18. Elise

CHAPTER 18

Elise

I wake up the next morning, a little sore, very happy, and alone. Though not entirely alone. Just alone in the bed. I can hear low masculine voices from the outer room.

I smile and stretch in the incredibly comfortable king bed in Simon Armstrong's opulent hotel penthouse.

Wow. Was last night even real?

But the fact that I am naked in luxurious Egyptian cotton sheets tells me that yes, it was very real.

Blake is not out there. He left shortly after midnight.

But there are two voices, which means that Aidan is still here, and that makes warm butterflies kick up in my stomach.

After I woke from dozing, Simon took me into his holy-shit-amazing shower and soaped me from head to toe. It wasn't sexual. It was sweet. Tender. He was taking care of me. I'd asked if he was okay that he and I hadn't actually really had sex and he smiled and kissed me and assured me that he was more than fine.

After we toweled off, we'd gone out into the living room to find that Aidan had ordered room service.

It was a simple charcuterie board and lots of sparkling water, but the guys had insisted I eat and hydrate.

I am not one to typically love being fussed over, and certainly not one to put up with being bossed around, but the way these men do it, it's very hot.

It was also interestingly, a team effort it seemed. None of them really took the lead. They all took turns handing me bits of cheese and bread and fruit, making sure my water glass didn't get empty, and holding my hand, brushing kisses over my cheeks, or in Blake's case, pulling my feet into his lap and massaging them.

I have not been the recipient of aftercare before, but it's clear these guys know what they're doing.

We snacked, chatted, and laughed almost as if the four of us have been doing it for months instead of only hours.

Then, when I started yawning, Blake had said I needed to go back to bed. I was happy to oblige. But Blake had stood, pulled me into his arms, given me a sweet kiss and told me he was heading home.

I was disappointed, but not surprised. He doesn't seem like the sleepover type. Especially with two other guys. Particularly on one of those other guys' turfs.

But he had promised to call me today and said that we would see each other soon.

I mean, of course we will. We still have to convince his grandmother we're engaged.

I'm eager to see him.

Blake Wilder. The grumpy goalie who wants to be a hermit in the woods.

Crap. I'm falling for him. Even though I know it will never be anything serious or long term. He didn't even stay the night but I'm still heart-eyed and eager to see if he texted me yet.

With that thought, I notice someone set my phone and a glass of water on the nightstand.

I reach for my phone.

And my dumb heart somersaults when I see three texts from Blake.

You were amazing. Thank you for last night.

I blush and smile.

I'm on the road for the next two days but I'll call you.

Oh, damn. I don't know his schedule at all. I should probably look that up.

I can't stop thinking about you.

Whoa. Okay. I like that. And that's nothing to do with being fake engaged.

I take a deep breath and text back.

Good luck with the games. I think about what else to add. I've never been a hockey WAG before. Should I offer a blow job for every save or something?

I giggle as I hit send. It's silly, but it feels girlfriend-ish.

I get a text back within seconds.

You have no idea how many saves I typically have in a game do you?

No. Sorry. laughing emoji angel emoji

Well not to be cocky…

Let's just say your jaw can't handle that, sugar. But I appreciate the offer.

Damn. I watch Racketeers hockey and I can't help but watch Blake more than any of the other players. I've always been attracted to him. But… okay…

I appreciate you looking out for my jaw.

How about a good luck selfie? You in my jersey.

I don't have one yet.

It will be at your place around noon.

Okay. I can do that. Let me guess… just the jersey? Maybe in some… interesting pose?

It takes a few extra seconds for him to respond to that message.

sweating emoji I was actually just thinking of you in the jersey. With pants on even. Standing up and smiling your sweet smile. But now that you've offered…

I laugh, but my stomach also feels like I just went over the top of a rollercoaster.

He really did just want a regular photo of me in his jersey? That's… sweet. Ugh. He's not just the grumpy hermit goalie. That's my whole problem.

I can send a variety. kissy face emoji

Can't wait.

I take a deep breath and look around.

Blake's out of town but the perk to this new situation I find myself in is that there are still two guys here in Chicago I want to see.

