“Any person would be lucky to have you, Cooper,” he continued, oblivious to my turmoil. “But you deserve to find the right person.” Suddenly, an insecure smile spread as he dipped his head. “Don’t waste time looking in the wrong places.”
Every argument within me cowered. Every ounce of logic sailed off the side of the ship. The result caused me to clumsily press my mouth against his, adjust my jerky move, and then engage him in a slow, measured kiss. I could easily blame my inebriated state as to why I closed the distance between us, but that would be a lie.
At first his lips barely responded, but then they became more demanding with each second that passed before his own logic kicked in. It took longer than I’d expected. Wide-eyed, he stepped away, while every breath heaving through his chest mimicked mine.
Like a switch within him had been flipped, his expression instantly hardened. “I’m not your science project,” he said condescendingly. “If you’re looking to experiment, you can find some other sap who’s equally as confused as you.” He closed the distance again, bringing his face inches from mine. “Someone you can kiss.” His eyes briefly cut down to my cock as a fingertip traced its form. “Someone you can convince to suck your dick.” I wanted to ignore his insinuation, but my cock wouldn’t listen.
Humiliated, I shoved him away. “Leave me the fuck alone,” I said through gritted teeth, hating him for rejecting me… hating myself more for giving him the opportunity.
With heavy steps, I snatched the bottle from where I left it earlier and took my pity party for one back to my cabin.
What felt like five minutes later, someone shoved my shoulder while saying, “Wake up, Sleeping Beauty.”
I bolted upright, wincing from the hatchet that seemed to be buried in the center of my head. And while naked and aroused, it slowly registered that I was in my cabin, and Ricky was hovering above me.
“What the fuck? How did you get in?”
“That’s the thanks I get for saving your ass again, princess?” he asked before plopping in a chair facing me. “The door was open.”
Shit. I remembered fumbling to get in, taking a much-needed piss, passing out, and then the rest was blank.
“You undressed me?”
“No. That you did yourself. I found you naked and on the floor.” As his eyes devoured my bare torso, a fucking shudder traveled through me, and he noticed in the way he snapped his eyes back to mine. “Nice tattoo, by the way.” My hand instinctively covered the image of an open journal on my hip. “Are you an open book, Cooper?”
Ignoring him, I barked, “What the fuck do you want?”
“You have a wedding to get to, asshole.” Apparently, the arrogant prick act was back again with a vengeance.
“What time is it?”
“Nine.” When his response registered, hurtling myself out of bed quickly reminded me why I had practically missed my brother’s wedding. “Fuck!” I slammed my eyes shut and pressed on my temples, searching for relief from my pain, from his presence.
None came.
Realizing the sheet was left behind me, I snatched it to cover myself. “Can you leave?”
“Once you take these.” Two pills sitting in his palm came into focus. He dropped them into my outstretched hand before passing me a bottle of water. As I obeyed, he watched me, crossing his arms with a smirk. “You’re going to feel like shit, but you’ll feel worse if you disappoint Sam. So take a cold shower…” He paused to focus on the hard-on tenting the sheet draped over my crotch. “And drag your sorry ass out on deck dressed and ready to perform your best man duties.” Not bothering to allow me a response, he walked out of my cabin, ensuring he slammed the door shut a bit more forcibly than necessary.
“Prick,” I groaned, holding my head in another attempt to stop the pounding. Pieces of the night before began coming together… the drinking, he and I out on deck, a kiss, the way he traced my arousal. “Motherfucker.” I was stuck on that damn boat for three more days, and I truly had no idea how I’d be able to escape him.
It was all so ridiculous. It wasn’t like I could hide in my cabin for the rest of the week. At some point I needed to address what was happening. This went beyond another failed relationship. This went beyond feeling lonely. No man had ever gotten under my skin as Ricky had managed to, and I could pretend to despise him all I wanted, but I couldn’t will my body not to react.
I wanted to blame him for my uncertainty. It wasn’t his fault. He may have opened a door that held back so many denials, but he hadn’t created them. That was all me. Yet, as I tried to pick apart what it was that caused my muddled logic, I couldn’t come up with an answer.
I liked women. I appreciated the female form, the curve of a hip, the swell of a breast. I’d been aroused without issue whenever intimate with a woman.
Why did my body thrum in an unfamiliar way every damn time he so much as looked at me?
I had no answer… and because of that I’d need to avoid him. Until I figured it out, I would need to force myself to push through the confusing thoughts that I couldn’t seem to escape since stepping foot on that damn ship.
With great difficulty, I dragged my “sorry ass” into the cold shower he suggested that I take and managed to get ready without dying.
Just as I ran my fingers through my still-damp hair, a knock sounded. On an audible sigh, I opened the door to Rebecca. Seeing me dressed and ready, the worried expression smoothed out. “How bad are you hungover?”
“Not bad,” I lied, yet again. Digging deep past my misery, I took a moment to appreciate my sister’s radiance in a flowy pale-pink cocktail dress. “You look gorgeous, Ms. Matron of Honor.”
“And you look very handsome, Mr. Best Man. Ready to play our parts?”
“More than ready.” I then offered my arm with a smile. “Showtime.”
Chapter Seven
Ricky
If I bit the inside of my cheek to stop from laughing any harder, I’d draw blood. It was hilarious how he wouldn’t so much as look at me, and what was even funnier was how I’d become the villain in his reality.
Okay, maybe I deserved his ire a tiny bit, but someone had to be honest with the guy. In all fairness, I wasn’t sure anyone else even knew he was living a lie. There was no way Rebecca did. She would’ve brought it up at some point. And up until he boarded this ship, it had been only a theory of mine. Now… well, now I didn’t have a doubt in my mind.
Cooper Stanton may like women… but he also liked men.
He played the hetero part extremely well. In fact, it seemed he was always performing in some way or another. I watched amused as he managed to act the role of best man during the ceremony, as during the reception he made yet another mushy toast filled with romance innuendos and humorous backstories. And even as he danced with his sister Janis, that constant smile remained plastered on his face like a mask.
On the outside, Cooper appeared the laid-back, groovy English lit professor he wanted everyone to believe he was. It was when he thought no one paid attention when a line would crease his forehead and his shoulders would stiffen.