Chapter Fifty Two

"Can you believe this woman never cooked before she came here three years ago?" Coop sat back in his chair and settled his cutlery on his empty plate.

Freya swatted at him, "A - I could cook, I just never wanted to, and B - if I hadn't improved my skills we'd have all starved!"

Coop paused held up his hand in surrender, "I have not got a creative bone in my body darling. You know that."

She puffed at him, "creative? The fridge was full of microwave meals, pizza and beer when I moved in."

Oscar laughed at the banter then leaned between the two, "can I just say two things? Firstly you were never really meant to move in..."

Coop whooped and gave a loud high five with his friend, before Oscar added, "and also, this man lived on protein shakes until then...the frozen and fast food were mine."

Coop nodded as both sets of eyes turned to Freya, but despite her being the timid woman that Oscar had described her as in the past, Lizzie was amazed to see her ruffle her feathers and lean over the table, squaring up to the two men, "don't even BEGIN to gang up on me, you two. Let me remind you that you both kept Nate a secret - which led to the mess that you found yourself in brother dearest. Don't hold me to ransom, and you Mitchell Cooper...you KNOW what you are about to lose..."

Coop's expression dropped from cocky to desperate in a second, and Lizzie loved how devoted the big man was to his tiny, feisty wife. Would she ever feel that in control, that loved? She wasn't sure, but she still laughed at the interactions between the friends around the table.

"Now Frey, let's not be rash..."

Oscar wrapped his forearms around his head, "this is way too difficult to see. She's my bloody sister Coop! Can you guys discuss things when you're alone?"

Freya chuckled, "hear that stud? You might think he's an ally, but he doesn't want to hear the intimate details...sounds like you're on your own when it comes to ribbing me."

It was all in good humour and when they finished the meal together, the three little cousins settled in front of the TV watching a movie. It was approaching bed time and they'd agreed to stay the night with the Coopers, rather than take the guest flat over the garage.

The men supervised the kids, whilst opening another beer, that left the women in the kitchen with the dishes...and a delicious looking cake that had Lizzie salivating.

"You look great together...is he treating you well?"

Lizzie took a deep breath before she turned to Freya, "should I be worried?"

Freya's face crinkled with concern, "what do you mean?"

Lizzie took another deep breath, "you and Coop seem convinced that he's going to hurt me."

Freya's jaw dropped, "really? You think we're trying to put you off? Shit. Sorry, Lizzie, you are mistaking us laughing at him, as us thinking that this is temporary?"

When Lizzie didn't answer, Freya rushed over to her and hugged her, "Lizzie, he is a DIFFERENT man, and the amount of shit he gave me and Mitchell Cooper when we started things...well, let's just say he deserves this, but don't feed off it please."

Lizzie smiled, she wanted to believe that this was all teasing, but she also knew that he had been a player, that he had dated women who were so perfect...it was her biggest insecurity. But she wasn't about to let that spoil the day, he had laid his heart out, on a platter...for her. She had to start believing in all that he promised her.

When Lizzie sighed, Freya stopped in her tracks, "I'm sorry...but this really is about him, honestly. YOU...you are SO good for him, don't let my comments spoil that."

Lizzie nodded, "it's ok. I'm just not the happiest, I'm way outside my comfort zone."

Freya grabbed her hands, "Oscar loves you, he probably will never tell you that, but it's obvious. I may not have that much experience with him, not really. But he and Mitchell Cooper...they were buddies for years. And my husband KNOWS him. He's changed...and I love it. Hell I love you! You're the greatest woman I could ever imagine for him."

Lizzie hugged the other woman, giving in to the emotions. Not because she was deluded, that she thought that being close to Freya would change things, but she believed a lot of it. She trusted Oscar, she wasn't completely convinced that he was going to be her forever...though he talked the talk. But she trusted that he cared about her, that he'd do right by her. That wasn't a situation that she had envisaged even a few weeks earlier. Now? She wanted to believe, she wanted to be part of Oscar's life. All she could do was be there, and hope that everything he said was true.

"Thanks, Freya. You have accepted me from the very first second."

Freya smiled, a real genuine smile, and that made Lizzie smile, she was such a good person and teasing between two siblings shouldn't make someone feel guilty.