Unlike Blake, Aidan had stayed over. Simon and Aidan and I had gone back to bed, but we hadn't had sex again. They told me that we were just going to cuddle. And then they were true to their word.

We kissed, hands had roamed, but they had tucked me between them, and I'd quickly fallen into a very contented deep sleep.

I head into the bathroom. I pull a brush through my hair, splash water on my face, and then am delighted, though not surprised somehow, to find a new unopened toothbrush lying on the counter.

If it's not for me, I'll have to buy Simon a new one. But there is an open one propped inside a glass to the side of the sink that I assume is his.

I brush my teeth and then head back out into the bedroom.

What am I going to wear?

I don't think about that for long. I pad to Simon's closet and help myself to one of his shirts.

When I step out into the main part of the apartment, I find Simon and Aidan sitting at the little table next to the windows, sharing coffee and what looks like an assortment of pastries and fruit.

They don't notice me at first and I take a moment just to observe them together.

They're both stunningly good looking in completely different ways. Simon is distinguished, clean cut, sophisticated, and put together even when he's relaxing. He's in dress pants, a button-down shirt, with a tie hanging loose around his neck.

Aidan is more rugged. His idea of kicking back includes a lot more denim and cotton than Simon's does, I'm sure. Right now, he’s dressed in what he was wearing last night. Clearly, he didn't expect to spend the night.

They look great together. They're both smiling, their voices low, with occasional laughter. My heart turns over in my chest and I feel myself grinning.

They clearly really like each other. It's more than just chemistry. The way they're looking at one another, anyone would think they were already a couple.

I like that. They're both really good men and if they've found something special with each other? That's amazing.

I think I'm happy that I set my kitchen towel on fire.

I push off the doorway and walk into the room.

Simon sees me first. His gaze tracks over me, taking in his shirt and my bare legs.

"Good morning, love," he greets me with a warm rumble in his voice and a smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I just woke up after the best night of my life," I tell him sincerely.

He holds out a hand, and I take it, letting him tug me into his lap. He kisses my neck as I smile at Aidan.

"You look beautiful,” he tells me.

“Thank you," I say with a small laugh. "This isn't my usual morning attire."

"It should be,” Aidan says, blatantly checking me out.

Simon squeezes my hip and says, "Cool it, you two. I have to be at a meeting in twenty minutes. I don't have time to be getting all wound up."

Aidan smirks at him. "I have the day off. I have all the time in the world to get all wound up."

Simon shakes his head. "Not fair. If you're going to ravish our girl, you can at least have the decency to do it after I leave. I can't walk into this meeting with an erection."

My stomach flips and I don’t know if it’s the promise of ravishing, their playful back and forth, or the easy use of ‘our girl’.

Or all of the above.

Aidan chuckles. “Fair enough." His eyes find mine. "What do you have planned for the day? I was hoping maybe we could spend it together."

My chest warms. I've now spent one-on-one time with Simon and with Blake, but I haven't with Aidan yet. I nod. "I have a few errands to run but after?—"

Aidan cuts me off. "I'll go with you. We can make a day of it. I'll take you to lunch after your errands."

My eyes widen. "You want to run errands with me? I have to shop for some fabric."

"Of course. It's about spending time with you. Not specifically what we do."

That is so… nice. None of my boyfriends in the past ever took the slightest interest in my dress designs and none ever shopped with me. I don’t talk about it that much with anyone else really, except for the other designers and models I meet at shows. To have someone in my personal life willing to spend time on it with me is new and…wonderful. I find myself having to swallow before I say, "I'd really like that."

"That’s perfect,” Simon says. “Then you can come back over here and I'll take you both to dinner. I should be finished around six."

Aidan smiles at us as if we've given him some kind of award or trophy. "Fantastic. I go on shift tomorrow for twenty-four- hours. So this sounds like the perfect way to spend my day. And night," he adds before lifting his cup for a sip.

Simon runs his hand over my hip and gives me another kiss on the neck. "I agree."

I agree too. I think I might still be sleeping and dreaming.