"Maybe I should go home," he told her, irritated with himself for his lack of concentration, but he knew he would be even more pissed off if he took out his anger on her.

Angry sex notwithstanding.

"Get out, Cooper." Tessa's tone left no room for argument as she turned and stalked off, obviously not letting him get away with the disappearing act.

Fine. But she asked for it.

Chapter Twenty.

When Cooper finally made his way in the house, Tessa dropped her keys on the table by the door and let Havoc and Harmony out for a few minutes. She wasn't going to let Cooper mope for long, so before she returned to the living room, she ushered the dogs in as soon as they did their business, and sent them into the bedroom they had commandeered as their own.

Cooper was sitting on the couch, his head tilted back, eyes closed. She could see the strain on his face, and she decided exactly what she needed to do. Disappearing down the hall before he realized she was watching him, Tessa grabbed a couple of candles from the dresser in her bedroom and relocated them to the bathroom.

Hunting for a lighter proved to be challenging, but then she remembered she'd tucked one in her nightstand. Once the candles were lit, she turned on the shower and went back to the living room for Cooper.

"Come with me, cowboy," she told him, her tone just as firm as when she had dealt with him outside. Even after their bout of explosive sex, he was still incredibly tense, so taking control of the situation seemed like the only way she was going to get through to him.

He opened one eye, peering at her from the side before he sighed and then pushed himself to his feet. She waited until he joined her at the door to the hall. Grabbing his hand, she led him to the bathroom. Being an old farmhouse, she didn't have a master bathroom, unless the only bathroom in the house was considered a master, so this one would have to do. It wasn't pretty with the pale yellow tile and faded flower wallpaper, and it wasn't big, but the shower worked and that's all that mattered to Tessa.

"Get undressed," she instructed.

She didn't waste any time removing her sweater and skirt, followed by her panties and bra. She noticed Cooper's hesitation as he watched her, and the passion that had returned to his golden gaze was hotter than the steam now billowing in the small space. Stepping into the long, narrow tub, Tessa pulled the shower curtain closed behind her.

The rustle of clothing being removed was barely heard over the sound of the shower, but knowing Cooper was getting with the program lightened Tessa's heart. It did funny things to her insides to know that he was spurred into motion by the sight of her naked body.

Once he climbed in with her, Tessa forced him closer to the shower spray, putting herself behind him.

"Put your hands on the wall," she said sweetly, trying to keep the anticipation out of her tone. It wasn't an easy thing to do.

Tessa had always been the take charge kind of girl, ever since she was young, but this was pushing even her boundaries. Here in front of her was a glorious, naked cowboy, one that made her feel significantly small by comparison, although she wasn't a lightweight and he was doing what she instructed him to do.

Aside from a skeptical backward glance, Cooper did what she asked, leaning forward and placing his hand on the wall beneath the shower head. She turned the sprayer so that it ran down the tiled wall beside them and then grabbed a bottle of body wash from the shelf. Pouring a significant amount into her hands, she started soaping his back, making her way up to his shoulders.

The intention of this shower liaison was to get him to relax. Since sex hadn't accomplished that goal, she was going to work on him with her hands.

The low groan that echoed made Tessa smile. She kept rubbing, kneading her fingers into the tight muscles across his broad shoulders. The body wash actually contained baby oil, so her hands were slick as they moved easily over his wet skin.

A solid ten minutes had passed before Tessa reached around, offering the same ministrations to his chest muscles as she pressed her breasts against his back. "Does that feel good?" she asked as she let her hands wander over his sides. Reaching for the bottle again, she added more and then put her hands back on him.

"Like heaven," he groaned.

Well, then she would keep going.

Dropping to her knees, Tessa knelt behind Cooper, her soap slick hands wrapping around his ankles, massaging the muscles as she moved upward, over his corded calves, then up to his rock hard thighs. Considering how thick they were, she focused both hands on one before alternating to the other. She continued her upward trek until she reached his perfect ass, digging her fingers deep into the muscles once she was upright.

Another approving groan and then Cooper stood tall once again. Tessa grabbed one more handful of soap and then continued as she reached around him, letting her hands slide down his chiseled abs, then teasing the hair beneath his navel and following it as it trailed downward.

When she reached his cock, she wasn't shocked to find him thick and hard. Using what she had, Tessa wrapped her hands around his erection, her breasts pressed against his back as she stroked slowly, letting the slippery soap work in her favor.

"Tessa." Her name came out on a growl, and she laughed.

"You like that?"

"Too much," he moaned.

She didn't stop, just squeezed his cock in her hands, not too tightly, but not too gently either. "Turn around."

