Sharon smiled. At least he’d brought his sense of humor. For a moment she thought she was going to have to field this entire madness alone. Later she would need to thank him. He was late. About two years late in her opinion, but at least he was here now when it counted.
In all fairness, Fate probably had this scenario completely orchestrated since the beginning of time. It was going to be a bitch trying to explain things to Jackson until he fell into the plan, but it would work out in the end.
She was confident enough that she exhaled and let her shoulders relax.
“You gonna help me out here, gimpy?” Cooper said.
Sharon inhaled a sharp breath and jerked her gaze to his face to find him teasing her, his mouth cocked up on one side in a silly smirk that made her almost laugh. “Seems like you’ve got it under control,” she tossed back, leaning into the cushions and crossing her arms under her breasts. She knew the effect that would have on him. And she did it anyway.
Sure enough Cooper’s gaze lowered to her swollen breasts, and he rolled his eyes before he yanked his focus back to her face.
Feigning pain, Sharon lifted her fake injury with both hands and hauled her ankle up to rest on the coffee table in the most exaggerated fashion she could manage. “I really shouldn’t be on my feet, and besides, I think you owe me.” She batted her eyes as she smiled coyly, tipping her head to one side.
He so owed her. He owed her so badly she would milk it for all it was worth for years to come. And he could start now, by figuring out a way to explain to Jackson how his life had just entered the Twilight Zone.
Letting her skirt ride higher on her thighs, she nodded at Cooper. “You were saying?”
Cooper closed his eyes for a moment, probably fighting the warring need to both throttle her and fuck her senseless.
And she was okay with that. Because it was only fair.
The man had knowingly left her hanging for two years because he was too stubborn to make an appearance. Never mind that Fate wouldn’t have let all things come together until the timing was right. Sharon still wanted to punch his lights out for torturing her.
He could start making it up to her now.
“I think I should go,” Jackson said, twisting around as if looking for some loose belongings he should gather first. “You two obviously have a history that needs to be worked out. I’ll let you do that.” He didn’t meet Sharon’s gaze as he wiped his hands on his jeans and stepped toward the door.
Cooper’s shoulders fell. “No. Don’t. If anyone leaves here tonight, it has to be me.”
Jackson turned around and faced Cooper, still avoiding Sharon. It stung, but she understood how confused and hurt he must be. “And you think it would be a better idea if we all three stayed?”
“Yes.”
Jackson lifted his arms and ran his palms over his short-cropped hair. “Do I even speak the same language as you?”
Cooper smiled and pointed at the couch. “Please. Sit back down and hear me out.”
Jackson hesitated.
For a moment Sharon didn’t think he would take the offer. A knot formed in her throat, threatening tears. “Please, Jackson.” She held out a hand, opening herself to a level of vulnerability she’d never faced.
An olive branch.
Jackson finally met her gaze. His face was contorted in a mixture of confusion, anger, and the underlying arousal he didn’t understand and wouldn’t be able to escape.
It was that last emotion she was counting on to keep him in the condo long enough to make him see reason.
The drive to mate was a powerful feeling. Even for a human it was all-consuming. And in this instance it won because Jackson reached out, took her hand, and climbed over her legs to settle back at her side. He didn’t leave any space between them this time. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and held her close.
She thought he might be using her as an anchor. And that was good because she needed him for the same purpose.
“Cooper?” She wasn’t joking this time. She really hoped he had the verbal skills to dig them out of this hole.
Cooper planted his feet wider and set his hands on his hips as he faced them both. And then he launched. “The black aura is a well-known Native American sign of something ominous heading our way. Surely you’ve heard the lore.” His gaze was planted on Jackson, a full Native, although human.
Jackson nodded. “Of course. But it’s just that, lore.”
Cooper lifted an eyebrow. “Did you not see it?”
Jackson swallowed but said nothing.
Sharon set her hand on his thigh and pressed hard enough to ground him more firmly. She tipped her head back when she felt his gaze turn toward her. “It’s real. Trust me.”