6. Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Cooper

" Y ou have to have more stuff than this." I say to London, as we go through her things. "Gosh, I have more in my bedroom than you do here. This is mostly clothes and kitchen stuff."

"A lot of it is in storage." She tells me. "Um, just what did you tell Tommy, your landlord, anyway?" She asks carefully.

I clear my throat softly. "Just that I'd met a young girl I'm working with, and she and her daughter had a spot of trouble. I told him about the gunshot we heard in your neighborhood last night and that I'd immediately moved your things here. He told me I did the right thing, and you can stay as long as you need to."

Her words are slow and measured. "And he didn't question anything about the said trouble?"

"No. Not at all. He trusts me. In all the years I've lived here and known him I've never put anyone in harm's way."

"How did you meet him, anyway?"

"His son and I went to the same high school. He was sort of a gopher for the band for a while, too. He's a lawyer now. His dad's lawyer." I say with a chuckle.

"No kidding." She smiles.

"Hey, do you need me to take you to where the rest of your stuff is? Or is that not a safe place?" I ask, in a ‘level-with-me' tone.

"I don't need any of it, frankly."

I lick my lips, peering over at Bean, who is pushing popcorn through a needle, attaching it to a string, making a traditional garland, like she was taught to do in school. She's not paying any attention to us, as she's listening to Christmas music way over by the tree. "Look, London, I know that you're real private about your life, but while you're with me, you're safe, and if it's something that can be sorted out, then let's sort it out."

"There isn't anything to be sorted, Cooper. I told you I divorced my husband, and I moved away from…him. I can't tell you anything more. I'm sorry. If that impedes me and Bean staying here, then I'll leave."

I swallow. The last thing I want to do is push her. Sure, she's living with me, but she could very well be keeping a secret to keep herself and her little girl safe. If I know anything about mamas, that's what they do. London's not just keeping a secret for kicks here, this is about her life. And all I want to do is help her, but if she swears she can't be helped, or that this is the best it can be, then I accept that. What I don't accept is her being unsafe, which is why she's here with me now. "And there's nothing more that I can do to help?"

She shakes her head no. "I appreciate it. But you've done all you can." Her hand is on mine. "I'm very grateful for everything, Cooper. And you're being so sweet and supportive, which is more than I expected, considering how little we know of each other."

"Since I was a boy, I can tell the difference between good and bad, and all I get is good vibes from you, London. That's all I need to know."

She grins softly. "Thank you. I get the same vibe from you. If I hadn't, I'd never have agreed to live here with you."

"Mamas have an inherent instinct when it comes to their children. I don't distrust that, darlin'."

"Hey, there, Colton." I wave, as the three of us walk over to the ranch. I've got my hand in London's, and I get it into my head to call her Stella, like a mantra, because I know I've fucked it up before. "You know Stella, and this is her daughter, Nicole…or Bean."

"Nice to meet you." Colton bends down slightly. Bean is tall for her age, probably almost four feet, but Colton is over six feet tall. He shakes her hand and then London's hand.

"We were hoping to see the horses." I say by way of explanation. "Is this a bad time?"

"Never. These beasts love attention and will take it anytime." He looks at Bean. "You know how to ride?"

"Nope." She says, shaking her head.

Colton looks at London. "Do you mind if I teach her?"

"I'd be grateful." London smiles.

"Sure thing." He says, and then he addresses Bean again. "Come on with me. I'll get you up on Rebel. Now, don't let the name scare you. He's a pussycat."

"I like cats." Bean beams.

"Don't get started." London warns good-naturedly.

"You promised me one day I could have a cat, mommy." She says, matter-of-factly.

"I know I did. But that one day isn't here yet."

"Come on. You'll forget all about cats once you're up on a horse, darlin'." Colton says.

There are wreaths hung on either side of the stable, and big urns with a fern and lights strung through them just at the outside of the doors. There are even white Christmas lights hanging in wisps inside the stable. "Gosh, you go all out for Christmas." London observes with a smile.

"He teaches riding here. Lots of kids are around." I explain.

"Well, that's part of it." Colton states, bringing Rebel out of his pen. "But I'm also a sucker for Christmas."

"You'd never know it based on the sour puss on your face around all the holiday crap at Mingles."

Colton brings the horse closer. "That's not because of the Christmas crap. It's because of the company sometimes."

I watch Colton slide a double saddle on Rebel, and then give Bean pointers on how to ride him. "Now, I'll go on with you the first time. Let you get a feel for it. Then, when you're comfortable, we'll go riding together."

"Okay." Bean beams again. For a kid that's been through what she's been through, you'd never know it.

"You two feel free to look around while I take her for a ride." Colton calls, lifting her onto the horse, and then mounting it himself.

