As she relaxed, I pushed more and more of myself into her deliciously warm wet pussy. Inch by slow inch, I sank into her. When she had taken all of me inside her, I began to thrust gently. Ivy groaned and her arms wrapped around me as I rocked back and forth.
She writhed and rolled her hips, her breathing shallow pants.
I had slept with so many women for the wrong reasons that I’d forgotten just how amazing it could really be.
“You’re teasing me,” she groaned. “I know you are. It feels so good, but I want all of you.”
“Don’t worry,” I breathed, as I nipped her earlobe. “I’m going to give you all of me.” Capturing her mouth, I rocked myself inside her slow and deep before I released her lips, pulled all the way back and then rammed myself into her.
Ivy shuddered underneath me and her mouth opened. I grinned at her response. I lifted up and slammed back inside again. A gasp tore from her lips as I lifted my hips and dropped them once more. My skin slapped against hers, the wetness of her pussy making the sound even more exhilarating. Our breathing went from deep and eager to sporadic and wild. Ivy’s nails raked down my back and I knew it would be littered with scratch marks the next day, but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
Our bodies worked in unison.
She pushed back against me and whispered how much she needed me. It drove me onward and made me desperate to fill her up in every way imaginable. The pleasure climbed and climbed until I felt it in my gut. My cock twitched hard, ready to explode as she reached up and kissed me.
I reached between our bodies and rubbed her clit with my thumb. Ivy immediately stopped kissing me, her mouth slack against mine as she made a little animal sound of her approval. I picked up speed stroking her insides and circling her clit as I grunted and tried to hold back for just a little while longer. Ivy’s hands gripped the sheets, the blanket, her pillow, anything she could find to ground herself.
“I’m gonna come,” she cried. “Oh God, Cooper. Fuck, yes!” Her body tensed and she shook underneath me hard.
I had very little time to think about how beautiful she looked with her mouth open and in the throes of an orgasm as her muscles clamped around my cock, squeezing it, milking it for its seed.
I jerked and bucked and I knew I couldn’t hold back anymore. Quickly, I pulled out of her velvet walls and jerked myself hard and rough. The last thing she needed was an unplanned pregnancy. We were going to have kids, lots of them, but only when she was ready.
I groaned as spurts of thick cum shot out and splattered on her belly. The whole time, she kept her eyes on me.
I held her gaze. “Fuck,” I groaned when I couldn’t milk another drop. I was already overly sensitive, so I moved my hand away and hissed a little. “Are you okay?” I asked Ivy when I noticed the out-of-it expression on her face.
She nodded slowly. “Yeah, I’m excellent.”
She slurred the words and I found that adorable. I got off the bed and vaulted into the bathroom. I quickly ran a towel under the hot water tap, wrung it out, and came back to clean her up. Her eyelids were heavy as she whispered, “Brian hadn’t once cleaned me up after sex.”
I hated the sound of his name on her lips, and I hated thinking of her with any other man. But I also knew that until she was able to put him out of her mind, she would automatically keep making comparisons for some time. And if they were favorable comparisons, then I was going to let it ride. “You deserve to get pampered every single time.”
“Am I that good?” she teased.
“You’re that special.”
Ivy’s cheeks reddened adorably.
I ran my hand down one flushed curve before I kissed her softly. I straightened up, took the towel back and cleaned myself up too. I walked back to her room and leaned on the doorframe. “You look like you’re about to pass out,” I observed.
Ivy smiled. “I do feel amazing. That was just what I needed.”
“I’m happy to help,” I said as I pushed myself off of the frame. “Try to go back to sleep.”
Ivy held out her hand to me. “Only if you sleep with me.”
They were the words I had been waiting a lifetime for. I smiled and walked into the room. Ivy scooted over and I climbed in behind her. My arms went around her.
She sighed contentedly. “That’s better,” she murmured. “Stay with me, always, Cooper.”
