5. Sam, age 18
. . .
Jameson Kane. Or ‘Candy’ Kane as he’s known on the ice for his skills as the school's top defensive player. They call him an enforcer with a beautiful face. I call him my boyfriend. The love of my life. We’ve been officially a couple for over a year now, only we know that I’ve been his for a lot longer than that.
In truth, he’s been mine for just as long.
It was a surprise to no one when we announced our relationship.
Riley and Emma both rolled their eyes at me, playfully adding a finally under their breaths.
Luca and Braysen had close to the same responses, but they were quickly shut up with the glare that my man sent them. Our families were a different story.
Mr. Kane embraced me with open arms, mumbling about how he was waiting for his son to figure it out.
Johnny was a man of few words and only grunted hello to me anyway whenever I came over.
My mom was more tentative. Her smile looked tight when she saw us together, and she suddenly needed my help more often with Allie.
She was no longer okay with how much time I spent alone with Jameson, claiming we were obsessed with each other and needed to give each other space.
Only recently has she started to ease off, but she still hasn’t accepted him.
I want her to be happy for me. I thought if she saw how in love with him I am, she’d be excited for me.
Instead, it’s put a strain on our relationship that I’m not comfortable enough to dive into.
It’s my senior year, and I have too many things I am looking forward to.
As if I conjured him with my thoughts alone, Jameson appears through the crowd, anxious to get to me.
I took a shove into the boards during my game, and I could practically feel his eyes cataloging every wince and the way I rotated my arm as I skated back to the bench.
I only needed a slight reprieve to adjust my pads and roll out the pinch of pain in my muscles, and then I was ready to go again.
When my skates touched the ice, I could see his body lock up in the stands.
He hates when I’m hurt. I know it, because it's the same whenever I watch him skate.
I feel like my heart is in my throat any time he races too.
He reaches me only seconds later, his hands instantly grabbing my bag and hefting it over his shoulder. His free arm wraps around me, pulling my body into his side, and his lips press against my temple. “You should just let me take you home,” he whispers.
I glance up at him, a smile playing on my lips. “Nah uh. I’m officially over my pneumonia. I’m back to one hundred percent, and you promised we could go to the party.”
His brown eyes deepen while flickering over my face and body like he’s checking for hidden bruises. God, I love him. Even when he’s annoyingly protective, I feel special and precious to him at the same time.
“Exactly. You just started feeling better enough to play at full speed. You should take it easy afterwards.”
My lips kick up, and I hold in a laugh. “I’m completely fine.
You already know this,” I remind him, suggestively, and enjoy the heck out of it when his jaw clenches and his eyes trap mine with a stare so dark and heated I could melt on the spot.
He leans down farther until his lips are right against my ear, so only I can hear him.
“I’d rather take you home and fuck you so good and hard that it puts you to sleep, Pretty Girl. Say the words, and we’ll go right now.”
I almost choke on my own spit, and shivers break out over my skin.
I’m tempted. I’d rather spend my night that way, tangled in my favorite person, but I promised.
I promised the girls. It was our last home game before playoffs for the state championship, and I promised one more night to party. We have to celebrate our senior year.
“How about after the party?” I turn to him, hoping he hears the promise tangled in the amusement lacing my tone.
Jameson groans and squeezes me to him one more time. “It’s really not fair when I can never say no to you.”
“That’s just what makes you the perfect boyfriend, Kane,” I tell him, standing on my tiptoes and pressing a kiss along his jaw.
He huffs, part in annoyance and part just to humor me, before lacing our fingers together and dragging me out the doors of the arena.
The air is chilled, but my hand stays warm.
Jameson helps me inside his car and gives me the keys to start it while he loads my bag and stick in the trunk.
My eyes follow him as he moves around the back before sliding into the driver’s seat.
I could watch him all day long, but there is something extra sexy about watching him drive.
The way his hand controls the steering wheel, and the veins on his arms ripple.
He’s usually so focused on the road and our surroundings that I have all the time in the world to sit and ogle him.
My heart squeezes in my chest, so filled with love that it borders on the brink of pain.
I can’t imagine being away from him, or even spending one day without hearing his voice.
“Your brain is loud over there, Pretty Girl.”
He glances at me, and I see his lips twitch softly with a hidden smile. I grin back at him and lean over the middle console to press a kiss to his cheek. “Just thinking about how lucky I am, Kane.”
His fingers catch my chin, and he presses a quick, hard kiss to my lips. “I’m the lucky one, Sam. Don’t forget that there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.”
His voice is rough and gravelly; yet, it sets my insides on fire. “I love you.”
His eyes darken until they’re almost black. “I live for you, Pretty Girl.”