Page 28 of Glitz & Goals

As it happens, we’re just getting started.

Chapter Nine

Grady

When I was a younger man, I could go all night and still get it up after sunrise. I thought those days were behind me.

Viv tests that theory, and I’m pleasantly surprised to find that even though I need more time per refractory period, there are plenty of other things I can do to keep her satisfied.

I wake before my alarm, with Viv’s head on my shoulder and her legs tangled with mine. It looks like I lost the custody battle for the blankets sometime in the night.

Last night has left me raw in a way that I didn’t expect. Not just from the sex, although it’s the best workout I’ve had in a long time. I’m sore in places that don’t make sense. Emotionally, though, I’m unmoored.

At the end, with Larisse, there was no joy in our lovemaking. Calling it love would be a stretch. Everything was timed to the day, focused around her ovulation cycles, rote and routine, and clinical. I’ve heard from other guys in similar situations that it can be stressful to approach sex like that, but in hindsight, I should have noticed Larisse peeling away from me. We weren’t a team anymore. She didn’t want me, just the baby I couldn’t provide.

After we split, I was messed up about it for a long time. The mere thought of casual sex was an instant turn-off, but I didn’t want to repeat my breakup with Larisse, either. So I’ve been alone, for the most part.

But Viv… I don’t know what it is, but from the moment I saw her, Iknew.She was mine, I was hers, and something wasmeant to happen between us. Something big and important and possibly life-changing.

It occurs to me suddenly that I’ve left Blade in his crate since last night, and the poor guy probably needs to go out. With more than a little reluctance, I extricate myself from Viv, pull on some sweatpants, and tiptoe to the door.

The second Blade is freed from his crate, he makes a beeline for the stairs, and I have to physically drag him back to the first floor and then to the back door. He whines even after I put him outside and waddles off to pee only when it becomes obvious that I’m not going to let him pester Viv. The poor, besotted lump is almost as pathetic as I am.

Since I’m already up, I clear up everything we left out from last night’s dinner, then start making breakfast. Dinner is beyond my meager skillset, but even I know how to cook eggs without fucking them up. I get some coffee going, too, then take Blade his breakfast on the back porch. Once again, he tries to dodge between my legs, but given that he’s the size of a miniature horse, he’s SOL.

“You’re eating out here, or you’re eating in the crate,” I scold. “Pick a lane.”

Blade huffs his displeasure, but he sullenly lowers his head to the bowl and begins inhaling his food with all the enthusiasm of a Dust Devil.

I was hoping to take Viv breakfast in bed, but I’m still plating up my turkey bacon and scrambled eggs when I hear her on the stairs.

“Good morning,” I call. “How do you like your coffee?”

“With two pumps of vanilla and foamed milk,” she teases. I turn to find her leaning against the kitchen island, watching me with ravenous eyes. “But I’ll settle for some creamer, if you’ve got it.”

My heart skips a beat when I see that she’s holding her dress from last night, but wearing one of my Venom shirts. I say a silent prayer of thanks that it doesn’t have my name on it; it’s just a t-shirt, the kind they shoot out of the cannons or sell at the rink.

“You’re wearing my shirt,” I rasp, unable to think of anything more engaging to say. Damn, it looks good on her.

“Sure am. Although maybe you want it?” Viv nods to my naked torso. She’s washed her face and combed out her hair, and the effect is so different from last night's made-up, sultry look that I can’t help staring. The light dusting of freckles across her nose mesmerize me. She looks… not younger, exactly, but more…real.Not like a mermaid, but a person. I want to kiss her again, right now.

I want to wrap my fingers around her waist, lift her up on the counter, and bury my face between her legs.

I want to convince her to stay.

“Because of the bacon?” Viv prompts, and I realize I’ve just been staring at her. “Pretty bold to cook bacon topless. That’s a good way to burn your nips. Trust me, I learned that the hard way.”

I let out a snort of laughter. “Turkey bacon is safe. Less fat.”

“Ah, I should have guessed.” She slides onto a barstool as I push one of the plates across to her. “So you’re a fitness guy. And a Venom fan?”

“Something like that,” I agree.

I suppose I could just tell her I’m the coach, but something holds me back. We’ve both been pretty cagey about who we are outside of this little romantic bubble and while I want to get to know her better, I don’t want to lead with this information. I want to go slow, so I have a better chance of not imploding. What if I tell her I’m an NHL coach, and she decides she’s interested in me for something other than, well,me?Worse,what if she sees me as a stepping stone, like Larisse did… a means to an end?

I don’t want that. In fact, I’d prefer she just thinks I’m a ditch digger even though my fancy house would scream otherwise. So I keep my mouth shut and fetch the creamer from the fridge.

Blade whines at the back door until Viv takes pity on him. The second she opens it, he squeezes through the impossibly small gap, wagging his whole back end and licking every part of her he can reach.

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