"You okay, Bean?" London asks tentatively.

"I love it, mommy! Colton was right! I don't want a cat anymore, I want a horse!"

London does a face palm, and Colton and I can't help the chuckles.

"Now, look here. You can come ride anytime you like." Colton says, still chuckling.

We watch them ride off, and I slide my arm around London. "She's a great kid."

"James promised her a kitten for years." She explains. "But…things happened…and then after the divorce, I didn't know…anyway." She waves.

I pull her close to me. "I don't suppose getting her one now would be such a great idea, huh."

"Well, there's another thing Tommy might not approve of, and…well…I don't know what my future holds, Cooper."

It tears my heart out that I don't know what her story is. My daddy always taught me that no matter what, there's always an answer, always a way out. And the fact that she isn't telling me what the deal is, well, I can only hope that in time, that'll change. "Hey, don't sweat it, okay? Take it day by day."

Her face changes. "That reminds me. My babysitter quit last night. After the first night. I'm so screwed. I need to find someone to watch Bean, or I can't cover my shift tonight, which is terrible and I'm afraid I'll get fired."

Can't say I blame the girl. One look at that neighborhood and I'd be making tracks out of there, too. "Let me call Liz. See if Nate, her son, can watch her for you."

"I'll even bring her over there if that suits him." She says, so desperate, again, it tears my heart out.

"Nonsense. Nate loves coming over here. He's real close to Colton. He'll probably even bring her over here to the ranch. Colton lets him have free reign."

The relief is in her eyes as I dial Liz's number. She agrees, adding in that her deadbeat son needs something to do other than play around on his phone for hours on end. Liz actually makes it out like London is doing her a favor, not the other way around. "Nate's a good kid." I say after hanging up. "I'll drive him to school in the morning if he wants to stay overnight. I've got plenty of room."

"You sure you don't mind?"

I pull her close and kiss her on the mouth tenderly. "Not one bit. It's nice having company."

"Well, if we cramp your style at all, please, don't hesitate to let me know. The last thing I want is to be a burden."

"I'll let you know, darlin'. But do me a favor and stop worrying, okay? We'll figure everything out as we go."

The look in her eyes is hard to read. I can't tell if she wants to open up and tell me something, or if she's trying not to be emotional. Either way, I just kiss her again to hopefully allay any upset. Her mouth opens, making the kiss less chaste, and I respond in kind, dipping my tongue in a little. Colton and Bean are in the wooded area, too far to see or hear, so I know it's safe and appropriate. It seems to me that the more desperate she feels, the more… desperate she feels…and the need is evident. After a brief make out session, with her fingers skating through my hair and my hands on her ass, I pull back slightly. "What do you say we go inside, and I show you the ranch?"

"Sure." She says, cheeks turning pink. "Sorry. I don't know what came over me. I'm never like this."

I kiss her forehead. "Never apologize for that, love."

She scoffs a laugh as I take her hand in mine, and we walk into the ranch house, taking in the natural beauty of it. Colton and his brothers built this house from the ground up. From the wooden plank flooring to the natural wood embellished furniture, it's a sight to behold. The Christmas tree is floor to ceiling, next to the wood fireplace, and it's so beautiful, that London has to go stand right next to it, observing the ornaments that look handmade. "How long do you figure he'll have her out there?" She asks me, fingering a gingerbread man ornament.

"If he takes her down the trail in the brush, maybe a half hour. He won't have her out too long though, seeing as it's her first time. Her legs won't hold out." I answer, sliding my hands around her waist from behind. "She'll have trouble walking tomorrow." I snuffle a chuckle behind her ear, as I kiss it. Her hand reaches back, cupping my crotch, and it twitches, not expecting the attention. "Holy shit." I whisper in her ear, as she turns around to face me, with a fire in her eyes that sparks a flame in mine. "Well, here's something I've never done at the ranch before." I murmur against her skin, as she brings herself nose-to-nose with me.

I take her to the spare bedroom and close and lock the door. At least if they get back, Colton will take the hint and keep Bean away, and I'll take my licks for it later. Her hands are all in my hair, as her tongue batters mine. This girl is horny as fuck and making me want to do so many unchristian things to her. Through ragged breaths, she pulls my shirt off, practically clawing at my chest. I pull her shirt off and unclasp her bra, not wasting any time, and as the lacy garment falls to the floor, I reach for her pants. But she beats me to it, pulling my zipper down first, and giving me an instant fucking full-on erection, as she drops to her knees, right in front of me.

