Page 3 of Touch Me (Complete Collection)

He had withdrawn it. A boyfriend who she had thought she would one day marry had stolen all her savings.

She sat at the edge of the bed while Cooper brought her a blanket, and surveyed her surroundings. It was lavish. That was the word. And opulent. It looked like one of those pictures in interior decorating magazines. She glanced at Cooper’s back as he placed her suitcase next to the wall. Affection swelled unbridled in her heart. It was just like Cooper to help out an old friend. He had always had that heart.

He had grown taller, broader, and his face had changed to become what girls’ dreams were made of. But he had still not wasted a second before saying: “grab a bus and come over now!”

Tears welled in her eyes. She blamed the exhaustion once again. It was obvious he had changed more than just physically. The three-bedroom house he had grown up in had been filled to capacity with him and his four brothers. And now, he had obviously made something of himself.

The muscles in his chest rippled as he slapped his hands together, pretending to shake off dust. “There you go. What do you want to have for dinner?”

She shook her head. “I had a sandwich earlier. I want to take a nap if that’s alright.’

“Of course. It’s your room, your place, do whatever you like.” She fell back on the pillow and he leant over. His lips descended on her face and she stopped breathing, but their destination was her forehead.

Warm, masculine lips. Cooper’s lips. It didn’t feel as arousing as it was comforting. Thank God! She smiled and grabbed his hand. “Thank you, Coop.” Her voice broke and she pursed her lips. He caught the tears in her voice and smiled stiffly, clasping her hand tightly before placing it beside her.

“Nap. One hour!” He pointed meaningfully with his finger and she gave him a thumbs up sleepily. Exhaustion was clawing at her limbs and her eyelids. She fell asleep instantly, glad that her lecherous thoughts about Cooper had subsided. I had just been shocked, that’s all. I had been taken by surprise.

**

She opened her eyes and didn’t know what had woken her. “Times up!” Cooper yelled from the open doorway, and she knew she had heard that call before.

She fought the sleep dragging her in and threw her legs off the edge of the bed. She remembered Cooper’s naked torso instantly, his utter manliness, and rubbed her forehead in horrified defenselessness. She had to keep reminding herself that it was Cooper, and she couldn’t think of him that way. Hell! I had a boyfriend until this very morning. One who was the sole sexual relationship I had in my whole life. There’s a horny, lecherous, perverted demon possessing me.

“Is pizza alright?”

“Hm?” She pushed her hair off her face and Cooper stilled.

With her lips swollen, her face slightly blushed and her hair tousled, she looked exactly like he had remembered her. “You look pretty,” he blurted out and she reddened. His eyes narrowed, mocking her reaction.

I have to be bolder around him.

He had put on a shirt and a pair of blue jeans, and she was thankful for that. With his chest covered, she just had to deal with the effect his face had on her body. “You look better,” she grumbled hoarsely. If she was going to live with him for a while, she might as well get used to his abrupt, straightforward sentences. She had to be the same carefree, non-serious person she was before she landed at his apartment, jobless and broke.

“Yeah, I thought a shirt might help you concentrate on what you’re saying.”

Her lips parted in a horrified chuckle and he snickered, turning to leave. “The pizza’s getting cold,” he called out like a mom, and she slipped into the bathroom.

Splashing cold water on her face, she surveyed the bathroom in the large mirror. It was as big as her bedroom back at the place she had shared with Jason. There was a concealed shower, and a white marble bathtub sunken into the floor. The sight of it made her want to strip and plunge into it.

She patted her face dry with a fluffy white towel and stepped out. In the living room, Cooper had laid out the pizza box and two plates, along with two chilled beers.

After two slices, she sat back. He was busy annihilating his pizza slice so she used the distraction to survey his appearance. The lamp placed on a nearby table illuminated his face with its golden light, accentuating his features. His nose was strong, his chin square, and his eyebrows thick yet neat. His eyelashes cast shadows on his cheekbones and she smiled as she recalled how his brothers had always made fun of his girly lashes.

“How are your brothers?” she asked, and he wiped his lips with a tissue.

“They’re good. Dexter is the only one in the states. The rest are in Australia.”

“That’s nice.”

“What is?”

“You know, that you all found your place. Made something of yourself.”

He chewed his bite slowly. “You’ll find a job sooner than you think.”

“And how do you know?” she asked playfully.

His expression was almost stern as he swallowed the remnants of his bite. “Because I’m going to make it happen.”

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