“What happens next?”
My voice sounded a little childlike, but I didn’t care. I was about to lay my heart on the line with this man—again—and even though he had made it clear he didn’t want to hurt me, it was still a possibility. I could admit it, at least to myself. I was scared.
“What do you mean?” Cooper shifted so we were full on facing each other. I wanted to be back in his embrace. It would be easier to have this conversation not looking at him. But it was time to stop hiding. I reached for his hands, and Cooper quickly gave them to me. I threaded our fingers together, and he immediately started rubbing soothingly with his thumbs.
“I mean…” I had to take a deep breath, then force out the words. “When you go back on duty—if you’re deployed again—I have to know what’s going to happen, Captain.” I gave him a small quirk of a smile.
Cooper blinked for a long moment. I wasn’t sure what his expression meant. He looked sort of surprised, maybe. Waiting for him to speak was excruciating, but I resolutely remained silent. When he finally did open his mouth, his voice was low and careful.
“Jonah. Baby, I’m out.”
My whole body jerked. I must have misunderstood. “What?”
“You heard me.” He smiled.
“I don’t think I did.” I couldn’t have. He was a lifer, and barely thirty-nine. He had plenty of years left in him, and I was sure the Army would be happy to have him until he had to retire.
“You did,” he assured me. Using our joined hands, he tugged me until I was practically sitting in his lap. “I’m out. I resigned my commission. Twenty years in, and I’m ready for the next phase of my life.”
“I…um…what?” My brain was not working. Completely offline.
Cooper chuckled. He let go of one of my hands, and cupped my cheek. He swept his thumb along my jawline, then titled my head until our gazes met. “And in case it isn’t clear, that next phase of my life is you. I have skills. I can find a job. I’m not worried about that. But the important part of the equation is you. Earning back your trust. Loving you. Building a life with you.”
“Adrian.”
“Don’t say ‘no.’” Cooper blinked, then shook his head. “I mean, of course, if that’s not what you want…But it is, isn’t it? You and me and the life we should have had. Will have. If you want it. With me.”
The rambling was kind of cute. My big-bad, tough-as-nails Army captain, bumbling his way through his declaration. Endearing, even. My heart thawed more, the last pieces of ice melting completely.
I threw myself at him, and he caught me easily, holding me tightly. I sighed and settled in. I’d always felt safe and protected in his arms, and that hadn’t changed. Things had gone sideways for us, no doubt about that. But we’d found our way back to each other. And now, we could move forward and rebuild.
Pulling back just far enough so I could see Cooper’s face, I gave him a soft smile.
“I love you. I always have. And even if you hadn’t come back, a part of me always would.” I traced his eyebrow with one finger. I did love his face. “We have work to do, I think. It’d be stupid if we both said everything was going to be perfect. We have stuff to work on. But I love you. And I want a future with you.”
Relief flooded his features, and he moved lightning fast to cup my face and kiss me hard. He devoured me and I let him, relaxing into it and letting him command and dominate. When he finally pulled back, my lips felt bruised and I could barely breathe. I loved it.
“You’re mine, baby. Always have been. And I love you with everything I am. We’ll work it all out. We’ll talk and fight and fuck and love, and spend the rest of our lives together. Relationships are constantly evolving, right?”
“Right,” I agreed with a content sigh. We were on the same page, and that made all the difference.
“Good. There’s some stuff I have to finalize with the Army, but I’m done. I don’t have to go back.” He looked at me expectantly, hope shining in his deep brown eyes. “I have to find a place to live.”
I pursed my lips. “Well,” I said slowly. “I do have a spare bedroom.”
He growled playfully and powered me down on the couch. He covered my body with his, and I sighed happily as I took his weight. Cooper pulled my hands over my head before pinning them to the cushion with his strong grip.
“Okay, okay!” I chortled and wiggled, then gasped as my hip rubbed against his groin. He was getting hard. “Just because we’re working things out doesn’t mean you can’t sleep in my bed.”
“Good.” Cooper used his nose to tilt back my chin, then latched onto a tender spot of my neck. I shuddered and groaned, and his satisfied chuckle reverberated through my skin. He kissed and licked for a moment, and when he lifted his head, I whined at the loss.
“I love you, Jonah.”
“And I love you.”
Cooper gathered me to him and held me close. I rubbed the back of his head, holding him just as tightly. We’d get to the sex eventually. This moment, right here, reaffirming our feelings and being close? That was way more important.
He’d hurt me three years ago, and it would take time to completely recover from that. But the essential thing right now was that we loved each other and we were getting our second chance at happiness.
I guess Ellie had done the right thing by sending Cooper in her place. It was amazing what being trapped together could do for two people. I’d have to remember to thank her.