Chapter Eighteen
Cooper
The second I saw the number from the head of my security team pop up, a cold sweat came over me.
Allegra. Was she hurt? Had someone managed to get to her?
“What is it?” I barked, already on edge.
“We have a situation here, sir. We’re at Miss Prescott’s place of employment, and there’s a man with her.”
“Then do something! Don’t waste time, get her to safety!” I couldn’t believe the pitch of my voice, the fear that choked my words.
“It’s not necessarily a person of interest. It’s…well, it looks like she has an admirer.”
Anger replaced the fear nearly instantly. I felt my face turn red, my own heartbeat thumping in my ears. “Who is he?” I snarled.
“Some German kid. We’re running him through our database right now, but the facial recognition software takes—”
“There’s no need. I’m on my way.” I grabbed my keys from the desk in my office at the warehouse, then walked to my car as quickly as my leg would allow. It seemed as if the progress I’d made in my recovery was undermined by Allegra’s swift kick from the day before. But I was glad she had defended herself.
The engine of my car roared to life, and I raced down the street to Allegra’s office. Thankfully, I wasn’t at our coastal warehouse today. Clenching the steering wheel, my knuckles turned pale and my teeth ground together. How dare that puny asshole make a move on her! After I took care of her, and he ran away like a pussy? Then he had the nerve to show up at her work? Fucking stalker. I was going to throttle that boy.
I didn’t even bother to park my car. I pulled right in front of the clinic, blocking traffic. One of my men saw me approach and was at my car door in a second. I tossed him my keys, barely glancing in his direction. Storming into the clinic, I took in the scene before me. Allegra was standing in the waiting room, which was empty except for the receptionist, who I recognized from the charity ball, and the kid who was about to get his ass kicked for trying to make a move on my woman. He held a pathetic bunch of flowers in his hand, some cheap, generic bouquet he probably picked up from a grocery store. Allegra deserved orchids and lilies, nothing but the best.
Her mouth dropped the second she saw me, and she started sputtering.
“Allegra,” I growled, my tone commanding and threatening. The boy finally turned, aware of my presence. If I hadn’t been so furious, I would have laughed at his reaction. The second he saw me he knew that he was no match for me, and when Allegra’s expression shifted to one of desire, her mouth parting, he knew she already belonged to me.
“Cooper, this is— ”
“I don’t care who the fuck he is. He’s leaving.” I opened the door and motioned. The kid took one look at me and practically ran through the door, taking his shitty flowers with him.
“Please, this is my work. Don’t create a scene—”
The look on the receptionist’s face told me that I had already created a ton of drama.
“You better come with me, then,” I responded, my teeth gnashing together.
For a second, I thought she might refuse me, and my blood pressure rose. But she looked at me, sighed, then nodded her head briefly. “Just let me get my purse—”
“There’s no need,” I said, then I grabbed her hand, tugging her through the door to the clinic, no doubt leaving the receptionist full of questions.
“You can let go of me, Cooper,” she said, trying to pull away.
“Nope, not until we have a little discussion.” I glanced around the street, looking for my car. One of my men had parked it and was waiting by the driver’s side door. As I approached, he retreated, most likely sensing my hostile mood and wanting to get out of the way as soon as possible. The keys were already in the ignition, but I walked over to the passenger side door and opened it, staring hard at Allegra until she climbed in. Smirking, I went back to the driver’s side and revved the engine before pulling away from the curb like a race car driver.
“Jesus Cooper, there’s no need to drive like a crazy person—”
“I am a crazy person. You make me crazy,” I growled, already irritated. “I should lock you up. I should kill that kid. You’re mine, Allegra. Mine. If I have to, I’ll take you back to my home and claim you over and over again so you don’t forget just who you belong to.”
Her mouth dropped, and I knew I stunned her silent.
Just what I wanted.
I drove a few blocks to a hotel that Steele owned. I’d stayed there many nights while my city home had been renovated, so the desk staff knew me well.
“What are we doing here?” Allegra hissed, her face filled with alarm.
“I’m making good on my threat.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her gently towards the lobby. The front desk attendant looked at me and recognized me instantly. I didn’t have to say a single word as he pushed a keycard across the desk. I grabbed it, running my thumb around the smooth edge of the card. Turning around, I led Allegra to the elevator. The second the doors closed, I turned my head towards my companion. She was quiet, not looking up at me. I could tell she was angry with me, but at that moment, I didn’t give a fuck. I was filled with rage, and I knew the only thing that would stop it would be to fill her with my come over and over.
I’d spend the rest of the afternoon inside her until my body felt confident that she knew who she belonged to.
She was still silent as I unlocked the door to the room. I held her petite hand in my grasp, but she wasn’t fighting against my hold on her. Ignoring the view and the luxury of the room, I headed straight towards the bedroom.
My single goal since arriving at her work .
She stood next to the bed, her expression blank. If I hadn’t been both enraged and turned on, I might have noticed her quiet demeanor, but I was a selfish prick. She was wearing jeans and a logo polo, the name of the clinic she worked for embroidered just along her right breast. I tugged at the shirt, pulling it over her head until she was topless. Removing my shirt, I drank her in.
