Eli shakes his head and walks out.

“Well f**k!”

23

I run back to the table, stumbling along the way. I knew I should have never listened to Eli. My heart was trying to tell me that it wouldn’t work but my brain didn’t seem to care, I’d have tried anything.

I grab my purse from the booth and dash out of the club without saying goodbye to anyone. I walk past the bouncers who are talking among themselves. I walk around the corner of the building so that I’m out of sight before the tears start. Digging into my purse, I find my cell phone and swipe the screen to unlock it, then click on the internet icon and look up a number for a cab company.

No way can I face Eli after that shit show and Cooper is just out of the question. Just thinking about it pisses me off to the point I’m scowling at nothing.

I also don’t dare think to call Hunter because he’d just lose his shit and I know he’s trying to stay out of our mess. Hailey and Mason are too busy to bother. My mom’s in bed since it’s so late. The only choice I have is to call for a cab.

I call the first place I find, holding the phone up to my ear with a shaking hand. It rings once, twice and then my phone is pulled from my hand. I spin and my face is inches away from Cooper’s. He’s so close that all I would need to do is purse my lips and we’d be kissing.

“I’m sorry,” he says, watching me closely, his eyes scanning my face, lips, eyes, everywhere.

I take a deep breath, “I can’t believe you, Cooper. After everything…” I take a step back so that I can get my wits about me. “After everything we’ve been through do you honestly think I would go after your friend? I’m trying to move on Cooper, you let me go.”

Cooper’s head falls forward and his shoulder’s slump. “I f**ked up.”

I roll my eyes, “You can say that again.”

We stand there, not looking at each other for a long few minutes.

Cooper’s hand grazes mine. “Come home with me?”

I yank my hand away, pissed that he’s jumped to conclusions. I fold my arms across my chest and turn my back to him.

After a minute or two Cooper presses his large muscular body against my back. “I’m sorry. I f**ked up. Come home with me so that we can talk about this in private.” He says softly against my ear.

I can’t fight against him. Not when it’s him that I really want. With hesitation, I slowly nod my head and agree to leave with him. I have no idea what will happen once we go back to his house but I’m willing to at least see.

When we arrive at Cooper’s I’m a ball of nerves. I can’t sit still, I’m jumpy and the butterflies in my stomach are making me feel sick.

We’ve barely talked since opening night of Fierce. I don’t know what more there is to say to each other. He can’t move on, I can’t live in the past.

Cooper unlocks the door and allows me to walk in first. I head towards the living room but he grabs my hand. He’s leading me towards the bedroom. I can’t go in there.

I dig my heels into the carpet, “Uh, I’m not going in there.”

Cooper yanks me towards him and I collide into his strong chest. “You are.” He states.

I hate his tone. I pull my arm back. “I’m not.”

We’re at an impasse; one of us has to give in and it’s not going to be me. Cooper stares intently at me, trying to make me feel small, but I’m not backing down.

He looks up to the ceiling and sighs, “We need to talk. I need…” Cooper swallows hard. “I need the real and raw side of you. I can’t have you hiding from me.” Cooper takes a step closer to me. “Please.” He begs.

I look down to the floor as a war wages inside me. I’ll be damned if I don’t and damned if I do. He’s the only one that can put my broken heart back together again but he can also smash it into pieces and it’ll never be whole again. I’ll never be able to live with ‘the what ifs’ so I give in.

“Don’t make me regret it.”

“You have my word.”

I take the first step forward to his room. When I walk in, I flip the light switch on like no time has ever passed. This room is comfortable, a safe haven for me. Or at least it was.

I place my purse down on the bed and slip my shoes off before sitting on the bed near the end. Cooper shuts the door behind him and kicks off his shoes. He walks over to his dresser and places his keys, phone and wallet on it. He turns to look at me over his shoulder.

“Strip.”

I involuntary shiver. It’s such a little word with such a powerful punch.

I’m not caving in that easy. He needs to work for this. I look down at my finger nails, acting like I didn’t hear what he said.

Cooper growls, “Jay,” I raise my eyebrows and look over at him. “Strip.”

I shake my head.

Cooper stomps across the room and lifts my chin up, “Strip. I’m not asking again or I’ll do it myself.”

I bite the corner of my lip, secretly loving the authority that’s rolling off him. “You strip.” I toss back at him.

His eyes go wide and dark, “Fine.”

And just like that he gave into me. Isn’t that what I wanted before?

Cooper reaches behind him and pulls his shirt off and tosses it on the floor beside me. My eyes roam from his well-defined V, across the valley of his abs, to his impressive pecs, and my jaw drops to the floor. My ring, my trust ring, is hanging from his gold chain.

I stand up and clasp it in my hand and Cooper’s hand reaches up to cover mine. He doesn’t look at me, but looks down at our hands before letting go and undoing his jeans. They fall to floor with the rest of the clothes.

I haven’t let go of the ring, I feel like my hand is super glued there. He’s had a piece of me everywhere he’s gone.

“Strip.” Cooper urges with a nod.

I jump, lost in my own world. I let go of the ring, unbutton my blouse and wiggle out of my jeans.

We are both standing before each other in our underwear. Cooper entwines our fingers together and leads me to the bed. He pulls back the covers and allows me to climb in. I scoot over to the middle and wait for him. After a little moving around on both of our parts we finally fit together like a puzzle piece.

Cooper nuzzles his nose in my neck and whispers the three words I’ve been longing to hear. “I love you.” Cooper kisses my jaw. “I love you so f**king much it hurts to breathe, Jay.”