“It would be the best,” he murmurs.
I reach my hand out and touch the doorbell, hearing the soft chime go off inside.
“Hold on,” he tells me. “Someone’s at the door. Probably fucking Christmas carolers and I’m totally not in the mood.”
“Scrooge,” I taunt at him, and I can hear his footsteps as he walks through the house.
Click of the lock… a turn of the doorknob, and my heart is about ready to explode from my chest. It swings wide open and Zane is standing there, looking unbelievably beautiful in a pair of well-washed jeans and a Coyotes T-shirt. He has his phone pressed to his ear and blinks at me slowly.
“Hey,” I say into the phone while I smile at him.
He actually jerks from the sound in his ear, and then awareness washes over his face. The phone drops from his hand, where it lands softly on the carpet, and then he’s lunging through the doorway and out onto the front porch.
Strong arms wrap around me. I’m pulled so fiercely into his hug that my phone bobbles and then falls from my hand, where it falls not so gently onto the concrete steps. But I don’t care because this moment is too thrilling, too beautiful, and too magical to let anything interfere.
Zane’s face burrows into my neck, while he squeezes me tight and mumbles, “What are you doing here?”
My own arms are wrapped tightly around his neck, and I whisper. “Surprise. Thought you could use just one more Christmas present.”
He pulls back and looks down at me in amazement, his one perfect dimple on the left side of his face puckered as he smiles. “Best. Christmas. Present. Ever.”
“You’ve clearly been on Santa’s good list this year,” I quip.
He doesn’t respond but picks me up, throws me over his shoulder, and carries me inside.
“Wait, Zane,” I cry out as I balance myself with my hands on his lower back while I hang upside down. “My luggage is out near the road. I don’t want it to get stolen.”
“No one will steal it,” he says as I watch the hallway walls flashing by. “And if they do, I’ll buy you new stuff.”
His voice is urgent… raw… needy, so I don’t press the issue. Besides, I’m feeling those things myself.
I’m thrown down onto the bed, and then Zane is covering me. His mouth claims mine in a hard, possessive kiss, and the groan that comes out of those beautiful lips of his causes my blood to pound. His hands are everywhere. Pulling at my clothes, stroking my skin, pinching at my nipples.
I gasp and writhe, nipping at his lips when they get close to mine. Frantically pulling the shirt over his head, I see a flash of chiseled pecs and rolling ab muscles. Then he’s on me again.
The rest of the clothing melts away; our kisses are deep, wet, and consuming.
He’s hot and heavy in between my legs, pushing his way inside. Deep inside… just one push, and then we are melded together.
“No condom,” I whisper with a smile.
“No fucking condoms,” he confirms. “You’re on the pill, and we’re both clean. And fuck, Cady… that feels good, doesn’t it?”
I nod as my fingers skim through his hair, clasp behind his neck and pull him back down again. “Kiss me, Zane.”
And he does. Then he fucks me… hard and with so much passion, that when we explode, I’m not sure how we’ll ever get put back together.
Our heart rates slow, and our breaths even out. The sweat on our skin dries, and he wraps his arms around me.
“When did you decide on this little surprise?” he asks softly, one hand stroking my hip and lower back.
“At the baggage carousel at JFK,” I tell him, my own hand tracking patterns on his stomach.
“No shit?” he says in amazement. “Just like that?”
“Just like that,” I tell him. “Although, it’s something I had been pondering on the flight over. And suddenly… I just decided I had to be here with you.”
“Was your family disappointed?”
“Not in the slightest. They want me to be happy and they knew this is where I needed to be.”
Zane is silent for a long moment, his hand still stroking my skin with purpose. He turns slightly to look over at me, touching his lips softly to mine.
“I seriously can’t believe you’re here. How long can you stay?”
I shrug my shoulders nonchalantly, lowering my gaze to his chest.
“How about forever?” I whisper.
I can actually feel every muscle in Zane’s body freeze. His breath catches. Bringing one hand up, he circles it around my throat and then pushes up so I’m forced to look at him.
His eyes are dark, flashing with intensity. “Tell me that’s not a fucking joke,” he growls.
“Not a joke,” I tell him with a small smile. “I’d like to move here… to Phoenix, if you think that’s okay. I mean, I don’t want to assume you want me here, but hell… maybe I did assume that. I can get a small apartment, find a job… maybe finish up my degree over here. But again, only if you want me too, and fuck… I should have discussed this with you first before I just invited myself to your city, but I really think—”
Zane pushes me onto my back, rolls onto my body, and then he’s pushing inside of me once again while he stares down at me with victory in his eyes. When he’s impaled me perfectly and his pelvis is flush against mine, he leans down to drag his lips over mine for a brief kiss.
“I love you,” he says with utmost confidence as he pulls back and pins me with his gaze.
