Bittersweet Symphony (The Damaged Souls series Book 2) by Belinda Boring Page A

.?”
    “I won the scholarship!” I was barely able to get the words out before Cooper had me up in his arms, swinging me around as he whooped in excitement.
    “I knew you’d win it! That’s amazing, sweetheart. We definitely need to celebrate.” Placing me not too gently back on my feet, my head still spinning a little, he cupped my face between his hands and kissed me. “Tell me . . . anything you want to do . . . just name it.”
    I couldn’t resist. There was only one thing I had on my mind. Rising up on my tiptoes, I whispered my request softly in his ear.
    “That was a given, Caylee,” he murmured, a seductive drawl in his voice that turned my insides to jelly. “But who am I to argue with such a scholarly beauty? Your wish is my command.”
    Cooper was still bowing when his mother returned, a jug filled with lemonade in her hands. Happiness shone in her eyes. After our conversation, I knew how much seeing her son like this meant.
    Walking us to the door, the guys already gone, I realized I loved my life. It hadn’t been easy reaching this point, but now I was here, there was a lot be thankful for.
    It gave me hope for Cooper.
    It reminded me that while storm clouds thundered, lightning flashing, it still passed. Rainbows were still possible, no matter the bleakness.
    “Thank you,” Heather whispered, giving me one last hug goodbye.
    “For what?” I seriously didn’t know.
    “For the smile he’s wearing. It’s because of you.”
    Her compliment made me blush. I didn’t think she realized just how much she had helped her son recover or the impact she had on his life. When I tried to argue back, she simply shook her head—the subject closed.
    With both our cars parked outside, Cooper and I quickly agreed to follow each other back to his house. It was only a fifteen-minute drive but I was grateful for the brief respite being alone would give me.
    Adjusting my rearview mirror, more out of habit than anything, I cast one last look at Heather as she stood waving from her front door.
    He’s who he is because of you , I thought, ready to pull away from the curb.
    But I also knew she was right. Even I’d seen the change in Cooper since that first night here where I’d approached him after a gig.
    Life was good.
    The future excited me.
    Love could definitely heal the most painful of wounds.
     

 
    Chapter Nine
    Cooper
     
    The soft clicking sound as Caylee’s fingers flew over her laptop’s keyboard seemed to match the rhythm of my own heart beating. The thought made me inwardly snort—my body reacting to even the slightest thing she did.
    After leaving my parents home, it had remained unspoken between us—the overwhelming need to be alone. Where I would’ve taken her out to celebrate winning the scholarship, the paper she’d written one I knew she’d poured herself into, I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit I refused to share her with anyone tonight.
    There’d be plenty of time for parties.
    All I could focus on was getting her beneath me—naked.
    How glorious it had been . . . the way her softness melted into my hardness. The way she yielded to my touch, to the kisses I feathered softly over her body, the way her back arched in pleasure.
    She was so beautiful it was maddening. I couldn’t get enough. If that made me a selfish asshole—the desire to keep her in bed with me—then I embraced that part of me completely.
    Staring at her now, her gorgeous legs stretched out in front of her as she bit her bottom lip, concentrating on whatever she was doing on her computer, it was tempting to close her laptop and begin round two.
    Tracing my fingers lightly over the bare skin of her ankle, I leaned forward, replacing my hand with my mouth. Goosebumps rose, spreading like wildfire up her leg. Caylee was naked except for the t-shirt she’d claimed from my drawer.
    All I could think about was what lay hidden just above the bottom hemline of the shirt. It taunted me—like a siren beckoned ships to the