Chapter 31
CASH
The team had all gathered at Conner’s house for a team dinner and to spend some time with all the kids from draft camp. Cash remembered back when he had gotten drafted. He was still playing for BU, so he wasn't going straight on the team, and that was the case for most of these guys. With Wes healed they had a solid team and were a top pick for the cup this upcoming year. He wanted it...not quite as bad as Conner, but no one wanted it as bad as Conner.
Cash was helping to man the grill while Conner was off talking to some of the prospects. Conner was a role model for them and he knew the coaches relied on him, so he was busy. But Cash was happy to be manning the grill, it gave him time to think.
"How are things with Evie?" asked Wes.
He looked at him with a surprised look on his face. "How did you know?"
"Because I have eyes. You could have cooked an egg on the heat you two radiated during that camp."
"Well, whatever, yes, we’re together. I'm actually going to a wedding with her this weekend."
"Really?"
"Yeah, she's in her sister's wedding."
"Oh yeah? meeting the family already, that's big."
Cash winced. He was actually jealous of Wes in this department. If only the Masterson's were anything like the McPhee's. They were amazing, every last one of them. He would have to prove he wasn't a playboy, but it wouldn't be the tension of Evie's family. They wouldn’t think less of him because he played a sport or because he didn't grow up with money. He couldn't think like that though. Evie was worth it.
He didn't know when he got quite so sure of that. It could have been that first night when he had the dream, but that was just a hunch. Everything since then had proven to him that she is the one for him. Even though she pushed him away in the beginning, even though her family was a lot, there was something about her he couldn't get enough of. He was all rough edges and brute, and she was soft and elegant, but still so tough. They were a match in every way that mattered, and he knew she was it for him.
"I've met them before. I had to play golf with them on Saturday. If I survived that, I can survive anything" he said with a rough laugh.
"That bad huh?" asked Wes.
"Yeah, but she's worth it."
“What’s this I hear?” said Sven Olssen. He was a winger for the team and one of their top scorers after Wes and Conner. He was also Cash’s wing man at the bars. Conner was never one for casual sex, and Taylor hated bars. Sven on the other hand was a good time.
“Tell me the notorious Cash Hawthorn isn’t settling down,” he said throwing an arm around his shoulder and patting him on the chest.
“Looks like things took a turn,” said Cash. “Yeah, I’m with someone.”
“She must be incredible to take you off the market.”
The way he was talking was irritating him, but he knew he was right.
“Are you passing on the proverbial black book?”
“Fuck off,” he said stepping away from him. “Who the fuck has a black book anymore?”
“I’m just saying…”
“Well go ‘just say’ somewhere else.”
Sven smiled at him and gave him a small punch to the shoulder before taking off to talk to some of the new draftees. Things were going to be different this year, but he was excited for it. He was excited to see where this thing with Evie would take them.
The rest of the team and coach started filtering in by the time food was done. This team had been everything to Cash over his stay in Glendale. It was the best team and organization he had ever been a part of. He knew this would be his home until he was done, but it felt different now. Things felt more settled. This was his home and so was she. That was not a thought he'd had before, but he was sure of it nonetheless. Now all he had to do was make sure she was on the same page.
The next day he showed up at her house ready for the weekend, but he would be lying if he wasn't a little nervous. Evie's mother didn't seem super supportive and at every turn tried to get Evie and Bryan back together. Cash had his guard up. Not because he didn't trust Evie, but because she didn't deserve to be put in uncomfortable situations and he would make damn sure she wasn't. And even though Evie had told his sister to take him off the guest list, he knew her mother didn't seem to respect boundaries, so the odds of her respecting a guest list were slim to none. If he was right about that, he would be there for Evie in any way she needed him, even if it was just a supportive buffer. He would fight his growing urge to punch that guy in his face. But the urge was there, and it was growing.
He got out of his truck and knocked on her door. As she opened the door he was once more blown away by how beautiful she was. She was wearing a navy wrap dress with a deep v showing off her amazing tits. Her hair was twisted up and she had beautiful teardrop earrings.
