45. Sutton

45

SUTTON

I gaped at Cope. “You did not just do that…again.”

He grinned up at me with mischief, heating my blood. The lace fluttered to the floor a second later. “Are you really going to complain about one more ruined pair of underwear when it lets me do this?”

Cope moved so fast that I didn’t have time to prepare. His fingers parted me, and I gasped, gripping his shoulders as two slid inside. My hips thrust forward, moving on instinct to greet him, a moan slipping from my lips.

“Fucking heaven,” Cope gritted out. “Do you know how good you feel? Soft silk, gripping my fingers like you’re going to grip my cock.”

The combination of his words and touch was almost more than I could take. I clutched his shoulders harder, my nails digging in. “Cope.” His name was a plea.

“Not yet.” Those devilish fingers slid in and out, twisting. Then, the curl.

My hands twisted in his tee. “Please. ”

Cope’s dark-blue eyes flashed. “You want to come with me inside you, taking you, reminding you of everything you’ve given me?”

“Yes,” I breathed.

“Always going to give you what you want, Warrior. What you need.”

And then his hands were gone. The loss of them was almost painful. My need for him to fill me, take me…nearly feral.

Then I was in motion. Cope hauled me into his arms and carried me to the bed. He laid me down with such gentleness despite that need coursing through us both. As he stepped back, Cope didn’t take his eyes off me.

With one hand, he ripped his tee free. I didn’t look away. I let my eyes feast on the wall of muscle, his body honed to be the perfect weapon. The defined pecs were dusted with hair, dipping down into so many abs I lost count. But I traced each and every one with my gaze.

Cope kicked off his shoes as his fingers locked in the band of his joggers. In one swift move, his pants and boxer briefs were gone, and he stood before me completely bare. Nothing obstructed him from view.

Cope’s fingers curled around his cock, and he stroked once, twice, a third time. My core tightened, closing around nothing but the promise of him.

“Back against the pillows, Warrior. Spread your legs. I want to see you. All of you,” Cope demanded.

A shiver raced through me as wetness gathered between my thighs. I did exactly what he commanded, shoving myself against the pillows and sliding my bare feet over the soft duvet. The cool air ghosted over my skin, making my nipples pebble.

I’d never felt more vulnerable, but I’d also never felt stronger, bolder, or more empowered. And as Cope stared at me, I’d never felt more beautiful.

Those dark-blue eyes became hooded as he stalked toward the bed. “Do you know how perfect you look? Legs spread, glistening. Nipples pressed against that lace, just dying to break free. ”

My fingers fisted in the duvet, holding on as I stared at the man I’d fallen so deeply in love with. “Take me, Cope. Make me yours .”

It wasn’t ownership that I was looking for; it was belonging. And Cope understood that. Understood that he was mine as much as I was his. That we belonged to each other. That we gave one another a home when we’d been missing exactly that.

Cope didn’t make me wait. He was on me in a flash. He slid between my thighs, and my legs hooked around his waist. His gaze locked with mine. I saw fire there, but so much more. “Tell me again.”

“I love you.”

“I want to feel it,” he growled.

And with that, he slid into me. My back arched, my hips rising to meet him. The stretch was almost painful but stopped just shy of it as if my body were made to take his. As if this had all been written in the stars.

My lips parted as Cope thrust deeper, my eyes watering, and my heels digging into his hips. Cope didn’t move for a second. “Feel that love, Warrior. The way you’re gripping me says you won’t let go.”

My eyes watered for a whole different reason now. “I won’t.”

“Promise me,” Cope rasped.

“I promise.”

That was all he needed. Cope retreated and thrust back in deeper this time. My body welcomed him, cried out for more. My hips rose, meeting him there, in the places that were now only ours.

It was as if our bodies could speak without words. But I wanted to give him those words, too. I gripped Cope’s shoulders as my walls trembled around him. Each time he slammed into me, it nearly took me over the edge.

“Hold on,” Cope growled. “I need more of you. More of this. Don’t ever want it to end.”

My fingernails dug into his shoulders, so deep and hard I knew they’d draw blood. “Cope,” I pleaded.

He arched into me, sending little explosions of light dancing across my vision. And I knew I couldn’t hold on for much longer. I forced my eyes open, moving my attention to him .

