Cooper

I receive Jared's text an hour after I get back to my apartment. My body hurts like a motherfucker. Especially the spots where that she-devil of a man-beast tore away my hair. My dick still shrivels up at the thought of that warm liquid she spread near it. A normal person would have said no to waxing, especially if, like me, they've never done it before, but I could never deny Beth what she wanted.

For a long time, I ignored the part of me that cared for her, shutting my mind off to those feelings. It was the only way I knew how to survive. Perhaps that's the real reason I fell for my ex. My mind was completely filled with everything about her, allowing me to forget all about Beth. Now that she's here in my life again, I can't even remember how I lasted so long without her.

I search the fridge for a beer, finding it immediately. I need to relax before our dinner tonight. I'm not sure why she wanted to eat with us in the first place, but I go with it. Beth mentioned earlier that she'd be taking us to a swanky Asian fusion restaurant called Buddakan, located on the west side near Fourteenth Street. The only places I usually visit on that side of town are the Highline Elevated Park and the Apple Store. This will be the first time I go to a restaurant in that area, and I'm looking forward to it. I've heard good things about this place, and the menu looks appetizing.

The soothing sounds of my opening beer relax me as I take a seat on my couch. Due to the sensitivity after waxing, I groan as my ass hits the seat. My phone buzzes in my hand, notifying me of another incoming text.

I let out a sigh and take a sip of my beer.

Damn near spitting my drink out, I dial Jared, setting my beer on the table at the same time. It rings twice and then his carefree voice comes through.

“Can you explain to me the reason behind your outing me?” I ask, resting my face in my hand. “Because I distinctly remember us having a shut the fuck up conversation.”

“You really need to relax, Coop. She shot me down anyway.”

“She did?” My response sounds pained, so I clear my throat to cover it up. “I mean, good. I’m not interested in her either.”

Jared laughs at the other end of the line. “That reply was about as subtle as a freight train.”

“Fuck you,” I spit, not really angry with him, just pissed that she wouldn't even consider being with me. In reality, it makes sense. To her, I’m a stranger who was matched with her via a dating agency, but to me she is everything. I can’t blame her for being skittish.

“That was harsh,” Jared says, his mirth still prevalent. “But I wasn’t finished.”

“She said no, so what more is there to say?”

“God, you really suck at women.” He laughs again. “This is why I succeed in all my endeavors, business and extracurricular. I’m an expert at reading people, women especially, and most importantly, I know how to please them. If I remember correctly, I gave you a few pointers back in the day.”

“Yeah, whatever,” I reply, putting my feet up on the couch. He never lets me forget about the times he had to show me what to do in the bedroom. Not with each other, of course, because we are both into women. Before Brittany, Jared and I often ended up sharing the same girl from time to time. He was a great teacher and would instruct me on ways to make the woman's experience with us memorable. He was the one who made me feel comfortable with myself, and probably the cause of my constant appetite. “So, you were saying?” I ask, remembering some of those crazy sex-fueled times, silently hoping that Beth and I can make our own.

“Before you bite my head off,” Jared starts again, “I’ll let you in on a few things. Women are a contradiction of feelings. Many deny themselves, choosing instead to ignore their inner wants and needs. This is where I come in. I give anyone who shares my bed the tools necessary to release their invisible restraints, and the results are always spectacular.”

“You sound like a yoga guru,” I mutter, reaching for my beer and taking another swig.

“Maybe I am. I find when I’m able to tap into the part of a woman, she voluntarily cages, I’m freeing her from a drab life.”

“What does this have to do with Beth?” I ask him, generally curious about the philosophical connection Jared is trying to make.

“Beth is like foil.”

“Foil?” I chuckle. “I think she’d take offense to that.”

“Maybe,” he laughs, “but hear me out.”

“Go on, guru.”

“When you tear off a sheet, it’s flat and smooth with no real dimension. If you ball that same piece of foil up, it becomes a hard, impenetrable mass that can only be separated without tearing by delicate hands. Beth is that ball right now, and as soon as she opens up, new grooves and intricacies that weren't on the original sheet will be prominent, allowing her to be who she really wants to be. Consider me the first set of hands peeling back her layers. By planting the idea of you in her head, she’ll be forced to think about the what ifs with you only. I’ve made it clear that I don’t want her in that way. And let’s be honest, if you told me not to take part in sleeping with her, I’d honor that request. My dick might get mad at me, but I always have other options.”

I think about what Jared just said to me. He has an interesting way of explaining things, but in the end, they always make sense. I’m hoping this plan of his works because I want her bad.

“Uhh. Am I supposed to say thank you then?”

“Nah. Like I always tell you, I owe you my life. Anything I can do to get you two together, I will, though we will have to eventually tell her who we really are. I don’t think she’ll be pissed … much.”

“I hope not.”

“Have to get dressed for dinner. Catch you later.”

“See you, man.” I end the call, now filled with a smidgen of hope for what's to come.

