Chapter 14
SAXON
Iwoke to the soft weight of Ivy curled against my chest and the even rhythm of her breathing.
Morning sun filtered through the curtains, lying across the bed and her bare skin like a spotlight designed just for me.
Her hair was a tangled mess against my shoulder, her leg thrown over mine, and her hand rested on my stomach, her fingers twitching slightly like she was dreaming.
She was so fucking gorgeous. And even though I’d made her tell me over and over the night before, it was a little hard to believe that all this perfection was mine.
I didn’t move. I just lay there, letting the moment stretch, watching the way the light caught in the strands of her inky hair and how her nose scrunched faintly when she stirred.
Something was stupidly addictive about waking up with her like this.
My sheets smelled like her. My skin, too.
And it was as hot as fuck. My cock agreed by jumping to attention.
She made a quiet sound and shifted closer, her lips brushing my chest. A few seconds later, her eyes cracked open, still hazy with sleep, and focused on me.
A slow, sweet smile curved her delectable mouth.
“Morning,” she mumbled, her voice soft and a little hoarse.
It probably made me a son of a bitch, but I couldn’t help feeling smug since the roughness had been caused by her screams of ecstasy.
I blinked a few times, pushing away those thoughts before they escalated.
She’d been a virgin last night, and I’d taken her hard, multiple times. Her sweet little pussy needed rest.
“Morning, sunshine,” I murmured, brushing a strand of hair off her cheek.
She blinked slowly, then smirked. “Do you have a habit of staring like a serial killer in the mornings?”
I traced her lips with the tip of my finger and grunted, “Can’t help it when the view’s this good.”
Ivy’s cheeks turned pink, and the corners of her eyes crinkled like they were smiling.
A yawn overtook her, and she stretched like a cat, the movement dragging her bare breasts against my ribs and making every last muscle in my body tighten.
It didn’t escape her notice, and I watched her expression take on a hint of smugness, knowing her feminine wiles had ensnared me.
“Hungry?” I asked, my voice lower than I meant it to be.
“For food?” she teased, biting her bottom lip.
I dropped my head into the crook of her neck and groaned. “You can’t say shit like that right now, sunshine. If I fuck you again right now, you’re gonna be sore for a week. And I have many, many plans for this sexy body.”
She giggled, and I raised my head, shooting her a dry look before I smacked her ass once under the covers. “Come on, smart-ass. I’ll make us something to eat.”
A cute little pout pursed her lips when I climbed out of bed, and she wrapped the sheet around herself. I pulled on a pair of black sweatpants and headed for the kitchen, hearing her padding toward the bathroom as soon as I crossed the threshold.
By the time I heard her enter the kitchen, I had eggs in a pan, bread in the toaster, and coffee already dripping into the carafe.
I glanced back at Ivy, and my mouth went dry as I watched her slide onto a stool at the island.
She’d put on my shirt from yesterday—which should have looked ridiculous since it nearly swallowed her whole, but instead, she looked sexy as fuck.
Her hair was an adorably tousled mess, and her smile was genuine and happy.
“I don’t know why I’m surprised that you cook.” She propped her elbow on the counter and set her chin in her hand.
I shrugged. “It’s not always easy to make sure I’m eating the right shit to stay healthy and in shape.
Ordering takeout only has so many options.
And even with meal deliveries, it can be frustrating.
It’s difficult to know exactly when I’ll need them, and half the time, they went bad before I was home long enough to eat one.
” The coffee machine beeped, and I pulled a mug from the cupboard above and filled it.
“Besides,” I continued as I set the mug in front of her, “I enjoy it when there’s someone worth cooking for. ”
Her smile faltered, just a fraction, before she reached for her coffee and took a long sip. “This, being here with you, last night and this morning. It’s really nice.” She cocked her head to the side, her expression contemplative. “I don’t want to overthink it.”
I’d moved to the stove to work on the eggs, so I glanced back at her over my shoulder. “Then don’t.”
She toyed with her cup for a second. “I’m just saying…I don’t want you to think I’m making more of this than it is. We can keep things casual.”
I stopped, the spatula in my hand freezing along with the rest of my body. Then I turned slowly and looked at her, deadpan. “No.”
Her brows shot up. “No? What do you mean, no?”
“You heard me.” I turned back to the stove, done with this conversation.
She sputtered. “You can’t just say no.”
I shut off the stove, no longer caring about breakfast, and pivoted around to watch her with my typical intensity. “You gave me that right when you agreed to be mine. I won’t do temporary, Ivy.”
She blinked a few times, seemingly at a loss for words. Before she could say anything, I leaned across the island, wrapped my hand around her wrist, and yanked her gently to her feet.
“Saxon—”
I didn’t let her finish, tossing her over my shoulder like she weighed nothing and stalking toward the bathroom.
Her laughter was breathless and sputtering. “Are you serious right now?”
“Never been more serious,” I muttered, stepping into the shower and kicking the water on with my free hand.