Standing there in her bra and jeans, she was perfect. She was wearing a sports bra, no doubt due to the physical nature of her job, and I found that endearing. She was so dedicated to her career that even stripped of her shirt, she was still a physical therapist.
I towered over her like a monster, and I couldn’t wait to take her like one.
And then I saw her face. Like a cold bucket of water had been thrown on it, my lust extinguished on the spot. The white-hot rage that was governing this entire situation also faded, replaced by overwhelming concern.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” Tenderly, I angled her jaw up so I could see her eyes.
They were coated with moisture.
“You’re scaring me, Cooper,” she whispered, averting her eyes downward.
I wasn’t a man who ever felt remorse. I’d killed men, stolen, lied, and fucked my way around Europe. Yet the regret I felt nearly made me vomit.
In an instant, I scooped Allegra up, cradling her carefully against my chest. Sitting on the bed, I hugged her close. Her skin was covered in goosebumps, and she shivered. I used my body heat to warm her, enveloping her in my arms.
“ Ma belle , I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me. Forgive me. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” It was the second time I’d made her cry, the second time I’d felt like a true villain.
She seemed to hesitate for a second, but then she melted into my arms like warm butter. Needing my comfort, she sheltered herself in the safety of my embrace, even though mere seconds ago I was the one she was afraid of.
“Tomas…he…was sometimes…violent in bed. I’m afraid—it’s ruined me.” I felt her words more than I heard them, her soft lips moving against my chest.
My anger was back, this time directed towards that useless shit ex of hers. I felt my eyes flash, and the blood that had been directing my dick suddenly returned to my head, creating a drumroll of pounding inside my skull.
“I will kill him. I’m going to break into his cell and mutilate his body before I snuff out his life. I’ll—”
“Cooper. Please—just…hold me.”
I struggled once again to control my anger. Luckily, Allegra moved in even closer and pressed her silky lips to the hollow of my throat. It was the only place her lips could reach in our current position, but it was so goddamn sensual that it had me instantly hard again. Women enjoyed my body—I was a larger man, tall and muscular. I was incredibly experienced in bed, and my conquests knew they were with the best they’d ever be with. I was big and thick, and I had no trouble reaching places within a pussy that most men couldn’t. I didn’t even have to try to make a woman climax—they always did as I concentrated on my own pleasure.
But in all those experiences, all those ridiculous escapades, I’d never felt what I felt now, holding Allegra in my arms.
I placed her on the soft mattress, pulling back the sheets and tucking them around her. She was still cold, so I got underneath the covers with her, pulling her back towards me so I was spooning her. I placed a kiss against the back of her neck, moving her ponytail to one side. She shivered again, but this time, I knew it had nothing to do with temperature.
She wanted me.
My cock was hard, straining against her backside. My hips fought me, wanting to thrust against her beautiful ass. I wanted to pull her jeans down and take her from behind.
But that wasn’t what she needed. And for some reason, some insane part of me wanted to give her exactly what she craved.
I turned her to face me, nearly laughing as her beautiful eyes went straight to my chest. Her fingers lightly traced a tattoo I had along my pectoral muscle. The ink was marred, some of the art hardly legible anymore.
“What happened here?”
I turned my head away. “Ashlynn’s father—he’s—he was in the same line of work. When he realized that his enemy was sleeping with his daughter, he wanted to control the situation, and he used me as bait.”
I didn’t elaborate, because truthfully, I’d been unconscious for large parts of my captivity with Topher Phillips. But I remembered the pain all too well, the slashes of his knife, the heavy weight of the crowbar when it had met bone.
Allegra trailed her fingers along my collarbone, and I closed my eyes. I’d been touched everywhere by women, but something about her soft fingertips made it feel so much different. Intimate.
“That’s how your leg got injured. I knew that the damage wasn’t consistent with a car crash.”
She was a smart girl. I realized that her intelligence was an incredibly attractive trait, not one I’d ever searched for in a woman. Usually it was their body and their willingness in bed that took priority.
“Nope.”
“You didn’t give him what he wanted.”
I didn’t answer, because she really wasn’t asking me.
She sighed heavily, and I took that moment to roll her gently to her back. Her eyes widened, but they no longer held the slight dilation of fear from before.
“Allegra…” I muttered, adjusting her head on the pillow. I removed the tie in her hair, letting the locks contrast against the classic white hotel linens. She was stunningly lying on the bed, looking like sin and temptation rolled into one. I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers, just the softest touch. A gentle beginning, an unspoken promise that I’d be good to her, and that she was safe in my arms and in my bed.
She moaned, the quiet sound nearly inaudible. If I wasn’t so intent on watching her every reaction, I would have missed it. The release was deep within her throat, not escaping into her mouth.
Goddamn. I moved my body over hers, careful not to put any weight on her. I held myself above her, feeling the slight strain from my gunshot wound in my shoulder, but I ignored the pain. I’d had worse.
But with Allegra, I knew I’d never have better.