Nicole Edwards - Chasing Dreams

The way his intense brown eyes watched her, made her mouth go dry. When she used her tongue to moisten her bottom lip, she felt his body tense and suddenly, Tessa prayed he’d get the hint. If he didn’t kiss her soon, she was almost certain her body would spontaneously combust.

He picked an incredibly fitting song and suddenly not talking anymore sounded like an extremely good plan to her too. When Cooper leaned closer, pressing his lips to hers, Tessa held her breath while praying he would lose the perfect gentleman act for at least a few minutes. She wanted this man to sweep her off of her feet.

Seconds later, that’s exactly what he did.

Suddenly they weren’t moving anymore. They were both rooted in place, their hands had taken up the part of their feet as they touched and tasted as though they’d been waiting for this day.

She had.

Tessa lost her ability to think when Cooper’s tongue slid into her mouth, his taste sending her body into hyperspace as she wrapped her arms around his neck, looping her fingers into the soft, silky hair at the nape of his neck, just beneath his cowboy hat. When Cooper pulled her even closer, his hips subtly grinding into hers, she moaned.

“Lord, woman, if you keep doing that, I’m going to forget how to be a gentleman,” Cooper said breathlessly.

Tessa stared back at him. At this point, she didn’t give a damn what they did, but if he didn’t put his mouth back on hers, she might just scream. “You talk too much.”

That mischievous, crooked grin sent tingles racing through her bloodstream, taking brief breaks along the way to explode in her belly and then linger between her legs.

“Well, you don’t have to tell me twice.”

Tessa squealed when Cooper lifted her off of her feet, forcing her to wrap her legs around his waist, the evidence of his arousal pressing intimately between her thighs and causing her to groan seconds before his mouth was once again on hers. This time, Tessa knocked his hat from his head and held him in place, not allowing him to get away from her until she got her fill. Based on the way he kissed, she wasn’t sure if she’d ever get enough.

Her back hit the solid wall, and yet she still didn’t allow him to get away. She couldn’t stop, couldn’t let go because she wanted more of him. Her body had a mind of its own, and she was grinding herself against his erection, his groans matching hers as he pressed her firmly against the wall, his hands bracketing her ass as he held her in place.

“Do you have any idea what you do to me?” he asked when they both came up for air a few minutes later. “What you’ve done to me since the very first time I laid eyes on you?”

“I’ve got some idea,” she whispered, her eyes darting from his lips to his eyes and then back again. Tessa watched his mouth, her brain on a single track with one destination in mind, and she feared that, if she allowed him to keep talking, they weren’t going to get there.

Cooper’s mouth returned, but this time he sent sparks of fire trailing down her neck in the path of his lips as he kissed and sucked her skin, making her damn near come apart at the seams.

The intelligent part of her brain told her that she shouldn’t be doing this, but the other part, the part ruled by her hormones, told her not to care. She’d spent too long waiting for him to kiss her again. She had gone without for even longer and just having his hands on her would probably be enough.

“Darlin’, as much as I don’t want this to stop, I fear if we don’t, you won’t like me all that much in the mornin’.” Cooper’s words were a breath against her ear.

“I don’t care about liking you. As long as you keep doing that,” Tessa groaned, her head falling back so he could have better access to her neck.

“See, that’s where we differ,” he said with a chuckle between kisses. “I’m very interested in you liking me.”

Cooper’s lips were close to her ear once again, and a shiver raced down her spine. Tessa wasn’t sure she was going to survive this. She wasn’t a virgin by any means, but never in her life had a man’s voice appealed to her so much. Not to mention his hands on her.

“Well, I can assure you that I like what you’re doing,” Tessa whispered back to him, turning her head so she could bite his earlobe with her teeth. The guttural growl that rose up from his chest had moisture pooling between her legs.

“That’s a start. I plan to do so many more things to you that I want you to like.”

Tessa could hear the “but” in his tone. He was going to stop, and she so didn’t want him to. She didn’t even want to think about what that said about her.

“I’d just prefer we had a place that was a little less… public. One where I could take my time because I want to run my tongue over every inch of your body.”

Oh, God yes! Tessa’s body tightened at his words. If he actually said something dirty to her, she couldn’t promise that she wouldn’t have a mind blowing orgasm right there, fully dressed.

“And?” Her question was meant to spur him on.

“And what?” Cooper pulled back, and she could once again see his mischievous grin. “Tell me what you want me to do to you, Tessa.”

Oh how the tables had turned and absolutely not in her favor. Tessa didn’t have a problem telling him exactly what she wanted, but she knew from experience that could very well backfire in her face and she wasn’t looking to be the talk of the town over the way she had let loose with a guy.

He must have realized she wasn’t going to answer him because Cooper’s mouth once again pressed against hers, his tongue lightly tracing her bottom lip as she moaned in pleasure.

“When I get you somewhere private,” he began, trailing that exquisite mouth across her jaw, “I’m going to tell you all the things I plan to do to you. As I do them.”

Holy hell. Tessa wanted to take him back to her place. One night of sexual bliss was all she needed to cure the dry spell, and she would have Cooper Krenshaw out of her system.

“But, not tonight.” Cooper pulled back, looking into her eyes, and that glimmer of passion said he knew what she had been thinking.

