Callan
“Don’t have a brighter outfit for tonight, Princess?” I tease, taking in the highlighter-orange top that sits almost two inches above her long, hot-pink skirt. I want to lick that hint of skin so bad. Actually, fuck it.
I stalk toward her, scooping her into my arms as she lets out a breathy shriek. After throwing her onto the bed, I tumble down after her, dropping a kiss on her lips before turning my full attention to the creamy flesh taunting me.
“What are you doing, Ball Boy?” Charlotte’s tone is bright with amusement as she grips my hair, pulling my attention to her face.
Unfortunately, it also reminds me there are far more interesting strips of skin I could be focused on.
Ignoring the slight pain in my scalp, I lick the entire expanse of her exposed stomach.
“Just what every girl wants to hear.” She drops back in a heavy sigh, her hand dramatically draped across her forehead. “Fine.”
When I don’t do anything, she opens her eyes, peeking at me.
I stare back, daring her to break first.
She huffs. “Please?”
Victorious, I grin and pull at the top of her skirt. My plans foiled by the lack of elasticity, I grab the bottom hem and lift it. Plan B. I can scramble.
Kissing the way up her leg, I let her bright skirt cover my head completely.
“I know I should be getting ready,” Charlotte starts, exposing me to the thoughts she knows I crave so much. “But”—she lets out a gasp as I release a warm breath through the fabric of her underwear—“oh fuck, this is so much better.”
I slip a finger around the edge of white lace fabric, pulling it to the side and out of my way. I use my tongue to flick her clit, and her back arches off the bed. “You like that, Princess?”
“Yes. Fuck yes. Fingers.”
I follow her lead, dipping two inside her before curling them to hit that spot she likes so much. As I continue to work her with both my mouth and my fingers, she writhes against my face until those small muscles inside her start to flutter against my fingers.
“I need your cock, love,” Charlotte begs. “Now.”
I drop my pants and underwear, kicking them to the corner of the room before prowling back on all fours, over top of her. “Hands and knees, Princess.”
She turns over, rouching her skirt around her waist. “Hurry. I need to come so bad.”
I smack her ass once as I fist my cock, ready to be inside her. “Yes, Your Highness.”
Slowly, I push inside, not stopping until I bottom out.
Charlotte starts rocking her hips, telling me with her words and her actions how much she likes it.
I ride her hard, every muscle in my body contracting as my orgasm barrels toward me.
I spank her once more, her pussy clenching around me in a hot, wet grip.
“That’s right, Princess.” I play with her clit, adding pressure as my fingers move in her slickness. “Come for me.”
I drive forward once more as she screams out her release. Every muscle in my body contracts, the blood driving directly into my cock as pleasure engulfs me. I pump in and out of her slowly, my cock emptying inside her.
Straightening, I run my hands down her back as she drops onto her elbows. “The perfect birthday gift,” I whisper into her ear.
“Not your gift,” she mumbles. It’s the game we’ve been playing all week: me trying to guess what she got me, pretending I think it’s the little things she does for me or with me every day.
My phone starts vibrating, and I pick it up, reading the message from Chris that he, Kim, Marlee, and baby Opal are on their way with Nan.
Nan has become a regular fixture at Langford family dinners.
And ever since Opal graced us with her presence, Nan has taken advantage of any opportunity that lets her hold the baby.
Since Chris and Kim live close to Sunshine Hills, they offered to pick her up for the party tonight.
“Gotta move, love.” I slap her ass once more. “Nan’s going to be here in less than ten.”
We both clean up quickly, the caveman in me secretly pleased that Charlotte doesn’t have time to wash my cum off her. Until I put the ring that’s in my middle drawer on her finger, I like to have a piece of me with her everywhere she goes. Or maybe that will be the case forever.
All I know is that Charlotte is my forever.
And fuck if I can’t wait for everyone in our lives to know it.
Charlotte clinks a fork against her glass an hour later as all our family and friends stand outside, celebrating my birth thirty-five years ago.
“Thank you all for coming today,” she starts once everyone has quieted down. “I considered keeping this short, but we all know there’s nothing Callan loves more than people talking about him—except maybe hosting everyone who means something to him.”
A few laughs ripple around the crowd.
“So, I appreciate you coming tonight to celebrate his birthday with us. Callan”—her gaze meets mine and holds—“you are an amazing human, a loyal friend, and the kind of man everyone wants to be around. You and your generous spirit have touched the lives of everyone in this room in so many ways, and I, for one, would never want to be without you. You are an inspiration to us all. The way you take care of the people around you. The way you make things better, just by being a part of them—and that includes the Stallions team.”
A raucous cheer from where the majority of the team stands to one side of the lawn.
She lifts her glass, her hazel eyes locked on mine. “So here’s to you, Callan, for everything you’ve done and everything you’re still doing. May you receive back the love you put out into the world tenfold. You deserve nothing less. Happy birthday.”
