“Star State College in Texas,” I answer. “Are you familiar? You didn’t go there, did you?”
“I did not. I just want to make sure it’s not a school I support. I will also make sure it’s blacklisted within the NHL community. We do not tolerate bigotry and bullying.”
“No?”
He smiles, shaking his head. “There’s a good number of out players in pro hockey and while there is still hate from many directions, the leagues don’t tolerate it. They even have an initiative to promote equality.”
I smile. “That’s great. You just made me a hockey sport fan.”
He chuckles. “So tell me, what do you want to do, Elijah?” Deryke asks.
“You can call me Lie, like everyone has my entire life,” I say, grinning. Before I continue, I see recognition in his eyes. He glances at Laiken. I look at Laiken, too. “You’ve mentioned me to your friend before, haven’t you?”
“We catch up on each other’s lives when we get together,” Laiken says, inclining his head. “You, Nason, and Miranda are a big part of my life. So yes, I’ve mentioned you.”
“I’m afraid to know in what context.”
“As a proud… uh…” Deryke trails off.
“Father?” I prompt, amused.
“Yes,” Deryke admits. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” I snuggle further into Laiken’s side, wrapping my arms around his arm. His hand flexes on my thigh. “I can call him Daddy if it’ll help.”
“You will not,” Laiken says.
“Okay, Daddy.”
Laiken sighs. I grin.
Deryke looks between the two of us, smiling. “I see that things have changed.”
“It’s my ass,” I tell him. “I seduced him with my ass.”
Laiken sighs again, his hand tightening on my leg. I grin hugely, staring at Deryke as he tries to contain his laughter.
“Is this how it’s going to be when I introduce you to my friends?” Laiken asks.
“Oh, definitely,” I tell him. “You have to take the good with the bad, Daddy.”
His fingers grip my chin, bringing my face to his. My breath catches as I stare into his eyes. “I’ll take everything you have, Lie. I’ll take it and keep it forever.”
I can’t catch my breath.
Chapter Twenty-Two
LAIKEN
I wake slowly,my eyes fluttering open. I’m somehow right in the streak of sunlight that peeks in through the crack in my curtains. I couldn’t wake this way again if I tried.
My arms tighten around Lie. His body fits perfectly against mine. Smaller, though not by a ridiculous amount. He’s thinner, lean, and a little willowy. He just has the body structure that lends toward a leaner frame.
Mine isn’t quite so kind. There was a time in my life when I cared more about my muscle mass, but sometime around my thirtieth year on this Earth, my dedication to my body image faded. Now I describe my body as soft. Not nearly as toned as it once was in my youth. I’d go so far as to say I could use ten or twenty pounds of muscle mass.
Lie makes me feel hot as fuck though. The way his hands always move over me, how he stares at me, how turned on he gets as soon as I press against his body. Having someone be so attracted to your body alone is a huge confidence boost.
I know it’s more than my body he’s attracted to, though.
