Chapter Seven Vivian
CHAPTER SEVEN: VIVIAN
T he day of my date with my handsome hockey duo dawned sunny, yet incredibly cold. I’d bundled myself up before heading into an early shift at the library. I’d switched with another librarian so I could have my usual working evening shift off. Of course, I’d also promised to work her day shift tomorrow for her to swap with me.
To say I spent the hours in anxious restlessness was an understatement. Trying to keep my hands busy, I ended up reshelving all the books. I couldn’t bring myself to sit down. My focus was so bad that when students asked me questions, I had to ask them to repeat themselves. I even goofed up the Dewey Decimal numbers they needed.
I was a wreck.
But it wasn’t all nerves. Excitement burned through the anxiety. And to top that off, need hummed within me.
I was a neurotic hornball.
Somehow the hours managed to fly by, and just as I was gathering up my things, my bestie, both inside and out of work, Carlee sidled up to me. “Where are you running off to?” she asked.
Since I was a terrible liar, I didn’t bother trying to deceive her. “I have a date.”
Carlee’s blue eyes bulged. “Are you shitting me?”
A nervous laugh bubbled from my lips. “No. I’m not.”
“Oh my God, Viv. I’m so happy for you.”
Sweeping my hands to my hips, I challenged, “Have I been in that bad of a dating desert?”
She bobbed her head. “We’re talking tumbleweeds of coochie cobwebs.”
I rolled my eyes. “I would hardly call it that bad.”
Carlee waved her hand dismissively. “I need the tea. Who is the guy?”
Her question caused me to fumble with the books in my hands, sending them tumbling to the floor. There was no way in hell I could admit to Carlee I was about to partake in a threesome. It wasn’t that she would judge me–she was far more sexually liberated than I was. It was more that I wasn’t ready for the Spanish Inquisition that would result from telling her.
“Just a guy I met.”
“Where?”
Since I was the worst at lying, I thought it best to keep some parts of the truth. “Here.”
Carlee snorted. “You’re joking.”
“I’m not.”
“Is he a professor?”
“Um, no.”
She furrowed her dark brows. “A janitor?”
Wrinkling my nose, I replied, “I don’t think you’re supposed to call them that anymore.”
“Fine. Is he a custodian ?”
“Now that I think of it, they’re supposed to call them Environmental Service Technicians.”
Carlee groaned. “Focus, Vivian.”
“No, he’s not.”
“If he’s a UPS driver, you know I’m going to have to make a joke about his package.”
“He’s a student, okay? Are you happy now?”
Her eyes bulged. “Vivian, you naughty cougar.”
With an exasperated huff, I replied, “He’s twenty-three, not eighteen.”
“Seven years still makes him your cougar cub.”
“Whatever.”
“Where is he taking you?”
Shrugging, I replied, “It’s a surprise.”
Her brows furrowed. “Like he isn’t telling you where you’re going?” At my nod, Carlee’s eyes widened in horror. “Viv, that sounds like the start of a True Crime documentary.”
I huffed an indignant breath. “He’s not a creeper.”
“Look, I know it’s been a while for you, but that has glaring red flags written all over it.”
Since I knew I couldn’t explain Theo and Grayson’s superstition to her, I had to find some way to assuage her fears. “Considering he’s a Southeastern hockey player, I doubt he’s going to endanger his career by murdering me.”
Carlee’s squeal caused me to jump out of my skin. “You’re going on a date with a hockey player?” At my nod, she questioned, “Which one?”
“Don’t act like you follow hockey.”
She wrinkled her nose. “You know how much I hate school-sanctioned sports.”
“Then why ask?”
“Because I want to stalk him.”
Well, shit. How was I going to get out of this? With a sigh, I replied, “Fine. His name is Grayson Collins.”
“Good. I want to put a name with the face you might be riding tonight.”
Warmth flooded my face. “Seriously, Carlee?”
“Fine. I want to be able to describe him to the detectives when you go missing.”
Rolling my eyes, I threw my bag over my shoulder. “That’s it. I’m out of here.”
