“Are you still at the stadium?” I ask.
“No. Why?”
“Just wondering. There’s a weird echo on the line.”
“Strange. I don’t hear it on my end.” Of course not. Stupid freaking technology. “But my signal isn’t great, which is why I didn’t bother with Facetime.”
“It’s okay,” I say, trying to keep the disappointment from my voice. “Just think, in a few more weeks, we’ll be together IRL.”
“True,” he drawls. “But I don’t know if I can wait that long. What are you wearing?”
I glance down at my faded blue and white Wildcat sweats. “I’m wearing those silky green pajamas you bought me. The ones with the lacy top and the little bow above the ass.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Real talk: long-distance relationships are hard. Sometimes little white lies are necessary to spice things up. “I love the way the fabric feels against my skin, almost like you’re right here with me, touching me.”
“Sexy little liar.”
My gaze shifts to the bedroom door where Cooper stands in dark jeans and a black leather jacket with a bag slung over his shoulder.
“How did you—”
I don’t finish the thought. He drops his bag and I vault off the bed, leaping into his arms.
He catches me easily and I wrap my legs around his waist as I crush my lips to his. The kiss is hard and deep and our teeth grind together, but I don’t care. I want to be as close to him as possible. He tastes like peppermint and chocolate, and when his tongue makes an expert sweep of my mouth, a quiet moan spills from my lips.
“How are you here right now?” I ask when we finally come up for air.
“I missed you, so I hopped a flight after today’s game.”
I laugh and shake my head. A year ago, such a thing would’ve sounded ridiculous, but his contract affords him the luxury of last-minute travel, even when his schedule doesn’t.
“How long can you stay?”
“Just the night. I have to head back tomorrow for practice.”
“You flew all the way up here to surprise me for just one night?”
“Yes?” he says, sounding unsure.
“Best. Boyfriend. Ever.” I drop another kiss on his lips, this one slow and sensual.
“Tell me about it.” He carries me to the bed. “And since we only have one night, we should probably make the most of it.”
I release my grip on him, lowering my feet to the floor even as I slide the jacket off over his broad shoulders and get to work on the button of his jeans.
Cooper chuckles and tugs on the waistband of my sweatshirt, pulling it over my head, before removing his own shirt and kicking off his shoes. “My sexy little liar.”
I shrug, refusing to feel guilty about my fib. “What did you expect? There’s nothing sexy about this getup.”
“Trust me,” he purrs, lowering my sweatpants and sinking to his knees before me. “I can make anything sexy.”
Truth. The man once gave me an orgasm while eating a hot dog.
He looks up at me from under long, fair lashes and I know we won’t be getting much sleep tonight.
My body clenches with desire and heat pools between my legs.
