Claiming Cooper

by A. F. Crowell

  I still had to used crutches for walking far and wear the brace, but my side had healed nicely, mostly because everyone treated me like a china doll. Cooper wouldn’t so much as kiss me roughly and I was over it. I had replaced the satin corset they cut off me in the ambulance.

  It all would end that night, even if I had to tie his ass down to the bed.

  * * *

  That night I found myself back in Cooper’s bed, wearing black lingerie similar to what I had worn the last time I tried to surprise him. I knew he would be home on time tonight and Maria and Ashton both had lessons until seven-thirty. We would have an hour and a half of uninterrupted, quiet time that I planned on filling with my moans and his name on my lips.

  I heard his boots on the hardwood floors as he called for me, coming down the hall. “Kins? Where are you, babe?”

  The door opened and on the other side was my sexy man dressed in camouflage fatigues. My core wept in delight and I may have even drooled a little.

  “Holy fuck,” Cooper cursed, slamming the door behind him. He came around the bed like a man on fire.

  “Get naked and get in this bed because I swear to God, Cooper, if you don’t fuck me, you’ll have to watch as I get myself off.”

  Before I could complete my plan to seduce him, he was ripping off his jacket followed by his shirt. Those abs, mmm. “I’m not gonna last but a minute, but I’ll make it up to you, I swear.”

  A quiet chuckle escaped my lips before I slapped my hand over my mouth. I laid back in bed and watched the man I loved rip his clothes off like his life might have actually depended on it. The boots weren’t as quick, but eventually they flew off, one by one and one knocked over the lamp on his side of the bed.

  He jumped into bed, situated himself between my legs and claimed my lips roughly. His kiss was white-hot and demanding. He seized my wrists and pinned them over my head. “I’m gonna fuck you hard and fast. If your hands so much as move, I stop. Got it?”

  I loved when he was aggressive in bed. My body tingled with anticipation. “I got it, but-,”

  “No buts.” His fingers wrapped around the thin sides of my thong and yanked the fabric until it ripped. “I’ll buy more.”

  “Condom,” I reminded him before he sank into me.

  “Fuck,” he grumbled, rolling off me to his bedside table, pulling out the drawer and locating some protection. “We really gotta get you on birth control.”

  My head tilted slightly. “I am. I get the shot.”

  His movements stilled, condom between his fingers, and he narrowed his eyes. “So, explain to me why we need this if you get the shot. He ripped the wrapper open.

  “Shut up and get over here,” I demanded, damn-near salivating as he rolled the condom down his hard cock.

  Kneeling on the bed, he reclaimed his position between my legs, lined himself up to my slick, awaiting core and sank balls deep in one fell swoop.

  “Oh God,” I cried out, keeping my hands above my head because if he stopped I would die. I needed that release more than I needed my next breath.

  “Fuck, yeah, baby.” He thrust into me unrelentingly, never slowing down. “How bad do you wanna come?”

  “Cooper,” I cried out. “Please.” I was not above begging.

  “Beg me, baby,” he panted, keeping his bewildering pace.

  “Fuck. Please, baby. Make me come,” I pleaded with him.

  “God, there’s nothing sexier than my cock buried deep in your pussy while you beg me for more. Nothing.”

  Cooper shifted his weight to one hand, freeing the other to slide down to where our bodies connected in unfathomable bliss. Finding my clit, it only took a few slips and slides around before I was thrusting my hips to meet his.

  He lasted for a lot longer than a minute, but it was every bit the hard and fast he promised. In fact, I was pretty sure everyone in the barn could hear the headboard as it slammed into the wall.

  * * *

  The saying everything happens for a reason never really made sense to me until everything happened. Sometimes good things come from bad, even awful situations. Six months ago, I was attacked and had to defend myself which resulted in someone almost dying. The emotional trauma I endured lasted longer than the physical, but Cooper helped me to heal. He didn’t have to do anything other than just listen or hold me when I woke up from nightmares. There was no magic pill or quick fix, it just took time.

