Temporarily Yours (A Shillings Agency Novel) (Entangled Brazen) (5 page)

Chapter Six

After picking up the key from the rental car desk, Cooper followed Kayla outside, wheeling her suitcase behind him. She’d been quiet ever since they landed. He wasn’t sure what was going on in that pretty little head of hers, but he was dying to know.

He didn’t want to walk away yet.

He swallowed hard and glanced up at the moon. It seemed just as unreachable as the beauty in front of him. “My car is in spot 123C.”

She pointed off to a row across the lot. “There’s row C.”

“Yeah, I think I see my ride.” When she headed in that direction, he picked up speed so he could walk beside her.

There was no other car near his rental, which made sense considering the hour. It had to be pushing one in the morning, if not later. In fact, the only reason the front desk was still open was because he’d asked if they’d wait for him to arrive. Now that he’d picked up the key, even the desk attendant had turned off the building lights and was nowhere to be found.

Halting mid-step, she grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks, too. “Wait. Should you be driving?”

He cocked his head. “Why wouldn’t I be okay to drive?”

“You were drinking.”

He snorted. “I didn’t drink as much as you did. You didn’t notice, but I stopped drinking a while ago. I’m sober as a clergyman.”

“Oh.”

“So, want that ride or not?”

When she nodded, anticipation shot through his body. Moments later, they reached his car. He loaded their bags and unlocked the doors so they could get in, and then tossed his jacket in the seat. Before he could climb in the driver’s side, she came up to him and held out her arms. “You ready?”

He eyed her. “For?”

“Dancing, of course.”

“
Haha
. Real funny.” But then he realized she wasn’t kidding at all. “Wait. You really want to do this? I might break your foot.”

“Of course I want to! Consider it payment for helping me tonight.” She flushed as soon as the words were out of her mouth. Even in this dim lighting he could see that. “For keeping me talking, I mean.”

He walked up to her and placed his hands on her hips. “All right. Show me.” He moved so close her chest brushed his. “I’m ready if you are.”

Setting a hand on his shoulder, she instructed, “Hold my hand, but leave the other one on my hip.”

He did as told, slipping his leg between hers. He had a pretty good idea that he wasn’t supposed to do that for a proper dance, but she didn’t correct him. “Okay. What now?”

“Now, we take two steps forward, two steps back…” She followed him as he did what she told him, her body moving with a grace he’d never possess. “Good. Keep going, but move around as if we’re on a ballroom floor, instead of staying in this spot.”

He spun her in a dramatic circle, sweeping across the length of a parking spot. She giggled, her eyes shining up at him in the moonlight. He repeated the movement, making a wide arc around the car. Her hand fit perfectly in his, as if she were made to be his.

When he dipped her over his arm, she laughed and lifted her head, looking up at him. “Are you sure you haven’t done this before?”

“Quite.” Her happiness distracted him so much he stumbled over his own feet. They clung to each other, breathing heavily, their noses touching. He swallowed hard, his eyes latched on hers. “You know, I do know one type of dancing that you might not.”

She licked her lips.

“What kind of dance is that?” she asked, her voice throaty and sexy as hell.

He pulled her upright without warning, until she rested on his upper thigh. “Follow my lead.”

“Okay,” she breathed.

Leaning down, he brushed his lips over hers then did a dip, supporting her lower back with his hand. To his surprise, she relaxed, lifting her breasts to his view without any effort. He eased her back up and kissed her neck, rotating his hips against hers.

She moaned and held on tight. As she moved against his leg, she dug her fingers into his shoulders. He dipped her again. This time, she fluidly bent so far backward he immediately dropped his head and nipped the sliver of skin exposed above the neckline of her sweater. Damn, she tasted so good, he had a hard time moving away from her.

He ran his free hand up her side, closing his palm around her breast. The damn turtleneck needed to go. He ached to put his mouth where his hand was. She gasped and lifted back up, her hands closing on the back of his neck.

