COOPER SCOOPED ME UP IN his strong arms and carried me out of the house, down the driveway, and out toward pool. Glancing up at him, his eyes were focused ahead until he realized I was looking up at him. He didn’t take his eyes off the destination, but a sexy smirk curled on his kissable lips.
“Where are we . . .” I finally looked ahead, my muscles going slack. Whoa. I missed this when I came in.
In front of me was the pool, transformed. Soft white lights glowed in the Crepe Myrtle trees that lined the far side of the pool. As Cooper climbed up the small hill, I got a full view of what he had done. I sucked in a breath. “Oh my God, Cooper.”
My heart swelled and stretched in ways I never knew it could. It felt like it might pop, like an overinflated balloon, inside my chest. I had no idea he could be so romantic. He never seemed like a hearts and flowers kind of guy and I was okay with that. That scene at the pool was every dreamy fantasy I had never had, but realized I had always wanted. “What is all of this?”
I needed to hear the words. My heart and bruised ego couldn’t take another blow.
The pool was lined with white candles of all sizes, but their glow matched the lights in the trees. The flames danced and flickered as Cooper held me a little tighter. When we reached the concrete decking around the pool, I could hear soft music in the background. Closing my eyes, I tried to make out what it was. Getting closer, I realized it was Russell Dickerson’s Yours.
“Coop?” My nose burned as tears filled my eyes.
Cooper didn’t say anything as he placed me gently on the cushioned chaise. He took a deep breath and sat down at the end, his eyes finally meeting mine. He slid his hands up and down his denim-clad thighs. He looked like he was silently freaking out.
“I know that I’ve screwed up more times than not when it comes to you, Kins. I’ve told you one thing but felt another. For years, I’ve lied to myself and to you. I always had Ash as my excuse, but the truth is, I was scared.” He took a deep breath and continued looking into my eyes. “I was scared that you’d break me forever. That if I let myself feel the way you make me feel, that I’d never be able to move on once you figured out you really didn’t love me like you thought you did. You pull me to you and I can’t fight it anymore. I’m tired of fighting it. Losing Dad made me realize that life is too short not to go after what you want and be happy.”
I lost the ability to hold back the tears. “So, this is me claiming my happiness. This is me, telling you, that I do love you. I think I’ve always loved you.” His hand found mine and our fingers entwined. “I know I’ve hurt you in the past, but I swear, if you give me just this one last chance, I won’t hurt you again. I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe and make sure you always know how much I love you.”
The tears rained down and Cooper slid forward, stretched out his hand, and wiped my tears away. “Babe, don’t cry.”
“I can’t help it.” I gulped back the tears. My heart slammed repeatedly into my chest. “Is this real?” Releasing his hand, I leaned forward and rested my forehead against his. Terrified at any minute he would take it all back. While I wanted to, I couldn’t believe it was real. I was scared I would wake up from yet another cruel dream.
Cooper ran his hand up my arm to my shoulder then around and down my triceps, pinching the skin.
“Ouch,” I squealed, sitting back. My hand flew to the back of my arm and rubbed, while I laughed. “That hurt.”
“But you’re not dreaming.” He laughed, sliding even closer. His hips aligned with mine. Cooper bent down, his face hovering over mine. His breath, warm and minty fresh. “Be mine.”
Before I had a chance for the weight of his words to fully envelope me, his lips crashed into mine as his arms wrapped around my shoulder and waist. His kiss was fervent and fiery. Wild and unbridled passion that had been locked away for years, screaming to be freed. The last song faded out as Make It Rain by Ed Sheeran came floating through the air. Raspy yet velvety, the song fit the moment. We were washing away the past.
So lost in his sinuous lips, the pain in my side didn’t even register. All I could think about was the way his teeth bit and tugged on my bottom lip or how strongly his tongue swirled around mine. When he finally pulled away, my chest rose and fell dramatically as I tried to catch the breath that he stole.
“Holy shit.” That man would be the death of me. I would gladly suffocate if it was in his kiss.
“I may be your center of gravity, but you’re the gravity of my universe. I love you, Kinsley Elizabeth Allen. Say you love me too and I haven’t fucked up and lost you before I could have you.”
“Cooper,” I breathed. Every fiber in my being screamed uncontrollably. “I do love you. I can’t remember a time that I didn’t love you but,” Cooper’s face fell, “be sure, Cooper, because I won’t be able to pick up the pieces if you break my heart again.”
His handsome face smiled again. “I’m claiming you, baby. I’ll never let you go again.”
Adrenaline surged through my body as I smiled widely. “Then I’m claiming you, Cooper.”
I sat forward and wrapped my arms around his neck, finding his lips once more. His chest gently pushed me back, laying me down as he moved to lay down beside me. Carefully not to hurt myself, I turned on my side, so I could hold him closer to me. The once passionate, hurried kisses turned to intimate, slow kisses, learning and discovering each other.
