Chapter 34
RYAN
Last night was incredible. I took Cooper to dinner, and then we went for dessert—in my bedroom. Images of licking whipped cream off her body flash in my mind. Jesus, that was hot. But when she took over, licking it off me, her tongue swirling, her lips tight around me… Goddamn. We made a mess, and it was worth every second.
I’m getting hard just thinking about it. Not the time, Ryan. Get it together . I glance at Cooper beside me, gripping my hand like it’s her lifeline. Her anxiety practically vibrating off her.
I give her hand a reassuring squeeze as the elevator climbs to the eleventh floor. She looks pale, her breaths shallow.
“You okay?” I ask.
“No. I feel like I’m going to be sick. What if he’s here?”
“Then things will get ugly,” I admit. God, I hope he’s not here. I’ve only ever been in one fight in my life, but if Brad’s here? I don’t know if I could hold back. I wouldn’t want to.
The elevator dings, and we step into the hallway. Cooper’s grip on my hand tightens.
Inside the apartment, her voice trembles as she calls out. “Brad?”
Please don’t be here. Please don’t be here. Not just because I don’t want to end up in jail, but mostly because I don’t want Cooper to have to see him—deal with him. Not today.
She lets out a sigh of relief. “I don’t think he’s here.”
I stay close as she moves to the entryway table, where a pile of broken glass sits next to a folded piece of paper. My chest tightens as I step behind her, reading over her shoulder.
Coop,
I’m sorry about the bird. Here are the pieces. I hope you’re able to put it back together. I’ve always loved you, baby.
She crumples the note into a tiny ball, her knuckles white as she grips it. “God, that makes me want to puke.”
She marches through the living room without another word, and I follow her into the bedroom. A knot twists in the pit of my stomach as I take in the scene: everything from her nightstand—pictures, books, her jewelry box—scattered across the floor in a chaotic mess.
Fucking dick. My jaw tightens. Real mature, Brad.
She shakes her head, exhaling sharply. Without a word, we move to the bathroom, where the chaos continues. Drawers hang open, her belongings scattered across the floor in a deliberate mess. Watching her take it all in, the fury inside me rises like a furnace about to explode.
She mutters something under her breath and strides through the bathroom into the closet.
“Motherfucker!” she yells, her voice shaking with rage. I rush to her side. “Goddamn him.”
The knot in my stomach twists tighter as I take in the sight. Most of her clothes are heaped in a pile on the floor, shredded, slashed, completely ruined. The few pieces still hanging have been defaced with thick black Sharpie—‘whore,’ ‘bitch,’ ‘slut,’ and other sick words scrawled across the fabric.
My teeth clench, fists tightening at my sides, and I have to fight the urge to punch the wall. “Jesus Christ.” I mutter under my breath.
Her eyes well with tears, her breathing quick and erratic as she presses a trembling palm to her forehead. “Ryan,” she chokes out, her voice raw. “I need you to go on the balcony for five minutes so I can flip the fuck out.”
Her hands lace behind her head as she starts pacing the closet. Each inhale is deep and slow, but the exhales are loud, shaky, like she’s barely holding it together.
“Ryan,” she snaps, her eyes wild. “Please. I don’t want you to see me this way.”
She grabs my hand, tugging me out of the closet toward the hallway.
“Coop, I’m not going anywhere.”
“No, Ryan, please. I’m going to lose it.” She tugs harder, but I plant my feet firm, pulling her into me.
I cradle her face in my hands. “Then lose it. Scream. Cry. Throw shit. Do whatever you’ve got to do. But I’m not leaving. I’ll be right here, no matter what.” I look her straight in the eye. “I’m not going anywhere. And I’ll still be here when you’re done.”
Her bottom lip trembles as tears streak her face. I press a kiss to her forehead, lingering for a second. “How about I wait on the couch?”
She nods faintly, and I let go, giving her space.
As I head to the living room, her cries erupt from the closet, raw and guttural. I force myself to keep moving.
The living room’s a disaster. Pillows scattered across the room, torn photos of the two of them litter the floor like shrapnel. An empty whiskey bottle and crushed beer cans sit on the counter like some pathetic monument to his rage. I take it all in, anger simmering just below the surface.
He ruined her clothes.
What a fucking prick.
I step into his office, and it takes everything in me not to pick up his shit and chuck it all against the wall.
From the bedroom, I hear a loud crash followed by Cooper’s string of obscenities. A small smile tugs at my lips. Good. She’s getting it out. Not that it makes them even—not even close. There isn’t enough damage in the world to balance what he’s done. But if smashing his crap helps her, even a little, I’m all for it.
