“Track said it all went according to plan. The cops showed up at just the right time and witnessed your self-defense.” She raises an eyebrow at me and I shrug, which makes me wince in pain.
“Careful.” She places her hand lightly over the bandages on my shoulder. “You had a gunshot wound to your shoulder, but they said it was a through and through so you’re going to be okay. You lost a lot of blood, but they got it under control and said you just need to rest.”
“And Warren?”
“He died at the scene.” She looks sad in her eyes, but not for him. Her heart is so tender I know that even though she wanted him out of the picture she didn’t want anyone to be hurt over this. “With the recordings Walsh and Jonas obtained they were able to show you were in the clear and that Warren was the one who killed Monte.”
She cocks her head to the side in question and I reach up and place a finger to her lips. After a second she nods in understanding and lets it go. We need the police to think Warren was behind it so we don’t pull Takio and Uzziah back into this.
“Take off my pants,” I say and her cheeks flush as she looks around.
“Cooper, we can’t have sex in here! There’s no lock on your door.”
“Did you already check?” I tease as her eyes come back to mine.
“Maybe.”
I laugh and shake my head as I reach for the waist of my pants.
“Seriously, Cooper?”
I pull out the necklace I’d taken out of the box before I went to rescue her. I hold it out and her mouth falls open in shock at the sight of it.
“I know this means the world to you. Enough that you risked your own life to get it.”
“I’m so sorry—”
I shake my head to stop her from talking as I open the fixed chain and put it around her neck. “It’s not a ring, but that will come just as soon as I’m able to get out of this bed.”
She sits up and looks at me with wide eyes. “Cooper, what are you saying?”
“I’m saying you’re going to marry me. I love you so damn much, Jules, and I want you to spend the rest of your life with me.”
Tears begin to form in her eyes as she leans down and presses her lips to mine. They’re soft and sweet. She moves on top of me, and though my shoulder screams in protest I hold on to her and move my body against hers.
“Is that a yes?” I ask, and she nods.
“Yes, of course it’s a yes! I love you so much, Cooper Ross. From the moment you stole me, I’ve been yours.”
“Good. Now bunch up that dress and get on my cock.”
She pretends to be shocked as I pull at the material until it’s around her hips.
“Are you serious? What if the nurse walks in?”
“She’ll see the heart monitor equipment is working just fine.”
I push her panties to the side and slide between her wet folds. We both moan when I enter her and she slides all the way down onto me. Her hips rock and I groan as she tells me to be still. I want to flip us over and fuck her hard, but there will be time for that later.
Right now all I want to do is be inside of her and connected as much as possible until the end of time. Is that too much to ask for? Thankfully we’re left alone and I have a sneaking suspicion one of my brothers is stationed outside of my room for this very moment.
I come inside her and hold her close until she falls asleep on my chest. I can’t help but think about how fucking lucky I am that she was the one in that parking lot that day. I know her value and what she’s worth to me, and I’m never going to take that for granted. She’s mine until the end of time, and there’s no going back.
Epilogue
Jules
One year later…
“Cooper.” I moan my husband’s name as he thrusts into me.
He’s been all over me since yesterday. Okay, I’ve been all over him too. I had my six-week check-up yesterday and the doctor gave me the all-clear. I think Cooper’s working on putting another baby inside of me already and I’m totally okay with that. After growing up without a family of my own, I want a big one. Even if this one is pretty big already with all of Cooper’s brothers.
“I can’t stop,” he groans into my neck as he pumps in and out.
“No one is asking you to.” I dig my fingers into the muscles of his back. My legs are wrapped around him tightly as he starts to thrust harder.