Chasing Dreams (Devil's Bend) (17 page)

He
felt like a total ass. Here he was abandoning his entire life because he wanted
to get away from it all and do something meaningful. And once again, he hadn’t
thought about anyone but himself. The irony was a brutal slap in the face.

“Where
are we going?” he asked, knowing he sounded as angry as he felt.

“Just
sit back, cowboy. Let me do the drivin’,” she said, a smile in her voice.

He
wished like hell he could force himself to smile. He wanted to. Just being
around Tessa made him happy. Sitting beside her, even if she was driving his
truck like a mad woman, should’ve been enough to erase all of the anger
building in his gut. But it didn’t. It didn’t go unnoticed that she was taking
care of him when he should have been the one putting her first. Realizing that
only made him feel worse.

When
they pulled up to Tessa’s house a few minutes later, Cooper glanced over at
her. So she wanted to go home? He actually couldn’t blame her. Before he could
get his door open, she turned on him.

“Sit
right here. Don’t you dare move from that seat. I’ll be back in five minutes.”

Cooper
could hardly comprehend what she was saying because his own anger was like a
hornet’s nest in his brain, the buzz unbearable. She was coming back? He forced
a simple nod and stared out the front window of the truck as she climbed out.
As much as he wanted to, he didn’t even watch as she made her way up her front
steps.

Just
like she said, Tessa was back in less than five minutes. Her arms were full,
and he was about to climb out of the truck to help her when he saw her shake
her head. What was she up to?

She
walked around to the bed of the truck, tossed everything inside and then moved
back around to the driver’s door. Once she was inside, she buckled her seatbelt
and put the truck in Reverse, tearing out of the driveway once again.

“You
gonna tell me where we’re going now?” he asked, suddenly nervous.

“Nope.
And you’ve asked more than your share of questions tonight, cowboy. Just keep
your mouth shut and enjoy the drive.”

If
she was trying to improve his mood, she was doing a good job. Her feisty
attitude was warming his blood like a pot on simmer. He couldn’t take his eyes
off of her. She was so focused on driving that he allowed himself a few minutes
to stare. And like every other time he had looked at her, his head swam with a
jumble of thoughts and images.

He
still had a perfect picture of the first time he saw her at
The Rusty Nail
,
her tight black t-shirt molded to extraordinary breasts. Then later when she’d
inserted herself between two pissed off cowboys because it was her bar and she
wasn’t having any of their shit.

Of
course, his mental scrapbook wouldn’t be complete without the one of her
standing on her front porch in those white shorts and tiny tank top…

The
more the images flashed in his head, the more his anger subsided. Only now the
blood that had been boiling in his veins was taking an immediate detour
directly to his groin.

By
the time the truck slowed, Cooper was looking around to see where they were. He
watched out the front windshield as they passed his house, heading down the
dirt path that led to the barn. He was just about to ask her what the hell she
was up to, but her quick “uh-uh” shut him up.

And
exactly why did her sudden authority make his dick that much harder?

They
passed the dilapidated barn and continued through what would eventually be a
pasture, down a bumpy decline until they were pulling up near a pond. He hadn’t
had time to check it out more than just a glance as he passed by, but he knew
this was one of the three small stock ponds on the land, probably from when
there were cattle grazing these fields at one point.

The
truck turned abruptly and then Tessa was backing toward the water. He was just
about to get nervous when she applied the brakes and then grinned over at him.

“Ok,
you can get out now.”

Tessa
didn’t wait for him, so Cooper climbed out on the passenger side and then
headed around to the back of the truck, just a few feet from the water’s edge.

The
scrape of the tailgate lowering caught his attention, and he turned to see
Tessa climbing up into the bed of the truck.

“What
are you doing?” he asked, no longer caring to be kept in the dark.

“Just
get in, would ya?” she called to him as she proceeded to throw a blanket down
into the bed of the truck.

That’s
what she’d been carrying. Blankets and pillows. Oh, and a six pack of beer.

Would
she ever cease to amaze him?

