“That was a dirty hit.”
Carter leaned forward from the row behind them so his head was between theirs. “It’s a charity game, so they’re supposed to have fun and keep it clean.”
She nodded to show she got it now, and watched as Grant left the ice and disappeared through a set of doors. A few seconds later, Gavin left his seat, presumably to head to the locker room. Another player took Grant’s place, but it took a few minutes for the crowd to resume full volume after the game resumed.
Olivia fell back into the pattern of mimicking Isaac and Julia’s reactions, surprised to find herself enjoying the game far more than she’d expected to. Every few minutes, her gaze would meet Derek’s over the tops of his kids’ heads and he’d smile.
“We’re gonna win!” Isaac was practically bouncing in his seat as the clock ticked down, and she wondered how long it would take for the soda Derek had gone back for to work through Isaac’s system.
An hour and a half later, when she finally pulled her car in behind Derek’s in his driveway, she had her answer. She watched him open the back door and, while he didn’t carry Isaac, it was obvious the child had fallen asleep.
“They’re going to be fun at school tomorrow,” Derek said after sending the kids to brush their teeth and get ready for bed. “I should have thought about the fact I’m the one who has to get them up in the morning before I let them have soda.”
Olivia laughed, even though she was already turning the morning’s logistics over and over in her mind. Since she’d be doing the drive-home-of-shame in tonight’s clothes, she’d like to be up and out before it was time for Isaac and Julia to get up. She had no idea what time that was, but she was an early riser, so hopefully she could avoid any awkwardness.
After saying goodnight to the kids, she turned on the television and sat on the couch to wait while Derek went through the bedtime routine with them. And then she laughed when he flopped down beside her with an exaggerated air of exhaustion.
“No more soda for them,” he said.
“How many times have you said that?”
He chuckled and took her hand in his as he turned his head to look at her. “Every time I take them out and buy them soda. Did you have a good time tonight?”
“I did. I’m not sure I’ll ever really understand hockey, but it was fun. And Isaac and Julia obviously love it. He was so funny tonight.”
“They enjoyed having you there.” He tugged on her hand, pulling her closer. “I enjoyed having you there. And I’m enjoying having you here.”
She moved closer, then yelped as he lifted her and turned her so she was straddling his lap. Then she covered her mouth. “Don’t make me do that.”
“They’re probably already asleep.” He kissed her, his hands at her hips.
She’d let him kiss her, she thought. They were both fully clothed and it was just kissing.
But as he deepened the kiss, his tongue parting her lips, she moaned. He gripped her hips harder with his fingertips and she couldn’t stop herself from grinding against him.
His mouth left a hot trail of kisses down her throat before he gently bit the side of her neck. “Do you know what watching hockey does to guys?”
“I’m starting to see the appeal of the sport,” she said as his hands shifted to her breasts.
“I think it’s bedtime for you, too.”
She couldn’t stop herself from glancing over her shoulder at the bedroom doors. “Are you sure they’re asleep.”
“I’d bet on it.” He pinched her nipple through the fabric of her shirt and bra, and she pressed her lips together to keep from making a sound. “I changed the doorknob on my bedroom door so it has a lock because I’m an optimist, and we’ll leave the TV on to make you feel better.”
“You can’t do anything that makes me loud,” she whispered.
Derek laughed, and she put her finger over her lips to shush him. He took her wrist and brought her hand to his mouth. She sighed as he slowly drew that finger into his mouth, sucking gently.
She squirmed for a few seconds and then pushed off his lap. The options were to lock his door and try to behave or leave. And there was no way she was leaving right now.
They didn’t waste any time getting naked, but Olivia put her hand on his chest to stop him as he joined her in his bed.
“I mean it. If I start getting loud, you have to put a pillow over my face or something.”
“Suffocation’s not really my thing,” he said when he was done laughing at her again. “I think you need some distracting.”
And he was damn good at distracting her. It didn’t take long before the only thing she could focus on was the feel of his hands on her body, and his tongue gliding over her skin.
