9. Cooper
9
Cooper
I pace the lobby of the shop. Running my fingers through my hair as I try to imagine on what fucking planet Trinia would go on a date with a fucking putz like that. The fucker was wearing khaki’s for Christ sakes. Was that the required uniform for his boarding school? The dude looked like he couldn’t even grow facial hair.
Theo walks in and I immediately grab his shoulders. Shoving him right back out the door.
“Whoa, where are we going?” He asks, throwing his hands up.
“Out.” I grunt and he follows my direction down the sidewalk.
I don’t even bother locking up the shop. There isn’t much anyone could take and this town is fairly safe. I mean people don’t fuck with me at least.
We walk by a couple restaurants before I see the two guys sitting at a table by the window in Murphy’s. I don’t see the girls but I push open the door anyway and Theo follows me inside.
Taking a seat at the bar he analyzes me for a moment before he inquires, “Bad day at the office?”
He jokes like this is funny but I don’t even care. My eyes are scanning the tavern for a busty former ballerina with long dark hair and big silver glasses.
Two drinks are set on the bar in front of us. Theo must have ordered them. Taking a sip he follows my line of sight when it lands on two girls arguing in the corner.
“What the hell are we really doing here Coop?” Theo’s tone is knowing but he asks anyway.
We are clearly spying on Trinia and crashing her date with a guy who looks like a used car salesman.
“I am grabbing a drink after work with my brother. There is nothing weird or suspicious about that?” I retort, not taking my eyes off the back of Trinia’s head.
Her friend’s curly black hair bounces as her hands fling up into the air. She is very expressive in her communication and it makes me wonder what all Trinia has told her about me. She clearly knows who I am and she isn’t very happy about it.
Trinia must feel my gaze because she looks over and her eyes immediately find mine. I turn in my seat to face my brother who is smirking like a fucking asshole right now.
“Incoming bro.” He warns, before his smile widens and he sings, “Hey Trinia! Long time no see. How are you?”
“I’m doing well Theodore. How’s the wife? I missed her at the office today.” Trinia’s sarcastic tone makes me laugh and I spin around in my chair.
“Did you? Did you really miss her in the office today or did we find plenty of ways to occupy ourselves on our own?” I wink at her and her eyes become daggers.
“Kat?” Willow calls her new name as a question before she tosses her hands up and walks away. Trinia’s eyes are still narrowed on me. God, strike me down but I love it when she is mad. I always have.
“Well I’m going to get us some darts and leave you two to work out whatever this is. Just don’t kill each other.” Theo jokes as he hops off the stool, giving Trinia a peck on the cheek before he walks by. “Love you both!” He waves his hand in the air as he makes his way to the other end of the bar.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” She shouts her whisper, stamping her fists at her sides.
“How’s your date?” I take a steadying sip of my beer. Trying to act nonchalant even though I’m the furthest from it.
“I wouldn’t know I haven’t had a chance to have it yet.” Her sharp words and frustration are feeding my fun as I toy with my little kitty Kat.
“Well, go on dorogoy. Don’t let me stop you.” I grin, sweeping out an arm like a game show host towards the direction of her Fisher-Price boy toy.
“Outside. Now!” She rolls her eyes, spinning on her heels and stomping towards the entrance before slamming open the door. I slide off the stool and follow her out into the crisp night air.
She whips around and immediately starts throwing her accusations my way. “Did you follow me here?”
“No, I didn’t follow you here.” I snap leaning against the wall on the side of the tavern. Not completely a lie.
“Cooper.” She huffs out my name as she shivers. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Good, that guy is a douche. Ditch him and come home with me.” I suggest stepping towards her and wrapping my arm around her shivering body.
“I mean with you. Maybe Luna should find someone else. We have too much -” I cut her off.
“Love, passion, connection?”
“History. Very painful history.” She sighs and I grip her chin, lifting her face and forcing her to look at me.
“Then let’s rewrite history. Let’s make new memories. Don’t quit. Not now when I just got you back.” I brush my thumb across her cheek and her eyes flutter closed.
“Don’t run when I still make you feel like this.” I whisper, brushing my fingers around her neck before running them through her hair. Her lips part and I make my move, bringing my lips to hers.