She was still laughing as I set her down under the spray and stripped my shirt from her body. I pressed her back into the tile with a growl and kissed her like it was the only thing tethering me to the earth.
By the time I got her dressed in clothes—I’d had them delivered by calling in a favor with Lennox, the billionaire owner of the Nighthawks—and out the door, the sun had climbed high in the sky, casting shadows across the sidewalk.
I drove her out to Long Island, my hand resting on her thigh the entire ride.
Every once in a while, she would shift as if she were trying to find a more comfortable position.
I was a big guy, and after taking my dick three times last night and twice this morning, she was gonna feel me inside her all day.
I didn’t even pretend not to be smug about it.
When we pulled up to The Color Loft, I killed the engine, went around to help her out of the car, and walked her inside without a word.
Lorna looked up and grinned wide.
“She on the clock yet?” I inquired.
Lorna shook her head, her eyes twinkling merrily.
I turned Ivy toward me, dipped my head. “No need to be professional then,” I murmured before I kissed her like no one was watching.
Her hands curled around the ends of my scarf, pulling me closer.
I let the kiss linger just long enough to make my point, then pulled back and brushed her cheek with my thumb.
“I’ll see you tonight.”
She double blinked. “You’re just gonna leave me like this?”
“Yup.”
“Tease.”
I leaned down and put my mouth right next to her ear. “Not when I intend to follow through tonight. And I want your panties wet all day just thinking about what I’m going to do to you.”
She stared up at me, flushed and in a daze. After giving her one more quick kiss, I turned and walked out, feeling her gaze burning into my back.
At home, I settled in at my desk with a cup of coffee and the kind of grim determination that came with offseason work. Film breakdowns, workout schedules, mental reps. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was necessary.
Before getting to work, I decided to send Ivy her favorite coffee. Americano with two pumps of caramel and one of hazelnut.
With a chuckle at my own cheesiness, I added a cupcake—shaped and iced to look like a football.
Shortly after the delivery alert came through, my phone vibrated.
Ivy
A cupcake shaped like a football?
Me
Why would I pick anything else?
Ivy
I grinned.
Then I got to work, watching tape and poring over stats until my eyes started to glaze.
In the afternoon, I took a much-needed break. Before I thought better of it, I ordered a cookie to be sent to Ivy. One shaped like a football helmet. Hand-decorated with my team colors.
An hour after that, I grabbed a glass of water and sent her a small box of frosted sugar cookies shaped like the New York skyline—with a little edible banner that read Nighthawks 4 Life.
I couldn’t muster up the energy to do any more work, so I was checking my email when an ad popped up for an item that made me snort into my water when I saw the image. I added it to the cart without hesitation. It was perfect.
A message from Ivy popped up right after the cookies were delivered.
Ivy
I think you’ve made your point.
Me
Maybe.
There was a pause, the three dots dancing and disappearing several times before she finally hit send.
Ivy
You’re going to keep sending treats to mark your territory, aren’t you?
I chuckled, anticipating her reaction when she received my last gift.
Me
Nah. I sent something even better.
When it was delivered, my phone buzzed again, but this time it was a phone call.
“Hey, sunshine,” I answered casually.
“A life-size cardboard cutout of you?” she replied drolly. “Seriously?”
“Just making sure everyone knows who you belong to.” I didn’t bother to hide the amusement in my voice.
Ivy let out an adorable little growl before she muttered, “You realize the girls will never let me live this down.”
“Carboard me will tell them to knock it off.”
There was silence for a few beats, then, “You’re impossible.”
“Yet,” I practically crooned, “you’re still gonna go home with me tonight.”
There was no response at first, but she didn’t hang up, so I leaned back in my chair, waiting.
And smirking.
Until finally, she groaned. “Damn your irresistibleness, Saxon Powell.”
I laughed. “Sunshine?”
“Yes?” Her tone was exasperated.
My voice turned rough when I asked, “Are your panties still wet?”
She sucked in a breath but didn’t say anything.
“I reward good girls for their honesty, sunshine.”
When she answered, it was so quiet I almost missed it. “Yes.”
My body responded with a vengeance I hadn’t expected, and I had to shift my position and adjust my rock-hard dick to find a little relief. “Good, baby. I want them fucking drenched when I pick you up tonight.”
Ivy whimpered faintly. “Mean.”
“To be fair,” I replied with a strained chuckle, “my situation is a lot more painful than yours.”
When she spoke again, her voice had perked up, the little minx. “Well then, turnabout is fair play, Sax. I just might want to thank you for all these thoughtful gifts on the way home…with your dick in my mouth.”
Holy fucking shit. I nearly spilled in my pants right then.
“So think about that all day, babe.”
Then she hung up, and a grin stretched wide across my face.
Reluctantly, I pushed out of my chair and went to change my clothes for a meeting with our new PR rep. As much as I detested the media shit, I’d warmed up to it just the tiniest bit because it had helped me set a path straight to Ivy.