Page 11 of Cooper's Salvation
You’re hurting me. You’re hurting me. You’re hurting me.The words ricocheted around his mind, the voice sounding just like Kara. Just as the thought settled in his mind, a weight on his chest and hands yanking at his wrists filtered into his consciousness.
He jerked awake as if he’d had a bucket of ice water dumped over him. His horrified gaze clashed with the panicked one of Kara. Yanking his hands away from her neck, he stared, mute. Daisy whined softly, nuzzling his neck.
Free of his chokehold, Kara scrambled out of arms’ reach, coughing and wheezing. In her haste to get away from him, she fell off the side of the bed. Watching her tip over the edge, he was delayed in reaching for her to prevent her fall. With a squeak, she scooted on her butt to evade him until a wall halted her progress.
If she’d slashed his chest and laid his heart bare to the elements, it couldn’t have hurt more.
“Jesus, Kara. I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry, baby. I didn’t mean it.” Wiping a shaky hand over his face, his stomach roiled.
“I know,” she rasped, her voice hoarse from being strangled. “I just need a minute.” Coughing again, she rested her head against the wall behind her.
Cooper untangled his legs from the sheet and staggered his way to the bathroom on equally shaky legs. Bile rose and he scarcely made it to the toilet before he retched.
The whole shit-show that had just gone down had him violently ill, his stomach clenching hard as it emptied itself, the ever-faithful Daisy at his side to comfort him. He sank a hand into her soft coat to anchor himself.
At some point, not sure how long he’d been hanging over the porcelain bowl, he heard a tap go on, then turn off. Still, he startled when he felt a soft, tentative touch on his back. Then the cool soothing of a wet washcloth across the back of his neck. Closing his eyes, Cooper savored the caress. After scaring the bejesus out of her, he wouldn’t have blamed her if she’d left him to wallow in his own misery.
He shouldn’t have been surprised. That was his Kara, always caring for others no matter the circumstances.
Tonight was one of the myriad reasons he’d been resistant to getting involved with her. This exquisite woman with a heart the size of Texas deserved nothing but the best. What shedid notdeserve was the broken, empty shell of a man he’d become.
At last, when even the dry heaving stopped, Cooper stumbled to his feet. He washed his hands and rinsed his mouth, unable to look at Kara. He couldn’t bear to see the censure, or worse, loathing he was sure would be in her eyes.
Taking a deep breath, his eyes firmly focused on his feet, Cooper’s brain scrambled for something to say. How the hell was he going to apologize for his actions? Jesus, he could have killed her. An icy shudder shook his frame just at the thought of it.
The silence dragged on for long minutes until he couldn’t stand it anymore. He lifted his head to find Kara standing by door, watching him, her expression cautious.
“Kara, I …” He stopped, gripping the back of his neck tightly. “I’m sorry, I – I don’t know what else to say. I would never hurt you intentionally. You know that, right?”
Her face softened. “Yes, I do. I won’t deny it was scary though. I couldn’t get you to wake up. Not even Daisy could.”
Cooper winced at how hoarse she sounded, guilt bubbling uncomfortably through him. He opened his mouth to apologize yet again, but Kara spoke first.
“If you apologize one more time, I’m going to kick your ass. Yes, it was frightening, but it’s done now. I can’t begin to imagine how bad your nightmare was that you reacted that way, and I’m so sorry that you have to go through that. But it’s not your fault. Let’s just put it behind us and move on. Yeah?”
He could only stare at her. After all she’d been through in her life, it still amazed him how forgiving she could be. Cooper took a cautious step toward her, watching carefully for her reaction. When she didn’t shrink away from him, he closed the gap.
Pulling her into a hug, he rested his chin on top of her head. “Yeah, I’d like that,” was all he could manage.
To avoid making things awkward between them, he would try. For her sake. He already knew it wouldn’t be that easy for him.
They stood hugging for another minute until eventually Kara stepped back. “I have to get ready for work. Want some coffee before I grab a shower?”
“I’ll make the coffee; you hop in. The steam from the hot water will help with your throat.”
Kara nodded, then went back to her bedroom to collect her clothes for the day. By the time she was done in the shower, Cooper had her coffee ready.
Smiling her thanks, she asked, “Do you want a quick shower?”
“No, I’m good thanks. I’m going to head home. I’ll grab one there.”
Taking her cup over to the sink, Kara gave it a quick rinse, then popped it into the dishwasher. “Well, I guess I need to get going. What are you up to for the rest of the day?”
“I have some errands. I go back to work soon, and I need to get some things done before then. Other than that, nothing exciting.”
“Just take it easy, okay? It’s been a bit of a rough start to the day.” Calling for her dog, Kara took a leash off a hook beside the back door. Once she’d clipped it to Tammy’s collar, she turned to him. “Ready to go?”
He rinsed his own mug, putting it in the dishwasher with hers. “Yep. Let’s go.” Following her to the door, he tapped his leg for Daisy to follow.
