Her smile is one of utter rapture.“Yes, but I couldn’t care less.That was magnificent."
"Morgan," I start.
She pinches my butt, making me startle and cutting off what I was about to say."Noah, listen to me.I don't need to come every time.You gave me so many orgasms last night that I can't even count them."
"But—"
"Feeling you inside me and connecting with you, making love with you?"I'm still inside her, and she squeezes me with her inner muscles."I get so much pleasure just being with you, Noah.So please just trust me when I say I'm not feeling left out, here.I enjoyed that every bit as much as if I'd come."She nuzzles my jaw."Besides.Next time we're alone, I'm pretty sure you'll make up for it."
"Damn right I will," I murmur."And then some."
She pats my shoulder."I'm not keeping score, Noah."
"You won't ever fake an orgasm, will you?"I ask.
She looks at me like I grew a second head."Like I could even do that?I'm no actress, Noah.So no.Not only am I not really capable of that, I just wouldn't."A happy sigh."If it sounded like it felt as good for me as I hope it did you, then that's because it did.I don't need to climax to enjoy the way you fuck me, Noah."
"Sometimes, it feels like you're too damned incredible to be real," I tell her.
She gives a short bark of laughter."I feel the same way about you."She sobers."It's what was holding me back from letting you stay last night.I was scared.Part of me doesn't trust this—I trustyou, I do.But I'm so happy.It feels so good to be with you, and I don't mean just physically.That's a whole other thing—I’ve never, ever felt even close to how incredible you make me feel, Noah, whether I come or not.And trust me when I say that you make me come like…well, like I didn't know was even possible, so suffice it to say that 'too good to be true' also applies to sex.I just…it's hard to trust that something this good can be real.That there's no catch."
"I understand all of that completely," I say.
She gently eases me away, and I give her space to get to her feet—she does so gingerly, on wobbly legs."See?Still have shaky legs, even without an orgasm."
"Just don't think that that's gonna be a common thing," I tell her.
She leans into me, kisses me, one foot popping up."Oh, I have no doubt."She lets out a rushing sigh."Now.We have to go adult.Because unfortunately, we can't just stay in here screwing all day, as much as I'd like to."She pushes me toward the bedroom."Let me get cleaned up and I’ll be down in a second."
I wet a washcloth and clean myself, and then give her the bathroom.I hear the toilet flush as I dress in my station blues, and then the shower turns on.
I head downstairs, tugging my TFFD beanie on.I find Mallory seated at the island, sipping a mug of coffee, peering at her phone, and eating cereal.I'm absolutely clueless as to how I'm supposed to handle this.
"Hey, Coach," Mal says, her tone bright, if a little sleepy.She sounds…casual.Normal.Unsurprised and unaffected.
"Hey, Mal.Good morning."I gesture at the coffee pot."May I?"
She looks at me like I asked for permission to breathe."Um…yeah?"
I chuckle nervously, open a cabinet at random, and find only juice glasses and a variety of Wheeler Figure Skating Academy tumblers.
"Next one to your right," Mal says, not looking up from her phone.
I find the correct cabinet, pick a mug, pour coffee, find cream in the fridge, stir, and lean over the island across from Mallory, who puts her phone to sleep, flips it face down, and meets my eyes.
"Can I say something, Coach?"
"Sure.Of course."
"My mom deserves happiness.She's put me first in everything my whole life.And since she's met you, she's…" she shrugs."Come alive.I dunno how to put it.Like a flower opening up, even though that sounds kinda cheesy or whatever.So just…don't hurt her.Don't break her heart.That's all I ask."
"I can't promise I’ll never do or say anything stupid, Mal.I'm human, and worse, I'm a guy."Mallory snickers at this."Your mother is an incredible woman, and I care about her deeply.All I can do is promise that I'll do everything in my power to make her happy and hopefully keep her happy."I chew on the next thought, trying to find the right way to phrase it."I…no matter what happens with your mom and me, I don't want you to think I'm trying to—"
She holds up a hand to stop me."Whoa.I don't need any of that, Coach."A pause, and then in a softer tone."I've never had a male role model or authority figure or whatever.I wouldn't know what to do with one, to be honest.But I feel like I can trust you, if only because Mom does.I know the guys on the team trust you and respect you, too, and that's good enough for me.Anything else, let’s just play that one day at a time, okay?"
I grin."I can do that."I sip, eyeing her over the rim."Can I just say that I appreciate your candor?"
She shrugs."We Wheeler women aren't very good at holding back."