"You look amazing," he said trying to fight the awe he felt from just looking at her. He took the overnight bag from her hand and the hanging back she had hanging by the hall closet. "Anything else?"
"Nope that's it," she said as she got her purse and slipped on some sparkly heels.
"First things first," he said as he set the bag down and pulled her in for a proper kiss.
The drive was quick, and they were soon getting checked in at the hotel. He had been kind of nervous about leaving River, but he had to trust him...that and he had Conner keeping an eye on the house to watch for signs of a party. But he did actually trust River. He's only been there for a couple weeks but they seemed to be settling into a nice rhythm. It might be nice to have him there next year if that all worked out. If Meadow was okay with it, River could stay with him. He could keep playing with Mateo and maybe attend the university here in Glendale. He thought his sister might agree to that.
Cash sat at a table in the hotel while they walked through the rehearsal. Bryan wasn’t there, so it was a plus. And Evie's mother seemed to be preoccupied by the wedding and she was leaving both him and Evie alone, another plus.
"Are you Cash Hawthorn?" asked one of the other bridesmaids' boyfriends.
"Yeah, it's nice to meet you," he said, reaching out to shake the man's hand.
"You too, I'm a big fan. I thought you guys were going to go all the way this year."
"Me too," Cash said with a friendly chuckle.
"Is Wes going to be good for next season?"
Their star shooter had been seriously injured in the last half of the season, and their playoff dreams were benched right along with him.
"It's looking like he'll be back on the ice. Training camp is next month so we’ll see how all the pieces fit then."
"Nice. Are you here with Evie?"
Cash nodded and scanned the room for her. She was standing up in front as they all walked through the wedding.
"I am," he said with a warm look on his face.
"Are you guys, like, together?"
Cash nodded and smiled. "We are."
"Wow. I didn't think Evie would be with a guy like you."
Cash's eyes cut to the man, and he tried not to glare at him.
"I mean that in the best way possible,” he said, throwing up his hands in a defensive gesture. “Her old boyfriend was a dick."
Cash nodded. "I can agree with you there. She's pretty amazing though."
At that moment she looked at him and smiled and gave a small wave. He really should be embarrassed by how shamelessly he was wrapped around her finger, but there was no denying it. He belonged to this woman, body and soul, and he knew she belonged to him too. He was just glad she finally seemed to be catching on to that fact too.
“You must be the big bad hockey player causing all the trouble,” said an older woman who barely came up to his chest.
He looked down at her unsure of what to say. “I can see what my granddaughter sees in you,” she said giving his bicep a squeeze.
He chuckled. “It’s nice to meet you, I’m Cash Hawthorn.”
“Oh, I’ve heard all about you, you have my daughter in a tizzy. But she’s prone to tizzy. I also see that my little Evie is absolutely glowing, so you’re okay in my book.”
He shrugged. “She’s a remarkable woman.”
“Now that we agree on. You’re much better suited for her that her past suitor.”
He chuckled again. Past suitor. Who talked like that?
“Hi Gran,” Evie said coming over to them. “I see you’ve met Cash.”
“I have, he’s much more handsome than that last one,” she said giving his biceps another squeeze. This time Cash flexed for her, and she made a little squeak of delight. “Although you’ll never hold a candle to my Oscar, even if he wasn’t as big and muscly as you are,” she said bring her other hand up to his other bicep given them both a squeeze. He couldn’t help but laugh, he liked this woman.
“Gran. Will you stop feeling up on my date?”
“What can I say? Even us widows get hungry,” she said with a wink.
Cash sputtered in surprise and blushed. He didn’t even know he could blush.
“Oh my god, Gran. We’re leaving,” she said as she pulled Cash away.
“Looking forward to seeing you both tomorrow,” she called after them.
“So that was your grandma, huh?”
“Yeah…I should’ve warned you, but no one is ever truly prepared for her.”
“I like her.”
“Me too.”
After the rehearsal and the dinner, Cash was pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable the night had been. He had been able to hang back and just watch his beautiful girlfriend. He had remarkably pleasant interactions with her father and a few other relatives, but mostly he just enjoyed his time with Evie. Although the fact that her mother had seemed to have finally laid off did help.
