I reach out and brush his hair to the side, heart thumping. “Because I think there’s more to us than just a one-night stand, and I don’t think I could forgive myself if I didn’t put myself out there and ask for more.” Cooper comes with baggage—it’s lurked in every moment of our conversation tonight. But he intrigues me, he makes me smile, and those are qualities that don’t come around often. So even though he has baggage, I don’t mind helping him carry it.
His smirk widens into a grin. “You just put it out there, what you want, don’t you?”
I shrug. “Why not? What’s the worst you can say? No? Well, at least I asked. It’s better than sitting around, wondering if there was ever a chance.” I move my hands to his waist, and relief wafts over me, knowing I’ve finally put it all out there. “Do you think there’s a chance?”
Taking my chin in his thumb and index finger, he brings my mouth close to his. “There’s a large chance.” And then he presses a gentle kiss across my lips. It’s like a whisper of lust—not enough pressure, and surely not the passion my body wants, but just enough to soothe me as he pulls away. “Nora, will you go out on a date with me?”
“Oh my gosh, I’m so surprised.” I widen my eyes and fan my face, which makes him chuckle. “This is just so unexpected. I’m not sure what to say.” He laughs some more and buries his head in my neck, where he presses a kiss.
“You know exactly what to say.”
Chills run up my arms and legs. “When you say it like that . . .” I move my head to the side, giving him better access. “I guess I could go out with you.”
He pulls away. “It’s not a ‘guess you can.’ I’m going to need a solid yes from those beautiful lips.”
I run my thumb over the rough scruff on his jaw. “I would love to go out with you, Cooper, under one condition.”
“What’s that?” he asks, his hands moving farther up my thighs.
“We focus on each other, not the sexual side of things.”
He slightly pulls back to look me in the eyes. “Are you proposing we go celibate for a certain amount of time?”
“Would you be opposed to that?” I ask.
“I want to hear your reasoning first before I make a decision.” His voice is teasing as he pokes my side.
“Well, we’ve already seen each other naked.”
“That’s accurate.”
“And we’ve already been carnal with each other.”
He chuckles. “Definitely carnal.”
“We’ve had each other’s private parts in each other’s mouths.”
He nods slowly. “Yup, that is carnal for sure.”
“And we both know we can make each other orgasm . . . more than a few times.”
“Another true statement. Statements that make me look incredibly good.”
“And even though I’d like to take this new body for a run,” I say, moving my fingers over his delicious abs and thick pecs, “I think it would be best that we move forward on an emotional level. You know, really get to know each other and let the carnal orgasms take a back seat for a second.”
“I appreciate your description of the kind of sex we have—makes me feel like I made a lasting impression.”
“You did. So much so that I haven’t been with anyone since,” I admit.
He grips my chin. “Me neither.”
“Seriously?” I ask, surprised.
“Seriously. Haven’t found anyone worthy enough, despite my parents’ attempts to get me out there more.” He strokes his thumb over my cheek. “Which tells me one thing—you’re special, and I would do anything to keep that something special in my life.”
“Even be celibate?” I wince.
“You know you’re more to me than a carnal night, Nora. I didn’t come to the bakery or text you because I was looking for another night. I came because I was looking for someone with a kind heart, someone who can make me laugh. Is the sex amazing with us? Fuck yes, but I think the emotional part of a relationship, the side I’ve been craving, can be so much more.”
That makes me smile.
“Well, then, it’s settled,” I say, heart full. “I’ll go out with you.”
“One more quick question about this dating thing.”
“What’s that?” I ask, wrapping my legs around his waist and bringing him close.
“This celibacy pact, does it include kissing?”
I shake my head. “No, kissing is a must, but it doesn’t go past that.”
“Okay, so we are going to get more connected while attempting to give each other a furious case of blue balls.”
“Accurate, yes.”
“Perfect.” He chuckles. “Get ready to be taunted and teased while I emotionally stimulate you.”
“Oooh, give it to me hard with that emotional stimulation.”
“I’m going to pound it into you, relentlessly, until you can’t take it anymore.”
Chuckling, I grip his cheeks and press a quick kiss to his lips. “God, I can’t wait to get emotional with you. We’re going to come so hard in each other’s minds.”
His brows rise.
“Too far?” I ask.
“Too far.” He laughs and presses another kiss to my lips as I hold him, happy about what’s to come.
CHAPTER THIRTY
FORD
“Good morning,” says Larkin’s sweet voice as she kisses my chest.
I rub my hand over her back. “Mmm, good morning.”
Her hand floats over my stomach, stirring me awake . . . everywhere. “You are aware it’s your assistant that you’re lying naked on the floor with, in a tent, in your parents’ living room, right?”
“Well aware.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
“Perfectly okay with that.” I kiss the top of her head. “Why all the questions?”
“Just making sure. Normally in situations like this, I feel like people wake up and then all of a sudden they’re, like, ‘What the hell have I done?’”
“I am thinking what the hell have I done.” Larkin stiffens next to me. “But not in the way you meant. More like . . . what the hell have I done? And why didn’t I do it sooner?”
I can feel her smile against my chest. “Smooth talker, even in the morning.”
“I try to—”
The garage door opens, and I hear Mom call out in a cheery voice, “Good morning!”
Oh.
Fuck.
I sit up straight, knocking Larkin off me with the sleeping bag. I glance down at my naked body and then look at hers. “My parents are home,” I whisper.
Her eyes widen, and she scrambles for the pillow to cover up.
“Oh my God,” she whispers back. “I’m naked in their living room.”
“We’re both naked in their living room. Shit.”
“Are you awake?” Mom calls out from the kitchen.
I scramble around, looking for my clothes. “Where are my pants?”
“Outside of the tent, on the living room floor.”