“I’d never dream of leaving.” I kissed her shoulder and laid down behind her. Her breathing calmed down almost instantly and I knew she’d fallen asleep. I tightened my grip on her and she sighed in her sleep. The heat of her body warmed me as we snuggled underneath the blanket.
Ivy was damaged and scared. She reminded me of a timid deer in the woods and I didn’t want to scare her off. After tonight though, maybe she was finally warming up to me. Maybe she would let me love her the way she deserved to be loved.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Ivy
The next nightmare never came. After I fell asleep all wrapped up in Cooper’s strong arms there had been nothing but peace and calm. It had been so long since the darkness dissipated and I was able to wake up the next morning alive and refreshed.
I didn’t even move. Instead, I stared out of the window and smiled as I listened to Cooper’s breathing against my ear. His arm was still slung around my stomach and I loved that. I was always trying to move Brian’s hand away, but I didn’t want to get away from Copper, I wanted to stay in this position until I absolutely couldn’t put off ending the moment.
Of course, that was when my bladder decided it absolutely could not hold on for another second. I scowled and huffed. You couldn’t have just given me ten more minutes, could you? I didn’t want to move. What if I got up and when I came back everything had changed and the world was shitty again? I wanted to live in this fairytale for a while longer, the one where Cooper loved me, life was perfect, and I didn’t have to be afraid anymore.
I gave up on the notion of staying in my wonderfully hazy warm state any longer. If I didn’t get up soon, I would end the fairytale by peeing my bed. I tried to move without waking Cooper, but the minute I tried to get free, his arm wrapped around me tighter. I yelped as he yanked me back against his body and rubbed himself against my back.
“Where the hell do you think you are going?” he grumbled in that husky, deep, just-woke-up voice that was enough to make any girl drop her panties.
“I have to go to the bathroom. Let me up.”
Cooper ignored me. He buried his nose into my hair and dragged it to the nape of my neck. His teeth bit me and his tongue traced patterns over my skin until I tingled from head to toe. I tried to roll away from his eager mouth, but he was faster, stronger and more determined. He pressed me to the bed and wrapped his hands around my wrists. “In a little bit,” he breathed. “You can get up when I’m done with you.”
I squirmed under his body and that intoxicating, lustful gaze. It spoke volumes about exactly what he wanted to do to me. My eyes flickered down his still naked body and saw the huge erection that was pointed right at me. I swallowed hard. “As much as I would love to enjoy that,” I said with a pointed nod to his dick. “The only thing you’re going to get is me peeing on you. Unless you like golden showers in the morning, I suggest you free me this minute.”
Cooper tilted his head and laughed. “Alright, but you’re coming straight back, right?”
I grinned. There was the faintest hint of a pout on his lips and I wanted to kiss him. How the hell did someone as rough and tumble as he could be, look so adorable at the same time? It warmed my heart. “Yes,” I whispered. “I’m coming right back to you. I didn’t want to leave in the first place, but nature calls.”
“Right. Off you go.” He leaned down and captured my lips.
The kiss was so soft and tender, but it built and built until I felt as if I was melting. I spread my legs for him on instinct. I was craving his great big cock buried inside of me again. It seemed as if he had grown even bigger since o
ur first time and I hadn’t felt so deliciously full since then and damnit, I wanted it again.
“You have to pee, remember?” He grinned as he reached between my thighs and rubbed my clit. “You should do that first before we start things up again.”
I groaned. “Worst. Timing. Ever. Oh, God,” I moaned and grabbed his wrist. “Stop doing that or, I swear I’m going to pee all over you.”
Cooper chuckled and pulled away. I watched as his hand wandered to his lips and he licked and sucked each wet digit clean. My eyes fixated on the scene before me. I was almost ready to shove him onto the bed and impale myself on him. Instead, I shook my head at my own weakness.
He smirked at me like a demon.
“Bathroom,” I said, and threw myself from the bed. “Be right back.”