Tessa groaned half-heartedly. She was grateful that the man seemed to have some sort of restraint because she was quickly learning that, with him, she had none.

* * *

Cooper wasn’t sure how much more of her he could handle before he was reduced to a horny teenage boy who couldn’t control himself.

He was holding Tessa in his arms, her body pressed against his, her legs wrapped around his waist and even through his jeans, he could feel the heat of her sex against his aching cock.

As much as he wanted her, he wasn’t willing to give up one night of what would probably be the most mind-blowing sex of his entire life if that meant she would walk away from him indefinitely. No, Cooper had more in mind when it came to this woman. He wanted so much more than one night. Hell, he wasn’t sure thirty nights would be enough, but he was willing to try.

Letting her slide down to her feet, Cooper kept her pressed between himself and the wall, keeping his hands planted firmly on the sweet, rounded curves of her ass. Lord, the woman had the most amazing ass.

“Tuesday night I’m going to pick you up at your house. I’m going to take you out like I planned. And then…” He freed one hand so he could tilt her chin up to meet his gaze before he continued, “And then, if you still want to see where this leads, it’ll be your call. Until then, you’ll just have to resist.”

Her tempting smirk and simple nod didn’t tell him anything, but he knew she would be thankful in the morning. Hell, his dick wasn’t all that happy with him, but Cooper had learned a long time ago to stop thinking with his dick.

“You ready?” After reaching down and retrieving his hat, he twined his fingers with hers as he took a step back, keeping his eyes pinned on her. She was the sexiest woman he’d ever laid eyes on and with her hair tousled, her lips swollen from his kisses, Cooper wasn’t sure he would be able to walk away when they made it to her truck.

She nodded again as she grabbed her hat off of the stage, still not saying a word, but he didn’t push her. Instead, he held her hand firmly in his and led her to the back door, then waited for her to lock up. Once they reached her truck, he stopped her before she opened the door. Backing her up against the cool metal, Cooper once again pressed his mouth to hers, but this time he didn’t go for gentle. He wanted to make sure she understood how much he wanted her.

When her arms came up around his neck once again, he couldn’t resist pushing his hips against hers as he claimed her mouth. His blood had turned to lava in his veins, and he was so hot, he wouldn’t be surprised if his skin didn’t start to melt, but it was a risk he was willing to take. Her kiss was so much more than he anticipated, and the hungry way she delved her tongue into his mouth told Cooper that there was a wildcat beneath that cool, reserved exterior. He had sensed it earlier, but he also detected the way she had held back from him.

If he had anything to say about it, she wouldn’t be able to hold back. Cooper wasn’t a gentle lover, and with Tessa, he was beginning to wonder whether he’d met his match.

When they both came up for air – something they seemed to do a lot – Cooper cupped her face with his hands, holding her so that she couldn’t look away. “I doubt I’ll be able to sleep tonight.”

“No one said you had to,” she retorted, sounding somewhat frustrated.

“Trust me, darlin’. I want you more than you’ll ever know, but I’m not looking for one night. If I was, I’d have buried my cock in your pussy right there against the wall in your bar.” Cooper let the harsh words escape, wanting her to understand that the need was just as great for him as it was for her.

He was a gentleman when he was supposed to be, but when it came to Tessa and him behind closed doors, he wasn’t going to promise her soft music and candlelight all the time. He wanted everything she could give him and in no way was he just referring to sex.

The shiver that made her hands tremble told him that his coarse tone didn’t bother her. In fact, if he had to guess, she very much liked it.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Get some sleep.” He pressed his lips lightly against hers again. “You’re going to need it.”

Going back to his motel room was certainly Cooper’s original plan, however, when Tessa took a right turn out of the parking lot of The Rusty Nail, rather than a left that would lead her back to her house, he decided to follow.

He had a feeling she was going to stop for breakfast or a unusually late dinner because she had mentioned that to Eric earlier in the evening. Considering Cooper had kept her at the bar longer than usual, he figured it would only be fair for him to pay for her meal. Not to mention, he’d get the opportunity for a pseudo-date without having to ask her.

Since Tessa seemed completely against dating him, although she had relented to the bet they had made, Cooper was willing to take his chances whenever the opportunity presented itself. Like tonight – or rather this morning.

Fifteen minutes later, his suspicions were confirmed when she pulled into the parking lot of IHOP just off of the interstate in the neighboring town. Since Devil’s Bend didn’t have any options that were open that late, her choice made sense to him.

Parking directly beside her truck, Cooper climbed out at the same time she did.

“Are you stalking me, cowboy?” she asked sweetly as she made her way to the sidewalk that surrounded the building.

“I was just wondering the same thing about you,” he said seriously.

The confusion that passed over Tessa’s face briefly almost made him smile. “You’re the one following me if I do recall.”

Well, she had him there.

“Since we’re both here, we might as well eat, don’t ya think?” Taking Tessa’s hand, Cooper led her to the front doors of the restaurant and then held one open for her. Once she was inside, he followed and then instructed the hostess they needed a table for two.

When they were seated with their menus in front of them, Cooper smiled, waiting for her to look at him, which she managed to avoid for a painfully long time.

“You’re relentless,” she told him as she glanced down at her menu, smiling.

“That’s me,” he replied as he skimmed the menu, thrilled to know she still sensed him there even when she pretended to not be paying attention.