Chapter Eighteen
SIDNEY
I’m dying on the gym floor when my phone vibrates beside me.
The audiobook I was listening to pauses as the call comes in, and it takes my last bit of energy to swivel my head to see who’s calling. When I see Eddie’s name, I instantly spring up, energy renewed.
I’m short of breath, but that doesn’t stop me from answering. For a moment, I think about taking this call somewhere private other than the team’s weight room, but my legs feel like noodles right now. If I try to get up, I know I’ll fall right back down. And I’d like to save a bit of my dignity.
I wheeze my hello and hear Eddie hesitate on the other end. When she finally does speak, her voice is quiet, hesitant, tinged with something new.
Hi, she says. Did I catch you at a bad time?
What? No. I’m just dying on the gym floor after completing a treadmill set.
You didn’t complete shit, Mason calls loud enough for Eddie to hear. I give him the finger as he walks away.
I can call back if you need time to get yourself together, she jokes with me. God, I love the sound of her laugh.
Nah, I try to say as normally as I can. It’s all good. Everything okay on your end?
She goes quiet for a second, making me think the call has been dropped. When her voice comes back, her words have me stunned.
Do you want to go out tonight?
Fucking yes! I go from dying on the floor to sitting up, doing a little happy dance. I am so fucking happy!
Hello? Are you still there, Sid? she questions, a laugh in her voice.
Yes, still here. Did you just ask me on a date, Miss Watson? I tease.
Yes. I did. Joey was invited to a sleepover tonight, and I just thought…
Oh. Ohh.
Heat shoots straight through me. Yeah. Yes, I say, trying to sound normal and not like a man about to sprint out of a weight room with only one running shoe on. Let’s do that.
***
We end up at a wine bar near my condo. Nothing fancy, but perfect for an intimate, cozy dinner. Dark wood, a chalkboard menu, and enough dark corners and deep booths for privacy.
Eddie looks incredible. I can’t believe that this woman is here with me. Her hair is done in tousled waves, tempting my fingers to shift through the shiny locks. She’s wearing a simple sweater and jeans, nothing provocative, but damn, she’s temptation personified to me.
Her whole aura tonight reads a little shy, a little bold, and a lot beautiful.
I like this place, she says, scanning the room. It takes every bit of strength I have to look away from her berry-stained lips.
Good. I’ve only been here once before, but brunch has a much different vibe than late-night dinner, I joke.
I have a hard time seeing you brunching.
Oh, I brunch. I brunch hard. Waffles near noon and a mimosa. I’m there.
She smiles, sliding closer to me in the booth. Dangerous combination.
Much like you, I say. Before I can stop myself, I lean forward and capture her lips. Our kiss starts off slow, then builds steam. When her hands trail through my hair and make their way down to my chest, I push away. I don’t want things to get out of hand in the restaurant.
Her breath stutters the tiniest bit as I pull away but stay close enough that our noses brush. I can see her brown eyes heavy with lust.
Keep it together, Crane.
Clearing my throat, I shake my head at her. You’re too tempting, Eddie.
She throws her head back and laughs but gives me about an inch of extra space. Looks like you could use a cold drink, she teases.
The night progresses like magic. We order food and drinks. We talk for hours and share more about ourselves and our lives. I am so mystified and captivated by this woman that the hours we spend together feel like minutes.
I want more. More of her time, more of her laughter. Just more.
As our plates and cutlery are being taken away, she nudges her drink with her finger, tracing the rim.
I’ve been…thinking a lot, she says.
About?
You. Her eyes flick up. Me and you. Joey. All of it.
I try not to visibly tense. Where is this going? I hope she’s thinking in the same direction as me.
And I wanted you to know, she says slowly, that I’m-I’m…falling for you.
Heat slams into me like a slapshot.
Eddie—
No, let me say it, she whispers. I’m falling for you. And that scares me because my life has been built around being careful and only trusting a small group of people and not letting anyone in. But you’re… Her breath trembles. You have changed things.
