In her.

  My tongue and teeth ravage her as I let the beast inside run wild. Her moans and vice grip on my hair let me know she’s enjoying this as much as I am. When her hips start to move, and her pussy frantically rubs my face, I can tell she’s close.

  Wanting to please her in all areas, I run my hand up her ass before my thumb rims her tight little hole. Knowing it can bring her great pleasure, I press into the puckered opening as I greedily devour the one in front of me.

  Her hips buck more as a whimper escapes those beautiful lips.

  “Oh God, Knox,” she moans as I press my thumb deeper inside and apply more pressure. “I’m close,” she pants. My dick is now fully prepared to claim again as I release my hold on her and turn her around.

  “Hands on the tile,” I grind out before my fingers curl around her waist. Her ass is pressed against me, and she gasps when she feels how hard I am again. “Seems like you’ve unleashed something inside me tonight, sunshine.” I center myself and bury myself in her pussy on my next breath.

  “I’m going to fill you again. So much that I’ll be seeping out of you for days.” I thrust into her again and feel her pushing back into me, eager to meet our needs.

  “Yes,” she moans. “I want it all.”

  “Fuck,” I rasp. Her words are like gasoline on the inferno within. Pushing on her lower back, I guide her down further so I get the angle that I want. My fingers spread out as I find her other hole again and press down hard. My other hand snakes around the front and applies pressure to her swollen clit as I rub harder with each thrust I give her.

  “Yes,” she moans again, pressing back deeper into me as my thumb disappears inside.

  “Fuck, you feel so good,” I pant.

  “I love feeling you everywhere,” she moans as I apply more pressure with my thumb. When my fingers pinch her clit, her cry echoes out into the night sky, bringing me over the edge with her.

  My cock pours into her as I moan her name, feeling her pulse around me. I surrender it all to her as my heart and body will forever belong to the woman in front of me.

  “I love you, sunshine,” I whisper hoarsely. “So fucking much.”

  “I love you too,” she whispers breathlessly.

  Slowly pulling out, she turns around, and I adjust the spray so we are under our waterfall once again. Wrapping my arms around her, I hold her tight.

  “Does this mean you forgive me?”

  “I forgive you…stalker and all,” she laughs softly.

  “Good. Because this stalker needs you.”

  “I need your stalkery ass.”

  Chuckling, I grab the shampoo bottle and squirt some into my palm.

  “At least your stalker has magic hands,” I whisper, turning her around and sinking my fingers into her. I think my favorite part of this relationship is getting to do these simple things for her.

  “Why do you think I put up with your stubborn ass?”

  “I’ll take that,” I chuckle. “As long as you keep putting up with me, I don’t care what your reason is.”

  “There might be a few other reasons,” she smiles over her shoulder as I rinse the last of the shampoo away.

  “Your heart,” she says, turning around when I’m done and placing her hand on my chest, “is the reason I stay the most. Even though it’s been broken and sheltered for years, it still has the capability to hold more love than I’ve ever felt before. Well, that, and this body you were blessed with. I’m definitely staying for that, too,” she grins, causing me to laugh.

  “I guess I should thank you then.” I brush a piece of her hair back and turn serious.

  “For what?” I trace the freckles across her nose that I’ve memorized down to the smallest detail.

  “For giving my heart a reason to love again.”

  “I should thank you, too,” she says softly.

  “For?”

  “For giving my heart a reason to trust again.”

  Feeling too much to even speak, I kiss her softly instead—letting her feel how much she means to me. Sometimes words aren’t enough, and the silence is heard louder.

  When I finally pull away, there’s no doubt in her ocean blues that she knows exactly what I’m feeling.

  “Let’s finish up here so we can eat. I’ve worked up quite the appetite,” I smirk, reaching for the body wash while she conditions her hair.

  “Agreed. I’m starving.” She rinses her hair and quickly cleans off her body.

  Wrapping towels around ourselves, we gather our discarded clothes and shoes.

