Chapter 4
ASHER
Ican’t help but look at Gracie peculiarly. Does she ever frown? We are lying on our sides facing one another after round two, because we might as well take advantage of our detour for the night. The sheet is carelessly covering her breasts.
She tries to keep her face stern, but it is a failure because she bursts out in a laugh. “Seriously, I’m sorry, but seeing you smile kind of unnerves me. It’s not some sexy ploy, instead it’s an honest, normal smile.”
I playfully shove her shoulder. “I do smile. Of course, I do. I have media to deal with. Wins to celebrate.”
We’ve been talking for who knows how long. Pillow talk normally isn’t my style, except she causes me to crack from my usual scowl.
“Now, now, we’ve gone over this, Mr. Coach. That’s all work. I don’t know, it kind of alarms me but makes me laugh the way you look after sex. It’s like endorphins or something.”
Shrugging my shoulder, I have to admit that I feel lighter right now. “You’re kind of contagious. Do you ever have a bad day? You seem overly positive with life.” I swipe a strand of her hair over her arm.
“I don’t look at it that way. I’ve been fortunate, and I don’t take that for granted. Family, work, small-town antics. A state-prized cow lives on the edge of town, that’s great, isn’t it?” Now she is just being sarcastic, but it earns a chuckle from me.
“I’ll admit small-town life is refreshing.”
“Have you tried the orange rolls from Jolly Joe’s in Lake Spark? You need to, otherwise you haven’t lived life.”
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 incorporated me 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 between my 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.
“Smart decision then. Come on, I need at least an hour of sleep before I fuck you senseless again.”
“Getting old, are you?”
Instantly, I grab her thigh and pull her to her side and spank her ass. “Don’t be naughty, otherwise I will tie you up.”
“Do it,” she rasps.
Of course, she would say that.
“I will just take a little rest. Your pussy needs it too.”
“Considerate of you.”
We both settle under the covers, and I’m not sure if it’s the silence or the orgasms that I had, but we both manage to drift off to sleep.
Only to wake a few hours later, and without any words, I slid right into her.
Spooning from behind, I took her slow until the very last minute when I went in deep and hard, our bodies tight together as her tits jiggled with every pump and moan.
We both seemed to sync our orgasm before falling into a sated slumber.
I’ve never considered myself a cuddler. Hell, I never spend nights with women.
It’s a quick gratification kind of thing.
But with Gracie? I’m breaking a few rules.
I know because of the bedside clock and the fact there is warmth from her sleeping body pressed against mine, with my arm wrapped around her. As if it’s all some natural instinct.
Somewhere just before five, I sneak out of bed to leave. Dressing, I make it to the door of her bedroom and pause to glance over my shoulder to take a mental picture of Gracie stirring in bed.
“It was fun. Good luck with the game,” she mumbles groggily.
My jaw ticks because I’m not sure if I should half smile from that comment. She’s making this too easy.
“Sleep. You deserve it,” I whisper.
And she deserves more than a night too. But she seemed to be on board with whatever silent one-night arrangement we had, and I can walk away with one night. A perfect release, a perfect fit to my body, and now I can focus on my almost perfect career.