I shook my head. “No, I just want to go home and have a shower. I can give a statement tomorrow, right?”
Officer Jones nodded. “Just come down in the morning. I’m sure you need to rest for now.”
“I do. I’ll be there first thing.”
“I’ll be there,” he said and nodded.
Cooper shook his hand and thanked him. His fists had been bandaged up too from where he’d cut them punching Brian, but he didn’t seem bothered in the least. All of his attention was focused on me and making sure I was all right.
“Can we go home now?” I asked when he was done talking to the officer. “I feel like I need to scrub my skin raw first, then lie down, and just disconnect from the world for a long while.”
“Okay. Let’s go home,” he said, rubbing my arm.
Home. It hit me then. I could be there with him forever now. I didn’t have to disappear. This gave me untold comfort and I couldn’t believe it was actually coming true after everything we had been through. “I love you so much,” I breathed.
“I love you more,” he replied looking deep into my eyes.
I leaned up on my tiptoes and kissed him.
Cooper held me close, his lips claiming mine sweetly before the kiss deepened and I felt all of his fear and anxiety pour into it. He’d been just as scared as I had been and that only made me love him more. I followed him to a waiting car, too tired to ask about it or anything else. All I wanted to do was get home and pretend the rest of the world didn’t exist, especially a world with freaks like Brian in it.
Chapter Forty-Four
Ivy
A month later…
“How are you doing?” Mel asked as she sat on our front porch and sipped at her iced tea.
“Better.” I nodded. “Much better.”
“Good. I miss you at work.” She smiled. “It’ll be nice to see you back on your feet and dropping things soon.”
I flipped her off. “How dare you? I haven’t dropped anything in ages.”
“Will you leave my fiancé alone?” Cooper said as he walked out and handed me another beer. “You’re supposed to be celebrating with us, not aggravating her.”
“Jo-Jo knows I love her.” Mel grinned. “Besides, I’m just as happy as you two. That asshole was finally sentenced and locked up where he belongs. Good riddance!”
I tapped my beer against her glass. “Yeah, good fucking riddance.”
We watched the sun as it dipped behind the clouds. I’d never felt so much relief in my life and I couldn’t wipe the smile off of my face. Cooper had proposed as soon as we heard the good news that Brian was no longer a threat as he’d gotten thirty years with no possibility of parole. Now, we could live our lives in peace.
“I better get out of here,” Mel said as she checked the time. “If I leave the bar alone for too long, I’ll be the one having to do a lot of cleaning up.” She sighed. “Hurry up and come back to work, please?” She laced her fingers and begged.
“We’ll be back soon.” I laughed. “This is the last week of our vacation.”
“Then you can get sick of me again.” Cooper grinned. “I’ve saved up a lot of things for you to get annoyed at.”
Mel rolled her eyes. “Why am I friends with you two?”
“You love us,” I purred. “Thank you for coming over and celebrating with us.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
I stood up and Mel hugged me tightly. Cooper hugged her as well and she waved before she headed for her car. When she reached it, she winked at me. “Have fun!”
I raised a brow. “What is she talking about?”
“I have no idea,” Cooper muttered.
As I watched her speed down the street, Cooper pulled me close to his side and smiled down at me. That radiant smile made my body heat up.
He reached down and brushed the hair off of my cheek. “I have a surprise for you.”
I tilted my head. “You do? What is it?”
Cooper picked up my hand and kissed it. “You’ll see when we go inside,” he said as he took my hand into his. “Close your eyes.”
I smiled. “Okay, but don’t let me fall into anything. One concussion in a lifetime is more than enough for me.”
Cooper chuckled. “Don’t worry. I'm not going to let you get hurt. Close em, so I can show you.”
“All right,” I said and closed my eyes.
I let out a little yelp as I was scooped into his arms. I leaned my head onto his shoulder and sighed as he carried me up the stairs. Whenever he held me like this, I felt so safe and complete in his arms.
We reached the top of the stairs and he gently put me down before he guided me by my shoulders. “Ok,” he said as his breath tickled my ear. “You can open your eyes now.”
I opened my eyes and sucked in a breath. Our bedroom had been completely transformed. Candles flickered on every surface, soft music played in the background, while the bed and floor were decorated with rose petals. “You did all of this?” I breathed as I stared around the room. “Is this why you snuck off when Mel was here?”
“She was in on it.” He grinned. “I told her to keep you distracted while I took care of everything and she was more than happy to do it.”
I laughed. “Of course she was. God, I love that woman.” I ran a hand over the bedspread. “I can’t believe you did all of this for me.”
“We’re not done yet,” he said as he opened the closet and set a black box on the covers. “Go into the bathroom and put that on when you come out, I’ll have a glass of champagne and a very naked me waiting.”
I bit my lip. “You really know how to treat a woman right.”
“I try my best,” he purred against my ear before he nipped it. “Go and get changed.”
I picked up the box and smiled as I walked into the bathroom. When the door was closed, I stripped off my clothes and opened it up. Inside there was a set of lacy black lingerie. I pulled it out and slipped into the top that was comfortable and easy to slip my breasts out of I noticed. There were garters and stockings too and I put those on before I looked at myself in the mirror.