  The three months I couldn’t teach gave me the opportunity to develop plans and find funding for the new expansion that should be breaking ground next week if the late fall weather cooperated. The O’Loughlin Farm had become the O’Loughlin Boarding and Training Center. There would be a new twenty stall barn built onto the current one. Sixty acres in the back would be cleared for more paddocks and an indoor arena.

  Expanding was a slow process. The more investors I was able to secure, the more Scott’s dream came to life. He loved the farm and wanted it to stay in the family for as many generations as possible. Growing would ensure that legacy.

  In his will, Scott left the farm to the three boys with the provision that Maria would stay in the house and do as much or as little as she wanted in the day to day operations of the farm and riding school. He left his half-a-million-dollar life insurance policy to be divided equally between Maria and the boys.

  Cooper and Ash decided they wanted to build houses on opposite corners of the property, closer to the road. They didn’t want to leave the farm, but needed their own place. Coop and I really needed a home of our own.

  My little loft worked for the time being, but we wanted space. Working from the couch while Cooper watched Game of Thrones was impossible. The tings of swords or moans from naked women was distracting to say the least. I needed an office with a proper desk and door.

  I haven’t been on the back of a horse since Cooper’s crazy ex-wife ran me down with her father’s truck, but that would soon change. It took a lot of physical therapy, but I almost felt back to normal.

  Cooper surprised me that morning by packing a picnic, tacking up Peaches and Ford, and getting Ash to cover my beginner’s class at eleven. We had three hours to relax and ride together.

  “Did your mom tell you if your grandparents weren’t gonna make it for Thanksgiving?” Cooper asked, steering Ford around a deep mud puddle. Thanksgiving was only two days away.

  “Yeah, they aren’t going to make it down from New Jersey, so Mom and Dad are going to go there,” I told him, sighing. “Mom asked that we try to come up there for dessert. Nan promised to make your favorite,” I said in a sadly veiled attempt to entice him.

  “Mmm, who can say no to Nan’s cheesecake. If you wanna go, then we’ll go.” Cooper smiled, taking a deep breath of the fresh, cool air.

  “Good, I wanna go.”

  We continued on, crunching through the fallen red and yellow leaves that hid the worn-down path. The sun shone through the naked trees as we reached our destination an hour after we set out.

  I swung my right leg over, laid my stomach on the saddle, then slid down Peaches’ side slowly, trying to land with most of my weight on my right leg.

  “Is it bothering you?” Cooper asked, dismounting Ford then unclipping his saddle bag.

  “Nah, I didn’t wanna push it though. You wanna finally tell me what’s in the saddle bags?” I took the lead clipped to my saddle off and attached it to the underside of Peaches’ noseband, the looped it over a nearby tree branch. Neither horse were runners, we probably didn’t even need the leads, but it was the smart thing to do.

  “I have sandwiches, a bag of chips, and a bottle of wine,” Cooper said, rubbing his brow.

  “What?”

  “I remembered the corkscrew but no cups.” He threw the saddle bag over his shoulder and tied Ford to the same tree I parked Peaches under. Her nose snorted the dead leaves away, probably looking for grass to nibble on.

  Beaming, I walked over and wrapped my arms around Cooper’s trim waist. “I don’t need a cup, babe. I’m
just happy to have some quiet time with you out here.” I leaned up on my tip-toes and kissed his full lips.

  “I love you,” he told me. “I know I don’t say it enough, but I do.”

  “I know you do.” I waggled my head a little and laughed when he rolled his eyes at me.

  The weather was warm for mid-November but still a little chilly when a gust of wind found us. A shiver escaped my bones as I sat down on the two-foot-wide pine tree that had fallen several years before. Most of the trunk was bare of bark from us picking at it each time we stopped here for a break from the saddle.

  Cooper and I sat there eating, enjoying the peace and quiet, until he pulled out a pocket knife.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, watching him scraping the knife blade along the dead wood.

  “Putting our initials in the tree,” he told me without looking up, focused on the C then the O.

  “Aww, babe.” My hand found my chest, right above my heart. He was my heart.

  When he was finished it said CO + KA 11–21–16. I would never forget that day because he memorialized it in what I would forever remember as our tree.

  ANNA ARRIVED TWO DAYS BEFORE Thanksgiving, but we hadn’t seen her or Ash for the first whole day. When she finally came to the house, she and I sat on the front porch and talked.

