Page 55

“I’ve been thinking, and…I want to sell the house. I don’t think we should stay here. Too many painful memories.” He sighs. “I tried not to let it into my head, but the images are too vivid, and I can’t shake them.”

I love this house. So many good memories were made here, but lately the bad memories are outweighing the good ones. And if Xander is uncomfortable, I can’t ask him to stay.

“Okay. Should we call a realtor?”

He leans away from me slightly, his attention roving over me. “Would it be okay if I surprised you?”

“Absolutely.”

Head lowered, he gently presses his lips to mine, and the world outside this living room ceases to exist.

Four days later, we’re in New York with plans to meet up with Kaden and Liv. According to Xander, we need more fun in our lives, and a trip to one of my favorite places counts.

“Where are we meeting them?” I ask as he parallel parks on the Upper East Side.

“We’re not meeting them until later.”

“No?”

“No. I have something to show you first.” The corners of his mouth curl into a smile. “I was hoping to bring you here a couple of days ago, but there were so many moving parts. Thankfully, I had a lot of help.”

A hint of anticipation threads through me. “A lot of help?”

“Yup. Tom and Ben helped. Your aunt too. Meg, Kaden, Jess. Even Audrey.”

I swallow thickly. Audrey sent me an exceptionally long message that included a real apology and a request to meet with her when I’m ready. She didn’t push, didn’t try to manipulate me. The ball is in my court, but I still haven’t made any decisions.

“Without them, this would’ve taken much longer.”

“I’m even more curious now.”

He takes my hand and interlaces our fingers. “I need you to close your eyes, and you can’t open them until I tell you to. Will you do that for me?”

I grin. “Dive in headfirst and trust you with my life?”

He nods.

“Sure. I can do that.”

“Then close your eyes, baby.”

With a laugh, I obey, waiting for him to help me out of his car. There’s no temptation to peek. This man has proven that I can trust him. He is my person. My perfect match.

He guides me out of the car, then leads me down the sidewalk. After a couple of minutes, we’re greeted by a low voice, though Xander leans away, whispering to the unknown man so I can’t hear.

He ushers me inside a building and into an elevator. As we float higher and higher, my mind races with excitement and curiosity.

The elevator dings, and when the doors whoosh open, he takes my hands and eases me out of the stainless-steel box.

God, I so want to see where we are.

My heart pounds wildly, my palms clammy. He spins me, pressing my back to his chest. His hot breath on my neck sends shivers down my spine.

“Okay, you can look now.”

I’m instantly doused in sunlight. It makes me squint, but once my vision adjusts, I take in the details of the space.

It’s a large room, designed in a Scandinavian style that complements the floor-to-ceiling windows.

It’s the same style his house is decorated in, the style that brought us together when he asked me to help him with his bathroom. That simple bathroom changed my life.

“What is this? Where are we?”

“Welcome home, baby,” he whispers.

Tears spring to my eyes as I timidly turn around. “What?”

“I told you, I can’t stay in that house. It’s going on the market this week. I rented this place until you leave for Santa Clara.”

A strange mix of joy and apprehension bubbles up inside me. “But you need to be in Boston. Where will you stay?”

He takes my hands, gazing at me tenderly.

“I’ll be here as often as I can, but for now, when I have to be in Boston, I’ll stay with my folks.

” With a subdued smile, he brushes his thumbs over my knuckles.

“They suggested it. It will give us an opportunity to spend extra time together before I leave for Santa Clara.”

My heart stumbles. “What are you talking about?”

“My contract with the Warriors is up after this season. We’re negotiating, but I asked my agent to reach out to the Mustangs. If they want me, I’ll happily go. That way, I can be with you in Santa Clara.”

“Xander—”

He presses his finger to my lips, silencing me.

“You’re my everything, my reason, but also, you are my priority .

Priority, not option. My life was shallow and dark without you, and I don’t want to experience that ever again.

My love for you makes me a better person, but your love for me makes me believe I can do anything.

” He cups my face, his eyes fathomless and filled with tenderness.

“I love you, Isabella Lawson, with everything I have. Body, soul, mind, and heart.”

“I love you too,” I whisper.

He pulls me closer and covers my mouth with his.

Mind-blowing kisses, soft lips, light-as-a-feather touches.

We can’t get enough of each other, hands exploring every curve and muscle.

Our tongues play, curling and dancing, the movements more urgent, more daring.

Moans escape me with the stroke of his tongue. It feels like heaven.

I slide my hands up his pecs, working his jacket off his shoulders.

Then I find the hem of his shirt and press my palms to his warm skin.

His muscles contract under my touch. God, how I love his body .

Even simple things, like watching him change his clothes, turn me on.

Such defined lines should be forbidden. Once my eyes land on him, I forget the rest of the world.

He helps me out of my jacket and tosses it to the floor. I quickly step out of my boots without breaking our kiss. Head spinning, I stumble, only to be caught in his arms. We stare at each other, both breathing hard.

“You’re blowing my mind,” he murmurs, his gaze clouded. “Sending me over the edge, banishing all my control. How do you do it?”

I feign innocence. “It’s my secret.” I put both of my hands on his chest and shove him back. His eyes go wide with surprise, but as his ass hits the couch, he breaks into a devilish smile.