“Whoa, wait a minute. If he didn’t tell you where you were going, how do you know what to wear to this illicit rendezvous?”
“He said to wear something warm and casual.”
Carlee gasped as her hand flew to her chest. “He is going to lead you out into the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead.”
Wriggling my fingers at her, I replied, “Bye, Carlee.”
As I stood in front of my bathroom mirror, I turned left and right to appraise my appearance. Adhering to the warm and casual attire suggestion was harder than I thought. I’d ended up going with black leggings lined with fleece, a red cable knit sweater dress that fitted my curves, and sexy black knee boots.
Even though I was my worst critic, I had to admit I looked damn good. Or I guess I should say good enough to have two extremely hot college hockey players wanting to simultaneously bang me.
Turning around, I saw my fluffy orange girl, Fleur, sitting in the doorway to the bathroom. “Whatcha think?” I asked before twirling. After pawing the air, she meowed. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
At the sound of the doorbell, I jumped out of my skin. “Get it together, Viv,” I muttered, as I grabbed my phone and hightailed it out of the bedroom.
When I reached the front door, my heart was pounding out of my chest. It reverberated so loud in my ears that I worried the guys could hear it. With a shaky hand, I reached for the doorknob. Sucking in a harsh breath, I threw open the door.
Just one look at the drop-dead-gorgeous men before me sent air wheezing from my lungs. It wasn’t just how handsome they looked. It was also the fact that both held large bouquets of roses in their hands.
With his usual cheeky grin, Grayson thrust his bouquet of pink roses forward. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Thank you–both for the flowers and the compliment,” I said, as I took them into my hand. “How did you know I like roses?”
“Lucky guess,” Theo replied as he handed me his red ones.
As the floral smell overwhelmed me, I said, “Just let me get these in some water and I’ll be ready to go.” Jerking my chin, I said, “You guys can come inside.”
Identical pained expressions came over their faces. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Grayson replied.
“Why not?”
“Considering how gorgeous you look, there’s no way in hell we can come inside,” he replied.
Glancing between him and Theo, I said, “I don’t get it.”
Theo’s dark eyes narrowed with desire. “If we get you anywhere near a couch or a bed, there’s no way this date is going to take place.”
Snorting, Grayson replied, “I’d say even a wall at this point.”
Heat flooded my cheeks. “Oh, I see.”
Grayson gave me a sheepish look. “Sorry for being blunt, Viv.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“We’ll just wait right here for you,” Theo said.
With a nod, I turned around. As I started down the hallway, I hoped they couldn’t tell how my knees were shaking. I grabbed the first vase I came to before filling it up. After jerking the roses out of their crinkly wrappers, I shoved them in the water.
I then quickly hightailed it back to the guys. After grabbing my purse and keys, I reached the door. To my surprise, Grayson held my black cat, Gybb, in his arms. “He was making a run for it.”
Laughing, I took Gybb from Grayson. “He’s a menace.” Holding him up, I said, “You are not for the streets, sir.”
After depositing Gybb on the foyer floor, I quickly closed the door. “Okay. Let’s go.”
As we started down the front walk, Grayson remarked, “Nice place.”
“Thanks. I’ve been here almost three years. It’ll be a hundred years old next year.”
“It suits you,” Theo said.
“Because it’s old, and so am I?” I teased.
To my surprise, Theo barked out a laugh. “Absofuckinglutely not.”
“Well, you did call me an old soul.”
With a roll of his eyes, he replied, “I’m never going to fucking live that one down, am I?”
I laughed. “Probably not.”
To my surprise, there wasn’t an expensive sports car waiting in the drive. Instead, the guys led me over to a sleek black Range Rover. When Grayson opened the passenger side door for me, I asked, “Whose is this?”
“Mine,” Theo replied as he walked around the front.
Grayson winked at me. “T’s parents are loaded, and they like to spoil their baby boy.”
“Fuck off, Gray,” Theo countered.
After I sat down, Grayson closed the door for me before getting in the backseat. While I put on my seatbelt, Theo cranked up the SUV.
