Chapter 18
18
Cooper
WHAT THE FUCK was he doing?
It was either going to result in something amazing, or go down as the worst decision he’d ever made, but honestly, there was no stopping it now.
Might never have been.
Isla’s lip pinched between her teeth, her dark eyes fused to the screen of her phone.
He hesitated. Not because he didn’t want this—he was too far gone to pretend that was the case anymore—but because he needed to make sure she was right there with him.
“Tell me what you want from me, pretty girl.” His dick was leaking in his underwear, so hard it hurt, but if she wasn’t sure then it would just have to suffer. “I need to hear you say the words.”
He almost expected her to be a little shy, but Isla’s words were rushed and breathless as they tumbled from her lips. “I want to watch you touch yourself.” Then, because she was so fucking sweet, she added, “Please.”
He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, one hand finally going to grip his cock. “Fuck.”
“I love it when you say that.” Again, Isla’s words came out quickly as a breathy whisper. “It makes me feel…” Her lips sealed off.
But she wasn’t getting away with only giving him half of what he wanted. Not anymore.
“Makes you feel, what?” He had a death grip on both his phone and his dick as he waited for her to offer up a glimpse into what was going on behind those dark eyes.
She chewed her lip again, nibbling it just a second before finally admitting, “Sexy.” Her gaze found his through the screen, vulnerability simmering in their depths. “Pretty. Desirable.” There was a beat of silence. “Wanted.”
“You are all of those things.” And more. So much more.
She offered a hesitant smile. “Thank you.” Her expression shifted, turning teasing. “Are you just trying to distract me because you don’t want to show me your dick?”
He barked out a laugh. “If you’ve been peeking in my windows, I would think you’ve probably seen it already.”
Isla angled a brow at him, looking a little more comfortable. “Is that your way of saying you get it out all the time?”
“I wish.” He gripped the waistband of his briefs and pulled it down, freeing the straining line of his unbearably hard cock. Giving it a stroke, just to make sure it was as impressive as it could be, he nearly groaned from the contact. From knowing what Isla was about to see.
Wanted to see.
“It’s been...” He thought for a minute. “A long damn time since there’s been any socializing on his part.”
A year? Maybe more. He’d been trying not to think about it, but now it didn’t fucking matter.
Now he’d wait as long as it took to be right here with Isla’s eager gaze watching him.
“And the minutes just keep ticking by.” Isla narrowed her eyes. “I feel like you’re stalling.”
Stalling was the wrong word. Edging was probably a better one. Dragging it out the only way he could, because the second he had Isla’s eyes on him, it was only going to be a matter of time.
Probably seconds.
“If I’m stalling then so are you.” He forced himself to refocus, hoping it might help. “Cause I’m not seeing any touching on your end.”
Isla’s lips parted, her eyes barely widening. “You really want to watch me…” She didn’t finish.
And he wouldn’t make her. They both knew what she meant.
“Unless you want to come over here and let me handle it for you.” It was an offer he shouldn’t be making, but Isla had no way to get to his house, so he was safe. The miles keeping this from becoming physical would stay between them.
Part of him hated it. Another part of him knew it was for the best. Because once he put his hands on her, there would be no going back.
No being just friends.
Isla’s cheeks flushed and her pupils dilated, the hand she’d teased across her skin earlier sliding along her collarbone. “You’d do it for me?”
“I would do anything for you, Princess.” The admission was easy and honest. One more thing he should hold back. But damned if he could help himself. Not tonight.
Tomorrow he would be better. Stronger. Good.
Tonight he was going to take everything he could and hold it close in case it was all he’d ever get.
Isla’s hand trailed down her body, sliding past the perfect swell of her tits to trace a path over her belly button before disappearing from the screen. “Would you let me help you too?”
Cooper groaned, his head falling back against the headboard. “What is it you want to help me with?”
Isla let out a little gasp, her body tensing the tiniest bit. “I guess I don’t know since I still can’t see anything but your face.”
He gritted his teeth and panned down, giving her a full view as he fisted his cock, already fighting the tightening in his balls. “Your turn, pretty girl.”
The angle of his phone meant he didn’t have a perfect view— probably a good thing—as her phone jostled then went still when she propped it against something.