My smile breaks free, my heart is light, and my destiny is set. “I love you, too,” I tell him simply, not even the least bit surprised to hear for the first time that he loves me.
Really, what more is there to say?
“You’re not getting an apartment; you’re moving in with me. And you’re not getting a job; you’re immediately getting into school. And we’ll have to figure out how to get your stuff—”
I roll my hips and squeeze my inner muscles, feeling the way they perfectly grip him. “Shut up, Zane. Let’s talk details later.”
His eyes flutter closed when I contract again, and when they open back up, they are burning with lust. He pulls back and then slams into me.
I cry out in pleasure… love… satisfaction.
“Is this what you want?” he asks gruffly, starting up a driving rhythm that soon has his headboard knocking against the wall.
“Yes,” I gasp. “You… you’re what I want.”
“You have me,” he groans after a super-deep thrust. “Always.”
“Always,” I agree, and then I let myself go.
Epilogue
Zane
To: Cady Dunne
From: Zane Kavanaugh
Subject: Off-Season
Date: April 2, 2015
Damn, that game kicked my ass! Did you see the way Kasparitis hip-checked me? I’ve got a huge bruise on my right shoulder, and I think I need you to baby me when I get home. At least we won the game, so playoffs here we come! I wish you could have come to Tampa with me, but I understand. Damn schooling!!! LOL! I should be home mid-afternoon tomorrow.
So listen… let’s just assume we make it through a few playoff rounds. Hell, let’s just assume we win the Stanley Cup. After that’s all said and done and we drink from the silver chalice, we need to travel somewhere. The off-season isn’t very long and since you aren’t taking any summer classes, I think this is prime time for us to do some serious travel. I was thinking a definite visit to Dublin so I can see your hometown and you can visit your parents, but maybe we can hop around Europe for a bit. What do you think?
I mean… seriously, we need to do these things now because once we have kids, those traveling days will be over. Know what I mean?
Okay, heading to bed. I love you and miss you so much! Will I get a blow job since my shoulder’s injured when I get home?
Love,
Zane
***
To: Zane Kavanaugh
From: Cady Dunne
Subject:
Kids?
Date: April 2, 2015
Schmids!
Are you freakin’ serious, Zane? You can’t just drop that bomb about kids and then ask for a blow job! You’re a nutty fruitcake. I’m logging off my email. We can discuss this tomorrow.
I miss you, too!
Love,
Cady
P.S. And yes… you get a blow job… but not because your shoulder is injured but because of that thing you did with your mouth the other day before you left. Very nice.
***
Text exchange between Cady Dunne and Zane Kavanugh on April 2, 2015
Zane: You may have logged off your email but I can still text you. You’re not mad are you?
Cady: A little.
Zane: You called me a nutty fruitcake. I really don’t think you’re mad.
Cady: Am too.
Zane: Why does the subject of kids bother you?
Cady: Because we’ve never talked about it before, and usually marriage comes before that.
Zane: I’m well aware of that fact.
Cady: So… we haven’t talked about marriage yet. Super nutty fruitcake.
Zane: So let’s talk about marriage. Will you marry me?
Cady: WTF Zane!!! Is that your idea of a romantic proposal?
Zane: Hey! I’m a nutty fruitcake, remember? Would it make you feel better if I told you I have a ring in my duffle bag and I’ve been carting it around for a few weeks, trying to figure a clever way to propose?
Cady: And this is the best you can do?
Zane: At least it will be memorialized in writing for our kids to see one day.
Cady: Kids? I haven’t agreed to marry you yet.
Zane: You will.
Cady: Maybe… if you do that thing with your mouth again.
Zane: Count on it, baby!
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Books By Sawyer Bennett
The Off Series
Off Sides
Off Limits
Off The Record
Off Course
Off Chance
Off Season
The Last Call Series
On The Rocks
Make It A Double
Sugar On The Edge
With A Twist (Coming Soon)
Shaken Not Stirred (Coming Soon)
The Legal Affairs Series
Objection
Stipulation
Violation
Mitigation
Reparation
Affirmation
Confessions of a Litigation God
Friction: A Legal Affairs Novel (Coming Soon)
Stand Alone Titles
If I Return
Uncivilized
The Cold Fury Hockey Series (Random House/ Loveswept)
Alex
Garrett (releasing 2/7/15)
Zack (Coming June, 2015)
Brick (Coming September, 2015)
The Forever Land Chronicles
Forever Young
Books of the Stone Veil
The Darkest of Blood Magicks
To Catch a Dark Thief
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author, Sawyer Bennett is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. Her husband works for a Fortune 100 company which lets him fly all over the world while she stays at home with their daughter and three big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.
THE END
Off Season (Off #6) Page 8