10. Olivia

OLIVIA

I wake slowly, awareness seeping in as I register the unfamiliar weight of an arm draped over my waist, the warmth of a body pressed against my back. For a moment, I'm disoriented, my sleep-fogged brain struggling to piece together where I am and how I got here. But then it all comes rushing back—the forgotten dinner, the massage, the mind-blowing sex. Calvin.

A smile tugs at my lips as I recall the events of last night. The way he looked at me, touched me, worshipped every inch of my body with a reverence that left me breathless. The way he held me after, whispering sweet words that made my heart soar.

I shift slightly, turning in his embrace so I can see him. He's still asleep, his features relaxed and peaceful. I take a moment to study him, to memorize the angles of his face, the dark fan of his lashes against his cheeks, the slight upturn of his lips even in repose. He's beautiful, inside and out, and I marvel at the fact that out of all the women in the world, he’s chosen me to be his.

I want to reach out, trace the sharp line of his jaw with my fingers, but I hesitate. What if I wake him? What if he’s still processing the whirlwind that has been us so far? What if he regrets it…?

But as I rest here, lost in thought, Calvin stirs slightly, his eyes fluttering open to meet mine, a slow, sleepy smile spreading across his features.

“Mornin', beautiful,” he murmurs, voice rough with sleep. “This is a sight I could get used to waking up to.”

His words send a rush of warmth through me, melting away my doubts and worries in an instant. “Good morning yourself, handsome,” I reply as he tugs me closer and presses a soft kiss to my lips.

The kiss sends a delightful shiver down my spine, re-igniting the butterflies that have taken permanent residence in my stomach since we crossed that line. I lean into him, wrapping my arms around him as I breathe him in. Even after a night of sweaty sex, he still smells so good.

“Please tell me we have time for another round?” he teases, his breath warm against my cheek, cock hard against my stomach.

I let out a soft and wishful groan. “As much as I would love to indulge you—and believe me, I really, really would—we have pilates in…” I squint toward the bedside clock. “An hour, and it’ll take almost that long to get there.”

Calvin groans. “I’m thinkin’ we need to pick a city and hire a private instructor there who’ll start class at a decent hour, so I can spend my early mornings between your legs where I belong.”

I laugh, my hand brushing messy strands of his light brown hair off his forehead. “It’d have to be Granite City. I start my work day way before the players take to the ice, and the commute would kill me.”

Calvin chuckles, his gaze holding mine. “Granite City it is, then. I’ll pack a bag and we can spend our mornings tangled up before sweating it out in class.”

His fingers brush across my collarbone, sending electric tingles radiating through me.

“You’re really serious? You’d drive all that way, three times a week, for me?”

“For you?” He finds my hand and tangles it up with his. “Absolutely. I’d drive across the country if it meant waking up with you like this. And I’m talkin’ every morning, doc. Not just three times a week.”

“Every morning?” I repeat, a mixture of disbelief and excitement coursing through me.

“Every morning. Every day. I told you last night, Olivia. This is it for me. I’m all in.”

It’s in this moment that it hits me how serious this man is. I’ve been so caught up in the disbelief that a man like him wanted to even share space with a woman like me I hadn’t truly considered the possibility of this being more than a fling—something I’d thoroughly enjoy then look back on fondly in my old age. But here he is, telling me I’m ‘it’ and looking at me with such sincerity that my heart seems to crack wide open, letting in all that hope I was trying so hard to keep out. It floods through me in a rush, igniting possibilities that had once seemed mere daydreams. I can imagine it all now—the mundane becoming magical, the simple act of waking up together turning into a cherished ritual. I can see us too, laughing over breakfast, stealing kisses in between bites, our lives intertwining in a series of tiny, yet important, details.

But just as I start to savor this beautiful vision, a shrill sound pierces my bubble, Calvin’s alarm shrieking like a banshee and jolting us both from our moment of bliss.

“Way to ruin a moment,” Calvin grunts, reaching over to stop the alarm with a heavy sigh. He flops back onto the bed, pulling me close and nuzzling into my neck. “You know...we could just stay right here and do our own exercise routine this morning.” His hand skims down my side to rest on my hip. “I'm sure we can think of a few moves that would get our hearts racing.”

I giggle despite myself, even as my body responds to his touch. “As tempting as that sounds, I don't think sex is going to help with your ankle recovery,” I tease, running my fingers through his chest hair.

He pouts, but there's a glint of amusement in his eyes. “I don't know, doc. I think you might be underestimating the healing powers of a good orgasm.”

I shake my head, smiling up at him. “Calvin, I care about you too much to let you skip out on your recovery, even if my libido is strongly disagreeing with me right now.”

