Chapter 14
Cooper
After our shower, I convinced her to get in bed with me. Neither of us bothered to put on clothes. I wanted to feel her skin next to mine.
The reason I suggested a shower was that we usually fucked and went our separate ways. I wanted to take my time with her body, but I also didn't want to broadcast my intentions. This was supposed to be physical, and I didn't want to spook her.
It was a bad idea to move our interactions to my house. But I couldn't say that I was upset about it. In fact, I had been thrilled to see her on my porch. And when she launched herself at me, I wasn't sure I'd felt anything better.
A word had sounded in my head—mine. And I couldn't get it out. Did that mean I wanted her to be mine? Or that I already saw her as mine?
I'd never thought of myself as a possessive man. But with Aspen, I was quickly falling for her. Maybe it was Morgan mentioning that her mother was setting her up on blind dates, because I didn't want to share Aspen with anyone.
If this was merely a hookup I wouldn't be so possessive of her. If she said she was interested in dating other guys, I should be ready to cut her off. Instead, it made me want her more.
I had never had a problem keeping my feelings in check. I hadn't been possessive of any other girls I dated. But a few brief interactions with Aspen and I was marking her as mine. Just not in public. Not where it mattered.
Her hand brushed across my pec. "What are you thinking about?"
I wanted to say how this was different. How she was different. But I managed to swallow the words down. "We probably shouldn't be together like this."
It was too much time together in an intimate space. I was going to fall for her. I felt more for her in a short amount of time than I had for anyone else I'd ever dated. This wasn't good.
I rolled us so that my dick was notched at her entrance. "I want you again though."
Her lips parted. "I want you too."
I eased inside, loving that I had easy access to her body. If we dated, I'd get this all the time. I'd fall easily for her. Because she was more than a quick fuck. Her eyes were so expressive, her brain always moving a million miles a second.
Shit. I could fall in love with this girl.
I braced myself on my hands, focusing on the spot where my dick stretched her pussy.
Mine. Mine. Mine, I chanted to myself as I continued to move inside her.
This was more than a hookup. She was so much more. But I couldn't have her.
Her brothers wouldn't understand, and I didn't want to do anything to risk our friendship or our business.
What if this was the woman I was supposed to be with?
I almost laughed out loud at that idea. There was no woman who was intended for me, and if there was, it certainly wouldn't be a Sterling. The world couldn't be that cruel, could it?
You were meant for someone you couldn't have. Yeah, that sounded about right. I was put on this earth to be tortured over and over again.
I shook my head at the dark thoughts and refocused on giving Aspen pleasure. It was our first time in a bed. The first time I'd seen her hair spread out on my pillow, her body flush and naked under mine. She was gorgeous.
If this was the last time I got to be with her, I wanted to try everything. I rolled us so that she was on top and I could cup her ample breasts. Her nipples were hard points, and she trembled when my fingers brushed over them. She liked when I played with her tits.
I lifted so that I could suck on them, and her head fell back. I made her lose control. Me. Not some man in a suit.
I sucked on one nipple, then the other, needing to see her go over. I dropped down so that I could ease a finger between us, circling her swollen nub. Her movements became jerkier, and she bit her lip hard as she went over that cliff.
I thrust from underneath her, needing to go with her. When my body finally gave in to the pleasure, I groaned. There was nothing better than Aspen in my bed.
She fell to my chest, and I let her lay there, caressing her back and playing with the strands of her hair.
It wasn't lost on me that this was way more than a hookup.
We were spending a lot of time together, and I still had more I wanted to do with her.
I hadn't gotten to taste her yet or to put her on her knees and fuck her from behind.
I was scared of how things would change. Would we be able to keep this from her brothers? Or would they know with one glance what we were doing?
My heart picked up at the thought.
"I can't move," she said.
"You don't have to. Not now." I'd let her sleep. Then I'd tell her we couldn't do this again. Just one night together. That's all we had.
In the middle of the night, I woke to her mouth on my cock. I was already hard and pulsing under her tongue. I couldn't believe that this was happening right now.
Every other time we were together, I wanted to run away as soon as possible. Probably because I sensed on some level that getting involved with her was dangerous, not only for my personal and business ties but also my heart.
