Page 53 of Clinch'd

“Min?” he asks softly, and I turn my head sideways. “Are you okay?”

Nodding, I murmur, “Yeah.”

“But?”

“Nothing,” I say with a shrug, “it’s just not a nice story.”

“They never are,” he says, pulling me around and tipping my head back to search my eyes.

With a gentle smile, he kisses my nose and says, “Do you want to talk about it?”

My heart clenches and I avert my gaze because the last person to ask me something similar was the foster parent I ran away from and this because I couldn’t look her in the eye and feel the aching bewildering emotion, I now know was hope.

Now I’m older and wiser but the words still stick in my mouth. Slowly, carefully I whisper, “She was murdered.”

Images of that day cascade through my brain in a montage of color and sound I don’t want to relive. I suppress a shudder as he tightens his hold around me and drops his forehead to mine, saying gutturally, “I’m sorry, baby.”

“Me too,” I say, and shake my head. “How did this turn so solemn? I thought we were here to swim?”

Accepting my change of topic gracefully, his mouth curls into a wicked smile and he lifts me into his arms before walking toward the pool.

“No,” I shriek, grabbing onto his shoulders.

He just laughs, but my stomach clenches because I recognize the same deadness behind his eyes as when he fights. I have no time to focus on it though before he’s jumped into the pool.

The cold cocoon of water wraps around my limbs but his warm arms keep me grounded as we emerge with a splash. When I climb up his body, he pulls me close and runs his hands over my ass, growling, “So fucking hot.”

“Coop,” I moan, and he lifts me into his arms, carrying me into the cabana, where he closes the curtains behind him and drops me on the bed. With wide eyes, I watch as he sheds his shorts and crouches between my legs before sliding into me gently.

Slowly, carefully, he fucks me while he stares into my eyes and when we both come, my cries are muffled by his warm mouth against mine.

I’m thoroughly exhausted and sore but I can’t deny the glow as I pull on my heels and admire my dress in the mirror.

With the sunshine from the pool where Cooper and I spent the day lazing around and fucking, I have a nice bronze tint to my skin.

The white dress that falls to my knees and shows my tits through a provocative slit down the middle, hugs my curves sexily.

I can’t contain my dreamy smile as I pull my hair back into a slick ponytail and apply light makeup. I’m flying high after my day with Coop and after sharing my darkest secrets, I feel closer to him than ever.

He spent the day making me feel, and my body still buzzes from the contact but it’s the way he looked into my eyes that has me all floaty and light.

Gone is the dark look and distance I’ve come to abhor and in its place a man with a beautiful smile and silly demeanor.

I’m meeting Beast in the bar downstairs, so I sit in a booth and order a drink because for once I’m early. Cooper is meeting up with me later and I’m already burning in anticipation.

He has a fight tonight and although I’d like to be there, I also know how hard it is to watch him get pummeled, so I was grateful to pass.

“Hey,” Beast says gruffly.

“Hey,” I say with a smile that he doesn’t return.

Okay, still a grumpy bastard then.

With a silent sigh, I finish my drink and follow him to the limo. I’m expecting a quiet ride which is why I jump when he turns to me and says fiercely, “Don’t catch feelings, Minnie. Keep your head in the game.”

“I-I am,” I stutter, my eyes wide but a lump forms in my stomach.

Beast is right. I’m caught up and I don’t even know what the game is beyond that I’m fucked if I don’t comply with whatever is coming next.

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