Page 68 of Game Changer
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It was still dark when Kip’s alarm went off. Scott was confused at first, then remembered that Kip had to go to work. Kip shifted next to him, slowly sitting up and grumbling quietly.
“Morning,” Scott mumbled.
“Fuck, yeah. I guess so.”
Kip got out of the bed and went into the bathroom, while Scott rubbed his eyes and tried to wake up. He was by no means a late sleeper, but it wasn’t even five o’clock yet.
He finally forced himself to sit up, wincing when the pain reminded him of his injury. After a few minutes, Kip came out of the bathroom and started putting on his clothes.
“I’ll make us some coffee,” Scott said. “At least stay for that.”
“Okay. How are you feeling?”
“Like I got hit by a puck. But other than that... I’m very happy.”
Kip smiled and finished getting dressed. Scott went into the bathroom, stopping to kiss him on the cheek on his way past.
“Yikes,” Kip said, making a face. “That bruise does not look great.”
“Doesn’t feel great either. But I’ll live.”
In the bathroom, Scott splashed water on his face, and stood back to examine his bruise in the mirror. Kip hadn’t been lying: It had definitely darkened overnight into an angry midnight blue color.
When Scott had thrown on some sweats, he headed to the kitchen to make coffee. He paused when he saw Kip standing in front of the living room windows.
“You get this view every morning, huh?” Kip asked.
“More or less.”
“It’s not bad.”
The first hint of light was showing itself over the Brooklyn skyline, softly illuminating Kip’s lean frame. He stood with one arm stretched over his head, his hand on the glass.
“It’s better now,” Scott said. He wrapped his arms around Kip from behind, and kissed his neck. Kip sighed and turned to kiss him properly.
In that moment, Scott could imagine all of it. Being with Kip.Livingwith him. Going to bed and waking up together. Preparing meals and going to restaurants and traveling together. Not hiding anymore, just being happy and complete with a man he...cared about. Being brave enough to let the world know who he really was.
But even if hewasbrave enough, it was a lot to ask of Kip, who may not realize what he was getting himself into with Scott. It would be abig dealif Scott came out. It was unheard of in the NHL, and the media would want so much of them. Scott was used to being scrutinized by the public; he didn’t want to drag Kip into all of that.
Besides, they had only been seeing each other for a couple of weeks. It was ridiculous to even think...
They broke apart, and Scott brushed a strand of Kip’s hair aside and ran his palm over the light stubble on Kip’s jaw. “I’d love to have a whole day with you.”
“You will.”
“Uninjured. Really take my time with you.”
He could see the change in Kip’s eyes. Dark lust creeping in.
Scott leaned in for another kiss, but Kip pulled back and shook his head. “I have to get going,” he sighed.
“Coffee first.”
As Scott fumbled with the fancy coffee machine that he rarely used, Kip lifted Scott’s T-shirt and inspected the bruise.
“You aren’t going to practice today, are you?” he asked.
