Page 45

“They might as well reserve our spot in the Frozen Four now, boys!” Erik shouts, his voice rising above the roar of the locker room.

The guys pound the lockers in celebration, and as team captain, I probably should tell them to rein it in as we’ve still got plenty of games, but right now? I’m too damn happy to care.

“And let’s not forget, our fearless captain pulled off the impossible and actually got a girl to agree to marry him!” Erik throws an arm around my neck and yanks me in, knuckling my hair in a wicked grin.

There’s another round of cheers, and I’m fucking thankful I have these guys in my life, helping me through the tough times and celebrating the wins. Even when they’re personal.

“Congrats, Bright,” Scotty says as Erik releases me. He holds out his hand and I take it, pulling him in for a side hug. “Gotta admit, I never expected you to be the first one of us to get hitched.”

I grin at the thought.

“I know, right,” Erik butts in, the same way he always does when he wants to get Scotty’s attention. “I thought for sure Dash would’ve knocked Madison up by now and they’d be planning their shotgun wedding.”

I can hear Dash’s grumble from here as he glares at my right wing. “Not funny,” he says sternly.

“It’s a little funny,” Henry mutters, only to get an elbow from Brooks to shut the hell up.

I bark out a laugh. Wow, I must be in a great mood because even the mention of my sister and best friend isn’t pissing me off.

I guess because it doesn’t matter to me anymore.

I’ve got Savannah now. She let me claim her in front of everyone, and I’m still trying to process how good that makes me feel.

Savannah Bright has such a nice ring to it.

I grin to myself, shaking my head as I pull away from the rest of the guys so I can get showered and see my girl. By the time I’m out, the celebrations have calmed, meaning I can quickly get my clothes on and slip out before anyone else tries to pull me away.

The second I spot her, I break into a jog. Savannah’s standing with my sister on the far side of the concrete hallway, shifting nervously from foot to foot. Her hands fidget with the hem of her jersey, tugging it just enough to keep that ring hidden from view.

The moment I’m close enough, I reach for her hand, gently untangling it from the edge of her jersey before lacing our fingers together. The feel of that band against my skin sparks something deep and primal. She’s mine now, and the whole world knows it.

“Hey,” she says as I kiss her forehead. “You played great out there.”

“Yeah, well, it was all for you, Sav.” I squeeze her hand, and she smiles.

Madison interrupts the moment by cooing. “You two,” she says, looking between us, “are just too stinking cute.”

I roll my eyes at my sister’s antics, but when I look at her and realize her eyes are glistening with tears, I pull her in for a hug, giving her a kiss on the forehead too.

“Thanks, sis.”

“No, no. Thank you, bro.”

“What for?”

“For giving me the sister I always wanted.” She giggles and I immediately turn my attention to Savannah, wanting to gauge her reaction. I know my sister can be a little much at times, but Savannah doesn’t seem bothered by it at all.

“So when’s the wedding?” Madison asks lightly. “Do Mom and Dad know?”

“We haven’t set a date yet,” I say. “I think we’d want Savannah’s sister, Adley, there before we set any concrete dates.”

I feel Savannah stiffen slightly, and then it hits me. I’ve been planning all of this in my head without talking to her about it.

“What do you think?” I ask, turning my attention to her.

She’s not frozen in awkwardness like I expect. Instead, her eyes are glassy and she’s smiling at me with reverence.

“I think that’s one of the nicest ideas you’ve ever had.”

Thank fuck.

She’s on the same page. Every time I think I’ve messed up and revealed too much, I’m wrong. I can see it. I can see that we might have a real shot at something if it all keeps going like this.

Dash walks out with his trusty foam roller tucked under his arm, and I tip my chin in greeting. With him here, he can keep an eye on Mads and I can take my girl home.

I squeeze Savannah’s hand.

“Come on, Sav. We need to give Stanley some company.”

When Stanley and I get back from his walk, he strolls into the living room, hops up onto the couch, and immediately makes himself comfortable.

“You staying there tonight?” I ask him and he barks in response. He’s been spending more nights out here, and as much as I love him, I’m thankful he’s giving Savannah and me a little privacy. “Good night, Stan.”

I slip into the bedroom and Savannah’s still in the bathroom, so I strip down to my boxers and sit on the edge of the bed.

The door creaks open a moment later.

“Did Stanley have a nice walk?” Savannah asks casually.

That’s when my mind all but ceases to function.

“Savannah?” I swallow, taking her in. “Are you going to wear that to bed?” I ask, the strain evident in my voice because shit… I’m going to have a problem keeping my hands to myself tonight.

