With her pinched expression, he was sure there was another Cooper family lecture at the tip of her tongue. Instead, she laughed, and he wanted to hold her even more.
“Matthew is expected home within the hour. It took so much work to keep you alive.” Her smile wavered. “It would be a pity to have him kill you now.”
Seth reached for her fingers. “You’re too far away.”
She smiled. “I’minthe bed.”
“Not properly.”
With a resigned sigh and a quirk to her lips, she laid on her side next to him. In a whisper of a touch, she laced her fingers through his. He closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation of her thumb rubbing against his, soothing and soft. But it wasn’t enough.
“Come closer, I wasn’t shot on that side.”
“It’s not funny.” She nestled in on his left side, resting her head over his heart. “Is this all right?”
He leaned the side of his head against the top of hers. She was warm andalive, and he held her to him as close as he could with one arm. “I did something heroic.” He used the hand around her shoulder to tilt her head up to his. “Can’t you please justkiss meCass—”
Closing the distance between her mouth and his, Cassandra silenced the rest of his sentence. She held his cheek in one hand and pressed her lips to his, and his next breath was one of relief. He buried his hand in her hair and deepened their kiss. Desperate to pull her close, he moved his other arm and felt a tearing of skin. He separated from her, exhaling through his teeth at the stabbing pain.
Once his breathing evened, she repositioned herself against his side. They lay there for some time in a gentle embrace. Cassandra rubbed circles on his chest with her fingertips, and she whispered, “Are you awake?”
“Mmhm.” But he wouldn’t be for long, fatigued by the effort it took just to kiss her.
She lifted her head and pressed her hand over his heart. “I love you, Seth Reeves.”
His eyes snapped open and met hers. Love flowed from her eyes into his, and he could have buried his head in her shoulder and wept.
“You give mebalance, Seth. You planted yourself in my life and I grew around you, flourished with your strength.” She held his cheek in her hand and kissed the line of his jaw. “When you said that you’re not the man I hoped for, you were wrong. You’reeverythingI could have ever hoped for. You’re resilient, brave, andselfless.” She kissed his lips. “I have seen your heart, your capacity for love and the depth of your loyalty. You will never have to question my love for you. I will always be yours. I love you, and I cannot go another day withoutyou knowing it.”
Incapable of words, he brought his mouth to hers. In between deep, searching kisses, he whispered words of love against her lips, coaxing her responses with slow strokes of his tongue. Breaking for breath, he ran his nose along hers and fought his fading strength. Resenting his limitations, he laid back against the pillow with a defeated groan. When she moved to leave, he used her words.
“Don’t go yet,” he said. “Hold me a little while longer.”
He heard the smile in her voice and felt it in her kiss as his eyes drifted closed. “Whatever you wish, my love.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Beckoned by the scent of coffee and bacon, Seth walked to the breakfast room. The Coopers considered Saturday morning breakfast sacred. It was important to take the time to share a meal, talk about their week, and enjoy each other’s company. They had an open table policy with invitations to anyone they considered family. Now that Cooper had the means, a brand-new table featured plates of fresh-baked rolls, scones with jam, and slices of ham.
Cooper sat at the head of the table, readingThe Times. Mr. Sanderson finished plating scrambled eggs from the sidebar and moved to sit next to Caroline. The two talked over a collection of letters and cards. Trevor sat across from them, strawberry preserves dripping from his toast onto the letter he was writing.
At the end of the table, Cassandra shimmered like a dream in a pale blue muslin day gown, smiling as she brought a teacup to her lips. Seth leaned against the doorway, watching for some time before she noticed him.
“You should have rung the bell!” Cassandra scolded. Hurrying to him, she extended her hand in support.
“I can walk to a chair, Cassandra,” he snipped, but he took her hand, anyway.
Had it not been for Cassandra fussing over him, he might have been back to work a week ago. He wouldn’t admit it aloud for fear that she would stop, but heenjoyedher attentions. It gave him excuses to touch her.
Over the course of Seth’s recovery, the family had turned a blind eye to the sight of them wrapped together. During the day, he would lounge in her lap while she read on the sofa, and he held her hand under the table during meals. At night, they slept in the same bed where Cassandra would allow him chaste kisses and nothing more. When his hands wandered—he was aman, after all—she swatted them away and refused him. “Not until we’re married.”
God willing, that would be Monday morning.
“Stop treating him like an invalid, the man can walk,” Cooper tutted. “I’ll tell you this, Reeves, I’m glad to be rid of her. I hope you know what you’re getting into. She’s bossy, she’ll want the final say in everything.”
“Stop talking, Matthew.”
“And the constant orders.” Cooper unfoldedThe Timesand raised it to his face. “Goodluck.”
