Chapter 34
Beatrix
The restof the summer flies by and before we know it, Lizzy’s back in school and football season has started. We’ve been so busy with Cooper at practice and games, me helping Madison deal with all the Undergrove and Westfield drama, and Lizzy adapting to life as a high school student that I’ve barely had time to think about anything else.
The stalker’s been quiet too. I don’t know if the extra security measures have been noticed and are serving as a deterrent, or if maybe they’ve finally just decided to leave us alone but I’m thankful. It had been like this before when my dad would run for office. There’d be a sudden flurry of interest; notes in the mail, threats online, and strange cars driving down our block. Then as soon as it started, it would stop. It was like they had gotten bored of us. I hope whoever this was had grown uninterested in Cooper and me finally. I’m hopeful that maybe I’m back to something approximating a normal life, even if that new normal might mean reevaluating if I need to be living with Cooper.
Today though, my focus has been Madison Westfield and Quentin Undergrove, because despite the fact it’s midseason and the middle of the week, the two of them have finally made their way back to an altar. Or more specifically, they’ve made their way back to a courthouse, and the rest of us are spending the day celebrating. I’m so happy the two of them have finally admitted to the world that they can’t live without each other.
It”s been a long day though of dresses, hair, makeup, vows, photos, and last but not least, a friends and family dinner at West Field. By the end of it, we get a ride home from the post-wedding celebrations because I did my fair share of toasts, and Cooper hasn’t been light on the drinks either. It’s unusual for him since the season’s started, and I haven’t seen him drink since the summer. He’s quiet on the car ride home, and when we get in the door, he takes his shoes off and leans against the store frame studying me like he’s looking for answers. He stares at me for a full minute before I raise my brow.
“What is it?”
“I have to show you something. I don’t want you to be mad. I didn’t want to show you earlier with the wedding today. I wanted you to be able to enjoy it with Madison and Quen. Just know that I had good intentions. I’m just real fuckin’ worried you’re going to be mad now.” His voice is soft and my heart drops into my stomach with dread.
I don’t know what he could possibly do that would make me mad. Not this otherwise perfect man.
“Show me. You’re making me nervous.”
He blows out a breath and then takes my hand, bringing me to his office. There’s a large manila envelope addressed to him sitting on it. It’s already been opened. He pulls out the contents—at least a dozen photographs—and scatters them over the desk.
I stare at them because it takes full minutes to process what I’m looking at. It’s Rob and me. We’re standing outside the lake house. Me in my PJs and him bleeding, barely lit by the lamps at the back of the house and the moonlight. The shots are zoomed in though, some of them action shots with light trails obscuring half our faces.
Another of him grabbing my arm and pulling me close. One where I look like I’m lost in whatever he’s saying. One of me telling him something. Another of Rob looking distraught, and the next one where he’s alone, and he’s crying. If I didn’t know the contents of the conversation, I’d think—
“You’re still in love with him,” Cooper blurts out the accusation, and I hear the strain in his voice.
“I am not in love with him.”
“It looks like it.”
“Well, I don’t know what to tell you. But I’m not.” I look at the photos, and then I feel sick. “Who took these? How did you get them?”
“They were sent to me. I assume whoever’s been stalking you followed us to the lake house. I’ve already hired someone—”
“How long have you had them?” My chest feels tight.
“Just since this morning. I don’t know why they waited until now, but I only got them this morning.” He holds up his hands like he’s defending himself, and I must look as crazy as I feel. “I promise. I got an investigator on it immediately. Should have done it a long time ago, but I didn’t want you to get upset. But we have to now. You see that?”
“Yes… Oh my god… The lake house? How’d they even find us there?”
“I don’t know. That’s what they’re going to find out. I talked to the security team too. I want someone here personally. I want someone watching the house at all hours. With you and Lizzy in the house, we can’t be too safe.” His voice is raw, and I can see the worry in his eyes despite how angry he is about the photos.
“I agree.”