Later that evening, I arrive at Buddakan first. As soon as I walk through the door, the scents of mouthwatering Asian cuisine hit me. I’ve already seen the menu and can’t wait to try an entree.

The decor is breathtaking, with its cream-colored walls, high ceilings, and extravagant chandeliers. It's a wonder that my ex didn't make me take her to this place before. The pricing seems up her alley. She never offered to pay or split the bill ever. It's not that I couldn't afford to take her out; it was merely the thought that counted. This is one of the reasons why Bethany is such a wonderful woman. She offered to take Jared and me to this restaurant, not expecting either of us to foot the bill. Perhaps she felt as though she owed us something. Dinner between the participating individuals is not a requirement to be filled prior to consummation. In fact, everything that we've done so far isn't necessary at all.

Beth has always been kind like that. I could tell she had a big heart from the moment I saw her, and her smile could melt the polar ice caps. She had me wrapped around her finger and didn’t even know it. I have to tell her everything, eventually, but for now I’m going to keep quiet until absolutely necessary.

“How may I help you, sir?” the host asks, bringing me out of my musings.

“I’m,” I check my watch, “about ten minutes early. Phillips, party of three.”

“Ah,” he nods. “We received a call from a Mr. Carrington. He said to tell you that he had a late meeting and couldn’t attend. He also said to tell you, umm … you’re welcome.”

I shake my head. Only Jared would do something along these lines.

Pulling out my phone, I shoot him a quick thank you text but decide not to check the response.

“Right this way, sir.”

After following the host through the dining area, he pauses at a tiny cream table with a sleek decorative lamp that has a square shade sitting on top. Since the lighting of the dining room is dim, this makes sense. Most restaurants use candles when faced with lighting issues, but with the design of this place, a candle would probably lessen the beauty.

“Have a seat, sir. Your waiter, Charles, will be with you shortly.”

Nodding, because apparently that’s all I can do these past few minutes, I take my seat. When Charles finally arrives at my table, I order a glass of the house Chardonnay to calm my nerves. I’ve never been alone with Beth like this, so I’m bound to have foot in mouth disease at least once while I speak to her. About five or ten minutes pass by before Beth is brought over by another hostess. It feels like it took an eternity for her to get here, but as soon as I see her, I forget why I was so nervous in the first place.

Breathtaking is the only way to describe how this woman looks tonight. I don’t know where she bought her black dress from, but as soon as I find out, I’m buying stock in the company.

The shell of the garment accentuates the curve of her hips and the shape of her breasts, the lace overlay adding to the mystique of her figure. My eyes trail up and down her, pausing mid-thigh, causing me to zero in on her bare legs. I can't wait to run my fingers along her smooth skin, eventually getting them in-between her legs. I love it when she puts her hair up like she has today. It reminds me of the first time I saw her that way. God, she is so fucking beautiful, and I want to pounce on her. Of course, my dick wholeheartedly agrees.

“Ms.?”

She turns around to face the hostess, and holy mother of god, all the blood rushes from my brain to my already aching dick. I imagine myself, pulling down the zipper slowly; the sound of the metal would drive me insane. And Jesus Christ, the ass on her. I’m going to need to claim that shit in the next couple of days.

“Okay, thanks.” She finishes up with the hostess and turns around. I have no idea what was said in the past few minutes because I was focused on other things.

Taking her seat, she asks me, “Jared isn’t coming?”

“Appears not,” I say, feigning calm. I signal the waiter over to order another glass of Chardonnay. Before he arrives, I ask, “What’s your poison this evening?” She grins, licking her plump lips. I don’t believe she meant it to be sexy, but my eyes drop to her mouth, focusing on the sultry way her tongue moves. What I wouldn’t give to trace my tongue along the seam. I take a huge gulp, finishing the last of my wine when the waiter arrives.

“Another glass, sir?” I nod, my gaze still focused on her.

“And you Ms.?” he asks her.

“I’ll have the same.”

The server departs, and there’s a beat of silence between us until she breaks it.

“So, I guess it’s just you and me,” she says, stating the obvious. Her face appears nervous and she fidgets a little.

“Is there something wrong with that?” My voice is low and sensual because I’m trying to get a reaction out of her.

“No, of course not,” she replies, her tone equally as breathy. “I am disappointed. I thought it would be good for all of us to relax before Friday, and what better way to do that than a candlelight dinner.”

“Hmmm ... I see your point, but you're forgetting something.” Leaning forward I reach out to touch her face running my fingers slowly along the smooth skin of her cheek, my thumb pausing at her sexy mouth. I want to kiss her so badly, and the hitch in her breath tells me she wants it too. How did this go from zero to one hundred in a matter of moments? “You don't need both of us to, as you say, relax. I'm just as capable as he is of relieving any tension you might have. Would you like me to show you?”

Smiling, I give her a challenging look, daring her to make a move. Her eyes go wide as she thinks about what I just said. My body is tender from the experience at the salon earlier, but my mouth and hands work just fine.

