Page 38 of Cooper's Command

“Call it whatever you want, but your side still hurts.”

“Cooper. Baby, that twinge was nothing compared to how much it hurt seeing that look on your face. Knowing you were preparing for me to say none of this was real. So, stop worrying and just love me.”

She dropped her hand, squeezing him through his pants. Destroying any lingering thoughts that she wasn’t healed enough for him to make her see stars. He clenched his jaw, then picked her up, helping her wrap legs around his waist as he started toward the bedroom. Just like he’d done the last time they were in this position — before everything had gone sideways.

Nova ate at his mouth as he bumped his way down the hall then into the room, kicking the door shut behind him. He fumbled his way over to the bed, gently lowering her onto it without breaking contact.

Nova smiled when they finally came up for air, tugging on his shirt. “Naked, Coop. Now.”

Hell yeah. Except where it meant he’d have to stand — lose all that contact with her.

Nova laughed. “We’ll make it a race. Winner chooses how this starts.”

Cooper tsked when she clenched her jaw trying to lever up. “And have you pull out those last couple of stitches? I don’t think so. Move with me.”

He palmed her back, helping her up before grabbing the hem of her shirt. “Have I told you how fucking hot it is that you’re wearing my shirt? I’ve wanted to tear it off you since you walked into the kitchen. Especially when I know there’s nothing but skin underneath.”

He slowly lifted it over her head, tossing it behind him on the floor before before hovering his hand over her ribs. The one still shaded in blues and green.

Nova sighed. “Still alive, thanks to you.”

“That was all you, sweetheart. All I did was show up after the fact.”

“That’s the point. You came. Despite the warrant and the way I reacted in Hawk’s office. You still came. You believed in me when I was starting to doubt myself.” She ran her thumb across his cheek. “For as long as I’m breathing, I’ll never forget that. No one has ever been there for me like that. No one.”

She tugged on the waist of his pants, releasing his belt, then lowering the zipper — shucking the whole lot a moment later. “Forget the race. I know what I need.”

Need. Not want.

As if loving him was like breathing. A necessity.

He removed his shirt, determined to shove her onto her back and lick every inch of skin until she unraveled in his arms, when she drew her fist along his length — nearly had him creaming her hand. He hissed out a breath, inhaling when she leaned forward — took him all the way to the back of her throat.

“Jesus, Nova.”

He fisted her hair, reminding himself she likely still had bumps and bruises along her scalp. Hell, maybe the lingering effects of a concussion based on how hard she’d had to fight to escape. She hummed, and the tiny vibrations shattered any form of control he’d managed to keep.

Cooper swore his hips started moving of their own accord. That despite his best efforts, he was thrusting into her mouth a moment later. Taking himself to the brink in record time. Was he being too rough? Sinking too deep? Had he just yanked on her hair to the point she’d moaned what he thought was his name muffled around his dick?

He should stop. Show her what she meant to him. How special she was and that he wouldn’t doubt their connection, again.

Having her swallow while he was all the way in killed those thoughts. Blew them up or maybe they simply disintegrated into a thousand pieces like his sanity. Vanishing with the rhythmic slide of her tongue. How she applied just the right amount of pressure to keep him poised on the edge.

He clenched his jaw, grunting when she paused and swallowed, again. “Sweetheart. I’m about ten seconds away from embarrassing myself. Christ, has it even been five minutes yet?”

She pulled away for a second, gazing up at him through half-lidded eyes. “Can’t think of a better homecoming, can you?”

That did him in. Had him fighting not to finish as she slid down his length, again. But it was futile. Another minute, and he was drowning. Heat burning a path down his spine as every muscle tensed. He tried to ease back, but she doubled her efforts, sending him over a second later.

Home.

That’s what she’d said. Not just before but how this was a homecoming. And damn if he wasn’t thinking the same thing.That even in the midst of an op — with threats looming against her — she was his safe haven. His reason for fighting. And he’d do anything to protect that.

Cooper regained his senses seconds, minutes, maybe hours later. His left hand still fisted around her hair. His other braced on the end of the bed. What he assumed was the only reason he hadn’t collapsed — probably taking her with him. Nova was sitting on the edge of the mattress, looking at him as if she’d never seen him before. Or maybe she was simply seeing a new side of him. The one that was insanely in love with Nova Martin.

She cracked a smile, moaning when his fingers clenched, tugging on her hair. Though, how she’d even gotten off the floor with the silky strands still fisted in his hand was a mystery. “Did you really think I was going to give up my prize? You know me better than that, Coop.”

He chuckled, finally getting his fingers to release the thick mass of auburn hair. “I didn’t want to assume…”

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