Page 112 of The Stud

“I will drownyouin whatever breakfast beverage is waiting for me in the other room.”

Chuckles escape prior to him inquiring, “Do I have any clean gear sincesomeoneis wearing my shirt from last night?”

Pointing to the dresser that’s housing a couple of his battling warrior figurines is effortless. “Bottom drawer.”

Tanner swiftly relocates to the area while I shimmy on the shorts I was wearing when Joey popped by last night. Just as they’re secured in place, he swoons, “I love that you gave me my own drawer.” Our eyes lock once more. “And I love thisThe Knightsshirt you snuck in here.” Removing the black t-shirt that’s a riff on The Beatles crossing Abbey Road featuring King Arthur’s crew instead is done next. “You thought I wouldn’t notice.”

“I thought you wouldn’t care.”

“Why wouldn’t I care?”

“Because it wasn’t like a big…deal…or…whatever.” I grab a hair tie from my nightstand, accidentally bumping into a crossword booklet. “Just a…um…I saw this and thought of you type of thing.” Running my fingers up the back of my hair occurs next. “Kind of like you buying me duck socks.”

Which he does now.

Constantly.

It’s the weirdest, most random, super romantic thing.

I’m pretty sure I have some ineverycolor.

“Those are forluck.” Tanner prepares to slide on the random, late-night splurge buy. “Andobviouslyit’s working considering I have scoredevery gamethat you’ve worn a pair to.”

Ugh.

It’s true.

And because hockey fans areextremelysuperstitious – much like the players – it’s totally becomemyritch to put on some.

“Seriously?” He mirthfully sighs rather than sliding on the shirt. “You drew a dick on thetag?”

Giggles are attached to me dropping my hands onto my hips. “You had to know it was yours, aye.”

“My dick is bigger than this,” he chirps back, finally pulling it on. “Ohhhh…you meant I had to know this wasmy shirtand not yours, yes?” Snatching up sweats precedes him playfully kicking his chin to the one I’m wearing. “That’s why you’ve got on my other one. You didn’t know it was mine because there wasn’t a dick drawn somewhere on it.”

“Precisely.”

Blowing him a cocky kiss receives another round of laughs from both of us.

Afterward, we quickly brush our teeth, steal an actual kiss, and rush out to the kitchen area where my parents are patiently waiting with Bear who has his face nestled lovingly in the lap of my dad enjoying fruit and ear scratches.

“Is ithisbirthday or mine?” I good-naturedly goad upon entering the room.

Bear doesn’t even bother tossing me a look.

He simply opens his mouth for another treat like the spoiled pup he is.

“We were just doing a little bonding.” Dad feeds him another apple slice. “Keeping busy until you were donebeingbusy.”

There’s no reluctance for red to coat my cheeks. “Dad.”

“Relax,mi pequeña rebelde.” His amusement deepens the coloring. “You’re a grown woman. You’re allowed to do what grown women do.”

This cannot be happening.

“Especially in your own home.”

My dad is notactuallygiving me the sex talkin frontof the dude I was just having sex with!

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