“Cop?” I question uncertainly, turning my head to look at him. The hungry look in his eyes takes me aback as they rake over my body.
“Fucking beautiful, Spice. And you don’t seem to realise it.”
“What?” I whisper, confused.
His lips move, but I don’t register what he says. He speaks too softly for me to hear.
Copper grips my chin gently, turning my face towards him. “I said, you’re fucking beautiful, Bee. Today is about you. About me taking care of you,” he says fiercely. “This weekend was a mind fuck for you, but I hope it allowed you to put the past behind you and stop blaming yourself. Sam is happy. You no longer need to punish yourself. I won’t let you. The past is done. It’s time to look towards the future.”
Tears prick my eyes at how adamant he is that I stop punishing myself.
“Today,” he continues, “we’re taking time to relax together before we have to be on guard again. I swept the flat for bugs last night. We’re clear. No one was here while we were away. We can do whatever the fuck we want, and nobody will hear us. But before we get to that, you’re going to relax in the bath while I make breakfast. Then we’ll curl up in bed and watch a movie, maybe catch up on some sleep.”
My brain slowly absorbs what he’s saying, and a tear rolls down my cheek.
“Ah, baby, don’t cry,” he whispers, wiping my cheeks.
I let out a broken sob and wrap my arms around him, resting my cheek on his chest.
“This is the last time I cry about what happened,” I promise as tears stream down my face, wetting his bare chest. “After today, no more.”
Tilting my head back, I look at his gorgeous face through a haze of tears and whisper, “Thank you.”
His gaze softens as he wipes the tears from under my eyes with his thumbs. “I keep telling you, Bee, you never have to thank me for taking care of you. I’ll always be here for you, even if it’s protecting you from yourself.”
He lowers his head, and his lips hover above mine. Rolling to my toes, I press my lips to his in a long, sweet, emotional kiss.
When we break apart, I whisper, “Instead of making us breakfast, why don’t you join me in the bath?”
His smile is wicked, and my heart beats a bit faster. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I cup his cheek, running my thumb over his beard. “I’m sure.”
“Okay.” He steps back and hooks his fingers into the waistband of his sleeping shorts.
I turn away and step into the bath, sliding down into its cocooning warmth and allowing the heat to relax the tense muscles from riding over the last two days.
“Scoot forward, Bee.”
I do as he asks, giggling as he sinks into the hot water with a groan. “Feels good, huh?”
“Yeah, but it would feel even better if you came here.”
He doesn’t have to ask twice. I scooch back until I’m flush against his chest. Copper wraps an arm around me until I’m resting against his chest, my head on his shoulder. There’s no second-guessing how this man feels about me. Not with his rock-hard length pressed against my back.
“Ignore him,” Copper whispers against my forehead.
“Kinda hard,” I tease. “He’s huge.”
Copper’s body jostles mine as he shakes with mirth. “He’s not that big.”
I snort in disbelief. “If you say so.”
He continues to chuckle as he reaches for the jug on the side of the bath and dips it in the water. The warm water trickles over us as he tips it, relaxing and sensual at the same time.
I’m not sure how long we spend in the bath, but the water eventually goes cold and our skin prunes. Leaning forward, I let the water out and stand.
I’m not the slightest bit self-conscious in my nakedness. Maybe it’s because we’ve lived together and slept in the same bed for so long, but everything we do seems completely natural.
