Hell, what was surprising about it? Of course Neil wouldn’t think twice about inviting himself into Cooper’s trauma. He’d never hesitated to invite himself into any other corner of his being, his mind, his body. He’d probably been thrilled to hover over Cooper, brought low enough for him to look down on, split open wide enough to look inside. When every word and every touch had been a criticism of his defensiveness, he’d probably choked on satisfaction to see Cooper so utterly, brutally defenseless.
The vicious thought caught Cooper off guard, even in his rage, the way only the most simple and obvious realizations can. Of course he hadn’t turned Neil bitter and cruel with his icy untouchability. Neil had never wanted him warm in the first place. He’d wanted him obedient. And in lieu of obedience, he’d take impotence. Defeat.
Behind him, Eli shifted his position, tucking his long face alongside Cooper’s thigh, and without thinking, Cooper let his hand drift into the fur behind his neck. Enough of the anger eased for him to sound calm when he spoke. “You had no right to my private medical information.”
“Well, I wasn’t the only one. There was a woman looking through it when I got there, having a hush-hush conversation with your doctor. They shut up real quick when I walked in.” Neil paused again, looking around the room, gaze stuttering over Eli. “A couple of days ago, Ginny—Genevieve needed me to pick up some papers she’d forgotten at the house. It was right after the fight she’d had with Arthur, and she didn’t want to go back and see him. When I got there, a woman was leaving. It was the same woman I’d seen talking to your doctor that time.”
Cooper frowned, confused. “How—are you sure?”
Neil ignored that. “I saw her again, this morning. Shortly after you left the zoo. She joined a couple of your shadow agency colleagues on the scene of the fire. They were deferring to her. A boss, it looked like. Maybe your boss, too. Short Black woman, wearing a bright blue suit.”
Cola. Almost certainly. Cooper hadn’t known she’d been there when he was in the hospital, but it didn’t really surprise him either. A werewolf attack. A human about to be offered the chance to be made aware and recruited into the BSI. Those weren’t decisions made on a low level.
But what reason would she have to speak to Arthur Crane? Before James was killed and the investigation had even begun? Was it the same reason she was working in the field herself? Cooper had thought she’d showed up to the sea lion scene because he and Park had found the body. What if there was another reason?
“You do recognize her,” Neil said, watching him.
Cooper didn’t answer. Instead asked, “When you arrived at the house, did Arthur say who she was or anything about why they were meeting?”
“No. But when I told Ginny about it later, she...reacted. Canceled our meetings for the rest of the day. Disappeared from the shoot we had scheduled the next afternoon.”
“The afternoon James was found dead,” Cooper confirmed.
“Don’t,” Neil said quickly. “Stay awa—don’t come after her. I’m telling you as a friendly warning that someone high up in your shadow agency has a close eye on Arthur Crane. Nothing else.”
“Is that your unbiased opinion speaking?”
Neil’s voice hardened and that same anger he’d seen before flickered across his face. “Whatever you think you saw today in the fish room, you didn’t.”
Behind Cooper, Eli pulled himself to standing and hopped gracefully off the couch, shook himself in a very doglike manner, and slipped out of the room. Cooper could hear him going up the stairs. “You’re not having an affair with her, then?”
Neil laughed loudly and stood. Cooper hastily did the same, uncomfortable with looking up at him. “An affair? What, do you think I’m protecting her out of some kind of chivalry? Come now, bright boy, you know me better than that.”
“So explain it to me. What am I missing? Because what it looks like is you’re sleeping with a woman you’re investigating for embezzlement, and the only words I keep hearing out of your mouth is look into Arthur Crane.”
Neil took a couple steps closer so they were standing face to face. His eyes traveled up and down Cooper’s body. “I recognize this,” he said, reaching out to run a single finger beneath the satin lapel without touching Cooper’s body. “Didn’t I buy it for you?”
“No,” Cooper said shortly, jerking away.
“Mmm. Regardless, I recognize it. You needed it for that Stevens case. Do you remember the party they had? The ridiculous yacht thing?”
