Cowl
“I’m proud of you.”
Andria closed the door after her. Despite the situation with Jake being over—he was now locked up at a military prison under some jurisdictional authority she’d never heard of—Cowl continued to act like her bodyguard. It seemed to make him happy, so she let him, but something told her that the danger had passed, that they were in the clear for now.
“What are you proud of me for?” She kicked off her shoes and headed straight for the couch, eager to sit and relax after a long day at school.
“For today. For getting up there, telling everyone what happened and not shying away from the details. For believing in yourself, and not letting what others thought of you get in the way. Jack got exactly what he deserved today, despite their pathetic attempts at using his condition to gather empathy from the board members.”
She flopped down onto the couch. “You did that.”
“Me?” He joined her, sinking into the opposite corner.
Andria’s mouth twisted unhappily at the distance between them. She shuffled herself upright and then across the couch, lounging out across his broad chest, feeling his strong heart beat beneath his skin, pressing her head up against him. Cowl lifted a hand and stroked through her hair, sending tiny shivers of pleasantness across her scalp.
“Yes, you. You didn’t give up on me; you convinced me that I was stronger than I thought. You made me feel sexy and gave me some of my confidence back. So, thank you.”
Cowl’s other hand pulled her tight into a hug. “You had it in you all along. I just pulled it out.”
She giggled.
“What?”
“You didn’t pull it out of me last time we—”
The rest of her reply was cut off as Cowl’s hand clamped over her mouth. She descended into a fit of giggles.
“Listen, you pervert. I’m trying to be sweet here as a leadup.”
She calmed. Slightly. “A leadup to what? You offering to pull—oomph!”
A pillow bounced gently off her face.
“No,” he growled, reaching under the couch with one extra-long arm. “To this.”
He pulled out an envelope.
Andria calmed. “What’s this?”
“Open it and find out.”
She swatted at him ineffectually, but took the envelope. It wasn’t sealed. Inside was a folded piece of paper. Frowning, she sat upright as she recognized the Barton City University logo at the top. Great, what now? Was she officially kicked out for not paying tuition?
They were working hard to rebuild the bar, but it was going to take a long time, and during repairs she wasn’t going to earn any money. Being told she was no longer enrolled seemed likely.
Dear Miss Chalmers,
This is to confirm that the amount of your second semester tuition has been paid in full.
There was some more words about class enrollments and such, but she couldn’t read it due to the shaking in her hand.
“What the hell is this?” she hissed. “Is this some kind of sick joke?
Cowl sat up, concern in his eyes. “Not a joke. I told you that you were going to school and I was going to pay for it. I meant it. You’re going to finish, Andria. You’ve worked too hard not to.”
“But Cowl…I can’t afford to repay you.”
He grinned. “I’m not asking you to. This isn’t a loan. Remember, dragon? Treasure, lots of riches, much wealth. All that fun stuff?”
“You were serious about all that?”
His eyes went flat. Cold. “Deadly.”
Andria made a note not to steal any of his treasure, even as a prank.
“Well, that’s awesome. Thank you so much.” She flung her arms around him, the paper crinkling as she held him tight. “You’re amazing.”
“Oh shush now. Pshh. Nah. Me? Noooo.”
She rolled her eyes and kissed him. “Shut up. You are, and I love it.”
Cowl pulled away from her, just enough that she opened her eyes only to find him already regarding her steadily, his bright blue eyes filled with a certain gravity she’d not seen before.
“What?”
He remained silent for a long while before leaning in and kissing her. Andria thought about trying to figure out what had just happened, but when his hands slid across her ribcage and down to her waist she lost track of what she’d been about to ask him.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked between kisses as one of his hands pushed under her waistband, sliding all the way over her ass until he could grip it solidly.
“Touching you.”
“Oh, I see.” She straddled him, resting both hands on his chest, dragging her hips across the hard outline of his cock. Cowl bit his lip, breathing heavily as she repeated the action.
She’d thought about this moment. About the next time they found themselves alone and getting intimate. What would she do? How would she react? Andria knew Cowl had been patient with her, had restrained himself despite her making it hard. She wanted to give back, to show him the renewed confidence that he’d given her. The only question was how.
His eyes roamed across her body, up and down, but as she watched he continually focused on her chest. No real surprise there she thought; she was more than used to her large chest garnering a lot of attraction.
Crossing her arms, she reached down for the hemline of her light sweater. Cowl stopped her with one giant hand. “You don’t need—”
Andria shrugged him off and pulled the sweater over her head.
“Shut up and look at my body,” she told him, shrugging out of her bra.
Cowl was more than happy to oblige as she stripped herself naked, exposing herself to him for the first time. She had to get up to remove her pants and underwear, and so she stood there under his watchful gaze. No hips, big stomach, large breasts and all.
“This is me,” she said, spreading her arms open wide.
He licked his lips, eyes taking in every bump, roll, and stretch mark. “I am the luckiest man on the planet,” he growled, getting to his feet. His clothes simply disintegrated as he quite literally ripped them off, the fabric tearing apart in a show of muscle that set her blood on fire.
“Cowl.” She rested a hand on his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin begin to immediately seep into her.
“Yes?”
“There’s one more thing I have to tell you.”
He paused, giving her his full attention. “Anything.”
She swallowed. This was even harder than taking off her clothes. It was a phrase she’d never expected to say ever again. But she thought she knew now why Cowl had looked at her strangely earlier.
He was waiting, hoping that she would tell him something, something that he knew he couldn’t tell her first. Not without risking scaring her off.
“I love you, Cowl. You are the most wonderful man I’ve ever met. You’re true, genuine, compassionate, protective, and hella sexy. There is not a single thing I’d change about you, and I cannot believe that you are interested in me.”
The huge shifter twisted his head left and right. “I’m not interested in you.”
“Wait? What?”
He grinned. “I’m in love with you, Andria Chalmers. Since the day I met you. I told you that you are my mate, and I meant it. I will forever be yours, and only yours. Never will you have to worry about me seeking another. My eyes are for you, and only you.”
They kissed again, a loving, tender moment despite the nudity and extreme arousal of them both. She could tell Cowl was, because he kept poking her in the stomach.
“So, does that mean I’m your mate?” she asked curiously.
He nodded. “If you accept me.”
She didn’t have to think about it. “I accept. With all my heart, my soul, and my body, I accept.”
“Good. Then there’s only one thing left to do.”
Andria looked down between them. “Please tell me it involves that.”
Cowl’s grin turned wicked.
“It involves that.”