Page 38 of Cooper’s Promise

* * *

It was a tight fit in Brenna’s shower, but thank God he’d insisted on showering with her.

“Honey, stop it, you’re rubbing yourself raw.”

“I have to get off all the lotion. He was watching me put it on. I have to get it off,” she sobbed.

“I know. I know.” She’d refused a bath, and he couldn’t blame her. He took the washcloth out of her hand. “Let me, baby.” He was positive that all traces of the lotion had washed down the drain long minutes ago, but he ran the cloth over her body again.

“There, all gone.”

Her beautiful hazel eyes looked up at him. “Are you sure?”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “I’m sure. Let’s get you out of here before you turn into a prune.” Cooper turned off the water and got them both out of the shower. He soon had her wrapped up in a towel.

“I need to dry my hair.”

“I’ll do it.” She sat there on the toilet seat, lost in her thoughts, as he brushed and blew her hair dry. She didn’t even notice when he was done. He turned off the dryer, and brushed her silky hair, then kissed the top of her hair.

“Come on, let’s get you into bed. Do you need to put on clothes?” They had plenty to choose from here in her apartment. He had wanted to take her to a hotel, but then again she didn’t know how much she had been violated here in her home. She hadn’t seen all of the pictures that Josiah had taken, and he was never going to tell her.

“I want to sleep naked in your arms,” she said. He hugged her close.

He tucked her into bed, and immediately got in beside her. They clung together like they were on a life raft.

“I’ve never been more scared in my life,” he whispered. It had reminded him of those times as a little boy, locked in a room. It was that same gut-wrenching fear.

“Do you know what I was thinking that whole time?” Brenna asked.

He stroked his fingers down her back, reassuring himself she was here, in his arms. “What,baby? What were you thinking?”

“That I had to get to you. That there was not a chance in hell I was going to abandon you. Not after I had worked so hard to find you.”

All the breath left his body. Brenna must have felt it.

“Are you okay? Cooper?”

“Brenna, I couldn’t have lived if something had happened to you.” It was true, he wasn’t just saying it. His life would have gone dark, and forever after, he would have just been going through pointless motions.

“I’m here. We don’t have to worry about it.”

“I can’t believe how fucking brave you are. You are a miracle.”

“I’m not brave. I was scared, too. But I was determined. Can you be scared and determined?” she asked.

“There are no right or wrong emotions, baby. I’m blessed that you fought for me. For us. I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Cooper.”

He rolled over and turned on the lamp, hauling her up in his arms so they could see one another.

“Brenna, there is no way that you could possibly love me as much as I love you. But if you could see it in your heart to marry me, I will do my best to cherish you forever.”

She started to cry, but she was smiling. Cooper hoped that they were happy tears.

“Oh, yes, Cooper. I don’t think it’s possible for you to love me more, but I’ll be happy for you to try.” She threw her arms around him.

Cooper pulled Brenna close. “Stop with the tears already.”

“I can’t. I didn’t know that you would figure it out,” she sniffed.

“Of course I did. You’re the other piece of my heart, Brenna Wells. And let’s face it...”

He gave her a tender kiss.

“Face what?” she asked.

“If I hadn’t figured it out, you would have kicked my ass until I did. And I thank God for that.”

Their laughter soon turned into passion.