Page 39

Rain

T he entire drive to Raleigh, I was so worried Xander would turn his back on me—that I’d hurt him beyond repair. But the moment I saw him on the ice, I knew: even if that was the case, I would spend the rest of my life asking for forgiveness.

This man has become my entire world.

On the drive to his place, I tell him everything about the changes I’m making at the Rustic Spoon—how the team has responded to Blair becoming the chef, and how smoothly everything’s running without me needing to be there all the time.

I know I still have to tell him about Dennis, but I want to soak up every minute with him before casting that shadow over us.

“Blair suggested I hire Gael as the new sous-chef, since she’s being promoted,” I say, my voice bright with excitement.

A smile spreads across his lips. “Is Gael the guy who made the extra-cheese quesadilla that one time I had dinner with Granny?”

“Good memory! Yes, that’s him. He’s young, but he’s great at following directions and eager to learn, which is always a plus.”

He nods, steering us through downtown Raleigh. I catch sight of a few restaurants I’d love to try.

“So what else is new? What have you been up to?”

I reach for his hand, needing to feel his warmth.

“I know we need to talk, and I promise we will. But tonight, let’s just enjoy each other’s company. Yes?”

He gives my hand a squeeze and nods.

“I’ll agree to that only if you promise me you’re not going to shut me out.”

I glance at him and nod. “I promise.”

And I mean it—with every single fiber of my being.

He lifts my hand to his lips, peppering kisses across my knuckles as we merge onto the highway .

We’re at his apartment in a flash. After parking, we make a beeline for the elevator.

As soon as the door closes, he cages me against the wall.

“Are you going to be a good girl? Or am I going to have to punish you for being so distant these past few weeks?” Xander asks, a smirk tugging at his handsome face.

My hands travel from his abs to his chest, up his neck, and finally land on his face, cradling it.

“I want to be a good girl. But something tells me my man wants to be a bad, bad boy and fuck me hard.”

I lick my lips slowly, knowing how much he loves it when I do that.

He growls. “Fuck, Cherry. It’s fucking unbelievable—the way you drive me wild with a single action.”

I slide my tongue across his lips, and that’s it—Xander loses whatever restraint he had as his mouth claims mine.

The elevator doors open, and my eyes go wide when I realize it opens directly into Xander’s place. I’d love to look around, but that can wait.

Right now, we’re on a mission to rip every piece of clothing off as fast as humanly possible.

We barely make it a few steps inside before Xander looks down and curses.

“What?” I ask, confused.

“You’re wearing your Docs. I need to untie them.”

He drops to his knees before I can even process what’s happening.

I chuckle at the urgency in his movements. “Xander, I’m not going anywhere. I promise. We can take our time,” I say, smoothing a hand over his still-damp hair.

“That might be true, but I can’t wait to have you. This is a life-or-death matter.”

I cackle at his dramatics, and he huffs, feigning frustration.

“Not funny, Cherry. I might die of starvation.”

I bark out a laugh. As my hands press against my stomach, he’s already back on his feet, undressing with laser focus.

“Seems like I’m going to have to do all the work myself since you’re not interested in joining me.”

That snaps me right out of it.

“Oh, hell no. I’ve been dreaming about this perfect body for way too long. Remember when I told you I was going to get a heated pillow?”

He nods, and I remove his jacket, my hands trailing across his shoulders.

“Well, you were right. It didn’t work.”

I inhale deeply through my nose, exhale through my mouth, trying to keep my cool and focus on the task at hand.

“I have a request,” he says, reaching for his tie just as I do, stopping my hand.

“I want you to take off all of your clothes… and then I want you to put the jersey back on.”

I raise a brow, crossing my arms to keep from laughing.

“That’s right. I want to fuck you on the couch, then hard against the wall—while you wear my jersey.”

His voice drops, thick with lust, each word dripping heat.

I shudder at the thought of my man making me cry out in pleasure, and I hurry to strip off my clothes.

Xander drops onto the couch, legs spread wide. His dick stands at full attention, and arousal pools in my core at the sight.

The moment he fists his cock and gives it a couple of slow pumps, I whimper in anticipation. I can’t wait to have him inside me.

I quickly tug the white bow from my hair and shake my head, letting it cascade down my shoulders.

“You’re so fucking hot, Cherry,” Xander says, lifting his hips off the couch, making his cock bob.

I lick my lips, and he crooks a finger, beckoning me forward with a sexy smile.

I move toward him slowly, savoring his gaze on my body. When I get close enough, he grabs my waist and pulls me into his lap.

