Cohen

Yes. She’s agreed to fight for us. My heart told me she would, but the rest of me didn’t believe it until she just said it.

“How do you want to do this? Should we go back or forth or should one of us talk all the way through first?” I ask, not caring how it goes down, just as long as it does.

“Maybe one of us can start and we’ll see how it goes.”

“That works. I’ll go first.”

“What if I wanted to go first?”

She totally can. “Do you?”

“No, but I just wanted to be an option.”

“You’re the only option.”

“Stop trying to romance me.”

“It’s my mission in life, so don’t expect me to ever stop.”

“Whatever.”

She laughs, but I realize something I’ve forgotten. I once told her I was going to spoil her, and I never have. I got so caught in just being with her and loving her, forgetting what I’d intended to do.

“I screwed up.”

“We both did. Isn’t that what we’re going to talk about?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you okay?”

“No, but I will be.”

“If you’re re-thinking any of this, please tell me now.”

“Not a chance. I love you. Do you believe that?”

“Yes. I never get tired of hearing it though.”

“Good, because I never get tired of saying it.”

“I love you too. There have been times in the past few weeks I didn’t want to, but I do.”

That’s all I need to get this started. Here goes nothing.

“First, I need to tell you my real name. I chose Horton when I was competing to distance myself from my family. When things went bad, I was glad I’d done it. My real name is Cohen Covington.”

I see when it sinks in. “You’re a Covington. Like, the crazy rich Covingtons? No wonder your parents are friends with Knox’s.”

“Yes, yes, and yes.”

“But you were giving swimming lessons.”

“I love the water,” I remind her with a shrug.

“You have a lot of money, but you don’t act like it. This is new to me after Rick and some of the patients I’ve dealt with. I’m barely getting used to Matt, Reina, and Knox being that way.”

“Is it too much to accept me like you’re accepting them?”

“Of course not. I was just worried about you paying for those dates you mentioned, even though I think Matt pays well.”

Fuck me. Or don’t. I haven’t even taken her out on a real date.

“Matt pays extremely well. I haven’t touched my trust fund in years, though. I like to live within my means. And I’m sorry about us not having any real dates yet.”

“What’s a ‘real’ date anyway? I loved our lunches and all the time alone together we squeezed in.”

“Honestly? Because you distracted me away from my original plans and I’m feeling like an ass about it.”

“You did say I had a greedy pussy, so I guess you can’t be blamed for your actions.”

There goes my dick, trying to break free from my dress pants. “You can’t say that word until we’re done talking.”

“Which word?”

“You know which word.”

“What letter does it start with?”

“Are you trying to get me to abandon the talking and make love to you right here and now?”

“A good, hard fuck sounds so good right now.”

Hell, I’m a human man, not a saint. “Take your pants off and come ride my cock. But, we’re talking after.”

“Definitely. Talking. Yes,” she says, pulling off her pants before I even get my zipper all the way down.

She climbs over me, and sinks all the way down. “Damn.”

“Shit. I’m objectifying you again.”

She starts to climb off me, but I pull her back down. “It’s not objectifying when you love the person. I’ve missed this just as much as you have.”

“Promise.”

“Promise.”

Quincy starts to move, and I nearly lose my mind with how good it feels to be inside of her again. We’re both so on edge, it only takes a few strokes before she’s coming and I’m following right after her.

“So good.”

“It is. The best. Have you found any more stuff in your books you’d like to do?”

“Yes, but we’ll talk about that after everything else. If that’s okay.”

“It’s perfect.”

She slips off me, pulling the pocket square out of my tux to clean herself up a little. I love that she doesn’t care about my wealth, but it’s time for some more truths. I wait for her to put her yoga pants back on—minus her panties—and join me on my couch before I begin again.

“Not many people know why I went off the rails back when I was diving competitively. Knox said he told you.”

“Your mom got sick.”

“Yeah. Cancer. Instead of dealing with it like I man, I handled it like the boy I was. Even after I started to straighten out, I was still wild and crazy. My mom didn’t deserve it, Knox didn’t deserve it, and I didn’t deserve it either.”

“You wouldn’t have Shane if you hadn’t behaved that way, so please don’t tell me you regret it.”

“It’s only because of him that I don’t. And because my mom talked some sense into me when I was back home.”

“Is that your home? San Diego?”

She’s asking me one of the most important things she needs to know tonight. No way I’m going to lie. “It was, but now my home is wherever you are. That sounds fucking cheesy and like a line, but it’s the truth.”

“It does sound cheesy, but I feel the same.”

I kiss her quickly, because I have to, and because we didn’t kiss during our quick sexcapade. She smiles, so I know it’s okay.

“The times I hit my head on the boards were far apart and I never thought there’d be a problem. But then, I started getting those headaches. I want answers, so I’ll be wearing the helmet again by the way.”

“When you dive from the ‘platform’ or just here?” she asks, reminding me I mocked her for using the layman’s term last time we talked. Or rather, fought.

“I’m not going off the diving board like I have in the past. I love the thrill of jumping, so I’ll do that and maybe a dive, but not flips or handstands.”

“Why?” she asks, ignoring the nod to her in my wording.

This is where it gets real. “I felt my head brush the platform as I spun. It wasn’t hard enough to knock me out, although the water did that for a few seconds. It was enough to make me realize it could happen again. I could’ve lost everything that day, including myself.”

“And yet, you did it again.”

“Only to ‘get back on the horse’ and not let fear guide me.”

“I thought you were going to keep doing it.”

“I know. Seeing you there meant everything to me. Seeing you gone when I came out of the water, along with seeing my son terrified for me, made me re-think what I was doing and why.”

“You’ve been back for a week, so why now? Why wait or decide not to wait?”

“I came back with a mission in mind. I was going to prove to you I could be the stable, responsible guy you need in your life. You were avoiding me, and I wasn’t going to push it until you gave me a sign you were willing to listen. I would’ve taken any sign, to be honest. Rick and his assholery upped my timeline. I guess I have to be thankful for that, but I despise him too much to give him even that.”

“Same,” she tells me with a smile.

“When I walked into the daycare and Shane told me Rick had Bianca, I was ready to commit murder. Wave was right there with me, but she’s a professional. I would’ve gotten caught if I’d killed him and I’m too pretty for prison.”

She caresses my cheek. “You really are.”

“I called in the troops I knew could take him down another way. My family and Knox’s don’t like to throw our weight around, but for this, we did.”

“I’m told there was also a part when you lifted Rick up off the ground with your hand around his neck.”

I shoot my cuffs out again, and smirk. I’m pretty sure anyone else in this same situation would do it too.

“He grabbed B too hard and was hurting her. I acted on instinct, and it was fun as fuck.”

“As fun as fucking? Hmm.”

“Fuck. I said fuck, not fucking woman. Nothing is more fun than fucking you.”

“Ditto. Is it bad that I wish I’d been there to see it?”

“No. Reina might be able to find some footage since the Society can do pretty much anything.”

“True. I’ll have to ask.”

“Can I be there when you watch if they get you footage?”

“Hoping for a BJ after I see you protect my kid?”

“Hoping for anything you want to give me. A card, a meal, a BJ—I’m good with any of it.”

“Noted. Now tell me more about Rick giving up his rights.”

“Short version is that wifey realized they had no chance against us plus the Corrigans and Griffins, and made him sign.”

“Is it legal?”

“Our friend Wave had a notary stamp in her purse.”

“We have the best friends.”

“We totally do.”

“Well, that’s where I’m at right now. Your turn if you still want one.”

“I do.”