by Kendall Ryan
“That’s wonderful, Cooper. She’s told me how much you mean to her too. That’s why she ran.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Aaron. She uses him as a crutch. She’s terrified of love. She’s never been loved and cherished the way she deserved to be her entire life. It’s made her fearful.”
Several things struck me at once. First, I’d been a fucking idiot. How could I not have seen that Corinne was using Aaron? Maybe their marriage wasn’t legally binding, but that wasn’t enough to explain her actions. She was scared.
“What if you left her? What if you hurt her?” Mauve smoothed the thin cotton blanket over her legs. “Aaron would never do that.”
I nodded, understanding for the first time that asking Corinne to try a relationship with me was the most terrifying thing she could imagine. “So, what do I do?”
Mauve offered me a sad smile. “That depends. Can you handle there being another man in your relationship?”
I thought about it for half a second, and opened my mouth to respond.
Mauve held up a hand, stopping me. “He’ll need around-the-clock care, and there are doctors’ appointments and physical therapy, and . . .”
I shook my head to stop her. She wasn’t going to talk me out of this. “I understand that. And I am prepared—financially and emotionally.”
Mauve smiled again. “Then what are you doing sitting around talking to me for? Go get your girl.”
Quinn had said today was Corinne’s last day at the office. I checked my phone for the time. It was late in the afternoon. She might already be gone.
With a flash of nerves, I hopped up from my chair, kissed Mauve’s cheek, and all but ran out of the retirement home to the parking lot.
Speeding the entire way to the office, I tried to work out what I would say when I saw Corinne. But the words were no clearer to me by the time I pulled into the employee lot, and by the time I was cruising up the elevator, my mind began to whir with doubts. What if, despite Aaron being in her life, she just didn’t want me in it?
Pushing the last of my doubts away, I stepped into the office, finding the receptionist desk empty, and continued toward my office in the back.
Corinne was here, thank God.
She was alone, standing in the center of my office with her back to me, facing the windows and the view beyond. Her shoulders were tense, and I heard her sniff as if she’d been crying.
“Dove,” I said softly, and she turned.
When our eyes met across the office, it was like the air had been sucked from my lungs. Had she always been this beautifully broken?
“Cooper.”
I swallowed and wandered closer.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
I took her hand and led her to the sofa in my office. We sat down side by side, but with a healthy distance between us. “There are a few things I need to say to you.”
She nodded, her eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and regret.
Looking at her with awe, I had to clasp my hands together in my lap to keep from reaching out and touching her. “These last few days without you have been hell. I want you in my life. I need you, Corinne.” She opened her mouth to respond, but I shook my head. “The dedication and commitment you’ve shown to your childhood friend is admirable. It’s more than that—it’s incredible. It proves what an amazing woman you are. I know you’ll never let him go.”
She nodded.
“And you don’t have to.”
Her brows drew together. “I don’t understand.”
I reached over and took her hand. Having her this near and not touching her, in some small way, was next to impossible.
Corinne took a deep, steadying breath. “It wouldn’t be fair to you to continue being your fuck buddy. You deserve it all, Cooper.”
I shook my head. “I won’t be your fuck buddy. I want to be your everything. There’s room for all three of us. I’ll help you with Aaron. I would never cast him aside. I know he’s important to you.”
She licked her lips, thinking it over.
“Quinn looked into it, and the marriage isn’t legally binding.”
She looked down at her hands. “I know that.”
“Little dove. God, I’ve missed you. Tell me what you’re thinking.”
She drew another deep inhale. “I’ve missed you too. But that doesn’t change my situation, and there’s no way that I could ever ask you to become responsible for both me and another person.”
“And there’s no way I could ever let you slip away. So I guess we’re at an impasse.”
At this, she smiled and squeezed my hand. “You really are bossy, you know?”
My gaze met hers, and all the worry I’d felt on the way over here was gone. It had been replaced by a deep sense of peace. This was the right thing, her and me. And Aaron? Well, it would be no different if she were a single mom with a special-needs child. I’d help her and care for them both—no question. “I love you.”
A single tear escaped her eye, and I caught it with my thumb on her cheek. “I love you too,” she whispered. “This is so much more than I could have ever expected.”
“Corinne? You ready?” Alyssa’s voice sounded from outside the office, and when I looked up, she was standing in the doorway. “Oh. Hi, Mr. Kingsley. You’re here.”
“Give us a minute, would you, Alyssa?”
She nodded and disappeared from the doorway.
I pulled Corinne into my arms and kissed her deeply. “Love you so fucking much,” I murmured, my lips teasing hers. She was crying freely now, but I knew they were happy tears.
When Alyssa cleared her throat in the other room, I pulled away. “Later. You’re mine.”
Corinne nodded, her gaze filled with hot understanding.
I rose to my feet, tugging her up and pulling her close. “One last thing. Unpack your stuff. You’re not quitting.”
