Chapter 6
Landry
I wake up in Cooper’s bed all alone the next morning. I’m surprised because, aside from work, this is the most we’ve been apart since we met.
What if something happened?
That thought has me shooting up in bed. I throw my feet over the edge of the mattress and rush out of the room. I can hear movement downstairs, so I make my way to the kitchen.
“Morning, mate.”
I stop walking because… wow.
Cooper is barefoot, wearing dark jeans and a black T-shirt that stretches across his shoulders in a way that should be illegal. His dark brown hair is a little messy, like he’s been running his hands through it, and his green eyes lock onto me like I’m the only thing in the world worth looking at.
My stomach growls.
His grin widens.“Hungry?”
“For food?” I ask before I can stop myself.
His eyes flare.
My face catches fire. I’ve been feeling weird ever since I woke up, my body filled with a strange tension, my skin hypersensitive.
Tonight is the night of the full moon.
I remember Taylor telling me about the mating moon and the heat that comes with it. I didn’t understand it before, but now…
“I… feel it,” I finish softly.
Cooper’s eyes darken. “What?”
I know he can feel this too, but he’s holding himself back. That’s why he wasn’t there when I woke up. He’s putting space between us. I can see it in the tension in his body, the rigid way he’s holding himself. It’s in the dark heat in his eyes, the way his breath comes faster as I step toward him.
“I can feel the mating heat,” I murmur.
His throat bobs as he swallows hard. “It’s going to get worse. Tonight, during the full moon, will be the height of it.”
“What happens then?” I ask breathlessly.
“Shifters and their mates will…” He trails off, clearing his throat. “They’ll want to be together. Sexually.”
I open my mouth, and he holds up his hands.
“We don’t have to do anything. We won’t do anything that you don’t want to do,” he promises.
“I know. I trust you, and I know you’d never hurt me.” I take another step toward him, closing the distance between us. “I’ve never felt like this before. This… achy,” I admit in a whisper.
Cooper’s gaze drops to my mouth, and my knees go weak.
Then his lips are on mine.
This kiss is different. It’s still gentle at first, just the soft press of his mouth against mine, but then I sigh and lean into him, and something in him snaps.
One of his hands slides into my hair while the other settles on my hip, pulling me closer.
His mouth moves over mine, warm and sure, and I clutch at his shirt because I need something to hold on to.
He tastes like mint and coffee. He smells like soap and pine and Cooper.
My Cooper.
The thought is so clear and sharp that I gasp against his mouth.
He pulls back immediately, breathing hard. “Too much?”
I shake my head. “Not enough.”
His eyes flash bright. For one second, I think he’s going to kiss me again. Then something on the stove sizzles loudly, and Cooper curses, spinning away from me.
“Shit!” he hisses, ripping the pan off the burner. “Okay, this one will be mine.”
I smile, rounding the kitchen island and sliding onto a stool, watching as Cooper finishes preparing our breakfast. He piles our plates with eggs, toast, bacon, and fresh fruit.
I lick my lips as he slides my plate in front of me. “Thanks for breakfast. This looks amazing.”
“My pleasure. Dig in.”
We eat together, and I try to relax, but I’m hyperaware of every move of Cooper’s big body.
“What did you want to do today?” he asks.
I shrug. “I’m good with whatever. You’re not working today?”
He shakes his head. “No, not today.”
His eyes darken as I take a big bite of toast. “Let me take you out today. On a date.”
“A date?”
“Yeah.”
“What did you have in mind?” I ask.
He grins. “I have a few ideas.”
We eat and talk about our plans for the day. I help him clean up after we’re done, then we both grab our things and head out.
“Do you want to walk?” he asks as I glance at his car.
The truth is that I’m not nervous about being in Cooper’s car when he’s with me. But it’s a nice day out, so I nod and take his hand in mine as we walk toward downtown.
Cooper takes me into town for our date, though I’m pretty sure the entire day should count as more than one date.
First, we stop at the bakery, where he buys me a cinnamon roll the size of my face because I looked at it for two seconds too long.
Then we walk through the little shops on Main Street.
He buys me a pair of fuzzy socks, even though I tell him I don’t need them, a paperback from the bookstore because I touched the cover, and a little green glass pendant from an antique shop because he says it matches my eyes.
“You can’t buy me everything I look at,” I tease as we leave the shop.
“I can.”
“Cooper,” I warn.
“I like spoiling you.”
“I’m not used to it.”
“I know.”
Those two words make my chest tighten. He knows.
