Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
SAVI
“We need to tell your brothers,” he says through the phone as I lean back in my office chair.
“They are going to know something is up. I’m walking around with a damn smile on my face all the time, and the whole team has already figured it out,” he mutters.
“You’ve turned me into that heart-eye emoji, and my reputation as a hard-ass on the ice is going to be ruined. ”
Giggling, I shoot him a quick text while I have him on the phone.
“Hilarious,” he chuckles sarcastically as my heart-eye emojis go through.
“I’m serious though. I don’t want to hide this from Miles anymore.
The charity ball is coming up in a couple of weeks, and your whole family is going, including your parents.
I want you as my date…by my side. Not looking at you from across the room and wishing I could touch you. ”
“Are you asking me to be your date to the ball?” I can’t help but tease him. This side of him is something I’ve never witnessed before, and he’s too cute not to mess with.
“Well, I sure as hell won’t be taking anyone else.”
“Hmmm, then you’d better ask me soon. My calendar fills up rather quickly.” I bite the inside of my cheek to stop the laughter that wants to erupt.
“Savi,” he frustratedly growls, and I cover my mouth as a giggle escapes.
“Yes?”
“Will you be my date to the charity ball?” I can tell his patience is running thin, which only makes this more fun for me.
“Just a sec. Let me check my calendar.”
“For fuck's sake,” he mutters. I hear his voice muffled and can already picture him running his hand over his face in agitation.
“Yes,” I laugh, deciding to put him out of his misery. “I’ll be your date. I’ve been waiting for you to ask me, you know. I got my invitation weeks ago from the foundation, and my sisters-in-law already have their gowns picked out.”
“You’ve really been waiting for me to ask you?” He asks in a bewildered tone. “What part of I want to fucking marry you one day did you not understand? Of course, you are my date.”
“I know we aren’t exactly labeled and a lot of press will be there, so I wasn’t sure if you wanted our secret out or not.”
“You want a label? Pick one. Girlfriend, fiancé, my wife…they are all yours. Do you want to keep us a secret? I know that being with me means you’ll be in the spotlight when we are out and about.
The press can be a pain in the ass, and regardless of what we tell them, they will spin our relationship however they want to.
If that is something that is going to bother you, I need to know. ”
“I don’t care about any of that. It comes with your job, and you’ve earned all this fame and more. Any girl would be proud to be on your arm.”
“I don’t want any girl on my arm. I want you.”
Gazing out the window, I smile at his words. “I want you too.”
“Just to make this crystal clear, so there is no more confusion. You are officially labeled as my girlfriend. It doesn’t sound like enough, but it will have to do for now.
For any future events that require dates, I choose you.
Always. As much as I would love to keep the press out of our lives, they are going to see us together.
I don’t want to have to hide the fact that we are in a relationship.
The whole damn world can know that you’re mine.
I would prefer it that way, anyway. It keeps the guys in check,” he mutters.
“So, I have a boyfriend,” I say, feeling like a giddy teenager.
“And I have a girlfriend,” he muses. “Those were words I never thought I would say,” he chuckles softly.
“So I guess it’s time to tell the family, then. Are you ready?”
“No,” he laughs, “but I would rather Miles hear it from me than the press.”
“I’ll talk to Olivia tonight at the game, and we can have them over for dinner this week to tell them. Once Miles knows, he can fill the others in.”
“That will work,” he sighs.
“Miles is your best friend. He loves you. You have nothing to worry about,” I reassure him when I feel his uneasiness through the phone.
“He knows my past with women, Savi. We both have done some crazy shit together, and now I’m sleeping with his sister.
I still don’t feel like I’m good enough for you, so why should I expect him to feel any different?
He knows I grew up hating my dad, and how fucked up that made me.
I’m not exactly a poster child for the top ten people I would want my sister to date.
I’m not even on the list,” he says quietly.
“Well, you’re on mine,” I say adamantly. “Number one spot, actually. I love my brothers, but it’s my choice who I choose to love, and I choose you. If they truly want me to be happy like they say they do, then my brothers are going to see that it’s you who makes me the happiest.”
“I hope so.”
“I know so.”
