Chapter 39
COOPER
March
I squeal as I walk into the elaborate villa. “Are you kidding me? Look at this place!”
Before Ryan can respond, I’m already in the next room, exploring every nook and cranny of the massive suite. Marble tile stretches across the floors, gleaming under modern luxury lighting. The space is filled with sleek, tasteful furniture and carefully curated art pieces. Floor-to-ceiling windows and doors line the outer walls, letting the light flood in.
The kitchen is a dream, decked out with everything you could ever need. The ceilings are impossibly high, making the whole place feel even more expansive. It’s absolutely stunning.
We arrived in Turks and Caicos less than an hour ago, and as soon as we stepped foot on the island, we were whisked away to this resort. Vivian and Leo had already checked us in, arriving a few days earlier with her parents. The rest of the friends and family are trickling in over the next few days before the wedding on Wednesday.
“Babe?” Ryan’s voice carries from somewhere in the villa. “Come outside.”
I walk through the living room toward the oversized patio, my breath catching at the sight of lush greenery, elegant outdoor furniture, and a large pool that sits between us and the villa next door.
“Where are you?” I call out, scanning the premises.
“Through the master suite,” he answers.
I make my way back inside, find the master bedroom, and step out onto the private outdoor patio. My eyes widen at the sight of the secluded space—a hot tub, a mini pool, loungers, a dining table, and massage tables.
“Oh my God,” I murmur, taking it all in. “How wild is it going to get out here?”
Ryan’s laugh is low, drawing my attention to him. His gaze lingers on me, slowly tracing over every inch of my body, making my pulse quicken. He licks his lips, and a mischievous grin tugs at the corner of his mouth.
“Oh, it’s going to get really wild,” he says, stepping closer until his hand grips my waist, pulling me into him. His voice drops, rough and full of promise. “I can’t stop thinking about all the different ways I could fuck you out here.”
“Ooh. Tell me more,” I murmur, sliding closer and bringing my lips to hover just over his.
“You’ll have to wait and see,” he says, kissing me deeply before giving my ass a firm smack. “Now, go get dressed so we can go.”
I whine dramatically. “Nooooo. Don’t we have time for a quickie? I’ll be fast—pop on, pop off.”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “As much as I love a pop on, pop off, we don’t have time. Vivian said six o’clock for dinner, and we only have ten minutes.”
I quirk a brow, smirking. “Are you underestimating what can be done in ten minutes?”
“Are you overestimating?” He laughs, grabbing my hand and pulling me inside. “We have to get dressed.”
“Ugh. Fine,” I grumble, letting him drag me along. “But you better be ready for this build-up. Between the torturously long flight of you teasing me and now?” I point at him, grinning as I peel off my shirt. “You better just be ready for me.”
His eyes immediately drop to my chest, and I can’t help but smile. I love that it still gets him—every single time.
“I’m always ready for you,” he says, his voice low and full of heat as he opens his suitcase and starts undressing. “I could literally fuck you anytime, anywhere. Over and over.”
“Good,” I say, sliding my panties down around my ankles.
“I can’t see you like this right now, or we’re going to be late.”
Ryan turns away, quickly changing into nicer clothes, while I slip a dress over my head. Five minutes later, I’ve done the best I can to freshen up with the time I had.
We’re ten minutes late to the on-site restaurant to meet Leo and Vivian. But when we arrive, they aren’t there. Ryan sends a quick text, and three minutes later, they appear, looking guilty as hell.
“Oh my God, they totally just did it,” I whisper to Ryan.
“Sorry, mate,” Leo says, gripping the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. “We, uh, got a little preoccupied.”
“Goddammit!” I exclaim, throwing my hands up. “Do you see this?” I ask, pointing at the two of them. “They’re late because they were doing it!”
Vivian throws her hands up in mock surrender. “We’re sorry, but have you seen the outdoor patios?”
“Oh, I’ve seen them!” I say, pointing at Ryan with a playful glare. “And this one here said we didn’t have time.”
Leo grins. “Well, I highly recommend being late next time, mate. Totally worth it.”
I shove Ryan lightly. “I think you forgot we were meeting the king and queen of sexcapades for dinner.”
Ryan chuckles, his arm sliding around my waist as he kisses my cheek. “I’m sorry, babe. I’ll make it up to you.”
