Off Season (Off #6) (4 page)

Cady has never
hinted at wanting anything more than the easy friendship we’ve
slipped into. Our emails are usually light and chatty, but we’ve
talked about some deep things as well, which has done nothing but
solidify the bonds we’re creating. Yet neither one of us have
ever mentioned that night again after that first set of emails, and
it’s almost like it’s become taboo to talk about the fact
that she and I almost killed each other with an overdose of orgasms.

We don’t talk
about it, but I sure as fuck can’t stop thinking about it.
Every woman I meet fails to live up to Cady. I’ve been out
clubbing a few times with my teammates, squeezing the most out of my
summer vacation. I’ve had plenty of women come on to me, even
once had a set of twin sisters wanting to come home with me.

And every fucking
time, I said no.

Like a fucking
loser… I said no.

I have no commitment
to Cady. She would never expect me to stay monogamous to her, and I
don’t expect the same of her. We had a one-night experience
that we both agreed would never recur because we didn’t live
near each other. Instead, we built a solid and close-knit friendship.
In fact, I’d say it was my closest friendship at this point in
my life.

But that’s all
it is. It’s all it can ever be, because I can’t fucking
see her… touch her… taste her. You can’t have a
relationship like that outside of the bounds of friendship. It just
can’t work, and so, I can’t be mad or jealous about her
going out with someone.

I also need to stop
turning my nose up at the abundance of easy pussy that’s
paraded in front of me and get back to doing what I do best. Fucking
my way through the lovely single ladies of Phoenix.

Yes, that’s
for the best, and as if to solidify and reaffirm these thoughts, I
fire back a quick email to her.

To: Cady Dunne

From: Zane
Kavanaugh

Subject: Give The
Guy A Chance

Date: September
12, 2014

Yes, I am on the
plane and it should be landing soon. Wanted to send you back a quick
email. I’m glad your classmate finally grew a big pair of
balls. I’m proud of all your hard work. If the guy gets laid,
he owes you big time.

As for the blind
date, I’ve never been on one, but I imagine Teagan isn’t
going to set you up with someone that you wouldn’t enjoy. Go
out and have fun. It will be an adventure for you.

My fingers halt…
freezing actually, and I know I can’t go through with it. I
can’t give her support and encouragement… not when it
comes to seeing another guy, no matter how selfish that is of me.

I quickly delete
what I wrote, including the “subject line,” and start
again.

To: Cady Dunne

From: Zane
Kavanaugh

Subject: Blind
Dates Are Lame

Don’t do
it, Cady. I once read an article that said only 4% of women who go on
blind dates have a good time, and another article that said 78% of
women who go on blind dates end up contracting an STD if said date
leads to sex. I feel it’s important for me to have your back on
this one, so trust me… it’s not worth it. Besides,
didn’t you once tell me Teagan dated a guy that pierced his ass
cheeks? I mean… seriously, do you want to be taking dating
advice from someone who finds that attractive?

I pause a minute and
chew on my bottom lip. Do I keep this tongue in cheek and hope she
doesn’t see through to my true intent? Or do I just come out
and tell her what I really want? I ponder a moment more as I crack my
knuckles, and then resume the email that might just paint me out to
be a fool a million times over.

Okay, here’s
the thing. If you’re still pining over me and that amazing
night we had, or you are sexually frustrated and need relief, I
believe there is only one thing to do. You shouldn’t go out on
a lame blind date, potentially risking heartbreak and crabs. Rather,
you should come back to the States to visit me. We could work
something out with my schedule and spend a few days together. I
promise you amazing orgasms, and I will save you from a terrible fate
if you go out with this guy. Think about it… I’m
serious. I’d love to see you again. Remember that little thing
I did to you with my fingers? There’s more where that came
from.

Zane

I read over my
words, talking myself into accepting them as a quirky way of flirting
with her, opening the door with sexual innuendo, and hopefully
dissuading her from going out with another man. I’m not really
sure what I’m hoping to accomplish but worst-case scenario, she
decides the risk of a bad blind date isn’t worth it, and
best-case scenario, she’ll come visit me and I’ll get to
lose myself in her once again.