Cooper did, actually. Or more so, he remembered how Neil had gotten angry at him that night for some nonsense reason and used shitty, unsatisfying sex against him for the next week. That had been near the end. The first end anyway, when he’d asked to get out of undercover.
“The whole thing was packed with trust fund babes, blood money and weapons smuggling. But you got right into their heads. Abso-fucking-lutely clueless at the tailor the day before. Couldn’t even guess your own inseam, but five minutes studying these vultures and you knew them inside out. Could put them on like masks.”
“It’s your game. You taught it to me.”
“I thought I did. But I was wrong, wasn’t I?” Neil asked. He was practically whispering now—a strange new frantic edge to his voice—and glanced in the direction Eli had disappeared. “Can—is there anyone else here?”
Cooper wondered what would happen if he said no. “Why?”
“I want to know what you’re planning,” Neil murmured urgently under his breath. “I can help. We can work together, just like old times.”
“I don’t want it to be like old times,” Cooper said. He didn’t mean to sound quite so horrified, but. Well.
“Not exactly like that,” Neil agreed hastily. “Better. I’m sorry for the way things were between us. The truth is, I resented how much I wanted you. I hated you for the way you made me feel. Inferior. Desperate. Trapped. But I understand now. I get it, and you can trust me.”
Cooper blinked at him, feeling very much like he’d just been sucker punched twice in a row. It wasn’t every day you got the apology you’d been waiting years for. An apology you hadn’t even realized how much you wanted, needed to hear, slipped in so casually. Nothing more than a throwaway thought to the other person, immediately followed by hearing you were hated. That it was your own fault someone had hurt you.
“Fuck you,” Cooper said softly. “Why are you still trying to manipulate me? What the hell is the point?”
“You’re not listening.” Neil sounded frustrated, annoyed. “I want to help you.” He grabbed Cooper’s hand suddenly. “I’ve missed you. I’m done fighting with you. I’m done fighting this.”
Cooper shook him off. “Christ, Neil, stop it. Whatever you’re trying to do, just stop. Even if I wasn’t, you know, engaged, we were horrible together.”
“That didn’t stop us from coming back again and again. Tell me if you hadn’t ended up in the hospital and been transferred, we still wouldn’t be together.”
“No, we wouldn’t,” Cooper said firmly. He hoped that was true, but really it didn’t matter. He had been attacked and his life had changed. He had changed, whether Neil thought so or not. To imagine a world where none of that had happened wasn’t just pointless, but unwelcome. “I’ve moved on.”
Neil’s gaze seemed to darken. “I see that. You’ve found yourself a whole new mask to put on. This one comes with an expensive little home, and a powerful little job, and an obedient little pet.”
“I didn’t realize we had company.”
Neil jumped at the sound of Park’s voice, then took a hasty step back. In his position, Cooper would have done the same. Park had clearly just gotten out of the shower seconds ago, fetched by Eli, no doubt. His hair was very wet and he was only wearing a pair of hastily thrown on sweatpants that were splotched dark with water and clung in, ah, interesting ways to his body.
/> Still, even with all that, he looked a little frightening. His expression wasn’t aggressive in the least, and yet there was something...off. Something that prickled even Cooper’s base animal instincts. The predator stillness of his body, perhaps, or the intent, unblinking stare that didn’t quite meet Neil’s. Directly behind his legs, Eli sat primly grooming a paw.
“I was just leaving,” Neil said slowly, eyes darting between Park and Eli. “I assume I’ll see you both tonight.”
“Yes,” Cooper said. “We’ll be there.”
Neil nodded and took a few steps toward the door. There he hesitated, as if reluctant to walk too closely past Park, but after a moment trudged forward. Cooper walked after him and sensed Park following behind, though for the life of him he couldn’t hear his footsteps.