“Yeah, you will,” I say before turning to Vivian. “Geez. He says we don’t have time for a quickie.” I shake my head dramatically. “Priorities, babe… Where’s Isla?”
“Oh, my parents took her for the evening,” Vivian says, her grin widening. “Wanted to let us have some alone time.”
We follow the hostess to our table, settling into the cozy yet elegant atmosphere of the restaurant.
“So, when does everyone else get here?” Ryan asks, glancing at Leo as he picks up the menu.
“Everyone else gets here tomorrow,” Leo replies, setting the menu aside. “Except for Michael and Stella. They’re flying in on Tuesday. It’s tough for him to take time away from the restaurant.”
We all place our drink orders, Vivian sticking to water.
“Does it suck knowing you can’t drink when everyone else will be shit-faced after the ceremony?” I ask.
She laughs. “Yeah, it definitely sucks. Mostly because I’ll have to deal with his drunken ass.” She points to Leo, a teasing smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
Leo sets his drink down with a scoff. “Come on, you love a drunk shag more than anyone I know.”
“Yeah. When I’m drunk, too,” she fires back, her grin widening.
“You don’t want me to drink?” he asks.
“Oh, no, I want you drunk. I love a drunk Leo.” She pauses, her eyes narrowing playfully. “Just don’t get plastered.”
He blows out a puff of air. “Can’t make any promises there, babe.”
Vivian laughs again, leaning in to kiss him. “Guess I’ll take whatever you give me.”
God, they’re so cute. Over the past month, we’ve spent so much time with them—double dates on the weekends, more shopping with Vivian. They’ve become good friends.
Ryan’s hand squeezes my thigh, his touch lingering. His thumb brushes back and forth, slipping just under the hem of my dress. The light, teasing strokes send tingles straight to my core, heating me from the inside out.
I glance at him, catching his smug smile. Of course. Goddamn him. He’s toying with me. He raises his brows, daring me to react, and I smother a laugh, my heart so full it could burst.
My grin matches his, and for a moment, it’s just us—wrapped up in our own bubble. Leo and Vivian are ridiculously cute, but so are we. We’ve got our own thing, our own connection, and I hope we’re building something as deep and lasting as theirs.
I rest my hand over his, giving it a squeeze. He squeezes back, his thumb brushing against my skin one last time before I pull my focus back to the table, where Vivian is looking at me expectantly.
“What are you ordering?” she asks, her voice breaking through my thoughts.
* * * * * ? * * * * *
We barely made it to the room before tearing into each other like starving animals. My dress was halfway down before we even walked through the door. Afterward, I slip into the bathroom to freshen up, pulling on a little number Vivian convinced me to buy—a silky slip in a soft pink champagne shade with ivory lace across the top. My cleavage peeks through the delicate trim, the lace barely covering my nipples. The matching G-string leaves just enough to the imagination.
I glance over my shoulder in the mirror, twisting slightly to catch the way the fabric grazes my hips, how my ass peeks out from the hem. A grin spreads across my face. Yeah, Ryan’s going to lose it.
When I step into the master suite, the sliding doors are open.
“Ry?” I call out.
“I’m out here,” his voice comes from the patio.
I follow the sound and find him stretched out on the sofa lounger, joggers riding low on his hips, shirtless, beer in hand. There’s a glass of wine waiting for me on the side table, condensation trailing down the stem.
“Saved you a seat.” He pats the space beside him.
I snuggle up next to him, his arm immediately wrapping around me, anchoring me in place. His hand finds my skin, his palm resting on my bare ass like it belongs there.
“Whatever this is,” he murmurs, his thumb lazily skimming the edge of my slip. “I like it.”
His fingers brush lightly over my skin, sending tiny sparks through me as we take in the lush scenery. Everything feels perfect—this place, this moment, him. And it’s impossible not to compare it to where I was just two months ago. The difference is staggering. The difference in men. In happiness. In me.
Being with Ryan has unearthed a version of myself I didn’t even know existed—a better version. People always say to find someone who makes you the best version of yourself, but I never truly believed it was possible. No one had ever done that for me before. If anything, I liked myself more when I wasn’t with Brad.
I smile to myself, letting my finger trace the contours of Ryan’s rippling muscles, appreciating every groove—a testament to the man he is. Ryan doesn’t half-ass anything. He pours himself fully into what matters to him, and his body is no exception.
I happen to be one of those things.
And damn, I’m lucky.
