Keira Andrews

I’d won, but Theo had lost, and I ached for him. He had to win too. I didn’t want him to be disappointed or angry or sad. I didn’t want him to hurt. Not ever.

Is this love?

It had to be, because if it wasn’t, the only other explanation could be that I was losing my mind.

I wondered what I could do to actually get him to smile at me. Not a fake-ass smile while we shook hands on the podium, but something genuine. Warm, even. Something just for me—even though I was very likely his least fave person on the planet.

Honestly, I preferred cats to people much of the time.

“So, you just hook up? Definitely hard to find time for an actual relationship with training. Which app’s the best around here? I need to get laid.”

He stared straight ahead, knuckles pale on the steering wheel again, cheeks flushed pink.

“Oh, come on! We all have needs. Or are you ace? Not that ace people don’t have needs. But maybe you’re not into sex with other people, which is totally cool, obviously.”

“Please stop talking.”

I chuckled. Theodore’s head snapped up, looking at me excitedly. I glanced behind me, puzzled. Down a gray corridor, the edges of the press area were visible. “What?”

“Nothing!” He went back to his phone, but he looked unfathomably pleased with himself.

“Don’t worry. Everyone knows you’re way too honorable to have me whacked in the knee. I mean, you’re Canadian. I’m way more likely to take out a hit on you.”

“You wouldn’t do that. You’re annoyingly nice.”

They burst out laughing, and Theodore’s eyes lit up, his smile dimpling his cheeks. More heat washed through me. I hadn’t meant to say that aloud. This was why I didn’t like talking. But it didn’t seem like they were laughing at me, at least.

Or I could come down after my call and we could watch TV or have sex or do crosswords or have sex or whatever. We could sleep together again, and we don’t have to have sex. I just want to wake up with you.

The elevator beeped, and Henry backed me up against the mirrored wall, one hand on my hip and the other cupping my neck as he kissed me like he wanted to swallow me whole.

He tasted like the forbidden cocoa and sugary donuts, and he made the softest, sweetest little whimper against my lips as I met his tongue, the elevator carrying us away.

“It’s all right, baby. Don’t freak out, okay?”

Baby. My stomach fluttered, and to my shock, I laughed. It could probably be more accurately described as a giggle, and it clearly delighted Theo, who grinned and kissed me, his arm around my back.

“We’re here. Just us. No one else. All elephants not even in the corner. Those bitches are outside in the snow. Sorry, elephants.”