Page 22 of Cooper's Salvation
Sensation flooded her as the tip of his cock nudged at her entrance. Threading her fingers through Cooper’s, she moaned as he pushed into her. When he was fully seated, he paused. Quickly adjusting to his girth, she urged him on.
He began to move, and Kara swore she saw stars. She closed her eyes against the onslaught of emotion.
“Open your eyes, baby. Let me see you,” Cooper murmured.
When she did as he asked, he lowered his head and kissed her. Deep and hot. Her toes curled. Dear God, this man was going to be the end of her. He tightened his fingers around hers as he drove into her, over and over. Taking them higher, winding her tighter, until an orgasm slammed into her.
Kara cried out as wave after wave of pleasure crashed through her and she fell over the edge into freefall.
Her inner muscles clamped tight around Cooper, dragging him over the edge after her. She watched in rapt attention as the ecstasy of his climax ripped through him. He collapsed onto her, shifting his weight to the side against the back of the sofa. They lay there for long moments, catching their breath and simply enjoying being in each other’s arms.
Leaning up on an elbow Cooper rested his head in his hand. Looking down at her, he gave her a tender smile. “I love you, baby.”
“I love you too.”
He lifted his other hand to brush a tendril of hair from her face and rubbed a thumb over her bottom lip. “You will never know how much. At the risk of sounding dramatic, you were my salvation. Every single damn day in that rehab clinic, thoughts of you were all that kept me going. The hope that someday I’d be strong enough to come back to you.”
His words slayed her. As she lay looking up into his gorgeous gray eyes, shining with vulnerability and love, Kara thanked every deity she could think of for bringing Cooper back to her. For being Cooper’s salvation. A life without him was one she simply didn’t wish to contemplate. But above all, for giving them a second chance at love.
Epilogue
The smell of coffee woke Kara. Stretching, she felt muscles twinge that hadn’t been used in over a year and smiled. She had zero regrets. In fact, she’d do it all over again – right then too, if she got the chance. The thought of Cooper had her sitting upright, wondering where he was.
At the sound of the bathroom door opening, she turned her head and caught her breath at the sight. A mostly naked Cooper, wearing nothing more than a towel, had her just about salivating at the sight.
“I can hear those thoughts from all the way over here, sweetheart. If I didn’t need to get going, I’d be there like a flash. But I do need to go, so behave woman.”
“What’s the time?”
“Quarter after nine.”
“Shit, I overslept. Why didn’t you wake me?”
“Because you were sleeping so peacefully I didn’t have the heart to wake you.”
“I’m gonna be late,” Kara wailed as she leapt out of bed.
“Relax. I called Darby, and your first appointment won’t be there until ten. She’ll tell them you had an emergency if you still run a little late. So all good.”
“Thanks, honey. That was thoughtful. I appreciate it.” Her brain finally catching up, she asked, “Where are you off to this morning? I thought you’re only due to start back at work next week.”
Kara was learning to read Cooper’s tics, so when he put a hand to the back of his neck and rubbed, she knew whatever it was had him all twisted up over it. And now that she was paying attention, the man looked exhausted. She’d love to take credit for it, but something told her that there was more to the story than met the eye.
“I, um – well, after – you know, after the last time I stayed over and how badly it ended, I couldn’t sleep last night. I was terrified of it happening again. If anything happened to you because of me, I’d never be able to live with myself. So I, um … I …” Cooper blew out a harsh breath. “I called my psychologist back at the rehab facility for a referral to someone local.”
“That’s a big deal, Coop. I know it can be frowned on, but I, for one, am damn proud of you.”
He moved to stand in front of her, wrapped his arms around her, and buried his face in her neck. “Thanks, K. That means a lot coming from you.” Dropping a quick kiss on the top of her head, he continued, “But if we don’t get dressed or moving, neither of us is going to make our appointments.”
“True, that.” Kara laughed.
She dashed into the bathroom to use the facilities, brush her teeth, and slap some basic makeup on before hurrying back into the bedroom to dress.
“So, er – have you given any thought to what you’re going to do about the Colonel?”
It was Kara’s turn to sigh. Tugging a T-shirt over her head, she took a moment to formulate her thoughts.
“Yeah. His revelation was a hell of shock, I won’t lie. But once the thought had a minute to settle, I realized that this kind of thing doesn’t happen every day. I spent my childhood and teenage years longing for a father. I’m being given an opportunity here, and I’d be a fool to pass it up.”
