Engaged (The ABCs of Erotica) (11 page)

Cooper ignores me. “It wasn’t about being without crap. I didn’t want to live in a tent. I wanted to be alone enough to figure shit out. I brought a lot of paper and a lot of pens. Books. But no electronics.”

“You didn’t watch TV?”
 

“Nope.”
 

“Listen to music?”
 

“Nope.”
 

“What did you eat?”
 

“I went to Whole Foods before the 100 days started. Bought enough stores to keep me through a few winters.”

“So, how did you feel when you were finished?”
 

“Like a new person. It was amazing. I didn’t realize until I was there, how unplugged I actually was. It wasn’t just the Wi-Fi and all that implies, it was the people and places I’d worn like a skin, for like my entire life. Sure, I was in my parents’ place, and it was nice and all that, but there was no one for miles and I felt it.”
 

“Would you do it again?”
 

“In a second,” he says, then swallows and adds, “I’d especially do it with you, Liza. If you have that long before you’re saying you do.”
 

He smiles, but it’s awkward.
 

“So how about sexually, what crazy things have you done with that tan dick?”
 

“I was in an orgy.”
 

“Yawn,” I tease. “Who hasn’t?”
 

He looks at me, half shocked. “You? Really?”
 

“Plenty,” I nod.
 

“Well, by orgy I mean a bukakke party.”

“Wow,” I smile. “That’s impressive. Were you supplying the syrup, or taking it on the face?”
 

“There was a girl in the middle, smartass. A redhead and seven guys.”
 

“I don’t get that crap,” I shake my head. “I mean, I like cum. Love it actually, one of my favorite parts of … ”

“I know,” Cooper says. “I’ve been with you.”
 

I laugh and go on. “Anyway, I don’t get
that.
It’s just degrading.”
 

“Maybe that’s what gets them off.”
 

“Clearly. I’m just saying it doesn’t work for me.”

“No,” he said. “I can’t imagine it would. Tell you the truth, I’m not even sure it worked for the guest of honor.”
 

“What do you mean? She wasn’t into it?”
 

“Not really. It looked more like she was filling a role than starring in one. The whole thing felt
off
. Not hot at all. At least not for me. I’ll never do it again.”
 

“So, the opposite of Colorado?”
 

Cooper laughs. “Yeah, officially: Bukkake is the opposite of Colorado.”
 

“Hey, Cooper?”
 

“Yeah?”
 

“How often did you jack off, during your 100 days?”

He grins. “At least 100.”
 

I slap my hand on the table and rub it against the soft wood, laughing. “Don’t feel bad. I’m like that, too. Once a day, at least. I can’t get enough.”
 

“So, what’s the craziest thing you’ve done?”
 

“I’ll give you both answers at once. The craziest thing I’ve done, in life and sexually, was traveling Europe for two years.”
 

“The rich girl backpacking thing? Wow. That’s almost as impressive as living in a mansion in Colorado for 100 days.”

“Yes and no. I basically went from country to country without any plan or direction. Most of my days were filled with empty, meaningless sex.”
 

“Sounds awesome.”
 

“It totally was.”
 

“So, no specific stories? That hardly seems fair. Feels like you’re dodging.”
 

“I spent a long time with two girls, Sasha and Hope. I could’ve stayed with them forever, and almost did. They were gorgeous, knew my body, and did yummy things to it. Treated me like a goddess. Both were models — you would probably recognize them — and made absurd amounts of money. We were always sleeping with great-looking guys, and one another, working out, traveling, and having shit tons of fun.”
 

“So, why did you leave? Fuck, Liza. I would’ve stayed!”
 

“They started using, and I didn’t want to. I didn’t judge them, but started feeling more out of place, until I didn’t want to be there. So, I flew home, then met Richard not long after that.”
 

“And he’s the one?”
 

“He’s the one.”
 

“So, why are you here? And because Richard told you to
isn’t
an answer. You’re Liza fucking Elway. I’ve never seen you do anything you didn’t want to, and I wouldn’t believe it if someone told me you did. Your guy may have suggested that you go on a walkabout, but you went because you wanted to.”
 

“Fair enough,” I say. Of course, Cooper is right.
 

“So, why did you go?”

“I’m here to figure out if Richard is really the right man for the rest of my life, or if I only think he is.”

“Is it because he’s 100 million years old?”

“He’s not that old, and yes that’s part of it, but not like you probably think.”

I look up, searching for words. “I don’t mind that Richard’s older than me — not old, Cooper — because I find his age unattractive. His body’s hard like yours, but larger. And the lines on his face tell stories. I love them. I feel like he needs me more — I like that — and I also feel like he needs me less. He’s wise, and his own person. He can take or leave me, but can’t live without me. He’s sexy even when sleeping, and knows how to use his body better than any many I’ve ever known. No offense.”
 

“None taken,” Cooper shrugs. “It’s totally cool that you’re into mummies or daddies or whatever.”
 

I ignore him. “What bothers me, if anything does, is that Richard knows so much more about the world than I do. It’s not like he’s smarter than me, though I’m sure he is. But he’s lived more life, and that’s a fact. His years have more significance. He wins every argument and uses experience for evidence. I don’t stand a chance, and feel like I’m not bringing enough to the table.”

“Do you think he knows how you feel?”

“Richard knows how I feel about everything. I don’t even try to hide anymore. He announces my feelings, sometimes while they’re stirring inside me. It’s terribly sexy and a little creepy. I hate it and love it.” I nod. “That’s why I’m here.”

“So, you think there’s a chance you might not go back?”
 

