10. Cooper

Chapter 10

Cooper

I looked at my reflection in the mirror and decided my white button-up shirt wouldn't cut it. After unbuttoning it, I took it off, wincing as I did so.

A pattern of bruises lined my upper chest and shoulders. The meeting with the Blue Fangs had started with a minor tussle.

I had to get between one of our hasty pack members and the Blue Fang who taunted him. In the end, we managed to sort things out.

I was lucky to get out of that with only a few bruises. I was still sore when I stopped by Miles' house to drop off breakfast, and I was still sore now.

Either way, nothing was going to stop me from going on this date. I had it all planned out while I was in Winter Valley.

First, I'd take Miles to his favorite little café by the lake. It was a quaint spot with outdoor seating and fairy lights strung between the trees, perfect for a romantic evening.

I'd made sure to reserve the best table, right by the water, where we could watch the sunset.

Afterward, I planned a surprise: a private boat ride on the lake, complete with a small picnic of his favorite snacks and a bottle of wine.

We'd float under the stars, away from all the worries of the world—just the two of us. I'd never put so much effort into a date before. I worried it was too much.

How would Miles react? Then again, when I made these plans, I was thinking Miles could use a break from everything he'd been dealing with.

He deserved a night where he could simply relax and enjoy himself.

I changed into a fresh shirt, a dark blue one that complemented my eyes. I checked my appearance in the mirror once more, hoping to hide the bruises and the fatigue from the past few days.

When I arrived at Miles' house, my heart was pounding with anticipation. I knocked on the door, and a moment later, it swung open to reveal Miles, looking as handsome as ever.

He was wearing a comfy sweater and jeans that hugged his ass nicely. His eyes lit up when he saw me.

I could eat him up right now, but then I spotted Sawyer in the living room, watching TV, and decided to be on my best behavior.

"Hey, Coop," Miles greeted me with a smile. "You look great."

"Thanks, Miles. You look amazing too," I replied.

"You guys have fun," Sawyer said, not getting up from the sofa.

Finally, this was happening. Miles was all I could think about while I was in Winter Valley. In hindsight, that made me a little distracted.

I probably could've prevented that fight from breaking out if I had been paying more attention to the meeting and staying in the present.

We walked to my car, and as I opened the door for him, he gave me a curious look. "So, where are we going?" Miles asked.

"It's a surprise," I said with a wink. Miles chuckled, and the sound warmed my insides.

As we drove to the café, we talked about everything and nothing, the conversation flowing easily between us.

When we arrived, Miles widened his eyes. "You remembered this place," he said softly.

"Of course I did," I replied, leading him to our reserved table by the water. "You couldn't stop talking about it the other day."

We enjoyed a delicious meal, the peaceful ambiance of the café making it feel like we were in our own little world.

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the lake. It was perfect. After dinner, I led him to the small dock where a boat awaited us.

"A boat ride?" Miles asked, his excitement evident.

"Yep. I thought we could use a little adventure," I said, helping him onto the boat.

As we drifted out onto the lake, the stars began to twinkle above us. I pulled out the picnic mat and basket.

We shared the snacks and wine, laughing and talking as the boat gently rocked on the water.

"This is incredible, Coop. Thank you. No one has ever done anything for me like this before," he said.

I took his hand in mine, feeling the warmth of his touch. "Anything for you, Miles," I said.

He turned to me, his eyes reflecting the starlight. "You're really something, you know that?"

"I'm just a guy trying to impress someone special," I said, my heart racing as I looked into his eyes.

Miles leaned closer, and before I knew it, his lips were on mine. The kiss was gentle at first, then deepened as we poured all our feelings into that moment.

It was passionate, filled with all the emotions we'd been holding back. When we finally pulled apart, we were both breathless.

"Wow," Miles whispered, his forehead resting against mine.

"Yeah," I agreed, my heart soaring.

The boat rocked gently as we floated further into the middle of the lake. The soft hum of the motor was barely audible over the breeze.

Miles and I sat close together, the warmth of his body a comforting presence against the cool night air. I turned to Miles, taking in the way the moonlight played across his features.

He looked much more relaxed, and I could see the tension of the past few weeks slowly melting away. I reached out, tucking a stray lock of hair behind his ear.

Miles took my hand, kissed it. I cupped his cheek, and didn't hold back this time around.

The kiss was rough and hungry. I could feel my pants tightening. I wanted Miles with everything I was.

"Come with me," I said, tugging him to the boat's private cabin.

I already informed the captain we'd be using it. Once inside, Miles sat on the edge of the bed and I joined him.

Miles didn't seem to mind when I reached for the hem of his sweater and pulled it off him. He tentatively began unbuttoning my shirt, his fingers trembling slightly as he worked each button free.

I watched his face closely, wanting to memorize every expression. When he reached the last button, he pulled the fabric aside and gasped.

The tender moment was momentarily broken as his eyes widened in shock at the sight of the bruises. I inwardly swore, regretting not covering them up better.

