Page 82 of Ready or Not

“I know,” he says, but I can still feel his pain echo in the bond.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Vale

The three of us eat together, and Cooper brings me upstairs. He’s been upset since the whole delivery thing, but he’s not cold or distant. Based on the bond, I think it brings up a lot of bad memories and hurts for him.

I aim for the bed, but he grabs my hand.

“Have a shower with me?” he asks, licking his lips.

“I actually like it better when you’re all sweaty and manly smelling, but yeah. Of course.” I smile.

He leans down, capturing my mouth. It’s a quick tease of a kiss that leaves me aching for more. He guides me into the bathroom and starts the shower. Once it’s running, he comes back, stripping out of his shirt. The strong lines of lithe muscle on his chest and stomach flex.

He’s really hot.

Insanely freaking attractive.

But it’s the way his heart aches in the bond that makes me yearn to touch him. I think both Cooper and Bishop have physical affection as their love language. And I find it insanely sweet. He quickly helps me out of my clothes and grabs a hair tie from the counter. His fingers slide through my waves, deftly tying up my hair. Once he’s done, he leads me into the shower.

Steam rises in the air as he frames my back, walking my front into the flow of water. His scratchy fingers brush my skin as he kisses down my neck.

“I don’t know why that shit today bothered me so damn much, but it really did.” He nips at my earlobe as his hand slides around to palm my stomach. “We lost so much time because of that motherfucker.”

I nod against his chest. It still bothers me, too, but it could have been so much worse.

I squeeze the hand wrapped around my middle and turn to face him. Stretching up on my tiptoes, I wait for him to lean down so I can kiss him. The water cascades over my back and down my ass as he growls, pulling me even closer. I love the way his skin feels brushing mine, but he steps back, shaking his head.

“I don’t want everything to be about sex. I just wanted to touch you and take care of you.”

My head tilts as I stare up at him. He’s very sweet, and it makes me realize that it’s my job to take care of him too. I push on his hip, careful of his injury. Luckily, it’s covered with one of those waterproof bandages.

“Let me take care of you for a change.” I move him until he’s in front of the bench and give him a little shove.

He stretches back once he’s seated, and his cock sticks up, bouncing against his abdomen. It’s completely at odds with his earlier statement, but that’s okay. He cracks a smile that seems very much like a challenge, and somehow, it only makes him even hotter.

I feel ridiculous as I hold on to his knees for support. Kneeling down used to be easier than this. My tits bounce and Cooper bites his lip.

I wrap my hand around his shaft and squeeze. Pre-cum oozes from the tip, and I dive for it. My tongue circles his swollen head, and he groans, tossing his head back.

“Fuck me,” he growls.

I smile around his shaft, because I intend to. Seeing the desire on his face only ramps up my own.

He pulses in my grip as I hollow my cheeks.

“It makes me ache to grab your ponytail so I can fuck your mouth.”

I pop off his cock, grab his hand from his thigh, and bring it to my hair. “Go for it.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” I moan, flicking my tongue over his tip.

His fingers dig into my hair as he grips my ponytail. “Goddamn, you’re so fucking pretty.”

I roll my tongue around the underside of his shaft as he works my mouth over his throbbing length. It’s hard not to fight against him, so I can lap at the pre-cum dribbling all over my tongue.

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