She’s in nothing but my jersey.

Well, not exactly my jersey, it’s better. It’s her Mrs. Bright one.

Savannah looks down at it, her hands tugging at the fabric as she moves from side to side.

The fabric hangs loose on her frame, swallowing her up in a way that makes my chest ache.

The sleeves fall past her hands, but the bottom barely covers the tops of her thighs, leaving miles of bare skin exposed. “I thought you’d like it?”

“Fuck, Savannah, I love it. I just wasn’t expecting it and… well…”

I can’t say it. I won’t say it, because the number of times I’ve nearly come in my pants just looking at her is starting to feel borderline tragic.

I can’t help it at this point. Not when she’s wearing that.

Not when all I can think about is flipping her over and taking her while she’s wrapped in our name.

“I figured it was fitting for tonight,” she says softly as though she’s not just casually driving me insane.

I groan, dragging a hand down my face as she climbs into bed, pulling the blanket up like she hasn’t just shattered my last ounce of restraint. She shifts, getting comfortable, completely unaware of the internal crisis she’s causing.

I can’t do this. Not with the image of her in that jersey etched into my brain or the memory of her hands on me in the shower still simmering under my skin.

I’m seconds from combusting.

My jaw clenches, muscles straining as I move to the other side of the bed, pushing the sheets back and slipping in. I’m rigid as a damn statue, but it’s the only way I can restrain myself.

Without asking, Savannah curls up as I shift onto my side so I’m facing her. She looks up at me with those wide, sleepy eyes and I can’t help myself.

I know I shouldn’t be the first to say it. I know I should wait, but I can’t. She needs to know that all I ever think about is her. “I love you, Savannah,” I whisper, my voice rough with everything I’ve been holding back.

She doesn’t look surprised, not even a little. Instead, she smiles. It’s soft, sure and I want to say a little relieved.

“I love you too, Cade.”

Fucking hell.

She said it back, and I had no idea it would hit harder than winning the national championship.

My girl. My Savannah loves me like I love her.

I lean in, pressing my lips against hers, slow and deep, letting the moment settle around us. The words we just shared linger in the air, anchoring everything that follows.

She sighs into the kiss, her body softening against mine as her fingers dig into my skin. The kiss keeps going. It’s not frantic or rushed. It feels right. We’re relishing in a moment that will never be better.

I slide my hand along her waist, savoring the way she arches into me and moans out my name.

“Cade?” Her voice is quiet. “I want you to make love to me.” It’s so quiet, I might’ve missed it if I weren’t already tuned to every part of her.

I go still, my heart hammering as I pull back just enough to meet her eyes. I search her face, every inch of it, needing to be sure.

“I thought you wanted to wait? I’m happy to.”

She bites her bottom lip, her cheeks flushed, but her gaze is steady. “Yeah, I think I was just nervous last time, but I’m ready now.”

I pause, only for a second, because this matters. She matters, but then her hand wraps around my bicep, grounding me.

“I promise,” she says. “I want this. I want you.”

Those words nearly undo me, because I know the weight of her decision. She’s giving me everything, offering it instead of being forced to give it.

I kiss her again, deeper this time, letting her body mold into mine.

She rolls onto her back, pulling me with her until I’m hovering above. If she couldn’t feel how hard I am for her before, she definitely can now.

Still kissing her, I reach blindly for the nightstand drawer, fishing around until my fingers close around a foil wrapper. Relief pulses through me as I pull it out, only to freeze the second I see it.

Not a condom.

A ring pop.

The same bright purple, berry-flavored ring I proposed with is now taunting me, making it impossible to seal the deal.

Savannah looks over, confused. “Is that…?”

“Yeah,” I mutter, deflating. “It’s the damn ring pop.”

The one thing standing between me and finally making love to my fiancée.

I drop my head to her shoulder with a groan. “This is not how it was supposed to go.”

“How is it even here? I’ve still got it in my bag.”

“I, uh, got two,” I admit, clearing my throat. “You know. Just in case the first one melted before I got home.”

She stares at me, wide-eyed, then cracks up. It’s a full-body laughter that shakes the bed. Her head drops to the pillow as she gasps between giggles.

“Thank goodness,” she wheezes. “I thought you were going to try to use that thing on me.”

I lift a brow, smirking. “I mean… if it’s what you want, who am I to deny my future wife?”

She smacks my chest, still laughing. “Stop. I’d get a yeast infection from that.”