Page 30 of Temptation and Tyranny

“Allegra,” he whispered, my name on his lips sounding like a prayer. “I’ve thought about this since nearly the moment I met you.”

I shook my head slightly, unable to form words. My hands moved of their own accord, one resting on his chest, feeling the strong, steady beat of his heart, the other tangling in the hair at the nape of his neck.

We were so close now, our noses brushing. The anticipation was almost unbearable, every cell in my body screaming for contact. I could feel the heat radiating from him, could sense the slight tremor in his hand as he held me.

Just as our lips were about to meet, a loud bang from the hallway made us both freeze. Cooper was onhis feet in an instant, gun in hand, pushing me behind him protectively, despite his injury.

“Cooper, what—” I started, but he silenced me with a look.

We stood there, hearts racing, as footsteps approached my door. Then, a familiar voice called out.

“Allegra? You up? I saw your light on.”

I sagged with relief. “It’s just my neighbor, Mrs. Dupre. She’s probably checking on me.”

Cooper lowered the gun but didn’t relax completely. “Are you sure?”

I nodded, moving to the door. “Positive. She does this sometimes when she sees I’m up late. She has insomnia and roams the halls a lot.”

Opening the door, I greeted my elderly neighbor with what I hoped was a normal smile. “Mrs. Dupre, is everything alright?”

She peered at me with concern. “I heard noises, dear. Wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m fine,” I assured her. “Just...watching a movie. Sorry if I disturbed you. I’ll turn it off.”

Mrs. Dupre didn’t look entirely convinced, but she nodded. “Alright then. You take care, dear. And remember, my Jean-Luc would still love to take you to dinner sometime.”

I forced a laugh. “I’ll keep that in mind. Goodnight, Mrs. Dupre.”

Closing the door, I turned to find Cooper watching me with a mixture of amusement and something else—was that jealousy?

“Jean-Luc, huh?” he said, attempting a casual tone.

“Mrs. Dupre has been trying to set me up withher grandson for months. Not interested.”

Cooper’s smile returned, but only for a split second. “Well, we should probably both get some rest. It’s been a long night.”

The moment from earlier was gone, the spell broken. I nodded, suddenly feeling the weight of my own exhaustion. “You’re right. You…you can take my bed, I’ll take the couch since you’re injured—”

His eyes flashed. “Absolutely not. I’ll take the couch.”

For a split second I was going to argue, but the look on his face made me stop short. “I’ll get you some blankets and some pain killers.”

As I gathered bedding and medicine for Cooper, I couldn’t help but replay the events of the night in my mind. The almost-kisses, the tension, the danger...it was all so far removed from the normal life I’d tried so hard to build. And yet, I couldn’t deny the thrill of it all, or the way my heart raced every time Cooper looked at me.

Returning to the living room, I found Cooper settling onto the couch, his movements stiff and pained.He kept his jeans on but refused the oversized gym shirt I offered him. I helped him get comfortable, painfully aware of every point of contact between us.

“Thank you, Allegra,” Cooper said softly as I tucked a blanket around him. “For everything. I don’t know what I would have done without you tonight.”

I smiled, resisting the urge to brush a stray lock of hair from his forehead. “That’s what friends are for, right?”

Cooper caught my hand, his touch sending sparks through me. “Is that what we are? Are wefriends?”

The question hung in the air between us, loaded with unspoken possibilities. I swallowed hard, my voice barely above a whisper. “I...I don’t know. I shouldn’t even be friends with you, but...”

For a long moment, we just looked at each other, the air thick with tension and unsaid words. Then, reluctantly, I pulled my hand away.

“Goodnight, Cooper,” I said, moving towards my bedroom. “Try to get some rest.”

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