She moans my name into my mouth and I spin us around, pushing her back against the wall of the bar where her date is just on the other side. I can’t get enough of her, her taste, her sounds, her smell. I have been so miserably in love with her for as long as I can remember and I’m desperate to not let her slip away again.
It starts to snow and the flakes instantly melt against our heated skin and panting breaths. “Coop”, she moans as she cups my face in her soft delicate hands.
“Yes, dorogoy?” Reaching down I grab her ass through her skirt and she claws my neck making me grind against her.
“Oh my god!” I hear a newly familiar voice shriek beside us before Trinia pushes me away.
Looking over, Willow is standing there with their dates. Trinia covers her face with her hands as if she can hide from this, from us. Her friend doesn’t say anything else, just turns and walks away as the two guys follow her. Khaki pants even has the nerve to scowl at me over his shoulder. I give him a grin as I wipe my lips, surely getting under his skin as he snaps his face front.
“Oh my god. Oh my god.” Trinia paces behind me.
Turning and grabbing her arms, I stop her and her eyes shoot to mine. “Calm down, everything is fine. She’ll get over it.”
“I’m not worried about Willow or my date, Coop, I’m worried about me. I can’t be around you. I can’t think around you. I can’t trust myself. I can’t do this.” She throws her hands up and starts to walk off.
Feeling like I’d rather rip my own heart out than watch her walk away from me again I grab her wrist and spin her back around, “Just come talk to me.”
Her eyes are so big and so blue as she looks up at me I almost can’t take it. “Baby please. Just sit and talk with me.” I beg as my heart tries to beat out of my chest.
“Just talk?” She doesn’t even blink and I finally drag in a breath.
“Just talk.”
We walk back into the bar and she grabs her things from the table while I tell Theo that I’ll catch up with him at home.
Him and Luna are staying with me while Trinia gets acclimated. When Theo was locked up I wished for the day I would be able to have my brother with me again, but right now, at this very moment, I wish he was anywhere else in the world other than staying in the guest bedroom that shares a wall with mine.
Leaving the tavern we make our way slowly and quietly back to the shop. Neither of us musters the courage to say a single word. It’s freezing but it’s only half a block. When we reach the front door I hold it open for Trinia to walk in first.
“You were in such a hurry to crash my date you didn’t even lock up?” She questions me with a brow raised.
“Are you teasing me?” I counter, as I pull her coat down her shoulders and lay it over the back of a chair before walking across the room to the bar cart and mixing us a couple drinks.
“Maybe just a little.” Shrugging her shoulders as she settles down in the corner of the sofa.
It’s silent again for a few heartbeats before she speaks again.
“So a tattoo shop…” She starts as she takes a look around, “How did you land on this?”
“I started drawing more when I got deployed. There wasn’t much else to do for entertainment and a buddy of mine mentioned he had a brother who ran a shop in Philly, so after we got out I went home with him to Pennsylvania. I became an apprentice first and now, here I am.”
I give her the cliff notes version of how I got to where I am as I pour us a couple drinks. Bypassing how my walls, bunks and every single notebook were all full of her. I drew her everyday because I was terrified of someday forgetting her face. Afraid that all the hopelessness and terror of war would wash away everything good I once had.
“Do you remember the first tattoo you ever did?” She asks as she watches me from across the room.
I huff a laugh at the memory of the douche who randomly walked in one day without an appointment demanding a seat. “Yeah I do. It was some silver spoon brat home on college break. Wanted a letter B on his chest in the font of his family’s company. No one else wanted to do it so he got passed on to me.”
Walking back across the room I hand her a simple vodka and cherry Seven Up, nothing too fancy as I take a seat next to her. Draping my arm along the back of the sofa as she turns to face me. Pulling her feet up under her like she’s always done.
I smile at how the same she is but also so different. I guess I must be different too after all this time. Longer hair, bigger muscles, more tattoos. The tattoos displaying our story, permanently etched across my body. Some I already know she’s noticed.
“You keep vodka here? Since when do you drink vodka and Seven Up?” She probes, and I look away. Taking a sip of my whiskey.
