Cooper

Heaven and hell, all wrapped up into one tidy evening.

I chugged my third cup of coffee, the second of which already had my stomach churning with acid. But there was no help for it. It had been a sleepless night, and I had a full day of work ahead of me. If only I could get Corinne out of my head for two fucking seconds, I’d be golden.

And if I could wipe away the memory of her running out of my apartment like her ass was on fire last night, I’d be extra golden.

Fuck.

The evening had started promising enough. At least, that’s what I’d thought at the time. But the more I ran it over in my mind, the more I wasn’t sure. Our agreement had been for no-strings sex, and what had I done?

I’d made it a date. Cooked her dinner, even. That was personal. More personal was my mouth all over her sweet pussy, tasting her like she was my last meal.

Though I was pretty sure it was my outpouring of information about Emma and Gavin that had pushed it all too far. I’d encouraged Corinne to share in kind and she’d offered me glimpses of her past, but I could see now in hindsight that I’d pushed too hard, too fast. Maybe she wasn’t as willing to share her pain as I was.

It made sense. After all, it would be hard to work with a person after you’d bared your soul to them.

Then again, it was also hard to make love with someone who didn’t know the first thing about you.

I’d struggled with these questions and more all night after she left. Thinking about the way she’d looked sitting across from me at dinner, and then the way she’d been in my arms later.

Which, of course, was the strangest thing of all.

If I’d put her off with my questions, why had she gone along with it so readily? Her kisses had been effortless, timid but curious, just like her demeanor. My sweet little dove. And when I’d dropped between her thighs and seen that perfect pink pussy waiting for me, she’d been so wet and ready that I’d had no doubt of what she wanted. I just wanted to ease her ache, to bring her to orgasm and hear her soft whimpers.

Even now, as I licked my lips, I could feel her heated skin. Could practically taste her as I remembered her bucking against me, her responsive little body moving with my every touch.

I let out a frustrated sigh and dumped my empty mug into the sink before glancing at the clock. This day wasn’t going to go by any quicker with me just standing here like an idiot.

I snatched up my laptop bag and hustled out of the apartment. On a whim, and for the fiftieth time since I’d gotten out of bed, I reached into my pocket and checked my phone just in case . . .

But there were no text alerts, so I jammed it back into my pocket before slipping into my car and cruising toward work.

The time to make sense of everything before I saw her next was running out fast. But if I hadn’t sorted things out overnight, it seemed unlikely that I was going to do it in the few minutes it took to get to midtown.

I could just ask her what had happened, I supposed . . . if she even bothered to come to work today. Or ever again.

Fuck.

Of all the scenarios I’d imagined, that was the one that worried me most. I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth and chewed, thinking hard. She couldn’t—she wouldn’t—give up this job just because of me. We paid too well for her to do that, and besides, it wasn’t as though we’d actually slept together.

So I’d gone down on her. Lots of bosses had probably done that to their assistants, right?

I almost snort-laughed at the thought, imagining what Quinn would say to that.

Okay, so maybe not. Still, it wasn’t the end of the world. If, after whatever had happened, she never wanted to see me again outside of work . . .

I shook my head at the sharp stab of discomfort in my gut as the acid there began to roil again.

No point in getting all worked up over something that might not even come to pass. I’d cross that bridge when I came to it. For now, I had to focus on looking like I hadn’t spent last night tossing and turning, pining like a fifteen-year-old boy over the cute new girl at summer camp.

I climbed from my car after parking in my designated spot, and then hustled toward the wide, rotating doors that led to the offices of Forbidden Desires. With a steadying breath, I stepped inside the elevator just in time for my gaze to land on the woman who’d been the cause of my distraction all night.

The second I saw her, my cock swelled and my mouth watered with the memory of her sweet taste.

Shit.

I cleared my throat in the hope that I could keep my voice from dropping into that husky tone it did when I was turned on. “Corinne,” I murmured, sidestepping as someone pushed into the elevator beside me, forcing me close enough to smell Corinne’s delicate scent.

Her cheeks went pink and her throat worked for a second before she nodded in greeting. “Good morning, Cooper.”

I glanced at the people surrounding us in the elevator. I wasn’t about to put her on the spot in front of an audience, but I couldn’t help myself entirely.

“How was your evening?” I asked, keeping my tone light.

She swiped a hand above her upper lip. When I realized it had broken out into fine beads of sweat, the coiling dread in my stomach instantly began to unwind.

Corinne could run, but she couldn’t hide.

She had been just as affected by last night as I was. Maybe that was why she’d been afraid. This thing between us—whatever it was—was powerful. Overwhelming. I could understand the urge to back away.

The only question now was whether I should let her.

“My evening was fine. Just fine.”

