Ayden and Jenson give me a thumbs-up, and Dylan just nods at me with a proud expression like I’ve won the Super Bowl.
Colton lets out a massive breath of air as he pounces on me. “Thank fuck,” he says as he claps me on the back. Then he asks quietly, “So what’s Savannah’s story?”
“Not mine to tell,” I say to him. “But maybe she’ll share it with you sometime. She and I are more similar than we seem on the outside. She’s complicated and challenging, and I love that about her.”
“Huh.” He looks at her and then back to me. “I think that’s very interesting. Makes me like her even more.”
I convince Savannah, plus her sisters and their partners, to come over to my house. The place is so packed I don’t even know how we’ll all fit, let alone sleep. But Savannah helps me set up sleeping bags across the living room, and we pull out the couch and set up my spare air mattress. I tell Sky that she and Colton can sleep in the guest room, but nobody’s going to bed yet. We’re all getting to know each other, and I can’t believe I was worried. Savannah’s family and mine fit—and I want to tell her how happy that makes me.
But then Sky and Nadine start gushing about babies. Within minutes, all the women are giggling and chatting about becoming mothers. Every woman except for one.
Savannah stands off to the side, and the expression on her face is a mixture of pain and misery.
I coax her upstairs under the pretense of looking for more blankets, and then I shut my door as soon as we’re alone in my room.
“Savannah.” I lean next to her by the door. “It’s okay if you don’t want kids, you know.”
She locks eyes with me. “I don’t know exactly what I want. And that feels weird. I’m definitely not ready now. But it’s not about being ready or not ready—I just want that feeling of yes or no to hit me. Because then I won’t feel conflicted.”
“I get it. That makes sense.”
“Are we exclusive?” she asks me.
I kiss her. “Of course we are. You’re mine. And I’m yours.”
“I’ve never had a boyfriend before,” she says. “I wasn’t expecting you to call me that earlier.”
“My girlfriend?” I say as I kiss her again. “Yeah, I kind of figured that out when you got a deer in the headlights look after I introduced you to my cousins.”
She giggles and teasingly runs her hand over the growing hardness underneath my sweatpants. I put my mouth over hers and kiss the hell out of her.
“I’ve been wanting to get you alone all night,” I say against her soft, sexy lips.
She grips my sweatshirt with both hands. “Me too. Do you think they’ll notice that we’re gone?”
I’m pretty sure my cousins are going to notice everything tonight. “Probably not,” I say out loud.
She laughs. “Right. You’re like the baby of the family that everyone just wants to make sure is okay, aren’t you?”
I chuckle. “Maybe a little.”
“Me too.” She smiles at me widely. “I never knew you and I had so much in common, Cameron Wild.”
“Come here.” I reach for the zipper on her jeans. “Before we go back downstairs into that madhouse, I want to taste you.” I cup her between her legs. “Right here, Savannah.”
She lets out a breathy moan, and I slide her jeans down her thighs before kneeling before her and pressing my mouth to her hot center.
I raise my gaze to her face and watch her bite back on a gasp as she tangles her fingers in my hair and holds on tight.
“Pull my hair,” I mutter into her blazing skin as I drag her panties over her hips and help her step out of them. “I love when you pull my hair. Hold me against you as hard as you need to, sweetheart. I want to feel you completely let go.”
She’s already losing control just from my words whispered hotly against her most sensitive spot. I grip her ass and bring her even more closely against my mouth.
And then I devour her. I lick, and suck, and kiss Savannah like I’ll never have her again, like I’ll die if I don’t get to taste every square inch of her. And she gives herself over to me completely. For the first time since I’ve met her, she doesn’t freeze in shame or embarrassment. She just enjoys herself.
When her orgasm hits her, it barrels through her body like a charged atom. She just barely manages to bite down on her scream, but she chants my name over and over as she climaxes.
And I can’t hold off any longer on telling her how I feel.