  “Meet you inside in ten,” I say, slapping her ass with a grin before stepping inside the guest house to grab some more clothes. Even though I’ve been sleeping in her bed, I still have most of my things in here. For now, it works for us, but I’m quickly finding myself wanting more.

  I change into a black Bolts tee and a pair of grey sweats before locking up the guesthouse for the night and heading to the main house.

  She’s already changed into a tank top and sleep shorts, leaning against the counter when I walk in from the back door.

  “What are these?” She’s studying the printouts I was looking at earlier with a slight frown on her face.

  “My assistant sent them over this afternoon. They’re houses for sale in this area and towards Bayside.”

  “Oh.” Her eyes scan the pages as I come up behind her and place my chin on her shoulder.

  “Which one is your favorite?”

  “My favorite?”

  “Well, yeah, I want your opinion.”

  She scans through the houses and stops at the one I was considering before she walked in and distracted me with those scrubs.

  “Well, I guess it depends. How much space do you want?”

  “Enough to fill a hockey team. I mean, two isn’t enough, three isn’t even for teams, so I was thinking enough room for four kids and a dog. Of course, your feral cat can come too.”

  She whirls around with her blue eyes wide with shock.

  “You didn’t really think I would buy a house and not bring you with me, did you? I have to admit, the kid thing did scare the shit out of me at first. I never let myself even dream about having a family one day. I didn’t think it would ever be in the cards for me, but I love kids and work with them all the time at camps. Besides, they will be half you, so they can’t turn out all bad. It doesn’t seem so scary now that I have you,” I shrug.

  I know I’m rambling, but part of me is nervous that I might be moving too fast for her, but I’ve never been a patient man. I feel like I’ve already wasted years being away from her, and I don’t want to waste any more.

  “What are you saying, Knox?” Her eyes brim with tears as I lift her onto the counter and step in closer.

  “I’m saying that this is your future if you want it. I want to do this right and ask your dad and brothers first, but I need you to know that this is where I’m headed. The house, the kids, the whole fucking white picket fence if that’s what you want. I want to give it all to you.”

  She glances down at the house again, and I feel it deep in my bones that this is the one. “It has a library,” I smile, already picturing her sitting in there reading, covered in the cozy blankets she loves. “And it’s right between your work and the rink.”

  “I know,” she whispers. “I’ve driven by this house before. It’s beautiful.” Her eyes lift to mine, and I’m drawn into her light once more. There’s not an ounce of pain left in them, and I thank God every day that I was given this chance to help take it all away. “You know I want this future with you. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

  I feel like a thousand of my prayers have been answered at once as my heart completely soars out of my chest. “Then all you have to do is say yes when I ask you, and it’s all yours, sunshine,” I grin and wipe away her tears.

  “Just like that,” she laughs.

  “Just like that,” I say, taking the paper from her hand. My movement stills when I see the address.

  22 Grace Drive.

  “What is it?” Savi peers at the paper in my hand.

  “Look at the address,” I whisper, my throat too tight with emotions.

  “Oh my God,” she says, looking up at me with shock before a beautiful smile breaks out on her face. “It’s your number and your mom’s name. It’s a sign she’s leading you there.”

  “I can feel her,” I manage to get out past the warmth that just flooded my body. Her presence surrounds me as I feel the love that I once felt as a child, immediately recognizing it as hers. “She’s with me.”

  Savi wraps her arms around me tightly, and I sink into her.

  “She’s always been with you, Knox. You just had to open your heart to be able to feel her,” she whispers.

  “Yeah, I’m starting to believe that.” I breathe in Savi’s scent and say a silent thank you to my mom because after tonight, there’s no doubt she sent Savi to save me.

  THIRTY-ONE

  SAVI

  “We need to tell your brothers,” he says through the phone as I lean back in my office chair. “They are going to know something is up. I’m walking around with a damn smile on my face all the time, and the whole team has already figured it out,” he mutters. “You’ve turned me into that heart-eye emoji, and my reputation as a hard-ass on the ice is going to be ruined.”

