Page 40 of Cooper's Command

“Thinking I’m the one who won.” Her mouth curled into a sloppy grin. “Twice.”

“That’s sounds like a challenge, so… let’s see if I can make it a third.”

CHAPTER 12

He’d make it a third?

Nova had barely survived his foreplay, let alone having him actually make love to her. Though, if she was going to die…

Cooper didn’t seem to be worried about surviving. That she might give him a stroke or an aneurysm. That his heart might simply explode from falling too much in love. Because that’s how hers felt. Overly full. Strung so tight it was libel to burst as soon as he kissed her.

Having him ravage her mouth a moment later put that theory to the test. Had her wrapping her legs around his hips — sinking him an inch inside her. That set him off. Had him thrusting inside. Sending her over the edge again with a single stroke.

Had she screamed Cooper’s name or only thought it inside her head? The comforting weight of his body on top of hers the only anchor preventing her from floating away. Burning up with all the heat arcing off her skin.

Cooper nuzzled her neck, giving her a light love bite before kissing her lips — staring down at her when she finally managed to open her eyes. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are? Let’s do that, again.”

He moved, slowly at first. As if he was afraid he’d hurt her. Or maybe she was pushing him to his limits, too. That any firm thrust would break his control.

Good. She wanted him to break. To be so consumed with the heat searing between them that his only thought was how far he could push them. How tightly he could bind them together.

Cooper grunted next to her ear, his muscles flexing as he metered his thrusts. The sheer pressure of holding himself back making his body shake.

Nova nipped at his neck, smiling when he groaned. “Cooper. Stop worrying about hurting me and let go, already.”

He paused, nostrils flaring, chest heaving, then he was moving. Pounding into her. Shaking the bed until it was tapping out a rhythm against the wall. Or maybe it was the echoed beat of her heart sounding in her head.

Cooper must have heard it, too, because his pace increased until it was more of a steady tone than a pattern. One long beat keeping her poised on the edge, waiting to fall over. Nova clawed at his back, urging him closer. Anything to have more of him touching her. Either she’d voiced it or he read her mind because he crushed her into the bed a second later, mouthing her shoulder as she wrapped herself even tighter around him.

Shadows danced across the room, rain and surf sounding in the distance. She wasn’t sure how long they’d been intertwined before he grunted, claiming her mouth as he tilted her hips — sinking even deeper.

She broke.

Tumbled off that ledge as fire shot through her veins, burning along her skin until she was surprised the entire bed didn’t burst into flames. Cooper growled, a throaty version of her name sounding around them, then he emptied into her. Setting off another round of shivers.

This was definitely what home felt like. Safe. Loved. His breath mixing with hers as he rested his forehead against her. Every labored breath confirming he was just as affected — as invested — as she was.

Had she whispered his name? Kissed him? Because he lifted his head and smiled down at her as she slivered her eyes open. All the tension from the previous week gone. Or maybe he’d simply pushed it into the background. Locked it up until it was time to jump back into the fray.

Cooper smiled, then seemed to realize he was still crushing her into the bed. He muttered a few words under his breath, then shifted, ignoring the way she tried to hold him in place. “Damn, are your ribs okay? You should have pushed me off. Did I reopen anything?”

She laughed. “Right to the worst-case scenario. At least you’re consistent. I’m fine, Coop. In fact, I don’t remember the last time I ever felt this good. Probably never.”

He snorted. “Let’s see if you’re still smiling once the endorphins wear off and your ribs remind you they’re far from healed.”

“Even if that’s true, it was still more than worth it.” She lifted her head enough to nip at his jaw. “You’re worth it.”

He nuzzled her nose, seemingly content to simply lay there, when he tensed, then cursed. “And this is the part where you shoot me in the ass because I forgot the damn condom.”

She shrugged. “I have one of those implants but even if I didn’t, I’m finding it hard to care right about now.”

“And in a couple of weeks if it turns out you’re pregnant?”

Nova snagged her bottom lip to stop from blurting out the truth, but it slipped out. “Then, I guess we’re having a baby.”

Was his mouth hanging open or was he trying to breathe? Nova was just about to snap her fingers in front of him when he smiled, that neon glow illuminating the room.

“Be careful what you say, sweetheart. Because I might find a way to manifest it.”

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