“Don’t take too long,” he called after me. “I don’t know how long I can wait.”
I shivered. I’d missed this side of him. Don’t get me wrong, I loved how he could be soft and sweet, but seeing the crazy, wild, domineering side made me just as happy. And it was more than that. I could trust that he wouldn’t hurt me, he’d never go too far and leave me afraid and distant. That’s why Cooper was different and why I wanted to ride him until I was sore and exhausted.
By the time I joined him in the bedroom, he ducked past me and went to use the bathroom himself.
He came back out with a grin on his face… like a shark about to bite its victim.
I squealed as he jumped on me, but honestly?
I wanted to be bitten.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Ivy
We spent the whole morning in bed.
When we weren’t having sex, we fell asleep for little power naps before we woke up and repeated it all once more. We only stopped once Cooper was drained and his mouth was sore from getting me off again and again. The man was a beast. Forget one or two rounds, he used everything in his power and every part of his body to make sure I was sated. And for once, I was not only sated, I was on cloud nine.
“Drink,” he said as he nudged me with a bottle of water. “I don’t know about you, but I’m dehydrated as hell.”
I grabbed the bottle from him and downed it as the plastic crinkled and crushed under the force of my palm. Water slipped from my lips and dripped onto my chest. I only came up for air damn near at the bottom and realized Cooper was staring at me. I ran an arm across my lips. “What?” I asked as my face flushed.
“That was so fucking hot,” he breathed. “Maybe I can go one more time.”
“No.” I laughed and held up my hands. “God, no! I can’t take one more time. If I orgasm again, my clit will fall off and run away to safety. You stay on your side.”
Cooper grinned and eased himself into bed. He opened his own bottle and drank some water down before he sighed contentedly. Reaching over, he tugged me against his side.
I chuckled as I rested my head on him.
“No regrets?” he asked softly.
I shook my head. “Surprisingly, not one. I really thought I would have some problems, but with you, it’s... familiar. Like coming home, but new too. I know that doesn’t make any sense…”
“It makes plenty of sense,” he said as he brushed his lips against my forehead. “It’s how I feel about you.”
My heart hammered in my chest. How had I survived so long without Cooper by my side? I didn’t feel judged, afraid, or unsure. I didn’t feel insecure about my body because it was more than clear he loved me just the way I was. I just felt... happy. And in his arms, I felt utterly safe.
I reached out and took his hand. “Thank you for staying with me and making sure I’m okay. You don’t know just how much it means to me.”
“You’re mine and I’ll always protect what’s mine.”
I felt my heart skip a beat. I loved it when Cooper was possessive about me.
He was quiet for a minute before he ran his thumb over my hand. “You know, I’ve been thinking a lot since the day before.”
“About?” I asked, suddenly nervous.
“Nothing bad,” he said quickly and soothed the butterflies in my stomach. “I was just thinking that you should move in with me. I don’t like you being here on your own and I can’t stick around twenty-four-seven unfortunately, when I have to be at the bar. So, I figured you could pack a suitcase and stay at my place, at least until all of the insanity blows over.” He searched my eyes anxiously. “What do you think?”
I chewed my lip. Move in with him? He just wanted to keep me safe from Brian. I wanted to believe that, but I knew there were deeper feelings at play. I would never forget the mistake I made of letting Brian manipulate me into allowing him to move in with me. If Cooper and I moved in together this early in the relationship, would we be setting ourselves up for disappointment?
I sat up so I could look at him. One look into his eyes and I knew he was serious. Cooper wanted me to move in with him for real. I swallowed thickly, tugged the blanket up over my naked body as if that would hide my vulnerabilities and tucked an errant hair behind my ear. “I really appreciate you offering to let me stay with you—”
“But?” Cooper asked with a wary look on his face.
“But I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. There’s so many factors at play here and things could get messy fast.”
