13. Chapter 13
Chapter thirteen
Sutton
C ooper wipes his hands down the front of his jeans before taking his key from the ignition and slipping it into my purse.
“Are you okay?” I ask, turning in the leather seat to get a better look at him.
It’s been a week since the fake sex and the intense kiss that followed it. Cooper has been flirty, but he’s also remained distant. He’ll only touch or kiss me in the presence of Dillon. And I can’t tell if that’s what I want or not anymore.
He jerks his head up and down. “Yeah, of course.”
“Really? Because I’ve watched you rub your sweaty palms on your pants three times since we got in the truck.”
His head drops forward with a groan. “Fine. I’m nervous as fuck. These people in there are a lot.”
“Coop, it’s just a work party. They’re just your colleagues.”
“Just my colleagues,” he scoffs. “Those people are hounds, sniffing around for anything and everything out of place that they can gossip about and use to their advantage.”
He’s right. I know enough people in the business circle to know they’re worlds different from his previous teacher coworkers.
“Are you nervous about us? About the bargain?”
“Yes. No. Maybe.”
“You didn’t need to bring me if having me here with you was going to give you an ulcer.”
“It’s not you. You are the only thing even remotely calming.” He pulls my hand into his clammy one. My first instinct is to pull away, to avoid all physical contact with him unless it’s a thousand percent necessary. But I don’t. Instead, I let him lean on me, just like he did for me the other day. I wrap my finger around his, and Cooper smiles at our joined hands. His thumb sweeps back and forth over my hands. “It’s them. When I first started, I panicked. They’re all settled in their relationships and careers, and there I was, switching careers in my thirties with no romantic ties. So I lied and said I was in a relationship.”
“You didn’t exactly lie. You’ve been in a long-term partnership with Nate for the better part of twenty-something years.”
He laughs while staring out the window as person after person files into the building.
“If this place, this lie, is giving you this much anxiety, maybe it’s not worth it.”
“It is,” he disagrees, his voice steady as every trace of anxiety seems to have vanished. “I needed to get out of teaching. It didn’t bring me joy anymore. This job gave me a fresh start with a salary that is almost triple what I was making before.”
“Cooper, I’ve seen your place. You live so freaking modestly that it annoys me. What the hell are you doing with all the extra money you’ve started to make?”
“I’m saving it.”
“For what?” I press, scooting closer to him as if my proximity will force him to open up more.
He taps on the door handle, turning to look out the window as he says, “My parents. I want to help them retire.”
“They don’t have a 401k? Scandalous.” I clutch my imaginary pearls.
His lips clamp together, fighting a grin. “No, they do, but it just isn’t enough for them to retire anytime in the next twenty years. They both work for the public school system. Dad is an elementary gym teacher and Mom is a high school guidance counselor. So, as you can imagine, they aren’t making bank. And on top of that, they helped pay for my college.”
And just like that, I think a layer of ice has melted off my heart for Cooper. “That’s very selfless of you.”
“Not really. They were the best parents I could have ever asked for. I mean, the two of them are saints. Seriously, they volunteer two weekends a month at a local food bank. They rarely yelled at me growing up, even when I was a teenager doing dumb shit, like setting off the smoke detectors in the middle of the night because my dumbass lit up a joint in my bedroom without opening a window.”
“They didn’t yell at you for that?”
“Nope. They sat me down and attempted to discuss the dangers of marijuana with me. Then they confiscated my stash and made my high ass a grilled cheese.”
“They sound amazing. Now, let’s go in there and secure your saintly parents their retirement by being the most sickeningly in love couple these people have ever seen.”
He takes a deep breath, hesitating as his fingers flex on the handle.
“You got this, Coop. Just be yourself.”
“You want me to be myself. The same self you consistently complain about?”
I slap his thigh with our hands still connected. “That’s the one. Now, time to go out there and dazzle everyone with the perplexing question of how a below-average man in height and looks like you got a smoking-hot girlfriend like me.”
A genuine, almost panty-dropping smile graces his lips as he lets go of my hand and opens his door.
Now that I’ve gotten his nerves under control, I need to focus on mine. My heart is pounding as I hop out of the truck and meet Cooper at the front. With my hand in his again, I wrap my other around his bicep—his very large bicep—almost clinging to him.
