Page 134 of Empty Net

He lights up the second he sees me. “Lilah.”

“Fox,” I return.

Then I launch off the couch and right into his arms, his hands going under my ass as my legs wrap around his waist, our lips meeting in a rushed kiss like it’s been days since I’ve seen him instead of hours. Naturally, it’s not enough, and I don’t think it ever will be.

“Fuck, I missed you,” he murmurs against my skin, his lips on my neck.

“You just saw me.”

“So?”

I laugh. “Good point.”

I drag his mouth back to mine, our tongues rolling together until we’re both out of breath. Eventually he sets me back on my feet, his hair a mess from my hands and my lips feeling swollen.

“Going to go take this off,” he says, pointing to his suit. “Couch cuddles?”

I nod enthusiastically. “Please.”

I grab the book we’ve been reading—a new one about a vampire brotherhood—and settle back into my spot. He emerges from my room a few minutes later in nothing but a pair of low-slung gray sweatpants. That’s it. No shirt, no socks. Just him in all his glory. It makes it hard to focus as he settles between my legs, his head resting against my stomach, legs stretched out over the edge of the other side of the pink furniture that’s far too small for him.

“Where’d we leave off?” I ask, opening the book and flipping through the pages.

“I bookmarked it with the Costco receipt.”

“Good boy,” I tell him, running my fingers through his hair. “Ah, I remember this one. She’s just gone to the compound and met the other brothers.”

“I think V is my favorite so far.”

“Really? I like Z. He’s mysterious.”

“He’shot. You have a thing for his scar and you know it. Remind me to never introduce you to Adrian Rhodes.”

“I don’t know…hockey playerandhas a scar? Sounds kind of hot. Any chance he’s a mega-flexible goalie?”

He tilts his head back to glare at me, and I hide my smile behind the book.

I read for a long time, or at least that’s what it feels like. Fox interjects his feelings about the long-haired vampire every now and then and we debate the plot and whose book is next, but that’s all we do. We lie there together, me reading to Fox, him snuggled against me. It’s not the sexiest night in the world, not the most adventurous, but it’s ours.

I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

EPILOGUE

FOX

“Three, two, one!”

Lilah slams her thumb down on her computer, and with that, Maddison Sinclair Designs is officially launched. She throws her arms around her very pregnant best friend, who seems like she’s due any day now, and they hold on to each other tightly as we burst into cheers around her.

Hayes and Quinn blow into noisemakers, Flora doing the same at their side. Locke and Keller clap loudly, the latter nearly smiling even. I look at Hutch over them, and he grins at me likewe’rethe ones in on a secret, and this time, I know exactly what it is—we’re lucky as hell to have them.

He’s right. We are lucky. We needed them bad when we lost game seven of the conference final. It was rough. I don’t think the group chat was active for a good two weeks afterward, everyone licking their wounds, but I was glad when the team that beat us at least went on to win the Cup. They deserved it, but next year… Next year is ours. I can feel it.

Lilah moves toward Hutch and Auden toward me.

“Congrats,” I tell her, hugging her as best I can with her round stomach between us.

“Couldn’t do it without our girl.” She smiles, referring to Lilah.

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