Off Season (Off 5.5)

Cady

December 24, 2014

I've done some crazy things in my life, but none crazier than this.

It was crazy when I switched all of my da's underwear for ones that were two sizes smaller than what he normally wore, and even crazier when I serenaded Jimmy O'Shea in front of the entire school, and the craziest of all was when I had a one-night stand with a gorgeous hockey player.

But yup... this takes the cake.

Our plane landed at JFK right on schedule, and I followed behind Mam and Da as we made our way down to baggage claim. I stood by the carousel and watched the luggage go round and round. I thought to myself how similar this was to my life. I was going in circles and while sometimes, that produces a delicious spinning sensation, the truth was that Zane was standing to the side... and I kept passing him by.

Maybe because it was Christmas, and this was a magical time. Maybe it was because every day that passed, I missed Zane more and more, even as I found myself falling deeper in love with my man across the ocean. Maybe it was just time for me to make a bold move with my life.

"I'm going to Phoenix," I blurted out to my parents, and both sets of eyebrows rose up at me in surprise. "I need to be with Zane for Christmas."

My parents didn't try to talk me out of it. They could tell I was determined, and while I wasn't sure they really understood how close Zane and I were, they above all else wanted me to be happy. Renner giggled and hugged me hard, and Cillian kissed me on my cheek and wished me luck.

He whispered in my ear, "You're doing the right thing. You belong here... permanently in the States with your man."

I pulled back in surprise and looked at his eyes, which were leveled shrewdly at me. I hadn't told anyone about my decision to stay... to move to Phoenix. Oh, I knew I'd have to go back and get things handled back home before I could make the move, but on the flight over here, I thought about all the potential ways our relationship could be ruined, and really pondered the only way it could be saved. And that would be for me to move.

Yet, I hadn't said that... only that I was going to Phoenix for Christmas.

Cillian leaned in and chucked me under the chin. "I know you, Cady. You're staying. Let me just say, love, the happiness on your face speaks volumes."

So yes, I grabbed my bag, went back into the main check-in lobby of the airport, and maxed out my credit card buying a ticket to Phoenix. I went back through airport security and patiently waited for my 4:35 PM flight.

I only sent one text to Zane, to tell him that I landed safely in New York and that I would talk to him tonight. Little did he know that said "talk" would be a little more up close and personal than he had envisioned.

The cab pulls into Zane's neighborhood, and my skin hums with excitement. It's early evening, and it's getting dark. The houses are lit up with Christmas lights, and I see sparkling trees in many of the front windows. The air is a little chilly, but I know tomorrow will be warm and dry. I think I'm going to like this Phoenix weather.

Zane's house looms closer.

"Don't pull in the driveway," I tell the driver. "Maybe just a little bit down from the house."

I don't want Zane to know I'm here just yet.

The cab driver does as asked, and then helps me get my luggage out of the trunk. I hand over the appropriate cash, having no real clue if what he charged me was reasonable, and not really caring. When he pulls away, I glance down at my luggage sitting on the edge of Zane's front yard and pull my phone out.

I dial Zane's number as I walk up the driveway and then to the sidewalk, trimmed neatly with purple-hued grasses and cacti. He answers on the second ring.

"Hey beautiful. All settled in?"

"Not exactly," I tell him with a sly grin on my face. "I'd feel much more settled if I was in your bed right now, wrapped up in a big blanket of hot hockey player."

He chuckles and then sighs, and I can imagine him running his hand through his hair.

"That would make me more settled too," he commiserates, and then his voice becomes frustrated. "I fucking hate this, Cady. It's Christmas... we should be together."

"We should. Absolutely," I affirm. "Wouldn't that be a lovely Christmas present if that could only be so?"

"It would be the best," he murmurs.

I reach my hand out and touch the doorbell, hearing the soft chime go off inside.

"Hold on," he tells me. "Someone's at the door. Probably fucking Christmas carolers and I'm totally not in the mood."

"Scrooge," I taunt at him, and I can hear his footsteps as he walks through the house.

Click of the lock... a turn of the doorknob, and my heart is about ready to explode from my chest. It swings wide open and Zane is standing there, looking unbelievably beautiful in a pair of well-washed jeans and a Coyotes T-shirt. He has his phone pressed to his ear and blinks at me slowly.

"Hey," I say into the phone while I smile at him.

He actually jerks from the sound in his ear, and then awareness washes over his face. The phone drops from his hand, where it lands softly on the carpet, and then he's lunging through the doorway and out onto the front porch.

Strong arms wrap around me. I'm pulled so fiercely into his hug that my phone bobbles and then falls from my hand, where it falls not so gently onto the concrete steps. But I don't care because this moment is too thrilling, too beautiful, and too magical to let anything interfere.

Zane's face burrows into my neck, while he squeezes me tight and mumbles, "What are you doing here?"

My own arms are wrapped tightly around his neck, and I whisper. "Surprise. Thought you could use just one more Christmas present."

He pulls back and looks down at me in amazement, his one perfect dimple on the left side of his face puckered as he smiles. "Best. Christmas. Present. Ever."

"You've clearly been on Santa's good list this year," I quip.

He doesn't respond but picks me up, throws me over his shoulder, and carries me inside.

"Wait, Zane," I cry out as I balance myself with my hands on his lower back while I hang upside down. "My luggage is out near the road. I don't want it to get stolen."

"No one will steal it," he says as I watch the hallway walls flashing by. "And if they do, I'll buy you new stuff."

His voice is urgent... raw... needy, so I don't press the issue. Besides, I'm feeling those things myself.

I'm thrown down onto the bed, and then Zane is covering me. His m

outh claims mine in a hard, possessive kiss, and the groan that comes out of those beautiful lips of his causes my blood to pound. His hands are everywhere. Pulling at my clothes, stroking my skin, pinching at my nipples.

I gasp and writhe, nipping at his lips when they get close to mine. Frantically pulling the shirt over his head, I see a flash of chiseled pecs and rolling ab muscles. Then he's on me again.

The rest of the clothing melts away; our kisses are deep, wet, and consuming.

He's hot and heavy in between my legs, pushing his way inside. Deep inside... just one push, and then we are melded together.

"No condom," I whisper with a smile.

"No fucking condoms," he confirms. "You're on the pill, and we're both clean. And fuck, Cady... that feels good, doesn't it?"

I nod as my fingers skim through his hair, clasp behind his neck and pull him back down again. "Kiss me, Zane."

And he does. Then he fucks me... hard and with so much passion, that when we explode, I'm not sure how we'll ever get put back together.

Our heart rates slow, and our breaths even out. The sweat on our skin dries, and he wraps his arms around me.

"When did you decide on this little surprise?" he asks softly, one hand stroking my hip and lower back.

"At the baggage carousel at JFK," I tell him, my own hand tracking patterns on his stomach.

"No shit?" he says in amazement. "Just like that?"

"Just like that," I tell him. "Although, it's something I had been pondering on the flight over. And suddenly... I just decided I had to be here with you."

"Was your family disappointed?"

"Not in the slightest. They want me to be happy and they knew this is where I needed to be."

Zane is silent for a long moment, his hand still stroking my skin with purpose. He turns slightly to look over at me, touching his lips softly to mine.

"I seriously can't believe you're here. How long can you stay?"

I shrug my shoulders nonchalantly, lowering my gaze to his chest.

"How about forever?" I whisper.

I can actually feel every muscle in Zane's body freeze. His breath catches. Bringing one hand up, he circles it around my throat and then pushes up so I'm forced to look at him.