by Lisa Kessler
He ran his hand through his hair and clasped the back of his neck, meeting Lia’s eyes. “I got in a big fight with her the night before she was supposed to leave for college. I can’t even remember what we argued about now, but she left the house in tears.” He ground his teeth. “She went to grab a coffee, and on the way home, a drunk driver hit her head-on.”
Lia got up and went around to his side. “I’m so sorry, Cooper.”
“No.” He stood, shaking his head. “If I don’t get this out, I never will.” He went to the window and stared out at the sunset. “My family imploded after she died. I couldn’t handle knowing my last words to Sarah were in anger, and my mom blamed me for her death. We haven’t spoken to each other in years.”
“That’s not fair. You had nothing to do with the accident.”
He looked over his shoulder. “It was my fault she drove away that night.”
Lia came up beside him, her hand running slowly up his back. “Your grandmother said something tonight, about how you used to be a funny boy.”
He scoffed. “I was the class clown. No scholarships for me.”
Her brow furrowed. “Then why did she tell me you didn’t need to work? Your college was paid for…”
His eyes burned as he squinted into the sun. “My dad offered me Sarah’s college fund.”
Lia had never met Cooper’s mother, and grief affected everyone differently, but blaming her son for the loss of her daughter made Lia want to punch something. Violence probably wasn’t going to help Cooper, though, so she channeled the frustration.
“Can you remember a time you made Sarah laugh, like really belly laugh until she cried?” she asked.
A vise tightened around her heart when he looked at her with so much pain in his eyes.
“She had to make a video for a science project once. It was about a fictional animal she had to make up, but she had to pretend they had just discovered it in the Amazon jungle. She’d planned everything out—charts, graphs, photos, even the soundtrack of music to play in the background.” A gentle smile slowly replaced the sadness that lined his face. “I was in charge of the music, but when she got to how her animal reproduced, I changed it to Barry White. It took her a second to realize what had happened.” He chuckled. “She laughed so hard her face turned red. My mom probably still has the video someplace.”
Lia took his hand. “Sounds like you were her bright light.”
He blinked, his gaze locking on hers. “What?”
“If she was a driven person, excelling in school and all, and your parents were saving up for her to go to a high-powered college like Stanford, she was probably stressed out most of the time.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. She didn’t complain.”
“But you were the one who made her laugh, right?”
He started to nod. “Usually.”
“She wouldn’t want you to punish yourself for being happy.” Lia squeezed his hand. “That was part of what she loved about you.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose and stared at the twilight sky. “I never thought about it like that.”
Lia swallowed the lump in her throat. “Your mom was hurting, and she was wrong. None of it was your fault.”
He pulled her into his arms, and she closed her eyes, holding him tight. His heartbeat was strong and slow in her ear. Time ceased to exist, and the world faded away.
“I’ve never told anyone before.” He kissed her hair. “My parents sold the house. It had too many memories. I didn’t go to the new house with them. My parents barely spoke to me, so I moved in with my grandparents for a year, before going out on my own with roommates. I never looked back.”
Lia looked up at him. “You’re a strong guy.”
“I survived.” He shook his head. “Until I met you, though, I’d forgotten how good it felt to laugh.”
She reached up to cup his cheek. “I’ll remind you if you start to forget again.”
He turned his head, pressing a kiss to her palm. “And I’m going to keep you safe.”
She smiled. “As I recall, you were the one who needs protection.”
The sound of his laughter melted her heart.
Cooper bent down and scooped Lia up into his arms. Her squeals and mock struggles had him grinning all over again. All his scars, his regrets, and his ghosts had been brought into the light. Lia’s light. For the first time since the police had knocked on their door to tell them about the accident, he didn’t feel guilty for every smile—for being happy.
Inside his bedroom, he lowered them both onto his bed. He rested over her, staring down into her dark eyes. “I love you.”