Cooper's sudden movement made her giggle. Excited much? When he looked down at her, she was thrilled to see that the tension in his face had eased and that dark hunger was back in his eyes. Taking the shower sprayer from the wall, Tessa doused him with it, washing away the soap from his entire body, and then spending an extra minute letting the water cascade over his cock.

She met his eyes and smiled. Now she was ready to send him over the edge.

Cooper's eyes damn near rolled into the back of his head when Tessa dropped to her knees the first time. But now, with her eye level with his cock, he might just pass out altogether.

For the last ten minutes at least, he'd been enjoying the way she focused her attention on him. She had obviously known just what he needed to relax because her determined touch, the way she kneaded the tension out of his muscles, had him feeling boneless.

Soft, wet hands gripped his cock, making his whole body jerk, and he put his hand on the wall at his side to keep himself from swaying. The shower was tiny, almost too small for both of them to fit comfortably, but the bathtub was at least long and narrow.

As Tessa's lips closed over the head of his dick, his muscles tensed up yet again, but, not in a bad way. Shit. Her mouth was hot and wet and... and... and... Hell, what was he thinking about?

Oh, right. Torture. The gentle teasing of her fingers and the soft flicks of her tongue were fucking torture. She laved him with her tongue, her eyes continuing to watch him as he stared down his body at her.

She had the ability to hypnotize him at any given time with just a look, but there was something uniquely erotic about the woman as she knelt before him, her green eyes sparkling while she sucked his dick. Unable to help himself, he slid his fingers into the wet strands of her hair, holding firmly but not forcing himself on her. He let her explore him with her mouth, her tongue, the gentle scrape of her teeth along his shaft.

"Fuck, baby," he groaned, his balls tightening ever so slightly. Shit, he wished he could do this all night. The hot cavern of her mouth was excruciating in the best of ways. "Suck me, Tessa."

God, she was good at that. So fucking good.

One small hand cupped his balls, rubbing them gently for long seconds. When the pressure of her hand increased, so did the suction from her mouth, and Cooper's hands tightened in her hair.

"You want me to fuck your mouth?" He had no idea how far he was allowed to push this, but after their intense romp at the bar, and the assertive way she was bossing him around when they got to her house, Cooper got the impression Tessa liked it a little rough.

She moaned and as the vibrations sent a shockwave of ecstasy right up his shaft, he took that as a yes. Holding her hair tightly, Cooper shifted so that he could take control, pushing his cock deep into her mouth. He wasn't interested in gagging her, but he longed to feel her mouth on all of him. She sucked hard as he pulled out, then let him slide in again.

He continued to drive deep, maintaining the steady rhythm as more heat washed over him. After how hard she'd made him come earlier, he doubted he would be able to do it again, but it didn't take long for her to prove him wrong. Tessa squeezed his balls firmly as he fucked her mouth faster, his groans echoing off of the tiled walls until he was coming with a rush. He watched as she sucked him dry, his body shuddering with all-consuming pleasure as he watched her swallow.

Shutting off the water, Cooper pulled Tessa to her feet and then dragged her out of the shower. Her giggles made him laugh. They were tromping down the hallway when she tugged on his arm, a blatant indication that she wanted to go back. He relented, letting her snatch two towels from the bathroom cabinet before she led him to her bedroom.

That would work too. He'd been heading back to the living room, but if she wanted to go to bed, who was he to argue.

Once in her room, he tossed one of the towels on the bed and then pushed her down onto it, making her giggle more as she bounced on the bed.

"You like when I'm forceful with you, don't you, darlin'?" he asked as he proceeded to dry her with the other towel.

"Maybe."

Maybe hell. She loved it. And he loved her all the more for it. They had so much in common, both their interests and their goals, not to mention sex between them was an exploration of souls. She didn't fight him, but rather embraced whatever he needed at the time.

He was a selfish bastard.

Before the thought could piss him off, Cooper focused his attention on her body, leaning over her. She was naked and soft and so responsive. He started at her neck, kissing her smooth skin as she squirmed beneath him. Once he reached her breasts, Cooper climbed up onto the bed and straddled her, trapping her legs beneath his body. "Am I hurting you?"

"Nope," she said, that expectant tone back once again.

"Good."

Sitting on his heels, his thighs bracing her hips, he stared down at her. Cooper rolled her nipples using his forefinger and thumb, watching as her eyes glazed over. Her back bowed beautifully as she pushed up against him.

"You're so fucking hot, baby. I love to watch you squirm beneath my touch."

He released one of her nipples and leaned forward, sucking her into his mouth. He teased her, holding the hardened point between his teeth as he lashed at it with his tongue until she was moaning, her hips trying to buck him off.

"Like that?" he asked when he switched, taking her other nipple in his mouth.

"Yes. Oh, yes!" she moaned.

