Page 76 of Deceptive Lies

The same fear she knew was pulsing through Cooper’s body.

They both wanted a chance to explore what could be between them, but one huge Egyptian professor-sized boulder stood in their way.

Lifting her good hand, Willow stroked her fingers through Cooper’s short hair. “I love that you want to put yourself between me and danger. It’s been a long time since anyone cared enough to do that. But, Cooper, we both know that Mahmoud might be prepared to let you go to protect himself, he’s only after you because you got in his way by rescuing me. There is no chance in hell he’ll pass up an opportunity to take me.”

“Willow’s right,” Cade interjected, and she shot him a grateful smile. He was definitely the scariest of the five other men surrounding her, but Cooper had told her a lot about his family in the hours they’d spent walking through the desert, and she knew the oldest Charleston brother would do anything for his family.

“Course I am,” she teased, cracking a small smile out of Cooper.

“I don’t like this,” he said, and she could hear every drop of the raw terror in his voice.

“I don’t particularly like the idea either. But it’s the right thing to do. It gets a dangerous man in custody, and it gives you guys an opportunity to question someone who might have more answers about your mom, and your dad,” she added, glancing at Jake and Jax. “It’s killing two birds with the one stone. There’s no other way I can think of that will get us the same results.”

“I hate that you make too much logical sense because I don’t want to be logical right now.” Cooper wrapped his arms around her and crushed her against his chest. “I just want to wrap you up in cotton wool, tuck you into a nice, warm, comfortable bed, and make sure you get the rest you need. I want to slay all your dragons so you never have to put your armor on again. I want to stand between you and anything that wants to hurt you and take every single one of those bullets so you never feel pain again.”

Tears blurred her vision, and she pressed closer, soaking up every ounce of Cooper’s support. That he could already care about her so deeply after such a short time was nothing short of a miracle, and Willow prayed like she’d never prayed before that they got a chance to shoot for their happy ever after.

“Thank you,” she whispered through the tears rolling down her cheeks.

When she lifted her head to meet Cooper’s gaze, she found it tortured. His stormy gray eyes reflected everything he felt for her to see. Respect, admiration, fear, tenderness, affection, and attraction.

It was the last that had her blood heating.

Her gaze dropped to his lips and a groan rumbled through his body.

The only kisses they’d shared had been while they were fighting for their lives.

Now they were free, nothing stood in the way of them exploring their mutual attraction, except …

“We’re going to let you guys have some time alone together,” Connor announced, and she could hear the guys moving about even though she didn't tear her eyes from Cooper’s lips.

“We have both the rooms next door, if you need us, you know where to find us,” Cole said, and Willow gave a short nod as desire hummed through her body.

“Yeah, thanks,” Cooper said, tearing his heated gaze off her for a moment. “I mean it. Thanks for everything. For hopping on a plane and flying out here, finding us, not giving up, and for saving Willow. I can't ever repay you for that.”

“Pfft, as if we want payment,” Jax said.

The closing of the door signaled that they were alone, and Willow wasted no time in crushing her mouth to Cooper’s. Right now, she didn't care that there was a terrorist wannabe with a personal vendetta against her, or that her body still throbbed with a myriad of aches and pains. She didn't care that she was still exhausted or that the feel of sand still clung to her skin even though it had all been washed away.

All she cared about was this.

Him.

Cooper Charleston, who had set aside his own quest for answers to save her life, and stuck by her when he could easily have handed her and her problems off to someone else. Willow knew how lucky she was. Another man might have left her to her fate, walked away because it didn't concern him.

But not Cooper.

That wasn't who he was.

He was honorable, had a big heart, loved fiercely and completely, and wouldn't walk away no matter how tough things got.

Now she just had to pray that her plan to play bait worked so she got her chance at happiness. A chance she hadn't even known would exist for her, hadn't even cared about anything other than fulfilling her vow to her father.

A chance she would now do anything to make come to fruition.

Chapter

Nineteen

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