Melding her lips to his, she slipped her tongue inside with a sigh. He groaned and stumbled back, slamming against the car. Her wool coat fell open and he slid his hands inside it. Swinging her around without breaking their kiss, he pressed her up against the SUV and lifted her legs. She wrapped their long length around him, opening herself to him, and he almost shouted with joy.

Nibbling on her ear, he said, “I want you. Now.” He traced the curve of her breasts. Fucking A, the woman was perfection

“Yes,” she sighed. She squeezed his arms. “Now.”

Sweet Jesus, there was a God. Rolling his hips against hers again, he reached for the handle. It was time to finish what they’d started on that plane.

Chapter Seven

Kayla wrapped her legs around Cooper’s waist, quivering from the desire he sparked in her. She’d never wanted someone so badly that she couldn’t even wait ten short minutes to get to a hotel room. She knew it was freaking freezing outside, but she didn’t feel a thing with how hot he was making her. Her whole body tingled with awareness. Awareness of
him
.

She had to have him. Right here. Right now.

Nothing else mattered.

He opened the car door and laid her gently on the backseat, pushing her sweater up and kissing her stomach. Bending down further, he licked the insides of her thighs and kissed his way up her leg. When he flicked his tongue over her already drenched panties, she cried out and dug her nails into his scalp. “Oh my God, Cooper. Yes.”

He shoved the silken material aside, closing his mouth over her clit. She arched her hips, the pleasure consuming her within seconds. As his tongue worked over her, making her climb higher and higher, she tightened her thighs on his head to keep him in place. If he stopped now, she just might die.

His finger slipped inside her, and she threw her head back, a cry escaping her lips as she came explosively. She clawed at him, tugging him up. “Please. Fuck me.”

He bit off a curse and crawled over her, slamming the door shut behind him.

Smashing his lips down on hers, he lowered himself between her legs, his hard cock pressing against her. When his tongue flicked hers at the same time as his cock pressed against her sensitive clit, she cried out and raised her hips. She could taste herself on his tongue, along with his masculine flavor, which she’d grown accustomed to over the past few hours.

It was an intoxicating mix.

Pure pleasure shot through her veins, rich and heady and addictive.

God, he knew the perfect way to touch her, to leave her trembling and on the brink of orgasm within seconds, even though she’d just been there what felt like only minutes before. Trailing her hands down his shoulders, over his pecs, and to his waist, she tugged the sweater up.

Tearing her mouth free, she panted, “Take it off. I want to see you.”

“I will if you will,” he said, stealing one last kiss before he pushed off of her. He perched on the edge of the seat between her legs and yanked his sweater off. The peek at his six-pack she’d gotten earlier was just a sneak preview of the full show. His muscle-ripped body surpassed her expectation. She reached up and traced the lines of his stomach with both hands, all the way down to the waist of his khakis. Hard. Hot. Pure man. He closed his eyes and his abs clenched. She watched him, mesmerized by the harsh planes of his body, and skimmed her fingers over his cock. With a tortured groan, he captured her hand and held it still against him. “You better stop that if you want me to take my time.”

“I don’t.” She yanked free from his grip and cupped him again, massaging his cock through his pants. “I want you to fuck me.”

“Kayla… Christ, that feels good.”

Holy crap, he was much bigger than she expected. Sure, he was tall and muscular, and he had the type of body and confidence that made her think he would be well-endowed, but this was…
wow
.

Shaking off the thought, she closed her fingers around him through the fabric, running her hand down his cock as best as she could. He leaned against the door and groaned, his hips moving into her touch. She couldn’t decide if she wanted to spend hours torturing him or if she had to have him now.

Urgency won out.

She unbuttoned his pants, carefully unzipped them, and slid her hand inside his boxers, circling his smooth cock with her fingers. With her free hand, she tugged him back down by the neck and captured his mouth. He pressed her back on the seat.

His breath coming out heavy, he tore his mouth off of hers and nibbled a path down her jaw, all the way to the base of her throat. Everywhere his lips touched burned. She was on fire, and he was fanning the flames. He reached down and tugged up the fabric around her waist, divesting her of her turtleneck.

