“Who’s close to Ford?” When he gives me a questioning look, I continue: “Larkin. I’m not saying go behind his back, but maybe you need a little help. Meet with her, show her what you have, and maybe she can talk to Ford. It’s worth a shot.”
He gives it some thought. “Yeah, I never considered that.”
“Sometimes you’re so caught up in the initial no that you forget to look for the maybes. Larkin is a maybe, so approach her and see what she says.”
“Okay, yeah, that’s actually a really good idea.”
“And then, while you’re putting yourself out there, maybe ask me out on a date, because, you know, I’d have a really hard time saying no to that.”
“And why would I ask you out?” he asks with a smirk.
I reach out and brush his hair to the side, heart thumping. “Because I think there’s more to us than just a one-night stand, and I don’t think I could forgive myself if I didn’t put myself out there and ask for more.” Cooper comes with baggage—it’s lurked in every moment of our conversation tonight. But he intrigues me, he makes me smile, and those are qualities that don’t come around often. So even though he has baggage, I don’t mind helping him carry it.
His smirk widens into a grin. “You just put it out there, what you want, don’t you?”
I shrug. “Why not? What’s the worst you can say? No? Well, at least I asked. It’s better than sitting around, wondering if there was ever a chance.” I move my hands to his waist, and relief wafts over me, knowing I’ve finally put it all out there. “Do you think there’s a chance?”
Taking my chin in his thumb and index finger, he brings my mouth close to his. “There’s a large chance.” And then he presses a gentle kiss across my lips. It’s like a whisper of lust—not enough pressure, and surely not the passion my body wants, but just enough to soothe me as he pulls away. “Nora, will you go out on a date with me?”
“Oh my gosh, I’m so surprised.” I widen my eyes and fan my face, which makes him chuckle. “This is just so unexpected. I’m not sure what to say.” He laughs some more and buries his head in my neck, where he presses a kiss.
“You know exactly what to say.”
Chills run up my arms and legs. “When you say it like that . . .” I move my head to the side, giving him better access. “I guess I could go out with you.”
He pulls away. “It’s not a ‘guess you can.’ I’m going to need a solid yes from those beautiful lips.”
I run my thumb over the rough scruff on his jaw. “I would love to go out with you, Cooper, under one condition.”
“What’s that?” he asks, his hands moving farther up my thighs.
“We focus on each other, not the sexual side of things.”
He slightly pulls back to look me in the eyes. “Are you proposing we go celibate for a certain amount of time?”
“Would you be opposed to that?” I ask.
“I want to hear your reasoning first before I make a decision.” His voice is teasing as he pokes my side.
“Well, we’ve already seen each other naked.”
“That’s accurate.”
“And we’ve already been carnal with each other.”
He chuckles. “Definitely carnal.”
“We’ve had each other’s private parts in each other’s mouths.”
He nods slowly. “Yup, that is carnal for sure.”
“And we both know we can make each other orgasm . . . more than a few times.”
“Another true statement. Statements that make me look incredibly good.”
“And even though I’d like to take this new body for a run,” I say, moving my fingers over his delicious abs and thick pecs, “I think it would be best that we move forward on an emotional level. You know, really get to know each other and let the carnal orgasms take a back seat for a second.”
“I appreciate your description of the kind of sex we have—makes me feel like I made a lasting impression.”
“You did. So much so that I haven’t been with anyone since,” I admit.
He grips my chin. “Me neither.”
“Seriously?” I ask, surprised.
“Seriously. Haven’t found anyone worthy enough, despite my parents’ attempts to get me out there more.” He strokes his thumb over my cheek. “Which tells me one thing—you’re special, and I would do anything to keep that something special in my life.”