Savannah
After the most amazing orgasm of my life, Cam stands up and helps me refasten my jeans. Then he beckons me over to the bed and pulls me onto his lap.
“I’ve been wanting to tell you something.”
My hearts starts beating out of my chest. “Okay. Is it bad?”
“No.” His lips graze mine. Then he says five words that mean everything. “I’m in love with you.”
My stomach plummets down to my toes.
Love.
Cam loves me?
“Like, you mean—”
His voice is rough with amusement. “Yes. I love you. You don’t have to say it back. That’s not why I told you. And this is probably shit timing with everyone downstairs and you just seeing your dad last week. But I mean every word.”
“Are you—are you sure? I can be a real handful. Like you said, I bring out a stick, and I’m shy and…”
“I love all your pieces,” he says into my mouth, his hands moving underneath my shirt and finding my hot skin. “I admire you. I respect you. And I want all of you. You turn me on like nobody else.”
Shit. My heart cracks wide open.
And I can’t just put my feelings into sex anymore. So I reveal my soul more than I ever thought I’d dare. “Cam, I love you too. And not because you told me first. I just do. I felt it before and I was afraid to tell you, but I love you so much.”
If he’s surprised, he doesn’t show it. His mouth turns up in a beautiful smile. “I love you too, Savannah Virginia. Thanks for letting me into your world.”
He tells me that he wants to give me another orgasm right away.
And what do I say to the man I love more than anything?
I say yes.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The next game is only one day away, and my stomach is in knots. This game is the eastern conference championship round, and whoever wins goes to the final. Craig lectures all the players—and coaches too—to only focus on us and what we’re doing and not to follow what’s happening in the other conference.
It’s good advice. To say I’m following it would be a total lie.
Because my father’s team is in the western conference. And I’m well aware—as I’m sure Craig is too—that if we win our game and the Colorado Caves win theirs, the two teams will line up opposite one another in the do-or-die title game. Because the Caves have a better record, the game would be played in Colorado.
And that possibility has me overthinking all sorts of things, like whether Daddy’s fiancée will be at the game and if my father will try even harder to get me to work for him next season.
A good way to distract myself is dancing. Clarissa persuades me to try performing again, and I’m ready to do anything that will help me to forget about ice hockey for a little while.
Cam has been begging me to let him watch me perform. So we drive together, and he takes a seat in the audience.
And when I dance, I forget. I forget about the upcoming game and how much it means to me. I forget about my father and his manipulative tactics. I forget everything but this moment where I feel beautiful in my flowy skirt and fitted top, and Cam’s smiling at me from his table.
I feel good. I feel strong.
The next night, the Colorado Caves win their game.
Right afterward, the Cannons win theirs. Just like Cam predicted.
So we’re going to Colorado to play against my father’s team for the championship.
I expect some form of contact, and the text comes through just
as Cam’s skating around the ice half-naked, waving a red and blue flag that says “Conference Champions” over his head. The Climax crowd is going crazy, and my phone beeps.
Well done, Vannah. See you in Denver.
My fingers hover over the screen, and I type back, See you then.
Per team rules, Cam and I have separate hotel rooms. But since the entire team knows we’re together now, we don’t plan to stay apart all night.
After we’ve settled into our rooms, we all take the bus to the practice rink downtown. It’s a beautifully clear late morning in Denver, and the mountains are breathtaking.
They’re big. And majestic. They’re gorgeous.
“Are there mountains like this in Missoula?” I ask Cam as we reach the arena.
“Different but still beautiful,” he says. “You’ll understand when you see them.”
“I would love to,” I say as we step off the bus. “I can’t imagine actually visiting Montana when I’ve been imagining it for so long.”
“Have you given any more thought to living there?” he asks me as he grabs his hockey bag from under the bus and we make our way into the rink.
I glance at him. “That’s the second time you’ve hinted at living there.”