She paused before responding to my suggestion. I almost glide my hand down somewhere I shouldn’t in public until she says, “It’s probably not a good idea since Jared isn’t here. I want to experience both of you together for the first time and maybe afterward we can explore your ability to remove tension.”

I smirk, then incline my head to study her. Beth’s eyes are filled with erotic heat, burning so hot; it causes my erection to go rigid. Everything about this woman turns me on. It’s like she’s the remote control connected to my dick—the sway of her hips, her sexy tits, and that mouth, the power button, that brings it to attention.

The waiter returns with our drinks order and then proceeds to take our entrée selections. I order the black pepper beef rib eye steak, while she orders the Alaskan black cod.

While we wait for the food, she takes a sip of her drink and asks, “Are you ever going to tell me how you and Jared know each other?”

I knew this was coming, but I’m still not prepared to tell her. How do you let someone know you’ve wanted them for years, that you’ve fantasized about a moment like this so often that it became real in your mind? I don’t want to come off as a crazy stalker because I’m not. I didn’t follow her, and I don’t have creepy pictures hanging on the wall. What I do have, though, is a long memory.

“Why is that so important you?” I ask, not really interested, but stalling.

“I always feel like you and Jared have these silent conversations, and I want to be a part of them. I think if I know your history, then we could connect more as individuals, and it might heighten the effect of our experience.”

“I'm all for increased pleasure, Beth, but I'm not ready to let you in on that part of myself. Let's just say me and Jared have been friends for many years, and he's helped me through a lot of tough times.”

She bites her lip as if contemplating whether she should continue with her line of questioning. A small part of me just wants to say fuck it and tell her my name is Cooper and I've been in love with her since I was sixteen. That might freak her out though, especially since she only saw me once in high school. I doubt she would remember the scrawny kid with glasses and a huge nose. An injury, plastic surgery, and a whole lifestyle change courtesy of Jared made me the man I am today, so what does it matter who I was back then?

“That’s not really an answer,” she replies, rolling her eyes. “I’m sure there are plenty more details.”

“Maybe,” I smile coyly, “but you’ll have to wait until I’m good and ready to give them to you.”

“What if you’re never ready? What do I do then?” Her piercing stare is so powerful, I almost buckle under the pressure. However, I remain steadfast, reminding myself that I’m so close to having her.

“Let’s make a deal, Beth. Go out with me on a real date, and I’ll tell you anything you want.”

“Isn’t this real date?”

I shake my head. “Nope. This is more of a pre-meeting, and it was initially supposed to include Jared. I’ll take you on our own date at another time of my choosing.”

Beth lets out an exaggerated sigh and it's too cute. “Okay, fine. But you have to tell me everything, and I mean it. I want your deepest, darkest secrets, Cooper Whitmore.”

Grinning, I nod just as dinner arrives. We eat in silence for most of the meal, with the occasional small talk about her job and my son. By the time dessert comes around we decide to call it a night. I escort her to the cab first, giving her a kiss on the cheek. I want a real lip lock, but change my mind at the last minute. I'll have more chances on Friday, and plan to take advantage of all of them.

As I ride home in the cab, I think back to the accident that changed my life. Jared and I had been fooling around somewhere. I don't even remember the name of the place. It happened the summer before senior year. There was a spot near the cliffs where kids would swing on a rope and fall into the water—a place fairly popular with the teenage crowd in our town. That summer, it had been particularly hot. I don't recall if it was considered a drought, I just remember wanting to cool off that day. Jared suggested that we go to the point, and I agreed. When we arrived, there was no one in the area, so no usual line. Jared and I flipped the coin to see who would go first, because as teenagers it made sense at the time. I distinctly remember feeling uneasy about jumping in, but I shook it off. To create momentum, I ran as fast as I could, catching the rope in my hand, and swinging in one swift motion. As soon as I let go of the rope I knew that I was in trouble. Instead of falling into a deep body of water, usually eight to twelve feet, I fell into a shallow pool of considerably less. There were some spots where the jagged rock protruded from the river, which wouldn't have normally been there, had it been at the proper level. Upon landing, I broke my leg in three places, had some broken ribs, and one of the rocks somehow managed to score across my nose. The cut was so deep that I needed to have reconstructive surgery. The doctor ended up giving me a nose job that I am ever so grateful for. After the surgery, I looked completely different.

Jared felt like shit afterward, so he reinstated his mission to ‘remake me’ if you will. He'd brought it up at the end of our junior year, but with finals and other school commitments, it was put on hold. He gave me pointers on sex. I lifted weights and became a little more polished. I ended up being homeschooled my senior year because of the broken bones and recovery time. I never saw Beth again.

The taxicab arrives at my apartment, and I get out after paying. As I walk to the front door, I think about how much my life has changed, and how lucky I am to have a second chance with this woman. I’m eagerly looking forward to experiencing everything with her. Two more days and, she’ll be mine.