I’ve been to hundreds of parties like these. Heck, I thrive in these situations. But the need for this to all go right for Cooper has me stressing about every move I make. I won’t let my own anxiety ruin anything for him, though, so I straighten my spine as we walk through the doors of Astor and Avery Financials.
The entire enormous lobby has been transformed into a tropical getaway. Bright flowers decorate every corner. Palm trees and tall blades of grass are set up for a photo booth with a professional photographer. Beautiful floral arrangements, pineapples, and coconuts adorn the room. Bamboo-like chairs and tables are scattered around, with people gathering in front of them.
“Wow,” I sigh, my eyes darting all over the place to take in the grandeur theme. “What kind of party is this?”
“It’s a retirement party for Jorge. All I know is he is packing up and moving to the beach next month, and I’ll be inheriting some of his clients, including Mr. Tillan.”
“Lucky man. Looks like he is going to paradise.”
“He basically is,” Cooper replies, placing his hand on my lower back and guiding me through the few people standing between us and Jorge.
The older man beams at Cooper as they greet each other. Cooper might’ve only joined this company a few months ago, but it’s obvious how much they all love him and consider him one of them already.
“You must be the man of the hour. I’m Sutton, Cooper’s longtime partner in crime and occasional lover,” I announce, shaking the older man’s hand.
His eyes twinkle with amusement. “Occasional lover?”
“Only when he’s being extra good.” I wink.
Jorge slaps Cooper on the back. “You’ve got a keeper with this one, son. Don’t let her go.”
Cooper sucks in his bottom lip with a grin. “I don’t plan on it.”
And just like that, my panties want to leave my body again.
Could the man cool his sex appeal for one night?
Pump the breaks.
One night is all I ask.
“So, Jorge, I hear you’re leaving us for some tropical paradise?”
Jorge’s posture melts as if just imagining his near future has all the tension leaving his body. “Ah, yes, it’s always been my dream to live on the beach. Starting next month, I get to make it a reality in Maui.”
“Maui. Hot damn, Jorge, do you need an occasional lover?”
Cooper frowns as everyone else laughs.
“I’ll tell you what, Sutton, if my wonderful wife of forty years decides she is done with me, I will give you a call.”
I smile. “I’m counting on it. But something tells me she isn’t gonna give up living in paradise with a catch like you.”
Jorge is soon whisked away into conversation with another group of Cooper’s coworkers.
“He was nice,” I tell Coop.
“Do you need to flirt with every man you meet?”
“Every man?” I scoff. “I also charmed the ladies as well, thank you very much.”
“Sutton…”
I roll my eyes. “You’re being dramatic, Cooper. I wasn’t flirting.”
He stares at me in disbelief.
“Okay, fine. Maybe with Jorge. But can you blame me? The man apparently has Maui money. I was trying to get us a free vacation.”
“ Us ? I don’t recall you angling for anything for us .”
I tsk. “Your old age is starting to show, Cooper. That noggin of yours isn’t remembering what it should.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose before letting his shoulders relax. “Want to see my office?”
“Yes.” I bounce with excitement as he leads me out of the crowded room down a long hallway past an open office space that looks like FTW’s cubicle land, or basically all other office buildings.
Cooper stops to show me abstract art that litters the walls. It’s a nice change from the offices that only have self-promotions or achievements covering every inch of space for potential and current clients to see.
I tilt my head at a particularly interesting painting. Black, white, and red are smeared across the canvas in a haphazard way that feels anything but intentional. “Sometimes I think artists are making fun of us all.”
Cooper glances away from the painting. “How so?”
I huff out a laugh. “You can’t honestly say this is good, can you?”
He shrugs. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and whatnot, so who am I to say it isn’t.”
“You’re such a nice guy.”
“What’s wrong with being nice?”
“Nothing… unless you count being boring.”
He smirks. “Fine, it’s ugly.”
“Ha! I knew you didn’t like it.” I point at him.
He chuckles, returning his hand to my lower back and leading me away until we stop at the third door from the end of the hall.
He pushes open the door before leading me inside and shutting it behind us.
