Chapter 21
What was that secretive smile on Kendall’s face for? Cooper would sure like to know. She’d fit in with his chosen family as if she’d known them all her life. Because there were only six chairs around the table, Tyler sat on Grayson’s lap, sharing his breakfast, and Livie was on his.
This was the life he wanted. Kendall by his side, his daughter giggling when he made funny faces at her and his brothers and their wives close by. He just had to make it happen.
“She’s out for the night,” Kendall said as they both stood by Livie’s bed, watching their daughter sleep.
“Not surprised. She played hard today.” They’d spent the day on the beach, and, of course, that had included a baseball game with everyone but Quinn playing.
His chest had swelled with pride that Livie had outplayed Tyler.
He’d also been impressed that Tyler hadn’t minded at all like a lot of boys would have.
Tyler’s thing was surfing, though, and he was extremely good at it, especially considering he wasn’t quite seven years old.
“She wants to learn to surf now,” Kendall said. “I don’t know about that.”
“Maybe I’ll learn with her.” Grayson and Tyler surfed every chance they got. He’d never had the desire to, but it would be cool to be able to surf with his daughter.
Kendall rolled her eyes. “What am I going to do with you two?”
“I know what you can do with me.” That made her smile. “Want me to tell you?”
“Pretty sure I can guess.” She winked at him before walking out of the room.
He followed her out, his gaze on the sexiest ass he’d ever seen. She still wore the shorts she’d put on this morning, and he had a vision of having those long legs wrapped around him.
She glanced over her shoulder at him. “Like what you see?”
“Busted,” he muttered, unable to hold back a grin. “But I sure do.” He moved up next to her, bumping his shoulder against hers.
“I have sand in places where sand doesn’t belong,” she said. “I think a shower is in order.”
“We could save water and shower together.”
“Now that’s a brilliant idea.” She walked into his bedroom, pulled her T-shirt over her head and handed it to him.
“That’s what I’m talking about.” He took his off and dropped both shirts on the floor, then reached back and shut the door, locking it. “What’s next?”
She unbuttoned her shorts and pulled down the zipper. She stepped out of them, letting them puddle at her feet.
“I like this game.” He pushed his board shorts down over his hips, dropping them to the floor.
“Thought you might.”
And he really liked her. “Go start the shower. I’ll be there in a sec.
” He detoured to his bedroom and got a condom out of the nightstand.
By the time he made it to the bathroom, she was stepping into the shower.
After removing his boxer briefs, he followed her in, dropped the condom on the small shelf and wrapped his arms around her waist.
She leaned back against him. “I’ve never showered with a man before.”
“You have no idea how much I love hearing that.” Warm water cascaded over them as he trailed kisses over her shoulder.
She turned in his arms and lifted her face, inviting him to kiss her, so he did.
Steam filled the shower as their hands roamed over each other, fingers tangling in wet hair and caressing slippery skin.
Raw desire for this woman, the likes of which he’d never experienced, roared through him and all that mattered was her. It wasn’t just desire or lust; it was something more profound, more meaningful. It was a connection unlike anything he had ever known before.
She looked into his eyes with a mixture of trust and longing that almost brought him to his knees. “You want this, baby?” He trailed his lips down her neck to the swell of her breasts.
“More than anything.”
“I like that answer.” After sheathing himself with the condom, he took her hands and pinned them to the tile wall with his hand. With the other, he wrapped his fingers around her neck in a gentle hold.
He slowly slid inside her, and with his eyes locked on hers, he made love to her. Made love. The two words were foreign to him until her. Had sex before? Yes. Enjoyed it? Always. But this—the way they fit, like they were made for each other, like this was where he was meant to be—this was powerful.
Her breath hitched and she arched against him, meeting his thrusts with her own.
He let go of her hands, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his mouth to hers.
The sound of the water drumming on their skin and the steady rhythm of their bodies against one another was a symphony playing just for them.
His heart pounded in sync with hers, and her moans mixed with his.
Their bodies slid against each other, skin slick from the water, and when her muscles clenched around him, he knew she was close. A fire burned in him, and with each trust, it flamed brighter.
“Oh, God, Cooper.” She arched against him. “Harder.”
He obliged, and when she stepped over the edge, he stepped with her. Gasping for breath along with her, he put his hand on her chest, over her heart and felt it pound against his palm. “You’re beautiful when you come, Kens. You know I’m going to want to see that look on your face again and again.”
“I’m all for that, stud.”
He snorted. “Stud?”
“If the shoe fits, and all that.” She brushed her thumb over his bottom lip. “And believe me, it fits perfectly.” She winked, then left him standing in the shower. She wrapped a towel around herself and walked out of the bathroom.
He shook his head as he chuckled. “Witchy woman,” he muttered. She’d sure cast a spell over him. He turned off the water, stepped out, disposed of the condom and then grabbed a towel.
After drying off, he wrapped the towel around his waist, then he shaved. He was slapping aftershave on his face when she called to him. The urgency in her voice had him rushing to her. “What?” He found her standing next to his bed, reading something on her phone. Wordlessly, she handed it to him.
Kendra, you disappoint me. I thought you of all people would understand, but you don’t. Not yet anyway. You will soon, I promise.
Still your devoted fan
The bastard was both taunting her and threatening her, but they wanted him communicating with her, so he took a deep breath to calm the rage inside him.
“What does he mean that I’ll understand soon?”
That he was coming after her, and damned if he was going to let that happen. “It means he’s planning something, a way to make you a believer.”
“He scares me.”
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you or Livie.” He set her phone on the night table, then wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “I’m not saying to ignore the potential threat. You need to be alert and aware of your surroundings, but until we catch this man, I’ll be your shadow.”
“Have I told you how glad I am that I got up the nerve to call you?”
“And I’m damn glad you did.”
“I want my mommy!”
“She’s having a nightmare,” Kendall said. She pulled away and headed to Livie’s room.
He followed her and was halfway down the hall when he realized he only had a towel wrapped around him. He detoured to his bedroom, pulled on sweat bottoms and a T-shirt, then went to comfort his daughter.