“Fuck.” Whatever she’d done now offered a shot of her from head to mid-thigh, giving him a front row seat as she parted her legs and slid one hand between them. The other went to tease at the bud of a nipple, bringing a whimper through her lips.
He needed to put his phone down. Not for any other reason than he was going to fucking drop it the next time she made that noise.
Grabbing one of the pillows, he slammed it into place and tilted his cell against it, making sure Isla could see him.
And—more importantly—that he could see her.
He wasn't a professional cinematographer and it showed, but hopefully he didn't look like a complete idiot from the angle he had to work with. If he looked even a quarter as good as Isla did, he'd be doing okay. Not as okay as he’d be doing if she was right beside him, but he had to work with what he had.
"Talk to me, Princess. I want to hear what you have to say," he urged. He needed to understand how she felt. To know that she was as in the moment as he was.
To know this wasn't a one-sided thing, even if it was only a one-time thing.
And that's what it could be. Probably what it should be. A one-time infraction. He could get this out of his system and go back to the way things were.
"Is this really a talking type of situation?" Isla watched him as he watched her. "Because I'm not great at multitasking."
Cooper chuckled as he pumped his cock, timing each of his movements with the thrum of her fingers. Amusement and arousal weren't emotions he was used to experiencing simultaneously, and maybe that had been a big part of the problem. Maybe the reason he was still single was because he hadn't found someone who could make him laugh while his dick was hard. To be fair, he couldn’t imagine anyone but the woman possessing every bit of his attention accomplishing that feat.
"I think you’re better at multitasking than you realize." Isla might be struggling to find words right now, but he didn't seem to be having the same sort of issue, because damned if he could keep his mouth shut. "But I'm happy to offer suggestions if it will make things easier for you."
Isla sucked in a sharp breath, her head tipping back as the pace of her fingers moved a little faster. "Suggestions are welcome."
He didn't have to be told twice. If he couldn't be the one touching her, at least he could help the process along. "Spread your legs more for me. I want to see the way you’re touching that pretty pussy."
Isla let out a little moan, her eyes finding the screen as she did as he directed, parting her thighs wider. From where she'd set the phone, he still didn't have a great view of exactly what was going on between them, but he could imagine.
Would imagine.
"Can I ask you a question, Princess?"
"Yes." Her hand was cupped over her mound, fingers moving furiously as she drove herself toward the edge.
"What do you like better? Hands or mouth?" He was supposed to be offering suggestions, but seeing how expertly she was able to get where she wanted to go had him wondering how often she’d been left to her own devices in her previous relationship.
Isla whimpered, the soft sound shooting straight to his throbbing dick as he raced along with her. "I don't know."
"You don't know, or you don't want to tell me?"
Those were two very different things, but both would be a tragedy. And he’d give his eyeteeth to rectify each of them.
"I don't know." Isla’s eyes were glazed as they met him through the screen. "I would tell you anything."
"Then tell me why you don't know which one you like better." His suspicions were building—right along with his climax—and this encounter with Isla was proving he could not only be amused and aroused at the same time, but he could also be pissed and aroused at the same time.
"I don't know because I've never experienced one of them."
Her confession was what he’d expected. And—on a deep, despicable level—what he’d wanted to hear. Thinking of another man touching her the way he couldn’t made him want to throw things. Made him want to march downstairs and drive to her apartment just to prove how much better he was at it.
Hearing the piece of shit she was with before not only didn’t appreciate her on a personal level, but also on a sexual level, was motivation he didn’t need. A challenge he couldn’t accept.
“That’s a fucking shame, Princess.” It took everything he had to stop himself from offering to rectify the mistake. From helping her decide a preference. “You should be with someone who loves making you feel good.”
She should be with him .
It was a truth he’d avoided. Refused to even consider. But in this moment, watching how fucking perfect she looked making herself come, it was impossible to deny.
Isla should be his.
He was the one who took care of her. He was the one who looked out for her. He was the one who put her above himself.
He was the one who should be making her feel good.
“Cooper?” His name whispered across her lips as her brows pinched tight, every muscle in her body tense. She was on the edge, and he was the one she was thinking of. The one she wanted to ensure was there with her when she came.