When she continued to writhe beneath him, Cooper knew he had to push her over soon, or she would get frustrated. That was one thing about this little cowgirl, her patience was thin when it came to her pleasure. Grabbing her hips, Cooper flipped them so that she was straddling his stomach. Once she was on top, he grabbed her ass and pulled her forward quickly, her hands grabbing the headboard to keep from falling forward. With her perched above him, her knees on each side of his head, he buried his mouth in her pussy, teasing her clit ruthlessly.

Tessa began fucking his mouth, grinding down to ensure he was right where she wanted him. Gauging how close she was by the moans that tickled his ears, he continued, focusing all of his attention on the little bundle of nerves. He had to shift so he could add his hand to the mix. When she realized what he was doing, she resituated herself so that he could drive two fingers up inside of her while he continued to lick her pussy.

"Don't stop! That feels so good," Tessa moaned as she continued to push her hips down, impaling herself on his fingers while he latched his mouth onto her clit.

"Cooper!"

Her high pitched scream told him she was close, and after the way she had taken care of him, he knew he had to send her over. But he wanted to watch her come and he couldn't in this position. Sitting up, he forced her onto her back, never pulling his fingers from inside of her. Once she was beneath him again, he locked eyes with her and fucked her hard and fast with two fingers.

"Come for me, Tessa. Fuck my fingers until you come."

Tessa's hips were thrusting against his hand, and he was ruthless in his pursuit of her orgasm. She held off for longer than he thought she would, but then her head fell back, her neck straining as she groaned her pleasure, her pussy gripping his fingers as she came.

"So fucking beautiful," he whispered as he dropped onto the bed beside her, his fingers still lodged deep inside of her. "I don't think I'll ever tire of watching you come."

Tessa's eyes opened, the green even more vivid as she smiled. "I hope you don't."

Cooper pulled is fingers from her warm sheath and then dragged her closer. Their heads were at the wrong end of the bed, but he was too tired to care. Tessa nestled into his arms, her head resting against his chest, one silky leg thrown over his thigh and Cooper closed his eyes.

Nope, he would never get tired of this.

Chapter Twenty One.

Tessa woke up the following morning or rather afternoon feeling incredibly sated, but more than a little sore. So, apparently, ordering Cooper around equated to some highly imaginative sex. Even though she was fairly active, Tessa was going to have to get some exercise under her belt if she intended to keep up with him. The man only needed a couple of hours of sleep before he was ready to go again, and Tessa had been hard pressed to keep up. Although she did her best, without argument.

"Morning," she greeted Cooper sleepily when she walked into her kitchen to find him sitting at her table drinking coffee and working on his laptop.

As if seeing him doing something so domestic in her kitchen hadn't been enough, when Cooper stood from his chair and made his way over just to kiss her good morning, Tessa was a hairsbreadth away from melting into a puddle.

God, she'd missed that kind of interaction. Loving someone was not easy. There were ups and downs, sure, but to wake up each day, or go to sleep each night in the arms of the person who would undoubtedly cherish everything about you... nothing was as heartwarming as the smile on their face.

Not that she loved Cooper.

She didn't.

"How 'bout coffee?" Cooper asked when he pulled away, leaving her staring after him. He wore jeans and nothing else, his delicious upper body chiseled and sleekly muscled. Letting her gaze travel over him, she stopped to check out his bare feet. Why were bare feet on men so damn sexy?

"Sounds perfect," she answered, forcing her feet to move forward. Reaching out to take the cup, she smiled up at him. "What's on your agenda for the day?"

A flash of the same vexation she'd seen on his face yesterday distorted his features briefly, but Cooper morphed back into his easygoing self almost immediately. "I've got to meet with Marcus later this afternoon."

They never did have a chance to talk about the actual conversation Cooper had with Marcus the day before. Even though he had so rudely dismissed her at the time, her curiosity hadn't been diminished, so as she dropped into one of the kitchen chairs, she figured she'd ask. "How'd it go with him last night?"

Cooper's descent into his chair slowed as he stared back at her. From where she sat, he looked like he was holding his breath, but then time kicked back in and he sat down, his focus on the coffee cup in front of him.

"Not as good as I expected," he said, peering over at his laptop screen. "But that's not the worst of it."

Oh, crap. She didn't like the sound of that.

"What's wrong?"

Cooper shook his head as though telling her nothing was wrong, but then his eyes met hers. "Looks like the press has officially found me."

For absolutely no substantiated reason, Tessa glanced around her kitchen as though she might find some reporters hiding behind the kitchen counter.

"No, darlin', they aren't in here."

She knew that, but she looked anyway, and then laughed at the way he regarded her as though she'd lost her mind.

Wait, he had specifically said in here. Did that mean they were...?

"No, I suggest you don't go outside dressed like that," Cooper told her, and Tessa glanced down at her tank top and boxer shorts.

"They're out there?"