Cope met me there, our gazes locking. I didn’t look away as I gave him the words again. “I love you.”

And with those three little words, I came, clamping down so hard around Cope that he let loose a snarl. But he didn’t stop. He took me over and over, riding out my orgasm until he came, emptying into me. And I took it all. I wanted every last piece of him.

Cope’s forehead dropped to mine, our breaths mingling as we struggled to get enough air. “I love you. With everything in me. All I am is yours. Brokenness and all.”

My fingers tangled with Cope’s as he drove through Sparrow Falls. My head was on a swivel, looking for any signs of them—the media that had descended on our tiny town. The place that had become my safe harbor.

“I’m sorry.” Cope’s voice wasn’t loud, but it wasn’t a whisper either.

I shifted in my seat, turning to face him. “It’s not your fault.”

A muscle in Cope’s cheek began to flutter. “They’re here because of me. Because of my stupid career.”

I squeezed his hand as hard as I could. “They’re here because they’re vultures.”

Trace had called last night, letting us know he’d gotten word from a few hotels and motels in town that news vans were gathered there. Cope’s new security cameras—courtesy of Holt Hartley—had told him a handful of reporters were already outside his gates.

“I hate that I’m putting you through this.”

“You’re not.” My voice cracked like a whip. “If you take this on, it’s really going to piss me off. And you do not want to piss me off, Copeland Colson.”

His lips twitched. “If she’s pulling out the formal name, I’d better be careful. ”

“Damn straight.”

Cope slowed as one of the three stoplights in town shifted to red. He turned to me. “I love you.”

God, those words were the most beautiful music I’d ever heard. And the fear I’d felt because of them in the past was no longer there. Getting through what we had with Luca had taught me something: We were stronger together. And we could make it through whatever came our way.

I leaned across the console, brushing my lips against Cope’s and then staying close so he could feel what I was about to say. “I love you, too. We’ll get through this together.”

His fingers sifted through my hair, and he held me there, right against him. “Together.”

A horn sounded behind us, and Cope scowled into the rearview mirror but eased off the brake. “Everyone’s always in a hurry.”

A laugh bubbled out of me. “Can’t be holding up traffic for a make-out session.”

“Baby, you start really kissing me, and I’m not gonna stop at making out.”

I bit my bottom lip. “That would certainly give the reporters a show.”

Cope chuckled and turned onto a side street. “Pretty sure Linc would fire me if I showed the world my ass.”

“When do they get here?” I asked.

Cope glanced my way as he headed toward the bakery. “Tomorrow. I think it’s a good idea. Linc’s right. It’ll shift the focus of the story.”

The owner of Cope’s team had called last night with an idea. He was going to bring the Sparks to Sparrow Falls for a week-long kids’ hockey clinic, one held in honor of Teddy. Since the media was already here, having the entire team present would send them into a frenzy. And hopefully, they’d forget all about little ole me.

“I think I’m just a little nervous to meet all of them,” I admitted. Sure, I’d seen them at the funeral, but there hadn’t been a lot of proper introductions, given all the drama with Marcus. And since my personal life had just been tossed around in the media, I wasn’t sure what they’d think of me.

Cope pulled into a parking spot in the back alley behind The Mix Up and turned to me. “Sutton. You are the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. So strong…getting yourself out of the unimaginable. So damn smart, building a business from nothing. So dedicated to being the best mom imaginable. And one of the best people I’ve ever known.”

A burn lit behind my eyes. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”

One corner of his mouth kicked up. “Never get tired of hearing it.”

I leaned across the console and whispered the words against his lips. “I. Love. You.”

Heat lit in those dark-blue eyes. “Warrior, now I need to fuck you. And that is real damn inconvenient.”

I started to laugh, but the sound got cut off by shouts. I turned to see reporters running toward the SUV, cameras of all kinds at the ready, questions already hurling. Was Cope being traded thanks to the dustup with Marcus? When did Roman find out I was involved with another athlete? Was I hiding from the Russian mob?

Cope cursed, but I grabbed his hand and squeezed. “We’re in this together.”

Those dark-blue depths searched mine. “Together.”

We headed into the mayhem.