Page 26 of The Attack Zone

“That seems like a problem for future Mitch and Stacey,” she says. She rolls over away from me and shimmies her back against my front. I instinctively wrap an arm around her waist and place a light kiss on her shoulder.

“Okay, love,” I say. “We can talk about it tomorrow.”

CHAPTER 13

STACEY

THE NEXT MORNING

Ifucked Mitch Greggs.

I fucked Mitch Greggs and I liked it. I liked it way too much. It was so much better than the fantasies I’d woven in my head on those nights I promised I’d never let turn into more.

But I wake up in Mitch’s arms to the sound of an upbeat pop song blaring from his phone.

“Sorry,” he says as he rolls away from me and stands up, leaving my bare back cold. “I forgot to turn my alarm off last night.”

A yawn escapes my mouth and my body starts to stretch against my will, forcing the covers to slide down my body. Suddenly, I’m on my back, completely naked from my hips up. Mitch turns towards me and freezes. I reach down to pull the covers back up. I may have felt some weird sort of freedom with him last night, but now I feel a little bit too curvy and a lot too exposed.You’re just too much, Stacey. Thethought rings through my head, my extra self feeling extra over the top as I snuggle into the covers further, eager to feel less exposed in front of someone I thought I hated.

Can you hate someone who gives you the best sex you’ve ever had?

I haven’t decided yet.

I roll on my side and reach for my phone to check the time. It’s five o’clock in the morning.

“Mitch,” I moan. “Why is your alarm going off at five?”

A little chuckle escapes him. “Sorry,” he says. “I keep a pretty strict sleep schedule.”

I was not expecting that, and it’s weirdly disarming. I always sort of assumed he stayed out partying late and just woke up whenever, hungover and disheveled. I turn back towards him and see that he looks anything but disheveled right now. His hair is a little bit messed up, which I guess I should take responsibility for, but otherwise, he looks fucking delicious. His boxer briefs hang loose around his hips, which happen to have that insanely hot v-shaped thing going for them. Above that he’s stacked with abs, given that he’s a professional athlete. But the real showstopper is his legs. Thank the lord hockey exists, if only for making him look like that.

Shit.

I’m staring.

What is happening to me? I’m supposed to hate this guy.

He lays back down next to me and scoots in my direction. I’m not usually a cuddler. Or at least I thought I wasn’t, but I guess I’ve cuddled Mitch twice now ...

Seriously. What is going on here?

“Good morning, love,” he says with a smirk.

I pull the covers tighter around me and look up at the ceiling. How am I supposed to handle him when he’s lying next to me naked? I can barely handle him when he’s fully clothed.I can barely handlemyselffully clothed when it comes to interpersonal ... whatever this is.

“Morning,” I say a bit too sharply.

He reaches out and touches my shoulder. It’s the only part of me that’s been left exposed, and the touch immediately sends a zing through my whole body.

“Stacey,” he starts. “Are you good?”

Am I good?

I have no idea, to be honest. On the one hand, nothing has really changed between us. On the other, everything has. And Mitch is being kind and sweet and it’s really throwing me for a loop, so I do the only thing I know how to do when I’m uncomfortable and act like an asshole.

“Fine,” I say shortly. “Just tired.”

“I can let you go back to sleep if you want?” he says. “I have to get in some ice time before we’re supposed to drive up for the venue tour this afternoon, but you can stay here until check-out if you’d like.”

---