over his cropped hair, wondered absently if he should just shave everything off like a few of the other guys. Then again, some of their women hadn't exactly been impressed by the look. So maybe he should check with Grace first. And if that made him pussy-whipped, he didn't give a shit. He wanted her to care about what he did with his body, wanted her to consider him her damn business.
"I need help, Riaz," he said to the man with whom he'd first strategized about how to attract female attention - they'd been gawky teens at the time.
"How do I court her?"
"Didn't you say you were with her tonight?"
"Yes." He hadn't mentioned any specific details, just that he was frustrated in the aftermath.
"Well, it's been less than a week - if your submissive's allowing you close enough that you've got blue balls, I'd say you're already doing things right. We both know you're a bit much for even some of the dominant females."
Cooper winced because Riaz was right. He was demanding, in bed and out.
Even when he tried to tone it down, it only lasted so long. "Grace can handle me." She had to - because he'd been waiting for her for a lifetime. "Though maybe I should try a more subtle approach, at least for a while."
"I gotta ask, Coop. You sure about this?" His friend's eyes were night-glow in the dark of his bedroom. "Your Grace, she hasn't got any claws, not in comparison to you."
Cooper bristled. "It feels righter than anything else in my life; she's tougher than everyone thinks. She's already challenged me once. I know she'll go toe-to-toe with me once her wolf accepts I'll never use my dominance against her."
"In that case, balls to the wall, man." Riaz yawned. "No guts, no glory."
"Why are you spouting aphorisms at me?"
"Because it's two-fucking-thirty in the morning and I need to be up for a six a.m. shift."
"Wimp."
Riaz gave him the finger. "Get some sleep and chase your wolf tomorrow." Another yawn. "And Coop?
Forget about subtle. That's not your style."
AT nine the next morning, Grace stared at the extravagant bunch of flowers that had been delivered to her office a few minutes ago, direct from the greenhouse attached to the den. Overflowing with color and texture and scent, though she saw he hadn't forgotten her favorite daisies, it was a blatant public declaration of intent.
Then there was the card. According to the grinning juvenile who'd delivered the flowers, Cooper had inserted it into the bouquet himself, promising a horrible death to anyone other than Grace who dared open it.
Like I said. Lots and lots of foreplay. xx Coop.
Blushing, even as relief coursed through her that he hadn't been scared off last night, she tucked the scandalous card into her pocket just as the comm panel chimed an incoming call.
"Indigo," she said, acknowledging the lieutenant with a split-second of eye contact. "Chief's with the healer - he twisted his ankle this morning. Said to tell you he'll get in touch later today."
"No problem," Indigo said in a distracted tone. "Those are some gorgeous flowers on your desk."
"Yes. From Cooper," Grace admitted, knowing the gossip would reach the Sierra Nevada den by the end of the day anyway.
She'd underestimated the speed of the pack grapevine.
"I figured." An open grin. "So...why do you look mortified?" Her tone cooled. "You don't share his interest?"
"Of course I do." Until her entire body ached for his touch. "God, what red-blooded woman would turn away from a man like Cooper?"
Indigo laughed. "Sorry about that," she said a little sheepishly. "I know it's none of my business, but he's my friend.
I'd hate for him to be hurt." A pause before she added, "I can see he's made a good choice - you're smart, sexy...and without a doubt want to jump his bones." Grace groaned at the sly tease.
"Everyone is going to be watching us now."
She was right. And that was before Cooper stole her away for lunch since he had to be on night shift on a perimeter section and wouldn't see her for dinner.
"Did you like the flowers?" he asked, bracing his arm above her head on the tree trunk on which she leaned.
He looked so pleased with himself that she felt a surge of wild affection.
"Yes." And because there was no pain in his eyes today, she didn't bring up the worry that continued to simmer in her at whatever it was that was hurting him.
Instead, she petted him with her words,