A chorus of cheers accompanies the clinking glasses and “happy birthdays” as Charlotte presses play, resuming the playlist she made for me at Christmas.
I make my way through the crowd of well-wishers, happy to stop and talk with all my friends and colleagues. Despite living in Florida during the offseason, Pitt flew back to town for the weekend, and we spent at least thirty minutes discussing the upcoming season.
Nan is holding Opal as she sits under the shade of the umbrella on the porch, talking animatedly to Charlotte’s mom, Winnie.
“Hell of a party,” Nate says, clinking his beer against mine as I join him and Beckett on the lawn. “I can’t believe you have this many friends.”
Beckett grunts in agreement. “My party would be, like, seven people, and at least four of them would be uninvited party crashers.”
“I’m going to tell Larsen he’s one of the three people you’d invite to your party,” I threaten, knowing Beckett enjoys the company of the young hockey player even if he claims to find him annoying.
He shoves at me halfheartedly.
“Big plans for the offseason?” I ask them since both the Yeti and the Mountaineers are out of the playoffs.
“Finley and I are headed to Paris for a month,” Beckett answers. “I think it might be an annual trip for us.”
“I’m headed to Texas, unfortunately.” Nate pulls on his long beard. “I’ll be lucky if I make it back without my mom forcibly holding me down and shaving my beard. But I’ve got to go.”
“You certainly could use a shave,” I suggest. “And a haircut.”
Nate throws up his arms. “They’re good luck!”
“Didn’t you lose your playoff series?” Beckett asks. “Can’t be that lucky.”
Nate releases a long exhale. “You don’t understand how luck works.”
I catch Beckett’s gaze, and we silently disagree with Nate.
As the night wears on, my desire to socialize dims. All I want to do is pull Charlotte onto my lap as we sit around the fire pit, listening as she talks to all the important people in our lives.
Mostly, I just want to hold her.
Be near her.
I find her talking to Finley, Addie, and Sage, a formidable group of women, especially in the pro-sports world.
“Hi,” I whisper as I wrap my arms around her from behind.
She leans back, kissing my cheek as I pull her closer. “Hey, Birthday Boy.”
“Oh, you upgraded him from Ball Boy?” Sage asks. “Damn. You must really like him.”
“Eh, he’s okay.” Charlotte’s eyes dance with mischief. “I’ll probably keep him, though.”
“God, you two are too cute,” Addie says, her tone half amused, half disgusted.
“Maybe you’ll find some professional athlete of your own while you’re home this summer.” Sage’s wicked smile suggests it’s more of a threat than a wish for Addie.
“You’re headed back to Texas?” Charlotte asks.
“Yeah. For a little while. I’m getting so close to getting the call-up to professional men’s basketball that I can almost taste it.
And I have a few big women’s games in Texas that are going to be make-or-break for me.
I’m going to stay with my parents for a bit, so I’m not traveling back and forth. ”
“Oh, Nate said he was going to be in Texas, too,” I tell her. “Maybe you’ll see him around.”
Addie snorts. “Who’s Nate?” Then she waves off the question. “Doesn’t matter. I’m out if y’all are going to start setting me up with your sad, single friends. Plus, have you seen Texas? It’s a big state. I’m sure we won’t run into each other.”
“I didn’t realize I was trying to set them up,” I whisper into Charlotte’s ear as Addie goes on about how busy she’ll be anyway and how she’ll never meet a man who understands her schedule.
Her breath is warm on my neck as she says, “Addie is convinced she has the world’s worst taste in men, so she has decided to swear off dating. She’s only doing one-night stands from now on.”
“She could try fake dating,” I propose. “It worked perfectly for me.”
“So true. Maybe you should suggest it to her.”
I take in the redhead and decide I like my balls far too much to do that. “Hard pass.”
“It’s almost time to take Nan home,” Charlotte reminds me when an alarm goes off on her phone.
“Thanks for the reminder. I’ll be back in thirty.”
She grabs my arm, stopping me. “I’ll take her. You stay and enjoy your party.”
Charlotte and Nan’s relationship is one hundred times better now than when we first started dating.
Charlotte even goes over to Sunshine Hills once or twice a month to spend time with Nan and Rose without me.
As much as I want to be included, I know it’s important for them to build a relationship that doesn’t revolve around me—even if I would prefer that it did.
Plus, it has Rose’s kids and grandkids worried about their inheritance, so that’s always beneficial.
“I love you, Princess,” I say, pulling her in for a deep kiss that elicits a few catcalls from nearby.
Charlotte pulls away, smoothing a hand over my cheek. “I love you too, Ball Boy. Now, let me take your grandma home so this party can start to wrap up. I still need to give you your birthday present.” She winks before lifting her eyebrows suggestively.
“Did you get me sex for my birthday?” I tease.
“Yep.”
I laugh. “Best birthday ever.”