  Giggling, I shoot him a quick text while I have him on the phone.

  “Hilarious,” he chuckles sarcastically as my heart-eye emojis go through. “I’m serious though. I don’t want to hide this from Miles anymore. The charity ball is coming up in a couple of weeks, and your whole family is going, including your parents. I want you as my date…by my side. Not looking at you from across the room and wishing I could touch you.”

  “Are you asking me to be your date to the ball?” I can’t help but tease him. This side of him is something I’ve never witnessed before, and he’s too cute not to mess with.

  “Well, I sure as hell won’t be taking anyone else.”

  “Hmmm, then you’d better ask me soon. My calendar fills up rather quickly.” I bite the inside of my cheek to stop the laughter that wants to erupt.

  “Savi,” he frustratedly growls, and I cover my mouth as a giggle escapes.

  “Yes?”

  “Will you be my date to the charity ball?” I can tell his patience is running thin, which only makes this more fun for me.

  “Just a sec. Let me check my calendar.”

  “For fuck's sake,” he mutters. I hear his voice muffled and can already picture him running his hand over his face in agitation.

  “Yes,” I laugh, deciding to put him out of his misery. “I’ll be your date. I’ve been waiting for you to ask me, you know. I got my invitation weeks ago from the foundation, and my sisters-in-law already have their gowns picked out.”

  “You’ve really been waiting for me to ask you?” He asks in a bewildered tone. “What part of I want to fucking marry you one day did you not understand? Of course, you are my date.”

  “I know we aren’t exactly labeled and a lot of press will be there, so I wasn’t sure if you wanted our secret out or not.”

  “You want a label? Pick one. Girlfriend, fiancé, my wife…they are all yours. Do you want to keep us a secret? I know that being with me means you’ll be in the spotlight when we are out and about. The press can be a pain in the ass, and regardless of what we tell them, they will spin our relationship however they want to. If that is something that is going to bother you, I need to know.”

  “I don’t care about any of that. It comes with your job, and you’ve earned all this fame and more. Any girl would be proud to be on your arm.”

  “I don’t want any girl on my arm. I want you.”

  Gazing out the window, I smile at his words. “I want you too.”

  “Just to make this crystal clear, so there is no more confusion. You are officially labeled as my girlfriend. It doesn’t sound like enough, but it will have to do for now. For any future events that require dates, I choose you. Always. As much as I would love to keep the press out of our lives, they are going to see us together. I don’t want to have to hide the fact that we are in a relationship. The whole damn world can know that you’re mine. I would prefer it that way, anyway. It keeps the guys in check,” he mutters.

  “So, I have a boyfriend,” I say, feeling like a giddy teenager.

  “And I have a girlfriend,” he muses. “Those were words I never thought I would say,” he chuckles softly.

  “So I guess it’s time to tell the family, then. Are you ready?”

  “No,” he laughs, “but I would rather Miles hear it from me than the press.”

  “I’ll talk to Olivia tonight at the game, and we can have them over for dinner this week to tell them. Once Miles knows, he can fill the others in.”

  “That will work,” he sighs.

  “Miles is your best friend. He loves you. You have nothing to worry about,” I reassure him when I feel his uneasiness through the phone.

  “He knows my past with women, Savi. We both have done some crazy shit together, and now I’m sleeping with his sister. I still don’t feel like I’m good enough for you, so why should I expect him to feel any different? He knows I grew up hating my dad, and how fucked up that made me. I’m not exactly a poster child for the top ten people I would want my sister to date. I’m not even on the list,” he says quietly.

  “Well, you’re on mine,” I say adamantly. “Number one spot, actually. I love my brothers, but it’s my choice who I choose to love, and I choose you. If they truly want me to be happy like they say they do, then my brothers are going to see that it’s you who makes me the happiest.”