  “How’s life in the house these days?” I asked. When she and I had talked before she told me that Jillian had not returned to school. She felt like Steph blamed me for that, so she was getting the cold shoulder.

  “Same.” She shrugged, lifting the mug of coffee to her lips. “Nicole is cool though. She and I hang out most of the time, if I’m not studying.”

  I nodded my head. “That’s good. I’m glad they aren’t all bitches.” I leaned back in my wooden rocking chair, pulling my legs up as a cool breeze whipped around the front porch. I looked over at Anna as she smiled back at me. “How did your parents handle you not coming home for the holiday?”

  Sighing, her eyes left mine and stared out across the field at the horses. “They weren’t thrilled. Well, my mom wasn’t. My dad could give a shit less as long as I go to school and fulfill my family obligations.” She rolled her eyes. “Sometimes, I wish I could just runaway. I’m so sick of him pushing me to work with him.”

  “I’m sorry, honey.” My heart hurt for her. I wanted to hug her and tell her everything would work out, but I didn’t know her dad and couldn’t make that promise. I felt like there was so much she wasn’t telling me. “Why can’t you just say no?”

  Whipping her head around, her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped. “Are you crazy?”

  Pulling my head back, shocked by her response, I asked, “What?”

  “You don’t tell my Uncle Javi no,” she said, shaking her head. Seeing I was confused, she continued. “My uncle agreed to pay for my education. I could go anywhere in the world I wanted to, but I had to agree to work with my dad.”

  My eyebrows met in the middle. “Why your uncle? Can’t you get student loans if your parents won’t pay?”

  “Uncle Javi has always treated me like I was more than a niece. He’s always wanted the best for me. Everything my parents have are because of him; the house, the cars, the vacations. All of it. My dad works for him, but only because he’s married to my mom. I can’t say no. My life as I know it could end. I would have to leave school, without my degree. I can’t.” Shaking her head, she stood and walked down the porch steps, toward the driveway.

  The conversation, while enlightening, left me with more questions than answers.

  * * *

  Two days later, Maria, Anna, and I made a traditional Thanksgiving Day feast; even getting up at four in the morning to put the turkey in the oven. Maria insisted we had to slow-cook it at a low temperature. Who was I to argue, we were just lucky I didn’t burn the green bean casserole the way I had the sweet potatoes. Those damned marshmallows were blackened by the time I remembered them in the broiler.

  We had all sat down to dinner. The chair at the head of the table sat empty but his place set. Scott was with us in spirit and we knew that. He lived on through the guys and through the farm. All of the food was on the table when Maria asked us to stand and for each of us to go around the table and say what we were thankful for.

  Maria began. “I’m thankful for my three sons and for having eighteen wonderful years with their father, the love of my life. And, I’m also thankful I’m able to spend this day with each of you, my little family.”

  “I’m thankful for this food, even if Princess burned my favorite sweet potato dish,” Storm said, earning himself an evil glare from me. “I’m also thankful for a new job that will bring me back home.” Gasps and cheers came from everyone as we congratulated Storm. Storm had been an apprentice to a blacksmith in North Carolina for almost six years. “I wanted it to be a surprise, so . . . surprise. I’m moving back home in two weeks. Joe Robertson called and offered for me to take over all of his farrier clients. I’ll work with him for a year then I’d have to buy him out when he’s ready to retire.”

  “Oh, honey, I couldn’t be more thrilled,” Maria cried, reaching over to wrap her arms around him. Pulling back, she picked up her white paper napkin and blotted her eyes. “Okay, Ash, honey, you’re next.”

  “Hmm, what am I thankful for?” His index finger tapped his chin. “I’m thankful for Anna coming all the way up here to be with us. I’m thankful Kinsley stopped layin’ around and is finally teaching again.” He gave me a wink before I picked up a roll from the basket in front of me and threw it at him. “Thanks.” He caught it and took a bite. “I’m also thankful for my family. You guys drive me nuts sometimes, but I love ya.”

  “Anna,” Maria smiled, “would you like to go?”

