Page 101 of Collateral Damage
I bury the hurt prickling at the backs of my eyes. I get it; he needs to be where the action is, even if that action is them going into a room and closing the door while Benton tries to figure out how the hell to handle this woman.
I hurry to Perry’s room, take a quick shower, and slip into one of his long dress shirts, all the while my hands shake, and my breath comes in short little gasps. I need to calm down, determined that my personal life isn’t going to be televised. The network doesn’t have the right.
I find a belt to tie around the dress shirt, hoping it doesn’t look too bad. I don’t want to run all the way home to get changed and miss out on everything that’s happening downstairs, but I will be sending one of the set assistants off to dry cleaning, that’s for damn sure.
I’m pretty sure the Gucci is ruined.
I know it’s shallow to care so much about something as trivial as a dress, but I loved it, and vintage is irreplaceable.
Someone knocks on the door, and I open it while still toweling off my hair. Cooper greets me with that boyish grin.
“If you came here to say you told me so,” I grumble, wringing out my hair, “don’t bother.I already know.”
His smile twitches. “I would never say I told you so.”
“Liar.”
“I’m actually here to see if you’re okay. Anything I can do to help?”
I let him in, twisting my wet hair to the top of my head. I retrieve a hair tie from my bag and secure the messy bun, turning to find Cooper staring at me. There’s heat in his gaze I haven’t seen in a while. A shiver ripples up my spine.
“What?” I prod.
He clears his throat, brushing the tips of his fingers over the collar of the dress shirt. “This shirt looks good on you, Valentine. I just wish it wasn’t Perry’s shirt.”
“Why do you care?”
We’re standing too close, but not close enough. The shirt must have ridden up while I was putting my hair back. Did he get a look at my panties? Do Iwanthim to see my panties?
“Because I wish it wasmyshirt.”
His voice I pure gravel.
Yes, I very much want him to see my panties.
“I wish it was your shirt, too,” I whisper, and his gaze darkens with desire.
“There are a few ways I can comfort you right now,” he offers. “I can give you a hug. That’s option one.”
“And option two?” I ask with a coy smile, suddenly feeling much better.
He turns around and closes the door, locking it, then turning back to face me. His hair has fallen across his forehead, looking like a tortured soul who needs me to save him from his misery. “Option two is whatever you want it to be.”
I pretend to think about it, but I already know my choice. “Option two.”
Before I can rationalize why this is a bad idea, I close the distance between us, pressing my lips to his. He’s quick to respond, immediately returning the kiss with so much heat he might set me on fire. Our mouths open to each other, tongues exploring, hands everywhere. I moan, and his approving growl weakens my knees.
As if sensing I can hardly hold myself up, he grips the backs of my thighs and lifts me. His erection is hard against my core as I wrap my legs around him.
“Fuck,” he hisses.
Fuck is right——my pussy weeps for how long it’s been untouched by a man. And now to have this? To have him so close?
Glorious.
He pushes me against the door, and I faintly register the click of the lock.
My body rocks as he explores my mouth with his own, and when I think I can’t take anymore, and we need to move to the bed, he sets me down and kisses along my jaw, my neck, my collarbone.