I turned back and forth and smiled at my reflection. The material hugged my body lightly and showed off my ample curves. I teased my hair in the mirror and threw my shoulders back. I looked hot as hell. I couldn’t wait for Cooper to see me in it and watch his jaw drop.
Slowly, I stepped out of the bathroom and Cooper turned and stared. I watched the surprise turn to shock and he licked his lips in anticipation.
He reached out a hand and offered me a glass of champagne. “I knew you would look amazing in that, but I had no idea you would look that fucking good,” he whispered in awe. “Come here.”
I walked over to him and placed my hand on his naked chest. The champagne glass touched my lips and I sipped before I slid my hand down. My fingers traced over his inner thighs and down over his semi-hard shaft and sensitive balls.
Cooper sucked in a breath. “God, you’re so fucking beautiful,” he groaned as he tilted my head up by my chin. “I can’t wait to marry you.”
My heart throbbed in my chest. “I can’t wait to marry you either.”
Cooper’s mouth claimed mine and I moaned and leaned against him. His fingers ran over my body before he gripped my ass and gave it a firm squeeze.
I sat the glass of champagne down and wrapped my arms around him. “I think I’m going to need to finish this drink later.” I gazed up at him with hooded eyes. “Right now, I need only you.”
Cooper didn’t say a word. He led me over to the bed and pushed me onto my back gently.
I waited for him to climb on top of me.
Instead, he went into the nightstand and fished something else out.
The toys he laid out made me raise a brow and I swallowed thickly. “You’re really prepared,” I gushed. “What do you have in mind?”
“You’ll see.” He chuckled. “Let’s just say when you talk, I listen. To everything,” he added with
a wink. “Get comfortable for me.”
I did what he said and wiggled myself back against the pillows.
Cooper parted my thighs and ran a finger over the panties that separated him from my already wet pussy. He leaned forward, pushed them aside, and lapped at me as he groaned.
It felt so good. I closed my eyes and gave into the amazing sensations rolling through my body.
He stopped just long enough to toss my panties on the floor and went right back to it.
My fingers wandered down to his hair and slipped against his scalp. The vibrations from his humming moans racked through me and I shivered against his tongue. Every single time it flicked over my clit my back arched and my legs pushed further apart.
The minute I relaxed into the sensations my eyes flew open and I jolted.
Cooper grinned up at me as he pressed the vibrator to my clit and rolled it in little circles.
The buzzing sent me over the edge and I held on tightly. “Oh god,” I panted. “Too much. It’s too—oh, fuck!” My back arched up and my legs trembled as an orgasm shot through me so powerfully that I cried out at the top of my lungs. I felt my cum as it ran down my thighs and groaned.
Cooper pulled the vibrator away and lapped at my wetness eagerly. “Now we just need to have a few more of those from you.” He chuckled. “Keep your legs apart. I want to use this next.”
I stared at the toy in his hand. “Is that a butt plug?”
Cooper nodded. “I know you’ve been wanting to try it. Are you up for it, sweetheart?”
I nodded, my head still spinning from the orgasm that had just washed over me.
Cooper lubed up the toy and slowly pushed it inside of me.
I gasped as I was stretched more than I’d ever been before. The slight burn gave way to a feeling of being full and I moaned as it rubbed against my insides.
“How’s that?” he asked, his voice husky and deep.
“It’s so different,” I moaned. “I’m not used to it, but I like it.”
“You’ll like it better in a second.”
I opened my mouth to ask him why when the toy started to vibrate. A gasp slipped from my lips and I tensed up as my hole clenched around it.
Cooper climbed on top of me and settled between my thighs. He rubbed himself over my wetness.
I felt the head of his cock as it slowly pushed inside. “That feels so good,” I moaned as I reached up for him. “Kiss me.”
Cooper kissed me deeply before his kiss turned passionate and wild. His tongue slipped between my lips and nipped my bottom lip as he slowly pulled away. When he came back down, he pushed his cock inside of me harder.
I moaned as he filled me up completely.
“You’re so hot,” Cooper mumbled against my mouth. “I’m never going to get enough of you.”
“Good.” I smiled up at him. “I know I’m never going to want anyone but you.”
Cooper slipped out and then thrust back inside. As he buried himself deep, my walls closed around him and he pumped in and out. He maneuvered my breasts out of my top and ran his tongue over my pert nipples. When he sucked one into his mouth, I threw my head back and bit my lip.
“I can feel the vibrations,” he grunted as he picked up speed. “You feel fucking awesome.”
I could listen to Cooper’s groans and compliments about me all day. The more he rocked and shifted his hips, the wetter I became.
He leaned down and nipped my earlobe as he started to whisper dirty little compliments into my ear about how tight and wet I was just for him.
