Escaping the Blackness (A Cooper Brothers Novel Book 1)

by Norma Jeanne Karlsson

  When Cara’s pussy contracts around my fingers and she screams into the pillow she’s slammed over her face, I almost blow my load on the sheets.

  I kiss my way up her body, paying attention to every inch I pass. By the time I reach her face after I’ve tossed the pillow away, she’s smiling a bright, love-filled beam at me.

  My face almost cracks in two as I return her smile.

  I should stop now. This is enough. This is more than enough with the woman I love. But Cara reaches between us and grasps my cock.

  “You can’t touch me,” I growl, edging out of her grip. “I’m not comin’ in your hand again.”

  The defeat on her face is immediately replaced with triumph as I settle between her long legs.

  I palm my dick and ease my head in. Cara tenses and closes her eyes tightly to fight off the pain. I stroke her cheek and whisper, “Eyes up here, sweetheart. Stay with me.”

  Her emerald eyes flutter open as she breathes a little more evenly.

  “I’m with you, Jake,” she says softly.

  I push forward in tiny increments, pausing and kissing her when she grimaces more than I’m comfortable with. When I reach her hymen, I take a breath. This is the moment where she truly becomes mine. I’ll be the only man to ever be inside her. She’ll never no torture and pain in her life again because I’ll be here to protect and love her. This is the moment I escape the blackness of my life and turn toward the light of the love of my life.

  “I love you,” I announce as I surge through, her eyes brimming with tears.

  “I love you too,” she croaks.

  Once I’m seated to the hilt, I rest my forehead against her as I caress her skin.

  “We’ll have a beautiful life together, sweetheart,” I promise. “I’ll love you and protect you, care for you and provide for you. I’ll spend every day with a smile on my face because I’m the luckiest man in the world to call you mine.”

  Cara nods as one tear slides down her face.

  I kiss her. I kiss her with every promise I just made her and the thousands I don’t have the words for. I pour every emotion I have into her before slowly rocking my hips.

  “Okay?” I asks against her mouth.

  “Yes,” she whispers.

  I’m gentle as I work myself into long strokes. When her legs wrap around my hips and she lifts to meet my thrusts, I release her mouth. I bury my head in her neck while I power into her. Cara’s nails score my back as her teeth sink into my shoulder and another orgasm rocks her frame.

  Her pussy’s like a vice grip in this moment and that’s when I realize I’m not wearing a condom. It’s still sitting on the bedside table.

  Shit.

  “Cara,” I grumble.

  “What? Is something wrong?” she asks in a panic, pushing at my chest.

  Smooth, Cooper.

  “Nothing is wrong,” I assure her troubled face, kissing her for good measure. “I’m not wearing a condom.”

  “I know,” she murmurs against my mouth. “I’m on birth control, Jake.”

  “Thank fuck,” I breathe out in relief before taking her mouth again.

  I work us both into a frenzy of panting breaths, never allowing us to come up for air. When Cara comes the last time, I lose the will to wait. I grasp her rounded hips and pound into her, sucking her bottom lip between my teeth.

  My neck snaps back of its own accord as I roar while I come. It’s a primal salute to the marking I’m doing in this moment. I’m filling my woman. I’m giving her every piece of me and she’s taking it. Loving it.

  I collapse on top of her when I’m done, physically and emotionally spent. I’ve never felt quite this serene in my life.

  I look down into Cara’s stunning face, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

  I’m at peace.

  I can barely draw a decent breath with Jake crushing me. But it feels too good to move him. After kissing my lips, he nuzzles into my neck. I drag my fingers along his sweaty, rippled back while I consider what this means.

  I gave myself to Jake earlier today. I bared my soul when I unveiled my scars. No one has seen me that vulnerable in six years. And while that experience was freeing for me, it was groundbreaking for Jake. He’s lighter now. He allowed me to take away some of the burden of his past and in doing that, he gave me all the reassurance that I needed to offer myself to him.

