Say You Won't Let Go Google(37)
“Get him the hell out of here and call the police to come get him,” Wade orders the guy who tried to carry me off the bus.
Cooper’s eyes meet mine as he wipes the blood from his hands. I focus on the tiny speckles of dark green against the lighter shades, and my heart races. He saved our lives. In so many ways, he’s my savior. I’ve waited my entire life for someone to love me enough, and here he is.
Two hours later, after statements, police questioning, and retelling the horror story we just lived, everything is quiet. Brookes is going to jail, and thanks to the cameras Wade had installed, everything is on tape. Wade and the guys have cleaned the bus back up, but I’m not staying in it again, no matter how much anyone pays me.
Wade walks us to the hotel door, much more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him. “You guys all right?”
“We’re going to be fine now that it’s over,” Cooper says to Wade, but he watches me.
I give him a soft smile. “Thank you,” I say, touching Wade’s arm. “Thank you for everything.”
“It was my pleasure.”
As resistant as I had been to Wade, he’s become my friend as well. He’s kind, funny, bossy as all hell, but has a heart hidden under all his tough exterior.
“I’m actually going to miss you.” I laugh. “You better find a good woman who will take care of you.”
He laughs with his whole body. “Last thing I need is a woman.”
Cooper’s arm wraps around my shoulders, tucking me in to his side. “You’ll change your mind.”
Wade rolls his eyes. “Not many girls want a battered ex-Green Beret who doesn’t like insubordination.”
I move out of Cooper’s arms and pull Wade into a hug. “You’re not battered. You’re a good man, Wade Rycroft. Don’t sell yourself short.” My fingers press against his cheek, and he grins.
“You be good to him.” He lifts his chin toward Cooper.
“I will.”
He pulls me to his chest and kisses the top of my head. “Freaking women.”
Cooper claps his hand in Wade’s, and they give a man version of a hug. “Be careful and don’t be a stranger.”
I move back to Cooper, wrapping my arms around his middle. We watch Wade get in his pickup truck, and I wave goodbye, hoping we’ll see him soon.
Chapter Twenty
Emily
We enter the room, both remaining silent for several minutes. My arms stay around him, needing him to anchor me.
This nightmare is finally over.
The shock of everything comes crashing around me as we stand here alone in the room, looking at each other. He could’ve died. I would’ve seen the only man I’ve ever loved taken from this earth. All because that psycho was living in some twisted version of reality.
“You almost…” I whisper as I shake my head, taking a step back. “You could’ve—”
He looks at me as I struggle to keep from breaking down. Instead of falling apart, I fall into Cooper’s arms, and he holds me tight. “It’s okay, Emmy. It’s okay.”
“I almost lost you.”
“You didn’t. I’m right here.”
A part of my brain won’t allow me to believe that we’re both okay. I lean back so I can touch his face, his hair, his chest, checking to make sure he’s really here and alive. My fingers trace the bruise that’s starting to form as a tear falls from my eyes. “He hurt you.”
“Not in a way that won’t heal.” Cooper wipes my cheek and cups my face. “Don’t cry, darlin’.”
“If he had killed you—”
Cooper hushes me by bringing his lips to mine. He kisses me tenderly, and my hands move up his shoulders, his neck, and to the back of his head, needing to stay like this. We kiss each other, emotions taking over.
His hands skim down my back until he’s gripping my thighs, pulling me into his arms. “I need you.”
“I need you, too,” I reply anxiously.
It isn’t wanting at this point. It’s a physical ache that only he can soothe.
“I have to love you,” he explains almost frantically.
“Please. Make love to me.”
He moves us back to the bed and places me down gently. I take in his dark brown hair, the stubble on his cheeks, and the passion in his eyes as he braces over me. I’m a lucky woman.
As we come face to face, my breath is taken away when I see a lone tear start to fall.
My fingers capture the bead and neither of us speak.
Sometimes words aren’t needed.
Sometimes silence says it all.
Our lips collide, and I lose myself in his touch. His tongue moves against mine, and I moan. Everything that’s happened the last few weeks disappears as he kisses me.
His hand moves down my chest, brushing his thumb against my nipple. He leans up, removes his shirt, and then tears mine off. The heat in his eyes burns my skin as my shorts and bra follow.
He can’t move fast enough.
“Don’t make me wait,” I plead.
“Never.”
Cooper’s tongue licks around the peak of my nipple, and my head falls back. I grip the back of his head as he sucks and then his teeth bite down while he slips a finger in my pussy. I nearly buck off the bed, but Cooper keeps me where he wants me.