Page 12

CHAPTER 11

Kiss me like you mean it…

Hell yeah, he would. And he wouldn’t stop there.

Bellamy groaned, his footsteps heading toward the door. “And that’s our cue to leave. You’ve got two hours, Coop. Don’t have her still pinned to the wall when we get back.”

The door slammed, and they were alone. How Cooper had wanted to be since that fateful night when Nova had shown up at his house. He closed his eyes, resting his forehead against hers before lowering and claiming her mouth. Deeper than before. Longer. Until his lungs burned and he thought he might pass out. Not that Nova seemed worried about breathing because she tiptoed up and kissed him, again, once he’d eased back.

He wasn’t sure how long they stood there, her body shoved against the wall, his sheer size holding her captive as they kissed, breathed, then kissed some more. But he swore the shadows had crossed the room by the time he was able to disengage — think about picking her up and carrying her into the room.

Nova stared up at him with a dreamy lovesick smile that had his heart racing triple time as she leaned against the wall, completely oblivious to how far gone he was. That he’d fallen so in love with her, it hurt. “Before you ask me a thousand questions, the answer’s yes. You should absolutely pick me up and take me back to bed where we should spend whatever time’s left making love.”

He extended his hand, frowning when she grimaced as she pushed off, her right side obviously still sore. He dropped his gaze to where she’d been shot, then back, that voice in his head warning him not to cause her more pain. That, despite his best intentions, she’d likely be running for her life, again, before this op was over.

Nova sighed, stepping into his personal space like she’d done before the meeting — teasing him with that finger along his torso, again. “Cooper. I’m fine.”

“That grimace suggests otherwise.”

“It was hardly a grimace.”

“Call it whatever you want, but your side still hurts.”

“Cooper. Baby, that twinge was nothing compared to how much it hurt seeing that look on your face. Knowing you were preparing for me to say none of this was real. So, stop worrying and just love me.”

She dropped her hand, squeezing him through his pants. Destroying any lingering thoughts that she wasn’t healed enough for him to make her see stars. He clenched his jaw, then picked her up, helping her wrap legs around his waist as he started toward the bedroom. Just like he’d done the last time they were in this position — before everything had gone sideways.

Nova ate at his mouth as he bumped his way down the hall then into the room, kicking the door shut behind him. He fumbled his way over to the bed, gently lowering her onto it without breaking contact.

Nova smiled when they finally came up for air, tugging on his shirt. “Naked, Coop. Now.”

Hell yeah. Except where it meant he’d have to stand — lose all that contact with her.

Nova laughed. “We’ll make it a race. Winner chooses how this starts.”

Cooper tsked when she clenched her jaw trying to lever up. “And have you pull out those last couple of stitches? I don’t think so. Move with me.”

He palmed her back, helping her up before grabbing the hem of her shirt. “Have I told you how fucking hot it is that you’re wearing my shirt? I’ve wanted to tear it off you since you walked into the kitchen. Especially when I know there’s nothing but skin underneath.”

He slowly lifted it over her head, tossing it behind him on the floor before before hovering his hand over her ribs. The one still shaded in blues and green.

Nova sighed. “Still alive, thanks to you.”

“That was all you, sweetheart. All I did was show up after the fact.”

“That’s the point. You came. Despite the warrant and the way I reacted in Hawk’s office. You still came. You believed in me when I was starting to doubt myself.” She ran her thumb across his cheek. “For as long as I’m breathing, I’ll never forget that. No one has ever been there for me like that. No one.”

She tugged on the waist of his pants, releasing his belt, then lowering the zipper — shucking the whole lot a moment later. “Forget the race. I know what I need.”

Need. Not want.

As if loving him was like breathing. A necessity.

He removed his shirt, determined to shove her onto her back and lick every inch of skin until she unraveled in his arms, when she drew her fist along his length — nearly had him creaming her hand. He hissed out a breath, inhaling when she leaned forward — took him all the way to the back of her throat.

“Jesus, Nova.”

He fisted her hair, reminding himself she likely still had bumps and bruises along her scalp. Hell, maybe the lingering effects of a concussion based on how hard she’d had to fight to escape. She hummed, and the tiny vibrations shattered any form of control he’d managed to keep.

Cooper swore his hips started moving of their own accord. That despite his best efforts, he was thrusting into her mouth a moment later. Taking himself to the brink in record time. Was he being too rough? Sinking too deep? Had he just yanked on her hair to the point she’d moaned what he thought was his name muffled around his dick?

He should stop. Show her what she meant to him. How special she was and that he wouldn’t doubt their connection, again.

Having her swallow while he was all the way in killed those thoughts. Blew them up or maybe they simply disintegrated into a thousand pieces like his sanity. Vanishing with the rhythmic slide of her tongue. How she applied just the right amount of pressure to keep him poised on the edge.

He clenched his jaw, grunting when she paused and swallowed, again. “Sweetheart. I’m about ten seconds away from embarrassing myself. Christ, has it even been five minutes yet?”