  I wish I could say I gave myself to Jake. But that’s not what happened just now. I offered myself and Jake took me. He conquered any demon lingering in my mind while his body worshipped mine. He dominated me and I relented to his will. Never in a million years would I have thought that possible for me. It’s an unimaginable release for me to give away my power, knowing I’m the safest I’ve ever been while doing so.

  I let out a wheezing breath as Jake rolls to my side, his dick sliding out of me. I can’t believe how hard he still is, but the loss of him combined with a wince of pain from losing my virginity pulls me from my amazement and causes me to grimace.

  “Shit. Did I hurt you?” he asks with concern, popping up on his knees to look at me.

  “I’m okay,” I assure him.

  I’m better than okay looking into his soft brown eyes as his gaze heats me as it travels down my body. I’m pleased when I have no desire to shield myself from his perusal. I’m comfortable with Jake. A comfort I wasn’t certain I’d ever have.

  All of a sudden, Jake’s jumping off the bed and scooping me into his arms, heading straight into the bathroom.

  “Jake,” I admonish playfully.

  I tuck my face into his neck as he steps into the shower and turns on the spray, using his body to shield me from the cold.

  “Are we goin’ for round two already?” I murmur against his skin, nibbling a little.

  “No,” he grunts, dropping my feet to the floor.

  “What’s wrong with you? Did I do something wrong?” I ask with embarrassment in my voice.

  This isn’t the sweet man who was just making love to me. He seems disgusted and all of those good, comfortable feelings I had are washing down the drain along with the water.

  “There’s blood on you,” he grumbles, snagging a washcloth.

  “I can do it,” I snap, ripping the material from his hand, roughly soaping it before rubbing my skin without concern.

  He can’t seriously be mad at me for bleeding. That’s how this works. I know. I looked it up and studied it until I was blue in the face. Why does he care so much? Am I bleeding more than I should be? Is he mad because he didn’t wear a condom and now there’s blood on him?

  Just as I’m about to ask him, Jake pushes my body against the tiled wall and kisses my mouth possessively, while taking the washcloth from my grasp. He continues to assault my mouth while tenderly washing my skin, easing between my folds.

  I’m so confused and turned on, I don’t know which emotion to tap into. Jake pulls his mouth away from mine, making the decision for me.

  I slam my palms against his chest, almost knocking him off his feet.

  “What the fuck was that?” I seethe. “Am I that disgusting? You just had to rinse me off before you could touch me again?”

  His entire body flattens against mine, pinning me to the wall with nowhere to retreat. His forehead has me pinned and my only hope for escape from his raging gaze is to close my eyes.

  “I put that blood on you. I did that, and I fuckin’ hate seein’ it on you. There should never be an ounce of harm to you or your body. Definitely not from me,” he quietly rages. “I could never be disgusted by you, Cara. I’m disgusted with myself for havin’ no restraint.”

  My eyes pop open and a fight builds in my chest when I recognize the disgust I see in his gaze isn’t for me but for himself. I want to hit him, but I’ll never lay another hand on him knowing his life was built on abuse.

  “I spent my life bein’ abused and tortured,” I state plainly. “I was hurt almost every day I can remember. What just happened between us was so far from that, I can bar
ely remember what that pain was for me. You didn’t harm me just now, Jake. You healed that last broken piece of me.”

  He stares into my eyes, searching for a lie he’ll never find. And when he doesn’t, he eases away from me. I reach my arms around his neck while he threads his behind my back.

  “No guilt, Jake,” I instruct before pressing my lips to his jaw.

  “I love you so fuckin’ much,” he declares roughly and then takes my mouth in a passionate kiss, murmuring his apologies while he devours me.

  I’d love to go another round with Jake, but I’m really sore. I ease away from him and turn a shy glance at his thick cock.

  “No more tonight,” he says sweetly.

  “I could take care of that for you,” I suggest coyly.

  “I don’t think—”

  He’s cut off when I drop to my knees and take him in my mouth. I wait for the horrors of my past to slip into the present, but they don’t. I’m here with Jake. Safe. Loved.