“Why not? I can take my business. It would probably do even better than Climax with the style of furniture I make.”
“You’re serious about this.”
“Your dream to dance is there,” he says. “And my dream is to be with you. But it’s more than that. Brayden lives in Montana, and he’s not moving. Who knows—when Colt and Dylan retire, they may move back home too. Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved visiting.”
“It does sound amazing,” I admit. “I’d miss my sisters and mom. But maybe they’d visit us. Or even…”
“Move there?” Cam grins. “Maybe so. That would be awesome.”
Cameron
Declan’s in town and insists he’s coming to the game tomorrow.
“I’ll keep Dad calm,” he says even though we both know that’s not possible.
“Sure, I’d love to see you at the game,” I say.
He invites me over for dinner tonight.
“Okay if I bring my girlfriend?” I ask him.
I’m met with silence.
“Declan? You there?”
“Girlfriend. You have a girlfriend?” His tone is incredulous.
“I do.”
“I just saw you a few weeks ago, and you didn’t have one then.”
“A lot can change in a few weeks. Look, can I bring her or not?”
“Of course. I look forward to meeting her.”
I know he’s worried Savannah’s going to be another Amy.
But as soon as he opens the door to his high-rise condo and Savannah smiles at him, I can tell he realizes his concerns are unwarranted. His jaw relaxes, and he gives Savannah a genuine smile, something he rarely does for anyone outside his inner circle. He’s clean shaven tonight, and his dark hair is neatly combed. He’s wearing a long-sleeved fitted shirt, worn jeans, and cowboy boots. I’m not a small guy, but Declan has always dwarfed me. He could out bench press anyone on his team, and hitting his mid-thirties hasn’t slowed him down.
“Hi,” he says, extending his hand to Savannah.
“Savannah,” I say, “This is my brother. Declan.”
“Nice to meet you.” She smiles as she looks between us, her shyness disappearing. “You two definitely look like brothers.”
Declan slaps me on the back and pulls me in for a hug. “I tell Cam he should be grateful for that every day.”
Savannah laughs, and Declan invites us inside.
“Wow,” she says as he shows us around his place. “The floor to ceiling windows are amazing. What a view of the mountains you must have during daylight.”
Declan nods. “The city lights are nice at night, but I definitely prefer the mountains.”
“This must have cost you a fucking fortune,” I joke with him as we step into his massive kitchen with two ovens and granite countertops.
“Good thing I have a fortune to spend then,” he says with a grin.
I don’t want to drink the night before the game, so we all take water, and Declan brings out grilled salmon, basmati rice, and vegetables.
“My favorite meal before I play,” he says.
We take seats on the L-shaped couch in the living room, and Declan tells us about living in Denver. My brother’s been traded three times, and he’s only been with the Denver Alphas for two years.
“This will be it for me,” he says. “I’ll retire an Alpha hopefully.”
“What will you do when you retire?” Savannah asks him. “Do you have plans?”
Declan’s gray eyes cloud over. “Not exactly. I’m kind of stalling, honestly. Not sure where I’m supposed to go from here.”
“You’ll figure it out,” Savannah says confidently. “You’re obviously someone who succeeds at whatever he puts his mind to. When it’s not hockey anymore, the right thing will come along.”
Declan’s eyebrows rise, and he nods at her.
But when she excuses herself for the bathroom, he gives me a look.
“You didn’t tell me you’d met the one, brother.”
I suck in a breath. “How’d you know?”
“Because I know you, and I see the way you look at her. She’s crazy about you too.” His eyes are warm when he adds, “I never thought I’d see the day when my little brother was ready to settle down.”
“Me neither. But when you meet your person, the decision suddenly isn’t so hard.”
“Huh.” He looks at me for a long moment. “You’re quitting hockey, aren’t you?”
Now he’s freaking me out. “What are you, some kind of psychic now?”
“When.” He doesn’t ask it like a question.
“Soon.”