As the SUV started down the driveway, I turned in my seat so I could see both the guys. “So you’re still not going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope. It’s a surprise,” Theo replied
Wagging his brows, Grayson said, “Maybe we’ll blindfold you.”
Both apprehension and desire ricocheted through me. “Seriously?”
While Theo nodded, Grayson replied, “Only if you’re comfortable with it.”
As I studied the guys, I realized then what it would be like to be with them…sexually. While Theo was going to test all my boundaries and push me further than I ever had before, Grayson would put my needs before his own to ensure I had the best possible experience.
It was a hell of a partnership.
When Theo turned onto a very familiar road, my brows shot up. “You’re taking me on campus?”
At what must’ve been my disappointment, Grayson chuckled. “What? You don’t think there’s something sexy or romantic about Southeastern?”
Thoughts of out-of-control frat parties with roofied red solo cups flickered through my mind. “No. That’s not it at all.”
Theo snorted. “You’re a terrible liar, Vivian.”
Sighing, I replied, “Okay, you’re right. Southeastern is the last place I expected you guys to take me.”
He winked at me. “We have a lot of tricks up our sleeve.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that.”
“You just want to make sure they’re the tricks you like,” Grayson remarked.
“Exactly.”
When we didn’t take the turn that led to Frat Row, I exhaled a relieved breath. “What was that about?” Theo asked.
“Nothing,” I lied.
“Vivian,” Theo warned.
With a roll of my eyes, I replied, “I was relieved you weren’t taking me to a frat party.”
Both Grayson and Theo chuckled. “You don’t think much of our game if you thought we would do that,” Theo remarked.
“Don’t you guys go to frat parties?”
Shaking his head, Grayson teased, “We’re far too refined for that.”
“It’s more about the fact we can’t unwind there. Some hockey fanboy or girl is always in our face,” Theo replied.
Fluttering my lashes playfully at him, I replied, “I had no idea I was in the presence of Southeastern celebrities.”
Grayson grinned. “Ooh, listen to that sass, T.”
“What? Does Theo hate sassy women?”
Theo tore his gaze from the road to pin me with a stare so intense I shifted in my seat. With a shake of his head, he replied, “No. I like it.” He licked his lips. “I like breaking it.”
“Oh,” I murmured before averting my eyes.
I didn’t know if it was the temperature in the car or my clothes or Theo’s words and expression, but I felt extremely overheated.
Just as I was debating cracking the window, Grayson said, “Almost there.”
When I glanced out of the window, I realized exactly where we were. “You’re taking me to your rink?”
Theo nodded. “Since this is all about getting to know each other, we wanted you to get an up-close view of our world.”
“And after that, we’re going to do a little ice skating,” Grayson said.
I swallowed hard. “We are?”
Theo cocked his brows at me. “Don’t tell me you’ve never been ice skating?”
“Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
I sighed. “I did as a kid. Well, until I was around nine and sprained my ankle.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about that because we’re not going to let anything bad happen to you,” Grayson said.
“You won’t?”
While he nodded, Theo said, “Can you imagine trying to fuck two men on crutches or in a cast?”
At my gasp of horror, Theo winked at me. “I’m just teasing you, Vivian.”
“I certainly hope so,” I huffed.
The guys chuckled as we pulled up to the back of the Ice Den, as it was known. I’d barely unbuckled my seatbelt when Grayson was opening the door for me.
As we walked to the entrance, I glanced around. To my surprise, it didn’t appear there were any other cars in the parking lot. “So, it’s just us?”
“Yep,” Theo replied as he unlocked the door.
“How did you guys swing that?”
“Coach likes all of us to have keys and alarm codes to the training rink in case we want to get in some work outside of practice hours.”
“And there’s no cleaning crew either?”
Theo cocked his brows at me. “What’s going on, Viv?”
With a shake of my head, I replied, “Nothing.”
“What did I say about lying?” Theo warned.
Sighing, I replied, “Fine. My best friend put a lot of ridiculous worries in my head about this date.”
Grayson furrowed her brows. “Like we were going to try to get you alone to take advantage of you?”
“More like getting me alone to kill me.”
“Jesus,” Theo muttered as Grayson’s eyes popped wide.