The cool air helped her burning flesh somewhat—until he touched her again. But if she was going down in flames, then he was coming with her. Her fingers moved over his length again, then slid down to the base of his cock.

He grunted and pulled her hand out of his pants, his jaw tight. “Enough.” He slid his hand around her back and undid her bra with a flick of his wrist, then pulled it off her shoulders. It fell on the floor somewhere. “Holy shit. You’re beautiful.”

She squirmed, nearly screaming for him to stop staring and start
doing
. She didn’t know what made this so intense, but she’d never felt so much at once.

Passion. Impatience. Hunger.

Settling in between her legs, he caught her mouth again and lowered his weight on her.
Finally
. But it still wasn’t enough.

Wriggling underneath him, she grabbed him by the waist and yanked him down. When his bare skin brushed against her already sensitive nipples, she hissed at the contact. His eyes darkened, and he slid his hands under her ass, pulling her against him.

When their mouths were a breath apart, she demanded, “
Now
.”

He growled and smashed his lips to hers, drinking of her mouth. When he broke away, she heard the crinkling of a condom wrapper and almost shouted with joy. Then his lips were back on hers, and he rubbed his cock against her clit.

He positioned himself at her pussy, then thrust inside her a tiny bit before pulling out.
Oh, for the love of God.
How much longer would he torture her? She cried out in protest. He couldn’t keep teasing her like this, damn it.

She lifted her hips. “Come
on
.”

“You’re not ready yet.” He pressed against her again, teasing her with his cock.

Grabbing his hips, she pulled on them as hard as she could. When he refused to budge, she slammed her fists down on the seat. “Please
now
.”

“Now,” he agreed, his voice deep with promise.

He grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head, then entered her, filling her so completely she cried out at the pleasure. Then he pressed even further inside her, his eyes closed, his grip on her tight. “Fuck, you feel good.”

“Oh my God,” she sighed, meeting him when he thrust again. As he withdrew, then shifted forward again, the familiar pressure built up rapidly, and she spread her thighs as wide as she could in a car to take more of him in. He moved faster. Her stomach clenched, twisting with pleasure.

“More! I need more!” she gasped. “Please fuck me hard.”

Capturing her mouth, he thrust inside of her all the way, finally letting himself go. And this time, he didn’t stop to tease her, or kiss her gently, or almost enter her.

She tore her hands free and dug her fingers into his ass, pulling him even closer. He rotated his hips and deepened his thrusts, until she finally held all of him. Her head kept hitting the car door because of how hard he drove inside of her, but she didn’t care. As long as he kept doing what he was doing, then he could bend her any which way he wanted.

He increased the tempo, his breath coming out in spurts. She screamed and went limp in his arms, pleasure taking over every molecule in her body.

She’d thought he was amazing with his lips and his fingers?

That had been nothing compared to
this
.

He pumped into her again, then one more time, and his body tensed as he found his own pleasure, his head thrown back and his eyes squeezed shut. When he dropped down to cover her body, he buried his face in her neck and placed a light kiss there. “Holy shit, Kayla.”

She nodded and swallowed hard, not trusting her voice yet. She was no stranger to orgasms, but that was a whole new classification of pleasure.

“Want me to drop you off at your hotel now?”

She nodded. “Yes, please.” Then she hesitated. This might be the best or the worst idea ever, but she was going for it either way. “Would you like to, uh, stay the night?”

He looked down at her, his face lighting up with a wide grin. “And spend the night making love to you in a real bed?”

Dear God, he might kill me
.

Anticipation and desire fluttered in her belly. For the love of God, they’d just
finished
having sex. She didn’t know what the hell he did to her, but it was something indescribable. Amazing. Addictive.

She nodded. “Pretty much.”

Grinning, he said, “Fuck yeah. Let’s go.”

Chapter Eight

The incessant ringing of her cell phone penetrated the heavy fog of sleep hanging over Kayla’s head, but she still resisted the pull to alertness. Her pounding head and cotton ball mouth didn’t promise a pleasant morning, and she wanted to avoid the harsh realities of her hangover for as long as she could. Squeezing her eyes shut, she snuggled deeper into the warmth curled around her back, holding her tightly…

Wait. Holding her?