I saw the frown on his forehead and I immediately felt bad. He was trying to do something nice for me and I was shooting him down. I almost caved and gave in, but the memory of the way my relationship with Brian had disintegrated so fast after he moved in with me was still fresh on my mind.
I didn’t have a relationship with Cooper, but what we did have, the protective friendship and the amazing sex… I didn’t want to see it go. I didn’t want to lose the one thing going well in my life.
“I know it can,” Cooper said with a nod. “Don’t think I’m not taking this seriously. I’ve thought about it, I thought about it more last night. I think the best option for you is to stay with me, so you have someone with you all the time. I noticed you didn’t have nightmares last night, and you would probably sleep better without all of the stress of looking over your shoulder.”
I chewed my lip. “That would be nice. Waking up every day feeling like a zombie isn’t exactly doing me any favors. I just don’t want things to change between us. I don’t want it to turn into another horrible situation.”
Cooper picked up my hand. He kissed the back of it softly, his warm breath caressing my skin.
When he pulled back, I stared up at him a bit more relaxed, but still concerned about messing up everything that we had slowly built together.
“Things aren’t going to change, Jo,” Cooper said as he shook his head. “We’ve naturally gotten along since we were kids and I really don’t think that’s going to change just because we move in together. Do you?”
I chewed my bottom lip. “I don’t want to think it’ll change things, but I’ve been wrong about things and… people in the past.”
“We’re different,” Cooper insisted as he grabbed my chin and made me look at him. “I would never do anything to hurt you and if you wanted to stop this,” he said as he gestured between the two of us, “then I’ll stop whenever you’re good and ready. Not that I wouldn’t miss it but you get to call the shots here.”
I shook my head. “How do you always know just what to say to me to calm me down? You’ve always done that to me.”
“I don’t know,” he said slowly. “I never really paid attention to other people and what they wanted, but with you it’s different. I want to make sure that you are happy.”
My heart swelled at his words. No one had ever shown the care and concern like he did for me. Maybe it would be okay to let him in, even if it was for just a little bit. I leaned up and kissed him. “Are you sure you want to take this on? Brian’s still out there and I saw something in his eyes that night that is truly scary. He hid it well, but he’s evil. He really meant it when he said if he can’t have me, no one will
. That promise means hurting the people close to me. I didn’t have any close friends back in New York, but even those few acquaintances I did have he drove away. I don’t want you to get caught up in the middle of it and end up getting hurt.”
Cooper climbed on top of me and pinned me to the mattress. His lips traced patterns over my cheek and down the curve of my throat. For just a moment, I forgot every worry and fear I had. When he touched me like this, it was easy to only see the good in life and ignore everything else.
“Hey,” he whispered against my ear.
I reveled under the warmth of his breath. “Yeah?”
“I know you might find this hard to believe, but I can handle myself. You don’t have to worry about me, okay? Just let me take care of you. Let someone else do the caring for you for a change. All you need to do is be safe and happy.”
I caved at his sweet words and the weight of his strong body against mine. Maybe he was right… it was time to stop trying to do everything on my own. If he could keep me safe and I could enjoy his company then what was the point of resisting? Slowly, I smiled and shook my head. “You’ve always been able to talk me into the craziest things.”
“Is that a yes?” Cooper grinned as he grabbed one of my breasts. “I’m going to need an actual confirmation here.”
“Yes, it’s a yes.” I laughed. “Stop that or you’re going to start things up all over again!”
“You say that…” he moaned against my nipple, “like it’s a bad thing.”
“You know we have to leave this bed at some point, right?”
“Five more minutes,” he mumbled and flicked his tongue expertly over my nipple. “And then we’ll go out and get food. Scout’s honor.”
Chapter Thirty
Ivy
Five more minutes my ass.
I glared at the sexual but beautiful deviant as he rinsed off body wash in the shower. It was almost impossible to stay angry at him when every muscle glistened and suds graced his skin, but I had to. It was the principle of the thing.
Let’s Start Over Page 14