Freya hugged her again, "that's because all I say is true. You are truly perfect for him, he's my brother and I love him. But he's not made the best choices. That's changed. He's finally found exactly what he needs."

"So you're ok in Oscar's old room?"

Oscar turned his head and offered, "are you sure you're ok with Nate upstairs?"

The layout of the house meant that there were two large bedrooms on the top floor of the house; the ground floor had an equally large bedroom that had been Oscar's when he'd lived there. Now it was still a spare room, at least until the Cooper children needed individual rooms. Nate was sleeping in with Elena his cousin, both had been ecstatic at the thought.

"If either of them helps keep Riley quiet too, then they can sleep together forever!"

That made Lizzie chuckle as she rested her head against the back of the chair. They were sat in the lounge part of the open plan home, Freya and Coop curled up on a sofa, Oscar on the other sofa. No one seemed to notice that she was distant in her chair. But she needed to be more than the woman who curled up to Oscar. She was more than an extension of him. Plus she wasn't sure how she'd manage to be so close to him without touching him.

Oscar laughed at Coop's retort, "no one can promise that, Daddy."

Coop rolled his eyes, "so there's something to be said for discovering your child AFTER they've learned to sleep through the night."

Lizzie grimaced at the words, which whilst weren't intended to hurt, probably would. But Oscar laughed, "I am a richer man since I found the Breens. You can't change that friend."

Coop gave a nod, and a moment of respect passed between the two men. After a second they leaned towards each other and clinked their bottles together.

"Nice bro."

An hour later, Freya yawned and fell into her husband's side.

"That's our cue to turn in people. You know where everything is?"

Oscar nodded, "of course. Thanks again, for putting us up...again."

Coop got to his feet and tugged Freya with him, "no problems."

"I'm tired too," Oscar stood. "You?"

Lizzie nodded, "I just need to check on Nate."

He gave a slow nod, "you want me to?"

She chuckled, "no. It's fine...I'll be a couple of minutes."

With that she followed the Coopers upstairs.

Nate was fast asleep, the opposite end of the bed to Elena, they both looked angelic, and it warmed her heart. This is all that she wanted for him, a family that loved him. And this was a great family, he was very lucky. Closing the door, she crept past the other bedroom and down stairs. The door to what she now knew was Oscar's old bedroom was ajar, and she felt a little anxious as she approached it.

And then she spotted it on the floor, socks...Oscar's socks. With a gulp, she bent to pick them up, not wanting Freya to find them in the morning. Before she stood back up, she spotted his jeans in the doorway. Groaning she snatched at them too.

"What's this some sort of treasure hunt?" She asked as she entered the room, then she froze.

Oscar was in the bed, propped up against the pillows, bare chest, a thin sheet pulled up to his waist. It was mesmerising, he was so beautiful, but he was watching her, studying her. And that's what threw her.

"Am I treasure then?" There was a cockiness to his voice that scared her.

She bit her lip, any confidence she had entering the room vanished, then shrugged.

He smiled, pulled back the sheet next to him, then folded his hands behind his head, "you joining me?"

Suddenly she was in the spotlight. He'd seen every part of her, that wasn't the issue really. But to stand there and disrobe, whilst he watched her, studied her. It terrified her. She had flaws; she wasn't anything like he was used to. But he wants YOU. He's told you that. It was that voice that forced her to lift her eyes and meet his.

"I'm going to love this." His voice was husky, and she could see the outline of him hardening under the sheet.

"I'm scared." She offered, they'd said they'd be honest with each other, and that was the only response she could give, a response that terrified her.

He sighed, "why? You are beautiful, the most beautiful person I know. I want you to see that to, to feel it."

"And this is the way?"

Rolling his eyes he was silent for a moment, then he flipped back the sheet, unveiling the whole of him, and she gasped. Despite the fact that they'd had sex numerous times, it had generally been snatched moments, and discretion around Nate.

So seeing him there, lying, exposed, completely naked...took her breath away. But it was his growing erection that truly grabbed her attention.

"That's what you do to me."

She lifted her eyes to him questioningly.

