made the mistake of looking at him. Her blood turned to syrup in her veins at the naked sensuality on his face. Get a hold of yourself. “Um, I should be going soon.”
“Why?” he asked quietly.
“I-I need to take a shower and—”
“My shower works perfectly fine.”
“I have no clothes.”
He shrugged. “I’ll find you a shirt to wear.” He ran a finger along the edge of the sheet, eyeing the goose bumps he left in his wake. “Come on. I’ll make breakfast.”
She looked away. “I really should go home.”
“Okay, let’s deal with this.” Irritation was evident in his frown. “What’s going on? Morning-after regrets?”
Her gaze flew back to meet stormy gray eyes. Regret? Taylor was honest enough with herself to admit that there wasn’t a single minute she would change about last night. “No.”
Relief flitted over his handsome face. “What is it then?”
She swallowed. Cooper was so up front about everything. If there was an issue, he was a take-charge, let’s-face-it kind of guy. She wasn’t used to that. “Nothing. I just need some time to process everything.”
“Process what? That we had sex over and over last night?”
“I just need time to think,” she threw out in desperation. “Maybe we should give each other some space,” she ended lamely. “Keep things simple.”
He just stared at her. “Simple.”
“Yes. We had sex last night and it was good—”
“Just good?” he interrupted with a quirk of an eyebrow.
She frowned. “Really good.”
Cooper carefully took the mug from her hands and placed it on the nightstand. Then he faced her again. “It was fucking phenomenal. I’m not afraid to admit that, even if you are. And I want to do it again and again. I’m not even close to being done with you.”
She gulped, a familiar weakness stealing over her.
“Now what’s really bothering you?”
“I don’t want you to think that this is turning into more than what it is—sex. I mean, guys freak out at the thought of a woman misinterpreting the situation. I just want that to be clear. I’m not angling for a relationship,” she forced the words out. She didn’t want him to think that at all. Last night was not the start of a relationship, or worse, a commitment.
“Let me make sure I understand you. You want to leave to give both of us space because you don’t want me to think that you’re after a relationship?”
She nodded, relieved. “Yes. Exactly. I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”
“I see. Somewhere along the way, I must have given you the impression that I was a weak-assed pansy that would allow a woman to hang around if I didn’t want her to.”
Cooper, weak? Far from it. “God no.” She pushed her hair away from her face and pulled in a deep sigh. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be difficult. My thoughts are a bit jumbled,” she admitted. “I don’t do this often enough to pull off blasé the morning after.”
“Thank you,” he said softly, “for staying with me last night.”
His words washed over her, alleviating some of her doubts. “Cooper, we don’t know each other at all. I just—”
His lips quirked. “If it makes you feel better, you aren’t the only one trying to figure things out. I was downstairs thinking of ways to persuade you not to leave.”
“Y-You were?”
He nodded. “Can you please do me a favor and not over-analyze last night?”
Taylor couldn’t help the quick chuckle that escaped her. “I’m a woman. We tend to do that.”
He laced their fingers together. “Stay.”
Her resolve weakened. How could she resist? Cooper had the ability to wade through the mess that was her thoughts and cut straight to the heart of the matter. He made everything seem so simple. “Okay.”
Relief flickered in his eyes. He gave her a soft, lingering kiss. “Thank you. Now come on. I’m hungry. I’ll make breakfast.”
“You’ll make breakfast?” she asked dubiously.
“Greta and Eamon are off every weekend.” He grinned. “I am remarkably self-sufficient, you know. I can cook.”
Taylor was relieved that she didn’t have to face the housekeeper. “I can help,” she offered.
“Deal.” He left her and went to the walk-in closet and handed her a white t-shirt.
Still clutching the sheet to her, which she knew was kind of foolish since Cooper had seen all of her last night, she managed to don the shirt. Swinging her legs to the side of the bed, she stood up. She glanced around the bedroom floor, wondering where the heck her underwear was. “Um, I need my—”
Cooper pulled her close, palming her ass. “Don’t bother.”
Her pulse jumped. “Really, I would be more comfortable—”
“And I would be happier if you didn’t wear anything under the shirt.” He nuzzled her neck. “It will be torture of course. Of the delicious kind, but torture just the same.” He took her hand and pulled her behind him. “Come on. I’m starving. For food this time. We have to keep up our energy. I’ve got plans for you.”
Cooper cracked a couple of eggs into a bowl and whisked briskly. He checked the bacon sizzling on the skillet. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Taylor as she scooped whole coffee beans into the grinder. When he heard her humming under her breath, he grinned. Thank God she’d snapped out of her earlier mood.
Contrary to public perception, he was very picky with whom he had sex. With all the women he’d bedded, everything was clear and up front to begin with. When it was over, it was done. No complications. No questions, no recriminations. A clean break was how he preferred it.
