Plush Book 4: A Billionaire Romance (8 page)

“I don’t know, eight or nine, probably.” I grabbed my backpack and dug to the bottom for the pair of pajama pants and tank top I’d packed. I slipped into the bathroom and changed behind the door. When I reappeared, Cooper was staring at me, still lying back on the bed. “I can sleep downstairs,” I offered. “The couch pulls out.”

“Why would you do that?” Cooper snapped, sitting up all the way.

I picked at the lace edge of the tank top, tugging it down to cover the sliver of skin that was exposed. “Because
this
feels weird right now. I don’t know what to say to you.”

Cooper took a deep breath and then set aside the book that was in his lap and patted a spot on the bed. “Come here.”

My feet were anchored in place. “We need to talk about this, Cooper.”

“What do you think I’m trying to do?” He asked, an edge of frustration creeping into his tone.

I rolled my eyes. “Let’s just say, you have a habit of
solving
arguments with sex.”

To my surprise, he chuckled under his breath. “Come here, Allie.”

I threw my hands in the air and then crossed over and sat where he gestured. I tucked my legs underneath me and faced him, taking a moment to study his face. In some weird way, it was like seeing him for the first time in a long time. Life had been so crazy lately we hadn’t had much time to really connect and just
be
. “I’m sorry about being bitchy to you at the hospital. When I first got there and saw you, I was shocked, but also really, really happy. The fact that you left the office and came all the way over here just for me means a lot to me, and I’m sorry I didn’t express that.” I paused, fidgeting with my fingers, unsure of how to bring up the next thing I knew I needed to address. I looked up into Cooper’s expectant face, as though he knew I was brewing something else. “As for the shower stuff, I don’t know. I was upset about a lot of things. I’m still figuring out where that all came from.”

Cooper took my hands in his, stilling the nervous wiggling, and pulled them into his lap. “Allie, I want you to be happy. That’s it. What is it that you want?”

I nibbled the corner of my lip, considering what he’d asked. There were so many possible answers to a seemingly simple question. I wanted my dad to wake up and be okay. I wanted my brother Luke to stop being such a douche-bag. I wanted things to go back the way they were when Cooper and I had first got together. The last thing on the list was the hardest to explain, mostly because I couldn’t pinpoint exactly where things had gone off the rails, all I knew was that things had shifted and it was easier to disengage than it was to try and untangle it all.

“Allie, what do you want? I need to know,” Cooper repeated. His voice was firm, but gentle.

“I want to stop fighting and go back to being
us
.”

Cooper smiled and pulled me against his chest. He swiped back a stray section of my hair and tucked it behind my ear as my cheek rested on his chest, letting the steady sound of his heart still my own. “That’s what I want too, baby.”

I smiled slightly and basked in the warmth from the spark of hope that sprung to life. It was almost as though I hadn’t fully realized how much I’d missed him, until I was tucked so firmly in his arms again, breathing in his familiar scent, and letting his strength and confidence soak into my skin.

He held me for a long time, both of us relaxing into each other, neither feeling the need for words.

After a while, he shifted, pulling me with him further onto the bed. He leaned down, running his lips along the edge of my jaw line, and my body roared to life. “Now, let’s get to doing what we do best. Hot make up sex,” Cooper growled into my ear.

I laughed, but the sound quickly turned to a low moan as his fingers slipped under the edge of my tank top and teased the pillow soft curves of my cleavage. I covered my mouth, stifling the sound as I remembered—with a flash of embarrassment— my mom and brother could be nearby.

“Cooper—my—family—” He ignored my soft protests, and found the edge of my nipple that was already hard with desire, and I hissed in a gasp of pleasure as my entire body lit on fire at his skilled fingertips.

“Go lock the door, then get your fine ass back over here,” Cooper said, his voice low and seductive.

I giggled and jumped up to go flick the lock on the doorknob. I turned back and watched as he stood and pulled his shirt off, over his head with a single swipe. I’d seen him in the buff a hundred times, and yet, every time he had a way of taking my breath away. I let my eyes linger over every perfectly carved inch, and sucked in a breath as my stomach turned and flipped over. A series of shivers burst into full on fireworks as he unbuttoned the fly on his jeans and began pushing the denim down, lower and lower, revealing the v-lines on either side that I knew led to his magnificently perfect cock. I stared as he shucked off the jeans and kicked them aside. He was still wearing his navy blue boxer briefs, but they did little to hide his arousal.