“Tomorrow must mean a lot then. Got to go out on top.”
“The win will mean everything. But I’m not doing it for me. It’s all for Savannah.”
“I don’t get it.” Declan frowns.
“It’s personal for her. That’s all I can say. And that’s just between us,” I add, pointing my finger between him and me.
“Got it. But who’s the guy? Some ex that plays for the Caves?”
“No ex.”
“Then who’s she know on the Caves?”
“My father.”
Declan and I both turn as Savannah walks toward us.
“Your dad—” Declan trails off in confusion.
“He’s the coach,” she says, sitting down close to me. “He left us. My mom, my sisters, and me. No warning. And he fired a lot of shots on his way out the door. In some small way, winning would feel like a healing.”
I take her hand in mine, and Declan leans closer, his elbows on his knees.
“I’m sorry,” he says to her. “But you know, if my brother’s got your back, no way your team’s going to lose. Cam doesn’t lose a fight he cares about.”
Savannah turns toward me. “I’m starting to get that.”
Savannah’s been on edge since we got to Colorado, but as we sit and hang out with my brother, I watch her literally unwind before my eyes.
She and Declan get along better than I would have imagined. They could have talked for hours about hockey alone, and I enjoy listening to them argue over different play formations and even the best brand of hockey skates. With only Declan to navigate and not all my cousins and their significant others, Savannah’s a lot more relaxed.
Once we leave his place and return to our hotel, she turns to me with a laugh as I walk straight past my room and into hers. We sit down on the hotel bed and I lean over and kiss her neck. She moans as I shift closer to her and brush my hand over her breasts. She has the softest curves, and she makes the sweetest sounds when I touch her.
She breaks away from me. “I need to shower first.”
“How come?” My hand is now under her sweater.
“Because.�
� Her voice is thin as she gasps when my thumb caresses her hard nipple. “I feel dirty from the airplane. I want to clean off first. Ca-am!” She shrieks when I put my arm underneath her legs and scoop her up off of the bed. “What are you doing?”
“You and I are going to multi-task,” I say as I head for the bathroom. “Shower and sex.”
Her eyes widen. “We’ve never done that before.”
“Even better.”
“Cam.” I put her down on the bathroom counter and go about turning on the water in the shower. “Seriously. You know I’ve never done something like this.”
“Something like what?” I adjust the temperature until I’m satisfied.
She bangs her heels against the cabinet. “You know what. Sex in the shower.”
She says it so quietly I barely hear her.
I turn back to look at her. Her face is red and I can see more of her gorgeous dark lashes than I can her eyes because she’s ducking her head.
“Are you nervous, honey?” I step closer until I’m standing in between her legs.
She looks up at me with her bottom lip firmly between her teeth. “Yes.”
Her honesty simultaneously thrills me and breaks my heart. I love that she’s so open, but I hate that she’s ever ashamed or afraid.
“Do you want to try it?” I ask her softly. “With me?”
She stares into my eyes, her own gaze vulnerable but certain. “Yes,” she says in nearly a whisper.
I lift her sweater by the hem, and she automatically raises her arms so I can take it off. My fingers go to the top button of her blouse, and as I make my way down the row of buttons, undoing each one as I go, I whisper against her lips, “It will be fun. So much fucking fun. I promise.”
I open her blouse and her breasts spill out. I unhook her bra, and then get to work on the rest of her clothes.
When we’re both naked, I pick her up and her arms go around my neck.
“That’s right,” I say as I step into the shower. “Hold onto me. As tightly as you need to.”
My mouth seeks hers, and as the warm water rains down on us, I kiss Savannah hungrily. I kiss her recklessly, abandoning any sense of control. She matches my groans with loud moans of her own, and her fingers clutch at my hair. Her warm heat presses against my erection, and I’ve never wanted anything more than to be inside her with nothing between us.
Cameron (Wild Men Book 7) Page 19
