My brows shoot up. “Oh yeah? Looks like I live a boring life then.”
She quiets and seems to be thinking over something as her bright demeanor begins to fade. “Maybe I’ve been living in a protected shell. That might not be a good thing. Life can’t always be a party, right? I’m sure life will throw something at me to remind me that not everything is easy.”
I lie back until I’m staring at the ceiling with my arms tucked behind my head. “Don’t wish for it. Some people go through life like a breeze.”
She blows out a breath, causing the hair near her hairline to flip to the side. “Still. Even people who breeze on by have their tough moments. Maybe I feel as though a crack will hit my life somewhere. Isn’t there something that happened that has bothered you your whole life? Something that sticks in your head that you don’t quite understand?”
I take a few ticks to think about it, but then a first happens for me; I feel words easily flow out of my mouth. “I guess that I always felt the need to impress my parents and people. It makes zero sense because my parents are the type to be proud of anything I do. My little brother always looked up to me. It’s my own drive to perfection.”
“That happens. For me, my mom kind of always incorporatedme into her life on an equal level. Most assume that I’m following in her shoes because that’s what is expected or it’s an easy handout for me. I don’t see it that way. We have different design styles, and it’s a tradition that I want to follow. Other people can go screw themselves… although I still don’t like it if they have that view of me.”
“I get that.”
“Any skeletons in your closet? There must be a crazy ex or maybe a fiancée that didn’t work out.” She thrums her fingers on the mattress, eager for the gossip.
“Nah, nothing earth shattering. I’m just a tense ball, remember. My last girlfriend was a model I didn’t date for long. Dinner conversations got boring.” Her lips roll in as if she’s fighting a retort. I raise a brow at her. “Yes? Care to share with the room?”
She shrugs. “Nothing. It’s just a little cliché, that’s all. My last Prince not-so-Charming just became a dreaded ball of negativity. He was not pleased about my family’s holiday enthusiasm, and I have zero tolerance for someone who makes me choose between being close with family and them.”
“Yeah.Good thing you ditched him… and why are we talking about our dating life while naked in bed after sex?”
She swats me playfully. “Well, I don’t think you exactly want to go over the photos I saw online of you at the team holiday party. There were eggplant emojis in the comments. In case you would like the 411.”
I cringe at everything in that sentence. “Don’t remind me of the hour from hell. I fear Christmas. If the marketing team brings out fucking reindeer antlers, then I’m going to consider storing a flask in my front suit pocket.”
Her sexy little finger pokes my shoulder as she begins to shuffle. I turn my head to catch her finger betweenmy teeth for a bite. “Oh dear, it seems you have trauma that needs to be tended to.” She flashes her eyes at me, and in a swift move, straddles me.
But I won’t be having her lead the way. I’m quick to flip her to her back and hold her wrists above her head against the mattress while her hips lifting to mine is agony. She’s trying to entice me, and in a few hours, I will leave. She is apparently the escape I haven’t had in a while or perhaps at all. There have always been expectations with others. Now? I get to relax, turn off my thoughts of hockey, and have physical gratification in the process. I would like to have a morning session, but that won’t be happening.
With a heavy sigh, I let her go and roll to the side to sit up on the edge of the mattress, searching for my boxer briefs. I feel a need to pop our bubble because something unsettles me, this gravitating pull to this woman that has my thoughts wrapped in a knot. “I won’t be here when you get up.”
She chokes on a laugh. “Really? Wouldn’t have guessed.” Her humor is a relief.
I glance over my shoulder to give her a knowing look. It’s a struggle to pinpoint what it is about her that is a thrilling unease. My mind strikes clarity. “I have a career to tend to, and besides…”
Her hand gently touches my back. “This is what this is. A little release. We both know the score.”
“Exactly.” I stand to pull up my boxer briefs. “Want some water?”
Looking back at her sitting up and holding the sheet up to her breasts has me second-guessing my restraint level to actually leave later.
There is a reckless voice inside me that is whispering, but I shove it to the side.
“That would be great. I need to freshen up anyhow.”
I nod and leave her be. I make myself at home in her kitchen and grab two waters from the fridge and sigh because I’m freaking tired. The weather is a good excuse because there is no way that I’ll make the drive back now anyhow. I’ll take a quick shower here, then be at the rink by six. I always have an extra set of clothes in my car.
Returning to the bedroom, I stall and stare up at the ceiling as I groan, before scraping my free hand across my face. “Are you kidding me?” I can’t help but smile ear to ear.
“What?” Gracie plays dumb as she sits in the middle of her bed in black satin shorts that show off her legs and a tank. “I always go to bed like this.” I gawk at her, not convinced. Tossing the bottles of water to the other side of the mattress, I crawl onto her bed. Her honest laugh is easy on the ears. “Seriously. Hello? Reminder of what I do for a living. And even if I go with the cotton collection, it’s cute.”
The temptation is refueling again. “So tonight, you couldn’t go for the cotton.”
“Well, no. You dress to match the appropriate event.”
She’s a temptress, and I bet when she looks into my eyes, she sees my wicked plans. “At least you’re honest. But this isn’t good for us. I feel like you might get frisky at two in the morning.”
She juts her leg out and presses her pointed toe against my chest to keep me at bay. “You might, and I’m already at your service with easy access,” she taunts in her voice that is pure sex and sin.
