“Sit down, Spice.” I slip the backpack off her shoulders and place it on the floor, nudging her towards the couch. She flops onto it with a loud groan, throwing her arm over her eyes.
I drop the saddlebags next to the backpack and pull my phone from my pocket to order us a pizza. Picking up her feet, I remove her boots one at a time before turning my attention to her leathers. I tug her pants down her legs, making a pile on thefloor by her boots. Her jacket is unzipped, and she struggles to sit up and remove it. Taking her hand, I pull her into a sitting position and help her get it off. She’s wearing leggings and a T-shirt underneath, so I know she’s comfortable as she curls up on the couch and promptly falls asleep.
I cover her with a blanket, ignoring my hard cock as I watch her sleep—something I’ve become good at during the time we’ve been living together.
When the food arrives, I try to wake her, but she’s sleeping hard. I know from experience that when she’s exhausted like this, she’ll sleep until the next morning. Scooping her up, I put her in bed and secure the apartment for the evening before joining her.
***
Hours later, I wake up to find Bella curled against me in her favourite position—head on my chest, leg and arm thrown over me, sleeping hard. That she trusts me even in sleep means the world to me.
This weekend has changed things between us. I lift the hand resting on my chest, and possessiveness fills me as I study the ring on her finger.
One day, it’ll be real.
One day, we’ll stand before everyone and say the vows that will tie us together.
One day.
CHAPTER 13
BELLA
I’m still exhausted when I wake up the next morning, but I have no choice but to get up and work out. We need to maintain our fitness, and we didn’t go to the gym yesterday. Without opening my eyes, I run my hand over the bed, patting Copper's side, but it’s cold. He’s been up for a while. Why didn’t he wake me up?
Sighing, I turn onto my back and open my eyes to stare at the ceiling. I’ve taken today off work, so I don’t need to rush to get ready. We need to make this undercover assignment look real, so I make sure to book occasional time off work.
The sun catches my ring as I stretch my arms over my head. Pretending that Copper and I got engaged will provide the perfect excuse for taking the day off when I go to work tomorrow.
My hands flop on the bed beside me, and I sigh as I sit up.
“That’s a big sigh, Spice,” Copper says as he walks into the bedroom holding mugs of coffee in his big hands. “Hope this makes it better.”
“Oh, you’re a lifesaver.” I hold out my hands to take a mug from him and inhale the rich aroma. “Nothing’s wrong. Just glad I get one more day off before I go back to work.”
Copper sits on the bed next to me and puts his mug on the bedside table. He turns and braces his hands on either side of my hips as he studies me. I run a hand through my messy hair, suddenly feeling self-conscious at how unkempt I must look.
“You’re exhausted,” he murmurs.
He’s right. I am. Being on constant alert takes its toll despite our relaxing weekend. Now, my body doesn’t know what to do.
“I am,” I admit.
Copper takes my coffee cup from me, tugs the bedding from my legs, and holds out his hand. “Come on. We’re taking another day for ourselves.”
“We are?” I take his hand and allow him to pull me up.
“We are,” he confirms as he leads me into the bathroom.
“Oh,” I whisper as I look at the bath full of steaming water.
Lavender and vanilla fill the air—the bath bomb I bought weeks ago but never used. Copper reaches up and switches off the light. The bathroom doesn’t have a window, so the only light comes from the candles flickering along the edges of the bath.
“Up,” he orders, hands gripping the bottom of my T-shirt.
I automatically lift my arms, and he whips my T-shirt over my head. The next thing I know, his fingers are curled into the top of my leggings. He pulls them down, taking my underwear with them. I step out of them, still trying to make sense of what’s happening.
Copper gathers my hair and ties it up in a bun.