“I don’t but you do.” I look back at her and run a piece of her hair through my fingers.
“You went out and got me chocolates and vodka?” She raises her brows, now starting to get suspicious.
“No, I always have dairy milk bars and vodka. I’ve kept it on hand since I had my first place when I got that bar cart over there.” I point at the gold cart in the corner, a house warming present from a tattoo buddy of mine.
“When was that?” Her eyes go wide as she looks from me to the cart.
I take another sip before I answer her, “About three years ago or so.”
She runs her top teeth over her bottom lip before she takes a sip of her drink.
“So tell me about you. What have you been up to all this time? No husband or kids I see.” I ask half curious, half instantly regretting the question. I’m not sure I’ll be able to handle the answer.
“Umm well no husband, no kids. I did go to school in North Carolina. That’s where I met Willow. I finished with a degree in finance and economics and after graduation I didn’t know what to do so I stayed and got my masters in business management.” She looks away and finishes the rest of her drink before she sets it down on a coaster atop the coffee table.
“You could have gone anywhere and done anything with a finance degree. Why did you stay in school?” I press, as my hand falls to her shoulder.
“Well I had planned to open a business and start a life with this guy after I finished school but things didn’t work out.” She scoffs at her own attitude and tucks her legs up to her chest.
The sharpness of her words and the pain etched into her face strangles me.
“Baby, I’m….” I reach for her but she pulls away.
“Don’t say you’re sorry Coop. I’ve heard you say it a thousand times before.” Her voice breaks as she looks away from me.
“Then believe me. Please,” I beg scooting closer to her and I notice she doesn’t shy away.
I reach for her again and this time she lets me. Pulling her onto my lap I brush back strands of her hair that’s fallen in front of her face. I can tell she is fighting back tears and I don’t want her to cry. I don’t want our history to still cause her this much pain.
“Dorogoy don’t cry. Please don’t cry.” I kiss her forehead and she squeezes her eyes shut as her hands cradle my neck.
“I don’t know why it still hurts. It’s been so long. I should be over you by now.” She sniffles and shakes her head.
“Why? I’m not over you. I never got over you and I never will get over you.” I grind out my words fighting back the urge to kiss her.
“You might not be over me but surely you had no problem getting under someone else.” Her words land like a spear to my heart.
“Trinia, I don’t even remember her. I was black out drunk that night and I don’t remember what happened or how I even got back to base. I never saw her again. God dorogoy, please. Please forgive me.” My hands shake as I cup her face and when she finally looks at me I can’t hold back anymore.
I bring her lips to mine and she claws at my shirt. Raising my arms she drags it over my head and throws it on the floor. Her nails dig into my skin as our tongues collide and I capture her moans. Dragging her cardigan down her arms I reach for the hem of her blouse and yank it up. I groan at the sight of her black lace bra holding up her magnificently perky tits.
She has always had a dancer’s body but perfectly full breasts and cleavage I could get lost in for days.
“Ty sovershenstvo.” I groan, as I tug her bra down and suck her nipple into my mouth. It translates to you are perfect.
She gasps and fists my hair encouraging me to bite and suck her harder as she rocks her body.
“Oh Coop.” Her gasping breaths stop when I bring her lips back to mine. Dropping my hands to her ass I grind her against me before unclasping her bra and laying her down on the couch.
“Cooper!” She screams, covering her chest. Following her startled gaze I notice the window shades are still open and a couple of teenage boys are walking by gawking at her.
“Fuck!” I jump up and slam the shades down before I unzip my pants.
She lays there with her hands kneading her tits, a smile dancing sinfully on her lips and eyes so hungry that they’re about to set me on fire. Shoving out of my boots and jeans I climb back on the sofa. Looking into her big blue eyes she nods at me.
I pull her skirt down her long lean legs and I see her lacy thong and thigh high tights underneath and I drink in the sight of her.
Pulling her thong down her shaky legs I say, “I’m keeping the tights on. I want those wrapped around my hips while I make you scream.”
