Perfect Sense (Perfect Series Book 1) (27 page)

My anger melts. I grab either side of his face and slam his lips against mine. From the moment I met Cash I knew nothing about us would ever be easy. The last thing I was looking for was a ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming kind of love, but the second I locked eyes with him, whether I wanted to accept it or not, I found it.

I lean forward and place my hands on either side of his face. “I love you, too.”

Chapter 15

Sitting at my desk, I doodle on my notepad drawing circles that spiral from one side of the paper to the other. Two months have flown by since Newfoundland and Cash and I have been sneaking around, hiding our relationship from the media, the league, or anyone associated with it. One part of me thinks I have lost my mind, risked everything I possibly can for him, including my relationship with my father. The other part of me knows I am madly in love, addicted to his touch, and wouldn’t change my decision to be with him over anything in the world.

The idea of telling my father my plans to have both Harvard and Cash makes my skin crawl. He would more than frown upon our relationship. He would call it impulsive, reckless and maybe even career ending. I know any loving father would want his daughter to be happy. It’s just that in his mind, no one is ever good enough for me; whether they play hockey or not. He holds a halo over my head that he’s never held over Lyndsey. Maybe it’s because I am the one most like our mother. Secretly he worries that if he’s not guiding me, I’ll end up like her.

I’m still completely lost in my head as I scroll through email, reminiscing on my time with Cash and how far we have come. We spend almost every night together at his place. We rarely go out in the public eye. The last thing we both want is the media finding out about our relationship for more reasons than one. Our confinement has led me to discover Cash’s secret talent. He is an amazing chef. His French onion soup and Caesar salad are to die for.

I’ve been pouty lately though, because with the Bruisers in the Calder Cup finals series, Cash is more tired than normal, so Chinese take-out has been our staple. I’ve grown so fond of his cooking, that take-out doesn’t quite hit the spot anymore.

Our weekends together are my favorite. We eat sugary cereal and watch cartoons in bed. Sometimes we drive a few hours outside of Bexley to shop at a thrift store or two. I’ve found a lot of great odds and ends to help keep my jewelry making going strong. I even made Cash that ring he asked me for. I haven’t given it to him yet though. I want to surprise him, but the right moment hasn’t presented itself.

The shift in our relationship has been incredible and scary all at the same time. I love the sweet and seductive side of Cash that has stolen my heart.

At the office things are finally getting back to normal between me and Theo. We’re working on our next big event and promotion for the league and its sponsors. I feel like I’ve regained control of my priorities, but sometimes, like today, my mind slips and all I can focus on is Cash and getting my next fix. For the first time in my life I am unable to push something out of my mind and only focus on work.

I jump when the computer beeps, notifying me that I have a new email in my inbox. Slowly, I raise my head up and stare at my screen.

My heart stops when I read the subject line.

Harvard University - Offer of Admission

My hands are shaking, but I somehow manage to click open the email.

I stare at the screen for a moment, wrapped up in shock and excitement.

I did it! I did it! I did it! I am accepted!

I burst into shouts of joy, shoot up from my chair and fist pump the air, dancing around my desk. My celebration subsides when it sinks in that this is real. I am going to Harvard. I flop back down into my chair, feeling a mixture of relief and bewilderment settle in my stomach.

Without hesitation, I dial Lyndsey’s number.

“I got into Harvard!” I say before she can even say hello.

Lyndsey squeals, “Omigod! Omigod! Omigod! Quinny, I am so happy for you!”

“I just got the letter. You’re the first person I called.”

“Really? You told me before you told Dad? I’m first choice! And we made a pact remember? When you got your acceptance letter to Harvard, I get to take you out clubbing.”

I laugh. “I’ll even let you pick out my outfit.”

“You’re so going to regret you ever said that.” She giggles and then pauses, changing her tone to a serious one. “Quinn. I am so proud of you. You’re getting everything that you ever you wanted.” I can hear her pout through the line. “But I’m going to miss you once you make the big move to Boston.”

I swallow hard, my mind shifting to Cash. I may be getting what I wanted, but that means leaving him behind.

“Yeah, I guess I’ll be leaving soon.” My voice falters and I take a deep breath.

“Quinn? You okay?” Lyndsey’s asks, concerned. I feel my chest tighten and silence falls on the line. “You’re not having second thoughts because of Cash are you?”

Other than Lyndsey, no one else knows that we are together.

I let out a strained laugh. “No, of course not.”

This is crazy. I know I need to be strong and my own person, to prove that I am in control of my own life path, but every part of me right now aches at the thought of telling him. Not all long distance relationships fail, right?

“When are you going to tell him?”

“I need to figure things out first.”

“Like what? By you not telling him, you are doing the exact thing you are pissed at him for doing. Keeping secrets.”

I cringe slightly. “This is different.”

Lyndsey lets out a deep sigh. “Listen, Quinn, I have to go. Louis just showed up. Promise me you will tell him.”

I let out a sigh. “I will, Lynds. When I’m ready.”

We say our goodbyes and I click off from our call. Nerves shoot through my unsettled stomach.

I have to tell him.

Tonight.

My mind doesn’t stop racing until I get to Cash’s place and crash on his bed. I am feeling very anxious about, well…ruining everything, but I know I can’t hide this from him.

“Hard day at the office?” he says with a sexy grin.