I run my finger along the edge of the large mahogany desk as I take in the space. “Fancy.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Did you bring me in here to show me your new, fancy desk, or…” I tease.
“Or what?” He moves to stand right in front of me. His chest flush against mine.
“You tell me,” I say, my breath becoming short. “Or better yet. Why don’t you show me.”
His eyes glue to my mouth, and his Adam’s apple bobs. Heat swirls in his amber-brown gaze like a wildfire raging through fall foliage.
I wait in frozen anticipation, my breath quickening as he leans forward. Is this really about to happen? Is Cooper going to kiss me? And not for the bargain’s sake?
And at this very moment, I know I want him to kiss me.
God, do I want him to kiss me.
The warmth of his breath lingers on my lips when he pauses mere inches from my mouth.
He reaches forward, his hand grazing across my cheek and down to the nape of my neck. Tingles erupt down my spine as I close my eyes, letting the sensation of his touch overwhelm my senses.
“Sutton, I—”
I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to know what he might say, because all I want is his mouth pressed against mine.
Throwing caution to the wind, I close the gap between us, pressing my lips to his in a kiss that’s anything but gentle.
Cooper quickly parts his lips, and I waste no time swiping my tongue across them.
He tastes even better than I remember, and it’s a flavor I want to drown in.
Our tongues dance, rolling against one another in a sensual rhythm that makes my core ache with desperation for friction.
Sensing my need for more, Cooper’s grip on my neck tightens, and he pulls me closer until there’s nothing between us but our clothes. My hands lace in his chestnut strands, tugging at the edges as I demand more.
His other hand finds my hip, and he crushes me against his growing erection.
I let out a sigh of pleasure at the feeling of his cock hitting that perfect spot between my legs.
Yes, yes, yes , I want to yell as he angles his hips upward and I unabashedly rub myself all over him.
God, he feels so good. Too freaking good.
Cooper’s touch falls from my neck to my ass, where he palms me through my dress, kneading my flesh with a groan. “You’re so fucking sexy,” he husks, pulling his lips from mine and trailing them down my jaw to my neck, where he lavishes that special spot that has me dripping in no time.
I bump into the desk, and Cooper lifts me, settling between my thighs. “I bet you tell that to all the women you have sprawled out on your desk.”
“Only you,” he snickers. As he pushes my dress up so my panties are my only barrier, he hikes one of my legs around his hips and grinds his erection into me, finding that sweet pace that has me rushing to the finish line in seconds.
“Right there,” I pant, holding his head in the crook of my neck.
The heat coiling deep inside me erupts like a volcano as I come. My nails dig into his scalp as I throw my head back, letting the pure pleasure light me up. Every inch of my skin burns from Cooper’s touch.
My heartbeat is erratic as he pulls his head back to peer into my eyes.
Neither of us say a word. Instead, our mouths fuse together again. I regain control of my limbs and reach for his belt just as a knock raps on the door.
We break apart like two teenagers who’ve been caught by their parents. Frozen, we listen.
“Cooper,” a deep voice calls through the thick door. “It’s time for the group photo with Jorge.”
Cooper wipes his mouth with his finger, those same long, delicious fingers that had been holding me steady just moments ago. Oh, how I hope they’ll leave small bruises in their wake as a reminder that this was real. That this wasn’t a figment of my imagination. “Be right there,” he hollers, his voice tight and clipped.
We both sit there staring at each other for a long, torturous moment before he finally releases his hold on me to grip my hands that are still clutching his belt. “Sutton,” he starts, but I cut him off by tearing my hands from him and jumping off the desk.
I fix my skirt and run my fingers through my curls while Cooper stands there observing me. His expression a mixture of confusion and concern.
“You’re staring,” I singsong.
“And you’re absolutely stunning after you come.”
I blink, unsure of how to respond. I open my mouth and close it twice before finally spitting out, “Is a thank-you an appropriate enough response after dry humping your fake boyfriend to completion in his office?”
Cooper snorts with laughter, stepping closer to me. “I’ll take anything you give me.” His lips brush mine in a feather-soft kiss, and then he’s gone, leaving me alone in his office, staring at my new favorite desk.