Her head falls back as she reaches for me. I shake my head, grinning before I lower myself between her legs. Spreading her wide, I drag my tongue up her tight dripping center and watch as she loses herself to the pleasure I give her. She tastes even better than I remember. When I dip down for another taste I can’t stop myself from breathing her in and she’s the most intoxicating drug I’ve ever consumed.
The sounds I wring out of her as I fuck her with my tongue make my cock ache in anticipation. “Cooper. Oh my god.” She bucks beneath me as I push a single finger into her pussy, making her drip down my hand.
“Are you ready for more, baby?” I ask, looking up at her as I suck her clit between my teeth and delight in the sound of her yelp.
“Please.” She begs. Rising up on my knees I slowly glide the head of my cock along her folds, soaking it in her slick heat before I finally thrust into her.
“Holy fuck!” She screams as her eyes roll into the back of her head but I don’t stop. I drag my cock back even as her tight cunt clenches and it tries to suck me back in before slamming back into her like an animal. I can’t hold myself back. I can’t help but to take her ruthlessly while her moans echo off the tall ceilings.
When her eyes finally open, she looks down at where we are connected before she throws her arms around me. I breathe through my teeth as her nails dig into my neck, breaking the skin as she uses me to meet my punishing thrusts.
“That’s it baby. Take it like you want it.” I groan, feeling her tighten around me as she gasps in breaths.
“Fuck dorogoy, are you going to come for me already?” I growl as I bring a hand down, my fingers immediately finding her clit, working her with a punishing pressure, making her cry out before she shatters gorgeously around me.
I ride out her first orgasm before I lay us down on our sides, bringing her back to my front so I can enter her from behind. I steady her with a firm grip on her throat with one hand, as the other glides under her thigh, bringing her leg up and over mine. Opening her up to me as I bury myself deep inside of her.
Her choked breaths and moans are the only signal she is still conscious as she is completely delirious with pleasure. I time my thrusts with the pulse in her neck as it hammers against my palm. Releasing her thigh I reach around her and rub her swollen clit and she bucks at the sensitive touch.
I don’t relent as I continue thrusting into her over and over. Licking and sucking and nipping at her neck, marking her so everyone who looks at her knows she’s mine before she completely unravels with a cry and I finally let go. Our releases combine as I empty myself inside her and the wet heat as she clenches around me has me tightening my grip on her throat.
“ Fuck ” I groan as I come down, pulling my tender cock out of her tight glistening cunt.
“I forgot how big you are.” She notes between heavy breaths, her eyes barely staying open as she rolls over in my arms.
“I’m happy to remind you anytime, dorogoy. I didn’t forget a single thing about you. I knew you would feel incredible. I just couldn’t have imagined it would feel this good to have you back in my arms.” I admit, bending down to kiss her swollen lips.
I drag the blanket off the back of the couch and drape it over us when I notice her eyes are closed. “Are you OK?”
“I’m not on birth control.” She whispers and I sigh knowing she will never need to be.
“Don’t worry about it. You don’t need it with me.” I assure her and she looks up at me.
“Cooper…” Even though I love the sound of my name on her lips I cut her off.
“I got sniped a few years back.” I pull her tighter against my chest not wanting to spoil the moment with talk of this right now.
“What? Why would you do that!?” She pushes up on her elbows to look me in the eye.
I take a deep breath in through my nose before I answer her honestly. “I made the appointment after you stopped reading my texts.”
She never bothered to change her number but she left me on read for nearly three years before she stopped reading my messages altogether. A few times I noticed bubbles would pop up like she was typing but they always disappeared.
You always wanted kids.” She sits up and looks down at me with furrowed brows.
“No, we always wanted kids.” I tuck her hair behind her ear as she closes her eyes. “I wanted kids with you. I still always wear protection so I’m clean but I wasn’t going to risk having anyone else be the mother of my children.” I couldn’t stomach the thought.
A single tear falls, rolling down her cheek so slowly, like it’s in slow motion, before it breaks apart on my chest. “Dorogoy don’t cry. I never thought I would see you again. I thought you finally gave up on me, on us.” I bring her head down to rest against my shoulder as her body shakes with silent sobs.
“I’m so sorry.” She cries and I stroke her hair, holding her tighter with the arm I have wrapped around her waist.
