Corinne

Cooper had been nothing but a gentleman so far, and I’d had a nice time. So, why was my belly suddenly swamped with nerves? He’d promised me this wasn’t a date, and I’d believed him, stupidly at the time.

Now I knew there was something hot stirring between us, and I totally didn’t want to avoid it any longer.

When we arrived at his place, I noticed more details than I had before. The first time I’d been here, I’d been so nervous, and then the second was after I’d drank enough to intoxicate a small village. This time I could actually appreciate the clean, masculine lines of his penthouse with its open floor plan, soft gray wood floors, and cozy leather furniture. It also smelled faintly like Cooper—a mix of honey and leather.

“You have a lovely home,” I murmured as he led me farther inside, past the kitchen and into the living room.

He gestured for me to have a seat. Remembering what we’d done on this sofa a couple of nights ago sent a small ripple of pleasure through me. Jeez, had he needed to sanitize it afterward? I’d practically run out of here like my ass was on fire.

I took a deep breath and lowered myself to the couch.

“Is everything okay?” he asked.

I nodded, feeling slightly nervous, and I wasn’t even sure why or how to put into words what I was feeling. I’d steeled myself a long time ago, convinced I couldn’t have something like this. A fling. A casual affair. And yet here I was, with this gorgeous, sexy man who made me want all that and more.

Cooper placed his hand on my jaw and drew me closer, bringing his lips down to mine. “Thank you for this,” he said against my lips.

“For what?” I hadn’t done anything.

He shrugged, placing one soft kiss against my mouth. “For coming out with me. For being here.”

That was when I suddenly realized it. Maybe us exploring this little affair was helping him as much as it was helping me. He’d admitted he’d been heartbroken before we met. I didn’t know why it had never occurred to me before, but now it made sense. Cooper needed this distraction as badly as I did.

I placed my hands on his chest, not to push him away but to show him that I was here, right here with him in this moment.

“Kiss me, Coop,” I whispered.

“Gladly.” He smiled briefly and then his mouth crashed against mine, hot and hungry for me.

We kissed forever, until the space between my legs had grown wet and so achy, I could have screamed. I’d heard of going slow, but this was ridiculous. He was so strong, so deliciously male. God, I’d never wanted anything more.

As if sensing my need for more, Cooper broke away from the kiss and lifted my shirt from over my head, dropping it to the floor while his eyes feasted on my ample cleavage.

He placed a kiss on the top of each breast, and discreetly adjusted his erection. I swallowed a wave of nerves as his right hand traveled under my skirt.

With his fingers in my panties, Cooper paused with his mouth hovering inches from mine. “I want to make you feel good.”

“You are,” I said on a sob.

“I want to make you come,” he whispered.

“Yes.”

His fingers moved in slow, lazy circles, drawing out my pleasure, making my hips rock to get closer. “Tell me what you want, little dove.”

I swallowed, my muscles tensing as his finger teased my opening, but didn’t penetrate.

“It’s late, and I . . .” God, my excuses sounded hollow, even to my own ears. “I should probably get going.”

Cooper pulled his hand from my panties and sucked on his fingers. It was so sensual, so erotic. The idea that he wanted to savor me sent a thrill through me. “You taste so fucking good.”

I watched him in stunned fascination. He was so open, so sexual—and it all came so easily to him. I admired him for that. What courage, what strength. I couldn’t imagine putting it all out there, saying those dirty words without feeling totally self-conscious.

“You sure there’s nothing that you want, beautiful?” His voice was rich and low.

It was now or never. My heartbeat was pulsing low in my groin, and I wanted him. Wanted him more than I’d ever wanted anything. Speak up, Corinne.

“Last time . . .” I huffed out a breath. “I liked what you did last time.”

A slow, devilish grin spread over Cooper’s mouth. “Thank fuck. I’ve wanted to bury my face in your pussy since I first saw you outside the museum in that skirt.”

I sucked in a breath. His words were so raw, so sexual—it was a huge turn-on.

“Let me take you to my bedroom. I want you to lie down and get comfortable.”

I nodded, letting him pull me to my feet, and left my shirt we’d discarded on the floor.

His room was handsomely decorated in black and white. Elegant and luxurious, but also strikingly simple, it fit him.

Arranging the pillows beneath my head, Cooper laid me out so I was comfortable on his massive king-sized bed.

With my skirt rucked up around my stomach, he hooked his fingers into the sides of my panties and drew them carefully down my legs and over my ankles. My bare flesh was already soaked, and as desperate as I was for his touch, I didn’t know how to put into words what I wanted.

“Don’t do that,” he said softly.

“Do what?” I lifted up on my elbows to watch him move between my thighs.

“You’re in your head, worrying about something you don’t need to be. Just relax and let me make you feel good, okay?”

I smiled down at him. “Yes, Cooper.”

He placed a soft kiss at the top of my pubic bone. “Good girl.”

Rewarding me with a sweep of his tongue through my swollen lips, Cooper took his time, giving me playful licks and gentle nips.

“Promise me one thing.”

His words surprised me. I opened my eyes and found his gaze on mine. “Yes?”