He grinned, "don't need a touch, a kiss...nothing. This is what the THOUGHT of you does to me. You won't listen to my words, how I feel about you...so watch what you do to me. I don't know how else to make you realise, to accept the effect you have on me. Maybe actions will speak louder than my words?"

He was willing to open up, first his heart...he'd told her he loved her. Now he was showing her candidly his physical reaction to her, not just the emotional one. He was giving her everything.

That hit her like a sledgehammer, and she staggered slightly.

"You really do love me." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. A light suddenly flicking on inside her.

"You doubted that?"

Chewing her lip, she struggled with her answer, "no one ever has."

Oscar's jaw dropped at her honesty, "that's not true...no one has ever made you realise they do. It changes, Lizzie. Because if you don't love yourself...then it means nothing."

She felt a tear trickle from her eye and swiped at it.

"Shit! Don't cry...please."

He made to sit up, but she shook her head, "I'm fine. I swear."

Before he could reply, Lizzie grabbed her t-shirt in both hands, and dragged it over her head. Oscar gasped his eyes wide as he digested her action. She tried to keep her eyes on his, but she couldn't resist dragging her gaze over him, and was rewarded with the sight of his half erection doubling, growing even more under her eyes. By the time she'd shed her jeans in what she hoped was a seductive fashion, he was ramrod stiff, straight...pulsing. It was the most exciting thing she'd ever seen, and empowering. She unhooked her bra, but still couldn't' find the courage to toss it to one side, to stand there uncaring.

As if he sensed her sudden dip in confidence, he slid to sit on the edge of the bed in front of her, and reached up to place his hands over hers, which were still clutching the lace to her chest. His thumbs ran over the slope of her breasts, his intense look never leaving hers. Gently, he eased her tense fingers loose, all the time watching her face, her expression. He didn't drag the bra away; instead he dropped his hands to her ribs, thumbs caressing her skin in circular motions.

"You don't have to do this..."

She shook her head, "I want to."

Oscar nodded, "we've got all night."

Taking a deep breath, she uncurled her fingers and let the white lace fall to the floor. Oscar moaned, he was eye level with her chest, and she could feel his breath against her puckered nipples. She dropped her hands to his shoulders, and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him until his cheek rested against her stomach.

They stayed like that for a long moment; Lizzie took in all that had happened. Somewhere in the last ten minutes, she'd started to feel desirable; she'd started to believe that this beautiful man wanted her.

Oscar had never been so hard, never been so desperate, he'd scare her with his desperation, he had to regain some control. But that wasn't easy. Lizzie's innocence, her naivety, it just added to her beauty, to her intrigue. He knew he was forcing her to face her fears, but he wanted her to feel confident, the thought of her walking across the room to him, naked, smiling, teasing...it turned him on beyond belief. But now? This had been more than he imagined.

He ran his hands down, over her arse and groaned, her skin was so bloody soft, the arc of her backside seemed a perfect fit to his palms. Sliding his fingers under the lacy shorts she wore, he tugged them to her knees. Then she shimmied out of them. All the while he stayed wrapped in her arms, his head against her skin, her arms around his shoulders.

Turning his head, he placed his lips just above her belly button, a soft kiss, then he nipped with his teeth. He could feel the gasp rumble through her body, see the goose bumps erupt over her skin.

"You are amazing, I want to worship you."

He looked at up her and saw the flush of heat sweep over her from below the curve of her breasts. He didn't think he could get any harder, but the need for her, the desire...it overwhelmed him. He'd never felt like this.

She swayed in his arms, and he nibbled his way down from her belly button, his tongue lashing her sensitive skin as he went.

Pulling her closer, he slid his tongue between her legs and she swooned, literally. He was torn, between wanting to taste her more, to go deeper, and protecting her, as he feared she might collapse at any second. Sighing, he lifted her, moved her beside him, spreading her out on the bed. And was rewarded with her stretching out, arms reaching over the pillows, hair spread around her, back arching from the mattress. She'd never looked more relaxed, more sexy or more wanton. He growled, and that made her eyes pop open. Reaching for one leg, he almost collapsed himself when she let him move it, open her up, see her. She wasn't self conscious, she wasn't hiding for him...there was only one thing for it.

He dived in, literally face first.