That wasn't something I'd ever thought about before. In fact, when Tess mentioned that I was closed off, I wondered if that was just how I was. A product of my upbringing. A way to protect myself from getting hurt in the future.
Now I knew I wasn't always closed off. That the right person could penetrate my walls.
I shouldn't have let Aspen stay the night. But it felt so good; it was hard to have any regrets. We were creating memories I'd have forever.
Her head bobbed on my cock, alternating between licking the underside and sucking me deep into her mouth.
"I'm not going to last," I ground out.
She hummed around my cock, sucking harder, and that was all it took for the orgasm to overtake me. It came on so strong; I wasn't able to warn her.
She pulled off my dick with a satisfied smile on her face.
I reached for her, lifting her to sit on my face.
She squeaked from her position, her hands on the headboard, looking down at me. I gripped her thighs. "I need you to come closer."
She chewed her lip. "Are you sure about this?"
"You've never—never mind. Don't answer that." I was strangely satisfied that no man had ever done this with her before. "I'll make it good for you."
With a sigh, she shifted her weight so that her pussy hovered over my mouth, and her thighs pressed against my ears. Her skin was soft, and her scent drove me wild.
I licked her. "You taste so good."
She relaxed so that she sank farther over me. I licked and sucked, nipping here and there to heighten the sensation. Then I reached up to cup her breasts. In no time, she was writhing over my face, her initial inhibitions gone.
I gripped her thigh, ensuring she didn't move out of reach. When I added a finger, she cried out, trembling around me.
I licked her through her orgasm. "You're beautiful when you come."
She laughed softly as she moved off me.
I reached up to cup her face. "You. Are. Beautiful."
Her face softened, and she leaned her cheek into my palm. "You make me feel that way."
My heart clenched. This was more serious than I intended to get with her. I let go of her cheek, running my hand through my hair. It had to be the late hour. It made me feel like we were in our own world.
But we weren't. I couldn't forget who she was, off-limits. I wasn't a guy she would go for if she was thinking clearly. She deserved someone who came from a better family than me, who wasn't emotionally stunted. Who could give her everything she wanted.
Her brothers had given me a chance with the business, and this was how I repaid them? I kind of hated myself in that moment. But it wasn't enough for me not to reach for her. "I want you close."
She snuggled into my side, her head resting on my shoulder, her palm flat on my chest. If this was the only time I'd get something like this, I would enjoy it. I'd never had the urge to cuddle a woman before, and now I didn't want to let her go.
In the morning, I turned over in bed, reaching for Aspen, but there was nothing but cool sheets. My eyes popped open. The bed was empty.
She'd left at some point. I knew she worked hard, but I had no idea what time she went to work in the morning. I rolled over. The alarm clock read seven.
That was late for me. Usually, I kept construction hours, being in my chair at work by this time. I couldn't feel bad about the night I just had. But I felt a little dismayed that she'd snuck out without waking me.
I wasn't nearly done with her. But how could we go on like this? I'd already fallen deeper last night. We shouldn't be alone together for long periods of time. It was making me feel things. Things I had no business feeling.
I couldn't believe she'd shown up on my doorstep, wanting me. It was outside the bounds of the relationship we'd established. Not that we'd talked about what we were doing, but I thought it was understood. Instead, she'd taken me by surprise.
Now I was all mixed up. I'd never felt much of anything for a woman I was seeing. It was nice to have company, and sure, the sex was good. But this thing with Aspen was so different from anything I'd ever experienced.
I was so screwed because I wasn't willing to put a stop to it. Not now. Not when I finally felt something for someone. Even the risk that came with it wasn't deterring me. I couldn't feel anything but happy about last night.
When was the last time I felt happy about something in my personal life?
My bedroom smelled like Aspen and sex, and I never wanted to wash the sheets. Feeling lighter, I went into the shower, remembering everything we'd done last night. I wouldn't be able to forget her. She'd imprinted on every part of my life.
After getting dressed, I cooked a quick batch of eggs and headed to work, hoping no one would notice that I wasn't at my post.
I walked in, saying hello to Shayla, then continued toward my office. I stopped when I saw Hudson sitting at my desk. "What are you doing here?"