I roll over, watching him flop down on the bed, wearing nothing but a pair of boxer briefs. He leans forward and runs a finger between my cleavage, causing me to involuntary shudder. I still his finger with my hand and move it onto the pillow. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“Can it wait until after I make you come?” He uses his fingertips to draw spirals over the tops of my breasts, distracting me. “We both know how much you like that.”

My green eyes flicker down to his bulge. “Umm hmm.”

He cups my breast and a cocky grin spreads across his face. “But first, there is something else I want to give you.” He leans over, opens the drawer on his nightstand and pulls out a tiny black box.

“What’s that?” I ask, sitting up cautiously. I can feel my cheeks heat with worry.

“Relax, Mittens.” His blue eyes sparkle as he looks up at me through his long brown lashes, clearly amused. I must look like I am about to faint. He clicks open the side of the box, and a shiny silver key stares back at me—the key to his place. “You have no idea how empty my life was until I met you.”

His voice is so sincere. It makes something inside of me melt into a tiny pile of mush. I reach to kiss his lips, trying to hide my conflicted emotions. He couldn’t have picked a worse time to open up his home to me. His loving gesture makes me feel sick that I am about to ruin everything when I tell him I’m leaving Bexley. “Cash—”

“I’ve never given anyone a key to my home. Not my agent. Not a coach. Not a friend. No one, Quinn. Except you.”

Heat pulses through me as he places the key in the palm of my hand. I stare at him and he stares back, his irises burning a sharp, vibrant blue.

“Is this for real?” I breathe out.

“Oh, it’s for real, Mittens.” He pulls one side of my blouse down, kissing along my bare shoulder.

I moan, loving the feel of his lips and inhaling that sexy cinnamon smell. He tugs me down so he can nibble along my neck, shoulder and breast. I hold still, not kissing him back, guilt washing over me with every second I continue not to tell him about my acceptance to Harvard.

“What?” he asks, lifting his head.

Getting into Harvard is everything I’ve ever wanted, but I can’t tell him like this. Not after he’s given me the key to his place. This is a huge step forward for us. I can’t take a step back. Not now. This changes everything.

“I’m so happy. I don’t know what to say.”

He leans forward and kisses my forehead. “You don’t have to say anything. I promised I’d start letting you in. This is the first step.”

“You don’t have to do this.” I force myself to meet his gaze.

“I want to do this.” He looks confused. “You want this too, right?”

“I do.”

“Then what is it?” He rolls on top of me and grabs my wrists, pinning them above my head. “Don’t you dare start overthinking everything -”

“I can’t help it. You know overthinking everything is what I do,” I press against his throbbing cock. He grips onto my hips, holding them against the mattress.

“What are you thinking right now?” he says with a playful wiggle of his eyebrows.

I bite my lip and bat my eyelashes, “Guess.”

With a smug smile, he reaches down and slides his hand under the back of my thigh and hitches my knee up to rest on his shoulder. He puts his mouth inches away from mine and mimics my voice. “Please Cash, please take off my bra.” I giggle as he leans over and kisses me. His expert fingers unclasp my bra and the straps fall down the sides of my shoulders. He kicks off his underwear and I yank my blouse over my head. He growls as the sight of my bare breasts and pushes my skirt up to my hips, ripping off my lace panties in one quick snap. Before I can even scold him for ruining another favorite pair—these a blue that matches his eyes—he’s driving himself inside me.

His lips meld with mine, and his mouth sucks at my bottom lip, then my collarbone and then my breasts. I exhale his name as his hips move back and then forward, back and then forward, until our movements are so rhythmic and fluid it feels like we are moving as one.

“Your lips are the only ones I want to kiss for the rest of my life.” His face softens and he takes my bottom lip softly between his and pulls me into him. “I love you, Quinn.”

His pushes himself deeper inside of me, my legs hooked around his waist. Our eyes meet as he glides in and out of me.

“I love you too.” I grip his back, his skin slick with sweat. As the force of his thrusts spin me closer to ecstasy, I clutch at the sheets.

“Get there,” he growls, and on command, I come apart in wave after wave. He thrusts faster, tensing above me and arching his back. “Fuck, Quinn! I’m coming.”

A moment later, he’s heavy and still on top of me. I glance at the key on the bedside table, but I’m still not sure what to say. I could easily walk away from everything I worked so hard for to be with him. He’s an amazing hockey player and his career would take us all over the country. It’s a dream life, I know this. It’s just not
my
dream life.

The doorbell rings and we both jump.

“Must be the food.” Cash rolls off of me, reaching for the phone, and clicks to the speaker. “Come on up.”

Our Chinese takeout has arrived.

He presses his face into my neck and mumbles, “God, you smell so good.” Then he jumps out of bed and slides on his underwear. I watch him walk out of the room, my heart pounding like crazy in my chest.

I
will
tell him.

Just not tonight.

The next morning, my eyes flutter open to the sound of an angry Cash. I toss the sheets off my naked body and slide on a pair of panties and bra. He’s pacing the living room, talking on the phone, staring out the floor to ceiling windows. He’s clearly agitated as he repeats the word no, louder and more irritated three times in a row. He hasn’t noticed me yet and I feel like I am more than intruding.

“I already wired you more than enough this month.” The muscles in his back tense, the angles of the early morning sun illuminating each beautifully defined ripple. “No…I will never agree to that. That’s two thousand more a month." He pauses, listening to the voice on the other end of the line. "For the last time. No. I don't want you here. And after this, I am terminating everything.”