“Hey, baby, this isn’t a party for one, your turn,” he said, jutting his chin in my direction before flashing a devilish smile that was dripping with suggestion. “Take it off. Every, last, thing.”

I slipped my thin tank top over my head and let it slide down to the floor in slow motion as Cooper watched me, loving the way his eyes went wide and dark. No matter how many times he had me, he always had a way of making me feel like it was the first time, he never rushed and always soaked in every inch of my body, making me forget my flaws and imperfections. He had a way of making me see myself through his eyes, and it was like getting drunk on power and desire when he looked at me with those eyes.

I imitated his earlier performance as I stepped out of my pajama pants, and spun a little so he could see the black lace boyshort panties I’d been hiding underneath.

“Niiiice,” he said, throwing me a wink. “More. I need more. Allie, baby, let me see you.”

I flashed him a naughty smile and took extra time unclasping the lacy plum colored bra before slipping the straps down my arms, freeing one, and then the other, all the while keeping the cups clasped to my chest, hiding my breasts just long enough to drive him crazy. When I finally dropped the lacy garment aside, revealing myself to him, he groaned and crossed the room, sweeping me into a deep, hot kiss. He devoured me with his lips and tongue, leaving me panting and breathless all at once.

“You didn’t let me finish my striptease,” I giggled, when he finally let me catch my breath.

He looked down into my eyes. “I thought I’d give you a hand…”

“Mmm. That works for me,” I answered, smiling at him. I loved the way he made my heart palpitate and my pussy clench with anticipation. He picked me up easily and carried me to the bed. He tossed me gently and I landed with a soft squeal as he lowered himself to me and began a series of slow, hot, kisses along the side of my neck. He worked his way over my collarbone, teasing and sculpting every inch with the tip of his tongue. I arched my back against the bed, the rest of my body screaming for attention. His mouth found my breasts, lavishing every inch with soft kisses, before teasing my tight nipples. He nipped at the sensitive flesh and I bit back a loud moan. Cooper slid down my body, his own brushing lightly against my skin, until his mouth was hovering over the thin layer that separated us. His breath was hot and scorched through my panties. I squirmed and reached for the elastic waist, desperate to remove the final barrier to the pleasure I knew Cooper could deliver, but he stopped my hands and pinned them at my sides, letting his mouth be the only thing touching me.

He teased my navel and the soft skin below with his lips, dragging them down, but stopping just short. I sucked in a sharp breath and arched my hips.

“Cooper,” I sighed. “Please, baby, it’s been so long.”

He released my hands and I dug them into his thick, dark hair, barely resisting the urge to press his face against my throbbing pussy. “Look at me,” Cooper said, his voice low and husky.

I opened my eyes and found him staring up at me, his mouth just at the edge of my panties. I watched as he ran his hands down the insides of my thighs, and then slipped his finger under the lace trim. I gasped and arched back.

“Keep your eyes open, Allie. I want to watch you. I want to see your face when you come.”

I did as he asked, and although my body was shuddering and bucking as he began a smooth, pulsing rhythm with his fingers between my lips, I kept my eyes locked with his, each of us finding a mirror of our own excitement in the other’s face. I arched back, ready to come, but he stopped me short and I sagged back to the bed, my body flooded with pulsing waves of need. He stripped the panties from me, leaving me naked in front of him. I kept my eyes trained on him as he inspected me, watching him take in every inch of my body.

Then, ever so slowly, he spread me open and lowered his mouth to me, immediately taking my clit between his lips. I gasped and my entire body went rigid and my eyes went wide. Cooper lifted his eyes and I nearly came all over his face at the intensity that passed between us with that simple contact.