  I tease his head with my tongue a little while he tries to pull away, insisting I don’t need to do this.

  I do need to do this. I refuse to live in fear another day of my life. I’m taking control and in this moment, Jake’s going to give it to me.

  I grab his hips to keep him where I need him before hollowing my cheeks and taking him to the back of my throat.

  “Fuck,” he shouts as his palms slap the wet tiles behind me.

  I hum around him as I work up and down his length. His powerful legs quiver while his toes curl. He tastes like soap mixed with the saltiness he’s leaking. I don’t feel like I’ll be sick from it. Quite the opposite actually. I feel like I’ll crave his flavor after this. I’ll dream of him on my tongue and in my throat.

  I bob faster and use one hand to play with his balls. I refuse to think about why I know to do this. I refuse to remember all of my lessons.

  I’m enjoying this. I love Jake, and I’m not being forced to do anything against my will.

  “Cara,” Jake rasps. “I’m gonna come.”

  He sounds winded as he speaks. All of the exacting control he has is gone. I’ve done that to him. I’ve taken him to the brink of pleasure. It’s a heady feeling that has me swallowing him deeply.

  A few moments later, Jake shudders and he comes with force down my throat. I don’t gag. I don’t get sick. I don’t recoil.

  I take all of him. Happily.

  I lick him clean and press a soft kiss to the tip before I’m ripped to my feet by my armpits. I squeal until Jake’s mouth smothers any sound I’m producing.

  We make-out for a while, allowing the warm water to rain down on our sated bodies. Jake caresses my skin lovingly while his mouth has its wicked way. He’s back to dominating, but that’s okay with me. I had my moment, and I’m happy to give the control back to him.

  Once the hot water runs out, Jake pulls us from the shower and dries me off before attending to himself. I’m wobbly on my legs. I need a good ten hours of sleep after the day I’ve had. When I look into Jake’s serene face, I see he feels the same. He scoops me off my feet again and strides into the room with me cradled against his broad chest.

  “Shit,” he hisses when we get to the bed. “I need to change the sheets.”

  I look over to spy a small blood stain on the white fabric. I’m almost proud of it. I had one thing left in this life to offer someone and I saved it for Jake. I’m not embarrassed by it. This is a good thing.

  “I’ll help,” I say, dropping from his warm embrace.

  We go about quickly changing the sheets before sliding in together. As Jake flips off the lamp, I settle against his chest just like every other night we’ve shared a bed. This feels different though. This feels content and peaceful, filled with love and promise of what’s to come.

  Everything.

  I wake up with a start just like I used to when I had nightmares in my past. I wasn’t having a nightmare though. Something’s off. I need to check on Riley.

  I slide out of the bed, leaving Cara’s warm, naked body nestled beneath the covers. She looks perfect as the moonlight shines on her skin. I hate to leave her, but my stomach’s churning with uneasiness that I have to address.

  I tug on my sweats and head toward Riley’s room with my 1911 at my side. I scan everything in the living area, finding nothing out of the ordinary. There are no sounds coming from the other side of the house as I move. But with each step I take, I feel like my throat is being strangled.

  “DADDY!”

  I sprint, flipping on lights as I move. When I breach the door to her room, everything slows down to a glacial pace as I take in the room.

  Mitch is face down on the floor, blood beginning to pool beneath his limp body.

  Riley’s not in her bed, she’s being dragged backward out of the window with a gloved hand over her mouth.

  Her light grey eyes are spilling tears while her gaze is locked on mine in horror.

  I don’t have a shot at her abductor. I’ll have to shoot her to get him and I can’t bring my finger to squeeze the trigger, knowing she’ll get hurt.

  Her feet disappear last as I race toward the window to take out the fucker who just signed his death warrant. I stop in my tracks when grenade flies in the window. Seconds. I have seconds.

  I reach down and pick up the live explosive, heaving it into my empty bedroom before dropping my body on top of Mitch’s to protect him from the blast.

  I don’t have a chance to warn Cara before the explosion rocks the cabin and the blackness yet again claims me.

