Chapter Thirteen Vivian
CHAPTER THIRTEEN VIVIAN
A s I slowly drifted into consciousness, I found myself enveloped in a cocoon of warmth. Had I thrown an extra blanket on the bed last night? Besides the extra warmth, one of my cats was draped across my breasts. Blinking my eyes, I stared up at the ceiling. My gaze trailed a pair of boxers that hung from the fan.
Wait, that wasn’t my fan…
I didn’t have to sweep the room to realize that I wasn’t in the comfort of my bedroom. Glancing down, I realized the furry weight wasn’t from my cats. Instead, the alleged fur was Bennett’s curly, chestnut hair, and the warmth was his breath blowing against my breast.
At the sight of him, an X-rated reel of events from last night ricocheted through my mind, sending both horror and heat through me. I’d gone through with it–I’d partaken in a three-some.
Well, actually, I’d had a foursome, hadn’t I? Or was it a quadraticsome?
When I shifted slightly, a delicious ache burned between my legs. Oh yeah, I’d had a night to remember not only mentally, but physically. I had a feeling I would be walking funny for days.
As I peered around the bed, it hit me. Grayson and Theo were missing. A pang reverberated through my chest at the thought they didn’t even say goodbye. After everything we had shared, they’d run out on me.
What did you expect, Viv? This was about a hockey superstition, not romance.
Right. Time to get the hell out of there and back to the real world. Of course, that was easier said than done considering a six-foot hockey player was using me as a pillow. Holding my breath, I eased out from under Bennett’s head. When he remained snoring softly, I exhaled in a wheeze.
Using my best stealth moves, I scooted slowly to the edge of the mattress. After kicking one leg out of the covers, I slid it down the side of the bed until it reached the floor. I then repeated the action until I was upright.
Considering I was about to pee myself, I tiptoed over to the bathroom. One glance in the mirror and I jumped back at my out-of-control bed hair. Or I guess I should say sex hair. After peeing, I did quick work washing up and wetting my hair down. Since Theo’s hair was on the longer side, I checked the drawers to see if there was a hair tie.
“Jackpot,” I muttered at the sight of one.
Once my hair was pulled back, I headed back into the bedroom. I’d apparently worn Bennett out because he was still dead to the world.
After a quick scan of the floor, I found my leggings and sweater dress. I didn’t bother trying to find my bra and panties. Instead, I jumped into my clothes. Once I located my boots, I tugged on one. With the second one, I toppled over and made a slight shriek before face-planting on the mattress.
“Viv?” Bennett asked, his voice gravelly with sleep.
“Yeah?” I questioned into the duvet.
“Are you okay?”
“Peachy,” I replied before jerking my head up.
With a lazy, yet impossibly sexy grin, Bennett propped his head on his hand. “Let me guess. You’re doing the morning after freakout?”
“Maybe.”
He snorted. “Doesn’t matter if I wake up next to a dude or a chick, the morning after is so fucking awkward.”
I giggled nervously. “Yeah, it is. I mean, I guess it is.” At his questioning look, I replied, “This is my first morning after not being in a relationship.”
“That doesn’t surprise me.”
With a groan, I buried my head in my hands. “I’m so lame.”
“You are not,” Bennett argued.
Nibbling on my lip, I couldn’t help asking the question plaguing me. “So, continuing with my lame streak, I can’t help but notice it’s just you and me this morning.”
“Uh-huh,” Bennett said.
“And even in my hazy memory, I seem to remember all four of us kinda hunkering down in here after our last round.”
A knowing smile curved on Bennett’s lips. “Ah, I see. You’re thinking Grayson and Theo had second thoughts and ran away?”
“Yep.”
He shook his head. “Gray and Theo are fucking annoyin’ early birds. I’m sure they’re in the kitchen where Grayson is cookin’, and Theo is guzzlin’ some coffee.” He tilted his chin. “Maybe some espresso if he’s feelin’ pretentious enough.”
I laughed both in relief and at his summation. “Thanks, B. That makes me feel a lot better.”
“You’re welcome.”
Reaching my hand out, I swept the bed hair out of his eyes. “I’m really glad you joined in last night.”
“Me too.” With a lopsided grin, he asked, “Wanna join me in the shower?”
“I would love to, but I know I’m already late for work as it is.”
“Raincheck?” he teased.
“Maybe.”
I then grabbed my phone off the nightstand and headed to the bedroom door. When I turned around, I caught sight of his naked ass as he headed into the bathroom. I bit down on my lip at the sight while fighting the urge to throw caution to the wind, call out of work, and screw him senseless.