They got in the room, and he was looking forward to taking that dress off her.
"I'm just going to freshen up," Evie said as she slipped into the bathroom.
"Of course. I'm going to check in with River," he said, getting his phone out of his pocket.
Cash - The house still standing?
River - Yes dad. Mateo and Mallory are over, we're just jamming about to order a pizza
Cash - sounds good.
He set his phone down and sighed. The thought of asking Conner to check on him did cross his mind, but he decided to trust him.
The bathroom door opened, and Evie stepped out. His mouth instantly dropped to the floor while his heart swooned. He had always heard about swooning and heart flutters, but he never thought it was true. And even if it was true, it wasn’t something he thought he would ever experience.
He tried to tell her how amazing she looked, but the words just didn't form. He just stood there sputtering and turned on by her beauty. She had taken off her dress and was fresh faced with her hair brushed soft over her shoulders. She had put on a lacy navy baby doll number with some matching panties and his brain short circuited. She was truly the most beautiful person he had ever laid eyes on in his life.
"Ya doing okay over there, big guy?" she asked with a grin.
She knew what she was doing to him.
"Evie," he managed to growl out, his words finally finding him. "You’re beautiful." He hoped she understood just how much he meant it. He hoped she knew that any other time he had uttered those words to anyone else it didn't hold a candle to the way she looked. He had never seen true beauty before this moment. He had never been more sure of anything in his life.
He walked over and put his hands on her hips, just needing to feel her. His arms were still straight out while his gaze roamed. He wanted to devour her, and he would, but first he was going to cherish her.
Their eyes connected as he licked his lips which suddenly seemed very dry. Magic seemed to hang in the air heavily as they held each other's gaze. The buzz he felt before a big game was all he could feel now, but there was an undercurrent of gentleness to it the ice didn't have. This woman was his match in every way, she was the yin to his yang, the beauty to his beast, the heart to his soul. They were a match and they always had been.
His lips came crashing down on hers as he pulled her in close to his body. He needed to feel all of her. He wanted all her lush curves and softness pressing into his hard strong muscles. She met his kiss with the same passion. He broke it just long enough to sweep her into his arms and carry her on the bed.
He laid her down like she was something precious, because to him she was, and he intended to prove that to her tonight. He crawled on the bed next to her until they were stretched out next to each other. She was on her back, and he was propped on his side still looking at her. He tucked a bit of hair behind her ear and bent his head and kissed her. It was a slow kiss. They were drinking each other in, relishing each other and the desire they were getting lost in.
Whatever it was that was happening between them this time felt different. It felt like the second time in the hotel room the night they had first gotten together all over again. His hands roamed her body as their mouths stayed connected in the most powerful kiss he had ever experienced before. Her hands slid into his hair and grabbed a fist of it. The pressure he felt at the base of the slight tug egged him on further, he broke the kiss and started to mouth down her neck.
She moaned as he kissed her neck and palmed her breast before rubbing the nipple between his finger and thumb causing her to arch and draw in a breath. His mouth kept kissing lower until he was licking that nipple and the lace covering it. There was something so raw and needy about licking her nipple through the now dampened lace of this glorious lingerie. His hands continued south and kissed her belly. She was so soft everywhere and he loved it. He could get lost in her softness and her scent of roses. She was decadence in every way.
He continued to kiss lower, and her breath picked up as he kissed over the mound of her belly, thinking he was going to veer in and get things started, but he wasn't done worshiping this goddess before him.
He continued kissing down her soft, dimpled thighs to her toned calves until he was holding her perfect foot in his hand. The redness of where her shoes had been rubbing her toe reminded him just how real this moment was. It would be easy to get lost in the dream of it all, but it was real. She was real. And what was taking place between them was real. This cosmic shift between them was real. He kissed that red mark and smiled at the pink polish on her toes that matched her fingernails. She was perfection in every sense of the word.