He twirled his lips around my throbbing clit, each tug taking me closer and closer to explosion. When I bucked back, he slipped his wet fingers deep inside me and stroked the tender spot along the wall, throwing me into another realm entirely. My body was still trembling and shuddering with release when he stood from his knees and stripped off his underwear, freeing his rock hard cock. I stared unabashedly at his perfect body, my stomach flipping over as he neared again. I spread my legs wide for him, begging him to enter me, and with a wicked smile, he did just that. All it took was one firm thrust, and my body instantly conformed, as though it had memorized the shape and feel of his cock. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that my body was made for Cooper’s delight, and that his had been made for mine. We were a perfect fit and the rhythm we found together was more incredible than anything I could have ever imagined.

He pulsed deeper and deeper, pulling my thighs tighter around his hips as he sank in. When I had my heels locked behind him, he reached between us and played with my clit, rolling it between his fingertips as he thrust into me over and over again. I arched back, my body getting tighter and tighter with each pulse. “Cooper,” I moaned, before gritting my teeth to keep from screaming out his name as he brought me to the edge again. He thickened inside of me and I bit my lip hard, the pain mixing with the pleasure, as we built to a final rush together.

He finished inside of me and I clung to him as he came to rest beside me, our breathing in ragged gasps and pants. I brushed away a stray hair that was stuck to his forehead, slick with his sweat. “God, I hate it when you’re right,” I said when I finally could manage words.

Cooper pulled back slightly and arched a brow.

“These things are best solved with sex,” I explained, matching his wicked smile.

Allie’s dad woke up the next afternoon, and after a brief introduction, I left her and her family to have some private time and went back to the house. Back in Allie’s room, the memories of the night before rushed back to me, filling me with a mixture of emotions. The harsh comments she’d made during our argument in the shower were still haunting me, and even though we’d come together for an explosive night of passion after she’d apologized, the words wouldn’t get out of my head—and neither did the feelings they’d evoked.

Perhaps the most chilling of all, was the small seed of doubt. I would deny her accusations all day long, and say whatever it was I thought would reassure her of my feelings for her, but somewhere in the back of my mind, there was now a nagging voice asking if maybe there wasn’t some truth to what she’d said. Since the moment I’d seen Allie—and definitely from the first conversation with her—I’d known she was a firecracker. She wasn’t afraid of anything—at least, that’s how it looked from the outside—and never backed down from a challenge. Her rough and tumble personality had been such a huge turn on, making the chase to get her even more exhilarating, but now…in what I hoped would be a long term relationship, I was struggling to see how our strong personalities would ever fully co-exist with each other. Would it always be this way? A constant source of tension and frustration? I couldn’t imagine my life without her. I didn’t even want to try. But, at the same time, as it was, were we really happy? Could you have a happily ever after without the happy?

Granted, in terms of relationships, this was my first real attempt to be with a woman for more than a week, so who was I to judge? In all my wild oats years, I’d apparently lost all grip on what is, and therefore isn’t, normal. If there was such a thing.

I went for a long run, taking in the sights of the small town, many of them familiar because of Allie’s mother’s animated descriptions from dinner the night before. When I returned to the house, I was drenched with sweat, but the thoughts and worries were all there waiting for me as soon as I went back to Allie’s room.

I took a quick shower and threw on a pair of gym shorts before sitting down on the edge of the bed and dialing Angela’s number. She answered on the second ring with a chirpy “Hey big bro!”

I smiled, thankful for the warmth and energy in her voice. After months of seeing her weak and beat down with disease, it was nearly enough to bring tears to my eyes to have her happy and healthy again, sounding like her old self. “Hey Angie, whatcha up to?”

“I’m actually going on an audition this afternoon,” she exclaimed.

My smile froze in place. “Oh, wow. Congrats,” I said, trying to infuse an air of enthusiasm I didn’t quite feel. Even though she
sounded
like her old self, she was still recovering, and I didn’t want anything to upset her miraculous progress.

“Jeeze, try to sound a little happier about it,” Angela scoffed. “It’s a small role, but I really like the script, and I think it would be the perfect project to get me back in the game.”

I hesitated, I’d really called her to talk about Allie and get her advice, but since the conversation had been started, I knew I needed to tell her my thoughts. “I’m happy for you, Angie. I just want to make sure you don’t get in over your head and have a setback. You know how it gets, even on small sets, it’s long, relentless hours with little to no down time and it gets hard to find time for things like working out, eating right, and all the things that are essential to you making a full recovery.”