Emily

 

We enter the room, both remaining silent for several minutes. My arms stay around him, needing him to anchor me.

This nightmare is finally over.

The shock of everything comes crashing around me as we stand here alone in the room, looking at each other. He could’ve died. I would’ve seen the only man I’ve ever loved taken from this earth. All because that psycho was living in some twisted version of reality.

“You almost…” I whisper as I shake my head, taking a step back. “You could’ve—”

He looks at me as I struggle to keep from breaking down. Instead of falling apart, I fall into Cooper’s arms, and he holds me tight. “It’s okay, Emmy. It’s okay.”

“I almost lost you.”

“You didn’t. I’m right here.”

A part of my brain won’t allow me to believe that we’re both okay. I lean back so I can touch his face, his hair, his chest, checking to make sure he’s really here and alive. My fingers trace the bruise that’s starting to form as a tear falls from my eyes. “He hurt you.”

“Not in a way that won’t heal.” Cooper wipes my cheek and cups my face. “Don’t cry, darlin’.”

“If he had killed you—”

Cooper hushes me by bringing his lips to mine. He kisses me tenderly, and my hands move up his shoulders, his neck, and to the back of his head, needing to stay like this. We kiss each other, emotions taking over.

His hands skim down my back until he’s gripping my thighs, pulling me into his arms. “I need you.”

“I need you, too,” I reply anxiously.

It isn’t wanting at this point. It’s a physical ache that only he can soothe.

“I have to love you,” he explains almost frantically.

“Please. Make love to me.”

He moves us back to the bed and places me down gently. I take in his dark brown hair, the stubble on his cheeks, and the passion in his eyes as he braces over me. I’m a lucky woman.

As we come face to face, my breath is taken away when I see a lone tear start to fall.

My fingers capture the bead and neither of us speak.

Sometimes words aren’t needed.

Sometimes silence says it all.

Our lips collide, and I lose myself in his touch. His tongue moves against mine, and I moan. Everything that’s happened the last few weeks disappears as he kisses me.

His hand moves down my chest, brushing his thumb against my nipple. He leans up, removes his shirt, and then tears mine off. The heat in his eyes burns my skin as my shorts and bra follow.

He can’t move fast enough.

“Don’t make me wait,” I plead.

“Never.”

Cooper’s tongue licks around the peak of my nipple, and my head falls back. I grip the back of his head as he sucks and then his teeth bite down while he slips a finger in my pussy. I nearly buck off the bed, but Cooper keeps me where he wants me.

“Tell me you’re mine,” Cooper demands as he pushes another finger in.

“Only yours!”

He pumps in and out, and I climb higher. I don’t know if it’s the remaining adrenaline that lingers, but I’m on fire. He ignites the flame, causing me to burn from the inside out. I need him—all of him.

“Cooper,” I cry out as my orgasm teeters. “I need you! Now!”

He removes his pants and climbs back into place. Our eyes meet as he slowly enters me.

Bliss. It’s complete and total bliss.

I’m filled in every possible way. My heart is full of love for this man. Everything in my world makes sense this very instant. I never want to lose this. I’ll do everything I can to hold on to what we have.

Cooper completes the missing piece of my heart.

“I love you. I love you. I love you so much.” I can’t hold in my feelings. If I try, they will shred me from the inside just to get out.

He slows his pace, kisses my lips, and smiles. “I love you. Don’t ever try to leave me again.”

My fingers dig into his back, keeping him as close as possible. “You never have to worry about that.”

We make love. Losing ourselves and all understanding of time. I don’t think about anything other than us while we’re in each other’s arms. I’m able to breathe when he’s around.

After, when we’re both sated and panting softly, I lie on his chest, listening to the steady thrum of his heart. My finger makes random patterns on his stomach, and his hand rests on my hip.

“Why didn’t you just tell me?” he asks after a long while of comfortable silence.

I turn my head to face him. “I was scared he’d kill you. I was willing to end our relationship if it meant that you were safe.”

He releases a heavy sigh. “God willing there’s never a next time, but if there is, just talk to me. We would’ve figured something out.”

Hurting Cooper was the last thing I wanted to do. I hated every second of knowing he was upset. “I’m sorry I lied. I’m even more sorry I made you think there was another man.”

It was the worst thing I could’ve said. Cooper has been someone’s second choice each time he’s given a girl a chance. Both of us have had shit luck until we finally found our way together. I believe we had to drudge ourselves through the mucky water to find our way to the clear springs.

“I’ve been waiting my whole life to feel the way I feel with you. I’m crazy about you, and there’s no way I was going to lose you.”

I smile, bring the tip of my finger to his cheek, and run it against his stubble. “Who would’ve thought two kids from the opposite side of the tracks would fall in love all these years later?”

His hand wraps around my fingers. “Especially since you were right under my nose the whole time.”

“I was just waitin’ for you to finally ask me out.”

That isn’t completely true, but Cooper was definitely someone I considered. I wasn’t really sure of what my feelings were for him, so I sank into music instead of finding out. He is a friend and a good man—he always has been, yet my goal had always been to get out of Bell Buckle.

Here I am now wanting to go home…to Cooper.

“Well, you have me now.”

I grin. “I sure do, and you’re stuck with me.”

“Yeah? Is that so?” Cooper’s hands grip my arms, and he lifts me so we’re nose to nose.

“Yup.”

His lips touch mine, and I melt. “For how long?”

“How long do you want me?” I ask playfully.

“Marry me.”

I gasp, looking down at him with wide eyes. “What?”

Cooper sits up, taking me with him. “Marry me. I want you to marry me.”

My mouth opens and closes like a fish. “Are you... It’s so soon... And we just went through all that. Are you sure? Do you really want this?”

He cups my face in his hands, eyes dancing back and forth between mine as I watch without blinking. “I love you. I’ll be good to you. And I’ll make you happy. There’s nothing I want more, and I’m completely sure. Will you be my wife?”

My heart races as I try to find the words that have escaped me. It’s crazy, impulsive, and I love him. I know there is no one else in the world I want to be with, and every excuse that rolls around my head seems trivial.

“Yes!” The word flies from my lips as I wrap my arms around him.

Only Cooper could take the darkest day and turn it bright. He chases away the clouds, keeps the storms at bay, and allows me to dance in his rays.