His gaze zeroes in on me as I ease my dress over my head, and as he takes me in from head to toe, his breath shudders.

My lacy red lingerie set gives him the motivation he needs.

I’ve never seen him get rid of his clothes so quickly.

In the blink of an eye, I have Alexander Walker, the star quarterback of the Boston City Warriors, naked, his long, hard dick in hand. So ready for me.

I step closer so he can peel my panties down my legs, and then I ease myself onto his lap, only stopping when he’s fully seated inside me.

“You feel so good, baby.” He grasps two handfuls of my ass and sucks on a pebbled nipple through the lace of my bra. “Your wet pussy is perfect for my dick… So good…”

Slowly, I roll my hips once, twice, then pick up the pace, each move deeper, rougher. Rotating, circling, grinding. Nibbling and sucking on his skin, biting his lips, grazing my teeth over his nipples. His groans and grumbles mix with my moans, filling the room with the sweetest sounds.

“Oh my God…” I breathe, closing my eyes and riding him even harder. Wet, sloppy sounds bounce off the walls as I chase my orgasm. It only increases the passion and heat between us, and his cock thickens inside me.

“Just like that, baby.” He grips my hips, moving me faster, dragging my clit over his pelvis, driving me dizzy.

I smash my lips to his, quickening my tempo. He’s still incredibly deep. My eyes roll back in my head, and finally, I let go, allowing my release to overwhelm me. I squeeze around his shaft, milking his orgasm.

We come down together, leisurely kissing and murmuring and caressing. For a long time, we stay like that. Despite how curious I am about the rest of the apartment, I want to live in this moment.

And I also want to clarify a few things.

“So we’re really going to live in two cities?” I ask as he nips at my pulse point.

“Do you really want to talk about that now?” He chuckles, leaning away.

“We could use a minute or two to catch our breath anyway,” I point out.

“Yes, we’re going to live in two cities.” He gives me a devastating grin. “I’ll visit as often as I can, but I think Milo would love to stay here with you. He’s always liked you more than me.”

Warmth blooms in my chest, though I still have so many questions. “What about?—”

“Tom helped me convince Ben you could work for him remotely. You did it when you were in school, so he can’t deny it’s possible. He understands New York would be good for you. Millie supports the idea too, just like Meg.”

My real family. The people who have my back no matter what. Aunt Millie, Ben and Tom, Meg—four people I can’t imagine my life without.

“You said Kaden helped? Jess? Your sister?”

“Audrey contacted the guy who manages the building. He went to college with her and Jess. Kaden and Jess toured the available units for me.”

I grin so hard my cheeks ache.

“They FaceTimed me while they walked through this apartment, and we knew immediately it was the one.”

“I can’t believe you did all this for me. I love you so fucking much.” I bite my bottom lip. “But…if we can do long distance now, why can’t we do long distance when I go to Santa Clara? It’s only a year. I don’t want to take you away from Boston. You love it there.”

He chuckles softly, tucking strands of my hair behind my ears. “This is only for a few months. I can’t go a whole year without you. I love football, and I love Boston, but I love you more. I talked to Drew and Marco. I talked to my parents. Everyone supports us. They all want the best for us.”

I’m stunned. He’s thought it all through. He talked to his parents, to his friends. For me.

“But—”

He shuts me up with a hard kiss, his tongue finding its way into my mouth and sending goosebumps skittering along my skin.

With a nip to my lip and a quick peck, he leans back. “Are we done talking?” His husky voice makes my pussy throb; clearly he notices, because his eyes darken. “I think we are.”

Two can play this game, Alexander.

Smirking, I stand and tower over him.

The intrigued look on his face means one thing: He’s waiting to see what I’ll do next. I stroll away from the couch and further into the apartment.

“Where are you going?” He follows me, his bare feet on the floor rattling the quiet of this place.

I glance over my shoulder. He stands a few feet away, his cock hard again. The guy knows what his woman needs, doesn’t he? I turn to face him.

“I was wondering…” Slowly, I drink him in. “Where is our bedroom?”

“God, woman, you’re killing me.” With a growl, he pounces, scooping me into his arms.

As if we were made to fit together, he effortlessly slides into me.

Groaning in approval, he carries me down the hall and through an open doorway on the right.

Then I’m on my back atop soft covers, my man hovering over me.

The way he looks at me makes my heart gallop, as if I’m the most precious thing in the world and he can’t get enough.

“Before I fuck your brains out, we need to settle one last thing.”

I snort, even as a fire blazes in my lower abdomen. “And what is that?”

“Will you be my girlfriend?” He draws in a breath, his expression growing serious.

I prop myself on my elbows, inching my face closer to his. “I’m yours.”

Groaning, he rolls his hips. “Say it again.”

“I’m yours…” Thrust . “I’m only yours, Xander…” Thrust . “Always.” Thrust .

I say it over and over as he drives into me, merciless at first, then shifting to tender and steady. He’s the essence of everything I’ve ever wanted in a man, of everything I’ve ever needed.

It’s wild to think that the night I met him, I was standing at another man’s side. Destiny and its sense of humor never cease to amaze me.