I feel his hesitation and worry through the phone. I know it’s been weighing heavily on his mind that we’ve been keeping this from my brothers. Their approval means a lot to him, even though he’s trying hard to hide it.
“Are you ready for your game tonight?” I ask, wanting to busy his mind with something less heavy.
“I’m always ready,” he says, changing his tone as excitement filters through the phone. “It should be a good one. The Hawks are number one in their division, so I’m looking forward to the challenge. Are you sure you don’t need my two tickets? I can leave them for you.”
“No, I already told my family I would sit with them tonight. Miles and Olivia are bringing Bee, and it’s Cruz’s first hockey game, so I want to be there.
Lyla bought him a cute little Bolts jersey, and Bee and Charlotte have matching pink dresses with the team logo across the front.
They are so excited to wear them tonight,” I smile just thinking about how cute they are going to look.
“I have no doubt they are going to look adorable.” I hear a shuffling in the background and voices off in the distance before Knox comes back on.
“I have a meeting in a few minutes I have to get to, but before I go, you mentioned the whole gown issue earlier about the ball, and I want you to know it’s already taken care of. ”
“What do you mean, taken care of?” I ask, furrowing my brows in confusion.
“Just arrived today, in fact, along with a few other things I arranged to be sent over. I put them on the bed for you before I left this morning.”
“Knox, you didn’t have to buy me anything.”
“I wanted to. Besides…everything I got you, I’m going to enjoy it immensely when I see it on you. It’s probably more of a gift to myself than you,” he says, changing his tone from playful to that seductive low octave that always melts my panties right off.
“I don’t know about that,” I murmur, feeling myself getting worked up and excited to wear something he picked out. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to enjoy it just as much.”
“God, what I wouldn’t give for fifteen minutes with you right now,” he softly growls under his breath.
“Only fifteen minutes?” I ask in a teasing voice.
“You’d be surprised how much I can get done in fifteen minutes,” he wickedly adds with a throaty chuckle. “I can make you cum in less than two. The other thirteen are just an added bonus.”
“Stone, meeting is about to start,” I hear Jett suddenly call out. “Who are you talking to? Is it Savi?”
“None of your fucking business,” Knox shoots back at him.
“That means, it’s Savi,” Jett laughs in the background. “Tell lucky charm, I said hi.”
“Tell Jett I said hi,” I say for Knox to relay.
“She says hi,” Knox repeats with an agitated sigh.
“Who says hi?” I hear Cayden’s voice next as he joins the conversation.
“He’s talking to Savi,” Jett adds, filling him in.
“Tell her I said hi, too,” Cayden says, his voice echoing through the phone.
“Jesus Christ,” Knox mutters. “She says hi to everyone, okay? Now get the fuck out so I can say goodbye and get to this meeting.”
I hear them laughing as they walk away, clearly having fun at Knox’s expense.
“I need to let you go before the whole damn team wants to talk to you. You’ve gotten them all under your spell, and I swear they are all crushing like high school kids.”
“They do not have a crush on me,” I laugh. “They just love messing with you.”
“Yeah, well, they are doing a damn good job at it,” he mutters.
“Do I have a jealous boyfriend on my hands?”
“More like a territorial one.”
“Mmm, that’s actually kind of hot, and turning me on,” I giggle, causing him to softly groan.
“I love you. Goodbye, Savi,” he warns, needing me to play nice so he can get to his meeting.
“I love you, too. Bye,” I grin. “Oh, and Knox?” I ask innocently.
“Yes?” He asks cautiously.
“Score a goal tonight, and what I’m wearing will be put to good use when it ends up all over you later.”
“What the fuck does that even mean?”
“I guess you’ll have to figure it out,” I grin before hanging up and leaving him guessing.
Setting my phone down, I glance at the files on my desk and check my schedule. Since I don’t have any more patients for today, I decide to pack up my paperwork and take it home with me.
I’m too curious about what’s lying on my bed and the excitement of the game tonight to stay in this office any longer. I quickly gather up any files I need and my laptop before letting the office know I’ll be gone the rest of the day and to contact me by cell if they need me for anything.