What was it about women that they felt the need to overanalyze things? Taylor didn’t want him to think that she was after a relationship so she’d wanted to hightail it out of his house earlier. He shook his head. Females. To him it was simple. He wanted her here. That was that. No beating the issue to death. No asking why, when, where and how. Even now, just seeing her in his kitchen, dressed in nothing but his shirt, gave him a hard-on. If his dick were a compass, it would constantly point to her. He didn’t question it, just accepted it.
For the first time he wanted a woman to stay. Not just any woman. He wanted Taylor to stay. He had watched her sleep, thinking of ways to persuade her not to go home, because he knew that the moment she opened her eyes, she’d bolt. But unlike Taylor, he wasn’t going to scrutinize why he didn’t want her to leave.
Again, he stole a look at her. She was making coffee with a concentration that was endearing, carefully scooping the fresh ground beans into a filter before pouring cold water in the coffee maker. Compelled to touch her, he moved behind her and caged her within his arms, nuzzling her neck. At the same time, he slid his hands under the shirt and encountered warm, soft skin.
She arched her neck. He liked the little catch in her breath when he cupped her breasts and felt her pulse jump.
“Um, we don’t want to burn the breakfast.”
He turned her around to face him. “All right. We’ll save it for later, but first…” Capturing her lips, he kissed her. When he let her go, her eyes were dazed and unfocused.
With a satisfied grin, he released her and finished cooking breakfast. For the first time in a long, long time, he was happy.
Chapter Five
“Okay, give me the scoop.”
Taylor sipped her coffee and eyed Emily over the rim of the cup. “No biggie.” She shrugged. “We had dinner and I asked him questions.”
Emily raised an eyebrow. “And?”
She exhaled. “I stayed the weekend.”
“You did?” She clapped delightedly but her smile dimmed a second later. “Wait, why do you look glum? Was the sex just so-so?” she asked in a whisper.
Taylor couldn’t help but laugh at that. “It was off the charts actually.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“I’m confused. Scared. I don’t know if this is the right thing to do.”
“Tell me what’s bugging you.”
“Friend-with-benefits implies no emotions. I’m afraid that this doesn’t exactly fit the category.”
“Oh Tay. Here we go again. You’re having analysis paralysis again. Just enjoy being with him.”
“But that is part of the problem. I enjoy it too much.”
Emily grinned. “There’s nothing wrong with off-the-charts sex.”
She gave Emily a mock glare. “I’m serious.”
“Me too. Why not take things as they come? Don’t fight it. Let things happen naturally. It will all work out.”
“I’m becoming irrational, aren’t I?”
“A little too anxious, maybe.” Emily wiggled her eyebrows. “The sex was really good?”
“It was amazing,” Taylor supplied. “The make-your-eyes-roll-back-and-your-toes-curl kind of good.”
They laughed.
“You feel better now?” Emily asked.
“Yeah, I do. Thanks for pulling me back from going off the deep end,” she said with a shake of her head.
“Hey, that’s what friends are for. So you’re done with the interview?”
“I just need to put the finishing touches on the article.”
Emily hugged her. “I’m sure the article will be amazing.”
“I need to get his done soon anyway so I can concentrate on my maid of honor duties with your wedding just weeks away. We have a lot of stuff to do.”
Emily giggled. “I know. Can you believe it? I’m so excited.”
Pushing her heavy feelings aside, Taylor grinned. “Now I have the perfect idea for a bachelorette party. I’m thinking of half-naked guys gyrating on a stage, performing for the bride-to-be.”
A delightful flush covered Emily’s cheeks. “Strippers? I don’t know. Devlin might not like that idea.”
She waved a hand dismissively. “I’m sure his brothers have something similar planned for him.”
“Now I’m not sure I like that idea.”
Taylor laughed. “You have nothing to worry about. Devlin is so in love with you he’d probably just drink and let his brothers have all the fun. But you, me and our girlfriends will have the time of our lives. One more night of wild fun before you get hitched to your prince charming.”
Emily chewed her lower lip. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“I think it’s a great idea. It’ll be fun. Now you want to grab some lunch? I’m starving.”
“Sure.”
They rode the elevator down, discussing the upcoming issue of the e-zine. They walked to the coffee shop across the street and sat down on one of the outdoor tables. Taylor ordered a salad and opted for iced tea. She really didn’t have much of an appetite but was determined to eat.
“Well, well, look who’s here,” Emily said under her breath.
She glanced over in the direction Emily indicated. Cooper stood a few feet away in earnest discussion with a light-haired man next to him. He looked up and met her gaze.
Taylor struggled to keep her composure. When he’d dropped her off a couple of nights ago, he’d given her a hot and heavy French kiss. Before they parted, she’d brought up a point that she felt had to be made. The conversation hadn’t been easy, and remembering the disastrous way it ended brought a grimace to her lips.
“Come with me to a charity dinner next week.”
They were standing by her door, Cooper’s arms around her when he asked her. Two things struck her at once. One, he was asking her out. Two, just the thought of appearing in public with him and having their photographs taken terrified her. It was certain to come out in the paper the next day.
“I can’t.”
He ran a caressing hand down her back. “Do you really want to leave me at the mercy of all those women who just want to ravish my body?” he asked teasingly.