I reach out and take her hand. I’m falling for you too, I say. But I’m not scared of it.
A shaky smile tugs at her mouth. Of course you’re not, she says with half humour, half dread.
You want to know why I’m not? Her eyes flick up to mine, and I pull her in closer.
Because when I’m with you, I feel like the best version of myself.
You bring out the best in me. And that’s not to say we’re not going to have our ups and downs, but we’ve talked through the hard things before.
I know we’ll be able to do it again. No matter what our future holds.
Inch by slow inch, Eddie closes the distance between us until our lips are pressed together. This kiss is quick, sweet. But damn, does it hold promise.
I think you should take me home now.
Sure, if that’s what you want.
To your home, she corrects me. By the time her words have sunk into my brain, she’s out of the booth and reaching for my hand.
***
My condo is dim when we step inside, the soft spill of city lights painting faint gold across the walls. The door clicks shut behind us, and Eddie turns toward me like she can feel the air change.
Her breath hitches. Her cheeks are beautifully flushed, warm and pink in a way that sends heat spiralling through me.
I’ve been hard all night, but seeing her in my space, looking so beautiful has my dick standing at attention.
Her eyes are darker, heavy with lust and wanting, uncertain only in how badly she needs what comes next.
Do you want a tour or—
I just want you, she whispers.
The words snap something loose inside me. I cross the space between us in two fast steps, sliding my hands up her waist, then higher, until my palms frame her jaw. Her skin is warm, soft beneath my thumbs.
I kiss her gently first—slow, deep, coaxing her closer. She makes a small sound against my mouth when she rubs against me and feels my hard cock. She hums, and then her fingers are fisting in my shirt, pulling me into her like she needs every inch of contact.
The kiss changes, turns sharper, hotter in intensity. Her body presses flush to mine, her chest rising against me, her hips shifting forward in a way that makes my breath break.
I walk her backward, guiding her with hands on her waist. She hits the counter softly, a surprised laugh catching in her throat before I lift her effortlessly. Her legs wrap around my waist, pulling me in until every point where our bodies touch feels electric.
My hands slide along the outside of her thighs, and I hear the hitch in her voice as I gently skim over the seam of her pants. My heart is beating fast, and I need to see more of her—all of her.
Eddie’s skin is warm beneath my palms as I push her sweater up.
Inch by inch, more incredible golden skin is revealed.
She lifts her arms, breathless, letting me pull it over her head.
She sits there, proud and gorgeous, in a dark purple bra, looking at me with a burning desire.
Goosebumps rise across her stomach as the cool air meets her heated skin—and then my hands replace the chill, smoothing up her sides, learning the shape of her.
Her skin is soft and lightly freckled. I want to trace every small dot with my tongue, explore every hill and valley of her beautiful body. Just not right now. I’m too amped up, too excited to have her like this in front of me.
She reaches for the hem of my shirt and pulls it up and off next, dragging her fingertips over my stomach, up my ribs, across my shoulders. The shiver that goes through me isn’t subtle.
Fuck, Eddie, I whisper right before I cup her jaw and kiss her, putting every emotion I’m feeling into the hard kiss.
Her breath catches when I lower my mouth to her neck. I move lower, peppering kisses over her shoulders and then to her chest. I’m about to reach for the clasp of her bra when I see the material fall away. Eddie has beaten me to it.
Eager, I tease.
All I get back is a moan. Her breasts are heavy and firm, fitting perfectly into my hands. My tongue flicks out, playing with one of her nipples, and Eddie practically levitates off the counter. I have to hold her down as I continue to play.
She arches into me, her hands running through my hair and clutching the strands as I nip, lick, and gently bite, showing attention to both her breasts. A helpless, involuntary cry falls from her lips. My name starts being recited like it’s being pulled from her.
Sidney…
The way she says it, breathy and needy, nearly undoes me.
Her nails drag lightly down my back, claiming, urging. I kiss lower, slower, tasting each new inch of her, feeling her tremble as her hands dig into my shoulders.