I walk inside my house less than thirty minutes later. Freya greets me at the door, and I scoop her as I set down my bag on the kitchen counter. Her purr vibrates against my chest, and I smile into her soft fur.
“I’m happy to see you, too, beautiful girl.” I give her a treat before setting her down and opening my bedroom door. I gasp at the large box on my bed and several other packages lying next to it.
I recognize some of the designer names and realize he didn’t spare any expense on these items as I run my hand over the pretty boxes before lifting the lid of the bigger one.
My eyes widen in shock when I see the beautiful black dress folded carefully inside.
Picking it up, it feels like butter against my skin as I admire its beauty.
It’s elegant with a halter neckline and mermaid silhouette style, but gives off the right amount of sexy with the slit up the side and one between the breasts.
The next few boxes reveal gold strappy heels, a matching handbag, and several different styles of lingerie that I can’t wait to try on and surprise him with.
I notice a smaller box as I reach for it and open the lid.
A delicate gold chain holds the number twenty-two pendant.
Grinning, I quickly try it on. It nestles perfectly between my breasts, keeping it close to my heart.
It’s something I can hide from my brothers until we tell them, but allowing me to have a piece of him secretly with me.
It’s perfect, and something I know I’ll never take off.
Reaching for the last gift bag, I remove the tissue paper and peer inside, pulling out the small note card with my name written in his handwriting.
When I was asked what number I wanted to wear in the NHL, it was an easy decision for me. I couldn’t think of a luckier number than the day you came into this world.
My hands tremble as I reread what I just read.
He picked the day of my birthday?
I knew it was the same number, but I never would have guessed that’s the reason he chose twenty-two. I never questioned why he picked it.
I’ve never given a girl my jersey, nor have I ever asked one to wear my number. You seem to be bringing out a lot of firsts in me that I never thought I would want, but I do want them. I want them all with you.
I’ve worked hard for that number, but I don’t want to wear it alone anymore. It’s yours now just as much as it is mine.
I know if you wear my jersey tonight, your family will have questions, so the necklace will have to do until we tell them.
I finger the gold chain already around my neck and smile as I continue to read his note.
It’s probably best you don’t wear it tonight, anyway.
I’ve fantasized for years about seeing it on your body, so the first time I see you wearing my jersey, I really need you alone, sunshine.
I have a feeling I won’t be able to hide what it does to me.
Dropping to my knees on the ice might not be the best way to intimidate the other team or make my coach happy.
I love you, sunshine.
Love,
Your obsessed stalker
I giggle at his joke as my core tightens with anticipation. Reaching into the bag, I pull out the black and white jersey.
His jersey.
I see twenty-two on the back with STONE written above the numbers. Lifting it to my face, I grin into the material and take a deep inhale.
He must have worn this because it smells just like him as I breathe in his sin and spice scent that I love so much. I can’t stop the smile on my face as I inhale one last time before folding it nicely and setting it on the bed.
Fingering the lingerie lying next to it, I pick up the red set as an idea forms in my mind, already counting down the seconds until we are alone tonight.
I hang the dress carefully on a hanger and put away the rest of the items before opening my phone and pulling up our texts. He probably won’t see it until later because of all his game prep, but I want him to know how much it meant to me.
Savi
I don’t know what to say. You spent way too much and are spoiling me.
Everything is beautiful and perfect and so thoughtful.
The dress is gorgeous and exactly what I wanted.
I’m wearing the necklace now and don’t plan on ever taking it off.
I can’t wait to wear the rest for you, especially the jersey.
I know it means a lot to you, so thank you for choosing me.
I’ll proudly wear your number and will always be your number one cheerleader. I love you.
Love,
Your obsessed victim of your stalkerish ways
I set my phone down with a smile before pulling my work out and getting busy. I want to look extra special tonight, and make sure I have enough time to get ready.
It’s going to be hard after the game to pretend in front of Miles that I’m not madly in love with his best friend, but I’ve done it before, and I can do it again. Since everyone is going to know soon, this could be my last chance to have a little fun with our secret.
Forbidden fruit always tastes the best, and finding a way to sneak a bite of him is a challenge I’m up for and a temptation that I will gladly give in to.