23. Everly

23

Everly

I clutched the headboard in front of me, my heart pounding in my chest. Cooper was positioned below me, his eyes locked on mine as he slid my panties down my legs. I bit my lip, feeling both nervous and excited.

His hands gripped my hips as he guided me onto his face. I let out a gasp as his tongue flicked against my clit. He groaned, the vibrations sending waves of pleasure through my body.

"Fuck, you taste so damn sweet," he murmured.

I tangled my fingers in his hair, grinding against his mouth. Cooper's hands roamed up my body, cupping my breasts through my shirt. His shirt. I arched my back, moaning as he teased my nipples with his thumbs.

His tongue worked faster, lips sucking and nibbling at my sensitive flesh. I felt myself getting closer, my breath coming in short gasps.

"Don't stop," I begged, my voice barely above a whisper. "Please, don't stop."

"They couldn't pry me away from you, killer," he replied.

Without warning, his tongue slid inside of me. I rolled my hips, trying to move against it. He moved deeper, exploring every inch of my folds, making me moan louder. Cooper's hands left my breasts, sliding down my body, until they clutched my hips. His fingers replaced his tongue, gliding through my wetness, finding my opening, and gently pressing against it. A small cry escaped me as he slid inside, filling me completely. He began to move, thrusting in and out, matching the rhythm of his mouth on my clit.

I felt myself spiraling out of control, the pleasure building, and the anticipation of release growing stronger with each thrust. My nails dug into Cooper's shoulders, urging him on. "Yes, yes," I chanted, my voice growing more breathy with every passing second.

He picked up the pace, his fingers pumping in and out, while his tongue never ceased its flicking motion. I could feel the orgasm building, a growing wave that threatened to overcome me at any moment.

"Cooper, please," I begged, my voice a strained whisper, "please don't stop, I'm so close."

Cooper's eyes met mine, his gaze intense as he continued his unyielding assault on my sensitive areas. I could see the desire burning in his eyes, the same desire I felt coursing through me.

Suddenly, I was there, that elusive edge, the moment of ultimate release just out of reach. Then, without warning, I tumbled over; the pleasure pulsing through me in waves.

My body shuddered as waves of pleasure washed over me. I cried out his name, my back arching as I felt the orgasm coursing through me. Cooper held me tight, his tongue never wavering, until the last shudder had passed.

He didn't stop, continuing to work his magic, suckling and thrusting with his fingers. Not until I was completely boneless, a pile of frayed nerves sensitive to touch.

"Cooper," I whispered, my voice shaking. "I'm going to... oh gosh."

"Is that so?" he asked, amused.

"You're so good," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "You must have had a lot of practice."

Cooper grinned up at me, his hands still resting on my hips. "Not any that matters," he said, his voice low and husky.

I leaned down and kissed him, tasting myself on his lips. Cooper's hands slid up my back, pulling me closer as we deepened the kiss.

I pulled away slightly, my hand reaching down to trace the outline of his jaw. It had been a while since we'd been this close, and the emotions that surged through me were both exhilarating and overwhelming.

When we finally broke apart, I rested my head on his shoulder, my heart still racing. Cooper wrapped his arms around me, holding me close as we caught our breath.

Cooper's hand moved to my waist, and I leaned into him, my lips finding his neck. "I like you," I whispered, my words barely audible. "A lot."

"Hmm."

"How old are you?" I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it.

Cooper raised an eyebrow, his fingers trailing down my arm. "How old... you're only asking me that now?"

I shrugged, waiting for his answer. He studied me for a moment before replying.

"Twenty-eight."

"Twenty-eight," I murmured, trying to reconcile the number with the man in front of me.

"Why?" he asked, his voice carrying an edge. "Is that too old for you?"

"What? Of course not," I replied quickly. "My parents had an age difference between them, you know."

He grunted, pulling me closer to him. His warmth was comforting against the chill in the room.

"Hey, Coop?" I hesitated slightly, unsure if I should ask. "Can you… can you tell me about your parents?"

His body tensed beneath me. "Why do you want to know about them?"

"I want to know everything about you," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

He gave me a long look, his eyes searching mine. "That's not something I'm inclined to talk about."