Her eyes flew open, and she blinked at the strange hotel room. The sunlight was excruciatingly bright to her sensitive eyes, and her head felt as if she had beaten it against a wall repeatedly. She stretched, then froze, when she saw the hairy, muscular arm thrown over her stomach. Who did the arm belong to?

Oh God.

Cooper
.

With harsh reality, all of the events leading up to last night when he’d agreed to go to her hotel—after having sex with him in the back of his rented Escalade—came crashing back. Had she done all that?

Judging from the fine-ass naked man in bed next to her…she’d have to go with a
yes
to that question. And she didn’t regret a second of it, either. He’d been incredible and kind and mind-blowing in the sack. What was there to regret?

Nothing.

But in the light of day, it was still a bit…shocking. And she needed to plan an exit strategy.

Chatting it up with the guy she screwed in the parking lot didn’t seem appealing.

It was time to slink away and smile through days of wedding planning and fights, knowing she’d gotten hers before slipping into the role of the big sister.

When her iPhone rang again, Kayla stiffened and carefully lifted Cooper’s arm from her waist. The tattoos on his chest flexed and rippled, drawing her eye. Wait. Tattoos? How had she missed them before? They were
hot
. Inch by inch, she slid off the mattress and tiptoed across the room. Maybe she could answer it, call a cab, and make her escape before he woke up and caught her.

As she rounded the bottom of the bed, her steps feather light and excruciatingly slow, Cooper rolled over in bed without opening his eyes and grabbed her phone…which was right next to his on the nightstand. “It’s yours.”

She froze. “Uh, yeah. Thanks.” She reached out and snatched her phone from his fingers, making sure not to touch him. She didn’t want to start something new with him this morning—something that led to talking and getting to know each other more intimately.

They’d already been plenty intimate.

“Hello?”

“Where are you? It’s ten o’clock!” Her mother’s voice boomed through the speaker and she momentarily pulled the phone away from her ear.

“Uh…at the hotel.” She looked at Cooper’s bare back. No tattoos there, but a hell of a lot of muscles that made her mouth water.
Hot damn
. He hadn’t moved. Had he fallen back asleep? “I’m still in bed. My flight was late, and I slept in.”

“That’s very unlike you.”

Kayla sighed. It wasn’t. But it was unlike the “perfect daughter” she tried to be in front of them. She was so independent when she wasn’t dealing with her family, but something about interacting with them tore her up. As pathetic as it sounded, it was just easier not to put up too much of a fuss with them. Then they all could happily part ways and she could return to her life in Maine until the next family visit. “I know. I’m sorry. I’ll wash up and then I’ll call you when I’m ready to be picked—”

“I can give you a ride.” Cooper lifted his head and blinked at her. “They don’t need to come out. I don’t mind—”

Kayla held a finger over her mouth and gave him a hard look, so he cut off mid-sentence. She pointed to the phone, then held her breath and prayed her mom hadn’t heard him. He’d spoken quietly. Really,
really
quietly.

But Kayla’s mom had superhero hearing, and this time proved to be no exception. “Was that a man I just heard?”

“What? A man?” Kayla paced and forced a laugh. “No, of course it wasn’t a man. It was the TV. That’s all you heard.”

“It didn’t sound like the TV.” Kayla heard a car door shut through the earpiece. “I’m coming over now.”

“No, don’t come yet. I’m not ready.” Kayla stopped in front of Cooper and nudged him, glowering at him. “I’m alone.”

Cooper sat up and rubbed his eyes. He looked confused as to why Kayla might be shooting daggers at him with her scowl. She gave him an even dirtier look.

“I don’t believe you.”

Kayla sighed. “Mom, if someone was here, why would I lie about it?”

“Well…” Her mom hesitated. “Did you and your boyfriend break up? What’s his name, anyway?”