It's gotta be something to do with forbidden love, as I've never seen a girl so wanton, so needy, and it's such a fucking turn on, as I watch her stuff the head of my cock into her mouth. It hits the depths of her throat and my head rears back, as I comprehend the magnitude of pleasure. "Jesus Christ." I breathe, holding my hips, steadying myself, as my pelvis rolls in and out involuntarily with her rhythm. My cock has never been harder as she milks it with her hand while sucking the tip and shaft in such a delicious rhythm, my chest is heaving.

"Holy fuck." I whisper as I climb so goddamn fast, watching her suck my glistening dick, as it continues to pump in and out of her mouth. My moans get louder and faster, as she sucks me almost desperately, and I pull out of her mouth just in time, as I feel my seed traveling up the shaft. Lifting her to me, I cup her face with my hands. "You are the sexiest woman alive, London." I tell her, almost breathless, as I tilt my head and shove my searing tongue into her mouth, pulling her pants down with both hands on either side of her hips.

My cock is so hard it feels like it's going to explode as I lift her, entering her, and she starts riding me as I walk to the bed. Dropping her gently, sideways on the bed, I push in and out of her, from the side of the bed, fucking her hard, like I can tell that she wants to be fucked, based on the mewling exhales coming out of her. "God, I don't know what's wrong with me, Cooper." She pants as she digs her nails into my back, desperate for release.

"Nothing's wrong with you, darlin'. We all have needs." I say on exhale, sounding just as winded as her. "My needs come out just as much around you, too."

"Really?"

I nod, breathing heavily from my nostrils, lifting her arms over her head. "Every time I look at you, I want to fuck you so bad, but this I'll take."

Her eyes flash as I use the expletive in bed. Like she enjoys the dirty talk. So, I try it again, to test. "When I saw you sucking my dick, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven."

Her eyes roll back as she moans, as if my dirty words spur her on.

"I wanted to fuck you so bad at the house. I couldn't wait to get you alone."

I press my nose on hers, fucking her deep and slow, my body pinned on hers. "Now that we're alone, you can fuck me all you want."

Her insides clench, sucking my dick so hard, pulling my come right out of me with her. She cries out loud, shuddering, as I drive into her faster, harder, deeper, plunging my tongue inside her mouth, buffering her cries with kisses. When her body finally goes limp, I cup her face with my hands, both our chests heaving, exhausted, satiated. "Feel better, baby?" I ask softly, between kisses.

"So much better." She nods, trying to take a cleansing breath.

I take the hint and get off her, removing myself from her. I lay sideways, facing her, thinking that I never realized how much I needed someone until she arrived. The thought of not spending every moment with her makes me feel unsettled. Never felt that way about another woman before. Of the few casual encounters I've had over the years, I was indifferent to them leaving. But London and Bean, they can stay forever. I don't want them to leave. I also don't want to tell her that. She's not ready to hear it. Until she tells me why she's here, she's not ready to hear it.

"We should get dressed and fix the bed." I tell her.

"Oh, shoot, yeah." She chuckles. "We'll look really guilty if he walks in right now."

"With that big smile on your face, you're going to look guilty anyway, love." I tell her with a smirk.

"Yours, too." She volleys back.

"I always smile." I tell her, stamping her lips with a playful kiss, as I pull my jeans back on.

"Not like that." She snorts a laugh, clasping her bra.

In two minutes, we're dressed and smoothing the covers on the bed. We take a look at each other, realizing that we're both almost unscathed, and head into the living room, taking a seat in front of the fireplace. My hand is in hers as we sit in silence, looking over at each other and smiling, then breaking into laughter at what we did. "God, some day I'll tell Colton, and he'll just die."

"Not as long as I'm alive, you won't. God, I can't believe we did that." She shakes her head, laughing.

"Never had unstoppable lust for someone before, have you." I comment, half taunting, half conversational.

"Nope.Can't say I have.You?"

I shake my head. "Never. Hell, if I found out someone screwed in my house, I'd kill them."

"You would not."

"You're right, I wouldn't. But I'd sterilize the sheets and all surfaces. And I'd never invite them back."

She breaks into another fit of laughter. I like it. I like it when she does everything. I love it when she smiles. She seems to smile a lot. Not sure how often she did that before, but I can't imagine it was often. I try not to think about that. I try not to think about the clear fact that I'm falling for her. Every moment that I spend with her just gets better and better. It's crazy how fast things have happened. In just a couple of days I've gone from single and staying that way, to living with the most beautiful woman in the world, and her daughter, and I feel like I wouldn't have it any other way.

But this will all coming crashing down if I push too hard. And at the same time, I can't help but feel like I need to know what her story is. Why she's in trouble. I can't just sit here blindly, knowing that the woman that I'm falling for might be in danger. Danger that she isn't letting me help her with, beyond offering her a safe haven, a roof over her head.

…and then I make up my mind to do something that could be unfathomably stupid, or the goddamn smartest thing I've ever done in my life to date.