Page 121 of Sweeper
I laugh and press my forehead to hers to inhale the sweet scent of her that I’ve missed more than I ever thought possible. “Those weren’t the three words I was expecting.”
“No?” she croaks, biting her lip nervously. “Then don’t move and maybe I’ll get to them.”
I pull back and shake my head at her. “You’re very bossy when you’re groveling, you know.”
“I’m a girl who knows what I want.” She shrugs cutely, and then her face grows serious as her eyes lock with mine. “I love you, Zander.”
Hearing the words spoken out loud sends a rush of adrenaline through my body stronger than anything I’ve ever felt in soccer as I crush my lips to hers. I don’t bother asking for consent with this kiss. The second she gave me her love, her lips became mine.She is mine.
My hands map her neck, back, and hips, pulling her close and committing all the curves of her body to memory. She tastes soft and sweet, and I can’t help but marvel at the fact that I barely made it two weeks without her. Deep in my gut, I know there will never be another girl I want to kiss as much as this one in my arms. That thought would have scared me a year ago. Now, I welcome it. I welcome someone permanent in my life. Someone I want to fight for and who is willing to fight for me. That song, her voice. Those are some of the best fighting words I could ever imagine coming from her lips, and it fills my heart with relief to have this feeling in my heart reciprocated at last.
Daphney skates her fingers into my hair and gives my strands a light tug.God, I missed her hands in my hair.Her tongue teases my bottom lip as I bite down on hers. I want to consume this woman. I want to take her to bed and never leave it. I want to whisper that I love her over every inch of her flesh until she’s so fucking spent, she can’t find the words to tell me to stop.
“Wait, I have one question,” she gasps, using my hair to pull my lips off her neck. “Are my cookies really that bad?”
“God, yes.” I sigh, and my lips are back to feasting on her flesh. “Did you seriously never try them?”
“No, they smelled awful.”
My body shakes with silent laughter as I pick her up and carry her to bed, feeling better than I have in a very long time.
Daphney
The twinkle lights cast a golden hue on our bodies as we lay on my bed, facing each other in a mess of rumpled sheets and naked limbs. Zander’s lips are still caressing my neck and shoulders, his hands sculpting over my bottom in a way that makes it obvious he is in no way ready for bed. How does he have the stamina for this? He played a Premier League football game today. Honestly, the man is superhuman.
“So, how are you feeling about everything?” I ask, forcing his lips away from my breasts so I can look into his beautiful hazel eyes.
He blinks sleepily. “Big fan of makeup sex.”
I smirk and narrow my eyes. “I mean about the Harrises. Hayden came by earlier today and told me a little bit about last Sunday.”
Zander’s brow quirks. “Is Hayden who I have to thank for this epic makeup sex? That’s going to be an awkward thank-you card.”
I roll my eyes and pinch Zander’s side. He tenses, and his muscles bunch in a really delicious way that makes me not at all ready for bed either. “Come on, I want to know. You’ve been dodging my texts all week.”
“I was giving you a taste of your own ghosting medicine,” Zander says, and a look of sadness flits across his eyes.
I stroke his cheek and try to soothe that pain on his face. “I promise no more ghosting ever. No matter how bad we fight, neither of us ghost each other.”
“Deal.” Zander presses his forehead to mine. “I missed the shit out of you, Ducky.”
I inhale his manly scent. “I missed you more.”
“Impossible.” His eyes look vulnerable in the darkness as he adds, “You know I’m going to screw up again, though, right? I’m no relationship expert, but no one is perfect.” He pauses for a moment before continuing, “I guess I need to know that I can screw up once in a while and not have you doubt me again.”
“I won’t doubt you,” I say, stilling my hand in his hair, and hating the insecure look on his face. “I doubted me. I doubted that I was strong enough to survive this if we don’t work out.”
“Well, that’s an easy problem to fix. We just won’t break up.” He gives my side a cheeky squeeze and bites his lip teasingly.
“That would be helpful,” I reply coyly, my body arching into his. “But mostly, Hayden made me realize that love is worth the risk. And I feel even safer knowing you love me too.”
“I do love you,” Zander says, pressing his lips to mine. “I’m sorry you couldn’t see that more clearly.” He goes silent for a moment as my fingers play with his hair. “I think I struggled to open up to you about everything because I wasn’t certain I even wanted to know the truth. And since you were already so connected to the Harris family, if I told you…there was no way to take it back.”
I nod thoughtfully because it’s an answer I can completely empathize with. “Are you glad it’s all out in the open now? No regrets?”
“No regrets.” Zander exhales heavily. “If I didn’t at least try to have a relationship with them, I would always wonder. And everyone has taken the news surprisingly well. Even the grandkids know, and they’re sort of like…who cares, let’s play soccer. It’s funny.”
“That’s incredible.” I smile back at Zander. “I would have loved to have been there to watch it all unfold.”