He was ready. Ready to sweep her away in the pleasure he knew he could give. He kissed his way back up her leg, but this time stopped between the juncture of her thighs. He pressed a kiss to the seam of her sex over her lacy underwear as she moaned and arched. He pulled at the waistband, and she shifted her weight, allowing him to slip them down and discarded them on the floor.
Then he was there kneeling between her legs as he knees fell open, revealing her swollen pink pussy to him. He slid a finger through her folds, and she arched again and moaned. She was already so wet. He pushed that finger inside of her as he bent down and let the tip of his tongue flit lightly over her clit.
"Cash," she moaned as her hand again fisted in his hair.
"Do you like that?" he asked looking up at her with a doting smile. He already knew she fucking loved it, but he liked hearing her say it.
"Yes," she moaned and writhed and that was it. He needed her to come. Now.
He slipped in another finger and started to lap at her clit with a little more pressure and speed. He'd eaten this beautiful pussy enough to know how she liked it. Her hand in his hair held a bit tighter and her breath had turned into quick pants. She was close. He continued to work her with his fingers but this time he sucked that little bundle of nerves into her mouth and that was it. Her legs hugged his head as her sex clenched around his fingers and she moaned. "Oh fuck, Cash."
Finally, she came down and he pressed a gentle kiss to her seam before sitting up looking at her. Damn. She was everything. Her legs had fallen wide, her eyes were still closed, and she was catching her breath, but the smile that stretched across her face told him all he needed to know.
He laid down next to her and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips while she still came down from the last orgasm. Her eyes opened and locked on his. The lazy smile that had been stretched across her face widened.
"You take my breath away," he said as he tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Come here," she said, pulling on his shoulder. "I need you," she said in a whisper, but it was screaming in his head. The idea that this elegant, capable woman needed him in any way spoke to his soul. He knew he would be anything she wanted.
Her hands made purchase on his shoulders pulling him down onto her. "Please, Cash, I need you inside of me." He moved to pull a condom from the nightstand as her hands slipped into his pants and wrapped around his fully erect cock.
"Fuck," he groaned out and pressed into her hand.
With her other hand she stopped his hand reaching for the condom. "I want to feel you, I'm on birth control," she said.
"Are you sure? We’re tested monthly, and I haven't been with anyone except you since the end of the season."
"Please," she nodded. "I'm sure. I need you."
He pushed down his pants and boxers until they were both laying naked stretched out next to each other. He had never had sex with anyone without a condom before. He was always careful, but if this is what she wanted it was what he wanted too. There was something about the trust of wanting to be with someone like him like this almost broke him. He would take care of her, and never allow anything to hurt her.
He kissed her, pouring everything he had into her as he lined up with her core. Just the feel of her wet lips on his cock was more than he thought he could handle. He pushed in gently and he was almost delirious with pleasure. He had never felt like this before. He had never felt this connected to anyone before. And he had never felt anything as amazing as her tight, wet pussy as he slowly pushed in his bare cock.
"Evie," he said her name in whispered bliss as he sat fully inside her. "You feel so fucking good."
She rocked her hips and damn, he needed to get some control, or he would lose himself to her magical pussy in two pumps, and he needed this to last longer. He needed this to last forever. That was not a thought he was used to, but he knew that was what he wanted with her. He wanted her like this forever.
He began to grind with her. Each of them moving slowly grinding and pushing into each other. He was so fucking in love with Evie Masterson. He had known that for a while now, but he had never felt it quite as fully as he did in this moment.
"Cash," she whispered his name like it was a prayer. Then they moved together.
He kissed her as he thrusted fully. Her breath caught, and he could tell she was getting close, which was good because he was barely holding on. A few more thrusts with their mouths still connected as he ground into her clit with each one gave her everything she needed to come one more time.
Cash was good as sex, he knew that. He knew how to get people off and had been doing so for a very long time, but it had never been like this. He had never made love to someone like this. He knew nothing would be the same after this.
She broke their kiss with a gasp as she clung to his back with whimpers and pants, then she broke and pulsed around him. He buried himself in her one last time and followed her right over the edge.
They both lay there lost in pleasure, but found in each other.