Say You Won't Let Go Google(38)

“Tell me you’re mine,” Cooper demands as he pushes another finger in.

“Only yours!”

He pumps in and out, and I climb higher. I don’t know if it’s the remaining adrenaline that lingers, but I’m on fire. He ignites the flame, causing me to burn from the inside out. I need him—all of him.

“Cooper,” I cry out as my orgasm teeters. “I need you! Now!”

He removes his pants and climbs back into place. Our eyes meet as he slowly enters me.

Bliss. It’s complete and total bliss.

I’m filled in every possible way. My heart is full of love for this man. Everything in my world makes sense this very instant. I never want to lose this. I’ll do everything I can to hold on to what we have.

Cooper completes the missing piece of my heart.

“I love you. I love you. I love you so much.” I can’t hold in my feelings. If I try, they will shred me from the inside just to get out.

He slows his pace, kisses my lips, and smiles. “I love you. Don’t ever try to leave me again.”

My fingers dig into his back, keeping him as close as possible. “You never have to worry about that.”

We make love. Losing ourselves and all understanding of time. I don’t think about anything other than us while we’re in each other’s arms. I’m able to breathe when he’s around.

After, when we’re both sated and panting softly, I lie on his chest, listening to the steady thrum of his heart. My finger makes random patterns on his stomach, and his hand rests on my hip.

“Why didn’t you just tell me?” he asks after a long while of comfortable silence.

I turn my head to face him. “I was scared he’d kill you. I was willing to end our relationship if it meant that you were safe.”

He releases a heavy sigh. “God willing there’s never a next time, but if there is, just talk to me. We would’ve figured something out.”

Hurting Cooper was the last thing I wanted to do. I hated every second of knowing he was upset. “I’m sorry I lied. I’m even more sorry I made you think there was another man.”

It was the worst thing I could’ve said. Cooper has been someone’s second choice each time he’s given a girl a chance. Both of us have had shit luck until we finally found our way together. I believe we had to drudge ourselves through the mucky water to find our way to the clear springs.

“I’ve been waiting my whole life to feel the way I feel with you. I’m crazy about you, and there’s no way I was going to lose you.”

I smile, bring the tip of my finger to his cheek, and run it against his stubble. “Who would’ve thought two kids from the opposite side of the tracks would fall in love all these years later?”

His hand wraps around my fingers. “Especially since you were right under my nose the whole time.”

“I was just waitin’ for you to finally ask me out.”

That isn’t completely true, but Cooper was definitely someone I considered. I wasn’t really sure of what my feelings were for him, so I sank into music instead of finding out. He is a friend and a good man—he always has been, yet my goal had always been to get out of Bell Buckle.

Here I am now wanting to go home…to Cooper.

“Well, you have me now.”

I grin. “I sure do, and you’re stuck with me.”

“Yeah? Is that so?” Cooper’s hands grip my arms, and he lifts me so we’re nose to nose.

“Yup.”

His lips touch mine, and I melt. “For how long?”

“How long do you want me?” I ask playfully.

“Marry me.”

I gasp, looking down at him with wide eyes. “What?”

Cooper sits up, taking me with him. “Marry me. I want you to marry me.”

My mouth opens and closes like a fish. “Are you... It’s so soon... And we just went through all that. Are you sure? Do you really want this?”

He cups my face in his hands, eyes dancing back and forth between mine as I watch without blinking. “I love you. I’ll be good to you. And I’ll make you happy. There’s nothing I want more, and I’m completely sure. Will you be my wife?”

My heart races as I try to find the words that have escaped me. It’s crazy, impulsive, and I love him. I know there is no one else in the world I want to be with, and every excuse that rolls around my head seems trivial.

“Yes!” The word flies from my lips as I wrap my arms around him.

Only Cooper could take the darkest day and turn it bright. He chases away the clouds, keeps the storms at bay, and allows me to dance in his rays.





Epilogue


Cooper



Three Years Later



“Emily!” I call for my wife from the music studio I had installed right after the wedding.

“Coming, honey! I’m just finishing this song.”

We’re going to be late, but I know better than to push her out of there. She’ll spend an hour fretting that she’ll forget the word or note, then another hour repeating it so she doesn’t forget, and then God knows how long telling me how she isn’t sure she remembered it.

It’s a process, and I’ve learned to let her have it.