I walk back into the bathroom to find her frantic, yanking open drawers and slamming them shut.
“You fucking motherfucker,” she mutters, her voice sharp with anger. “Where did you put them? Goddamn son of a bitch.” She keeps searching, her hands tearing through everything. “Where the fuck did you put them?”
I follow her as she strides to the office and opens the safe. She pulls out a note, and as she skims the page, a gut-wrenching sound escapes her lips—something caught between a bitter laugh and a defeated cry.
“What is it, babe? What are you looking for?”
She doesn’t say a word, just hands me the note before walking past me, her body rigid with tension. My hands tremble with the fury as I unfold the paper.
Baby,
Did you really think you could walk out on me and still keep those things? The toys, the lingerie? Those were for me, and now you think you’re going to take them to use with him? Think again.
I knew you’d come crawling to the safe, desperate to get your little stash. Guess what? You’re not taking anything from this house that I bought to keep us satisfied. You don’t get to use those things when he isn’t cutting it for you.
I didn’t buy those things to spoil you. I needed something to make you remotely exciting. Good luck keeping Ryan interested without them. Let’s hope he doesn’t get bored with you as quickly as I did. I hope he’s up to the challenge.
Well, as a matter of fact, Brad, I am more than up to the challenge.
I find Cooper in the bathroom picking through the remnants of her belongings, filling up a duffle bag.
I step behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and pressing a kiss to her neck. “Hey, babe,” I murmur. “I’m more than happy to refill your bin with new toys.” I kiss her jaw, trying to coax out a smile. “And I’ll buy you the sexiest lingerie. Whatever you want.”
She huffs out a bitter laugh. “He took all my bras and underwear, too. Just my daily fucking essentials.”
“It’s okay,” I whisper against her skin. “We’ll get you new ones.”
Her voice wavers as she turns to face me, resting her arms on my chest. “And all my…” She chokes up, her throat working as she swallows hard. “All my clothes are gone. I know they’re just clothes, but this is going to drain all my savings to replace them.”
Tears well in her eyes, and I pull her closer, my arms tightening around her.
“He took me off all the accounts, Ryan,” she whispers, the panic creeping into her voice. “I can’t get to any of our money. All I have is what’s left from my last two paychecks in my new account.” Her brows knit together, worry written all over her face. “God,” she cries out, her voice breaking as she sinks into me.
I hold her close, letting her lean into me as her tears fall. Her body trembles, and I rub slow circles on her back until her breathing steadies, her body softening slightly in my arms.
I tilt her chin to meet my gaze and kiss her with everything I have to give. “Take your clothes off, Cooper.”
Her eyes widen. “What?”
My voice drops, a growl laced with determination. “I want to fuck you.”
“Now? Here?”
“Yeah.” My lips brush against her cheek. “Right here… in his bed.” I nibble her ear. “I’m not letting this be your last memory. I want you to leave here smiling, remembering us—what we have. Not him. Not his shit. Just you and me.”
Her breath hitches, uncertainty in her eyes—but then it melts into something different—something wild, determined.
Her lips crash into mine, and I walk her backward toward the bedroom, our kisses growing more desperate with every step. “I want to make you feel so damn good that when you think about this place, all you’ll see is fucking stars,” I murmur, my hand slipping between her legs. She gasps, her body arching into my touch.
Her fingers fumble with the button and zipper of my pants, frantic and needy.
I chuckle low in my throat. “That’s it, babe. Let it all out. Take it out on me.” I yank her shirt over her head, pressing her back against the wall, her bare skin hot against mine. Her hands move to my waistband, tugging roughly at my pants and boxer briefs until they hit the floor. I step out of them, and her fingers are already pulling at my shirt, her urgency matching my own.
Her eyes blaze with fury and hunger as she shoves me toward the bed. “Get on the bed, Ryan,” she demands, her voice shaking with emotion. “I want you to fuck me right where he sleeps.”
I grin, loving the way she takes charge. There’s something so damn sexy about her when she’s demanding. I do as I’m told, settling onto the bed.
She straddles me, unhooking her bra and tossing it across the room. “He can have that too,” she mutters, her lips crushing into mine as she grinds against me. Jesus Christ, she’s irresistible. The way her mouth moves over mine, the way her body fits so perfectly against me—I never stood a chance. She walked into my life and took me by the balls back in Newport, and I’ve been hers ever since.
I grin against her mouth, unable to help myself. “You’re the sexiest fucking woman in the world.”
“Shut up,” she whispers, her breath hot against my lips. “More touching, less talking.”
