Page 34

Xander

N ight has fallen, and Rain and I couldn’t even think about dinner after the feast we had with my family. Instead, we ended up walking down to the pier, letting the sea breeze cool us off.

“Do you want a little dessert?” I ask, glancing at her with a smile.

“You?” she teases, eyes glistening in the moonlight.

I chuckle. “Well, me is a given. But I was thinking, there’s a bakery not too far from here. They make some of the best cookies I’ve ever had. I used to stop by almost every day growing up.”

Her eyes light up, and that’s all the answer I need.

“I love getting to visit all the places you grew up enjoying. It’s like a little peek at baby Xander.” Her smile is blinding as we walk hand in hand.

“I love that you want to know me. All of me.” I place a kiss on her hair.

Tracing my steps with Rain brings a sense of accomplishment I’ve never felt before. It feels like, with her, I can finally tell young Xander that everything turns out better than expected. That we not only got to play the game we love, but we also got the prettiest girl on earth.

“Wow, Xander. Do you smell this?” Rain says, practically bouncing, as she checks out every single cookie in stock—chocolate chip, oatmeal, hermit, and linzer.

We get a variety box and find a bench nearby.

She takes a huge bite of the hermit cookie and closes her eyes in bliss.

“Oh my, Xander. I need to learn how to make these at home. It’s like a snickerdoodle, but better.”

“It’s my favorite,” I tell her. “Maybe you can add your own twist to it?”

I brush a few crumbs off her lips, and she playfully nibbles at my finger. I grin, lick the crumbs away, and grab a chocolate chip cookie before my dick gets any ideas.

“Hmm, maybe I should. Cookies aren’t something we offer at the diner. But maybe a giant cookie on a skillet? Topped with ice cream?”

Her eyes drift off like she’s already back in Azalea Creek.

“That’s an excellent idea. Needless to say, I want to be your official taste tester.” I wiggle my eyebrows, and she chuckles.

I sneak a bite of the cookie in her hand, and she narrows her eyes in mock offense.

Shaking a finger at me, she says, “You have a diet to follow. You know you have to be one hundred percent focused, and I’m not going to be the one who derails you.”

I kiss her temple, but she’s not finished.

“However,” she adds with a smirk, “I’ll be happy to take you up on your offer during the offseason.”

My mind immediately starts racing, thinking of everything I want to do with her next summer. First, move into our home. Then, a trip to Colombia. I need her to see the Caribbean coast, the place that shaped me.

And then, just like that, a diamond ring enters the frame in my mind, clear as day.

I make a mental note: next time the Red Wolves play in New York, I’m finding the one.

She might have been joking earlier, but I’m dead serious. I’ll be proposing before next Christmas.

Rain rests her head on my shoulder as we watch people stroll past the pier. A soft breeze rustles her hair, and a deep sense of peace washes over me. She’s here. With me. And nothing has ever felt more right.

“Thank you for today, Cherry,” I say, my voice quiet.

She wraps her hand around my bicep, warm and solid.

“You never have to thank me for spending time with you,” she says. “I hope we can keep being this happy, just enjoying each other’s company… even when we’re old and gray.”

I seal her wish with a kiss.

“What do you say we continue the party at the house?” I ask, giving Rain a hopeful grin

She smiles back, easy and bright. “You don’t have to ask me twice, Hotshot.”

I kiss her slow and sweet, then we walk back to the car.

Once we’re in, I turn the key in the ignition, and the radio kicks on, still tuned to the station from earlier. A familiar beat fills the car—upbeat, a little sultry, and full of rhythm. Rain starts swaying along almost instantly.

As I start driving, she leans her head back against the seat, humming softly. “This music is fun. What is it called?”

“The band is Bomba Estéreo. They mix champeta with other styles—electronic, rap, reggae.” I pull up a playlist on my phone, trying to get it going before we pull into the driveway.

Rain’s already typing on her phone.

“What are you doing?” I ask, opening the garage door.

“I’m creating our playlist,” she says without looking up. “Songs we’ve either danced to, sung together, or just enjoyed. That way, when you’re away, I’ll have a soundtrack.”

My heart pulls tight in my chest. I don’t say anything for a second, I just look at her. She doesn’t even realize how easy it is to love her.

“Share it with me, please?” I say softly. “It’ll help me too.”

She nods and smiles.

After I park, I jog around to her side and open the door. Instead of helping her out, I cradle her face in my hands and kiss her. I’ll never tire of this overwhelming feeling. Never.

“I was thinking we could sit outside.” I say as we enter the house, “and I’ll turn on the hot tub.”

Rain frowns. Instantly, I’m in front of her.