When Neil opened the front door and turned on the stoop, he’d regained a little bit of his usual confidence. “You know the thing I remember most about that Stevens case?” he said, and Cooper tensed. “That night was when I first realized you were better at the game than I was. You’ve been playing it a lot longer. Pretending to be something you’re not, pretending to know less than you do, that you’re not the one in control all along. You and Genevieve are a lot alike in that way. That’s why I was with her in the fish room.”
Neil looked around the foyer of the house and then up and down Cooper one last time. “I meant what I said. When you’re ready for my help, you know where to find me.”
Without another word, he spun and walked lightly down the path.
Cooper watched him get into his car, turn over the engine and drive down the long driveway. When he turned, he saw Park and Eli having some sort of silent conversation. He owed Dean an apology. Of course, wolves had their own way of communicating. If Cooper were any kind of mate, he’d have understood that. Understood what they were saying so intently now. After a moment, Eli stood and padded lazily out of the house and then broke into a brisk trot, disappearing into the woods parallel to the direction the car had gone.
“Where’s he going?” Cooper asked.
“Making sure your visitor makes it back to the main road without any detours.” Park reached past Cooper, closed the door and locked it. He took a step forward, putting Cooper very suddenly in the position of being backed up against the door between Park’s arms. It felt...odd to be so formally dressed while Park was more than half naked and dripping, the heat of the shower still radiating off of him.
“Did you hear any of that?” Cooper asked.
“No,” Park said. Paused. “Except for the part where he said he’s been in love with you all these years and wants you back.”
“That’s not what he said and you know it.” Cooper frowned, thinking. “I don’t know what he was saying, really. It was like we were having two different conversations. Typical Neil. Still trying to put me off my game.”
Park traced Cooper’s lapel along the same line that Neil had. “Are you okay?”
“Course. Why wouldn’t I be?” Cooper asked.
Park’s gaze flicked over his face, as if searching for something, then he leaned forward so that their noses were practically touching. Cooper’s eyes fluttered shut in anticipation of a kiss.
But the kiss didn’t come. He opened his eyes again and found Park studying every inch of him. Belatedly he remembered Park hadn’t seen him in the tux yet, or his shameful attempts at leveling up his grooming.
“You look very...sexy,” Park said, sounding almost surprised.
Cooper snorted despite himself. “Careful, any more incredulity and I’ll think you like me or something.”
Park shook his head. “I mean you look sexy in a different way than usual.” He ran his fingers up the starched shirt and tugged lightly at the collar. “Very...buttoned up and proper. Like an uptight little lord of the manor.”
Cooper felt his cheeks heat just a touch and he tugged self-consciously at his own jacket hem. “It doesn’t fit right,” he said.
“I noticed.” Park brushed his hand along the bottom of Cooper’s ass. “Borderline indecent,” he murmured, letting his fingers dip down the inside back of Cooper’s thighs.
When Cooper made a small, unintentional sound, Park kissed him quickly, but with a hint of possession. Cooper reached up, laying his hands flat on Park’s bare chest, pushed him away slightly, reluctantly.
“Wait. Just...tell me this isn’t about Neil,” he said, meeting Park’s eyes.
Park hesitated, cocking his head, giving the question genuine thought. “I don’t want you out of some jealous need to assert a claim on you,” he said slowly. “But I’d be lying if I said seeing you like this—put together and unfazed while he walks away frustrated and stinking of lust—doesn’t make me want to take you apart piece by piece right here and now.”
Cooper raised an eyebrow, feeling the starting prickles of arousal in his balls tighten and solidify into a pulsing want as Park continued.
“I’d also be lying if I said it doesn’t make me hard as stone knowing to everyone else you’re untouchable and in control while I can turn you into a shaking, dripping, begging mess.”
“Begging,” Cooper scoffed, or tried to. Unfortunately, it came out a little breathy.
“Yes,” Park said matter-of-factly, hands slowly, methodically starting to work open Cooper’s pants, giving him plenty of time to pull away again if he wanted to. “I’m going to play with you as long as I please.” He squeezed Cooper’s cock quickly through his briefs. “And by the time I decide I’m done, you’re going to be on the floor, ass in the air, begging like a whore.”