He hadn’t expected to blurt the words out, and she didn’t reply. Her gaze wandered over his face. For a split second, he almost regretted saying it out loud, but he’d meant every word. She didn’t need to love him back to make them real.
Lia ran her finger along his jaw and whispered, “I’m glad. Because in spite of trying to protect my heart, I’ve fallen for you, Cooper Hanover.”
He grinned as she closed the distance between them, fusing her lips to his. Her fingers tightened in his hair, their tongues tangling together.
When she broke the kiss, her mouth curved into a sexy smile. “That was me telling you I love you, too.”
He ran his hand down her side, pulling her leg up beside him so his hips sank even closer to her. “Feel free to tell me again anytime.”
She rocked into him. “I think I could communicate better if we didn’t have all these clothes between us.”
He raised a brow. “I’m all for better communication.” She grinned and caught his bottom lip with her teeth. He groaned, grinding into her. “And I’m feeling a mighty need to communicate.”
She rubbed his rock-hard shaft through his shorts. “Then let’s lose the clothes.”
He got up and tugged his shirt off.
Lia was on her feet, too. Her top hit the floor, exposing a red, lacy bra. She caught him looking and smiled. “See. Told you I had sexy underwear.”
“They’re only sexy because you’re in them.” He pulled off his shorts and boxers, and took her into his arms. “And I can’t wait to get you out of them.”
“You haven’t even seen the bottoms yet.”
He forced himself to release her and sat on the edge of the bed, his erection pulsing with need.
She unbuttoned her pants and lowered the zipper. The anticipation was killing him. She turned around with her back to him and slowly shimmied the jeans down her hips, exposing her bare cheeks in her red, lacy thong.
He reached up to cup her ass, unable to resist the temptation. “You’re so sexy. And it’s got nothing to do with the damn underwear.”
She worked her hips into his hands, grinding slowly. He was going to lose it.
“Condom,” she whispered.
Fuck. He would’ve forgotten. Again. “Nightstand.”
She went to the side of the bed and bent over, treating him to an amazing view. When she came back over, he took the condom and tore at the foil. Once he had it on, he gripped her hips and turned her around again. He kneaded her ass and caught his fingers in the top of the thong, then slid it down her body. He ran his hands up the insides of her legs to the juncture of her thighs, exploring her folds until she moaned.
Yeah, he needed her. Now.
With her back to him, he guided her down onto his lap, enjoying the warmth of her body as he entered her. She ground into him as he grasped her hips, pressing kisses along the top of her shoulder to the base of her neck. Peering down her body, her breasts bounced inside of the lace cups with every thrust up into her. She braced herself on his thigh with one hand, while the other reached up behind her to tangle her fingers in his hair.
He nibbled at her neck, sliding one hand down her abdomen. “You feel so good.”
With his fingertips between her legs, he teased her in time with his thrusts. She rewarded him by rocking her hips, adding to the friction.
He
needed to get even closer. “Turn around.”
Lia slid him free of her body for a second as she faced him and wrapped her legs around his waist. He sank back into her, staring into her beautiful eyes.
A sexy smile curved her lips, her voice a breathless whisper. “Better.”
He reached behind her, unclasping her bra and sliding it off. Her nipples were hardened tips, making his mouth water.
“Much better.”
His gaze remained locked on hers as he sucked her nipple into his mouth, enjoying the way her back arched into him. He moved his hand between them to toy with her as he ached for release, so near the edge. He turned his head, licking and teasing her breasts with his tongue.
Kissing his way up her neck, he growled, “Come with me, Lia.”
Sitting on the edge of the bed made it impossible for him to take it as fast as he wanted to, but Lia’s hips worked into his thrusts harder and faster until he finally exploded deep inside her. Lia’s head fell back, and she cried out his name, her orgasm milking him until neither of them could move.
Cooper’s heart raced, pounding in his ears as he kissed her chest, holding her tight.
Lia smiled, her face flushed with color. “You have amazing communication skills.”
He chuckled, his teeth grazing her skin. “And they are only for you.”