“What’s wrong?”

She huffs and crosses her arms, adorable in her frustration. I bite my lip to avoid laughing.

“Well, apparently I’m the only idiot who doesn’t pack a swimsuit when visiting a beach town.”

I’m about to speak, but she lifts her finger to stop me.

“It's one thing for me to accept that you have a past; it’s another to wear something you probably took off someone else.”

She gags, and I lose it.

I throw my head back in laughter.

“Xander, it isn’t funny,” she says, swatting at my chest. “I’m not wearing any yucky stuff.”

I pull her into a hug as my laughter dies down, and finally, a smile forms on her gorgeous face .

“No, babe,” I reply. “I was going to suggest we skinny-dip in the ocean, and then hop into the hot tub to warm up.”

Her gray eyes sparkle like two icicles under the sun. “Now you’re talking, Hotshot.”

She walks to the couch and sits down to remove her sandals.

“Wait,” she says, freezing mid-motion. “What if someone sees us?”

I smirk as I slip off my shoes and start unbuttoning my jeans.

“It’s a private beach. If anyone sees us, they’ll be in big trouble.”

A wicked grin spreads across her face, and just like that, a shot of electricity zaps from my spine all the way to my dick.

“The last one in the water’s a loser!” she shouts, bolting up from the couch as she starts unbuttoning her dress.

I take my time. I don’t need to win. Watching her—laughing, free, wild under the stars—that’s the real victory.

I peel off my jeans and shirt, step outside, and turn the hot tub on. I grab a few towels from the outdoor closet, then make my way to the beach.

Just as Rain’s feet touch the water, I sprint and scoop her into my arms.

She howls with laughter, and my heart bursts with love for this girl.

“Hey!” I grin. “I thought howling was my thing.”

She wraps her arms around my shoulders. “I just felt like it was the appropriate thing to do. But now I might be rethinking this whole skinny-dip idea. This water is frigid.”

I laugh at her comment.

When we’re deep enough, she straddles me, arms around my neck. We let the ocean sway us a bit.

“So,” I murmur, my forehead to hers, “what do you think?”

She frowns.

“The ocean. Do you like it?” I clarify.

She scrunches her nose in disgust. “This one is salty and cold as fuck. I think I need more data points before I can answer that.”

Just then, a wave knocks us off balance. I land on my ass in the sand, sputtering. Rain spits out a mouthful of water, shrieks with laughter, and bolts for the hot tub.

I follow, grinning like a fool.

By the time I catch up, she’s already beneath the warm water, arms stretched wide along the rim.

“That’s the stuff right there, Hotshot,” she sighs, closing her eyes. Her tits lift just enough to tease me with a glimpse.

All the lights are off, and the only thing shining is the moon above us.

“We’ve kissed under a waterfall. Now the ocean,” I say, kneeling in front of her. “How about we test the hot tub?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

I pull her toward me, and she comes eagerly, straddling my lap as our lips find each other. The kiss turns hungry fast.

My hand slides up to her breast, and she arches into my touch, head tilting back.

Her nipple peaks just as I take it into my mouth. My wanton woman moans, teasing her other nipple while I suck hard. She gasps through clenched teeth, and I immediately soothe her with a gentle lick. My reward is a kiss that hits me like a thunderbolt.

Then her hand disappears under the water, and suddenly she's stroking my dick, rubbing it along her slick folds.

“Babe, I want to eat you,” I rasp, pulling back just enough to breathe. “But it’s too hot in here. Come on.”

I pick her up, and her hands go around my neck as I carry her to the outdoor couch. Instead of laying her down, I settle onto my back.

She tilts her head.

“I want you to sit on my face. I want to be suffocated by you.”

Her grin matches mine—wicked, wild, ready.

She crawls up, thighs bracketing my head, and I take a deep breath before pulling her down to me.

Holy shit. This is heaven.

I flick her clit with my tongue, and she moans, rolling her hips.

I tease her slowly at first, then faster, my tongue dancing as she starts to grind harder.

Her hands go to her breasts, fingers playing with her nipples, her wet hair falling over her chest. She looks like a fucking siren, coming undone for me.

She’s panting now, her rhythm building, so I shift, push her ass a little farther up my face to slide my tongue inside her.

“Fuck, Xander,” she gasps.

She shudders, thighs trembling, and I don’t stop. I push deeper, my nose rubbing against her clit, and she crashes over the edge with a cry that echoes into the night.

She collapses onto me, breath heaving.

“It’s my turn,” she says, already reaching for me.

“Nuh-uh.” I flip us in one smooth motion, hovering over her with a devilish grin. “I’m not done with you yet.”