He trails off, and it’s clear the guilt of not being home to shield his mother from abuse weighs on him.
No one should have to bear that burden. Especially a child. Being forced to choose between building a future and protecting those they hold dear?
That’s no choice at all.
“I would’ve stayed,” he says stiffly. “But playing ball is the only hope I have of getting her out. My father is too wealthy, too well-known. Too fucking connected. He’ll never let her go, and I don’t have the resources to fight him. Not in the press and certainly not in a courtroom. He’s got friends in high places and a cutthroat legal team that would shred whatever baby lawyer I could afford. That’s why I’ve spent the last four years busting my ass to ensure I’ll be a first-round draft pick. The money I’ll earn from an NFL contract is the only chance I have of getting my mom away from him. The only chance we have of starting over without him in our lives.”
The admission rips the air from my lungs.
No wonder Cooper is so focused on football. He views it as the only solution to a problem—a situation—he’s never been able to fix. The pressure to perform must be crushing.
I always knew being a top tier athlete would carry a lot of pressure, but this… it’s beyond anything I could have imagined.
And yet he shoulders the burden silently and without complaint.
My heart squeezes at the unfairness of it all.
“Anyway.” He clears his throat. “I just thought you should know.”
Because this is the reason he doesn’t do relationships. He doesn’t trust himself. Or maybe he simply doesn’t know what a healthy relationship looks like.
You could show him.
Even if that were true, he’d never agree. Would he?
That he hasn’t sworn me to secrecy again speaks volumes. Maybe it’s a sign he’s finally ready to let someone in.
“Thank you for sharing this with me.” I wrap my arms around him, holding him tight. His skin is hot, and he smells like sex, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. “You’re nothing like your father, Cooper. You can’t keep punishing yourself for his mistakes.”
In one swift movement, he rolls us over so that I’m pinned to the mattress beneath him. One look into those clear blue eyes and it’s obvious he’s ready to put this conversation—this night—behind us.
“You just might be onto something,” he drawls, cock nudging at my belly. “Why punish myself when I’ve got you to do the job for me?”
45
COOPER
I wakewith Quinn curled in my arms and the knowledge that if I don’t get my ass out of bed soon, I’m going to be late for strength training. Quinn mumbles something unintelligible and snuggles up closer, pulling the comforter tight around us. The blanket is hot AF and I’m burning up, but it’s a small price to pay for a night of great sex.
Liar.
Fine. Last night was about more than sex.
I still can’t believe I told her about my father. I’ve never told anyone before, because who would believe me?
Quinn.
She listened without interrupting. Without making excuses for his behavior. Without questioning a single word of my story.
It was almost enough to give me hope others might believe it, too.
But I can’t take the risk. Not when I’m entirely without resources.
Just a few more months.
With herculean effort, I slip out of bed and begin collecting my discarded clothes. The room is chilly and though it’s a welcome relief against my heated skin, it’s not worth the tradeoff of leaving Quinn’s soft curves behind.
My cock stirs and I steal a glance at the bed.
