CHAPTER 12
The crowd at The Luna Brewery was already thinning by the time they placed their order. Lia glanced at the arcade room in the back and smiled. Other than a guy shooting zombies at a machine based on The Walking Dead, it was empty. Perfect. While she was eager to play pinball with Cooper, having an audience wasn’t what she had in mind.
Lia went over to the change machine and started to pull a five from her wallet. Cooper caught her hand.
“My treat.” He fed two fives into the machine and collected the quarters it spat out. “First, I need some tunes. Inspiration is important.”
Lia laughed. “I’m all about inspiration.”
“I’ve heard that about you.” His flirty teasing warmed her heart. Why didn’t he let this Cooper out more often? He went to the jukebox and perused the titles. “What kind of music do you like?”
“I’m pretty easy.” She skimmed the titles and pointed. “Okay, we need that one at the end.”
He looked her way with a smile that stole her breath. “‘We Will Rock You’ and ‘We Are the Champions.’ I like the way you think.”
She bumped him with her hip. “My victory song.”
“We’ll see about that.” He chuckled and started dropping in coins and pressing buttons. When the first song came on, he took her hand, walking her over toward the small arcade. He stopped in front of a Dark Knight pinball game.
She raised a brow. “I didn’t take you for a Batman fan.”
“I’m full of surprises.”
She wet her lips. “I like surprises.”
He dropped in quarters and stepped behind her, his lips brushing her neck just below her ear as he whispered, “Lucky me.” Cooper straightened up with a spark in his blue eyes. “Let’s do this.”
Lia’s heart was pounding with a heady mixture of arousal, adrenaline, and a hunger for victory. She’d never had this much fun on a date, and they just got here.
She pulled back the plunger and launched the silver, metal ball. Her eyes tracked its course under the glass as it bounced around, lighting up bonuses. She hit the ball with the flipper, squealing as it sailed back up into play.
The rest of the pizza parlor faded away as her focus narrowed to the game. She nailed the ball again, but out of the corner of her eye, Cooper lifted his shirt to wipe his forehead, exposing abs that would make even Batman jealous.
“What are you—” Before she could finish her sentence, the ball slipped past the flippers and into the hole at the bottom. Her jaw dropped. “You cheated.”
He shook his head, looking far from innocent as he pulled his shirt back down. “I was just wiping the sweat off my forehead. You’re really good at pinball.”
The twinkle in his eyes gave him away. Two could play that game.
She stepped aside, giving Cooper the player-two spot. He tugged the plunger back, and let the silver ball go sailing. The digital score soared higher and higher. When he was within ten thousand points, she picked up her mug and fished out an ice cube, tracing her lips with it while she watched the ball under the glass.
Suddenly it zipped right between the flippers. She lifted her gaze to find Cooper gaping. “Okay, that was playing dirty.”
She grinned, popping the cube into her mouth. “Oh please, have you not seen yourself shirtless?”
He chuckled, shaking his head and stepping aside to make room, his voice a rough growl. “I’ve never been jealous of an ice cube before.”
“All’s fair in love and pinball, right?” She yanked the plunger back and sent the ball sailing back into play. She racked up the points, making contact with the ball three times before Cooper moved behind her, his big hands sliding possessively up her back to knead her shoulders.
The damned ball vanished into the hole between the flippers, and she didn’t give a rat’s ass. Lia’s eyes drifted closed, and she relaxed into him. “So unfair.”
He leaned down close to her ear. “Want me to stop?”
“Oh gods, no.”
His chest vibrated as he chuckled. “My turn, right?”
“Yes.” She sighed and stepped aside.
Cooper took over, hitting the buttons on the sides of the machine. His forearms were tight, strong. She’d never been turned on by games before, but damn. She was going to have to grab the pizza to go.
When his score neared hers, she slid her hand under the back of his shirt, tracing her fingernails up his back. A muscle in his cheek clenched as he struggled to keep his eye on the ball.
She pressed against his back and whispered, “I need you.”
He turned around and wrapped her in his arms. “‘Bout damned time.” He fused his lips to hers, his tongue sliding into her mouth, teasing her senses.
“Hanover!”
He broke the kiss with a breathless chuckle. “I’m getting really sick of being interrupted.”
Lia grinned. “Let’s take it to go.”
“Your place or mine?”
“Yours. Clio doesn’t know where you live.”
“And I’ll take the phone off the hook.”