I yelp in surprise, straddling him in one smooth motion.

“Careful, tiger. You don’t want to injure me on my first night here,” I tease.

But Xander’s done playing.

His cock slides along my entrance, and I moan. “Fuck, yes.”

He does it again. Over and over. Teasing me, just the head, then sliding in an inch before pulling back and rubbing against my clit.

Fuck, this man knows exactly how to rev me up.

“Xander, I’m all for foreplay, but please fuck me. Now ,” I practically beg, squirming in his lap.

“Like this?” he asks, and rams into me.

All the air whooshes from my lungs.

“Yes. Again,” I gasp, sweeping my hair over one shoulder to give him access to my neck.

Xander sucks and bites at my throat as he slams into me, again and again, making me cry out in pleasure—just like I’d hoped he would.

“If you knew how sexy you look in my jersey, babe… I don’t think anything will ever top tonight,” he says, his rhythm building.

I pant, gripping his shoulders like a lifeline as my heart races. My release hits faster than I expected, and I collapse against him, spent.

I thought he’d be tired after the game, but clearly, he saved some energy for our post-game activities.

“Ready for round two?” he asks, rising from the couch with me still wrapped around him.

He presses me against the wall, and my legs lock around his waist. One hand grips my ass to keep me in place while the other pins my wrist above my head.

He slides inside me, deep and deliberate. The stretch feels so good, I might come before he even moves.

But then he does.

Each thrust drives the base of his cock against my clit, making my body twitch with pleasure.

“Hotshot,” I moan, dazed. I don’t even know what I need—just that I want more.

“What is it, Cherry? What do you want?” he pants, his jaw clenched, eyes locked on mine.

“More, I need more.”

Xander picks up speed, thrusting harder into me, and I nip at his chin. He hisses—I do it again. Then I nibble his lower lip and tug him toward me.

He kisses me slowly, devouring my lips while he keeps pumping into me.

“Xander—fuck, Xander,” I gasp, like a prayer, the climb building higher and higher until I finally let go and jump.

A wave of pleasure crashes through me, every nerve lit as he kisses me through it.

I melt, completely undone, a puddle of goo.

But Xander isn’t finished.

“One more?” he asks, his eyes shining bright with desire.

I nod and kiss him, even as my body trembles.

He gently slides out of me, my core tender and hypersensitive after two intense orgasms—but I want Xander to come inside me.

We walk toward the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the city.

“Press your chest against the glass and open your legs,” he commands, lips brushing my neck.

I obey, heat pulsing through me. I love this side of him.

“You’re such a good girl, Cherry.”

He licks the shell of my ear, and I feel arousal trickle down my thigh.

“You’ve ruined me for any other man,” I whisper, turning my head to kiss him.

“Good. Because there’s no other man in your future but me.”

He spreads my ass cheeks, and for a second, panic flutters in my chest—but then his cock finds my core, and I sigh in relief.

His hands slide under the jersey and cup my breast as he begins to move.

This time it’s slow. Unhurried. Every thrust meets mine, like we’re dancing to a rhythm only we know.

“After tonight, there are no more doubts. No more secrets. You are mine, and I am yours,” Xander says, and I feel the words sear into my heart—into my soul.

“You are mine, and I am yours,” I echo just before he captures my lips.

His fingers tease my nipples, and my movements turn erratic, the buildup crashing over me again.

“I love you, Cherry. Always,” he says .

It’s all I need. My favorite three words from the only man I’ve ever truly wanted.

I moan as the first wave hits me, sharp and full.

Xander pumps harder, and after a few more deep thrusts, I feel his cum spill inside me.

He stills, then rests his head on my back, breath ragged.

“I love you too,” I whisper.

And I mean it—with everything I am.

I wake to sunlight warming my face.

It takes a second to remember where I am, but the moment I shift my legs and feel that delicious ache between them, a smile spreads across my lips.

Last night comes rushing back.

After Xander came inside me, he carried me to bed, cleaned me up with a warm washcloth, then slipped beneath the covers and held me as we drifted to sleep.

A few hours later, I woke up aroused.

He wasn’t lying beside me anymore—his head was between my legs, making me see stars.

And to end the night on a high note, he got on top of me and made love to me, whispering how much he loves me over and over again.

I place a kiss on his chest and stretch my arms above my head before getting up.

Padding over to the pile of clothes we left by the elevator, I dig out the shirt he was wearing last night. I lift it to my face, inhaling deeply, then slip it on.