Cooper groaned, thrusting forward encouragingly, hoping to get Park’s hands back on his dick immediately, but instead found himself being suddenly spun around so he was facing the door.
Slowly, Park eased Cooper’s pants and briefs down, encouraging him to step out of them entirely, and then took his jacket off for him. When Cooper’s hands started for his shirt, Park grabbed his wrists and pulled them away.
“No. Leave it on,” he said roughly.
“Why?” Cooper asked, surprised, wrists flexing in Park’s unforgiving grip. No pain, but no give either.
“I like it. My uptight lord with his fancy, pretty clothes caught with his pants down and his cheeks just peeking out. Hoping to get caught, wanting me to see.”
As he spoke, Park lifted Cooper’s hands and placed them against the door. “So go ahead. I caught you. Show off your cute little ass for me.”
Cooper did, arching his back. The tails of his shirt covered him, but Park ran teasing fingers just under the hem. It tickled slightly, and he couldn’t help spreading his legs and arching farther. He was still wearing his dress socks and his feet slipped unsteadily on the floor, so he let his forearms rest on the door instead.
In reward, Park’s hands got a little rougher, massaging the cheeks, pulling them apart, until finally he tugged Cooper’s shirt up, completely exposing him to the air. Cooper let out an embarrassing whimper, clenching shyly, feeling that initial moment of vulnerability. Park groaned softly and then slapped his ass with his palm. Cooper gasped, jerking forward.
“Don’t hide from me,” Park said, smoothing over Cooper’s ass cheek with the flat of his hand, and then slapped the same spot once, twice more.
Cooper whined and shifted in place, trying very hard to relax. He looked over his shoulder to see Park examining him very intently before abruptly bending to kiss where he’d spanked. His lips felt oddly cool against the heated flesh, and Cooper exhaled shakily at the soothing sensation.
Park kissed him again, this time more open-mouthed, sucking and nibbling the same spot of tender skin until Cooper was positive there would be a mark.
As if sensing he was being watched, Park’s gaze shot up to meet Cooper’s. He held eye contact for a long moment. Then lowered himself to his knees, one at a time, and thumbed Cooper open. Park’s
lips parted slightly, eyes flaring gold. Cooper could feel the heat of his breath on his hole, and compulsively twitched, aching, desperate to be touched.
“Please,” Cooper whispered, straining back toward him. “Oliver, please.”
Park’s eyes flickered with an almost predatory sort of satisfaction, then he buried his face in Cooper’s ass. All rational thought stuttered to a stop. There was only wet heat dragging and pushing, massaging him loose, the gentle scrape of teeth that made him clench tight again, then the apologetic tongue coaxing him back open. Cycling ’round and ’round until Cooper was panting loudly, legs shaking, head hanging loose between his forearms which kept slipping farther and farther down the door. Cooper couldn’t bring himself to pull up and away.
Then, alongside Park’s tongue, Cooper felt the slow, demanding press of a finger entering him, tugging his rim, then curling down and stroking at the same time Park’s thumb pressed up into his taint.
Cooper’s feet slipped out from beneath him. Park caught him around the belly and eased him all the way to the floor with one guiding hand between his shoulder blades until Cooper’s cheek was pressed against the blessedly cold floor and his ass was up in the air.
“Good,” Park said. “Stay.” Cooper heard him stand, shuck his sweatpants, then circle him slowly. “Look at me, love.”
Cooper opened his eyes and looked up at Park without moving his head. Park was stroking himself lazily, staring down at him.
“You look very hard.” Park extended one bare foot under Cooper’s belly and gently nudged Cooper’s dick, which leaked at the small movement. “Are you aching?”
Cooper nodded as best he could, a little too overwhelmed with sensations to be verbal.
“I’m going to give you a choice. I can give you relief right now. Give you my hand, jerk you off hard and quick like you like it. Or if you wait a little bit longer while I get myself off first and stripe your pretty ass with my come, I’ll let you fuck my mouth.”
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