“I love the way you think.”
Love. It surprised her when it slipped out, but Cooper was already halfway to the counter to ask them to box up the pizza.
She waited, enjoying the view. Damn, he filled out his jeans perfectly. She couldn’t wait to get him out of them.
He came back with a pizza balanced on one hand and took hers in the other. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
Once the pizza was in the backseat, he pulled her into his arms, kissing her until she wasn’t sure she could stand. She rested her forehead on his and whispered, “Who won the pinball game?”
His deep voice hummed against her lips. “If we call it a draw, we can have a rematch.”
Oh, she could love this man.
Maybe she already did.
He parked at the apartment complex and took her and the pizza upstairs. He walked her inside, closed the door, and put the box in the fridge. “We can reheat it later.”
“Good idea.” Lia slid her hands under his shirt, pushing it up his chest. He tugged it free and dropped it on the floor. Her gaze wandered over his chiseled chest, heat pooling low in her belly. Apollo had done a masterful job healing Cooper after the accident the night before. He didn’t even have a bruise.
Her eyes dipped even lower. His jeans looked uncomfortably tight. She reached to unbutton them, but he caught her hands. “My turn.”
He lifted her shirt, and she raised her arms so he could pull it free.
Oh crap. Suddenly, Lia remembered that she’d been leaving the improv the night before when the accident had happened and she’d gone directly to the hospital. She hadn’t been home to change.
She glanced down at her simple cotton bra and groaned. “Okay, I swear I have some sexy lingerie. This isn’t my get-naked-with-a-guy-for-the-first-time bra.”
Cooper shook his head, a barely-there smile on his lips. “I can promise you, it’s not your bra I’m looking at.”
She chuckled, rolling her eyes. “I can’t even remember what pair of underwear I’m wearing right now.”
He came closer, his warm torso scorching her cool skin as his gaze locked on hers. “It doesn’t matter. I swear you won’t be wearing it much longer.”
She ran her hands up his chest. “I’m good with that.”
He scooped her up and headed for the bedroom, stopping for just a second to mute the ringer on his cordless phone. She trailed hot kisses up his neck, enjoying the way his breathing deepened. He laid her on his bed and rested his body on top of hers.
His breath caressed her lips as he whispered, “I have never been so turned on in my life, and we’re not even naked yet.”
“Same here.” She stared up into his blue eyes. “But if we don’t get to it soon, I may have an orgasm with my pants on.”
He shook his head slowly, running a hand down her side. “Then I’d better get your pants off.”
He kissed his way down her chest, his teeth grazing the curve of one of her breasts as his hands slid the straps off her shoulders. She pulled her arms free, and he nuzzled the cup down until her nipple was exposed. He circled the hardened tip with his tongue, and she arched her back, her fingers tightening in his hair.
Gods, she really was going to have an orgasm with her pants on.
He moved lower, unbuttoning her jeans. He peered up at her as he lowered the zipper. “Lose the bra.”
She smiled, happy to oblige. Popping the clasps on the back, she dropped the ugly thing off the side of the bed. The hunger in his eyes made her forget she wasn’t wearing date-ready underwear. In fact, she’d never felt more desirable.
Thankfully, he slid her jeans and panties off together, saving her from whatever anti-sexy undergarments she’d been wearing. He dropped them over the edge of the bed and ran his hand up the inside of her thigh.
She was on fire, needy and aching for release. Her legs parted instinctively. “Get your pants off. I need you.”
His gaze locked on hers as his fingertip traced her opening. He wet his lips. “Not yet.” His fingers slid up to find her sweet spot. She gasped as he kissed his way up her leg. “Yeah. Let go for me.”
He rubbed her faster, his lips moving closer and closer. She writhed under him. “Don’t stop.”
“No way,” he murmured as his tongue replaced his fingers at her core.
She cried out his name as he took her over the edge, trembling. He pressed slow kisses along the juncture of her thighs until she started to relax, then he got up from the bed.
Her voice was reduced to a breathy whisper. “Where are you going?”
He stood up, unfastening the button on his jeans. “Now I’m the one about to lose it in my pants.”
His erection pulsed against the zipper, and suddenly, she was warm all over again. She lifted her gaze to his face. “Please tell me you have condoms.”