“Cooper. His name is Cooper,” she said. Cooper’s head snapped up, and he looked at her. “And no, we didn’t break up. I’m alone, and you heard the TV.”

“All right,” her mom said.

“So I’ll call you when I’m ready. Okay?”

Her mom fell silent. It seemed like she finally believed her. And then…

Another phone rang. Cooper’s phone. And it was
loud
. Cooper scrambled to silence it, but it was too late. Her mother heard it. “I knew it. You’re not alone.”

Kayla sank onto the bed, looking at Cooper with panic coursing through her veins. “Mom…”

“Did you bring him? Is Cooper with you?”

He must have heard the question, because he grabbed Kayla’s arm and nodded rapidly. Then he mouthed, “
Say yes. Tell her I’m here
.”

“Um…” Kayla blinked at him and shook her head. He nodded more enthusiastically. “Well…”

She took a deep breath. Did she dare? Was he suggesting she say her boyfriend was here? With her? But then what? Was he ready and willing to play the part? That seemed insane. He sighed and reached for the phone, but Kayla slapped his hand away. “You’re right! It’s Cooper! We wanted to…to…” Kayla looked at him.

He whispered, “Surprise you. Say it.”

“We wanted to surprise you all,” Kayla finished, watching him the whole time. “So don’t come get me. We’ll come together.”

Cooper nodded.

“Oh, this is the best surprise ever.” Her mom clapped and let out a
whoop
. “We’re finally meeting him. I can’t believe it! I’m going to tell
everyone
.”

Kayla winced. “You don’t have to—” The line clicked off. Her mom had hung up on her. “—tell everyone,” Kayla finished to the dead line, lowering her phone to her lap.

Cooper grinned at her. He looked way too cheerful considering the circumstances. “So, I’m coming to the wedding?”

“Are you insane?” Kayla lurched to her feet. “Why in God’s name would you offer to go to my sister’s wedding with me?”

He shrugged, then his gaze dipped over her body. “I was the one who ruined your cover story. It felt right. You needed help, so I offered it.”

“It felt
right
?” She threw her arms out to the side. “The knight in shining armor act was cute last night, and it was well-rewarded, I’d say.” She gestured to the rumpled bed. “But now, even with the booze out of your system…how can you be this…this…sweet? Seriously?”

He cocked a brow. “I’m not fucking
sweet
. Puppies are fucking sweet. Not me.”

It wasn’t until Cooper cleared his throat and forced his eyes northward that Kayla remembered one tiny little detail. She was freaking
naked
. He might have seen it all last night when she’d had the courage of vodka in her, and she might have been A-Okay with that then.

But now, in the light of day?

Yeah, not so cool with it.

She whipped the comforter off of the bed and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Fine. You’re not sweet. But what the hell are you?”

He shrugged. “I’m in town earlier than I need to be, so I have nothing to do besides wait to ship out. You needed a man, and since your family heard me over the phone, I offered to fill that position. We already get along nicely, and I’ve obviously enjoyed spending time with you,” he said dryly. “So it’s hardly a hardship for me to spend more time with you. That’s who I am. That’s
me
.”

Kayla watched him. This guy, this man, was an anomaly. She couldn’t read him at all. Ninety percent of single men would say anything—hell, do anything—to get laid. And the married men weren’t much better. But
that
wasn’t what he wanted. He’d already gotten that without asking. But he seemed to
care
.

What was she supposed to do with that?

He got out of bed, obviously not worried about his state of undress, and strode across the room wearing nothing but his tattoos. Grabbing a glass off the counter, he filled it with water. She knew she should look away from his bare ass, which was
not
inked, but she didn’t want to. She wasn’t
that
hung over. And, hell, if he was going to walk around with it all hanging out…who was she to complain?

“Let me guess,” he said, his eyes on her as he crossed the room to his luggage. “You’re no longer drunk, and now you’re ready to bolt from the mistakes you made last night. In my car. In the bed that you’re now refusing to look at. And, if I recall correctly, on that wall right next to you.”

“Oh, God.” She closed her eyes, each detail he named coming back with crystal clarity. “It’s just…I don’t
know
you.”

