Saving Each Other (BWWM Romance) (20 page)

Chapter 9

The next few days passed without incident.

One night Faith was sitting in her room, in her long satin gown and brushing her hair slowly. With a sigh, Faith suddenly smiled when an idea came to her. Walking around the room, she found her sewing kit and pulled out some sharp scissors. Walking over to the mirror, she went to work trimming her hair until it all fell right under her chin. She even decided to give herself some bangs for something new.

She turned and twisted her head around in the mirror a few times and decided she was happy with her work. She went back to brushing her hair and thought about Cooper’s response. Would he like it? She took a moment to look at herself in the mirror with more scrutiny. Was there anything he would like about her? She knew she wasn’t anything like Miss Wilson. She was really on the shorter side. She also knew she was a little more filled out than Miss Wilson. She had never worn heels that high before, so she couldn’t even try to pull off an outfit like that.

Frustrated, she put her brush down and frowned. What difference did it make anyway? He was getting married and it was best she try to forget all about him…and what she felt for him.

Suddenly there was a knock at her door. Startled, she walked over and leaned against it, not opening it.

“Who’s there?” She whispered.

“It’s Cooper, I just got home and was wondering if you wanted to join me for some tea. Linda made some scones and…well I wanted to know if you’d like to join me?” He stammered slightly.

She could feel her heart beating faster. Knowing what she should do, she responded, “I’d like that, I’ll meet you down in the kitchen in a few moments. I...have to get dressed.” So much for doing the right thing. She put on her matching robe and slippers and after one last glance at herself, she headed downstairs.

Cooper worked at setting up the cups and saucers as he waited. He laid out the simple fare on the table top and sat and waited for her. He had tried to stay away, to avoid her, and what she had said that night. He sat lost in thought for a moment until he saw her. As always, he smelled the scent of honeysuckle before he actually saw her.

As always, he was unprepared for the effect she had on him. She was in all silk and walked in front of the light, it was almost angelic. She had cut her hair, it now framed her face and she was, as always, beautiful. But she was also too good for him. He grimaced and stood up as she came in.

“I like your hair.” He said it without thinking and he enjoyed her slight embarrassment as she tried to hide as she reacted to his words.

“Thanks, it was a mess. This helps I think.” She reached up and touched the ends subconsciously. She sat down and admired how nicely he had arranged everything. They enjoyed tea and made small talk for a while. He was rarely in this relaxed state and she enjoyed it when he was like this.

“I’m not complaining, but you’re in such good spirits tonight, anything new causing it?” She smiled warmly at him.

“Yes actually, I’m finally wrapping up a large project at work and it’s nice to have the weight off my back is all.” He poured her some more tea.

“Well good I’m glad for you, Cooper.” She nibbled on another scone.

“Hmm.” He didn’t elaborate and she had to think this was an improvement of sorts.

“I'm glad you’re here, Faith, I really am, these months have been better because of you...” He was gently rubbing his thumb over her wrist. The sensation was too much but she was unable to pull away.

“Perhaps.” He released her hand and she stood to go.

“Faith...” he called after her and she stopped and turned back around.

“Yes, Cooper?”

“What do you think of Cynthia?” He leaned back in the chair.

Faith took a deep breath. “I hardly think my opinion matters.”

“It matters to me.” He watched her.

“I’m not sure to be honest. Often she seems sincere, but I don’t know what her true intentions are…something just seems off sometimes.”

He looked back towards the window. “Thank you Faith, I’ll see you tomorrow.” She turned to leave and was halfway across the room before she heard him call her name.

He wanted nothing more than to stay just like this. She raised her head to look at him and it was more than he could take. He crushed his mouth to hers. Tasting and exploring. He had wanted to kiss her since they met and it was better than he had expected. He felt her let go and he deepened the kiss. He slid both hands into her hair and pulled her head closer still. They fed on each other’s lips until finally the kiss broke.

“Cooper…”

“No, don’t talk...” He crushed his lips to hers once more.

He moved towards her like a cat chasing its prey and she backed up against the table as he moved over her. He was slow at first, he simply ran his finger across her neck, relishing at her quick intake of breath. He looked at her as he traced his finger across her chest and across the tops of her breasts. She couldn’t breathe, it was if she had never said a word. He kissed the tops of each mound lightly. He put his hands in her hair again and pulled her hard against him, crushing his mouth to hers. She was lost. The feel of his mouth, grinding into hers was a welcome one. She had tried to put up a defense against him and failed.

“You have to let go, let yourself feel all of the things I want to show you.” He kissed her mouth lightly. “If you want to say no I will, but understand if you do, I may not try again.”

She nodded yes to him as the rest of her defense slipped away. He was very matter-of-fact about things and she loved it. She felt him untie her robe and trail his fingers down her spine as it slipped to the floor. She was aware of every nerve ending in her body as his hands reached around and touched her.

“Don’t move.” It was all he told her before he began his descent.

Even in slow motion, Faith couldn’t stop the kiss, she welcomed it more than she should have and she shivered as she felt his other hand under the other side of her head. He raised back up, only once searching her face and seeing no resistance, he kissed her once more. This time deeper, longer and more demanding. She felt him cup the back of her head to tilt her towards him as the kiss intensified.