His expression softens, his hand running small circles against my hip. “So…you really do care about me, huh?”

I nod, emotion filling my chest. “Of course I do. More than I probably should, given how fast this all happened. But I can't help it. You've gotten under my skin in the best possible way, Calvin Barrett.”

The smile he gives me could light up the entire city. “This probably goes without saying, but I care about you too, Olivia. A whole damn lot. And as much as I want to fight you on this so I can spend the entire day in this bed with you, I know you're right. We should get to Pilates. But I’m serious about spending my mornings in Granite City. You and I are makin’ this work.”

“Duly noted,” I murmur as he drops a kiss on the top of my head and sits up.

While he’s stretching his arms above his head, I take a moment to appreciate the play of muscles in his back. Is this guy seriously mine?

“Raincheck on that private exercise session, though,” he adds with a wink over his shoulder before he stands and heads for the bathroom.

I laugh, throwing a pillow at him. “You're insatiable, you know that?”

He catches the pillow easily, grinning. “Only for you, babe. Only for you.”

Only for me…

I bite back yet another smile as I untangle myself from the sheets and start getting ready for the day. There's a comfort in moving around each other, a natural ease that seems at odds with the newness of our relationship. But it feels right, and I keep catching myself thinking ‘Calvin Barrett is my man’ over and over again, like it’s an affirmation I’m trying to will into existence. Except it’s true. He really is my man. And that alone makes me the happiest woman on earth.

“I’ll meet you there,” I say once we’re downstairs. I walk toward my car, but Calvin stops me with a gentle hand on my arm.

“Why don't I drive us both?” he suggests with a wiggle of his brows.

I laugh, tilting my head to look up at him as he draws me into his arms. “And how exactly am I supposed to get to work after without my car?”

He grins. “Well, you could always shower and change at my place after class. I do believe I have a raincheck to cash in...”

I bite my lip, trying to suppress a smile at his proposition. The idea of starting my day with Calvin, both in Pilates and in his arms, sends a thrill through me.

Looking down at my watch, I do a quick calculation of how long it’d take to go back and forth, because I have to admit, I really like the idea of riding passenger princess with this man. “OK. It’ll be a bit of a time crunch. But I think we can manage it.”

“Oh, I see. You’re slotting me into your schedule?”

“I’m a woman in demand,” I tease, poking his chest. “You're just lucky I keep a gym bag with a spare uniform in my trunk. Or you'd be plum out of luck.”

Calvin's grin widens, and he leans down to brush a kiss against my lips. “Guess I'm a lucky guy then. Come on, let's get going. I’ll need every possible minute since I've got plans for you, doc.”

With my heart feeling as though it’s getting bigger by the second, I let him lead me to his truck, the simple act feeling somehow daring and intimate. He opens the door for me like a true gentleman, and I slide into the passenger seat, savoring this sweet moment, while Calvin hops in beside me and fires up the engine. The rumble vibrates through the cab, and find myself stealing glances at him as he adjusts the rearview mirror and steals glances right back at me.

“See something you like?” I tease, and he grins.

“Fuck yeah, I do. My girl is sittin’ right beside me where she belongs.”

I feel my cheeks heat at the possessive undertone in his voice. “Your girl, huh? I didn't realize we were in a full-on relationship already. You should really work on that communication, Mr. Barrett.”

Calvin's fingers tighten slightly on the steering wheel. “I feel like I’ve been pretty fucking clear on where I stand here, doc. But let me make it crystal—you, Olivia Angelo, are mine. My girl, my partner, my everything. I want you above anything else in this world. That work for you?”

His straightforward declaration sends a thrill straight to my core, leaving me equal parts flustered and elated. “I suppose I can work with that,” I manage, trying to play it cool even as a girlish giggle tries to bubble up out of my chest. I honestly have to pinch myself to believe this is happening, but the more he claims me with his words, the more my doubts melt away and my belief sets in.

“Good to know we’re on the same page,” he replies, his gaze flickering to me before returning to the road.

It’s barely a heartbeat later before his hand reaches over to find mine. The moment our fingers intertwine, a sense of rightness overcomes me, and I snuggle back against the leather seat as Calvin's thumb strokes the back of my hand. Perfection.

When we pull into the studio parking lot, I’m about to undo my seatbelt and hop out when Calvin’s hand tightens around mine, holding me in place. “What’s this?” I ask, turning to him and smiling.

He looks down at our joined hand and sighs. “I don’t want to stop touching you. And I know that the moment we get out of my truck, we have to.”

“You’re right. We should probably keep this possessiveness of yours to a minimum during class.”