He was only half-joking of course. Taylor knew women were drawn to him. That was no secret. The thought of females coming on to him didn’t sit well with her. It was a sickening thought.
She brushed that aside. “I thought we both understood that this was a friends-with-benefits situation.”
Cooper stilled. “Which means?”
“Which means,” she struggled to continue, “we don’t have to go out with each other. This is an arrangement between the two of us, whenever…whenever we need each other.” She forced the words out. “Besides, I just think it’s better all around to keep this between us. Keep it separate from work. I just don’t want people talking, you know? It’s better if no one knows.”
God, why was it so hard to say those words? Cooper wasn’t exactly known for relationships and deluding herself into believing she was different from all the other women was useless. She didn’t want to date him. They wanted each other, yes. And when the need arose, they would get together. It was simpler all around. No emotional entanglements to worry about. Everything was clear-cut.
Taylor waited for him to respond, trying to gauge his expression. But his eyes were shuttered, his face without expression. She had no idea what he was thinking.
“So let me get this straight. You don’t want anybody to know that we’re seeing each other.”
“We’re not exactly seeing each other in the strictest sense of the word,” she countered, for a moment doubting the wisdom of the idea herself. It felt so…meaningless. But with Cooper’s every move chronicled in the media, she didn’t want to be fodder for gossip, especially when the relationship ended and they had to go their separate ways. “Less complicated that way,” she ended lamely.
For the longest time, he didn’t speak. Taylor held her breath as she waited, looking for some sign that he understood.
“Friends with benefits. That’s all you want,” he said flatly.
She looked up at him, trying to decipher his thoughts but unable to. “Don’t you?” she countered.
His gaze was shuttered, his expression closed. “Of course.”
Why did her chest tighten painfully when he agreed with her? Shouldn’t she be happy that it was clear to both of them what was happening here? Ignoring the crushing feeling swamping her, Taylor forced a small smile to her lips. “Great. Just so we’re both clear. What a relief, huh? It saves both of us from expecting more from each other.”
After that, he’d given her a peck on the cheek and seen her inside before he left. Taylor felt chilled to the bone and miserable.
Pulling her thoughts back to the present, she busied herself with sipping the iced tea the server had just put down on the table. That night she’d kept on telling herself that it was okay, that this was what she wanted. A friends-with-benefits situation. A fuck buddy, somebody to ease the lonely nights without the pressure of commitment or emotional ties. Frankly at the moment, she didn’t know what to say or how to behave. He hadn’t called her and she didn’t know whether she should call him. This situation was all new to her. Were there rules somewhere for friends with benefits? How come nobody had ever written a book about this before?
“Ladies,” Cooper said by way of greeting as he stopped by their table.
“Cooper,” Emily greeted warmly.
He turned to her. “Hello, Taylor.”
She finally looked up and searched his face for a reaction, anything to give her a clue what he was thinking. Nothing. Fixing a smile on her lips, she nodded. “Hi.”
His glance lingered on her for a nanosecond before he checked his watch. “Enjoy your lunch.” He motioned to his companion and together they walked down the street to an upscale restaurant at the end of the block.
Ta
ylor released the breath she hadn’t noticed she’d been holding when he left. He acted exactly the way they had agreed on and gave no hint of what occurred the other night. As if they hadn’t had sex multiple times this past weekend. That’s exactly what she wanted. Right?
So why did she feel this huge let-down when he walked away with nothing more than a polite greeting? What the hell was wrong with her?
“Oh-kay. What’s going on?”
Taylor’s head swiveled toward Emily, tearing her gaze away from Cooper’s back. “He’s honoring our agreement.” Briefly, she told Emily of her arrangement with Cooper to keep things between them so there wouldn’t be any gossip.
“And that’s how you wanted it?” Emily asked gently.
“It’s the best thing all around.” So why did she feel miserable inside? Taylor forced herself to smile. “Forget about it. Now let’s talk about your wedding. What’s left on your to-do list?”
For what seemed like the tenth time in as many minutes, Taylor looked at the clock again. It was late. Normally reading a book on her e-reader was a relaxing routine before going to bed. Tonight that was hardly the case. She couldn’t seem to get past the page she was on and constantly had to turn back to previous pages to even remember what the book was about.
Disgusted, she tossed the e-reader on the bed next to her. Picking up the remote, she flipped through TV channels but found nothing interesting. Unless she counted infomercials touting the sharpest knives that could slice through the thinnest paper, or tricks of investing in real estate. She expelled a breath and turned it off. The apartment was nice and cool, with the air conditioner set at a comfortable temperature to combat the heat of the summer night.
But she felt restless.
Kicking back the covers, she walked into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of milk. Maybe that would soothe her and get rid of this edgy feeling. As soon as she’d gotten out of work, she’d headed to the gym and given herself a punishing two-hour workout. She should be exhausted and asleep by now. Instead she was prowling her apartment, sleep elusive.
Tempting Taylor Page 8