Page 75 of Claws and Feathers

Cooper inched forward on the couch, leaning into her, his opposite hand running up and down the length of her arm. Goosebumps tickled her. She looked at him, searching once again. Probing.

“Yeah,” he said. It came out as merely a breath, as if he were overcome with the implication of such a simple word. “I meant it.”

Abby couldn’t hold back. She couldn’t keep away from him. She simplyhadto kiss him. She leaped into his arms, colliding their mouths together, and curling her hands behind his neck. Abby kissed him hard, feeling him crush her to his chest and lightly tug her hair. She moaned into his mouth, pulling back to press her forehead against his. “I feel it, too,” she whispered.

Cooper pushed her backwards until she was lying down, her head propped up on the armrest. He hovered above her with impassioned eyes and parted lips. He dipped his head, kissing along her jawline, all the way up to her ear. “What do you feel?”

Abby’s arms were entwined around him, her back arching upwards, seeking contact. “I’m falling in love with you,” she replied. “I’ve been falling since the day you pulled me out of that van. I opened my eyes and I saw you.” Abby swallowed, wondering if she was saying too much. She inhaled a quaking breath as his eyes implored her. “You’re all I’ve been able to see ever since.”

Cooper drank in every word, the look on his face closely resemblingawe. He kissed her again, because there was simply no other response, and Abby squeaked out a groan when his tongue pushed inside. The kiss grew, deepened,ignited, until their clothes were being torn off, and her legs were wrapping around his hips, and he was sheathed inside her like it was the only thing in the world that made sense.

Yes.Abigail Stone was madly in love with Cooper McAllister.

A jaded cop. A jaded city girl.

Thiscouldwork.

The hours ticked by like a slug. Abby tried to keep herself busy with yard work, cleaning, and house purchases, but nothing seemed to subdue the dull ache in the pit of her stomach. The ache in herheart. Cooper was on his way to Illinois – her hometown. He had left work early that Wednesday and had stopped over to say goodbye with cupcakes and a kiss. It was a bittersweet moment that had been much too fleeting. She’d hugged him tight, forcing back tears of worry and unknowns.

Cooper seemed to think that her brother had something to do with her abduction. It was a preposterous notion, but she supposed she didn’t actuallyknowRyan Stone anymore. It had been eleven years since she’d laid eyes on him. Eleven years since he’d lingered in the doorway of Nana’s house, his face twisted with a sadness that had never strayed far from Abby’s mind.

Eleven years since he’d walked out that door and never contacted her again.

But to arrange for her kidnapping and possible death? Hire a hitman? Send a drug lord after her for Nana’s fortune? God, it all sounded ludicrous – like an overdone script for an action film. The Ryan she used to know could never do such a thing. He could never hurt her. Abby liked to think that the old Ryan was still in there somewhere, despite the time that had passed and the tragedies they had endured. He was her brother, after all. Herblood.

Abby glanced up from lying fresh mulch around her evergreen shrubs when she saw a shadow approach. She shielded her eyes from the sun as she stood, thinking maybe it was James Walker who had been stationed in his vehicle in front of her house keeping watch.

But it wasn’t.

“Hey.” Daphne stood before her with crossed arms and a frosty visage. Her lips were painted a sultry red as her matching fingertips tapped against her upper arm. She regarded Abby with one eyebrow raised. “You look like crap.”

Abby couldn’t help but smile at the insult. She hadn’t seen her friend since she’d stopped by to collect her things, and Daphne had sent her on her guilty way. It was a pleasant surprise. “Hey.”

Daphne pursed her lips, eyeing Abby up and down as she collected her thoughts. “Listen, I heard about the bird thing, and I kind of hate myself for caring, but I do.”

“Oh… thank you,” Abby said, wiping her palms against the front of her dirt-spattered jeans.

“You don’t deserve my compassion.” Daphne hesitated, her eyes settling on her black pumps. “But you don’t deserve everything that’s happened to you either.”

Abby was touched by the sentiment. It meant a lot coming from the prickly Daphne Vaughn, who was known for holding grudges and seeking vengeance on those who had scorned her. “That means a lot, Daph. I’m not expecting you to forgive me, but I appreciate you stopping by.”

She shrugged. “Yeah, well, I’ve always had a soft spot for your emo ass.” A small grin tickled her lips.

Abby laughed, brushing a strand of hair off her forehead. “I’m sure you’ve missed me. I’m a tremendous joy to be around.”

“Hardly. Although I do miss those damn tacos you would make.”

Abby’s eyes lit up. “That’s fair,” she said. “I made Nana’s enchilada recipe for Cooper – I think I’ve got him wrapped around my little finger now.”

Daphne began to chuckle when her eyes drifted to Abby’s neck. “Um, it looks like you’ve got him wrapped around more than that,” she noted, taking in the colorful bruise. “You skank.”

Abby’s hand raised instinctively to the evidence, a blush creeping into her cheeks. Memories of Cooper giving her that bruise swarmed her. “It was the mole sauce,” she joked.

They stood in silence for a moment, hints of a smile on both of their faces. Daphne cleared her throat. “Well, it’s good to see that you’re not dead. And that you’re finally getting laid.”

“Thanks,” Abby replied. She dug the toe of her shoe into the grass as she tried to string together another apology. “Daph, I’m so sorry –”

Daphne held out her hand to stop her. “I know you’re sorry,” she interrupted. She sighed, uncrossing her arms, and glancing up to the sky. “I suppose if any good came out of your loathsome betrayal, it’s that I know forsureHenry Dormer is trash. He’ll never change. Him and Maya are perfect for each other.”

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