My hand flattens against his stomach, fingers moving with intent as the thought settles in. He doesn’t just show up—he cares. About me. About us. About making this work.
His fingers dip beneath the edge of my panties, and I grin, biting softly on my bottom lip as excitement flutters in my stomach. I shift, straddling him. My hands roam over his chest, savoring every inch of this beautiful, impossibly perfect man who somehow chose me. He shifts beneath me, his abs flexing as he scoots up on the lounger, half lying, half sitting, his gaze locked on mine.
Smiling softly, I brush a piece of hair off his forehead, letting my fingers linger for a moment.
“What are you smiling at?” he asks, a smirk tugging at his lips.
“Just… you.”
There’s something in his eyes that holds me captive as my focus shifts to the sensation of his touch. Ryan’s hands glide up my legs, slow and deliberate, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. His fingers linger just above my knees, sending chills through me as they move higher. When he reaches the inside of my thighs, his grip tightens slightly, making my breath hitch.
He holds my gaze as his thumbs brush back and forth in maddening strokes, hovering just shy of where I crave him most. Each movement is agonizingly slow, every pass stoking the fire until it’s nearly unbearable.
I keep my eyes on his as I lower my lips, inch by inch. It’s torturously slow, the anticipation crackling between us like electricity. When my lips finally brush against his, he moves to kiss me, but I pull back just enough to keep him out of reach. His grunt of frustration makes me grin, and I lower to his ear, flicking my tongue along the edge before taking his lobe into my mouth, sucking gently. He groans, his fingers digging into my thighs.
I trail kisses down his neck, grinding my pelvis against him in a slow, deliberate rhythm. The hard press of him beneath me sends a rush of heat coursing through me, and I gasp. His hands slide to my waist, gripping me firmly, guiding me, pressing me downward and shifting me back and forth.
“God,” I moan, tipping my head back as the sensation builds, the friction intoxicating. When I meet his gaze again, his eyes are blazing, and one hand slides up my body, rough and urgent, until it grips the back of my neck. He pulls me down to him, capturing my lips in a kiss that’s raw and all-consuming.
My hips move faster, the movement so perfect I can’t hold back the sounds spilling from my lips as shivers ripple through me. I never thought I could come from something so simple—not since high school, when the world was simpler, and pleasure felt new. But this is different. It’s deeper. It’s him. It’s us. And it feels so damn good that I don’t care.
He toys with my tongue, teasing and tasting, then captures my bottom lip with just enough pressure to leave me trembling. My hips move faster, desperate and instinctive, as if my body knows what it needs and refuses to stop until it gets it. The pressure swells inside me, relentless and consuming, building to an unbearable peak that has me teetering on the edge of control.
My hands slide over his chest, desperate to feel him, to ground myself in the solid reality of him. I’m tempted to pull back, to just look at him—admire the strength in his arms, the sharp definition of his abs—but this feels too good. And I don’t need to see him when feeling him is enough.
I close my eyes, surrendering to the moment as Ryan’s touch fills every part of me, pushing out the lingering shadows of my past. My heart swells with gratitude as the weight of the pain loosens—Brad’s lies, the manipulation, the hollow intimacy, the loneliness even when I wasn’t alone. And not just Brad—the others too. The men who used me, who left me feeling small and powerless, as if I needed them to matter. As if I were worthless.
I shut the door on them—on all of it.
For the first time, I don’t feel like I’m trying to measure up to some impossible standard. With Ryan, there’s no shame, no fear of not being enough. There’s only this—a man who sees me, touches me, and cares for me exactly as I am.
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, and I bite my lip, overwhelmed by the enormity of what I’m feeling. Because this man beneath me—holding me like I’m something precious—has changed me. His words echo in my mind, telling me I’m beautiful, that I’m strong, that I’m more than enough. I cling to those words, holding them close, and in that moment, I let go—of the guilt, the shame, and the blame I’ve carried for so long.
And for the first time, I let myself believe I am enough. That I deserve this. That I can be happy.
A tear slips down my cheek, and Ryan stills beneath me. I feel his eyes on me, his quiet concern.
But I keep my eyes closed.
“I’m okay,” I whisper, my voice shaky but certain, as I pick up my pace. His grip tightens around my waist, his breath uneven. The distant crash of waves blends with the pounding of my heartbeat. I feel his steady pulse beneath my fingertips, the warmth of his skin—the connection between us so vivid it blurs the line between where I end and he begins.