“You need to come clean with Madison too. She’s leaning on you and her family for help. You need to lean on her. They’re together, and they’re happy now. She can handle it.” Cooper gives me a meaningful look, and I know he’s right.
“She’s going to be pissed.”
“She’s going to be more than pissed.”
“Don’t sugarcoat it or anything.” I give him a grumpy look.
“I’m not in the mood to sugarcoat things.” He looks back at the pictures again, and I can tell he’s been on a low simmer about this all day.
“Who was the envelope addressed to?”
“Me.”
“So they did it on purpose. They wanted you pissed. They wanted you thinking this was something when it’s not.” I point to one of the pictures where Rob’s touching me.
“I mean, he’s got his hands on you. The two of you look like you’re locked in a pretty emotional conversation. Be honest with me, Trix. I just need to know so I can fucking process it.” I can tell Cooper’s holding back; his voice is calm, but his eyes say that he’s hurt.
“I told you that night. We were going back and forth about the fight you two had. I was telling him he was being immature.”
“This looks like a woman who still has feelings.” He holds up one of the photos, and I hear the subtle crack in his voice. “So what is it? Still carrying a torch for him but I’m a better fuck, so it’s best of both worlds?”
“You can’t be serious.” My jaw drops, and I turn to look at him. This isn’t the Cooper I know, and I can’t believe the photographs have rattled him this much.
“Oh, I’m dead fucking serious. You never look at me like this.” He tosses the photo down on the table.
“I’ve never looked at you like that because you’ve never acted like a petulant child. It’s been a long day. You’ve had a lot to drink tonight, and I think it’s warping your perception.” He steps toward me while I take a step back, until my ass hits the desk and his knuckles brush alongside my cheek.
“I had to celebrate my QB getting married. I only drank every time I was told to toast to their happiness. There was a lot of it to go around. Meanwhile, I had to watch you all night knowing these pictures exist.” He grabs me by the hips and pulls me up on top of the desk, some of the photos falling to the ground in the process. “The only consolation was knowing that I got to come home, take this dress off, and fuck you on top of them.”
His eyes go heavy, and a dark smile replaces the concerned look he’s had since we came in here. His hands go to his belt, and he undoes it, whipping it out of the loops with one hand and slamming it onto the desk next to me. His fingers tighten around it, and I can see the muscle twitch in his hand and the way his jaw moves in anticipation. I can feel my pulse in my throat and my mind, heart, and clit are all in disagreement with how we feel about this development—but they’re all throbbing to the same beat at least.
“Should have just taken you to the bathroom and fucked you over the sink.”
“Cooper,” I say his name softly, like I’m trying to calm a startled horse and it’s the wrong thing to do.
“No. You’re not getting out of this by whispering in my ear about how sweet I am. Saying my name all soft like you do. I know I’m good. I know I fuck you better than anyone ever has. Definitely better than anyone who shares my last name. I just want you to remember that while you beg for me. While I have this tight little cunt quivering around my cock, and I get your ass that perfect shade of red that we both love so much.” His hand wraps around my throat, and he kisses me roughly, making his way up my jaw before he pauses just beneath my ear. “Then you can say my name as much as you want when you tell me which brother you belong to.”
He steps between my legs, and I scoot forward and spread wider, desperate to feel him.
“Fuck…” I whisper when I reach out and palm him through his pants.
He grins against my lips and then nips my lower one.
“Undo my pants,” he demands.
I do as he asks; my hands are shaking in my rush to touch him. This side of Cooper makes me want to do anything he asks, and I’m already his to order around most hours of the day, if we’re honest. I wrap one hand around him and stroke him gently under the fabric, restricted by the tightness of it but still able to tease him. A guttural sound rumbles out of him before he bats my hand away.
“Don’t fucking start. Take your panties off and then turn around and bend over the desk.”
I think I may have issues because angry Cooper is hot as fuck. I do as he asks, and then I go for the belt, my fingers hovering over the buffed black leather for a moment before I take it and hold it out for him. He wraps his hand around it, looping it over once and tightens his grip.