She pulled away for a second, gazing up at him through half-lidded eyes. “Can’t think of a better homecoming, can you?”

That did him in. Had him fighting not to finish as she slid down his length, again. But it was futile. Another minute, and he was drowning. Heat burning a path down his spine as every muscle tensed. He tried to ease back, but she doubled her efforts, sending him over a second later.

Home.

That’s what she’d said. Not just before but how this was a homecoming. And damn if he wasn’t thinking the same thing. That even in the midst of an op — with threats looming against her — she was his safe haven. His reason for fighting. And he’d do anything to protect that.

Cooper regained his senses seconds, minutes, maybe hours later. His left hand still fisted around her hair. His other braced on the end of the bed. What he assumed was the only reason he hadn’t collapsed — probably taking her with him. Nova was sitting on the edge of the mattress, looking at him as if she’d never seen him before. Or maybe she was simply seeing a new side of him. The one that was insanely in love with Nova Martin.

She cracked a smile, moaning when his fingers clenched, tugging on her hair. Though, how she’d even gotten off the floor with the silky strands still fisted in his hand was a mystery. “Did you really think I was going to give up my prize? You know me better than that, Coop.”

He chuckled, finally getting his fingers to release the thick mass of auburn hair. “I didn’t want to assume…”

“Assume what? That I wouldn’t want to bring you to your knees?”

“That you wouldn’t need me to show my hand, first. Especially after insisting we talk in front of the team. Definitely not my finest hour.”

“I don’t care who knows how crazy I am about you. And I should have cleared that up at the crime scene, but I was scared, and then everything went sideways.”

He leaned in, leveling his mouth to hers. “You’re not the only one who’s navigating uncharted waters, sweetheart. But I definitely want you to be my home, too.”

He kissed her. Long. Deep. Until they were back on the bed, her body flush beneath his. Making Cooper acutely aware she was only bare from the waist up. An oversight he intended to rectify.

Nova grunted when he pulled away, drawing his finger down the center of her chest and across her ribs. He did his best to overlook the patchwork of colors along her side, circling her belly button before fisting her pants. She lifted her ass for him, shimmying back and forth as he dragged her pants and underwear over her hips before tossing them on the floor, along with her socks.

Ten seconds flat, and she was bare.

Cooper lifted one foot, gently massaging it as he stared down at her. “Damn, you’re stunning.”

She rolled her eyes, then beckoned him down with a crook of her finger.

He tsked, leaning over to kiss her before licking his way down her torso. Her hands landed in his hair as he went to his knees, teasing her with a ghosted brush of his mouth.

“God, Coop.”

He smiled against her skin, his next pass firmer. Deeper. Until she was squirming beneath him, needy little moans rasping around him.

He paused for a moment, chuckling when she tugged on his hair. “I don’t know, sweetheart. It might take all the time we have left just for me to get you off this way because… I could do this for hours.”

“You keep touching me like that and you’ll have thirty seconds. And that’s only if you completely stop for twenty-five of those.”

He eased back, teasing her with only a hint of penetration. “Are you saying you want me to stop?”

“No, I…” Nova huffed, releasing his hair and pushing onto her elbows. Looking as if she was going to smack him up the backside of his head. “I swear, Cooper. If you don’t get inside me soon…”

“I thought patience was a key attribute to being an exceptional undercover agent?”

“So is knowing when it’s time for action.”

“Are you always this bossy in the bedroom?”

Her gaze softened, that dreamy smile curving her lips. “Only when I’m stupid crazy about the guy. So, this is a first for me.”

Damn, he loved her.

Cooper shook his head, but increased the pressure, smiling when she pushed her head into the bed, her hands fisting at her side. This is how he wanted her. Enthralled. Strung so tight she was blinded with need. Just like he’d felt as she’d moved along his length, sending him over in record time.

Nova reached for him — what he assumed was her wanting him to get to the main event. But she’d already brought him to his knees, as she’d put it. And he was determined to do the same.

He took her hand in his, keeping it snug to the bed as he swirled his tongue around her flesh. Licking and sucking until she was chanting his name. Begging him to send her over. He thought about easing up, again —really drawing it out — until the muscles across her stomach clenched as her breathing hitched.

He caved, knowing she’d likely go over with or without him, and he’d be damned if he missed a chance to taste her release.

Nova pressed her thighs around his shoulders, holding him tight until she broke, flooding his tongue as she rode his fingers before seemingly collapsing.

Cooper kept licking, finally easing back when she called his name. It was rough. Raspy. As if she’d barely had the strength to get all two syllables out.

He crawled over her, claiming her mouth in a soul-searing kiss. “Was that more what you had in mind?”

She blinked a few times, finally opening her eyes, the pupils blown wide. “That was… God, I don’t even have words.”

“I’ll take that as a win, then.”

“Thinking I’m the one who won.” Her mouth curled into a sloppy grin. “Twice.”

“That’s sounds like a challenge, so… let’s see if I can make it a third.”