I clenched my teeth, fighting the urge to push him further. But I couldn't help it; I wanted things between him and his dad to start working themselves out.

"What about your brother?" I asked softly. "Damien."

Cooper's expression shifted, a flicker of something crossing his face. It wasn't anger or sadness—more like resignation.

"Damien and I aren't close," he finally said, his voice low.

"Why not?" I pressed gently.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's complicated."

"I can handle complicated," I said, offering a small smile.

"Damien... he's eight years younger than I am," Cooper began, his gaze distant. "Things changed when our parents split."

I nodded, listening intently. His words painted a picture of a fractured family, each member dealing with the fallout in their own way.

"The kid was only two," Cooper continued. "He doesn't remember much."

"Does he know what happened?" I asked.

"I don't think it's my place to tell him," Cooper said softly. "I don't want him to resent my parents if he doesn't."

Silence hung between us for a moment as I processed what he'd shared. It was a glimpse into a part of Cooper's life that he'd kept hidden from me until now.

"I thought it was bad, you know," I said, letting my hair fall over my shoulder like a curtain. "With my dad being dead. I can't imagine what it must be like having your parents split."

"Did your mom tell you he died?" Cooper asked, his eyes narrowing as he studied me.

I nodded, tracing lazy patterns on his chest with my fingertips. "I guess it happened the year I was born," I murmured. "I don't remember him. Not at all. But my mom told me about him. How great he was. How I should aspire to find a man like him."

Cooper scoffed, the sound cutting through the air between us.

I blushed, feeling heat creep up my neck and into my cheeks. "I know it's silly," I said quickly, looking away. "But I've always wanted that. I've always wanted to fall in love."

"You will," he told me, his voice steady and sure.

I pursed my lips, gathering the courage to ask the question that had been on my mind. "Do you ever think you'll forgive your dad?" I asked softly.

"Absolutely not," he said firmly, without a moment's hesitation.

"Cooper," I started, feeling a knot tighten in my chest.

"You don't know what happened," he pointed out, his tone hardening.

"Because you're not telling me," I replied, frustration lacing my voice.

He sighed, his hand running through his hair as he looked away. The tension between us grew thick and heavy, but I stayed silent, giving him space to decide if he wanted to share more.

His eyes eventually found mine again, but the hardness hadn't left them. "It's not something I'm ready to talk about," he said finally.

I nodded slowly, trying to understand even though it hurt to be kept in the dark. "Okay," I whispered, leaning into him for comfort despite the emotional distance that had sprung up between us.

We lay there in silence for a while, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on us. My fingers continued their aimless journey across his chest, drawing invisible lines that mirrored the complexities of our conversation.

"I just," I started, feeling the weight of my words before they even left my mouth. "I just want you to have a father, you know? I don't want you to miss out on that like I did."

"Everly," he said, his voice carrying a warning.

"Cooper, I don't know what happened," I continued, my voice soft but insistent. "And I know you're not ready to tell me. But I think you shouldn't shut out the possibility?—"

"Leave it," he said through clenched teeth.

"—that maybe there's a chance the two of you could reconcile," I finished, ignoring the tension that radiated off him.

"Shut up," he snapped, pulling away from me and standing up. "Just shut up for five seconds. Slow down and think, little girl. You don't know shit about my father, about what he's done to me. And you think I'm just going to tell you because we fucked a couple of times? Who the hell do you think you are?"

His words hit me like a physical blow, causing my eyes to prick with unshed tears.

"You want to know why I won't ever forgive my father?" he asked as he started getting dressed. "I'll tell you why."

He paused, his eyes boring into mine with a mixture of anger and pain.

"I caught my mother cheating on my father when I was ten," he said, his voice cold and detached. "And when I told my father, he gave me these scars. He threw his hot coffee at my face, begging me to shut the fuck up. Because he already knew. He already knew about my mother's affair, but now that I knew, he had to actually do something about it."

I gasped, unable to comprehend the horror of what he'd just revealed.

"See," Cooper continued, his voice growing harder. "As a former NHL player, he had a reputation of being perfect to uphold, and I didn't fall into line. All because I told him what I saw."