“You want this?” he asks, seeking permission even though he’s already promised it.
“Yes.”
I hear a muttered curse, and he steps back. I can feel his eyes on me, surveying me in this position—vulnerable and spread out for him.
“Who fucks you best?” he asks as he drags the belt down my lower back, over my ass cheek, and then down between my thighs, teasing me with the edge of it.
“You.”
“Louder.” He cracks it over my skin, and I feel the harsh lash of it zip through my nerve endings and straight to my clit.
“Fuck! You do.” I say it loud enough it echoes off the walls, and I’m thankful that we’re alone in the house tonight.
“That’s better.” He leans over me his lips ghosting down my neck, kissing and biting in intervals. His fingers splay over my back and drift down my spine. “So fucking good for me when you listen. So perfect when you take everything I give you. Think you can take one more before I fuck you?”
“Yes. Please,” I beg because I want it. I love when he’s like this, desperate to give me all the things we both need.
The leather comes down hard on my flesh one last time, and then he drops it, grabbing my hips instead and lining his cock up with me before he slams inside. I gasp at the counter sensations, pleasure and pain mixing, and I have to grab the desk to keep my balance.
“Fuck,” he curses. “You’re always so fucking wet. Dripping for me like my good little slut.”
“Always.” The words are half mumbled because he’s got a perfect rhythm already, and he’s hitting everywhere I need. “Feels so good.”
He palms my ass, and his fingertips brush over the spot where he’s left me red, and then he grabs my hand, threading his fingers with mine and pressing them both down on top of the pile of pictures.
“I hope your sweet little chat was worth it, and you got to tell each other you love each other one last time.”
“I told him it was too late when he asked about you.” It’s my turn to blurt out things I shouldn’t be saying.
He stops, goes stark still with his dick still inside me and me bent over the desk. Regret sets in instantly. I’ve ruined this—ruined us—by admitting the one thing Rob warned me he couldn’t handle hearing.
I promised myself I wouldn’t make this awkward between us when the season started, and we hadn’t resolved things properly. I know how important their mental state is when they play after growing up with my brother and then working with so many other guys. I know he’s already worried about Lizzy in high school and a million other things. I told myself I could be happy just stretching out our friends with benefits a little bit longer. It hadn’t stopped being fun, even if I started loving him somewhere in the process.
“Too late for what?” he asks after what feels like an eternity.
There’s no use in lying now.
“He told me not to fall for you,” I say it so softly I’m worried he’s going to ask me to repeat it again, and I don’t think my heart can take it.
Instead he grabs my shoulders, standing me up as he pulls out of me, and turning me to face him in the process. His eyes search mine, and I wait for the inevitable.
“Is it true or did you say it to hurt him?”
“It’s true.” I give him a wary glance.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I figured as long as we stay friends and this is just sex, then…” I shrug. The silence drags on for a moment after. His eyes studying me while we wait in it.
“Broke my fucking heart today when you didn’t even want to catch the flowers.” His fingers thread through my hair.
“I didn’t want to make it awkward for you. Have you thinking that I wanted more than what you can give. For the record, I’m fine with what we have. I don’t need more right now, and I know you’re in season. You’ve got bigger things to worry about.”
“Jesus Christ. The biggest thing I worry about is you. You and Lizzy. I just want the two of you to be safe and happy, know that I’m here for you whenever you need me.”
“I know,” I say softly.
He lets go of my hair, his fingers skate down my jaw, and his thumb slides over my lower lip.
“Actually that’s a lie. I want more than that. I want every last piece of you, Trixie.”
“I need someone who can be mine too,” I confess. I want to be Cooper’s more than anything, but I desperately need to know that it goes both ways. I’m so far gone on him that I know he could break me—in ways no one ever could have before.
“I’ve been yours since that day we were on the boat. I just didn’t think you could ever be mine.”
“I’m yours.” I smile at him, my chest tight with how full my heart feels.