“That’s what you’re thinking about, honey? That I want to marry you?”
I nod.
“Does it scare you?” He asks.
I shake my head.
“Does that mean you’ll be my bride, Bailey?”
“What about your deployment, Coop? What about your career?” I shake my head. My whole world is spinning right now and I’m afraid that I’m going to wake up at any second and find out this has been a long dream.
In what world does a girl like me get the guy?
In what world does a girl like me get the happy ending?
“What if I hold you back? We’re both so young. What if you find someone better?”
“I’m not scared of our youth, Bailey. I want to grow old with you. Hell, I want to grow up with you. I don’t want you to quit school and be a housewife or give up on your dreams. My job might mean we have to move in a few years and it might mean a few deployments, but I’m willing to work it through if you are.”
All I can do is nod.
All I can do is be shocked I’m so lucky.
All I can do is kiss him, hold him, promise him that everything will be fine, promise him that I’ll be his for always.
No one has ever stood up for me the way Cooper stood up for me today with my mom. No one has ever made me feel so perfect, so loved, so adored. Cooper managed to take a situation that was about to become completely unbearable and out of control, and he made it okay.
He makes everything okay.
“I love you, Cooper,” I whisper.
“I love you too, Bailey,” he says.
We go inside my apartment and I lock the door.
“Hey, Kasey?” I call out, but there’s only silence. “I think she’s at pole class.”
“Good,” he says. “I want you all to myself. I need you, Bailey. I need to be inside you.”
“I need that, too.”
We start kissing and soon our clothes are off. There’s nothing between us, nothing separating us. There’s nothing keeping me from touching Cooper completely, from giving myself to him.
He runs his hands through my hair and down my spine, over my soft skin and down to my bottom. He grips me, pulls me into him, and I feel his length against my belly.
My pussy clenches, aching for him. I’m already wet. I need him. I need all of him. I want him.
Cooper is the only one who has ever lit me up like this. He’s the only one who has ever made me feel this urgency when it comes to being with him. I need him now and nothing will satisfy me until he’s buried deep inside of me.
We don’t even make it to the bedroom.
Instead, he bends me over the back of the couch and I place my hands on the cushions. Spreading my legs, I feel him press at my entrance.
“Fuck, baby, you look so sexy like this.” He runs a hand down my back and cups my bottom. He squeezes, then runs his nails over my skin. “You have such a great ass.”
I’ve always been sensitive, touchy, about my backside. It’s just never been part of my body I thought was attractive, so hearing his dark words makes me excited, aroused.
“Cooper,” I murmur. He fists my hair and bites my neck hard as he thrusts into me. He’s no vampire, but being bitten like this makes me feel dominated, owned, complete.