Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Cara sat on the edge of the pool, and the cool water swirled around her legs as she watched Coop swim laps.
Her gaze swept over his muscular body propelling from one end to the other.
Sweat beaded over her body, and an oppressive heat weighed her down, one not even the beach breeze could cool.
Five more days of sun and relaxation. What the hell had her sister been thinking?
Coop and she would be driving each other nuts within a day if she didn’t jump him first. The muscles in his arms bunched with each stroke and kick of his legs.
The bathing suit her sister had left hung low on his hips, teasing Cara with a hint of what lay beneath.
Cara’s breath hitched in her throat as she thought about the warm caresses of his fingers on her cheek earlier, and she realized she wanted more of that. More of Coop.
She’d buried herself in her work, and she’d forgotten how to just relax. She worried her bottom lip between her teeth. Sex with Coop would be different, freeing without the bombardment of visions. The thought intrigued her, not that he’d even suggested any interest.
Coop swam over to Cara and rested his hands on the ledge on both sides of her legs. “You’re thinking too loud. Come in the water and cool off.”
“How can you just swim like you’re on vacation?”
Coop ran his hand over his wet head and stood to his full height between her legs. “What else do you expect me to do?”
“I don’t know.” That was the truth. She had no idea what to do. Her body was practically vibrating with nervous energy.
“We need a plan.”
Cara released a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. A plan, she could do a plan. She was great at organizing and making decisions, and maybe planning would keep her thoughts off Coop’s body and what she’d like to do to it. “What do you have in mind?”
Coop rested his hands on her thighs. The move was innocent enough to any normal person.
She glanced down at the connection, unfamiliar being touched without visions claiming her energy.
She closed her eyes to hide her feelings.
As much as she enjoyed his touch, why did it have to be him?
He was a Cruz. Her body wanted him; she couldn’t deny that, but her mind screamed that his brother had betrayed her in the worst way. Could she separate the two?
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
She lifted her gaze to his. “Of all the people in the entire world, why are you the one that I’m immune to?” She couldn’t hide the defeat in her voice.
“I don’t think we’ll ever know the answer to that question.” His voice softened. “I’m sorry you’re upset that I’m the one with the golden touch.”
“Golden touch?” She smiled.
“Well, I call it like I see it,” Coop said, lifting her from the ledge and dunking her in the water.
He cradled her in his arms as they emerged from the water. The refreshing liquid cooled her body and her mind while being pressed against Coop warmed her in other ways.
“Why’d you do that?” she asked, wiping the water from her face.
“You needed to cool off,” he said as her body slid down his until her feet touched. “So about that plan…”
His words died off, and his face turned serious as he gazed over her head. “Can I help you?”
“Agent Cruz?” A male spoke behind her, and she slowly turned in Coop’s arms.
“Yes?”
“Cara?” he asked, stepping forward. “I can’t believe it’s really you. It’s good to see you.”
Cara recognized him instantly. His brown hair was cut in a crew cut, and he was dressed in a hotel security guard uniform with a badge and a gun, but she’d never forget his face, no matter how many years had passed.
Why would she? He’d been the one she gave her virginity to. “Phillip. It’s been a long time.”
Phillip’s gaze lowered to her bikini top and lingered on her breasts before slowly returning to her face.
Coop’s arms surrounded her as he leaned down and pressed his lips to her neck. “Do you know him, baby?”
Phillip held up his hand as he blushed. “I’m sorry, Cara. I don’t mean to interrupt your honeymoon, but I need to speak to Agent Cruz. It’s urgent.”
Coop took Cara’s hand and guided her to the steps and out of the water. He grabbed a beach towel and wrapped it around her body, covering it from Phillip’s eyes before Coop grabbed his own.
It was comical that Coop was shielding her body from Phillip’s eyes. He’d seen more of her goods than Coop had.
“What’s so urgent?” Coop asked, running a towel over his head.
“One of our guests is missing.”
More than one, but Cara bit her tongue instead of correcting him. They were on the island for the exact same reason. Were they related?
“Did you call local law enforcement?” Coop asked.
“Yeah. They’re already looking for him, but they’re spread thin with the rash of burglaries on the island.”
“Oh, that’s right. Didn’t the desk clerk mention the thefts when we checked in?” Cara asked, stepping up next to Coop. “Maybe we should…help, in case…you know.”
Coop glanced down at her with his brows pinched.
“Phillip, could you excuse us for a minute?” Cara asked.
“Sure.” He glanced between Coop and Cara as she pulled Coop into the cabana and shut the door. His handsome face was reserved, making her falter in the silence that engulfed them.
“What gives?”
“We have to help find the guest. It’s the right thing to do.”
“I’m not on the clock. I came here for one purpose, Cara, to find my sister.”
“The disappearance could be related. We won’t know unless we help.”
Coop crossed his arms over his chest. “How do you know Phillip?”
“Seriously?” Cara’s lips twitched in amusement that he hadn’t already figured it out. He must severely suck at his job, unless he was playing stupid for a reason. “I lost my virginity to a local, and he’s the only local I know.”
Coop moved toward her until he had her back pressed against the door. “Are you going to try and rekindle that flame?”
“Why would that matter?” Cara gasped as he leaned in. She curled her fingers to keep from holding him closer. Her body went up in flames every time he was near, whether she liked it or not.
“I can’t have my pretend wife hot for another man.” His breath fanned hot against her ear. “Relax, Cara. I’m teasing. I know whose touch you crave.”