She laughed, and the sound was pure and sweet. “Yes, sir.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Corinne
My eyes popped open at precisely 5:02 that morning. As I lay there in bed, staring at the ceiling, I could already feel the butterflies swarming in my stomach. The past three weeks had felt like forever, and the day I’d been waiting for was finally here.
Today, Aaron and I were moving in with Cooper.
My whole life was packed up in cardboard boxes, ready to be taken to my new home. Well, maybe not my whole life. Cooper was waiting for me with open arms, but I was terrified that the moment I wheeled Aaron through his front door, Cooper would see what kind of life he’d actually signed up for and regret ever inviting us to live with him.
Please, God, or the universe, or whatever power is out there, don’t let him regret asking us to move in with him.
The moving truck was set to take our things to Cooper’s at ten a.m. sharp. I stayed in bed for another hour, closing my eyes and trying to make myself fall back asleep. But no matter how much I longed for just a little more beauty rest, sleep wouldn’t come. Worries kept racing through my mind as I imagined every possible outcome in which moving in with Cooper was a huge mistake.
Even after everything we’d been through, I couldn’t silence that small part of me that wondered if Cooper really wanted me in his life—especially now that having me meant having Aaron as well.
When my nervous thoughts became too much, I sprang out of bed and began making one final sweep through the place. As I wandered through the rooms of our apartment, I thought about the life Aaron and I had shared together up until that point.
It had always been just the two of us, from when we were only a couple of nervous kids in the system. Would Aaron be okay with letting another person into our lives? Into my life? I didn’t want him to feel replaced or like I didn’t care about him in the same way I used to. Moving in with Cooper had so many potential pitfalls.
For as nervous as I was, I was excited to finally get on with
it. The anticipation of this day had been killing me.
Once Aaron woke up, I decided to pick up breakfast sandwiches for us before the moving truck got there. My mind was still racing the entire time, and I was so scattered, I almost forgot to pay for our food. I arrived back home just as the moving truck pulled up, and I hurried inside to let the men in and show them what to do. They were kind and professional, and for just a moment, I felt better about the whole moving process.
They finished loading our boxes into the truck within half an hour, and soon Aaron and I were following the moving truck to our new home.
By the time we pulled up in front of Cooper’s building, I felt like my heart was about to pound right through my chest. Cooper was already outside waiting for us, and my stomach dropped at the sight of his wide, welcoming smile. I wheeled Aaron around to the wide front doors while Cooper talked with the moving men and directed them to the service elevator.
With the logistics of the move all worked out, Cooper strode excitedly toward Aaron and me, planting a warm kiss on my cheek and gently patting Aaron’s shoulder.
“Ready to see your new home?” Cooper asked, his green eyes bright with anticipation.
I shot him a nervous smile and nodded hesitantly, leaning down to whisper in Aaron’s ear, “All right, Aaron, let’s take a ride up the elevator.”
Cooper led us inside and we ventured up to his floor. Once we reached his penthouse, I was immediately struck by the modifications he had made for the move.
Cooper’s home was now perfect for Aaron.
Not only were renovations done so that Aaron could get around more easily, there was even 24/7 care on hand to make sure that all his needs would be met. The doormen were so kind and already knew Aaron and me by name, and the building’s security was just strict enough to make the home feel safe. Cooper ushered the morning shift nurse over to us so we could get to know each other, and I could already tell that she was more qualified than I ever imagined possible.
As I went over Aaron’s medications and needs with the nurse, Aaron and his therapy dog wandered around the penthouse to get familiar with the space. My stomach churned as the two of them slowly moved through the room. I could only imagine how Aaron might have been feeling.
Was he overwhelmed by all the changes? Did he already hate me for bringing him here, and Cooper for inviting us?
But all my worries faded away when I saw the look on Aaron’s face. He was facing the wall of windows that overlooked the busy city streets below, and he looked utterly enamored. Relief flooded through my entire body as I watched a wide grin stretch across his face. I knew then that one of the main men in my life was happy with our new arrangement.
Once I felt that the nurse had a handle on Aaron’s needs, I left her to get to know him.
Cooper appeared by my side, placing a steady hand on the small of my back, and I turned to look at him, trying to read if he was already regretting making so much room for another person in our relationship. But all I could see on his face was happiness.
“How are you feeling, little dove?”
I swiped at a stray tear. I wasn’t sure when I’d gotten so emotional, but perhaps the buildup of this day had been in my mind for so long, now that it was here and actually going well, relief flooded my system, overwhelming me.
“I feel so blessed. I’m so lucky to have a man like you.”
He shook his head, a slow smile uncurling on his lips. “I’m the lucky one, dove. I’m so happy you said yes.”
He smiled broadly at me and led me through the living room, pointing out all the ways he’d made his home more wheelchair accessible. Cooper had even modified the master suite, enlarging it so it now had a living area in addition to the bedroom and bathroom. That way, we had our own space and Aaron had his, but we would always be nearby in case he needed us.
It was all perfect—almost too good to be true. How did I find a man so caring and so understanding of my needs?
We spent the rest of the day moving our boxes into their designated rooms, and before I knew it, my stomach was grumbling and I could feel a hunger headache coming on.