He knows without me having to explain every ugly little piece of my past. He knows that Taylor and I had to work for every scrap we had.
He knows I’m not used to someone stepping in and saying, “Let me carry that, let me buy that, let me make it easier.”
He holds my hand as we walk home. I smile, feeling lighter than I have in forever. I’m happy and confident in my future for the first time.
I’m also so turned on.
The mating heat has been getting stronger all day. Every passing second with Cooper makes it burn hotter inside me. Every brush of his body against mine makes my core clench and my need for him grow.
“Still happy you moved in with me?” Cooper asks, pulling me from my dirty thoughts.
“Fishing for compliments?” I ask, tilting my head back to look at him.
“Always.”
I laugh. “Yes, Cooper. I’m happy I moved in with you.”
The tension in his shoulders eases. “Good.”
“Are you okay?”
He looks out over the forest. For a second, I think he’s going to tell me he’s fine. Then he sighs. “I’m worried.”
The fear I’d forgotten about creeps back in. “About the cult?”
He nods.
“What happened on patrol?”
His arm tightens around me. “They’re moving around more. Loading vehicles. Talking like they’re planning something.”
My stomach drops. “Something with me?”
He goes still. That’s answer enough.
“Cooper.”
“They didn’t say your name.”
“But you think they meant me.”
His jaw flexes. “Yes. I didn’t want to tell you yesterday,” he admits. “I didn’t want to scare you.”
“But you did tell me.”
“I promised I wouldn’t keep things from you.”
I look up at him again. “Thank you.”
He frowns. “For scaring you?”
“For trusting me with the truth.”
His expression softens. “I do trust you.”
“I trust you too.”
He lowers his forehead to mine, breathing me in as if he needs the scent of me to stay calm. “They won’t get you.”
I believe him. Maybe I shouldn’t. After everything that’s happened, maybe I should know better than to believe anyone can keep me safe forever. Taylor tried. I tried. Reyes and Cooper are strong, but no one is invincible.
Still, when Cooper says it, I believe him. Not because I think bad things can’t happen, but because I know he’ll come for me if they do.
“Come on. Let’s get you home.”
We head home, the sun sinking behind the trees with each step as we walk down the path. The full moon is rising, and we both pause on the front porch, watching it for a moment.
Cooper places all my things in the living room and turns to face me. He takes one step toward me, then stops, his hands balling into fists at his sides. “If you want me to go outside and run this off, I will.”
I shake my head.
His nostrils flare. “Landry—”
“I don’t want you to go outside.”
“What do you want?”
My heart pounds so hard that I can feel it everywhere. This is the edge. The huge, terrifying, wonderful edge.
And I’m tired of standing on it.
“You,” I whisper.
Cooper makes a sound that’s half growl, half broken prayer.
Then he’s on me.
His mouth crashes down on mine as he backs me further into the living room, his hands firm on my hips, mine fisting in his shirt.
The kiss is hungry and wild, but he still checks himself.
I can feel it in the trembling of his hands.
In the way he pauses every few seconds as if he’s waiting for me to stop him.
I don’t.
I pull him closer.
He groans against my mouth and lifts me like I weigh nothing. My legs wrap around his waist instinctively, and we both moan as his cock rubs against my core.
“Bedroom?” he asks roughly.
I look toward the stairs. It might as well be a mile away. “No.”
His eyes flare. “No?”
“Here.”
That’s all it takes.
He carries me toward the couch, his steps quick and sure. He sets me down on the soft cushions, dropping to his knees in front of me. “My wolf and I need you.”
I pause. “What does your wolf need?”
Cooper’s hand flexes against my hip. “To mark you.”
My breath catches. “What does that mean exactly?”
“A bite. Here.” He brushes his fingers over the place where my neck meets my shoulder. “It completes the bond.”
I shiver. “Does it hurt?”
“For a second. Then it will feel good.”
“Will I be different?”
“You’ll still be you,” he says. “But the bond will be stronger. You’ll feel me more. I’ll feel you. It’s permanent.”
Permanent.
That word should send me running. Instead, I find myself touching the spot he showed me. Cooper watches me like he’s trying very hard not to react.
“Okay,” I breathe. “Bite me.”
“Need to get you ready for me first,” he rasps.
“I’m ready,” I whine.
He shakes his head, reaching for my shirt. I lift my arms, letting him strip me slowly—too slowly for my liking. I reach for my pants, wiggling my hips around until I can peel them down my legs with my panties.
“Fuck, mate,” he growls. “You’re perfection.”
