44. Cope

44

COPE

Slowly, Luca’s sobs lessened, and his breathing evened out. His complete weight slackened against me. So small and vulnerable. It killed me that he felt like he didn’t belong, and I would’ve given anything to change that.

“He’s asleep,” Sutton whispered.

I knew that already, but I still couldn’t find it in me to speak. A million questions swam through my mind. Ones that asked if I’d handled this right, if I’d overstepped, if Luca would be okay.

I shifted his weight, bracing to stand. “Why don’t I carry him up to bed? He probably needs some rest.”

Sutton nodded. “Are you sure you’ve got him?”

One corner of my mouth kicked up, even if it was half-hearted. “If I can’t carry a seven-year-old up to bed, I’ve got problems.”

Sutton returned my smile, but hers wasn’t full-on either. How could it be? Her boy had been hurt. And it made me want to burn every news media outlet who’d carried the story to the ground.

Since I couldn’t do that, I pushed to my feet, holding Luca to me. His breathing was heavy in my ear, but it was reassuring, the quiet promise that he was all right—or at least he would be with time. I vowed to give him all the family belonging I could. I would call my mom tomorrow and bring her up to speed. If there was one thing Nora Colson was good at, it was bringing lost sheep into the fold.

I took the steps one at a time, knowing I had precious cargo. It didn’t take me long to reach Luca’s room, one it was beyond time to truly make his . I’d get on that immediately. Just like I would think of any way imaginable to make Sutton feel at home here, too.

Because I didn’t want them moving back to that apartment over the bakery, no matter how amazing Shep and his crew made it. I wanted Sutton and Luca here with me. Forever.

Sutton rounded me and hurried to pull back the blankets on Luca’s bed. I laid him down, and we each went to work on a sneaker. I glanced at her. “Is he okay sleeping in these clothes?”

The workout pants and T-shirt that read Hockey is Life looked comfortable enough, but I didn’t know the rules.

Sutton’s expression softened, and she nodded. “He’ll be okay in these. I’ll have him change when I wake him up for dinner. I still want him to be able to sleep tonight.”

“Okay.” I carefully pulled the covers over Luca’s small body, tucking him in. But I didn’t move for a moment afterward. I just stared down at him, thinking about everything Roman was missing out on and all the damage he’d done.

Finally, I forced myself to turn to Sutton. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her to me. “Are you okay?”

She didn’t answer right away, but eventually, she pulled back, her eyes searching mine. “I love you.”

My whole body went wired. I’d tried not to get in my head about the fact that Sutton hadn’t returned my sentiments when I gave her those three words the other day. Tried not to overthink what it could mean. I knew she had trust issues, and that it wouldn’t be easy for her to give her heart to anyone.

“Say it again,” I rasped.

Sutton’s mouth curved. “I love you.”

“Fuck. You don’t know how good those words are to hear. ”

“I’m sorry it took me a little while to give them to you.”

I shook my head. “You needed to go on your own timetable.”

Sutton’s eyes glistened. “What you just gave Luca, it made me realize that you’ve given us both the gift of belonging. A family.”

“Warrior,” I growled. “Tell me this means you’ll stay. Here, with me. Tell me we’ll find a way to make this work.”

“Yes,” she breathed.

I moved then, hauling her into my arms and striding out of the room. Sutton’s legs hooked around my waist as her mouth met mine. If I hadn’t memorized the hall’s path long ago, I likely would’ve been bumping into walls and sending artwork crashing to the floor.

This woman’s taste. Hell. I could drown in it forever. She tasted like she smelled: cinnamon and sugar with a hint of vanilla. The scents of the bakery imbued into her very being. I didn’t know, and I didn’t care. All I knew was that I never wanted it to end.

The moment we crossed the threshold to my room, I shut the door, locking it quickly behind us. “Say it again,” I commanded.

“I love you.” Sutton whispered the words across my lips so I could not only hear them but also feel them.

“Gonna be greedy for those words for a while, Warrior.”

I slowly lowered her to the floor, the feeling of her body sliding against mine making my dick harden. I’d never had a woman affect me like this. It was so much more than simple attraction. It was as if she held my soul hostage. But I didn’t give a damn. I’d be her willing prisoner for the rest of my days.

My hand slid along Sutton’s jaw, tangling in her hair. “So fucking beautiful.”

One corner of her mouth kicked up. “I’m probably covered in flour.”

Sutton did come home with smears of flour in all sorts of interesting places. “I like finding out where it’s all gotten to.”

Sutton’s breaths came a touch faster now. I loved watching how the movement changed, the way her body responded to my words, my touch. My fingers tightened in her hair, tipping her head back.

The pupils in those haunting turquoise eyes dilated as her lips parted. I took her mouth then. My tongue slid inside, demanded more—demanded everything .

Sutton moaned into my mouth, and the sound went straight to my dick. The tone, the vibration. I swore she could make me come in my goddamned pants from her sounds alone.

“Cope.” She breathed my name like a prayer, the single syllable playing over my lips.

I tore my mouth from hers. I needed to see her, touch her, bury myself so deep in her body that she’d never forget the feel of me.

My fingers gripped the hem of her tee that read The Mix Up . I pulled it free in one tug and sucked in a breath. Pale-pink lace lay beneath. The kind of bra that let me see the darker pink of Sutton’s nipples peeking through.

“You trying to kill me, Warrior?”

A little line of confusion appeared in her brow.

My thumb ghosted over her nipple, then circled. “Knowing you’ve been wearing this all day. Walking around like temptation incarnate just covered by cotton.”

My head bent, and I pulled her nipple into my mouth through the lace. Sutton’s back arched as she gave herself over to me. “Cope.”

I released the bud, my fingers going to the button of her jeans. “Shoes off,” I commanded, my voice getting rougher, the need demanding to break free.

Sutton kicked off the slip-ons she favored for work as my fingers hooked in her jeans. I tugged the denim down until it pooled on the floor. I sucked in a breath as I took in the pale-pink scrap of lace. The thong looked so delicate I could rip it from her body without even trying.

“Step. Out,” I ordered.

A shiver raced through Sutton, and her breaths came quicker. One foot lifted, and then the other. I threw the jeans to the side. I didn’t want anything getting in the way of my view. Nothing that would keep me from memorizing every inch of this woman.

“Never going to forget this moment. So perfect, bound in lace.” I lifted a hand, my knuckles grazing over her center. “Already wet. Tell me, Warrior, are you aching?”

Those eyes sparked with blue heat, the hottest type of blaze. “Yes.”

“Let’s see what we can do about that.” My fingers moved, twisting in the band of Sutton’s thong. And with one swift jerk, I snapped it free.