One quadraticsome had made me a wanton hussy.
With a sigh, I opened the bedroom door and stepped into the living room. A laugh bubbled from my lips when I saw that Bennett’s summation was correct. In only his black jockey shorts, Theo sat on a stool at the bar, coffee mug in one hand and his phone in the other. Grayson stood in front of the stove, stirring a pan of what appeared to be eggs while outfitted in a black apron and nothing else considering his bare ass was gleaming under the track lighting.
Immediately, they jerked their attention to me. The intensity of their stares caused me to shudder. “Uh, good morning,” I said, my voice deeper than I intended.
“Good morning, beautiful,” Grayson said with a wink.
Warmth bloomed both in my cheeks and my core at his compliment. My gaze flickered over to Theo. He cocked his brows at me. “Hungry?”
Although I knew he meant breakfast, his words sparked a different type of hunger in me. Before I could stop myself, my eyes dropped to his lap. Theo’s train of thought was in the same station as mine because a bulge grew in his shorts.
Jesus, Viv, way to be obvious?
At Theo’s chuckle, mortification rocketed through me. Shaking my head, I replied, “I’m late,” I pronounced.
“Sorry for not getting you up, but you were sleeping so soundly we hated to wake you,” Theo remarked.
With a sexy grin, Grayson added, “We felt guilty considering we’d worn you out.”
A warm flush flooded my cheeks. “I suppose you did.”
Theo rose off the bar stool to come stand before me. His finger came to my chin, tipping my face up to look at him. “What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?” he questioned.
“Nothing.”
After crossing his arms over his bare, broad chest, he cocked a brow at me. “Come on, Viv. This isn’t our first time at the rodeo.”
When I glanced past him, Grayson nodded his head in agreement. “Mornings after can be a real bitch. You know, all that ‘things look different in the light of day’ bullshit.”
A nervous giggle escaped my lips at his summation. “Yeah, Bennett and I were talking about that.”
“So it is the morning after bullshit?” Theo asked.
“Maybe.” Shaking my head, I replied, “No, that’s not it. I mean, I don’t regret anything…with any of you.”
A triumphant look flashed in Theo’s eyes. “I’m glad to hear that.”
“But at the same time, I do feel a little awkward.”
Doing a little spin at the stove, Grayson said, “Is it because of the apron?”
A laugh burst from my lips. “Yep. It’s the apron.”
Theo rolled his eyes while Grayson swayed his bare ass at me. “I swear I can feel a draft,” he mused.
“You’re so bad,” I snorted.
Holding out the spatula, Grayson waggled his brows. “Then come punish me.”
With a grin, I said, “It’s very tempting, but I am late for work.”
He gave me his best puppy dog facepout. “You’re no fun.”
“I’m sorry.” After grabbing my purse off the table, I then started for the door.
When I reached for the handle, Theo’s voice stopped me. “No goodbye kiss?”
His words froze me on the spot. In my head, I chanted, Don’t turn around. Don’t turn around. Don’t turn around.
“Uh, I need to go,” I said to the door.
At the feel of Theo’s hand on my shoulder, I jumped. I squealed as he whirled me around to face him. “Were you going to go without a kiss?”
“It’s not that I didn’t want one. It’s just…”
“What?”
“I don’t trust myself.”
Theo’s eyes glittered with lust. “Do you think if you kiss us, we’re going to ravage you again?”
I swallowed hard. “It’s more that I’m afraid I’ll ravage you .”
As Theo sucked in a harsh breath, Grayson muttered, “Fucking hell.”
“So, I better go. Okay?”
A low growl rumbled through Theo’s bare chest. “For now.”
Although I nodded my head, somehow I didn’t believe myself. Despite the amazing experience I’d had with the guys, I didn’t think I could see them again.
Unlike when I was their age, I knew who I was at thirty. I wasn’t someone who could do no-strings-attached sex more than once. I always caught feelings.
And even in our short time together, I could see myself falling for them. Since I knew I was only a piece in their superstition chess game, I had to protect myself.
Before Theo and Grayson could argue with me to stay, I quickly slipped out the door. I hightailed it down the walkway as fast as I could.
When I got to my car, I dialed Carlee. “Hey, I’m running late. Can you cover for me?”
She snorted. “You’re joking, right?”
“Why would I do that?”
“ You’re late?” she repeated.
“That’s what I said.”
“You’re never late, Viv. If anything, you’re annoyingly prompt.”