  “Sure.” Anna took a breath, looking to each one of us. “I’m thankful for my friendship with Kinsley because it led me to all of you, and especially you, Ashton.” She reached out and threaded her fingers through his. “I’m also thankful to be included in this loving family. Thank you for making me feel welcome and loved.”

  Maria looked to me next.

  “I am most thankful for lessons learned this year. Scott always told me I needed to be patient, that things would come to me when God was ready for them to, and I now understand what he meant about unanswered prayers.” I looked to my left at Cooper. “I’m thankful for you and your love.” I looked around the table. “I’m thankful for you, Maria and Stormtrooper and Ash and Anna. I’m thankful for my mom and dad who we will see later today. And I am thankful to be surrounded by so much love.”

  “Okay,” Maria sang. “Last but certainly not least, Coop, what are you thankful for?”

  He took a deep breath and looked around the table. “I’m grateful for my family. We’ve had a hard year, losing Dad, but he’s not in pain and I know he’s still with us.” While he talked, I wiped away a few stray tears. Cooper turned and looked at me, taking my left hand in his. “But most of all, I’m grateful and thankful for you. For years, I fought my feelings for you, Kins, but you are as much a part of me as the blood that beats through my heart. The heart you claimed before I even realized you had it.”

  Cooper’s right hand reached over and pushed his chair back even further. Holding my hand, he shoved his hand into the front pocket of his jeans and pulled something out. Stepping back with one leg, he crouched down to one knee.

  My breaths came as fast as the tears did, looking down at him on bended knee. I gasped as my other hand flew to my mouth.

  “Kinsley Elizabeth Allen, I love you more fiercely than I thought was possible. I’ll always put you first and will try to never let you down. I know it’s fast, but losing Dad has taught me tomorrow is not promised. I don’t want to waste another minute. Will you marry me?” Between his thick thumb and index finger, he held up a stunning, yet simple princess cut diamond set in platinum.

  I opened my mouth to say yes, but nothing came out. I nodded over and over as tears rolled down my cheeks. Bending down
, my hands framed his face and my lips crashed to his, not even giving him a chance to slip the ring on my finger. He stood, wrapping his strong arms around my waist, taking me with him.

  “Is that a yes?” he whispered in my ear.

  “Yes!” I threw my head back and shouted, gulping back the tears.

  COOPER

  Ten Months Later

  BREATHE IN.

  Breathe out.

  Breathe in.

  Breathe out.

  I had to keep telling myself to breathe as I stood in my parents’ bathroom. This time would be different, I reassured myself. Kinsley was mine in every way. She was my other half, my best friend, my lover and soon, my wife. She was the first person I wanted to share news, good or bad, with and the only person I wanted to fall asleep next to and wake up tangled around.

  A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Yeah?” I asked, staring at myself in the mirror, dressed in a black tux.

  “Open the door, fucker. It’s time,” Ash said, banging on the door again. “You gotta get out there or Kins is gonna come out and see you.”

  Nobody wanted that. Kinsley wasn’t a bridezilla, but she took the superstitions of a wedding very seriously. My bride would freak the fuck out if I saw her before she was walking down the aisle.

  I took one last deep breath and closed my eyes. “Dad, I know you’re here, even if I can’t see you. I’ll always try to be the kind of husband and father you were. I just wanna say, I love you and hope you’re proud of me.”

  My eyes opened as I reached out and wrapped my hand around the doorknob and opened the door. Taking a deep breath, I said, “Let’s do it.”

  After a lot of hellos and thank-you-for-comings, I was positioned at the end of the aisle behind the barn after walking my mom to her place in the front. Kinsley insisted on a farm wedding in the same place Dad and Mom got married. She claimed it would be good luck.

  I told her we didn’t need luck, we had each other. Plus, we had amazing parents as role models for marriage.

  Standing up next to me, in black tuxedos with denim blue vests, were Storm and Ashton. The early fall weather favored us, a gentle breeze kept sweat from beading on my brow. The sun shone brightly in the sapphire blue skies, not a cloud in sight to darken our day. The backdrop to our altar was acres of trees decorated with turning leaves in varying hues of red, green, brown, and gold.