Page 87 of In My Hockey Era
His lips curve lazily, one dimple flickering in the dim light.“And?What’s the verdict?”
I narrow my eyes at him.“Undetermined.”
He lets out a low chuckle, shifting onto his back, dragging me against him like it’s the easiest thing in the world.Like I belong here.
“Need a second round to make up your mind?”
I snort.“You’re impossible.”
“And yet, here you are.”
I roll my eyes but let my head settle against his chest anyway, listening to the steady thump of his heartbeat.
A comfortable silence stretches between us, his fingers brushing idly up and down my spine, and for the first time in a long time, I feel… completely happy.
Like stupid happy.
It should terrify me.
Itdoesterrify me.
But right now, curled up in his bed, his skin still warm against mine, that worry feels like a problem for future Lucy.
Bennett lets out a long breath, voice quieter now.“So, how long are you gonna pretend like you don’t love this?”
I stiffen slightly.
He feels it.Knows it.
His hand pauses at my back before smoothing over my hair.
I could deflect.Could pretend like this is nothing more than what we’ve both claimed it to be.
But instead, I sigh dramatically.“Fine.You’re a decent cuddler.”
His chest rumbles with laughter.“Decent?”
“I’m not trying to inflate your ego before we’ve even left the bed.”
Bennett shifts, rolling us so that I’m pinned beneath him again, his weight deliciously heavy, his stupid smirk making an appearance.
“Quinn,” he murmurs, dragging his lips over my jaw, voice all gravel and heat.“You love it.”
I bite back a smile.“Go to sleep, Wilder.”
He grins against my skin.
“Okay.”
I need to get up, I need to pee and wash off my makeup, but I can’t bring myself to move just yet.This might be one of the best nights of my life.
Future Lucy clears her throat from some back corner of my brain, willing me not to get ahead of myself, but I tell her to pipe down and let me enjoy my night.
• • •
The smell of coffee drifts through the air, pulling me from the warm cocoon of sleep.I stretch beneath the sheets, blinking at the sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Bennett’s bedroom.
For a moment, I just lay there, absorbing everything.The soft hum of the city waking up below.The lingering ache in my muscles—a delicious reminder of exactly how last night ended.The faint sound of someone moving around in the kitchen.
