Chapter 24: I want one

A constant ringing kept interrupting my dreams of being surrounded by a warm cacoon. As the ringing continued, my warm cacoon opened and shifted away. 

"No... come back." I whimpered sleepily. Grant and I had ended up in my bed again last night after a close victory for the Hot Shots. My body wasn't ready to face reality after the pleasure marathon it participated in. A low chuckle tickled my ear as a gruff voice murmured, "Hello?" 

There was a pause, then an eruption of female voices. Why must they be so loud and interrupt my warm caccon time? I turned onto my other side, burying my face into the coconut-scented warmth of Grant's chest. "Wait... Hold on... Who is this?" Another pause. "Ellie? I think you have--" 

I snatched the phone out of Grant's hand so quickly that it slipped out of mine and crashed onto my hardwood floor. I dove to try to catch it, "Shit!" 

I tumbled out of my bed, pulling the blankets tangled around my lower half with me. 

"I swear to all that is holy if you are in here wi--" Suddenly, the door to my bedroom burst open to reveal my immensely pissed sister. Her eyes roamed the room wildly until they landed on what I could only assume was Grant, "Why hello there."

I glanced up from my sprawled-out position on the floor. Grant was on his knees with one of my pillows covering himself as he stared down at me in panic. "You okay?" 

My sister blushed and awkwardly began to back out of the room, "You are not who I thought you would be, so I'm just going to--"

"Is Letty back here?" Sarah popped up behind Ellie, taking in the scene with her amber eyes, "Holy shit! It's the hockey hottie!" 

"Hockey Hottie?" Ellie tilts her head, examining Grant.

"Ellie, Sarah, stop!" I say sharply and look up at Grant, silently apologizing. 

"Yes!" With a big smirk, Sarah said, "You know, the one she has been creeping on since high school. The one from her posters." 

Ellie's eyes lit up with recognition, "Grant Dawes? Oh my, Letty, Dad would be having a heart attack right now if he were alive. You two would go on and on and o--"

"Okay, That's enough!" I yelled, doing my best to untangle myself without having my tits pop out. Not that my best friend and sister hadn't seen me naked before, but this moment felt a little too intimate with Grant being here. I knew I was blushing too hard from the heat on my cheeks, neck, and ears. 

"Ladies! Are we drinking mimosas and talking sex yet? Because I've got a story for you!" My cousin Seth threw his arms around the other two's shoulders. He held two bottles of champagne in each hand. His face spread in amusement when he took in my bedroom, "Oh my, you are way better in person and undressed than the poster on Letty's bedroom wall. Damn, abs to go with that fine ass. " 

I stepped in front of Grant, glaring at Seth as his whistle died on his lips. Seth just sighed loudly, "I want one." 

"Me too." Sarah pouted. 

"Me three." Ellie tilted her head sideways, trying to peer around me. 

"Fuck off!" I growled, feeling very possessive, "Get out now." 

All three laughed and quickly walked down the hall. I was mortified and terrified of Grant's reaction. Suddenly, his arm wrapped around my waist and tugged me to him. His forehead settled between my shoulder blades. I glanced over my shoulder to see his shaking. "Shit, are you crying?" 

Grant's laughter erupted, "That was so fucking embarrassing." 

I lay my hand over his arm around my waist, "I'm just glad my mom wasn't with them."

Grant groaned and buried his face deeper into my back. I turned around so his head nestled in my cleavage, chuckling as I stroked his shaggy hair away from his face. "I'm so sorry. If it makes you feel better, I'm mortified." 

He turns his face up, looking deeply into my eyes; a playful grin dances on his lips, "So you had posters of me on your wall?" 

I shoved him away, and my blush deepened.

"You're adorable when you blush." Grant grabbed my hand, pulling me back, his voice dropping to a teasing tone. "Which one was it? The shirtless puppy adoption poster? The Calvin Klein boxer launch?" 

I rolled my eyes, "Your rookie announcement." 

Grant blinked a few times. The poster image was not the typical sexy, shirtless image. It showed Grant's face as he lined up a shot in the final playoffs of the junior league before he was drafted to the professionals. The look of pure competitive joy had spoken to me when I saw it. Something about the determination in Grant's cobalt blue eyes helped me get through the tough choices of my life. I still had the poster in storage because it had been so important to my late teenage years. If my cheeks weren't already beet-red, they would be now.

I cupped Grant's jaw in both hands as his muscles feathered under his scruffy beard. There was an emotion in his expression that I couldn't quite place. I let the bedding fall and exposed my body to him as I continued to lock our lips together. Grant responded, instantly flipping me under him on the bed without ending our passionate kiss. A crashing sound breaks us apart just as he positions himself between my legs. I throw my arm across my face when Ellie yells, "My bad."

"I totally forgot it was booze brunch Sunday," I whisper. "I had been distracted by this sex god, and it slipped my mind." 

"Hmm..." Grant kisses my neck, "Well, Sex gods are distracting." 

I moaned when he slid lower, taking in my sensitive nipple. Suddenly, he pulls back, "But I'm going to get out of your way."

Grant moves away from me more before I wrap my hand around his bicep. Holy shit, his arm muscles were huge, and firm and--

"Letty, if you keep looking at me like that, I won't be able to leave." Grant's voice was deep and gravelly. 

"Good, Stay." I moved his hand down to the apex of my thighs. Grant grunted, pulling his hand away. I pouted. I would never have felt comfortable enough to act like this in front of Ben, but Grant's easy smile assured me I could. These tiny moments where I could be myself and he accepted me were why I felt so happy. I think I missed the person I had been before Ben broke me and molded me into something I didn't want to be. 

Grant kissed my forehead, leaving his lips to linger against my skin. He murmured, "No, Little Thief. I will head out and check into my new hotel while you spend time with your family and friends. You deserve to relax." 

I was a popsicle. A fully frozen popsicle slowly melting at this man's touch and words. It meant so much to me that he would step aside and let me have my time without a fight. A small voice warned that this was an act. When we met up later, he would hold it against me and make me feel like shit for not making him a priority. I tried to shove the voice away, but it became louder until it pierced my eardrums. 

Grant had already started to dress and find his stuff that I had thrown everywhere last night. His eyes glanced up at me, and his brows furrowed. "Hey," he said. 

My attention snapped to him, "Yep?"

"I can hear you thinking." 

I let out a breathy laugh, "You probably can. It's my own insecurities coming out." 

He crawled back onto the bed, leaning his torso over mine so our eyes were level. "Tell me," he said. 

I shook my head, "I don't have to hang out with these guys if you'd rather it just be us." 

"But you made plans." His reply was so straightforward I didn't know how to respond. 

"I can cancel them. It's not a big deal." I could hear my voice getting smaller. 

Grant grabbed my chin. "Family is important; there's no need to cancel your plans. Plus, I've got things to do before the start of the week tomorrow. It's our first away game, so much to prep for. I'm not upset that you want to spend time with your family and friends." 

I nodded, feeling the lump in my throat as I blinked back tears. I cleared my throat, "Will I see you tonight?" 

Grant shook his head. "No. As much as I would love to be with you here, I've got stuff to do this week. But I will be there for the interview on Wednesday, and I'll text/call you until I can see you again." 

I grinned; this man really was like a dream, and I was melting away.