Her fingers play with the hem of my shirt, her legs shifting her weight, and her eyes bounce around the room. She seems stunningly vulnerable at the moment. “Will you come back to bed?”
I turn off the machine and follow her back to my room. “Let me take a quick shower.”
“Can I join you?” The vulnerability is replaced with a devilish smirk. My fingers wrap around her wrist and I haul her to the bathroom with me.
***
After waking up from a nightmare involving my mother, morning shower sex with Brayden is exactly what I need. Brayden’s arms are hooked under my legs and if it weren’t for him, I’d be sitting. My muscles don’t exist anymore. How Brayden’s do, I don’t know. He leans against me, his forehead resting on my shoulder. His breaths harshly hit my skin. Goosebumps rise on my stomach because all the hot water falls onto his back. Brayden’s hands squeeze my ass as he tugs me closer, even though I’m pretty sure he’s as far in as he can go.
Brayden bites my shoulder before lifting his head with a grin. He rears his hips back until his cock falls out of me and he sets my legs down. “We should shower.” He pumps soap into his hands and starts lathering me up. “There’s a game this Friday. Do you want to go?” His question, though causal, nearly causes me to fall over. How many times did I tell Zane no when he asked? Things are exactly the same between us, aren’t they?
“How does that work? Like, would Zane know I was there?” My there squeaks out because he surprises me with a pinch to my nipple.
“Not unless the guys go out after the game and we decide to go with them. You can sit in the box with the other WAGs, or I can wrangle a ticket closer to the ice.”
“WAGs?” I ask with confusion.
Brayden falters with his washing of me. “Wives and girlfriends, but family and friends, too.” He clears his throat and nudges me under the water.
Deciding to push his buttons, I ask, “Which of those do I fall under?” Girlfriend or friend? How would he answer?
Dark green eyes cut at me with a glare. “Don’t throw bullshit questions at me unless you want to answer it yourself.”
“Well, you are inviting me to a game.” It’s my turn to wash him, and I take my time.
“You invited me to help you out at Halloween. Same thing.”
He has a point, I guess. “Do you really want me to go?
“I asked you, didn’t I?”
Looks like I’m going to a hockey game this Friday. Hopefully, I can avoid Zane. Not that I worry about running into him, but I don’t want to when I’m with Brayden. Especially considering Zane asked me to games before and I always said no without even thinking about it. The last thing I want to do is throw it in Zane’s face that I’m hanging out with his teammate. Brayden said that he wasn’t happy about it, so I don’t want to ruffle any feathers. I’m actually surprised that Brayden would risk it.
When I get to work, I’m the only one there. Where is Rose? She’s supposed to open with me. Annoyed that she’s late, I angrily get the shop ready for the day. Thirty minutes before we’re set to open, she arrives with breakfast to soften me up. Unfortunately for her, Brayden fed me before I left his house.
“Where have you been? You’re late!”
“I’m sorry, Deanna. There was traffic.”
“Oh, come on. I got here on time with the same traffic.”
She sighs. “Fine. I woke up late. Get off my back. I brought breakfast.” She holds up the bag like it’s the solution to all of our problems.
“No, I won’t. You’re either late or asking for shifts and then telling me you’re not working. I know we’re friends, Rose, but I’m starting to feel a little abused here.”
Her mouth drops open in horror. “I was late; it happens. What has gotten into you? Did something happen with one of your boy toys?”
“Oh, come on. I’m pissed because you’re late again. All I’m saying is do better.”
“Fine,” she bites off. As we settle into our routines, the anger leaves her and she asks, “How is it going with your boy toys anyway?”
Since we’re back on friendly ground, I decide to fill her in on all that happened since I last saw her. Finding out about Brayden, ending things with Zane, seeing the houses Brayden bought, and how he’s invited me to a game.
“You’re going?” she asks.
“Yeah.”
Rose smiles. “You’re dating him!”