Condoms. Holy shit, he would’ve forgotten. Hearing her cry out his name and seeing her sexy body rocking into him had blown his mind. She had blown his mind. He stepped out of his jeans and went into his bathroom, but not before he caught the desire in her eyes. She wanted him. And he fucking loved it.
He opened the medicine cabinet. Nothing. Dammit. If he had to go out for condoms with this raging hard-on, he wouldn’t be able to walk. He jerked open the drawer on the vanity and relief washed through him. He’d never been so happy to see a pack of Trojans.
He grabbed one of the foil packets and returned to find Lia lying on her side facing him, her head propped up in her elbow. Her naked body invited him to touch and taste her all over again.
His erection hardened even more as he came closer to the bed. “Found a condom.”
She smiled. “Good. I was keeping the bed warm for you.”
He lay down beside her and kissed her lips, savoring them. He opened his eyes and traced her curves with his fingertips. “I want this to last all night, but other parts of me want to see how fast I can make you forget your own name.”
Her grin had his heart racing. She rolled him over onto his back and took the foil wrapper from his other hand. “Maybe I can keep things slow if I’m on top.”
She straddled his legs, opening the condom while he looked up at her, memorizing every inch of her body. Her free hand moved up his leg, her fingernails teasing his balls until his erection jumped in answer. She gripped his shaft and stroked him as she slid the condom over him.
His eyes drifted closed, a moan escaping his throat.
She ran her hands up his chest, and he opened his eyes. Gripping her hips, he guided her over his erection. She lowered herself onto him, the warmth of her body making it tough not to roll her over and pound into her until he exploded.
“You drive me crazy,” he growled.
She leaned down, her breasts brushing against his chest. “It’s a good look for you.”
He grinned, chuckling as he wrapped his arms around her and fused his lips to hers. He’d been with plenty of women in his life, but he’d never had this much fun in bed. Smiling and laughing while having sex was a totally new experience.
She rocked her hips into him, teasing him with long, slow thrusts. He broke the kiss. “Sorry.”
“For what?” she gasped.
“This.” He held her tight and flipped her over onto her back.
She grinned, her hands sliding down to his ass. “You’ll have to make it up to me.”
He moved his hand between them, rubbing her in time with his thrusts. “Will this do?”
“Oh yeah.” Her fingernails dug into him as his hips picked up speed driving him even deeper inside of her.
Her inner muscles tightened around him, taking him right over the edge with her. He erupted and froze while colors danced at the corners of his vision.
She ran her hands up his back, her voice a breathless whisper. “Wait until I wear my sexy underwear.”
He laughed, catching his breath as he rested his head on her chest. “I think we just proved that you don’t need sexy underwear. I’ve never been so turned on.”
Her fingers slid through his hair. “I’m with you there.”
When he was fairly confident he could stand, Cooper got up and took the condom off. “Be right back.”
He dropped it in the trash and turned out the bathroom light. When he got back in bed, Lia snuggled into his arms. She fit perfectly, as if she was made for him.
She made him so damned happy.
And now that he’d had a taste of the joy Lia infused into his world, guilt lingered in the shadows of his mind like a golem, ready to overpower him and steal away this happiness. Being with Lia made it easy to forget the grief he’d carried for years.
And he didn’t want to forget it. He didn’t deserve to forget.
Pushing the dark thoughts from his mind, he closed his eyes and kissed her hair. “I know there’s chaos surrounding you and all your sisters, but right now, this feels right.”
“Same here.” She nodded and lifted her head. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why did you become a paramedic?”
He ran his hand along her back. “I already told you I’m working my way through medical school.”
“But why? Your grandmother told me you don’t have to work, that your schooling is paid for. Wouldn’t it be faster to go to school full time?”
Blood money. He’d never accept it. Memories of the last time he saw his sister clawed their way forward, hungry to consume him. It was his fault she never got to use her college fund. His fault she was gone.
He ground his teeth, grateful now that he had turned out the light. “Why does it matter?”
“It doesn’t. I’m just trying to understand you better.”
“I wanted to earn it.” That was true enough. “We should get some sleep.”
She kissed his chest over his heart. “I didn’t mean to pry.”
“I know.”
She lifted her head. “Do you?”
He cupped her cheek. “I have some things to atone for. Can we just leave it at that?”
She searched his face in the dim light. “I won’t judge you.”
“Let it go.” He cleared his throat. “Please.”
“All right.” She lay down beside him, untangling her legs from his and leaving him feeling more alone than he’d felt in years.