Page 73 of Cooper

There’s something vaguely familiar about him but it’s hard to tell under the long hair and beard.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to say something, but it doesn’t make sense that I might know the guy.

“Thank you,” Erik says quietly, coming to stand next to me. “I appreciate your diligence today.”

“I’m sure one of the guards would have seen him.”

“But they didn’t.Youdid. So thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I say the words and actually mean them.

It feels good to have thwarted what was almost definitely going to be another attack. I wasn’t physically responsible for catching him, but I spotted him and got the ball rolling.

This is what it feels like to be a Royal Protector.

And now I’m more confused than ever.

There’s a pull here that gets stronger every day.

I just wish this was an easier decision to make.

* * *

Natalia gets back early,just before five, but it’s seven before we regroup in our room. I see a handful of shopping bags near the closet, and though I’m dying to know what she bought, I figure I should ask before I go snooping through them.

“Buy me anything?” I ask casually.

“Maybe.” She smirks. “But dinner first.”

“Already handled. It’ll be here in ten minutes. Just enough time to show me what you bought.”

“Some of it is a surprise, but I got some new jeans that are cute, with rhinestones on the pockets and the cuffs.” She pulls them out of a bag and holds them up.

They’re just jeans, but I bet they’re going to fit her like a glove.

Which heats up my nether regions.

Our sex life is amazing, but we’re both tired by the end of the day. It’s not that there’s no interest, but I’m still not back to a hundred percent and she’s been sitting up late helping me study the book of protocol, procedures, and drills. By the time we’re done with that, neither of us is up for much of anything but sleep. We’ve talked about it, though, and we’re on the same page, so I don’t feel like either of us is neglecting the other’s needs.

Until now.

Watching her wiggle into this skintight pair of jeans that makes her ass look fully edible.

“Jesus, baby.” I run my hand over my crotch. “What are you doing to me?”

She chuckles. “You like?”

“Why don’t you come over here and let me show you?”

“Less than ten minutes until dinner arrives. Besides, I have more to show you.” She wriggles out of the jeans and tosses them to the side. Then she scoops a handful of silky material out of the bag and stuffs it in a drawer. “That’s for another time—and don’t you dare peek when I’m not here. Because I’llknow.”

I laugh.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“But this, well…” She takes out something red, fabric spilling over her hands. “You have to close your eyes.”

“How come?” I pretend to pout. “You’re already mostly naked.”

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