Sidney, she begs. We need to move to the—oh God—to the bedroom. Please.
I kiss her once more, slow and steady, letting her feel it. Then I help her down from the counter. Her legs wobble under her, and she laughs—quiet, breathless, beautifully unguarded.
Come here, I murmur, brushing my thumb along her lower lip. She
She threads her fingers through mine, her body brushing close against my chest in a way that makes heat curl low and tight inside me as I lead her down the hall.
Something in her eyes flickers, a soft, disbelieving wonder like she can’t understand how she ended up here with me, wanted this much, felt this strongly.
In the bedroom, everything softens and sharpens at once. She reaches for me first, pulling me in, kissing me like she can’t get close enough. My hands roam her back, her waist, her hips—mapping her, wanting her, grounding both of us in the way our bodies fit together.
Together, we fall onto the bed. She pushes her hips up, trying to gain more friction again, but our new position makes it impossible. I’ll give her what she needs, I silently promise.
Reaching for the hem of her pants, I pull her jeans down, inch by slow inch.
She lifts up again, helping me. When her pants are tossed onto the floor, I quickly take care of the rest of my clothes too.
I want us skin to skin. I didn’t think it was possible, but my cock grows harder as I take her in for the first time.
Her tits are perfect with their pretty pink nipples, begging to be teased with my mouth again.
My eyes trail lower, and I groan. I can see her pussy glistening for me, ready.
Sidney, she whispers, her legs pressing together in need. Her arms extend, inviting me over.
I slowly begin to trail kisses down her shoulders again, tasting each new section of skin. When my mouth reaches the apex of her core, Eddie’s body shudders in delight. I’ve teased her to the brink and back. Time to give my woman what she needs.
Opening her legs wider so I can fit, I hold her gaze as I lower myself. Breathing her sweet scent in is almost too much to take. I don’t know why I’m torturing us both like this. All I know is I want to make this night memorable for us. I want her to know that this is just the beginning.
Leaning in, I take my first lick of her.
Oh! she cries, her hips jerking up off the bed.
I smile against her clit as she grinds herself into my face, silently pleading for more.
My tongue flicks out, playing with her nub, kissing, licking, nibbling her until she reaches her climax.
I feel a sting from where she’s gripping my hair, but it only encourages me.
It’s not until I’ve made her come with my mouth that I stop, kissing my way back up her body.
Her breath hitches each time my mouth finds new skin. She whispers my name again and again, each time softer, deeper, pulling me under with her.
Good girl, I whisper into her ear, positioning our bodies just right.
I kiss her, putting everything I have into the kiss, showing her just how much I cherish her.
How much she means to me. I knew from the moment I saw her that she would be my future, but as she lets me in, I know I love her.
It’s too soon to admit my feelings, but I’ll show her. Tell her in our own secret language.
Am I okay to— I start, needing her consent again before we go any further. She cuts me off, pulling me down so that she captures my lips.
Yes. Yes, Sidney.
Slowly, so slowly, I push into her. It’s a tight fit that has me clenching my jaw to contain how fucking good this feels.
Oh my God, Sidney, she gasps as I push all the way into her. Her cunt grips me tight.
I’m trying to go slow, allowing her time to adjust to my girth, but she’s not having that.
Eddie’s nails dig into my back as she angles her hips.
We both moan as I slip deeper. Fuck, I can’t hold back any longer.
I begin to thrust. My pace is steady, but my need grows frantic. Her body wraps around mine perfectly.
She’s at the peak, about to crash over the edge. Eddie starts to come undone under me. I keep thrusting, my release so close. Her walls squeeze me tightly, and I lose all control. My climax blinds me as I spill inside her.
When my breathing steadies, I smile against the curve of her neck. Taking her within my arms, I roll us over carefully. She clings to me like she wants to memorize this—every sensation, every slow grind of warmth against warmth, every place our bodies touch and spark and press.
And I hold her like she’s something rare.
Something I’ve been waiting my whole damn life to find.