“Right here, Princess.” He was so focused on her, his own impending orgasm barely registered. All that mattered was her. “Show me how pretty you are when you come.”
As if she’d been waiting—holding out for reassurance—Isla cried out, body shuddering, back arching as she unraveled.
He watched, committing every sound and every motion to memory so at least he could claim this part of her for himself. This moment as his own.
It wasn’t until Isla’s body went limp against the blankets of her bed that he noticed the cooling lines of his own release streaked across his stomach. Looking down at them, he chuckled, shocked at how irrelevant his own pleasure had been. The laugh wasn’t in amusement. It was more of an ‘oh shit’ sort of thing.
He was fucked.
“Looks like you made a little mess.” Isla rolled onto her side, tits pressing together to make the perfect place to?—
Fuck.
Cooper scrubbed a hand over his face, trying to get his thoughts back in line. “Yeah. I should probably get a towel. Hang on.”
He stood from the bed and went to the attached bathroom, wiping down with the hand towel he kept beside the sink before tossing the soiled cloth into the hamper. When he went back, it was to find Isla had pulled on a T-shirt and was walking through her apartment.
“Sorry.” She gave him an apologetic smile. “I needed a drink.” She opened her fridge, fished out a bottle of water, and carried it to the couch where she sat down. “How was your day?”
“Long.” He picked up his phone and walked into the bathroom, needing to take a shower before he put on any clothes of his own. “I’m looking forward to having a day off tomorrow.”
Isla’s brows lifted as she took a drink. After swallowing the mouthful she said, “A whole day off? Who even are you?”
“Right?” Cooper set her onto the counter and reached in to start the water. “I won’t know what to do with myself after I drop you off at Grady’s.” He grabbed a towel from the bar and draped it over the counter. “Maybe I’ll stick around and annoy Gram-Gram.”
Isla pressed her lips together, shifting on the couch. “Speaking of Gram-Gram.” She leaned back, adjusting the position of her phone so just her face and shoulders were in the frame. “She gave me a car today.”
Cooper went still, certain he hadn’t heard correctly. “Griselda gave you a car?”
“I guess it was technically Griselda and my grandpa, but she’s the one who gave me the keys.” Isla shook her head, looking as shocked as he was. “She said she was proud of me. That she’d given Evelyn a car when she got her license, and she’d be doing the same thing for my brother.”
His mouth hung open as he tried to come up with something to say. A congratulatory response or agreement of pride.
But his brain was caught up. Tripping over this new development and all it meant.
And what it meant was, he’d fucked up.
All his easy reasons for seeing Isla were gone and he’d just shown her how he jerked his cock over video chat. He’d taken what they had and soiled it. Showed her he wasn’t really her friend, just some horny dick who wanted to wag his wiener over FaceTime. She could walk away right now, adding him to the list of men who only cared about themselves.
Even a coop of cute baby chicks might not be able to save him.
Luckily, Isla didn’t seem to notice his spiral of self-loathing.
“I was going to offer to go check on the chicks tomorrow on my way home from work, but I guess since you’ll be there…” Her voice drifted off and he pounced.
Jumped on the opportunity without hesitation. “You should still come over. Make sure I’m not a negligent chicken dad.” He wouldn’t be. He was about to go kiss each of their fuzzy little heads for being the excuse she needed.
Isla beamed at him, looking beautiful and sweet and relaxed and like maybe this would all be fine. “Yeah. Okay. I can do that.”
“Good.” He calmed down a little knowing she wasn’t already on her way out of his life. “You can even stop by in the morning on your way in.” God he was a greedy bastard. “Grab some coffee and breakfast as you go.” Technically he wasn’t on the way to Grady’s, but he also wasn’t completely out of the way either.
“Are you offering to make me breakfast, Officer Staks?” Isla asked. “Because I’m not one to turn down free food.”
It wasn’t free. She was paying with her presence. The most valuable commodity in existence. “Then I’ll see you at six.”
Isla’s smile was bright and wide. “You better be careful. You keep buying baby animals and making me food and you might never get rid of me.”
Was it that easy? Because if it was…
“I guess that’s just a risk I’ll have to take.” Cooper took a last look at her, soaking up how fucking perfect she looked all tousled and flushed. “Sweet dreams, Princess. I’ll see you in the morning.”