  “Jake!”

  I can hear Cara’s panicked voice screaming for me, but it feels distant through the fog of my mind.

  “Riley!”

  “Mitch!

  She keeps yelling, pleading for one of us to answer. My body feels heavy and hot. I can’t make myself respond.

  Sleep.

  I just need a little sleep.

  “Jake,” Cara whimpers near my ear. “Please wake up. I can’t move you. You have to help me.”

  I roll to the side a little, hearing the groan of Mitch as I move.

  Shit.

  I take a few deep breaths before opening my eyes. Cara’s right in front of me, tracks from tears streaked down her blackened cheeks. Her green eyes are filled with fear and rage, shimmering from the burning remnants around us.

  “We need to find Riley,” Cara says. “Can you walk? Are you hurt?”

  “She’s gone,” I rasp.

  “What?”

  The wails of sirens are filling the air. Help will be here soon. Mitch is still breathing shallow, labored breaths. I can feel a few cuts on my back and face, but I don’t feel anything broken or life-threatening.

  I have to find my daughter.

  “Someone dragged her outta the cabin before it blew. Are you okay?” I ask as I push myself to a sitting position on a pile of rubble.

  The cabin is gone. This is the damage of more than one grenade. Complete destruction. There’s a fire still raging where the kitchen was, the last of the propane tank fueling the flames. I don’t want to move Mitch. I assume he’s been shot or stabbed, but I don’t know how many times or what kind of damage he’s dealing with.

  “Jake, what’re you talking about?” Cara demands.

  “They got Mitch. I found him on the floor while Riley was bein’ dragged outta the window. I didn’t have a shot without hitting her. Once she was through the window, I tried to get a shot off, but a grenade came sailing in.”

  I roll Mitch over to his back while I explain, pushing debris out of the way as I work. Two holes in his chest. Kill shots.

  I smash my hands over the weeping wound and look into Cara’s horrified eyes.

  “Fuck!”

  She leans closer to Mitch, pressing her fingers against his neck. When she finds his pulse, a little relief flashes across her face.

  “You’re naked,” I point out.

  Cara shrugs. “There’s nothing left.”

  I’m only in sweats, wh
ich are torn to shreds, so I can’t offer her anything. I’m beginning to feel overwhelmed by the situation. My head hurts. My body aches. My best friend is dying. My woman is naked, a few cuts and bruises beginning to show now that I scan her body. My daughter is missing and every minute I sit here, is another I’m not getting her back.

  Over-fucking-whelmed.

  “Come get behind me,” I instruct as the flashing lights of emergency vehicles begin to crest the hill.

  Cara works her way around before crouching behind me, her arms coming around my chest while her cheek rests against my back. I want to draw comfort from the contact. I can’t. My hands are drenched in my best friend’s blood and my daughter is missing. I’m stuck in the middle of nowhere and our SUV is gone. Whoever took Riley has completely incapacitated me.

  Not for long.

  “We’ll find her,” Cara assures me.

  “Yeah,” I grunt.

  A fire truck, an ambulance and two police cruisers come to a stop, people quickly filing out.

  “I’ve got a gunshot victim down over here!” I shout.

  The EMTs race toward me while the firemen go to work on the remaining blaze.

  I’m reluctant to release Mitch as the guy next to me requests, but Cara squeezes my forearm and I let go. They’re frantic but efficient with their movements as they work to stabilize my best friend so they can move him.

  Two male cops approach and I climb to my feet, Cara following.

  “Are you two all right?” the younger man asks, flicking his eyes all around the area.

  “We’re fine,” I respond coolly.

  I need to be an agent right now. I have to work this the right way. The smart way. I’m not overwhelmed. I refuse to be. I’m focused and lethal with intent.

  “I need your phone,” I dictate, his eyebrows raising at my tone. “I’m a federal agent. As you can see, my mission has been compromised. Give me your phone.”

  His partner, an older man, claps his back and nods in agreement. The younger cop hands me his phone, trying to peer around me.