I hit the send
button, put my laptop away, and settle in to impatiently await her
reply.

Cady

To: Zane Kavanaugh

From: Cady Dunne

Subject: Sorry so late…

Date: September 16, 2014

…
I’m
responding to your last email, but things have been crazy the last
few days. I had a group research project to finish, which was
complicated by the fact that the other three members in my group
didn’t do their part. As a result, I was scrambling around at
the last minute to pull it all together. Then I had Da’s
birthday party celebration to attend, which was a lot of fun, but
Cillian and Renner got me piss-assed drunk, and I lost an entire day
to a hangover.

But now I’m
back on track and wanted to shoot out a quick hello and see how
things are with you.

I pull my fingers
away from my laptop and take a deep breath. That’s the first
lie I’ve told to Zane, and it sits heavy on my heart. It’s
true that I had a group research project, and it’s true that I
got drunk at my da’s birthday party. What’s not true,
however, is that these things have kept me so busy I didn’t
have time to write back to Zane.

I’ve wanted to
write him back… badly. But I didn’t know what to say. No
amount of pondering gave me clarity on how I should respond to his
last email, which was chock-full of confusion for me.

At first, I took his
words as witty banter, quoting me false statistics and bringing into
question Teagan’s soundness of mind when it came to the
opposite sex. All good and funny, and yeah… I chuckled. I
didn’t take him seriously. This was just Zane being Zane.

But then he did it.

He mentioned “that
night” and even had the audacity to suppose I was sexually
frustrated since then. He could have still been goofing around, but
when he extended an offer for me to come visit him, that’s when
I knew he was being serious. He wanted to see me again… fuck
me again… and that was no joke.

That meant he didn’t
want me to go on that blind date.

That meant he was
thinking outside the bounds of friendship.

And that completely
flummoxed me.

So I spent the last
four days trying to figure out how to respond to him.

At my core, what I
really wanted to do was pull on my meager savings account and hop the
first flight to the States. I figured in less than twenty-four hours,
I could fly to Phoenix and be in his bed, experiencing the same
amazing chemistry resulting in the same astounding ecstasy I had with
him before.

But that wasn’t
practical, and when it boils right down to it, it wouldn’t be
anything more than a long-distance, not to mention expensive, booty
call. We both very much enjoyed each other, and I’ll go ahead
and lay it out on the line… it was the best sex I’ve
ever had in my entire life. But great sex, long distance, and flirty
emails don’t really equate to anything.

It’s still
completely unworkable. When I realized that for the truth it is, it
made me unbelievably sad and dejected. Because, unfortunately, Zane
Kavanaugh pushes every one of my buttons, and I’m not sure
anyone else will ever be able to compare.

Regardless… I
need to maneuver our conversations back to a more friendly level and
leave the sexual banter and memories behind.

So, remember when
I last wrote that Teagan and I were going out for drinks? Well, that
little bitch surprised me by bringing her co-worker she wanted to set
me up with. His name is Colin, and he’s a nice guy. Once I got
over being mad at Teagan for springing him on me, I actually enjoyed
my time out. So much so that I agreed to go out to dinner with him
this upcoming weekend.

I’m hopeful
I’m going to fall into that 4% of women that have a good time.
I won’t comment on your 78% statistic you quoted me.

Tell me how was
your vacation and the visit with your family? Did you have a good
time? I’m sure you did but you know me… I want details.
Share it all with me, friend.

It’s
getting late, and I have an early class tomorrow. Can’t wait to
hear from you.

Cheers,

Cady

There.

It’s done.

I’ve managed
to deflect his invitation to come visit him by telling him about
Colin, and the fact that I did agree to a date with him this weekend.
That should be enough to alert Zane that we really have no business
considering seeing each other again. It’s too impractical.