Cooper
climbed up into the bed of the truck, waiting until she sat down on one side
before he lowered himself beside her. She popped the cap on one of the beer
bottles with the skill of a professional and then handed it over. He grabbed
the bottle but never stopped looking at her.

“Now
relax,” she commanded, fluffing one of the pillows up against the cab of the
truck.

They
both got situated, propping themselves up and staring out at the water.

Holy
shit.

Out
in front of him was nothing but darkness. Well, except for the white light of
the giant moon as it reflected off of the black water.

“Perfect,
ain’t it?” she asked, her voice quieter than before.

Cooper
glanced over at her, thinking that she certainly was perfect. For him.

“I’m
talking about the night, Cooper,” she said with a chuckle. “Now be quiet and
just breathe.”

Cooper
did as she instructed, drinking his beer and watching as the moon rose higher
in the sky, the reflection on the pond shifting on the glassy water. Up above
them, the stars shone brightly and the warm breeze moved through the trees.
Aside from the rustling of branches and the sound of crickets, there wasn’t
another sound.

So
this was what peace was. A perfect night, a cold beer, and a beautiful woman.
It was the antidote to all of the anger he’d built up just a short while ago.
And exactly the place he felt he needed to be. After years on the road, nights
spent in front of hundreds of people, singing his heart out, this was what
actually filled Cooper with that peaceful serenity he’d been searching for.

He
had no idea how much time had passed, but he didn’t budge until Tessa shifted
beside him, setting her beer bottle down as she moved to lay flat in the bed of
the truck. Cooper followed suit, getting comfortable beside her, their arms
touching as they stared up at the sky.

“I
used to love to sit outside under the stars. Ok, that’s not entirely true,”
Tessa said quietly. “I still love it. There’s more light at my house, so the
sky isn’t quite this clear from my yard. Sometimes I’ll grab a blanket and join
Havoc and Harmony on the grass, just enjoying the peace and quiet.”

Cooper
wasn’t sure he’d ever seen the sky so clear. A sea of black, dotted with bright
stars and a brilliant moon overhead. He could imagine Tessa laying on a blanket
beneath the stars, the two massive animals cuddled up to her side, seeking her
protection and offering their own.

“This
is what it means to slow down, Cooper,” Tessa told him, her head turning to the
side. He turned his head to face her, utterly in awe of her.

“I
could get used to this.” If she were beside him, Cooper was pretty sure he
could get used to anything.

“Me
too,” she admitted, her eyes never leaving his.

The
only thing better would be if he had her in his arms. And honestly, now that
the idea had planted itself in his brain, he couldn’t think about anything
else.

Tessa’s
heart was thumping against her ribs as she stared over at Cooper. Even in the
darkness, his eyes glowed, and the way he was watching her made her chest swell
with a strange feeling. One that she hadn’t felt in years. Not since…

Knowing
that she was the one to bring him here, to show him the place she used to love
to come and watch the stars and that he enjoyed it as much as she did… well,
Tessa felt more complete than she had in a long time.

This
particular spot was one she loved to visit, especially in the summer when the
water was warm enough to get in. That was what she considered being the perfect
night – skinny dipping under the stars, nothing to hinder her body or her mind.

When
Cooper moved, propping himself on his side, and his warm hand cupped her face
gently, Tessa wondered if tears would spring up to her eyes. Her emotions were
running rampant, and the only thing she wanted right then was to be as close to
this man as she possibly could. Only she couldn’t get the words out.

“Tessa.”
The way he said her name sent a shiver across her skin, made her heart skip a
beat or two as she waited anxiously to see what he was going to do or say next.

She
hoped he could read her mind, could sense what she needed because she was sure
if she had to ask him then she was going to lose a piece of herself that she so
desperately wanted to keep securely in place.

When
his mouth brushed over hers, Tessa slid her fingers into his hair, letting the
warmth of him ground her. Whatever was happening between them right at that
moment felt like something different. Something she wasn’t sure she wanted, but
knew down deep that she needed.

It
was a connection.

As
his tongue caressed hers gently, easing into her mouth and tentatively
exploring, she sighed. Keeping her touch gentle, she allowed the soft strands
of his hair to tease her fingers while the heat of his chest seared her breast.
The farther he leaned over her, the safer she felt, and she didn’t want his
touch to disappear.

