Chapter 13
BELLA
I’m still exhausted when I wake up the next morning, but I have no choice but to get up and work out.
We need to maintain our fitness, and we didn’t go to the gym yesterday.
Without opening my eyes, I run my hand over the bed, patting Copper's side, but it’s cold.
He’s been up for a while. Why didn’t he wake me up?
Sighing, I turn onto my back and open my eyes to stare at the ceiling. I’ve taken today off work, so I don’t need to rush to get ready. We need to make this undercover assignment look real, so I make sure to book occasional time off work.
The sun catches my ring as I stretch my arms over my head. Pretending that Copper and I got engaged will provide the perfect excuse for taking the day off when I go to work tomorrow.
My hands flop on the bed beside me, and I sigh as I sit up.
“That’s a big sigh, Spice,” Copper says as he walks into the bedroom holding mugs of coffee in his big hands. “Hope this makes it better.”
“Oh, you’re a lifesaver.” I hold out my hands to take a mug from him and inhale the rich aroma. “Nothing’s wrong. Just glad I get one more day off before I go back to work.”
Copper sits on the bed next to me and puts his mug on the bedside table. He turns and braces his hands on either side of my hips as he studies me. I run a hand through my messy hair, suddenly feeling self-conscious at how unkempt I must look.
“You’re exhausted,” he murmurs.
He’s right. I am. Being on constant alert takes its toll despite our relaxing weekend. Now, my body doesn’t know what to do.
“I am,” I admit.
Copper takes my coffee cup from me, tugs the bedding from my legs, and holds out his hand. “Come on. We’re taking another day for ourselves.”
“We are?” I take his hand and allow him to pull me up.
“We are,” he confirms as he leads me into the bathroom.
“Oh,” I whisper as I look at the bath full of steaming water.
Lavender and vanilla fill the air—the bath bomb I bought weeks ago but never used. Copper reaches up and switches off the light. The bathroom doesn’t have a window, so the only light comes from the candles flickering along the edges of the bath.
“Up,” he orders, hands gripping the bottom of my T-shirt.
I automatically lift my arms, and he whips my T-shirt over my head. The next thing I know, his fingers are curled into the top of my leggings. He pulls them down, taking my underwear with them. I step out of them, still trying to make sense of what’s happening.
Copper gathers my hair and ties it up in a bun.
“Cop?” I question uncertainly, turning my head to look at him. The hungry look in his eyes takes me aback as they rake over my body.
“Fucking beautiful, Spice. And you don’t seem to realise it.”
“What?” I whisper, confused.
His lips move, but I don’t register what he says. He speaks too softly for me to hear.
Copper grips my chin gently, turning my face towards him.
“I said, you’re fucking beautiful, Bee. Today is about you.
About me taking care of you,” he says fiercely.
“This weekend was a mind fuck for you, but I hope it allowed you to put the past behind you and stop blaming yourself. Sam is happy. You no longer need to punish yourself. I won’t let you.
The past is done. It’s time to look towards the future. ”
Tears prick my eyes at how adamant he is that I stop punishing myself.
“Today,” he continues, “we’re taking time to relax together before we have to be on guard again.
I swept the flat for bugs last night. We’re clear.
No one was here while we were away. We can do whatever the fuck we want, and nobody will hear us.
But before we get to that, you’re going to relax in the bath while I make breakfast. Then we’ll curl up in bed and watch a movie, maybe catch up on some sleep. ”
My brain slowly absorbs what he’s saying, and a tear rolls down my cheek.
“Ah, baby, don’t cry,” he whispers, wiping my cheeks.
I let out a broken sob and wrap my arms around him, resting my cheek on his chest.
“This is the last time I cry about what happened,” I promise as tears stream down my face, wetting his bare chest. “After today, no more.”
Tilting my head back, I look at his gorgeous face through a haze of tears and whisper, “Thank you.”
His gaze softens as he wipes the tears from under my eyes with his thumbs. “I keep telling you, Bee, you never have to thank me for taking care of you. I’ll always be here for you, even if it’s protecting you from yourself.”
He lowers his head, and his lips hover above mine. Rolling to my toes, I press my lips to his in a long, sweet, emotional kiss.
When we break apart, I whisper, “Instead of making us breakfast, why don’t you join me in the bath?”
His smile is wicked, and my heart beats a bit faster. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I cup his cheek, running my thumb over his beard. “I’m sure.”
