We finally reached the elevators.
Ethan looked between the two of us for a moment before shaking his head.
“At least neither of you had the emotional restraint to drag this out another season.”
“That’s your takeaway?” I asked.
He blinked. “Dean, he kissed you right after the medal ceremony. There are no remaining layers to analyze here.” Then he smiled. “Go upstairs. Disappear for a few hours before the media apocalypse starts tomorrow.”
I nodded, my throat a little tight.
Luka squeezed my hand. “Ethan has the right idea. Tonight should belong to us before the world starts demanding pieces of it.”
Luka
The elevator doorsslid shut and I finally took a long, shuddering breath.
“That was so intense.”
“Like being on a roller coaster.” Dean closed his eyes. “Except it feels like we got off and everything is still moving.” His phone buzzed, and he pulled it from his pocket. “Oh God. Now things get really interesting.”
“What is it?” My heartbeat raced. I still couldn’t believe I had been so bold with Viktor. I hadn’t recognized myself. I knew there would be repercussions.
Not now. Not tonight.
“It’s from my parents. Mom says ‘Damn, I’m good.’Dad says ‘Was that real?’ And they’re both asking when they get to see me—and meet you.”
I swallowed.
Dean’s arm was around me before I could take another breath. “Don’t sweat it, not tonight. And you really don’t need to be worried. They’ll love you, I promise.” His lips twitched. “They’ll also have a ton of questions.” His phone buzzed again, and this time his expression grew more focused. “Mark says it might be a good idea for us to give a joint statement to the press tomorrow. You know, putourmessage out there first, then answer a few questions.” He gazed at me as the elevator doors opened. “What do you think?”
We stepped off it and walked along the corridor to his room, my mind turning over Mark’s suggestion. When we reached Dean’s door, I drew in a deep, calming breath.
“He is right. How do we do this?”
Dean smiled. “He’ll organize it.” He slid his thumbs over the screen. “Okay, done. He’ll message me the details.” He unlocked his door, held it open for me, and I re-entered my sanctuary.
Shut it down. Shut it all down for tonight.
Then everything hit me at once.
We’d won silver. I’d kissed Dean in front of the entire world. I’d told federation officials no.
And somehow, I was still standing.
The realization left me almost dizzy.
The door closed behind us, I turned around, and shoved Dean against it with a dullthud, claiming his mouth in a bruising kiss, my hands on his neck, his face.
Dean didn’t hesitate. His hands went around me, moving down my back to cup and squeeze my ass cheeks, molding me to him. I moaned to feel the hardness of him, grinding against my own solid cock. My brain shorted out, and I said the only words I could manage to locate in my overheated head.
“I want you.”
His groan filled my ears, and tongues went deep, fingers digginginto flesh, both of us breathing heavily as I attempted to remove his clothing, our arms tangling as he did the same thing. I laughed into his mouth as clothes were tossed to the floor, and there we were, gloriously naked, both sporting erections.
I grabbed his hand, tugged him over to the bed, then spun him around and shoved him again, this time facedown onto the sheets.
“Luka—”