“Anything fun happen?” I asked innocently.

“Um, nope,” she said, her tone shrill, and she shrugged. “Just hung out at home, mostly.” She glanced from me to the corner of the elevator and rocked back and forth on her heels.

A second later, the metal doors slid open with a ding. A tall man in a blue blazer stepped out, leaving us alone with a severe-looking older woman.

“Me too,” I said when the doors had closed again. “Nothing interesting at all.”

Corinne turned to face me, her eyes wide with something like confusion and possibly even hurt.

Damn it.

I was confused myself, but I certainly hadn’t meant my teasing to make her feel bad.

She seemed like she wanted to say something when the elevator jolted to a stop again and the doors opened. The woman strode out, leaving the two of us alone. Corinne craned her neck, looking around with wide, desperate eyes, clearly considering getting out to hike the stairs the rest of the way, but before she could bolt, the doors closed again.

She leaned back against the metal handrail and gripped it for dear life. I could practically hear her counting the seconds until we reached our floor and were surrounded by people again.

“Corinne, look,” I said, but she gave me a faint shake of the head.

“No. I really don’t want to talk about it.”

“Don’t you think we should, though? We have to work together, and this awkwardness is going to be evident to anyone looking on.”

“We’re almost to our floor, and I need to get my head together,” she said in a rush. I could almost feel the desperation rolling off her. “Besides, anyone could get on, and this is private.”

I paused. That was a fair enough point, but it didn’t stop the curiosity burning its way up my throat. One question. Just one.

Why did you run?

“Come to my office after you’ve gotten your things settled. I want to make sure we’re on solid ground. I promise, I won’t pressure you for . . . anything. We need to clear the air, though. For both our sakes.”

She nodded, though she refused to look at me.

And I wished like hell I knew what to make of that.

The doors dinged again, and she gripped her purse tighter against her as she made a beeline for her desk at a near sprint.

“Hey, good morning! Someone’s ready to get to work,” Alyssa teased, but Corinne just smiled weakly as she unpacked the few items in her bag and powered up her computer.

I exited the elevator more slowly, glancing around for any sign of my brothers before making my way to my own office and flicking on the lights.

The place was exactly as I’d left it, but it felt different somehow. Like something had changed in the hours I’d been gone.

I settled into my chair and turned on my computer before making a pot of coffee, staring at the clock as the sounds of boiling water and rising steam filled the air around me.

It wouldn’t take long for Corinne to get her things in order. I knew that much. The real question was whether she’d have the courage to come in here at all.

When the coffee had finished percolating, I poured myself a mug and returned to my desk, opening a blank document to stare at, if only to pretend I was doing actual work. Instead, I contemplated writing down everything that had happened between Corinne and me—as if the factual recounting might show me something I couldn’t see from my own subjective place in the story.

God, please don’t let her quit.

The thought surfaced out of nowhere and was so strong that I nearly typed it out, but I restrained myself. It was just that she was fitting in so well here and catching on so fast. After everything that had happened with Sonja, we hadn’t been sure we’d be able to find anyone who would meet the needs of the position, but with Corinne? It felt like we finally had the full package again. And with some training, I could see her moving into the still-vacant office manager role.

Sighing heavily, I gripped my fresh cup of coffee tighter and lifted it to my lips for a sip as I heard a gentle knock on my office door. A timid, familiar knock.

My pulse stuttered, and I straightened as I called out, “Come in.”

Corinne stepped inside, entrancing me with her wavy hair, creamy skin, and lethal curves.

Gently, she closed the door behind her, and I took a moment to admire the way her sweater dress clung to her before she took a few more steps toward my desk and seated herself opposite me in one of my leather office chairs.

“Good morning again,” I said, wishing I could lean in and taste that pretty mouth. Fighting the need to lift her onto my desk and test those petal-soft folds to see how quickly I could get her wet and panting for me.

No, Cooper. Bad Cooper.

I was like a child who needed my hand slapped.

“Good morning.” She laced her fingers together and placed them primly on her knee before staring at her folded hands. “Y-you asked me earlier what I did last night.” She lifted her chin and met my gaze. “Other than the time we spent together, I mostly just did a lot of thinking.”

“Oh?” I said, trying not to jump out of my skin with impatience.

“Yes.” She nodded. “I think I need to apologize to you, Cooper. I thought that I could do this . . . arrangement, you know, with professional workdays and sexual encounters in our personal time, but I just can’t.”

Her words hit me like a fist to the solar plexus, and the room seemed to close in around me.

“So, you want to have the sex at work?” I tried for the feeble joke just to regain some sort of equilibrium, but her cool expression let me know instantly that I had blundered.

Seemed like it was getting to be a habit with her.

