Page 51 of Tides of Discovery
“I’ve got you.” I unzipped his jeans, and he lifted his hips so I could pull his pants and briefs down to his thighs. His cock bobbed free, long and thick. I’d dreamed of its silk-on-steel feel, its musky scent, its salty taste, but the reality surpassed my fantasies. My dick throbbed as my imagination ran wild with possibilities. But for now, I’d keep things simple.
Who knew how we’d feel after we crossed this line?
I was too far gone in the moment to care.
I shoved my jeans to my thighs and lowered myself until our cocks aligned, the touch of his hot, hard dick against mine electrifying.
He groaned at the contact and took us both in hand, fully on board. He swiped our precum, used it as lube, and stroked us together.
I’d done this with other men before, but this was Cooper. I’d hungered for this for years. I nearly sailed off the couch at the feel of my best friend jacking us together. I wasn’t going to last long.
He set up a steady rhythm, and soon the telltale tingle ran down my spine. “I’m going to?—”
“Me, too.” His voice was strained as his hand flew. He shuddered, and a long moan escaped from deep within his chest. Ropes of cum shot onto his stomach. The sight sent me over the edge, and my cum joined his.
We’d made a beautiful mess.
I braced myself for misgivings, for seeing regret in Cooper’s eyes. But all I felt was satisfaction, and all I saw was…tenderness. Relief flooded through me, followed by a surge of happiness I couldn’t contain.
I cleared my throat. “Stay here.” I levered off him and shuffled to the bathroom, where I found a washcloth and wet it with warm water. I took care of myself, then returned to Cooper and gently cleaned his stomach.
“Thank you,” he murmured. But I wasn’t sure exactly what he was thanking me for. Was it for taking care of him? Or was it for something deeper—for the intimacy we’d just shared, for stepping over that invisible line we’d been dancing around? I hoped it was both.
We’d crossed a line we’d never approached before. I’d discovered how Cooper sounded when pleasure overtook him—a sound I knew I wanted to hear again.
He yawned and stretched, lazy and fluid like a cat. I glanced at my watch—it was getting late for someone with a four a.m. wake-up call. I held out my hand. “Come on, sleepyhead. Time for bed.”
He tugged up his jeans and took my hand. I helped him to his feet.
“I had fun tonight,” he said. “Even if you are terrible at bowling.”
“I'm not that terrible.”
“You scored lower than the bumpers would have given you.”
“Details.” I leaned down to kiss him one more time, quick and sweet. “Goodnight, Cooper.”
“Goodnight.”
I walked to my apartment with Cooper’s taste still on my lips and the sound of his laughter echoing in my ears. Tonight hadbeen perfect—not because I’d been the perfect boyfriend, but because I’d relaxed and been myself.
Was that enough?
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Cooper
The scent of freshly ground coffee beans filled my lungs as I prepared another shot of espresso, and I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. My hands moved through the familiar motions—tamping, locking the portafilter into place, watching the rich crema form—but my mind was elsewhere. On last night. On Jack’s laugh echoing through the bowling alley. On the way his eyes had gone dark when we’d gotten back to my place, on the feel of his hands?—
“Earth to Cooper.” Jessica’s voice cut through my reverie, and I realized I’d been standing there grinning at the espresso machine like an idiot.
“Sorry.” I cleared my throat, heat rising in my cheeks. “Just thinking.”
“About Jack, clearly.” She smirked, not looking up from where she was wiping down the counter. “You’ve been practically glowing since I got here this morning.”
I should have been worried. We’d crossed a boundary we’d carefully constructed, blown past a rule we’d set for dating. But I couldn’t find it in myself to regret it—not when it had brought us closer together, made everything feel more right.
The morning rush had died down, leaving us in that peaceful lull that always happened around ten-thirty. The soft folk music playing through the speakers mixed with the gentle hum of conversation from the handful of customers scattered around the shop. I was just starting to relax into the rhythm of the day when Jessica’s sharp intake of breath made me look up.