She didn’t want to fight anymore, couldn’t fight anymore. She stood and with one movement, she let her nightgown drop to the floor, leaving him speechless. She made her way over to him and he felt her tentatively put her mouth on his. This kind of forwardness was completely out of her comfort zone and he knew it.

She let him love her in a way she had never known. Most of it was undoubtedly because of his experience as a lover. She wanted to feel good, feel better. Her life was a mix of stress and planning and all she wanted was to feel something else. His skin on hers was like fire and ice and she let go, of her fears, of her stress of everything and he loved her completely. She met his every move and every action and she knew she was giving him as much as he gave her.

He lowered his pants and boxers and stood in front of her naked. She looked up to see him stand proudly.  She looked down and saw the muscles ripple across his chest and arms when he moved. He had a flat stomach that was also rippling with muscles. Her eyes traveled his happy trail of hair to reach his throbbing member and she looked head on showing no embarrassment.  Looking back up to his face she looked into his gaze.

He looked down at her and he saw the desire swirling in her eyes. He lowered himself to lie beside her as his hands traveled over her body. He caressed everywhere. Gliding his hand up, he captured her breast in his hand and brought it to his mouth to lick it then suck the nipple into his mouth. He heard her gasp and smiled against her. She was delicious but he wanted to taste all of her. Leaning over her, he balanced himself on his left arm and elbow as he ran his hand down over her stomach, using his pointer finger to circle her belly button. At her soft moan, his hand traveled further. He took her mouth in a deep kiss as his hand traveled further to find that special bud of nerves and desire. He rubbed it with the tip of his finger then dipped it even lower to insert one finger inside her. Stroking, he added another finger. She was moaning into his mouth and he spread her legs wide so he could settle inside her. He looked down inside her eyes and smiled. She was panting deeply and her eyes were half closed in desire.

He ran his finger over her clit. Faith was swimming in ecstasy with heat spreading over her body. She didn’t know what to do. Her hands were gripping the table and moaning as she tossed her head back and forth. “Please. I need you now.”

He slowly slid back up her body kissing it on the way. He positioned himself at her entrance and kissed her deep. She moaned deep as he pushed inside her to the hilt. She felt fuller than she had ever felt before.  She broke the kiss to suck his ear lobe into her mouth. Moving her hands up, she dug her fingers into his back as he started to move. There was something building deep inside her and she couldn’t fight it. Heat spread up through her body. She looked up at him as he increased his speed. He reached his hand under her leg to grab behind her knee and lifted it up for a better angle.

He moaned deep and heard her throaty moan before she arched her back and climaxed. He followed her shortly after. They lay entwined in each other’s arms. She wasn’t sure what had happened really, they managed to go from one extreme to the next and she was unsure about… well everything. She was sure he had no interest in her, yet lying here now proved otherwise. She wanted him, and she wanted more from him than just this. She felt herself getting tired and felt him carry her while she drifted off.

Chapter 10

She awoke the next morning to find herself alone in bed. Looking around, she instantly became disappointed. More so in herself than in him. She had thrown herself at him and been careless at that.

Neither of them could talk to each other for the next couple weeks. Both avoiding the topic at hand. After the third week she knew she would have to make a decision.

She would have to leave…it was as simple as that. She had to go before she became a problem for him and his perfect life.

She found his study door open and she knocked. No one replied so she pushed the door open slightly and could see he was moving around in his bedroom adjacent to the study. She decided to sit on the chair and wait. What she wasn’t prepared for was the way he came out of his room. Naked to the waist, he had on gym shorts and nothing else. He was stretching out a shirt as he walked and Faith couldn’t help but look at the way his muscles moved when he walked. He really was perfect. She had to end this madness and she said his name.

“Cooper.” He turned sharply noticing she sat there. He also noticed that she had waited until he had walked the length of the room before letting him know she was there.

“Is everything okay?” He flashed her a quick smile and pulled on his shirt.

“Actually no, your mother loves you very much.” Having regained her composure, Faith stood and started pacing.

“Okay, and I love her…”

“You need to be nicer…and I don’t think she likes Cynthia very much.”

“I don’t think that’s any of your business.”

She would be lying if she said it didn’t sting…The tone of his voice after everything they had shared.

“Fine. I just wanted to tell you I'm leaving at the end of next week.” She moved to go into the garden where she could think and be alone.

She was sitting on the bench with the moonlight pouring through her hair. She was wiping her eyes until she heard him and jumped up.

“It’s just me, Faith.” He didn’t want to startle her. He sat on the bench across from her and looked at her intently. “I’m sorry, Faith, I am a fool and I’m sorry.” He leaned forward, putting his hand through his hair.

“I know you’re upset and need to be mad at someone, I understand that.” She was still looking at the flowers. She couldn’t look at him, not when she had been crying.

“No Faith…there is no excuse, I shouldn’t take it out on anyone...especially not you of all people.” He sat back up and watched her. Why wouldn’t she look at him?

“Will you forgive me? I’d love to promise I won’t fly off the handle from time to time, but I won’t say things like that to you ever again. You know it’s not true.”

“What’s not true?” She finally looked at him.

“Oh, Faith...don’t cry, don’t do that.” He jumped up and walked towards her.

She stood herself before he got to her and met him face to face.

“I’m not crying anymore, and don’t feel responsible because you’re not.” She looked up at him as a last tear slipped down her face. Unable to help it, he cupped her face in his hands, using his thumb to wipe away the tear.