Her hands slide down, shoving her pants and underwear off. She positions herself over me, sinking down onto my dick, and we both groan at the connection. She moves with purpose, her hips rolling in perfect rhythm as I match her pace.
“Make me forget about him, Ryan,” she murmurs, her lips brushing my jaw, her voice trembling with emotion.
My grip tightens on her ass as I sit up slightly, flipping her onto her back with one swift motion. I hover over her, my eyes locked on hers.
“Challenge accepted.” I lean into her ear. “I’m going to make you come so hard, babe, you won’t even remember his name when I’m through with you.”
I trail kisses down her torso, savoring every inch of her soft skin until I’m between her legs. My tongue flicks over her clit, teasing her, licking and tasting her like she’s the most exquisite thing I’ve ever had. I stay there, relentless, until she’s trembling beneath me, her cries filling the room as I make her come not once, not twice, but three times.
When I’m finished, I flip her onto her stomach, wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her ass to me. The sight of her, the erotic curve of her back, has me harder than ever. I grip her hips, sliding into her from behind.
She cries out, her voice ragged and desperate. “Jesus… Fuck me, Ryan. Fuck me hard.”
She doesn’t need to ask me twice. I thrust into her, deep and hard, losing myself in her. She meets me with every movement, backing her ass into me, burying me deeper inside her.
I pull her up so we’re both kneeling, my chest pressed to her back. One hand grips her boob, kneading, while the other snakes around to her clit, stroking her in time with my thrusts.
“Fuck, Coop.”
This is so fucking hot.
The angle. The way one of her hands wraps up and around the back of my neck. Her loud moans and gasps. The view I have of her body. Her other hand trails over herself, teasing, touching, driving me crazy. I move her hair, damp with sweat, out of the way and press my lips to her neck. I nip at her shoulder, working my way up to her ear.
“It’s just you and me, babe,” I whisper, stroking her clit, my voice deep and steady.
“God, Ryan,” she moans, her voice desperate. “I’m so close.” Her hand brushes over mine, her hips moving urgently. “I’m going to come.”
She arches her back, her head pressing into my chest, and I feel her squeezing my dick as she comes undone. The sensation is too much, and I let go, pleasure tearing through me as I release into her. “Fuck,” I groan, my grip tightening on her as my body tenses with the intensity.
We ride the high together, her body soft and pliant against mine. She shifts, slipping off me and turning, meeting me with a passionate, unrestrained kiss. Our skin slides together, slick with sweat, as she pulls me down onto the bed with her, her legs wrapping around my hips. I prop myself on my forearms, hovering above her.
She laughs unexpectedly, her fingers combing through my hair. The sound is light, carefree, and it makes me smile.
“You’re the best, Ry. Seriously. The best,” she says, nipping at my bottom lip before cupping my cheek, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me for that. There was something in it for me too.” I brush a strand of hair from her face. “And for the record—you’ll never need lingerie or toys with me. You’re fucking perfect just the way you are. But if you want them, I’m all for it.”
“Says the man with a six-pack and a giant penis,” she quips, grinning mischievously. “Wouldn’t it be amazing if what’s his name walked in right now? I kind of wish that would happen.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Jesus, no. I wasn’t planning on dying today.”
Her eyes narrow. “But don’t you wish he could see this? Just a teensy, tiny bit?”
I grin, her smile making my chest tighten in the best way. “You’ve lost it.” I press my lips to hers. “Now let’s get cleaned up, so that doesn’t happen.”
“Okay, fine,” she relents, pulling me closer and stroking my cheek with her thumb. Her voice softens. “But seriously… thank you for taking a painful moment and sprinkling some good into it.”
“I just want you to be happy,” I say, giving her one more lingering kiss before we get up. I glance at the bed, my eyebrows raising. “Uh… shit, we might have a bit of a situation here. There’s… uh… remnants of sex on the sheets.”
“Good,” she says, grabbing her underwear and tossing it onto the bed. “He can have these too if he thinks they belong to him. Plus, I just want him to know we fucked here.” She pulls her pants up over her bare ass.
“You going commando?”
“Yep.”
“Damn. That’s hot.”
She laughs softly. “Let’s get the hell out of here, Ryan. I don’t want anything from this place except what’s in this bag.”
I gesture toward the hall. “After you.”
I follow her through the apartment, carrying her duffle. She stops at the entryway table, eyeing the shards of glass. Her hand hovers over them before cradling the largest piece. Her expression somber. Her thumb strokes over the jagged edge as her other hand dabs at an eye. Without a word, she clutches the fragment and turns toward the door, leaving the rest behind.