Page 89 of Man Advantage

“So it isn’t weird, then?” I asked. “Ducking out while they’re awake and…”

Trev chuckled. “Nah. I thought it was, but from what I’ve gathered on parenting boards, everyone sneaks out for a quickie sometimes.”

“Yeah?”

“Mmhmm. Where do you think I learned the trick of turning on the dryer?”

“Oh.” I snorted. “And here I thought that was just supposed to enhance the experience.”

“I mean, two birds, one stone…” He shrugged.

I laughed and rolled my eyes, and it was startlingly difficult not to step in close and put a hand on his waist or steal a kiss.

I sipped my water instead, grateful for the cold. “For the record,” I whispered. “I’ve never dated—or, well, done whatever this is with someone who has kids. So I’m not quite sure where all the lines are.”

Trev nodded. “I know. And it’s my first time dating as a single dad.” He let his gaze drift toward the stairs, and hesighed, letting his shoulders drop. “One minute, I feel like it’s no big deal. The next, I’m afraid I’ll completely screw up their childhood if I do something wrong.”

“Is that dating as a single dad, or just parenting in general?”

He pursed his lips, then laughed as he shifted his focus back to me. “Definitely parenting in general.” He grimaced as he brought his glass up to his lips. “I love my kids and I love being a dad, but I won’t tell you for a second that it’s easy.”

“No, I figured that out.” I paused. “Especially because there’s so much…soccer.”

Trev choked on his water, very nearly spitting it on me.

I cackled. “You deserved that!”

“What? For fucking you?”

“No! For making me go to soccer!” I paused, then shrugged. “Fucking me gets you a lot of leeway.”

He rolled his eyes, put his glass aside, and wrapped an arm around my waist. “You’re a brat.”

For a split second, I was afraid we shouldn’t do this out in the open, but… the boys were very firmly ensconced upstairs, and neither was particularly stealthy coming down the stairs. So it was perfectly safe to let Trev wrap me up in his arms. It was safe to let him claim a long, lazy kiss.

Or two.

CHAPTER 27

TREV

I’d keptmy word last night and made sure Cam’s world was thoroughly rocked. Keeping him quiet hadn’t been easy, but I was always game for a challenge, and getting him to unravel like that without crying out was… incredibly rewarding.

The only downside was that my neck and hips were a little bitchy when I stepped out on the ice for our morning skate. Eh, some stretching would help. I’d be fine.

My jaw was sore, too, but I didn’t really need that for hockey. Well, aside from chirping at other players and chewing the hell out of my mouthguard, anyway, but whatever.

All in all? Zero complaints. Ten out of ten, would make him shake like that again. And soon, we’d have the house to ourselves again so I could make him scream. As much as I hated when my boys went to Bryan’s, this new arrangement was a hell of a lot better than spending my non-custodial weeks being miserable and lonely.

Goose bumps sprang up under my gear and base layer, and I bit back a grin as I leaned down to pull on my socks. Even Chats couldn’t get under my skin today, and boy, did he try. Hewas determined to get me to admit that I was jealous of him and Bryan.

Not today, Satan.

“You’re lucky, Trev,” Chats said with that shit-eating grin as he taped his stick.

I had to bite back a laugh because I suspected I knew where this was going. “Oh yeah?” I eyed him, hoping he took my expression as one of boredom. “Why’s that?”

Smirking, he tore off the tape and put the roll aside. “Almost sent a picture to the family group chat this morning instead of just to Bryan.” He barked an obnoxious laugh. “Good thing I caught myself, isn’t it?”

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