She pulled back to see his face. He wanted to memorize every line and angle, the emotion in her eyes as her smile faded. “I do love you.”
“I know.” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “You brought me back to life.”
“You were alive.” She brushed a kiss to his lips. “You just forgot to enjoy it.”
CHAPTER 16
Ted rang the bell at Pamela’s estate, surprised when she opened her own door. “What happened to your…help?”
“It’s late. I sent them home.”
He stepped inside, trying not to stare. She really hadn’t aged. Not a single day in over fifty years.
Pamela led him through the ground level into her spacious kitchen. In the middle of the marble slab worktable were two champagne flutes and a bottle in an ice bucket.
“What are we celebrating?”
“Your rise as the leader of the Order of the Titans, of course.” She picked up her glass.
Ted wasn’t so quick to grab his. “What about Mikolas?”
“I will take care of him after you finish what you started.”
“And what’s that?”
She took a sip of the pink-hued champagne. “Kill the Muse of Comedy.”
Ted adjusted his collar. “It’s not that simple. The police are going to be looking for me. They found evidence in Mikolas’s car.”
“Not my problem.” She swirled the champagne in her glass. “Show me how devoted you are to the cause. Prove yourself, Ted.”
His heart raced as he straddled the chasm between Mikolas’s demand for his loyalty and for him to not kill the muses, and Pamela’s request for his devotion by taking their lives. Tricky.
But if his father had taught him anything, it was negotiating deals.
“I need something in return,” he said.
She raised a brow. “I’m getting you reinstated into the Order and giving you leadership and power. That should be enough.”
He shook his head. “I was going through some of my father’s things, and I ran across some photos.”
Was that a twitch under her eye?
She inspected her nails. “Photos of what?”
“One of them was of you, right after my mother died.”
“Yes.” Her shoulders relaxed. “He was lonely. I comforted him.”
Ted offered up a secret prayer that Pamela didn’t have mythical lightning bolts to attack him with. He cleared his throat and forced out the words. “Did my father know you’re immortal?”
Her eyes narrowed. “What did you say?”
Ted shrugged, hoping his nerves weren’t showing. “That photo was taken over twenty years ago. You look exactly the same.”
“I have good genes.”
He raised an eyebrow at her. “If I believe I can free Kronos, a Titan, would it be so difficult to believe others like him might be hiding in this world?”
Her brow furrowed, exposing a rare crease in her forehead. “What are you suggesting?”
“I’m suggesting that before I get my hands dirty, you tell me who, or what, I’m working with.”
He was airborne so fast, he didn’t get a chance to scream. He smashed into the wall and crumpled to the floor, every part of his body aching. Her heels clicked across the tile as she came closer to him. He struggled to get his limbs to move, but they weren’t responding.
Had she broken his back?
Pamela knelt down beside him, but he could only see her perfectly manicured toenails in her strappy pumps. “I didn’t want to hurt your father and I don’t want to hurt you, but I will do what must be done to free Kronos.”
“You…hurt…my father?” he wheezed.
“Not on purpose. My venom paralyzes, but at his fragile age, I’m afraid it damaged his heart.” She mussed Ted’s hair as if he was no more than a pet. “When it wears off, you’ll get out of my house and you won’t return until the muse is dead.”
Lia woke up to her phone buzzing. She scooted out of the bed and searched for her discarded pants. By the time she found her cell in the pocket, it had gone silent. She started back to bed, but then it vibrated again. Her mom’s picture lit up the screen.
She looked over at Cooper in the bed. Gods, he was cute when he was sleeping. She clicked “Accept” and hustled into the other room.
“Yeah, Mom,” she whispered.
“Why are you whispering?” Her mother’s voice was so loud, Lia held the phone away from her ear.
“The sun’s not even up yet. California is two hours behind Chicago, remember?”
“I always forget.” Her mother tsked. “You haven’t called in a few days. I wanted to be sure you didn’t join a hippie cult out there.”