“I know. It’s crazy. I’m crazy to even think that.” With a nervous laugh, I said, “Like what are you guys going to do? Run me over with a Zamboni? Hack me to death with a stick? Bludgeon me with a puck?”
While the corners of Theo’s lips quirked, Grayson merely stared at me in horror. “You think we could do that?”
“No. It’s just my nerves manifesting in ridiculous ways.”
Theo took my hand. “Tonight is all about building trust.” With a grin, he added, “And apparently, we have a hell of a long way to go.”
I held my hands up. “I do trust you.” At their expressions of disbelief, I said, “I swear.”
Theo tugged my hand playfully. “Come on. Let’s get you on the ice.”
As we walked down a long hallway, I glanced around. “So I don’t get the grand tour?”
Grayson shook his head. “Trust us. You’re not missing much except seeing the locker room.”
“Hmm, seeing where you change into your gear? Kinky.”
Theo snorted. “More like stinky as hell.”
I laughed. “It’s seriously that bad?”
Grayson popped a door to the right of us. Rows of abandoned hockey padding lined the floor. It took only a second for a hideous odor to sting my nostrils. Hurrying past the door, I called, “You’re right. It’s terrible!”
The guys chuckled behind me before catching up with me. As we walked out into the room with the rink, I couldn’t help shivering in the change of temperature. “This is why you wanted me to dress warmly, huh?” I questioned with a smile.
“Exactly,” Grayson replied.
He then steered me over to where a couple of benches were. To my surprise, three pairs of skates were waiting for us. Glancing up at them, I said, “You guys prepared for this.”
“We wanted to pull out all the stops to make you comfortable,” Theo replied.
His words sent warmth tingling from my head down to my toes. A little bit made a pitstop between my thighs as well.
“Sit down,” Theo commanded.
“Jeez, with the bossiness,” I mused as I plopped onto the bench. “Now what?”
With their eyes on mine and in almost perfect unison, Theo and Grayson slowly began to kneel in front of me. At the sight of them on their knees, a fiery desire ignited between my legs. My breath hitched as I couldn’t help imagining it was a preview of what was to come.
“Oh my,” I so eloquently murmured.
While the corners of Grayson’s lips quirked, Theo’s face remained impassive. Without a word to me, they got to work unzipping my boots. Their touch felt like tiny zaps of electricity over my leggings.
When they started sliding my boots down my leg, I instantly regretted the socks I’d chosen for tonight. In my defense, I’d picked them because they were my warmest pair, and I was taking my instructions from the guys to dress warmly very seriously.
At the burst of laughter from Grayson, I clapped my hand over my eyes. “I seriously wasn’t thinking you guys would be up close and personal with them.”
“Are there cats fucking on your socks, Vivian?” Theo asked while Grayson continued snickering.
Peeking at him through my fingers, I replied, “Maybe.”
“Jesus,” Theo remarked.
Tilting his head, Grayson pointed to one copulating pair in particular. Wagging his brows, he said, “Look, my favorite position.”
My curiosity got the better of me, and I jerked my hand away to see a female cat riding a male. “Why that one?” I couldn’t help asking.
His eyes rolled back in exaggerated bliss. “Because it’s the best of everything.”
“How so?”
“My hands can be on your tit and your clit at the same time while I’m fucking you and you’re fucking me.”
At the mental image his words concocted, the breath wheezed from my lungs. For a moment, it was like I forgot to breathe. As GET A GRIP flashed like neon in my mind, I finally sucked in air in a ridiculously embarrassing gasp.
Grayson smirked at me. “You like that position too, huh?”
“Yes,” I panted wantonly.
“We’ll remember that, won’t we, Theo?”
With a nod, Theo replied, “But if you’re riding Grayson, I’ll be fucking your face with my cock.”
His words shot straight to my core, sending arousal pooling there. Once again, all I could muster was, “Oh my.”
“Oh yes,” Grayson said with a grin.
At that moment, I lamented dressing warmly because I seriously felt like I was about to combust. If I wasn’t careful, I was going to detonate in a bomb of lust. Needing to steer the conversation away from its current state, I asked, “So, uh, considering how huge hockey players are, how, um, did you guys possibly have skates my size?”