At least… I
think I managed to put things back on track. I read back over the
email before I send it, and I realize that it really doesn’t
elucidate on anything of importance. I only mentioned Colin as a
means of inferring that I was moving on with my love life, which
should prompt Zane to do the same.

Yet, when I think
about him moving on—when I think about this stupid date I
agreed to and really don’t want to go on—it causes my
chest to constrict for some odd reason.

I think about that
night we spent with each other. An unfiltered image permeates my
mind… of the first time that Zane sunk himself into me. This
came on the heels of him bringing me to a blistering climax with his
mouth and deftly sheathing himself with a condom before I could even
catch my breath.

He’s a large
man… everywhere, and he filled me so completely that I could
feel every nuance of his movements. He fucked me thoroughly…
slowly, and murmured in my ear the entire time. Lovely endearments
with just a hint of dirty talk.

Never imagined it
would feel this good.

Fuck, Cady…
I’m on the verge of losing control.

I’m getting
ready to come… but don’t think it’s the end of
this night. I’m already planning to fuck you from behind the
next time.

I shiver as I
remember the lust and passion in his voice… the surety with
which he spoke and the confidence with which he played my body. He
made me feel like the sexiest woman he had ever been with, and his
skills as a lover had me orgasming again just as he did.

Jesus, Mary, and
Joseph… those memories cause me to feel warm, flushed, and out
of breath.

And before I know
it, I can’t freaking help the stupid, stupid postscript that
comes to mind. My fingers start flying over my keyboard, and I can’t
seem to muster up the perseverance to stop myself.

P.S.

I would love
nothing more than to come visit, because yes… you sort of
spoiled me with your bedroom activities. I’m not sure I’ll
ever have that many orgasms in such a short time period again. Yet,
that can’t be a good enough reason for me to forsake my
schooling. I guess the memories will have to be enough. ;)

And yes… I
gave him a smiling face with a wink, just so he understands that
despite me having some feelings brewing inside, this is still going
to be nothing more than flirtation for us.

Before I could wise
up… before I could come to my senses, I hit the send button.
Then, there’s no taking back the fact I kept the door open to
continue our sexual banter.

I’m so bad,
and I’m going to suffer for it, because there won’t be a
damn thing I can do about it. But if I can’t have the real deal
with him, I guess flirting and revisiting the most sensual night of
my life isn’t such a hardship to bear.

My cell phone rings,
jerking me from all of these thoughts about Zane and our
non-relationship. I see Teagan’s name flashing, and I answer.

“What’s
up?” I ask brusquely, still not quite ready to fully forgive
her for bringing Colin to our girls’ night out. While he was
indeed nice, cute, and charming, I really wasn’t interested in
dating anyone right now. I only agreed to dinner because he caught me
off guard, and I literally couldn’t think of a single polite
excuse to decline. So now, I’m stuck.

“Don’t
take that tone with me, darling,” Teagan huffs and,
immediately, she makes me smile. She may be a bitch half the time,
and she lives her life like a crazy woman, but she’s my crazy
bitch and I love her.

“I’m
still mad at you for bringing Colin out the other night,” I
sniff back. “I told you I don’t want to date anyone right
now.”

“Yet, you
agreed to go out to dinner with him,” she points out.

“Only because
he caught me off guard. I really don’t want to go,” I
practically whine at her.

“So don’t
go,” she says in a bored tone. “It’s not like you’d
have a good time… you know… what with you pining over
Zane.”

“
What
?”
I practically shriek into the phone. “What do you mean ‘pining
over Zane’? I most certainly am not pining.”

“Oh, please,
you little brat,” she says with a maniacal laugh. “Do you
know how much you’ve been talking about him since you came back
to Dublin? I’ve had the rundown on every single email that
you’ve exchanged with him, and you don’t even tell me the
good stuff. You haven’t provided one single, juicy detail of
the sex you two had. Instead, I have to listen to you gush about how
funny he is, and how interested he is in your life and your studies,
and for fuck’s sake, Cady… you even tell me what he eats
for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”