“Okay.” He steps back and hooks his fingers into the waistband of his sleeping shorts.
I turn away and step into the bath, sliding down into its cocooning warmth and allowing the heat to relax the tense muscles from riding over the last two days.
“Scoot forward, Bee.”
I do as he asks, giggling as he sinks into the hot water with a groan. “Feels good, huh?”
“Yeah, but it would feel even better if you came here.”
He doesn’t have to ask twice. I scooch back until I’m flush against his chest. Copper wraps an arm around me until I’m resting against his chest, my head on his shoulder. There’s no second-guessing how this man feels about me. Not with his rock-hard length pressed against my back.
“Ignore him,” Copper whispers against my forehead.
“Kinda hard,” I tease. “He’s huge.”
Copper’s body jostles mine as he shakes with mirth. “He’s not that big.”
I snort in disbelief. “If you say so.”
He continues to chuckle as he reaches for the jug on the side of the bath and dips it in the water. The warm water trickles over us as he tips it, relaxing and sensual at the same time.
I’m not sure how long we spend in the bath, but the water eventually goes cold and our skin prunes. Leaning forward, I let the water out and stand.
I’m not the slightest bit self-conscious in my nakedness. Maybe it’s because we’ve lived together and slept in the same bed for so long, but everything we do seems completely natural.
Copper gets out and grabs a towel, wrapping it around his hips before he grabs another and enfolds me in its warmth. “Feel better?”
Smiling widely, I run my palm over his cheek, relishing the softness of his beard.
“I do,” I murmur before I kiss him.
This time, he doesn’t let me go. He scoops me into his arms and carries me to the bedroom, where he gently places me on the bed, still wrapped in the towel. Following me down, he covers me with his warm weight.
My hands go to his hair, and I remove his hair tie, allowing his dark curls to surround us.
“Love your hair,” I murmur against his lips.
“Love you,” he replies, then stills as he realises what he’s said. He lifts his head to look at me. “I’m not taking it back. I know you aren’t ready to say the words yet, and I can wait. But I need you to know that I love you, Bee.”
God, this man. I’m not sure what I did to deserve him.
My lips tremble. I open my mouth to tell him I love him, too.
His finger presses against my lips as I search for the right words. “I know,” he murmurs. “I can wait.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
He’s right; I’m not ready to say the words yet. But I can show him.
Hooking my leg around his, I use my hips to turn us until I’m lying on top of him.
Leaning down, I take his mouth in a deep kiss, pouring everything I can’t yet say into it—all the love I hold in my heart, all the care and devotion I feel for this big, gentle man.
The man who’s taken the time to get to know me, to let me heal, and never once blamed me for what I did.
Who made me realise it was okay to forgive myself and to reach for my own happiness.
I’m allowed to be happy. I know this as he turns us again and throws our towels on the floor.
With this man, I can be happy.
Because he loves me as I am. Loves me for me with no expectations.
From the day he rode into my life, he’s shown me that I’m worth fighting for.
Copper places a knee on the bed, gripping my thighs and gently applying pressure so I open for him. I hold still as he presses a soft, reverent kiss to my knee. His every move shows me how much he cares.
Inhaling deeply, he mutters, “Fuck, Bee.”
I’m drenched. My need for him coats my thighs. It’s been a long time for me, and I’m not sure I can wait much longer now that we’ve made this shift in our relationship.
I’ve never felt like this. This all-consuming need to have him fill me. I need to feel him deep inside me.
“Copper,” I moan, shifting my hips restlessly.
“I know, baby.”
He runs his nose up my thigh to where I need him the most. A low, needy whimper leaves me as he spreads my pussy lips open with his thumbs. I’m panting even before the first swipe of his tongue, which arches me off the bed with a wail.
“Copper,” I mewl, gripping his hair as he uses his tongue and fingers to send me flying. “Fuck, fuck!”
A satisfied rumble leaves Copper’s chest as I ride his face until I come.
I’m a sobbing mess when he finally lets up and works his way up my body, kissing, sucking, and worshipping me until he finally reaches my mouth.
He claims it in a kiss that leaves me breathless and needy as he blankets me with his body.
He doesn’t hesitate, sliding his bare cock into my welcoming body.
He doesn’t hesitate when I wrap my legs around his waist and rock my hips, taking him deeper with every thrust.
He doesn’t hesitate to make me his in all the ways that count.