With a grin, Grayson said, “Our right winger is around your height. I figured his would work.”
“Please tell him thank you for me.”
Waving his hand at me, Grayson said, “Since we didn’t ask him, you don’t have to worry about thanking him.”
I gasped. “You stole his skates?”
“They’re just an extra practice pair. It’s seriously no biggie.”
When I eyed Theo for his reaction, he replied, “Flanders is a real prick anyway.”
“You two are terrible,” I muttered.
Theo nodded. “It’ll be okay if they’re a little big.”
“I see,” I mused.
My amusement was short-lived when Theo took my ankle in his hand. His touch seared through my thick socks causing my skin to tingle. After propping it on his thigh, he grabbed one of the skates. I fought the urge to slide my foot down his thigh to his crotch.
Focus, Vivian. This is about skating, not fucking.
Inwardly, I groaned. Considering this was like extended foreplay, it was totally about fucking.
As Theo slid the skate onto my foot, my chest started to harshly rise and fall. Grayson repeated Theo’s actions on my other foot. Watching them take some tedious care of me was almost as sexy as their touch. I couldn’t have torn my gaze away from them if I wanted to. Despite the temperature of the rink, I felt sweat beading along my neck.
When the guys started lacing me up, they both leaned forward. I bit down on my lip at their closeness. I wondered what they would say if I just said to fuck the ice skating lesson and fuck me.
“Patience,” Theo murmured.
At my gasp, he smirked up at me. “How did you know what I was thinking?”
With a tug at my laces, he leaned forward until our mouths were only inches apart. “I can smell you.”
“Oh God,” I muttered.
Theo’s breath warmed my cheek. “And you smell fucking divine.”
A low moan echoed through my chest as my panties and leggings grew even damper. As my fingers gripped the edge of the bench, I stared longingly at Theo.
“Kiss me,” I commanded.
His nostrils flared. “You forget who is in charge.”
“But I want you to kiss me.” I flicked my gaze over to Grayson. “I want you, too.”
As Grayson groaned, Theo shook his head. “Patience.”
My fingers abandoned the edge of the bench to grip the front of Theo’s shirt. “Just one kiss.”
“No.”
Gripping him tighter, I begged, “Please.” I couldn’t believe how wanton I sounded.
“Come on, T. A little kiss isn’t going to hurt,” Grayson argued.
“Famous last words,” Theo grunted.
“But–”
“We stick to the plan,” Theo replied.
“Whatever,” Grayson grumbled.
I jerked my hands away from Theo. “You…tease!” I cried in frustration.
Theo threw his head back with a laugh. “I’m a tease? You’re the one enticing us with a wet pussy.”
A horrified gasp escaped my lips. “I didn’t mean for that to happen. It’s a natural, biological response to the closeness of the two of you coupled with the talk of riding cock and fucking my face.”
Grayson groaned as he dropped his head to his chest. “Oh Christ, those words on your lips.”
Theo’s expression grew serious. “You have to trust us, Viv. You have to trust the plan.”
I sighed. “Fine.”
“Good girl.” With his eyes locked on mine, Theo rose off the floor. Leaning over, he kissed my cheek. “Now you two have fun.”
My brows furrowed as he started to walk off. “Wait, what? Where are you going?”
Theo turned around. “Gray and I thought it would ease you in better for later on if you had a little one-on-one time with each of us.”
“But I’ve already had a one-on-one with Grayson,” I protested.
Grayson’s low whistle made me jump. When my gaze bounced over to him, he swept a hand to his chest. “Damn, Viv, you wound me.”
Embarrassment singed my cheeks. “I’m sorry. That came out wrong.”
He grinned. “Nah, I get it.” After he pulled himself off the floor, he turned to Theo. “She’s right, man. We had a whole hour alone the other night before you arrived on the scene. If this is going to work, she should start with you.”
After momentarily appearing contemplative, Theo nodded. “That works for me.”
In a voice far more confident than I felt, I said, “Good. Let’s do this.”