Page 48 of You Can Make Me

“Good, that’s good. I’ll give you space.”

He squeezed me tighter and spoke against my ear. “Thank you, because tomorrow we’ll be unsupervised…and I want to look and feel my best.”

Unsupervised. That word had my dick at attention.

“Cooper—”

“Don’t say anything now. I want you to take the bed tonight. She and I are going to crash in the living room on the mattresses from my folks’ RV.”

“But you need your rest.”

“And I’ll get it. You haven’t had a full night’s sleep in a bed in months.”

“I slept in a bed last night,” I said, turning to kiss his temple.

“Well, I want you well rested. I’m going to need your help to jumpstart my rehab?—”

“You’ll have it, baby. Whatever you need.”

“Good. Because I needyou.”

I turned in his arms to look at him, warmth filling my chest. He wasn’t saying he needed me to be his caretaker. He was saying he neededme.

“You have me. You’ve always had me, and you always will.”

He slid a hand around my neck and pulled me into a kiss that immediately made my knees weak. He moaned, tugged on my hair—which was longer than usual, as I hadn’t had my regular five-week fade since December—and bit down on my lower lip. He not only had me, he owned me with that kiss.

It was what I wanted most, but it was also the thing that scared me the most, only second to the fear of losing him.

“I wantyouto haveme. Tomorrow. As soon as we’re alone.”

“Only if you’re ready.”

He exhaled with pursed lips. “I want to be. I just need to forget what I know you’ll be looking at.”

“I’ve seen it all, and it only makes me love you more, Cooper.”

“Damn. I can’t believe…I hate that I walked away from you. I wasted so much time. And if I hadn’t gotten hurt, I’d never know what it feels like to be loved by you.”

I put my hands on his hips. “I wouldn’t have stayed away forever. I never planned for this to go on so long. I would have come for you.”

Several emotions played across his face before he stepped back.

“Get some rest. Maybe go for a soak. Do some stretches. I’ve waited long enough.”

I grinned at him, my heart so full I could barely breathe.

“I’ll be ready.”

Twelve

Cooper

Sam left with my parents early the next morning with three pieces of advice for me.

“One: Stick to the plan. I know this story is going to be one of your greatest. Two: Be patient with yourself. Don’t overdo it, take your time, but stay on course. Three: Be patient with Denny. He loves you, but he’s had his whole world turned upside down, and he’s got to relearn how to function, just like you do. And you better text me. I missed you.”

“Yes, ma’am.”