His words, no matter how true, reminded her that confidence rolled off him in waves.
“I don’t know.” She shrugged as a smile played on her lips.
“It might be nice to catch up on old times.” She slid beneath his arm and peered out the window.
“I can always tell him we split up after we left the island and come back.”
Coop moved behind her and rested his hands on her hips, pressing the length of his hard body against her.
She wiggled her ass against him and laughed. “You’re playing with fire the way you keep striking that match. Not a good idea unless you’re prepared to whip out a hose.”
“I can give you something he’ll never be able to do.”
“What’s that?” she asked as her ovaries danced the cha-cha. The war had been waged. Her body was screaming give it to me hard, but her mind was perched atop a ten-foot wall and hanging on for dear life. Falling to the ground would hurt, but what a pleasurable way to go.
“A week of hot sex without the visions.”
Heat pooled between her thighs. His touch sent a shiver up her spine as the blood in her veins heated to a boil.
His lips caressed her ear as he spoke. “Think about it. One week of the best sex of your life, and then, when it’s over and we’ve got our sisters, you go back to being you, and I’ll go back to being me. No strings attached.”
Cara turned in his arms and rested her palms against his warm chest. The muscles flexed under her fingertips, making her want to explore. “You think I’m easy? You think that promises of hot, meaningless sex with you can persuade me?”
“No, Cara. I don’t think you’re easy. I think you want me.
I can see it in your eyes. Feel it in the way your body leans into mine.
I don’t think you want me. I know you do.
” Coop wrapped his arms around her body, pulling her tight against him, and pressed his hard length against her body. “I think I want you too.”
I think I want you too. Dude needed to work on his pick-up lines.
That was worse than something an eighteen-year-old nerd with pimples would say.
She wasn’t a badge bunny. “Despite the great offer you are making, I think I’ll pass.
That was a solid six though.” She rounded up.
“Using your body to entice me was a nice touch.” She winked.
“A six, really?” His lips twitched, and he tilted his head, amusement shining in his eyes.
“Really.” Cara smiled up at him and patted his chest. “When seducing a girl, it’s important to make her believe you’re hot for her too.” She stepped around him and opened the door. “Phillip, I’ll help you find the guy. Just let me get cleaned up and dressed.”
“Perfect.” Phillip's eyes twinkled. “Is Agent Cruz going to help?”
Coop stepped out of the cabana. “Of course. You know, a happy wife is a happy life.”
“Of course.” Phillip’s glanced between them both before settling on Cara again. “I’ll meet you in the lobby in fifteen minutes?”
Coop wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed a hot, tender path of kisses down her neck. “Better make it thirty.”
“Right.” Phillip pointed with his thumb over his shoulder. “I’m going to go and check in with the others to see if they’ve found anything.”
Cara gave Phillip a small smile as she watched him leave.
She spun in Coop’s arms and stepped away from his touch. “Why did you do that?”
Coop shrugged. “We’re honeymooners. He’s got to know we can’t keep our hands off of each other. It’s to be expected, and just so you know…I’ve wanted you since I saw you in the bikini.” He took her hand and placed it on his crotch. “I’ve got more than your six, right here.” He winked back.
She rolled her eyes, stormed back into the cabana, and grabbed clothes from the suitcase.
No matter how attracted she was to this Cruz, he had another thing coming if he thought she’d be an easy conquest. She headed for the bathroom to change.
No reason to give him any other chances to try and convince her that he was right.
She already knew he was. It didn’t mean that she had to like it.
A one-night stand with him was tempting.
The moisture between her thighs wasn’t from the heat or the pool. It was from his touch.
Cara came out of the bathroom to find Coop waiting on the bed, fully dressed. “I’ll make you a bet.”
“Oh, I can’t wait to hear this one.”
“If I find the guest before you, you’re mine for the rest of the week. One week of mindless, no-strings, sizzling sex.”
“And what do I get if I win?”
“What do you want?”
Sperm immediately popped into her mind, not that she’d ever tell him. She wasn’t the kind of girl to trick any man into helping her get pregnant. What did she want? “The truth.”
Coop’s eyes clouded. His hesitation spoke volumes. “About what?”
“Well. I can’t read you like other people. So any time I ask you a question, regardless of how hard it may be to answer, I want the truth, no holds barred. That’s my terms.”
“Deal. If I find the guest, I have you and keep my secrets. You win, you have me and the truth to any and all of your questions. Do we have a bet?”
“Uh, I didn’t say I wanted you,” she clarified. “You added that.”
His grin grew as he rose from the bed and closed the distance between them. “Deal or no deal, wife? I get to have you, my way, or you get me and the truth. I’m going to win you over, Cara. It’s inevitable. It’s just a matter of whether you get my honesty in the process.”
Cara licked her lips as she stared up into his mysterious blue eyes. She could think of worse ways to spend a week than having Coop between her thighs. Getting him to tell her the truth was intriguing. Could she handle his honesty?
“Deal.” She choked out her response.
Coop pulled her flush against his body and pressed his lips to hers.
He teased her lips until she opened and moaned as he invaded her mouth.
Their tongues danced and tangled, the sexy officer obviously bent on seduction.
Lust consumed her body from the single kiss, making her hormones rage and her knees weak.
“That was just a preview.” He released her, grabbed her phone, handed it to her, and then slipped his fingers through hers. “Let’s go find our missing person.”