Page 111 of Sven

As the heat of the moment died down, she realized she was naked, sitting on his cold marble counters.

“Umm, can I have my clothes back?” she said, trying to push him away.

He bit his lip and looked at her as if mulling it over. “I’m not sure if that’s such a great idea?”

“What? Why?”

“’Cause . . . then you wouldn’t be naked anymore.”

“Ummm, yeah, Sven, that’s kind of the point.”

“I don’t know... I kind of feel like you should just always be naked.”

She couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up inside of her as she pushed him away. She hopped down off the counter and gathered her clothes. When she bent to get her pants, Sven spanked her ass. Looking over her shoulder, she scowled at him, and there was the return of that cocky smirk she liked all too much.

Later that night, they were in bed after a wonderful night of dinner and playing with Winnie.

“Are you ready for the article?”

Sven nodded as he set his phone on the side table.

“What do you think your dad will say?”

“For once in my life, I can honestly say, I don’t give a fuck.”

She looked at him, taking him in. “Really?”

His brow furrowed while he nodded. “Yeah, I’ve tried my whole life to please that man, but I was never enough. I can see now that I never will be enough, but that’s on him.” Sventook a deep breath. “When he tried to make me get rid of Winnie without even showing the slightest interest in knowing his granddaughter, I could see it differently.”

“I’m sorry,” Natalie said as she rested her head on his chest.

“Don’t be,” he said as he ran his hand through her hair. “I’m at peace with it. Being able to see it for what it is hurts a lot less than trying to please him.”

Her fingers traced his chest as his hands brushed her hair. This moment felt perfect. This moment felt like they’d been together for years instead of months. She didn’t know it could be this easy. Part of her knew she was still hiding away from her problems, but when she had such a handsome distraction, it really didn’t seem to matter to her.

Sven bent his head and kissed the top of hers. She gazed into his eyes before kissing him. He cupped her chin and deepened the kiss. And just like that, she forgot about everything and got lost in this kiss. And she was ready for more. She was ready for more in more than one way.

37

Natalie

Sven was in his closet, getting dressed in his game day suit, while Natalie snuck into the room. While he was showering and getting ready, she had gotten herself and Winnie ready as well. Both were dressed in their Olsson jerseys.

She sat with Winnie on the bed, waiting for Sven, and smiled. Winnie looked adorable with her jersey and the purple bow in her dark curls.

“I have you guys passes for the family box, so you should be good there,” Sven called out. “But I would love it if you guys were down by the ice for warm up. I think Sasha would like that too. The reception for the article has been great. Sasha says people might want a picture of it. I’m not sure how I feel about it, but I would love to see you guys down there with Gunnar’s family.”

He walked out of the closet, and the sight of him in his suit and his hair slicked back made Natalie ready for the game to be over and for him to be home so they could have more fun in this bed.

The sight of her and Winnie stopped him in his tracks, too. His mouth dropped open as he took them in.

“Fuck,” he said barely above a whisper. “You are a dream.”

“You like it?” she said as she stood Winnie up to let her bounce in her Magic jersey.

“I love it,” he said as he crossed the room and got Winnie swinging her up over his head and pretending to eat her belly as she squealed in delight.

“How are you feeling about tonight? There might be some cameras on you.”

---