Page 35 of Enticed

“A chance to hang out without alcohol involved, without having to hide around my sister. I know this sounds crazy, but I feel something here, and before you come up with excuses as to why this can’t work, let me stop you. I’m not saying let’s get married tomorrow,” her eyes widen in surprise as I put my hand up to stop her from cutting me off. “What I’m saying is, let’s explore this, see what this is. I know Liv will probably lose her shit and it might shock people, but I think we owe it to ourselves to figure out what’s here.”

Clara remains silent, stewing over my offer.

“Can we keep it between us—at least until we figure out what this is, Coop?” She finally speaks and her question catches me off-guard a bit.

“Like a secret?”

“Kinda. I mean, I don’t want to get everyone’s panties in a wad over nothing if this isn’t more than just sex. Plus, having to keep it between us makes it kind of fun, you know? Exciting,” she wiggles her eyebrows and her hand comes up to rest on my chest as she bats her eyelashes at me.

“Yeah, secrets can be fun,” I manage to choke out through the lump in my throat. “Okay, I can get on board with that,” I say, although a thousand questions start to flow through my mind.

Is she ashamed of me? Or embarrassed because I’m slightly younger than her?

Is there a time limit to this agreement? Or will we mutually agree when our arrangement has run its course?

Is this her way of protecting herself so she doesn’t get hurt?

I have more questions, but the way she’s eyeing me like she could eat me for dinner later has me pushing them all away for now.

This is a step, a move forward to figuring out our connection—and at this point, I’ll take what I can get.

“Perfect. Well, I guess I’ll see you later, Cooper,” she smiles smugly before planting a kiss on my cheek and reaching to unlock her door.

“What, I don’t get a kiss on the lips after that date?” I ask, a little more disappointment than I wanted to come across as.

“Not in daylight, you don’t. But soon, behind closed doors and in the dark—there will be plenty of kissing,” she grins and then makes her way inside, closing the door behind her.

Driving home, I contemplate what the hell I just got myself into—a secret affair with Clara? Will this even work? I’m pretty confident we both want to fuck each other’s brains out, but is that all that will come of this? What if one of us falls and the other doesn’t? Will I be okay with that, knowing that at least I took a risk to figure out what is between us rather than sit back and be a coward about it?

You act like you didn’t just agree to being alright with that already.

Well, I also feel like I made a deal with the devil.

Clara Anderson in a devil’s costume—tight red leather gripping her curves and horns on her head, keeping her hair out of her face while she sucks my cock… Fuck, I’m screwed.

Is it Halloween yet?

Chapter 12

Clara

Cooper: Have a safe flight. Don’t be tempted to join the mile-high club without me.

I’m waiting to board my plane for my trip to Seattle when a text from Cooper comes through. We’ve been texting back and forth since our date on Saturday, and the butterflies that swarm in my stomach each time I see his name pop up on my screen get stronger with each passing day.

I never anticipated that a normal date with Cooper would have cleared so many things up in my mind where he’s concerned—well, that and my second appointment with Dr. Martinez helped with that too.

Kane was right—being able to talk to someone about everything I’m feeling has been relieving. Our first meeting was centered mostly on the attack, where I explained what happened so she understood the flashbacks and nightmares I’d been having. But this week we spoke more about Cooper, and my fear that my interest in him is tied to the fact that he saved me. We’re still processing that idea, but from the success of our date last week and our agreement to see where things go between us, I’d say I’m on the right path to figuring that out.

She’s also given me tools to use when I feel the weight of my fear on my shoulders, the most obvious onenotbeing alcohol. I actually haven’t had a drink since Kane’s birthday party, so it’s been almost three weeks. I’m keeping a journal of thoughts I have related to the incident, documenting what is happening when I start to panic so I can figure out my triggers and learn to control them. And even though it’s only been a few weeks, I feel a complete shift in my mind, and the fear has diminished immensely.

Of course, the prospect of finally getting Cooper in my bed provides a nice distraction as well. When I suggested we keep our tryst a secret for now, I could see a flash of something on his face before he agreed. I know I want to sleep with him without a doubt and continue learning about him—but I have to be sure that a relationship with him, if that’s even where we’re headed, is worth sacrificing my friendship with Liv over.

Me: Sex in an airplane bathroom is not a bucket list item I ever care to check off my list, so you have nothing to be worried about.

I hand the flight attendant my ticket before making my way onto the jetway.

Cooper: Yeah, doesn’t seem possible or fun. I’m sure there are other taboo things we could explore together though. What are your fantasies, Clara?

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