  “I hope so.”

  “I know so.”

  I feel his hesitation and worry through the phone. I know it’s been weighing heavily on his mind that we’ve been keeping this from my brothers. Their approval means a lot to him, even though he’s trying hard to hide it.

  “Are you ready for your game tonight?” I ask, wanting to busy his mind with something less heavy.

  “I’m always ready,” he says, changing his tone as excitement filters through the phone. “It should be a good one. The Hawks are number one in their division, so I’m looking forward to the challenge. Are you sure you don’t need my two tickets? I can leave them for you.”

  “No, I already told my family I would sit with them tonight. Miles and Olivia are bringing Bee, and it’s Cruz’s first hockey game, so I want to be there. Lyla bought him a cute little Bolts jersey, and Bee and Charlotte have matching pink dresses with the team logo across the front. They are so excited to wear them tonight,” I smile just thinking about how cute they are going to look.

  “I have no doubt they are going to look adorable.” I hear a shuffling in the background and voices off in the distance before Knox comes back on. “I have a meeting in a few minutes I have to get to, but before I go, you mentioned the whole gown issue earlier about the ball, and I want you to know it’s already taken care of.”

  “What do you mean, taken care of?” I ask, furrowing my brows in confusion.

  “Just arrived today, in fact, along with a few other things I arranged to be sent over. I put them on the bed for you before I left this morning.”

  “Knox, you didn’t have to buy me anything.”

  “I wanted to. Besides…everything I got you, I’m going to enjoy it immensely when I see it on you. It’s probably more of a gift to myself than you,” he says, changing his tone from playful to that seductive low octave that always melts my panties right off.

  “I don’t know about that,” I murmur, feeling myself getting worked up and excited to wear something he picked out. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to enjoy it just as much.”

  “God, what I wouldn’t give for fifteen minutes with you right now,” he softly growls under his breath.

  “Only fifteen minutes?” I ask in a teasing voice.

  “You’d be surprised how much I can get done in fifteen minutes,” he wickedly adds with a throaty chuckle. “I can make you cum in less than two. The other thirteen are just an added bonus.”

  “Stone, meeting is about to start,” I hear Jett suddenly call out. “Who are you talking to? Is it Savi?”

  “None of your fucking business,” Knox shoots back at him.

  “That means, it’s Savi,” Jett laughs in the background. “Tell lucky charm, I said hi.”

  “Tell Jett I said hi,” I say for Knox to relay.

  “She says hi,” Knox repeats with an agitated sigh.

  “Who says hi?” I hear Cayden’s voice next as he joins the conversation.

  “He’s talking to Savi,” Jett adds, filling him in.

  “Tell her I said hi, too,” Cayden says, his voice echoing through the phone.

  “Jesus Christ,” Knox mutters. “She says hi to everyone, okay? Now get the fuck out so I can say goodbye and get to this meeting.”

  I hear them laughing as they walk away, clearly having fun at Knox’s expense.

  “I need to let you go before the whole damn team wants to talk to you. You’ve gotten them all under your spell, and I swear they are all crushing like high school kids.”

  “They do not have a crush on me,” I laugh. “They just love messing with you.”

  “Yeah, well, they are doing a damn good job at it,” he mutters.

  “Do I have a jealous boyfriend on my hands?”

  “More like a territorial one.”

  “Mmm, that’s actually kind of hot, and turning me on,” I giggle, causing him to softly groan.

  “I love you. Goodbye, Savi,” he warns, needing me to play nice so he can get to his meeting.

  “I love you, too. Bye,” I grin. “Oh, and Knox?” I ask innocently.

  “Yes?” He asks cautiously.

  “Score a goal tonight, and what I’m wearing will be put to good use when it ends up all over you later.”

  “What the fuck does that even mean?”

  “I guess you’ll have to figure it out,” I grin before hanging up and leaving him guessing.