He laughed. “You knew me well enough for me to make you scream my name repeatedly. Isn’t that enough?”

“For a one night stand? It’s plenty.” She clutched the comforter tighter to her chest. “But for you to meet my family? My very traditional family who will badger you with questions every opportunity they get? Yeah, not so much.”

“I fought in a war against enemies with deadly weapons. I think I can handle inquisitive parents.”

“You’ve never met mine.” She shook her head and headed for her luggage. “I really don’t think you know what you’re getting yourself into here. Thanks for offering to help me, but no thanks. I’d rather come up with some lame excuse now than have our story poked apart mid-ruse.”

“I want to help you. Let me help you.” He stepped in her path. “What are you going to tell them? I flew all the way down here, only to run away in the morning? That’s not realistic.”

“I’ve got it!” she said, thinking fast. “I’ll tell them you got a call from work at the last minute—”

“No. Absolutely not.” He crossed his arms. And he was still blessedly
naked
. Holy mother of God, those abs…she could freaking wash laundry on them. “At the very least, I have to show up for day one. Then I could get called away. If you try to play that off too soon, your mom will call you on it.”

“What makes you so sure you know my mom so well?” He was right, but that wasn’t the point. “You’ve never even met her.”

“You told me all I needed to know last night. And I heard her on the phone.” He grabbed her hands and squeezed. “Your mom is just like mine. I know how moms like that act. You don’t want her getting suspicious. You’d spend the whole wedding dealing with the millions of questions she would throw your way. Let
me
take those questions. And you never know. Maybe if she sees you happy with someone, she’ll focus on your sister, the bride.”

Kayla bit down on her lip and studied him. “Do you seriously want to do this?”

“I do.” He smiled at her, his eyes warm. “You want to know what’s in it for me, but you’re too polite to ask. Am I right?”

She laughed. “Now you can read me and my mom? If this wasn’t a fake relationship, I’d
marry
you.”

“You’re moving way too fast for this fictional relationship.” He chuckled and hugged her close. She almost pushed him away. It was too…too…real. Hugging was intimate. Hugging was for
actual
boyfriends and girlfriends.

She was much more comfortable keeping things purely sexual.

“I do want to know what’s in it for you. I mean, you’ll get free room and board, and good food.” She looked down at her bare toes and wiggled them. “And more sex. But is that really worth dealing with my parents?”

He flinched. “Ouch. That almost hurts my ego that you have to ask me that question.”

“As if your ego is that fragile. Puh-lease.” She rolled her eyes. “Men that look like you and fuck like you aren’t easily broken. You’re as hard as your abs.”

“Whoa, there. Hold up a second.” He pressed a hand to his forehead, feigning shock. “That was
almost
a compliment. If you’re not careful, I might think you actually like me.”

Despite herself, she laughed. “You know, keeping you around might not be so bad after all. You’re as entertaining out of bed as you are in it.”

He raised a brow. “Then it’s settled? I’m temporarily yours for the next few days?”

There was obviously no risk of her falling for him—he was leaving the country and she knew that already, so why would she put herself through a long distance relationship?

But what if the impossible became possible? What if one of them fell for the other?

She looked up at him, losing herself in his bright green eyes.

It just seemed a recipe for disaster.

Clearing her throat, she said, “Just to be clear. You, me…this is strictly platonic…with benefits.”

“Exactly. No attachments,” he agreed, lowering his face. His lips almost touched hers. “Just two people enjoying each other’s company for a short time while pretending to be in love. What could possibly go wrong?”

She took a deep breath and gathered her courage, remembering his words from last night when she invited him to her hotel room. “Fuck yeah. Let’s go.”

Without warning, he took the step that closed the distance between them and his lips closed over hers, his tongue inside her mouth within seconds. All confident and hot.

Groaning, he swept her up in his arms, his lips still on hers. As he worked her mouth, he crossed the room and headed into the bathroom. When he set her down, her bare feet on the cold tile, she blinked up at him. Why did he put her down?