Bliss (Entangled Hearts Duet 2)

“Reese,” he croaks. “Baby, as much as I love you touching me, we can’t go there. Not right now. This can’t be over before it starts.”

Ignoring his words, I drop to my knees, pulling his boxer briefs down with me.

“Fuck,” he mutters.

Wrapping my hand around him, I stroke him a couple of times, causing his legs to shake. I know he’s about to stop me, so I lean in and take him into my mouth.

“Motherfucker,” he pants. His hands bury in my hair, and I take as much of him as I can. He’s long and thick, which makes it more difficult. When I pull back to get a better angle, he steps back. “No more,” he rasps. “Not this time.”

Glancing up at him, I see his chest rapidly rising and falling, the intensity of his breathing matching my own. I watch in fascination as he grips his hard length and tugs, much harder and faster than I was just moments before. “Get on the bed, Reese.” It’s not a request. It’s a command.

A thrill races through me. Finally. After years of imagining being with him like this, it’s going to happen. I push the possible consequences of my actions to the back of my mind. I want this. I want him, and now is the time. It’s time to live in the moment and make up for the regrets of my past. I should have been more assertive that night. I should have told him what I wanted, but I shied away with his rejection.

I don’t want to be that girl. I don’t want to settle. Not anymore. Not this time.

“I wanted to take my time with you,” he says, staring down at me. My eyes dart to where he strokes himself hard and fast. “Fuck, I can’t do it. Not with you looking at me like that. Next time.” There is promise in his voice. “On the bed, Reese.”

I do as he says and climb onto the bed. Resting my head back against the pillow with my arms at my sides, I fight the urge to reach for the cover to pull it over me, but when his heated gaze captures mine, the thought disappears. I like the way he’s looking at me. His stare is intense and causes me to shiver with anticipation.

Cooper releases his hard cock and bends to retrieve his pants. I watch with rapt attention as he shuffles for his wallet. When he finds it, he drops his pants to the floor as he searches and searches, coming up empty. “Fuck.” He runs his hands through his hair, dropping his wallet to the floor, and looks up at me. I see the apology all over his face. “I don’t have a condom.”

“Seriously?” I ask. I would have thought that would be a staple for a man like him, you know, being a sexy professional athlete. I know women throw themselves at him. I’ve watched it happen for years. I can only imagine that’s increased tenfold with his position on the Indianapolis Defenders.

“You think I planned this?” he asks, the hurt evident in his voice. “Reese, I was coming here to watch the love of my life marry another man. Getting laid was the last thing on my mind.”

His words cause my heart to skip a beat. “Are you clean?”

“Of course I am.” He scoffs as if me asking offended him.

“How long has it been?” I don’t really think I want to know the answer to this question, but for us to move forward, I need to know.

“A long fucking time,” he murmurs.

“How long is a long fucking time?” I ask. I’m sure our ideas of long are different.

He blows out a breath, closes his eyes, and looks to the ceiling. His hands move to his hips, and his hard cock stands tall and proud against the ridges of his abs. “Eyes up here,” he says when he catches me ogling him.

“How long, Cooper?” I ask, not an ounce of shame for staring. This is my night, and it’s my last with him, so I’m getting the full experience.

“High school,” he mutters.

What did he just say? No way I heard him right. I open my mouth to ask him to repeat it, but his words stop me. “Senior prom, Reese. I never knew if someone was interested in me or my career, and then when I left, all I could think about was you.”

“Me?” I croak. I’m floored by his words. I would never have believed it had I not heard it straight from his mouth. I know Cooper, and I know he’s telling me the truth. How is it possible that it’s been that long for him?

“Yes, you.” His brown eyes soften. “You are the love of my life, Reese. I’m sorry it took me this long to tell you. That it took me this long to admit it to myself. I’ll never make that mistake again. I promise you that.” He pauses. “Are you on the pill?” he asks, swallowing hard.