Rain started to fall lightly but we ignored it and continued until a loud, bright bolt of lightning cracked through the night sky, making me jump. “We should probably get inside before it starts raining harder.”
“You’re probably right,” Cooper agreed, turning over and standing up. With his back to me, he adjusted his jeans then came around the wide lounger. Another loud crash of lightning lit up the sky as the rain picked up, extinguishing the candles around the pool. “Well, I guess I won’t have to come back out to blow them out.”
The cool water in contrast to my hot skin made the rain feel thirty degrees colder than it probably was. I shivered as Cooper bent down and hoisted me up to his chest. “You know, I could get used to this.”
He laughed. “What? Me carrying you around?” He started back to the house across the grass and down the hill to the driveway. The rain soaking him, dripped down his face, making him look even sexier.
I grinned. “That too, but mostly just being in your arms.”
“You feel good in my arms.” He bent his head down and kissed my nose.
“What about the lights?” I noticed the lights were still on in the trees as I looked over his broad shoulder.
“I’ll call Ash, he can get it on his way back in.”
My forehead crinkled in response.
Cooper’s lips curved. “You didn’t think I pulled all of that off by myself, did you?” We reached the covered front porch of the big house and were finally out of the rain. The button-up shirt stuck to his chest and back and accentuated all his tone, thick muscles.
“I guess I didn’t really think about it.”
“Ash helped me set it up while you and Anna were out today. I waited until you guys got home to start lighting all of the candles.” He pulled open the screen door, holding it with his foot as he maneuvered me through the doorway, back into the house.
The last bit of apprehension I was holding onto fell away. We had Ash’s blessing.
Cooper took me to Ashton’s room to change, placing me on the bed and grabbed a dry tank and a pair of clean running shorts from the pile on the dresser, and set them on the bed next to me. Giving me some privacy to change, he went to his room to do the same. I found my phone on the bedside table and sent a text to Anna.
Me: I won’t be home tonight. It finally happened!
Anna: I can’t wait to hear all about it. I’m so happy for you. Ash told me on the way back over here what Coop was planning.
Setting the phone back on the bedside table, I looked in the mirror and the reflection staring back was the happiest me I had seen in a long time.
When he returned a little while later wearing a plain black t-shirt that had the sleeves cut off and a pair of silky red basketball shorts, I was sitting on the side of Ash’s bed.
“You wanna watch a movie or something,” he asked, tipping his head in the direction of his room.
Looking down at my leg, it throbbed its discontent. “I need to take some pain meds. My leg is hurting.” I looked to the bedside table and saw the pill bottle. “I think it’s the weather messing with the screws and stuff in there.”
“I’ll grab you a drink.” He spun on his heel and darted out of the room. He was back before I could even think about what would happen next.
In all the time I had spent throwing myself at him, I never thought about what would happen if he ever reciprocated.
“Here you go.” Cooper handed me a cold can of soda. “You wanna stay in here or go to my room?”
What did I want? Part of me wanted nothing more than to go with him and get lost in his body; in his touch, but I wasn’t ready. Physically or emotionally. I opened the pills and threw one in my mouth, washing it down with a huge gulp of Pepsi.
“I think we should talk,” I said, reaching over and placing the soda on the bedside table. Planting my hands on either side of my butt, I pressed down and slid my butt toward the headboard, giving Cooper room to sit.
“Those are not the five words I wanna hear, Princess.” He sat down then turned slightly so his right leg was on the bed while his left hung down.
“And what five words were you looking for Cooper?” I smiled, holding back a snicker. It probably wasn’t the best statement to make at that time.
“Take me to bed, Cooper . . . those were the words I was looking for. Definitely not what you said. As a matter-of-fact, I hate that string of words together. They make my balls run and hide.” He placed his hand, palm down on the foot of the bed and leaned into it.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Your balls hide?”
“Fuck yeah, they do. Especially when they feel like they’re gonna get kicked.”
I laughed harder. “I’ve got one leg, babe. I can’t kick you.”
“You know what I mean.” He narrowed his eyes at me.
“I just wanted to talk for a minute. About . . . what we do now.”
“That’s it? What we do now?”
“Yeah.” I shrugged.
“What we do now is go get in my bed, so I can fall asleep with you wrapped around me and tomorrow we figure out what’s next.” He pushed off the bed and stood in front of me with his hand out to me. “For tonight, just us. No words, no plans. Just your body against mine. Don’t overthink it.”
Well, when you put it like that.
Looking ahead, I watched as my hand reached out and took his offered hand. He pulled me up, so I was standing on one foot. He dipped down and scooped me up. My arm went around his neck and he carried me out of the bedroom. “If you get my crutches, I can walk on my own.”
“Nah, you don’t need crutches, I got you.” We exited the bedroom, turning to get through the doorway.
“Bathroom. I need to go in there first.” If we were going to sleep, I needed to brush my teeth, pee, and wash my makeup off my face.
“You got five minutes,” Cooper told me setting me down on the toilet lid.
Well, I guess I’m sleeping here one more night.