Chapter 33
Cooper waited for his bedroom door to open as it had every night for the past three weeks. Why she insisted she was going to sleep in the guest bedroom each of those nights was a mystery since she always ended up in his bed.
She’d made significant progress since the day he’d told her the way things were going to be.
Because she had, he was stepping back from the heavy hand he’d felt he had to use for her own well-being.
She loved Dr. Lydia Slater, the psychologist Doctor Croft had recommended, something he was thankful for.
She was still having nightmares, but not every night, so also progress there.
The one thing he was hesitating to bring up was their future.
Would she stay with him? She hadn’t talked about returning to Decatur.
She had talked to her boss, the principal of her school, to request a leave of absence, which had been granted.
So, there was a job waiting for her if that was what she wanted. He prayed that was not what she wanted.
Thinking positive, he’d secretly started house shopping.
Grayson and Liam lived on the beach, which was nice for visits.
Cooper wasn’t a big beach fan. He wasn’t crazy about the sand and all the tourists on the beach during the season.
He wanted a house in a nice neighborhood.
Four, maybe five bedrooms with a big enough backyard to play baseball with Livie and the friends she would make.
He had several he’d looked at online marked to go see.
As he expected, his bedroom door eased open.
He put his book on the side table, then lifted the covers for her.
On previous nights, they hadn’t talked. She would slide in next to him, and he’d pull her against him, spooning her.
He’d wrap his arm around her waist and hold her while she fell asleep.
In the morning, she’d be gone when he awoke.
“Cooper?” she softly said after she was tucked against him.
Well, then, tonight was going to be different. “Yeah?”
“Make love to me.”
Okay, very different. “Are you sure you’re ready for that?” As much as he wanted her, he had to ask.
She turned over to face him. “I’m very sure.”
He searched her eyes for any sign of hesitation or fear, but all he saw was determination and longing. Without a word, he leaned in to capture her lips, letting his love for her speak through the kiss and gentleness of his touch on her body as he trailed his fingers to the top of her camisole.
When she pushed away and sat up, he wanted to punch himself. It was too much, too soon. “I’m sor…”
She pulled the camisole over her head and tossed it to the floor, then did the same with her sleep shorts. “Now, where were we?”
He laughed, glad he wasn’t going to have to punch himself in the face. “I believe we were here.” He pressed his mouth to hers again.
“Wait.” She leaned her face away. “I don’t want to be the only one naked. Lose your pants.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He’d always been good at following orders, and this command was one he’d happily obey. His sweatpants joined her clothes on the floor. “Now, stop interrupting me because my mouth desperately needs yours.”
She giggled, and it was the sweetest sound he’d ever heard.
His fear that she wasn’t ready for intimacy melted away with that giggle.
As his lips met hers once more—and knowing she was beginning to heal—a wave of electricity coursed through him, igniting a passion that had been simmering below the surface, waiting for this moment when she came back to him.
With his kisses, he gave her a silent promise of his love.
She responded by arching into him, then she softly gasped as he kissed his way down her neck to her chest. The heat between them intensified as he worshipped her breasts, fueled by desire and a connection that ran deeper than just physical attraction.
He loved this woman with every bone in his body, with every breath he took.
His hands roamed over her body, rediscovering every curve and plane as if for the first time. She seemed as eager to relearn him as her hands traveled over his chest, down to his stomach, then down to his erection.
“Ahhh…” He pulled her hand away. “I’m going to embarrass myself if you touch me right now.” He hadn’t touched himself since the last time they’d made love. It hadn’t felt right for him to feel pleasure when she was in such a dark place. “Let’s save that for the next time.”
“But—”
“No buts. This time is all for you. Our next time I’m all for making it about me.”
She smiled. “Deal.”
“I’ve missed you, Kens. Missed your beautiful smile. Missed kissing you. Now, where was I? Ah, I remember. I was worshipping these beautiful babies.” He swirled his tongue around a nipple, then gently bit down. Her moan told him she liked that, and he moved to her other breast.
“I’m going to make you moan all night long,” he said as he trailed kisses down her stomach. He slipped his hand between her thighs, seeking her heat and the wet proof of her desire for him. When he found what he was searching for, he smiled against her belly. “I love how soaked you are for me.”
“It’s your fault.”
He chuckled. “That’s one thing I’ll gladly take the blame for.
I’ve made you moan, now let’s see if I can make you scream my name.
” He loved her with his mouth and with the touch of his hands over her silky-smooth skin.
The taste of her was addicting. He memorized all the places that made her shiver.
And when she did scream his name, he wrapped his arms around her thighs and held her until her body calmed.
“We’re only just getting started,” he said as he slowly kissed his way back up her body.
She dug her fingers around his arms and pulled. “I need you inside me.”
“I need that, too, baby.” More than she could possibly imagine. He reached for the drawer to get a condom. Did she even realize her tongue was tracing her upper lip as she watched him put it on and how hot that was?
He braced his hands on each side of her head and stared into those baby blue eyes. “Are you ready for me, beautiful girl?”
“Yes,” she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.
He leaned down to capture her lips in a passionate kiss as he eased into her. “Wrap your legs around me.” He stilled for a moment, savoring the feeling of being inside her, of being connected to this woman he loved.
She trailed her hands up and down his back as he began to move, slowly at first, just savoring this moment of finally being with her again. He began to move faster, deeper. The heat between them intensified as her body responded to his every thrust.
He whispered her name against her lips, feeling a sense of completeness he had never experienced before. Each brush of his skin against hers felt like an electric shock, sending waves of pleasure coursing through his body and causing his heart to beat madly against his chest.
Her nails dug into his back, the sensation a mix of pain and pleasure that sent a jolt straight to his groin.
She arched her body beneath him, her breaths hitched, and her moans grew louder with each thrust until finally, she cried out his name.
With one final stroke, he climaxed with her.
He held her close and stroked her hair, never wanting to let go of this moment.
“I’ve missed you,” she murmured, her fingers tracing the lines of his face.
He kissed the corner of her eye. “I’ve been right here.”
She smiled. “I know. Thank you for waiting for me to come back.”
“Know this, Kendall. I’ll always be here, always wait for you.”
Every night for the past three weeks, he’d fallen asleep with his arm wrapped around her waist and her back against his front.
She’d told him that was when she felt the safest, when he held her like that.
It hadn’t been easy, but he’d patiently waited for her to want him.
He would have waited however long it took and wasn’t expecting it this soon. He sure wasn’t complaining.
And as they lay entwined in each other’s arms, he knew with unwavering certainty that this was where he was meant to be, here with her, now and always.
“I love you, Kendall.”
She didn’t say it back, but she gave a soft sigh as if the words pleased her. That was okay. She would say them when she was ready, and being a patient man where she was concerned, he’d wait for that day.