Wanted by the Champion: An age gap instalove romance

Alex

10 months later

My muscles are screaming and sweat is streaming down my back as I lower Cate into a death spiral, the final element of our long program. I don’t let myself think about all of the elements we executed flawlessly during the past four minutes, or the massive score probably awaiting us. I don’t think about how this is the culmination of everything we’ve worked for since last spring. My entire focus is on the here and now. The final strains of the tango swell through the air, and my heart feels like it’s about to burst, both from exertion and adrenaline.

The program ends with Cate in my arms, both of our chests heaving. We hold for a microsecond before she collapses against me.

“Oh my God!” she screams as the crowd around us erupts into cheers.

“You did it,” I say, pulling her against me for a bear hug. She shakes her head, tears in her eyes.

“No, baby. We did it.”

I set her down so we can take our bows. This year, the world championships are in Boston, and we may very well have just skated our way to gold.

We’ve had a fairytale season. We took gold in our first preliminary competition, then gold at Skate Canada, our first Grand Prix event. We won gold at the Cup of China, and then became national champions. After a slight hiccup at the Grand Prix final that saw us take home the bronze, we came back to win gold at the Four Continents championship. And now, here we are, at the worlds, in first place after the short program.

And that long program we just skated? We’ve never done it better.

We wave at the crowd as we head off the ice, hand in hand. The diamond ring I put on Cate’s finger a few months ago glints in the bright lights as she waves, and a rush of possessiveness washes over me. Because that’s my woman, wearing my ring, and soon she’ll have my name, too. Next year when we compete, we won’t be Wilson-McIntyre. We’ll be McIntyre-McIntyre.

Just the thought of it is enough to send blood flowing to my cock, so I shove it away because these pants are tight. There’s no hiding anything, and I’m not out to shock anyone today.

Deb and Scott are waiting at the boards for us, and Deb wraps us up into big hugs as Scott hands us our skate guards. After realizing that Cate and I were dead serious about both dating and skating together no matter what, he’d come around. I think Deb helped a lot in that department, because she’s been supportive of us from the beginning. I think it helps that her husband is ten years older than her, so she didn’t see the age difference between Cate and I as something taboo the way Scott originally did.

We make our way to the kiss and cry and take a seat on the bench to await our scores. Cate’s hand is shaking in mine, and I have to admit, I’m right there with her. I’ve won the world championships before. But never with her. Never with the love of my life by my side.

I can’t decide if I’m too hot or too cold as I shove a hand through my hair, and Cate leans against me. “Why are the scores taking so long? What are they reviewing?”

Deb pats her leg. “That was the best you’ve skated that program all season. Even if they’re reviewing some of the elements, they’re not going to find anything lacking.”

“Damn right,” Scott agrees.

“The scores for Cate Wilson and Alex McIntyre, please,” says a disembodied voice over the arena’s loudspeaker.

I don’t even hear the number because the crowd starts screaming so loudly as soon as it flashes up on the big screen.

It’s the biggest number I’ve ever seen. It’s a personal best for us this season. In all my years with Charlotte, we never earned this many points in a single competition.

Cate screams, tears falling from her eyes, and I punch my fist in the air, triumphant euphoria pounding through me. Scott stamps his feet and claps, and Deb shoots to her feet, jumping in the air. Cate is sobbing as she reaches for me, and I pull her into a hug, holding her tight against me. Deb and Scott pile on, and we’re all hugging and crying and yelling. Our final score is announced, and the crowd cheers again. Cate and I rise to our feet, and I slide my arm around her waist as we wave at the crowd. Cate lifts her hands above her head and makes a heart with her fingers. My sweet girl, sending all of that love we’ve received from the fans all season right back out at them.

And we have received a lot of love. Our relationship was never a secret, and as soon as the competitive season started, everyone knew that we were a couple. And because she’s Cate, she charmed everyone, from sports journalists to fans to other skaters, and soon, it felt as though the entire world was rooting for us. Our social media went insane after the news of our Christmas engagement broke out.

And now, we’re world champions. A fourth time for me, but a first for Cate, and I’m honored that I’m part of this moment with her. It feels as though everything in my life has been leading me to this moment.

The next Olympics are three years away, and we have our sights firmly set on them. We want it all.

I scoop her up and kiss her, and the crowd goes absolutely wild. Cate is still crying, and I hug her again.

“I love you,” I whisper, and she laughs through her tears.

“I love you, too,” she says.

And I smile, knowing that the future is ours.

Hello, lovely reader! Do you want more Alex and Cate? Click here to find out what happens right after the next Olympics! It’s short and cute and of course, super smutty.

Thank you so much for reading my first age gap romance.