Page 98 of Collateral Damage
“There was never anything between us besides friendship, Cooper.”
Lies. And they hurt like a knife to the back. “Don’t be fake with me, Valentine. I know you better than that.”
“Don’t call me that. I’m not that anymore.”
My eyes narrow. “But you were.”
Does she need me to spell it out for her?
“It was one kiss, Cooper. A long time ago. You need to get over yourself.”
I wince, hating myself immediately for the reaction. Therewassomething in that kiss. I’m not crazy.
A cascade of soft auburn curls spills down around her bare shoulders and back. Her breasts heave up and down with her breath—breasts that look a size larger than the last time I saw her. Fuck me for noticing, but I can’t help myself. I have the sudden urge to wrap her hair around my fist, twist it until she gasps, then silence that gasp with my tongue.
Instead, I step away.
“How is Arden doing?” I ask, forcing myself to calm down by changing the subject. “Is she happy?”
I need to get a hold of myself before I do something truly stupid. I’m spiraling out of control, and I hate that. I’ve worked hard to suppress wild emotions for the last few years and need to fucking act on those emotions before I lose it.
Her eyebrows draw together. “Why do you care? I know how your family treated her.”
“Oh, do you now?” I highly doubt she knows everything about that summer, but maybe I’m wrong. Arden was a closed book to me, so it’s hard to imagine her opening up to Sybil, but maybe she did. Things change. Maybe Arden did, too.
“Yup. I know all about it,” she quips.
“So you know about the time we almost fucked but didn’t because Ethan pulled my naked ass off of her?” I say, hoping to get a rise out of her.
Her cheeks flame. “W–what?”
I shrug. “Don’t worry. We didn’t do anything, but we wanted to.”
“You’re a dick.”
I shrug. “Why do you care so much? You jealous?”
“You wish.” Her cheeks are flaming, and her eyes are focused on my mouth. It sends a jolt through me, right down to my cock.
“Want to know what I liked most about Arden?” I prod. “She reminded me of you.” My eyes flick down to her lips. “But without the prissy attitude.”
Her glare is lethal. “What the hell is wrong with you? Are you high or drunk or something?”
“Right now, I’m too sober. Want to get drunk together and make some bad decisions?”
She’s speechless for once, which is exactly what I wanted. I’m being an asshole, but I need to know if she’s missed me like I’ve missed her.
“What? Nothing to say?” I smirk. “Maybe we should have hate-sex. I’ve never tried it. Sounds fun.”
“You know what? Do whatever you want, Cooper. Drink or get high or whatever. Honestly, I don’t care.”
Ouch. “It’s okay,” I retaliate, my voice dangerously low. “You don’t have to keep tabs on me, but I do keep tabs on you. Your sex life has become as infamous as your last name.”
Her face falls, and I immediately want to take it back, but I’m too angry to do the right thing. Too proud. Too broken. Too much of a fucking asshole.
“You’re judging my sex life? That’s rich, coming from you.”
I laugh bitterly. “You must’ve realized that sex with no attachment is the best sex, huh? Better than my brother, is it?”