Lia rolled her eyes, but deep down, it was good to talk to her mom. Her big family wasn’t keen on Lia moving so far away, but when push had come to shove, they’d finally supported her. Hearing her mom’s voice made her miss home.
She glanced at the bedroom door, thinking about Cooper and his broken family. She was damn lucky. “I’m not in a hippie cult yet, but I keep checking Craigslist.”
Her mom gasped. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
“It’s your own fault for naming me Thalia.”
“Comedy is not teasing your mother.”
Lia chuckled. “It is if she thinks you’d actually join a cult.”
“Pshhh. Anyway… How are you, baby? Any new men in your life?”
Lia’s jaw dropped, her eyes widening. “Oh, that was subtle.”
“What do you mean?” Gods, Lia could almost hear the halo twinkling over her mother’s so-not-innocent head.
Lia lowered her voice, her lips brushing her phone with every word. “Mrs. Spanos called you, didn’t she?”
“Can’t a mother make a phone call to check on her only child who moved thousands of miles away?”
“You’re a horrible liar, Mom,” Lia teased.
Her mother sighed. “She said you’re smitten with the Hanover boy.”
Cooper opened the bedroom door, naked and gorgeous even with his squinty eyes. Yeah, nothing on that man was boy-like.
Who is it? he mouthed.
She covered her phone. “My mom. Mrs. Spanos called her to gossip about my love life.”
He smiled, and her toes curled. Happy was an amazing look for Cooper. “Tell her I said hi.”
She grinned. “Go take a shower. I can’t talk to my mom while I’m looking at a naked man.”
“Lia? Are you still there?”
She uncovered the phone, watching Cooper’s perfect ass disappear into the bedroom. “Yeah. I must’ve had a weak signal.”
“I’ve never met Mrs. Hanover, but Maria said
she’s a widow.” Lia waited for the other shoe to drop. “And that she’s not Greek.”
And there it was.
“Nope, she’s not.” Lia peeked out the window at the sky just beginning to lighten. “Neither is Cooper.” Before her mother could whine, she added, “He’s studying to be a doctor. He works as a paramedic.”
“A doctor? Your uncle Vidal was a doctor. I think he’s retired now. I should ask your father…”
Lia smiled. The distraction worked. Her mom took off naming every doctor and dentist in their family. Lia listened, soaking up the family love. Her mother oozed with it. Mom was the hub of the Youlos clan, and while Lia loved her life in Crystal City, she missed sitting in the kitchen while her mom updated her on every relative.
She didn’t miss getting pressured to marry a nice Greek boy and give her mother grandchildren, though.
Finally, her mother circled back. “His name is Cooper? What kind of name is that?”
“Not Greek.”
“Oh, stop it.” Her voice softened. “And you like this boy?”
“He’s a man, Mom. A good man.” Lia glanced at the bedroom door. “Remember the fire at the theater?”
“Yes. You sent me pictures. I thank the Lord every day that you got out safe.”
“Cooper was the one who patched up my head. He saved a firefighter’s life, too.”
Her mom was uncharacteristically quiet for a moment. “He’s a hero, Lia. I want to kiss him.”
Lia grinned. “I hope you’ll get to someday.”
“Someday?” Her mom huffed at the other end of the line. “Bring him home to meet your family, Lia.”
“Too soon, Mom. Plus, we’re really busy rebuilding the theater, and the salon is crazy, too.”
“Maybe I’ll come see you.”
Ah, her mother’s classic threat. Everyone in the family knew she’d never get on a plane. Lia smiled. “Just tell me when. I’ll pick you up at the airport.”
Her mother sighed. “I love you, baby. Tell that boy to take good care of my angel.”
Lia’s eyes welled with unexpected tears. “I love you, too, Mom. Talk to you soon.”
Soon after she set her phone aside, Cooper came out of the bathroom with wet hair and a towel wrapped around his waist. He frowned. “Are you okay?”