The rise of my climax sweeps through me, lifting me higher and higher until it explodes. I fall—hard. My body arches, my head whipping back toward the sky as a guttural moan tears from my throat. It’s more than just pleasure. It’s a release. Years of hurt, doubt, and the weight of everything I was never meant to carry burst free all at once.
The intensity consumes me, my body trembling as tears stream freely down my cheeks, unbidden and unstoppable. It feels so good—so raw and overwhelming—that a cry escapes my lips, equal parts ecstasy and catharsis. It’s almost too much—so powerful it leaves me slightly embarrassed by the sheer effect it has on me.
Slowly, the overwhelming sensation ebbs, and I come back down to earth, breathless, my chest rising and falling in time with the lingering waves of pleasure and relief.
I exhale and open my eyes, meeting Ryan’s gaze. His understanding and quiet devotion dissolve the last remnants of my vulnerability.
His lips curve into a devastatingly sexy smirk, his eyebrow cocking as his hand traces soft circles on my thigh. “That good, huh?” His voice is low, teasing, but his eyes search mine with sincerity. “Are you okay?”
A laugh escapes me, blended with the last remnants of my tears. I nod, smiling through the lingering emotion. “Yes. I’m more than okay. I’m great.”
He grins, his thumb stroking my cheek. “I don’t know what that was, babe, but it was sexy as hell to watch.” He pulls me into a kiss. “You want to tell me what that was about?”
My fingers thread through his hair, searching for the right words. “Self-discovery,” I murmur finally, my lips ghosting over his as I speak.
His eyebrow arches. “Care to elaborate?”
“Just me, figuring stuff out… realizing things.”
His grip on me tightens, his cock still hard as hell, but his focus doesn’t waver. “Like what?”
I lean down, capturing his lips in a fervent kiss, pouring everything into him. When I pull away, I rest my forehead against his, our breaths mingling in the heavy air between us. “That I love you,” I whisper, my voice trembling with emotion. I pull back just enough to meet his eyes, needing him to see the truth in mine. “I’m so in love with you, Ryan.”
His eyes search mine, glassy with unshed tears. The rawness in his expression nearly undoes me. “Fuck, babe,” he chokes out, his voice breaking as a tear escapes down his cheek. He cradles my head in his hands and crashes his lips against mine, and it’s everything.
He breaks the kiss, his hands framing my face as if he’s afraid to let go. “I love you too. I love you so fucking much,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. And then he’s kissing me again—deeper, harder. It’s overwhelming in the most beautiful way.
He loves me.
Seeing him like this—so emotional, so vulnerable—is the sexiest, most heart-stopping thing I’ve ever experienced, and it makes me love him even more.
Ryan lifts me off him effortlessly, swinging his legs to the side as he stands. He peels off his joggers with a grin before reaching for me. He pulls my slip over my head, leaving me bare except for my G-string.
He lifts me like I weigh nothing, and I wrap my arms and legs around him, laughing softly as he carries me toward the dipping pool.
I kiss him again, slower this time, savoring the taste of his love. His hand moves to my breast, his thumb brushing over my nipple, and the combination of his touch and the gentle splash of the water sends a tingling current spiraling through me. My arms tighten around him, holding him close, letting myself soak in every piece of this moment:
The water.
The scenery.
His hands.
His lips.
His body.
And the hard, unrelenting press of his cock, a reminder of how much he wants me, how much he needs me.
This is everything. He’s everything.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice low and full of reverence. His eyes find mine, holding me in place. “Coop?”
“Yeah?” I whisper, my heart thundering in my chest.
“I see you. And I love you… all the way to your bones.”
The words hit me like a tidal wave, and my lips break into a grin that I can feel through every part of me. I laugh, the sound choked with emotion, tears threatening to spill again.
It’s all I’ve ever wanted.
“You remember that?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Of course I remember. I pay attention to the things I’m interested in.”
I shake my head, my throat tightening with emotion. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”
He chuckles, leaning in to plant a kiss on my lips, gentle and unhurried.
I kiss him back like it’s the last kiss I’ll ever have.
And I let myself soak in all of him—the way he loves me, sees me, cherishes me. Every part of him, every word, every touch.
Sometimes, someone comes into your life when you least expect it, and they become your light in the darkness. For me, that someone was Ryan—my saving grace, exactly who I needed, even before I knew it myself.