“God,
Tessa,” he whispered against her mouth. “Darlin’, I –”

She
had no idea what he was going to say, but she was grateful that he locked the
words up tight. Right now, she just wanted to feel. Words weren’t needed. The
moment was just right, his body was more than perfect against hers, and the
lost look in his eyes told her that he was feeling the same thing she was.

When
he managed to prop himself over her, one knee pressing between her thighs, she
eased his t-shirt up and over his head, leaving her hands free to roam the
taut, smooth skin of his chest. Her fingertips traced down his neck, over his
collarbone, then over the muscled planes of his chest.

They
were staring into one another’s eyes, neither of them saying anything, their
mouths not searching for the other because their eyes were saying more than
anything else possibly could. Tessa knew she wasn’t going to survive this
experience with her heart intact. This man was quickly getting to her,
embedding himself in her soul, which terrified her.

She
reveled in the gentle scrape of his fingers as they deftly unhooked the buttons
down the center of her blouse, moving ever so slowly. As each button escaped
its mooring, his fingertips raised goose bumps on her sensitive flesh and her
breath lodged in her throat.

“So
pretty,” he whispered as his head tilted downward, the heat of his breath
brushing over the skin his hands had just warmed. “Baby…”

Another
sentence left unsaid, causing Tessa to wrap her arms around him, her hands
trailing over the rigid muscles of his back.

While
Cooper worked to remove her shirt and bra without forcing her to let go of him,
Tessa closed her eyes and inhaled his musky scent. The smell was like a drug,
entering her bloodstream and instantly making her light headed, yearning for
more. The frenzy that ignited in her veins caused her to let go of him, wanting
nothing more than to get him naked and feel him skin to skin. She maneuvered
her hands between them, working to release the button on his jeans, letting him
know how eager she was to get a move on. She needed him. Needed to feel his
skin against hers, to take him inside of her where she could get closer to him.

“Cooper.”
His name came out as a broken sob and Tessa feared she was going to lose it. He
was so tender, so sweet. There wasn’t an ounce of the desperate passion she’d
seen in his eyes the last time they’d been together. This time there was more.
A connection that he was trying to make, and despite her resistance, her heart
was answering the call.

“I
want to make love to you, Tessa.” The words were spoken against her neck, his
breath a warm tickle over her skin.

“Please,”
she pleaded. What was she asking for? She didn’t want to make love, didn’t want
to let this man get that close to her, but his emotional hold on her was
unbreakable.

Finally,
they both had to move in order to rid themselves of their clothes, but once
they were naked, and Cooper donned a condom, he was on top of her again. The
weight of his body reestablished the safety and security she managed to find in
his arms.

Their
eyes met briefly before their lips touched. Tessa was tempted to deepen the
kiss, to push this faster, but she couldn’t. Her heart was controlling her
body, and the slight tremble in her limbs was more than a desperate need for
his touch. As he shifted her legs farther apart, Tessa made room for him until
his thick, hard erection was pressing against her entrance.

The
deep rumble from his chest as he pushed inside of her sent another bolt of
electricity racing over her skin, her entire being lighting up from where their
bodies joined.

Cooper
adjusted their positions until he was resting on one forearm, his hand cupping
her head while he held himself up with his other hand. His hips were moving
ever so slowly as the heat built inside of her, their bodies melding together
in a dance as old as time and as moving as the dawn of a new day. The thick,
hard length of his cock teased every sensitive nerve ending inside of her.
Slowly. Ever so slowly until Tessa’s entire body was strung tight.

“Cooper,
please,” she begged.

“Please
what?” he asked, his lips coming down to brush against hers. “Tell me, darlin’.
Tell me what you need.”

“I
need you. I need you just like this,” she admitted, scared of what that really
meant.

Another
deep rumble in his chest made Tessa’s pussy clench tightly around him. The
sensual way he loved her body, cradling her in his arms while he pressed inside
of her was too much. More than she thought possible. This was supposed to be
sex, and without even wanting more, Tessa realized she was quickly getting
attached to this man.