“I want to see you too,” I whisper.
He leans back on his heels, pulling his shirt over his head and letting it drop to the floor beside my clothes.
My eyes are locked on him as he pushes on my shoulders until I hit the back of the couch. I pant as his green eyes lock with mine and he leans forward, spreading my legs with his shoulders.
“Wha-what are you doing?” I wheeze.
My body feels like I’m overheating, but I don’t have it in me to ask him to stop. I need his touch. I need him.
“I need to taste you, mate.”
That’s the only warning I get before Cooper throws my legs over his shoulders and buries his face in my pussy.
“Oh, God!” I scream, my fingers threading through his hair and gripping the silky locks.
Cooper growls, his tongue swiping through my folds. He licks me everywhere, his tongue flicking over my clit, pressing into my virgin hole. He greedily drinks down my juices, both of us moaning as he eats me out like a starving man.
“Cooper,” I gasp, my thighs trembling as my orgasm builds inside me.
“Need you to come on my face, mate. I want your juices all over me. I want your scent everywhere.”
“I’m close!” I cry out.
He doubles his efforts, sucking my clit into his mouth, his tongue jiggling the little bundle of nerves. My back bows off the cushions, and I scream as I come, fisting his hair.
“COOPER!”
He snarls against my drenched sex.
“Mate,” he rasps, licking up all of my pleasure.
I slump back against the couch, sucking in deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart.
But Cooper doesn’t give me time to relax. He stands, shucking his jeans and boxers. My eyes almost bulge out of my head when I see the size of his cock. He’s hard. The head of his dick looks red and angry, and it’s pointing right at me. I swallow hard.
Cooper frowns. “Mate?”
I look up at him. “I don’t think that’s going to fit.”
He smiles. “It will. We’re made for each other, Landry.”
I’m still uncertain as he grabs my legs, moving us so that we’re lying on the couch. My legs wrap around his hips, and I bite my bottom lip when his cock rubs against my soaked folds.
“I need to bite you now,” he growls.
He leans down, pressing his lips against mine. I can taste myself on his mouth and tongue. I moan, kissing him back harder. Our tongues tangle, and we both move, wrapping more tightly around each other.
I cling to him as his cock lines up with my snug hole, my arms twined around his neck. He breaks the kiss, and I inhale sharply as he licks the side of my neck. I shiver beneath him, anticipation coursing through me. I turn my head, silently offering more of my neck to his hungry mouth.
“Mine,” Cooper whispers.
I open my mouth to agree, but the sting of his teeth sinking into my neck steals my words. I cry out as Cooper’s hips slam forward, and he seats himself fully inside me.
“Oh!” I yelp, pleasure and pain warring in a delicious mix.
I tighten my arms around him. “Don’t move yet.”
He nods, stilling immediately. “Okay.”
I smile against his shoulder. He’d probably stay like this all night if I asked him to. I know Cooper would do anything for me. I focus on that as the pain subsides and pleasure wins.
He flicks his tongue over the bite mark on my neck.
I tighten around his cock and moan, “That feels good.”
He does it again. Every time he touches the mark, tingles erupt through my body. I dig my nails into his shoulders as he nuzzles the bite and wriggle my hips against his, urging him to move, to claim me fully.
“Ready, mate?” he asks.
“Yes. Make love to me,” I whisper.
He gives me a lingering kiss and does just that.
Gripping my thigh, he shifts my leg higher around his hips. I hook one ankle over the back of the couch, spreading myself wider for him.
“Fuck, Landry!” Cooper shouts as he sinks even deeper inside me.
“There!” I cry out.
He reaches above my head, gripping the armrest as we rock together. He’s so big, stretching me in the most delicious way. My nerve endings buzz and sizzle as another orgasm builds in my core.
Cooper’s hips slam against mine, and I notice his eyes glowing. I know instantly that his wolf is pushing forward. I meet his eyes as I lift my hips, grinding against him. We move together in perfect sync, racing toward our peaks.
Cooper bows his head, wrapping his lips around one of my nipples and sucking the stiff peak into his mouth. I scream as I fly over the edge.
“Mate,” Cooper roars. “Mine!”
He comes deep inside me. Watching his expression as he finds his release only prolongs my climax.
“Fuck,” Cooper grunts.
“That was—”
“Perfect,” he finishes. “Next time, I’m gonna pay more attention to your perfect tits.”
“Next time?” I tease.
He hums, cupping my breasts.
I arch into his touch, moaning as he moves inside me again.
I have a feeling this is going to be a long night.