20. Katrinia
20
Katrinia
C ooper didn’t wake up until the middle of the night. I curled up on the massive sectional couch with him before eventually falling asleep myself after switching to a true crime documentary.
At three in the morning he woke up in what seemed like excruciating pain. After taking out the cotton in his mouth I was finally able to understand some of his muffled words. I heated up some of the Pelmeni he asked for and ran a bath for him upstairs while he ate.
He begged me to get in with him so I laid there with my head resting against his chest, in silence. Surrounded by bubbles while he caressed my hair until the water grew cold. We both got dry and climbed between the sheets not bothering to get dressed for bed.
It’s surreal how we are able to pick right back up where we left off. Being with him isn’t like dating someone new.
It’s familiar.
It’s comfortable.
We have just always fit together, like two puzzle pieces that were designed to fit next to each other.
I let those comforting thoughts and the rise and fall of his chest lull me back to sleep.
* * *
“Damn it!” I hear before a loud crash startles me awake.
I shove off the duvet and rush into the bathroom to find Cooper struggling with the child proof cap on his prescription bottle. His face is starting to swell and bruise on one side but it only adds to his new rugged and dangerous demeanor.
“Let me help you with that,” I say, reaching for the bottle and he releases it, clearly getting frustrated.
“That damn thing is broken and my entire face is throbbing.” He mumbles as he watches me twist off the cap. He scoffs as I hand him a painkiller and fill the glass with water from the sink.
“Your massive caveman hands were probably just getting in the way.” I shrug giving him a teasing smile.
He swallows the pill before placing those massive hands on my naked hips, pulling me against him. “I’ve never heard you complain.” He smirks as his hands glide from my hips to squeeze my ass.
“Cooper!” I blush, placing my palms on his chest. “You are in recovery. Knock it off.”
He holds me tighter as he bends down and whispers in my ear, “Then why don’t you get back in bed and take care of me.”
“I can’t. Since you already woke me up I might as well stop by the shop real quick before I head home. I’ll be back in about an hour.” I shove away from him and he lets me go.
As I walk over to my bag on the dresser he follows me back into the bedroom. “What are you getting at the shop?” He asks as he leans against the dresser watching me pull clothes out of my duffle.
“I want to bring the packages in. It’s been wet and snowing. I don’t want whatever you ordered to get damaged. Plus, I need to grab my laptop so I can get some work done. I left it in the office.” I rattle off my to do this for this morning as I get dressed. Hopping around like a flamingo on one foot as I try to pull my wool socks on standing up.
I notice he is staring at a spot on the floor, seemingly stuck in his thoughts.
“Do you want me to pick up anything while I’m out?” I ask and it takes him a moment to raise his gaze and reply.
“I don’t want you to go.” His mumbled whispers stop me as he steps away from the wall and takes my hand.
“I’ll come right back. Do you want me to call Theo?” I question and he shakes his head.
“I don’t want you to go home. I want this to be your home.” He states and I can’t help but laugh.
“Cooper, you’re on drugs. You don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shake my head as I pull on a sweater.
“I know exactly what I’m talking about. The drugs are just giving me the courage to say it out loud.” He stands completely bare before me as he slides his hands underneath my sweater and runs his thumbs against the bare skin of my lower back.
“We just started seeing each other.” I remind him.
“We’ve been in love with each other the majority of our lives. Move in with me.” He places a soft kiss on my cheek and I sigh.
“Willow and I just moved in, I don’t want to leave her with the lease, ” I try to reason. Thinking of Binx, wine nights, horror TV and our cozy witchy apartment.
We are getting older and growing up. Hell, I’m closer to thirty than Willow is but in so many ways I feel like we are the same. This might be the last time we get to live with each other like this. I think as I brush back his honey curls from his face.
I don’t hate the idea of living with him. I love it actually, but I just want to make sure we do things right this time around. I’m so terrified of messing up the good thing we have going on here by moving too fast.
“Keep paying your lease there if you want. It’s not like I would make you pay anything here.” He holds me tighter and his entire body envelopes mine as I stand between his legs.
“I’ll think about it.” I concede, kissing him gently, trying to avoid causing him any pain.
He kisses me back harder before he says, “OK, zhena, you think about it.”
“You better quit calling me your wife. People are going to think we’re married.” I tease as I push out of his arms and pick up my duffle bag.
“Have you ever heard of manifesting?” He chuckles, his jaw flexing in a twinge of pain as he walks back to the bed.
“More like gaslighting,” I tease, giggling. I lean against the door frame shaking my head as I watch him crawl back beneath the sheets. Even high as a kite on pain meds he makes me swoon.
Blowing him a kiss I wave goodbye before turning out the light and heading down the stairs.