“Shhh. There is nothing for you to be sorry about.” I continue stroking her long dark hair but she pushes herself up and out of my hold. Covering her mouth as tears spill down her cheeks she chokes out, “I’m sorry. I can’t do this.”
Standing she runs across the shop and into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. I drag my hands down my face as I let out a long sigh before I get up and follow after her. I can hear the toilet flush and the sound of her muffled cries against the tiled walls through the door.
“Dorogoy, I’m coming in, okay?” I warn as I turn the knob and pushing the door open slowly. Her eyes meet mine in the mirror as I step inside, shutting the door softly behind me.
“It’s not a big deal.” I promise, as her eyes roam my body. “I didn’t mean to upset you. Please come back out. We can talk about it if you want.”
She doesn’t say a word. Her hand still covers her mouth as her eyes read the story inked across my body. Standing naked in the bright fluorescent light there’s no denying now that she can see all of my tattoos. I’m on full display in front of her. With her free hand she reaches up and grabs my shoulder, turning me around.
“Oh my god.” She whispers as she examines my body.
“Oh my god.” She repeats again louder this time as she spins me more and I know what’s coming next.
Oh my god! Cooper!” I close my eyes for a second, trying to fight back a grin and apparently failing based on the scowl she is now giving me.
“This is us. This is all of us. Our trip to the beach, our zodiac signs, the pirate and the siren, that’s the rear end of my mothers car. It even has her license plate. A strawberry milkshake, A fucking bloody ghost face!” She yells and I finally let out a laugh.
“That one is my favorite.” I point out and she slaps me across the chest.
Senior Year
On Halloween I chased her into the woods. I don’t even know if she knew it was me until I yanked her leggings down and started eating her out with my mask still on. Unfortunately, she started her period and when I came up from between her legs the mask was covered in blood and a metallic taste lingered on my tongue. I thought it was fitting for Halloween so I rolled her over and fucked her right there in the middle of the woods like a true demon of the night.
She can’t stop staring. “This is all us. All of it. I don’t see a single tattoo on your body that isn’t a memory of us.” She sounds almost amazed like she can’t believe it.
“You won’t find one. My body is a reminder of all my happiest moments and they all involved you. These are all the memories I never wanted to forget.” I reach down and take her hands. Rubbing my thumb across the back of her palms as she takes a steadying breath and I watch her visibly relax under my touch.
“My pumpkin? Really. You have my jack-o-lantern tattooed on your ass. That’s a memory you needed to remember?” She taunts, and I tug her over to me. Wrapping my arms around her shoulders, she laces her fingers together behind my back.
“Do you remember what happened that day?” I ask her and I can see the gears turning behind her eyes as she tries to recall the day.
“My mom got drunk and forgot to pick me up from theater practice. I called you and you came to the school to get me. We drove out to that farm on the edge of town where we picked our own pumpkins. Your mom made us carve them in the garage in case we made a mess.” She recalls the series of events but not the feelings.
“Yes, that is all technically true but you insisted on picking a pumpkin for Theo. You knew he was having a hard time at school and even when that evening was supposed to cheer you up you were thinking of making someone else feel better. You are the most selfless and kind person I’ve ever known. You heal hurt people even when you are hurting and that is what I always wanted to remember. That’s what I think of whenever I see your hissing cat pumpkin on my ass.” I explain as I fight back emotion of my own.
“Oh Cooper.” She whispers before her lips meet mine.
Cupping her face in my hands, I can’t get enough of her. Every time our lips touch I feel like I am going to wake up and this will all have been a dream. My hands roam across her body because I can’t believe she is real. I suck her bottom lip between my teeth just to make her moan. The sounds she makes, filling my senses, remind me that it’s really her. That she is really here. In all the places, in all the world, she’s right here, right now, naked in my arms.
She reaches down and wraps her hand around my hard again cock and I groan into her neck. Pulling back her hair I tilt her head to the side so I can have better access to mark what’s mine.
“I can’t believe you’re here.” I whisper, thrusting my cock into her hand as she grips me tighter.
“I’m here. I’m right here.” She breathes as she looks into my eyes and I know it’s not a dream.