“None,” I shake my head. “It’s not that I’m not meant for Richard, or that Richard isn’t meant for me. It’s that I have to figure a few things before I can prove that’s true.

“Like coming here and fucking me?”

I nod.

“And Leigh? And her new girlfriend, Jenny?”

I nod again.

“Where you going next?”

I shrug. Cooper laughs. “Bullshit. You have a list.”
 

“Maybe.”
 

“So, that’s all it is?” Cooper steers the conversation. “You’re not looking for anything more physical with Richard?”

“I told you, sex with Richard is amazing.”

“That doesn’t answer the question. You know Antonio’s, at the bottom of the hill? Best pasta pomodoro ever. There’s a drop too much olive oil, but that doesn’t stop it from being the best.”
 

I say, “Richard won’t fuck my ass.”

“What?” Cooper raises his eyebrows. “I thought getting to dart the brownie was a holy Grail for most guys.”

I shrug. “He doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with anal, it’s not dirty or anything, it just doesn’t do anything for him. We’ve done it a few times, for me, but I don’t like doing things he doesn’t want to do.”

“What other things doesn’t he want to do?”

“That’s it.”

“So, you’re bitching that Mr. Perfect won’t shine your sheriff’s badge, the one thing most girls don’t even want? Wow. Life really sucks for Liza Elway.”
 

“Fuck you, Cooper. I wasn’t bitching. You asked me a question. I gave you an answer. I don’t like doing stuff other people don’t want to do. That makes anal no fun with Richard. Which is fine. But you asked, and that’s one thing missing. I always liked it with you.” I smile. “You were the first guy to fuck my ass.”

“I was the first guy to fuck you, period.”
 

“True,” I smile.
 

“Confession?” Cooper says.
 

I’m not sure I like the lilt at the end, but nod anyway.
 

“I never really dug it that much, you know, my dick in your butt. Anal is fine. But I really don’t see the draw. Most girls don’t like it that much. Mostly, it’s like planting your flag at the top of a mountain. Great the first time, but what’s the point after that? You do it and move on. After planting my flag in the dirthole, I’ll take the mouth or pussy every time.”

“You are endlessly charming. And fuck you.”
 

“What?”

“You’re making me feel like you were doing me a favor.”

“That’s not what I’m saying. Everything was awesome. But I’m older now and have a better understanding of what I like, and what I think I like because you see it in porn.”
 

“That’s very sexy,” I say.
 

“So, how long are you going to stick around, you know, using my assets?”
 

“I have no idea. I guess it depends how long you want me, and how good you are at holding my interests.”
 

“You can stay forever,” Cooper says. Something in his eyes says he means it.
 

“Have I satisfied your need for conversation? Because I’d like to move on to other things.” I grab his dick and blow hot breath in his ear.
 

He says, “You know I’ve spent a long time trying to forget you.”
 

“Sorry about that.”
 

“I’ll be crushed when you’re gone.”
 

“Sorry in advance.”
 

I fall to my knees and take good care of his hard cock.

Leaving Cooper
 

I lie in bed, waiting for Cooper.

We’re in his parent’s house now.
 

I love this room. It reminds me of Richard. White linens and gleaming glass. It’s easy to feel beautiful, lying on the all-white bed, wearing all white myself, though not all that much. I have lacy panties, thin and see-through, and a white, button-down shirt, loosely tied below my breasts, about to lose its knot.

Eyes closed, I feel Cooper enter the bedroom. I turn and look. He smiles as he approaches from the bathroom, bare-chested in white, linen pants. His muscles aren’t bulky like Richard’s. He’s thin like me, and beautiful.

I’ve been in bed for 10 minutes, with Cooper for a week.

This is our final interlude.

I scoot toward him as he approaches the bed. He wraps his hands around my back and underneath my legs, then pulls me toward him. I’m putty because I’ve been waiting. We’re well-oiled after a week together, more than we ever were before. My eyes are closed as we kiss. A week ago he tasted like memory; now he tastes like my present.

I open my eyes and find him staring. I put my hand to the back of his head and pull him toward me. His tongue finds my nipples. His lips clamp my breast, and he starts to suck me as I moan.
 

I look down at Cooper sucking my tit. I get wetter. I try shrugging the top from my shoulders, but it hangs. Cooper lowers me to the bed and tends to my panties, hooking a finger under the elastic from either side and gently tugging them to my waist, over my knees, past my ankles. He holds them to his nose, and inhales before they slip from his fingers, onto the carpet.

He falls to his knees. I spread my legs on his way. He looks at me, extending his tongue and showing it to me playfully. He laps at the juices dribbling from my middle.

I love how he’s licking my pussy. He’s changed. In a week, Cooper’s lovemaking has evolved into something closer to Richard’s than I imagined Cooper capable of. He’s learned to be slow, and gentle. He makes me crave him in a way the old Cooper never could have. I wonder if this new Cooper is a result of being with me for a week, or whether he was there all along, blooming in my absence.
 

His hand slithers between my legs, up my body to my breast. He gently swats my hand and starts kneading it with his own. My arms fly up over my head as I writhe on the bed. I plant my hand over his, push him harder against my breast, and quietly tell him to rub my tit harder.

I didn’t expect to stay here this long. A few days, tops. Cooper suggested I go to Europe. I would have, crazy as that seems. But I called Sasha and Hope. Their schedules were scattered. We couldn’t all be in the same place at the same time for weeks. I thought of returning to Richard, but could feel his disappointment, hear him asking, “Did you get what you left here to find?”