Gritting my teeth, I replied, “I’m aware of that. Are you going to cover for me or not?”
“Duh. Of course, I will.”
As a relieved breath whooshed from my lips, it was short-lived when Carlee said, “On one condition.”
“Seriously? You’re my best friend, and you’re giving me conditions?” I protested.
“Absolutely.”
“Fine. What is it?”
“I want all the details of what happened last night.”
Just the words “last night” sent a reel of explicit images racing through my mind. A shudder ran through me, causing me to bite down on my lip. How could I possibly tell Carlee about my hockey trio? Despite her free-spirited nature, there was no way in hell she wasn’t going to think I was a total freak.
“It wasn’t that eventful,” I lied.
“Bullshit. You’re late for the first time since I’ve known you the very night after you had a date with a hot younger man.”
Oh, it was so much more than a date.
And it was with more than one hot guy.
“Fine. I’ll give you the details,” I lamented.
“See you soon,” she replied pleasantly.
With a groan, I slipped inside the car while seriously debating calling in sick.
After going home and getting ready in record time, I rushed into the library only fifteen minutes late. Immediately, I grabbed a cart and started furiously reshelving. I then fielded student questions in the computer lab.
Anything to keep me from running into Carlee and her interrogation.
Normally, I wouldn’t have cared about filling her in on the sordid details. We both enjoyed doing date postmortem. Not to mention, I always like to get a second opinion on how I feel about a guy.
But last night was different.
The guys had been different.
And it wasn’t about the threesome or foursome or DVP.
It was about what I had felt with them.
Since I still wasn’t sure how to process my feelings, I was not ready to pick them apart with Carlee. It felt like I needed to insulate myself with my memories for just a bit longer.
But my reprieve was not to last. After taking over at the reference desk, I glanced up to see Carlee making a beeline over to me. Her catlike grin told me she wasn’t letting up in her pursuit of information about my date.
To my surprise, she didn’t launch into grilling me. Instead, she dropped a dusty tome on my desk. Jerking her chin at it, Carlee said, “Mrs. Heeley said this needs to make its way back to the Special Collections.”
And then my relief faded. The Special Collections was an obscure room in the basement away from watchful eyes. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that if I took the book back, Carlee was going to follow me. Once she got me alone in The Special Collections room, she wasn’t going to be satisfied until I gave her all the horny details.
Since I was physically exhausted, I decided to wave the white flag of surrender. Glancing left and right, I thankfully found no one was in earshot. “There’s no need to go to the Special Collections room.”
“But I–”
“Yes, I know you covered for me. And for that, here is all you need to know about my hot hockey man.”
As I drew in a breath, Carlee leaned forward ready to hang on to my every word. “I would say it was the single hottest sexual experience of my life, but it wasn’t just one time. It was multiple experiences. Multiple positions. Multiple orgasms. Like the Energizer Bunny, he just kept going and going and going, and I kept coming and coming and coming.”
And that was the truth. It had been multiple positions and orgasms. Carlee just didn’t need to know it was with multiple men. Not that I thought she would judge me about it. She was far more liberated than I was.
When Carlee’s mouth dropped wide, I could’ve sworn a little drool trickled onto her bottom lip. A few seconds passed and she just stared at me in disbelief. Finally, she muttered, “You lucky bitch.”
I laughed. “I would have to agree with that summation.”
“When do you see him again?”
And that question was the pin that popped into my post-sex bliss.
“It’s complicated.”
“You’re not serious.”
“Of course I am.”
“Jesus, Viv, the only complication I could see in this scenario is wear and tear on your vagina or a possible UTI.”
With a roll of my eyes, I replied, “There’s more to life than just sex.”
“Not when it’s good like what you just had.”
Ugh, why did she have to be right? But worse than that, why did I have to let emotions get involved? I threw up my hands in exasperation. “Come on, Carlee. You know me. Do you think I can have just a sexual relationship without catching feelings?”
She sighed forlornly. “No. You can’t.”
“Exactly.”
“So what are you going to do if he calls?”
“I’ll have to be honest.”
Carlee nodded. “That’ll do it. I mean, nothing deflates a dude’s dick quite like talking about feelings.”
“Fabulous,” I grumbled.
Tilting her head in thought, Carlee asked, “Couldn’t you maybe get another good fuck or two out of him before cutting him loose?”
“I don’t think so.”
Her shoulders drooped in defeat. “That’s so depressing.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Wanna get for drinks and get shitfaced after we get off?”
“Absofuckinglutely,” I replied.