“You won’t run off this time, will you?”

The sentiment behind his words hit me square in the chest. He didn’t want me to feel the need to escape, like we’d done something wrong.

I appreciated that, so I nodded. Maybe we’d lie together and cuddle, or talk.

“Good. Then let me love this sweet little pussy.”

Using his fingers to spread me apart, he nibbled gently on my clit with his teeth, and I felt his touch like a jolt of electricity. Moments later, his mouth covered me, his tongue swirling, circling—all his attention centered on that sensitive bundle of nerves, and oh my God. His mouth felt so incredibly warm against me, and he was extremely gifted at this.

Opening my eyes, I watched Cooper pleasure me. His eyes were closed, his expression soft. A smile tilted my lips when I noticed that as he lay on his stomach on the bed, his hips rutted uselessly against the mattress.

“Cooper,” I murmured, so turned on by watching him.

“Yes, dove. Come for me.”

Seconds later, my whole body went tight, my muscles tensing as wave after wave of delicious pleasure crashed through me.

When my senses returned, I gazed at Cooper, appreciating how truly beautiful he was. He’d shifted until we lay on our sides, facing each other, and I placed my hand on his jaw. He had such striking eyes, a sexy jaw, full lips, and that messy bedroom hair that I wanted to rake my fingers through. His size made me feel small, which wasn’t easy—I never usually felt small or dainty. My curves had curves. But Cooper’s broad muscled body and six-foot-four frame dwarfed mine. And I liked that.

But in this moment, it wasn’t his looks I was noticing. It was how utterly giving this man was—bringing me pleasure and expecting nothing in return. That wasn’t normal. And he was clearly turned on. His jeans had grown rather tight in the front.

“I’m so sorry. I swear, I’m not trying to be selfish.”

He chewed on his lip—his erection was the elephant in the room between us. “No pressure. You’re doing fine.”

He wasn’t begging me to pet his one-eyed python, and for that, I was immensely grateful. Strangely, though? It only made me want to touch him more. He had such restraint, such control over his body, and apparently mine. The thought of making him feel even half as good as he’d made me feel was intoxicating.

He brushed my hair away from my face. “You’ve come so far. I’m just happy to see you enjoying yourself and not feeling any shame after.”

I nodded. “You make me feel very good.”

Those words were hard to say. They were so brutally honest, but it was the simple truth. Cooper wasn’t concerned with his own release, or pushing me further than I was willing to go. He just gave—without expecting a damn thing in return. It made me want to reward him.

I swallowed the heavy lump in my throat as a tidal wave of bravery surged through me. I placed my hand on Cooper’s denim-covered erection, and he sucked in a breath.

“Dove?”

I met his eyes. His green eyes had gone a shade darker with lust, and his voice was low and husky. He was so utterly sexy. So irresistible. I truly didn’t know how I’d not done this sooner.

“I want to . . . try.”

“Try?” he whispered, barely breathing.

I nodded, my confidence growing at the awareness of the effect I had on him. “I want to touch you.”

Cooper’s mouth curved into a lazy grin. “You can do any-fucking-thing you want to me.”

I giggled. God, I loved how he did that. How he could immediately defuse any situation so I felt comfortable. I was coming to find I liked many things about him. The least of which were the orgasms he handed out like they were candy.

“I’m not experienced. I’m not . . .” I cleared my throat, pausing for a breath. God, Corinne, pull it together.

He quieted me with a soft kiss. “No judgment. No expectations.”

Releasing the button of his jeans, I slowly lowered the zipper. Cooper lifted his hips so that when I tugged, his jeans and boxers slid easily down his hips.

Out sprang the most handsome cock I’d ever seen. Not that I had many to go by, but this thing was truly beautiful. Rigid and thick with a wide, rounded head, it was a work of art, belonging on something akin to Michelangelo’s David—only the erotic version. There was hardly any hair covering him, he was neatly groomed, and I wasn’t sure why that was something I noticed, but I guessed it was because I was taking in every detail like it might be my last time to see him like this, so exposed and vulnerable. So everything.

I lifted his cock from his belly, palming and playing with it like it was my new favorite toy.

“Christ,” Cooper grunted.

I stared at him in wonder, honestly curious how he fit this thing in his pants. Because, seriously.

“You trying to kill me?” he murmured.

“Oh.” I dropped his cock onto his belly where it gave a soft thwack. “I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”

Amused, he petted my hair. “No.”

Smiling with a new flash of bravery, I turned toward him where we lay on our sides facing each other. Cooper brought his hands to my face, kissing me while I stroked his cock up and down until his breathing grew ragged, and I knew I was doing something right.

“That feel good?” I whispered.

“Jesus, dove.” He moaned. “So good.”

Spurred on by his soft need-filled noises, I continued working my hand up and down.

“A little faster, beautiful,” he murmured.

I obeyed, my hand gliding over his thick shaft again and again. While we kissed deeply, his release shuddered through him, coating my hand in warm, sticky fluid.

Although I wouldn’t know it until later, this moment would irrevocably change things between us forever.