I stared at him, my heart breaking for the boy he'd been and the man he'd become because of it.

"Cooper..." I whispered, reaching out a hand toward him.

But he turned away from me, his shoulders tense with unresolved anger and pain.

There were no more words left between us at that moment; only silence filled the space where understanding should have been.

"Cooper, I'm so sorry," I said, my voice trembling.

"Not what you wanted to hear, is it?" he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"I didn't know," I whispered, my eyes pleading with him to understand.

"It's not your place to know," he shot back, stepping closer. "Who are you to me, anyway? Just because you're here doesn't mean I care about you."

"You don't mean that," I said, my voice shaking. "I know you do. I know you're angry with me, and you're just... you're pushing me away?—"

"You think so, do you?" he interrupted, his eyes cold. "You need to open those big eyes of yours, little girl. I've been telling you this whole damn time I'm not a good person, and yet, you look at me like I am. Like I'm going to change or some shit. I'm not. I couldn't change for the bitch I was going to marry, and you expect me to change for you? Jesus, you're arrogant, aren't you?"

"Cooper, I'm sorry, okay? I shouldn't have pushed?—"

"Oh, now you're sorry," he snapped. "Now, after everything. Now that you know. And you know what the best part of this whole thing is?"

I pressed my lips together, fear tightening in my chest.

"Your dad isn't dead," he said flatly.

"What?" My voice barely rose above a whisper.

"Your mother lied to you. Your whole life. Why? I have no fucking clue. Maybe she's embarrassed. Your dad left you in order to be with my mom. See, that was who she was cheating on my dad with."

"That's not... that can't be..." My voice trailed off as the weight of his words settled over me like a suffocating blanket.

"Guess no one loves you," he said with a cruel smirk. "Not when they all keep lying to you."

His words felt like a knife twisting in my gut. The room seemed to spin around me as the reality of his revelation sank in. All these years of believing my father was gone, all the stories my mother had told me—it was all a lie.

I stumbled out of bed, needing space to breathe. My legs felt weak beneath me as if they might give out at any moment.

"Cooper," I started again, trying to find the right words amidst the chaos in my mind.

I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me as everything I thought I knew shattered into pieces around us.

"Don't believe me?" Cooper's voice cut through the haze of my thoughts. "I'll show you."

He grabbed his phone, fingers moving quickly as he pulled up an article. My eyes scanned the small text, the words blurring together. It was an article about my parents' divorce, mentioning how my mother retained full custody in exchange for a cut in child support.

"He and my mom are in California on some beach," Cooper said, pulling his phone back and holding it out for me to see. The image of them together hit me like a punch to the gut. "See? The world isn't sunshine and roses. It never has been. My mother knew what my father did to me and still left me with him. Said it was my own fault for not minding my business. And you're the same. You couldn't just stop. You think the world is beautiful. It's not. Not when the people who love you the most are willing to hurt you the deepest." He shook his head, a grim expression settling on his face. "You should leave."

I opened my mouth to argue, to say something—anything—but no words came out. Instead, I found myself getting out of bed, the cool air hitting my skin as I pulled on my clothes.

Once dressed, I walked over to Cooper. My heart felt heavy with unspoken words and unresolved feelings.

"I love you, Cooper," I said, looking him in the eye.

He glared at me, his eyes hard and unyielding. "Don't. You don't know what love is."

"Maybe," I replied, feeling tears well up in my eyes. "But I think love is something I get to decide for myself." The tears started to spill over, tracing warm paths down my cheeks. "And you deserve to be loved. Even if you don't want mine."

I turned and walked out of his room, each step feeling like a weight dragging me down. I hoped—prayed—that Cooper would call me back like the hero did in the books I'd read so many times. But he didn't.

He let me leave.

As I stepped out into the cold night air, my chest felt tight with a mixture of heartbreak and determination. The door clicked shut behind me, sealing off whatever hope I'd had that Cooper would change his mind.

The silence of the night wrapped around me as I walked away from his house, each step taking me further from him and deeper into an uncertain future.

Even as my tears continued to fall, I couldn't help but cling to the belief that love was worth fighting for—even if it meant enduring this pain now.

But first, I had to speak to my mother.