“I want to continue working together amicably and platonically. I’m sorry, but my decision is made. I don’t want to do this.”

Even as she spoke, though, she was shaking her head. Despite her strong words, her eyes were filled with doubt, which, in turn, filled me with confidence.

Slowly, I shook my head, encouraging her to maintain eye contact with me by sheer force of will. “No. I don’t think that’s true.”

“Ex-excuse me?” she stuttered, the pulse in her neck throbbing like a butterfly trapped beneath the surface of that silky flesh.

I pushed myself to my feet, my sadness and insecurity fizzling away, leaving behind only confidence and thick, hot need. I rounded the corner of my desk until I was only inches away, towering over her.

“I think you’re lying, Corinne. To me, but more importantly, to yourself. I think this is exactly what you want. In fact, I think you want it so much, it scared you.”

Her cheeks went crimson as she shot to her feet, meeting me toe-to-toe. It didn’t seem to matter to her that she was a good ten inches shorter than me, she straightened her shoulders, her posture stiff, ready to square off.

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it?” I cocked an eyebrow. “I felt how responsive you were in my arms, how much you wanted me. I can see your breath quickening right now as I get closer to you. Your nipples getting hard beneath that dress.”

She quickly folded her arms over her chest, but it was too late. Like a shark scenting blood in the water, I knew the truth.

“You want me, Corinne, but you’re afraid. That’s why you ran. That’s why you’re trying to run now.”

She shook her head, but I caught her chin and held her so her gaze met mine.

“Tell me you don’t want to know what else we could do to together. Tell me you don’t wonder what it would feel like.”

She looked at me for a long moment, studying me, and then finally said, “I can’t. I can’t do that.”

“You know I’m right.”

“I do.”

I released her and she took a step back.

“But,” she said, “it’s more complicated than it should be. There are things you don’t know. Things that I need to work through. I’m trying to save you from yourself here,” she said with a short, humorless laugh. “Cooper, I’m a mess. I’m high-maintenance and I’m not an idiot. I know you could have any woman you want.”

I took another step toward her, closing the space between us as I wrapped my hand around her waist. “The only woman I want is you, dove.”

Gently, I pulled her toward me, breathing in her perfume as she came closer, and then, finally, savoring the sweet heat of her lips on mine. The kiss started so slowly, it wasn’t even a kiss—just two people standing inches apart, our lips touching as soft breaths passed between us.

But then her lips parted, and I could have groaned at her invitation, but I didn’t. Instead, I pressed forward, licking her lower lip. When her tongue swept out to greet me, I groaned with both relief and desire. I stepped forward, pressing her back until she was flush against the door as I matched her tongue stroke for stroke. We sank into each other, fitting together like two pieces of a puzzle. It was perfection.

The hammer of desire came down hard, and all the pent-up need and frustration of the past few days hit me at once. The blood rushed from my head downward as I ground against her, letting her low, throaty moans fill my senses.

Yes. This was what I wanted more than I’d wanted anything I could remember.

Her hand slid up between us to grip the cotton of my shirt, anchoring me closer even as her hips pulsed restlessly against me.

This was good. So good that I wasn’t about to fuck it all up by having us get caught screwing around at work and sending her running again.

Regretfully, I pulled away. It took every ounce of strength I had not to lock the door, drag her over to my desk, and—

“Right.” She gasped, her hand fluttering to her heaving chest. “We’re at work. Good call.”

We stared at each other for a long moment, and I leaned in to press my forehead against hers. Something about this woman—the feel of her, the taste of her, just her general presence—made me want to know her. To have her completely as my own.

I pressed one last gentle kiss to her lips and dropped my voice to a whisper. “Someday, when I’ve earned it, will you tell me what happened? Why you’re still single? Why you’re so timid?”

She searched my gaze, though she didn’t cower or look away. Instead, she gave me the briefest of nods. “Not now, Cooper. Not yet.”

“I know about the orphanage,” I said softly. “Does it have something to do with that?”

She nodded, the sadness in her eyes making me want to snatch the question back. “Yes, but that’s not all of it. There’s . . . more.”

I nodded. “Okay, then I won’t push you. Just know that I’m a great listener and I care, Corinne. More than you know.”

She wet her lips and smoothed a hand over her dress as I stepped back. She closed her fingers over the doorknob, but before she twisted it open, she turned and met my gaze again.

Unwavering, she nodded once. “I care too, Cooper. Just so you know.”

She flung the door open, and just like that, she was gone, leaving me staring after her.

Today hadn’t been without its bumps, but damn it, she wanted me as much as I wanted her. And more than that?

She cared.

A slow grin spread over my face as I made my way to my desk, suddenly full of energy.