"What happened?" Miles demanded. "Did you get into a fight with... one of Ryder's wolves before our date?"

"It's nothing like that," I reassured him quickly, not wanting him to worry. "It was just a minor scuffle in Winter Valley. Nothing serious."

"It sounds dangerous," he murmured, his fingers lightly tracing the edges of the bruises. There was a gentleness in his touch that made my heart ache.

"I normally prevent fights before they break out," I explained, hoping to ease his worries. "But I was distracted by a certain handsome bookstore owner."

"Oh?" Miles asked, raising an eyebrow. Despite his concern, there was a pleased look on his face.

"Yeah," I admitted, a smile tugging at my lips. "It's hard to focus when all I could think about was you."

Miles' expression softened, and he leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to one of the less bruised areas on my chest. His touch was warm and soothing, and I felt the tension in my muscles start to melt away.

"I don't like seeing you hurt," he whispered, his breath warm against my skin. "But I have to admit, it's kind of flattering knowing I'm the reason you were distracted."

I chuckled softly, pulling him closer. "You're more than a distraction, Miles. You're everything," I said. I was being a little cheesy, but what did it matter?

Miles kissed me again. It was a slow, lingering kiss, filled with a depth of feeling that made my head spin. When we finally pulled back, we were both breathless.

"Promise me you'll be careful," Miles said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I promise. I'll do everything I can to stay safe. For you," I told him, my voice firm. "Now, how about we focus on what we were doing earlier?"

He sighed softly. Just like that, we got rid of the rest of our clothes.

Miles lay on his back and I ended up straddling him. I took my time, leaving a trail of kisses down the column of his throat, his collarbone, his chest and stomach.

Hearing Miles moan as I arrived at his thickening prick, was like music to my ears.

"Miles, tell me to stop if you're not comfortable," I told him.

"Don't stop," he pleaded.

That was all I needed to hear. I reached for the lube tucked in the back pocket of my jeans, then hefted his legs over my shoulders.

Then I applied a generous amount in his ass. After making sure he was ready, I entered him. Not wanting to hurt him, I went slow and easy, until I was fully sheathed inside him.

"You good?" I asked.

"Yeah," he murmured.

I began pushing in and out of him, rhythm slow at first, before picking up speed. Soon enough, I reduced us both to pants and moans.

I was rock-hard at this point and knew I couldn't last much longer. Wanting him to feel good, I switched the angle of my thrusts.

Miles gasped, arching his back and I knew I found his sweet spot. I kept aiming for that spot until Miles cried out. He came, painting my abs and stomach with his jizz.

Several thrusts later, it was my turn. After filling him with my seed, I slid out of him. Then I cleaned us both up. We donned our clothes, but remained lying there on the bed.

Miles reached for my fingers, and I grasped them, feeling the warmth and strength in his touch. He rested his head on my shoulder, and though he seemed content at first glance, I could tell something was on his mind.

The subtle tension in his body and the way his fingers fidgeted against mine gave him away.

"Do you have any regrets?" I asked gently.

"Not at all," he immediately answered, but then he hesitated. "It's just…"

"Miles, you can tell me anything," I reminded him, squeezing his hand reassuringly.

He took a deep breath and began to speak. "I was just wondering," he said, his voice wavering slightly, "what are your plans?"

I felt a lump form in my throat. Meeting Miles had changed everything, and he deserved an honest answer.

I knew exactly what he was asking and didn't need him to elaborate further. I thought of Daniel and my current pack, of the situation here in Pecan Pines.

Most of all, I pondered the potential future I had with Miles and knew I couldn't give him up.

"Meeting you changed things," I admitted, looking into his eyes. "And you deserve an answer."

I knew the next words out of my mouth would shape our future.

"All I can tell you right now is that I'll stay for as long as you need me," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

His face fell for a moment, and I knew it wasn't what he wanted to hear. Heck, Miles deserved better. He deserved the world, but at that moment, I just couldn't give it to him.

"I'm sorry," I said, leaning in to kiss him softly on the mouth.

The kiss was tender, filled with a bittersweet longing.

"No," Miles said quickly, pulling back just enough to look into my eyes. "I asked, and you answered. I appreciate your honesty, Cooper."

I could see the conflict in his eyes. I wanted to promise him everything, to tell him I'd stay forever, but I knew it wouldn't be fair to make promises I wasn't sure I could keep.

We sat there in silence for a moment, the only sound the gentle lapping of the water against the boat. The tension between us was hard to ignore.

I could feel his heart beating in time with mine, and I knew that despite the uncertainty, we were in this together.

"Miles," I said softly, breaking the silence. "I don't have all the answers right now, but I do know that I care about you more than anything. I want to be with you and see where this goes. Can we take it one step at a time?"

He nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "One step at a time," he agreed. "I can live with that."

I pulled him closer, wrapping my arms around him and resting my chin on top of his head.