His dirty whispers almost undid me as he made them in that low sexy voice of his. I wrapped my legs around his waist and tightened them as my body rocked up and down. His fingers slipped around my nipples and he pinched and rolled them. My mouth went slack and moans poured out until I couldn’t take another minute of his thick cock without losing it. “Cooper, I’m gonna—” I cried out as the orgasm took over and my world went white and full of mindless pleasure. I felt Cooper rock inside me harder, his mouth on my throat as he called my name against my ear. I clung to him and heard his gasp when he shuddered and came deep inside of me. Heat filled me up and I sighed, as Cooper stayed buried inside me.
“Wow,” I muttered. “I’m still trembling.”
Cooper groaned. “I’m just going to lay right here for a while,” he muttered back. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt you climax that hard before.” He kissed my shoulder. “Give me a bit and we’ll do it again.”
I laughed. “Can we drink a few glasses of champagne first?”
“Of course, that’s what it’s there for,” he said as he raised himself up and grinned. “I love you so much.”
“I love you to the moon and back,” I said, reaching up and stroking his hair.
Epilogue
One Year Later
Ivy
“That was the last customer,” I announced as I traipsed into the back of the bar. “It’s just the two of us now.”
“Finally.” He sighed as he pushed back and patted his lap. “Come here. I’ve been dying to hold you all day.”
I smiled and sat in his lap. I rested my head on his shoulder.
He sighed again, this time he sounded content.
My fingers traced over his chest and I smiled at the ring on my left hand. We still hadn’t had our wedding just yet, but we were already planning it and I knew it was going to be beautiful. “Want me to count up the till?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I can handle it, sweetheart. I keep telling you that you don’t have to work as a waitress anymore. You could stay home, or work on your career, or even take over and help me manage.”
I smiled. “I like where I am though. All of the pressure on my shoulders is gone and I like the people here. Besides, I’d be bored out of my skull if I had to sit around the house all day.” I leaned up and kissed his chin. “And I don’t want to take what’s yours.”
Cooper’s eyebrows knitted together. “What have I told you a thousand times already? Everything I have is yours too, that’s the way it works when you agreed to marry me.”
I grinned up at him. “Then one day, I may want to do it, but right now I like what I’m doing. It’s nice to just be able to talk to people and see how much fun they’re having.”
“You’ve turned into such a people person,” he said.
“You don’t like it?” I asked as I poked his cheek playfully.
“I love seeing you come out of your shell, but you should see the way some of these guys look at you.”
“Awww, are you jealous?”
“Irrationally,” he admitted right away. “But I know it can’t be helped.” He sighed elaborately. “You’re just way too beautiful.”
I burst out laughing. “Have you seen the way women look at you?”
Cooper grinned and reached to the mini-fridge. He picked up a bottle of scotch. “Grab those glasses.”
I stood up and grabbed a couple off the shelf.
Cooper filled it up a bit before he waited for the other glass.
I handed him the one with the scotch, then I filled mine with water from the bottle on his table and sat on his lap again.
He gave me a puzzled look. “You don’t want a drink?”
“It’s not that,” I said with a smile. “It’s more like I can’t drink right now. Or for the next seven months.”
“Seven months,” he mumbled before the truth dawned on him and his eyes widened. “You’re pregnant!”
I nodded. “I found out a little while ago. I wanted to make sure everything was fine before I told you,” I said rubbing my belly. “And I wasn’t sure how you would react.”
“How I’d react?” He repeated before he lit up and squeezed me in his arms. “Are you kidding me? This is the best fucking news I’ve ever heard in my life! I can’t believe you’re pregnant with my baby.”
“I can’t believe it either. I never thought I would want kids when I was living in the city, but here? This is home and I’
m here with you. Of course, I want to settle down and have kids with you.”
Cooper blinked. “Kids? Multiple?”
I realized what I’d said and my face flushed. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud, but now it was out there. I fiddled with my fingers and smiled softly. “Well, yeah I want to have at least three. That’s what I was thinking anyway. I know you might not want that many—”
“We can have as many as you want! Actually, I was thinking of six,” Cooper said grinning so hard I was sure his face would break.
“Six?” I screamed.
“I don’t care as long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’m so glad I came back home. That asshole was awful, but I’m thankful to him. He gave me the reason and the impetus to come back to you. Otherwise, I would have missed all this.”
“I’m not grateful to that piece of shit, because I believe you would have come home on your own steam anyway,” Cooper said.
“You know there will be changes with the baby coming, right?”
“We’re going to need a nursery and a car seat, clothes, toys,” he ticked everything off on his fingers as he grinned widely. “There’s so much to get ready for. I feel like I’m already behind.”
“You’re going to be one good dad, aren’t you,” I said with a happy smile.
“Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?”
I patted his cheek. “Not yet, hon. I’m hoping to find out in a few weeks.” I rubbed my belly. “I really want a boy first and then a girl.”
“Me too.” He grinned. “Especially to keep away boys like me.”
I laughed. “You didn’t turn out to be so bad you know.” I squeezed his hand. “In fact, you turned out to be exactly what I need in my life.”
“If you keep talking like that, we’re never going to get home,” he muttered. “I’m already way too happy and energized after that news.”
I chuckled. “Who says we need to make it home?”
“Really?” he asked as he wiggled his eyebrows at me. “I’ll take that permission to go ahead.”
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