“Should we order some pizza?” Cooper asked after unpacking a box full of old photo albums.
“It’s like you read my mind,” I said, giving him a grateful smile.
We ordered a couple of pizzas, one veggie and one pepperoni. As I organized the last box of the day, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cooper kneel down next to Aaron’s wheelchair. My heart squeezed, and I discreetly moved closer to them to hear what Cooper had to say.
I didn’t catch the first thing he said, but as I strained to hear him, I could just make out Cooper’s low and steady voice.
“I guess I just wanted to thank you for taking care of her all those years. She’s such a special person, and I want you to know that I will protect her, always.”
Hearing those words come out of Cooper’s mouth and watching him kneeling next to Aaron was almost too much for me to handle, and my vision was soon blurred by the tears welling in my eyes. Cooper was so much more wonderful than I ever could have imagined, and certainly more than I thought I deserved. After everything I put him through, there he was, embracing the man I considered to be my brother, welcoming him into his home and his life with more tenderness and care than I ever could have asked for.
I took a step toward Cooper to thank him, but just as I did, the doorbell rang and he rose to answer it. I smiled and went to Aaron’s side instead, crouching down where Cooper had just knelt. I took Aaron’s hand in mine and gave it a gentle squeeze. Even though he couldn’t squeeze back, I knew that he understood what I was trying to say.
Cooper soon entered the room with two pizza boxes in hand. My mouth instantly started watering from the smell. The three of us sat around the table in our new kitchen, and Aaron’s nurse joined us to help him eat his slice. A small pang of guilt shot through me over no longer being the one to help Aaron, but I knew that the small separation would be good for us. I still loved him just as much as I always had, but it was time for me to lead my own life.
While we ate, Cooper and I chatted with Aaron’s nurse. I could tell already that she would be a perfect fit. And based on the way Aaron’s face lit up whenever she looked at him, I could tell that he liked her too.
Soon after we finished eating, Aaron grew tired, as he usually did after dinner. His nurse wheeled him to his bedroom to get ready to sleep.
I smiled. Maybe this move would work out after all. Aaron had a schedule, and based on the fact that he was already following it, even on our first day here, it was clear that he would have no trouble adjusting. I was happy not only for him, but also for Cooper. I’d been worried that living with Aaron would cramp his style, but I could see now that this new arrangement would work out just fine.
With Aaron gone, it was just Cooper and me at the table. I watched him as he finished his glass of water, a slow smile spreading across my face. He looked up to find me watching him, and he shot me an inquisitive smile.
“What’s that look for?” he asked, raising one eyebrow and cocking his head to the side.
“You’ve been amazing today,” I said, my voice low. I placed my elbows on the table and leaned forward a bit, aware of the way the position complemented my breasts.
“Oh, have I?” Cooper smiled and placed his elbows on the table too, mirroring my body language.
We locked eyes, and I remembered what he had said to Aaron earlier. I’d meant to say something to Cooper, to thank him for being so kind and welcoming to the other important man in my life. But as those thoughts ran through my mind, I felt a familiar tingle of desire spread through me, and suddenly I knew exactly how I wanted to reward him.
“Follow me,” I said.
Before he could respond, I stood up and grabbed his hand to lead him to the suite he’d designed just for us. When we reached the bedroom, I closed the door behind us. A quick glance at his crotch confirmed my suspi
cion that his cock was growing harder by the second, a visible bulge appearing behind his zipper. He leaned in to kiss me, but I only allowed his lips to briefly touch mine before I sank to my knees and began to unbutton his jeans.
“You’re spoiling me,” Cooper said, placing a gentle hand on my head and softly caressing my hair.
“No, I’m rewarding you.” I pulled his massive cock out of his pants. No matter how many times I encountered it, the sheer size and girth of his manhood always took my breath away. Without waiting another second, I ran my tongue over the length of his erection, and his cock twitched with desire in response.
“Fuck, little dove,” Cooper whispered, moving his hand to the back of my head and running his fingers through my hair.
I interpreted his touch as encouragement and took his tip between my lips, swirling my tongue around it with varying pressure. Cooper sighed, and his cock quickly grew to its full hardness, just in time for me to take its length in my mouth.
Placing one hand at the base of his cock, I pumped my mouth back and forth over his shaft, working into a rhythm that I knew would only make him want more. I let Cooper’s moans tell me when I was doing something right, and relished the feeling of pleasing the man who had done so much for me—both sexually and personally.
Before Cooper, I’d thought that blow jobs were demeaning, but with his giant cock in my mouth, making him groan with pleasure, I’d never felt more empowered—or more convinced that I was exactly where I needed to be.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Cooper
Wave after wave of pure pleasure washed over me as Corinne worked her pretty little mouth over the length of my cock. If I had known that this was how she’d react to moving in to my home, I would have invited her to move in a long time ago.
The things she was able to do with her mouth were blowing my mind, and my head was spinning with thoughts of the things I wanted to do to repay her.