“Look
at me, Tessa. Open your eyes.”

She
hadn’t even realized she had closed them, but Tessa managed to lift her
eyelids, staring up into Cooper’s handsome face, the soft, golden glow of his
eyes captivating her, drawing her closer to him.

“Tessa…
Baby… You’re so hot. So sweet.”

She
barely heard his words as they were whispered against her mouth, and she
wondered for a second if Cooper had even said them.

And
then his body shifted, his cock burying deeper inside of her as she wrapped her
legs around him, holding him as close as she could.

“I
can’t hold out much longer,” he admitted softly, his eyes fierce with the same
need Tessa felt growing inside of her.

“Then
don’t,” she offered with a smile. Meeting his thrusts with her own, their
bodies finally took over, seeking, searching, driving for that release that
they both had been holding back.

“God,
yes, Tessa. Baby, you feel so good.” The dark, rich sound of his voice made the
words all the more erotic.

Tessa’s
nails dug into his back as her brain went on the fritz, her body taking over
completely. She bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out, but there was no
way to stop the way her internal muscles locked down on him.

“That’s
it, baby. Come for me, Tessa,” Cooper whispered.

Her
head dug into the pillow beneath her, her neck straining as she gave into the
orgasm that threatened to tear her in two. Heat, light, waves and waves of
pleasure consumed her. Just when she thought she was safely crashing back to
earth, Cooper’s mouth crushed down on hers, his tongue thrusting inside as his
body stiffened, his hips locking as he buried himself deeper. This time, the
rumble in his chest reverberated through her and another orgasm crested, the
tremors felt all the way to her toes.

Tessa
knew without a doubt, no matter how hard she fought and pleaded with her heart,
Cooper was going to be the next man to break her. It was inevitable.

∞
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Cooper
had never been as content as he was right in that moment. Lying beside Tessa,
her soft body pressed up against him while she slept, he was sure he would
never actually find another place he’d rather be.

He
wasn’t sure what happened between them a little while ago, but he knew she felt
it too. While they made love, he had noticed something in her eyes. And it
filled a hollow void deep inside him. In fact, she had filled it to
overflowing, and he wondered whether she understood what that meant to him.

Not
in as long as he could remember had Cooper felt such a powerful hunger for any
one woman. And his need for her had nothing to do with sex either. This was
deeper. Stronger.

However
much Cooper wanted to tell her how he felt, he knew he needed to keep a lid on
his emotions. He was smarter than that. He didn’t doubt for one second that
Tessa was going to fight him every step of the way. At least once they had to
make their way back to reality. But right now, he just wanted to hold her and
never let her go.

The
moon had risen high in the sky, the soft glow sliding over Tessa’s smooth,
golden skin. Pressing a kiss to her shoulder, he pulled her closer as he
inhaled deeply. This woman was getting to him.

Not
that he deserved her.

He
knew his time was running out. His reality was going to descend on him and this
sleepy little town before long. There would probably be reporters crawling out
of the woodwork. He didn’t particularly care if they found him, but he knew
once they did, they’d start digging around. They would want to know more about
the people he was spending his time with. Namely Tessa.

As
soon as word got out that he had found a woman, they would be itching for a
story. And yes, he was certain they would find out about her because even if he
wanted to, he would never be able to deny what he was feeling for Tessa. Hell,
it was probably written all over his face.

But
he didn’t want Tessa to get caught in the crossfire. Although she hadn’t told
him everything about herself, it was clear she was holding something back from
him. Hiding something that she didn’t want him to know about, and no matter
what it was, she considered it big. Regardless what that was, he knew the
tabloids would have a field day when it came to digging into her past, dredging
up the pain that she had been through already just because he was with her.

And
again, his selfish side was roaring to the front. As much as he wanted to
shield her from all of that, Cooper didn’t want to let her go. He didn’t want
to risk losing her. But he knew Marcus was going to show up soon. Even if he
didn’t admit he was running, Cooper knew it appeared that way.

And
they would find him. Which meant he better be prepared when that time came.