Page 35 of Tides of Discovery
“‘I’m steaming hot for you’?” My voice dropped into the husky range. Was I giving too much away?
Cooper’s eyes darted to mine, a flash of heat in them that made my throat go dry. “That…works,” he said, his voice rougher than before.
“‘Love you a latte’?” I continued, trying to keep us on track despite the sudden charge in the air.
“Classic,” Cooper agreed, still holding my gaze. “Another one?”
“‘Espresso your love,’” I said softly. The words felt far too honest leaving my lips.
Something shifted in Cooper’s expression—a softening, a questioning, as if he’d heard the truth behind the suggestion. For a moment, I thought he might address it, might acknowledge the implications running beneath my ideas.
But then the buzzer announced our food delivery, and the moment shattered.
We ate at my small dining table and continued to refine our list of phrases, discarding some and adding others. The awkwardness had returned, though, an undercurrent ofawareness that made every accidental brush of hands or meeting of eyes feel significant.
Cooper kept looking at me when he thought I wouldn’t notice, his gaze lingering on my mouth or hands. Each time I caught him, he’d quickly glance away, but the pattern was undeniable.
He was thinking about our kiss, too.
The knowledge sent a surge of hope through me I couldn’t quite contain. Perhaps I had a real chance of showing him that what we had was too good to let slip away when our four weeks were up.
By the time we’d completed our list and Cooper had sketched a rough design for the sleeves, it was nearing nine o’clock. He gathered his notebook and stood. He stretched in a way that made his Henley ride up, revealing a strip of skin above his jeans.
I looked away quickly and gathered our takeout containers to hide my greedy reaction.
“This is going to be great,” Cooper said, genuine excitement in his voice. “I can get proofs in a couple of days and delivery by Valentine’s Day.”
“Sounds good.” I walked him to the door, closer than I normally would. Our shoulders brushed with each step, and warmth radiated between us. “Figuring this out was fun.”
“It was.” Cooper hesitated at the threshold, indecision clear on his face. “Jack,” he began, then paused. He seemed to search for words.
“Yeah?” My stomach fluttered, butterflies taking flight.
“Could we…I mean, would it be okay…” He gestured between us. A flush crept up his neck.
The want in Cooper’s eyes was unmistakable—raw and hungry and directed entirely at me. My heart slammed against my ribs so hard I was certain he could hear it, and hope blazedthrough my chest like wildfire. This wasn’t part of our careful bargain. This wasn’tIt’s no big deal.Cooper McKay wanted to kiss me again, and the realization sent every nerve ending in my body into overdrive. If he wanted this—really wanted this—then maybe I had a real shot. Maybe these four weeks could become something more, something that could last beyond any deadline we’d foolishly set. “If we both want it…”
He nodded.
I stepped closer, and my demanding body revealed exactly how I felt about him. Cooper’s breath hitched as I raised a hand to his cheek and cradled his face gently. I leaned in to press my lips to his.
The moment our lips met, Cooper made a small sound in the back of his throat. His arms wrapped around my waist.
Any restraint I possessed dissolved. I backed him against the door. One hand slid to his waist while the other tangled in his hair.
Cooper’s tongue traced the seam of my lips, and I opened to him with a low groan. The kiss turned ravenous, no longer anything resembling taking things slowly, but something far more primal and honest.
After a long moment, we finally broke apart, both of us breathing hard. Cooper’s pupils were blown. Our bodies strained toward each other despite the small space we’d put between us.
“That was…” Cooper’s voice was wrecked, his lips reddened from our kiss.
“Yeah.” I struggled to gather the scattered pieces of my self-control. If we didn’t stop now, I wouldn’t be able to stop at all. And as much as my body screamed for more, I needed to be smart about this. I couldn’t risk rushing him or scaring him away. I wanted to convince him honestly, to take the time to show him how good we could be together, to let him discover his feelings naturally rather than pushing too hard, too fast.
“You should go,” I said, the words physically painful to utter. “Before…”
I didn’t finish the sentence, but understanding flashed across Cooper’s face, followed by something that looked unexpectedly like disappointment. He hesitated, as if wanting to say something or perhaps to push me back into the living room and continue what we’d started.
Then he nodded. “I’ll text you when I get the proofs,” he said, his voice still not entirely steady.