“I can’t do that, doc.”

“You’ll at least have to tone down any sort of PDA.” I tilt my head and give him a big smile. “Wouldn't want to scandalize the soccer moms.”

He rolls his eyes on a laugh. “Heaven forbid.”

We pause for a moment, eyes locked. I want nothing more than to launch myself into his arms, public decency be damned, but I know we need to be smart about this.

I lift our joined hands and press a kiss to his rough knuckles.

“I'll head in first,” I murmur, slowly extricating my hand from his grip. “Wait a few minutes before following me, yeah? And for the love of god, try to keep the smoldering glances to a minimum.”

He chuckles, his eyes dragging over me like a lover’s caress as I move to open my door. “I make no promises, but I'll do my best.”

With great effort, I tear myself away and head into the studio, willing my racing heart to calm. I’m already set up at my station when he walks in. But I’m hyper-aware of his every movement throughout the class. Each stolen glance and barely there touch feels like an electric current, sending my mind spiraling with giddy anticipation. By the time we're finished, I'm wound tighter than a coiled spring, desperate for him to take me back to his place and make good on his promise from this morning.

We don’t even make it that far. The moment I climb into his truck, Calvin hauls me against him and crushes his mouth to mine in a searing kiss that has me instantly melting. His tongue delves deep, tangling with mine as his hands roam my curves, igniting sparks across my skin even through the barrier of my clothing. I moan into his mouth, my fingers threading into his hair to pull him closer as I lose myself in his kiss, his touch, his taste, his scent.

“Do you have any idea how hard it was to keep my hands to myself in there?” he growls against my lips. “Watching you bend and stretch, all flushed and glistening... it's a miracle I made it through without embarrassing myself.”

I laugh breathlessly, nipping at his bottom lip. “The feeling was very mutual, trust me.”

Calvin's hands slide under my tank top, his calloused fingers skimming over my heated skin. “I need you, Olivia,” he rasps, his voice rough with desire. “Right fucking now.”

I gasp as Calvin palms my breasts through my sports bra, my nipples instantly pebbling under his touch. “Calvin,” I pant, arching into his hands. “We can't... not here. Someone might see.”

“Who's gonna be lookin' for us in a pilates parking lot this early in the morning?” he counters while his lips trail hot, open-mouthed kisses down the column of my neck. “Besides, I've got tinted windows. No one is gonna see a thing.”

His argument is flimsy at best, but with the way he's touching me, the way his deep voice rumbles against my skin, I find my resolve crumbling faster than a sandcastle at high tide.

“OK,” I breathe, my head falling back to give him better access. “But we have to be quick.”

Calvin's answering grin is downright wolfish. “Oh, I can be quick, baby. But you're not gonna want me to be.”

With that, he hauls me into his lap so I'm straddling him, my core pressing against the hard ridge of his erection. We both groan at the contact, and then his mouth is on mine again, devouring me with a hunger that makes my toes curl. His hands grip my hips, rocking me against him as he thrusts up, the delicious friction sending sparks of pleasure zinging through my veins.

“Fuck, Olivia,” he pants against my lips. “You feel so good. I can't wait to be inside you again.”

Whimpering, I reach between us to palm him through his sweatpants, feeling him throb beneath my touch. “I need you, Calvin. Please.”

He doesn't need any more encouragement. With a low growl, he shoves my leggings and panties down just enough to expose my dripping core. The position is awkward as fuck, but when he frees himself from the confines of his sweats, he quickly finds my entrance and I’m taking him inside. “Oh fuck, Calvin. You feel so good.”

“Oh god. You’re so tight,” he hisses, his voice a low rumble that I feel all the way to my bones. “Grind against me, baby. Take what you need.”

And oh, do I ever. With my leggings and panties acting as a band around my knees, I brace myself against the steering wheel and rock my hips against him.

“Yesssss,” he groans, his head falling back against the headrest as I grind against his hilt. “So perfect.”

He positions his hands on either side of me, using his great strength to help lift me up and down. And holy shit, does it feel good. I moan, my eyes fluttering shut as I adjust to the exquisite stretch of him inside me. It's almost too much, the way he fills me so completely, touching places I didn't even know existed. But it's also not enough. I need more. More friction, more depth, more of him.

As if reading my mind, Calvin's hands tighten on my hips and he starts to move, thrusting up into me with deep, powerful strokes that have me seeing stars. I meet him thrust for thrust, rolling my hips and clenching around him, chasing that elusive peak that I can feel building deep in my core.

“That's it, baby,” he praises, his voice strained with the effort of holding back. “Ride me just like that. Take what you need. I've got you.”