Page 136 of Heated Rivalry 1
Eventually, Shane eased off him, and Ilya disposed of the condom. They cuddled together in bed, both men quiet and sleepy and deliriously happy.
“What was your mother’s name?” Shane asked suddenly. His fingers were tracing the chain around Ilya’s neck.
“Irina.” Ilya hadn’t said her name in so long, it felt strange in his mouth. “Why?”
“I was just thinking.” He propped himself up on an elbow. “The charity we start, I think we should start a hockey school. Like, we could have summer hockey camps in Ottawa and Montreal.”
“And we give the money away?”
“Yeah. I think we should give the money to mental health organizations. Maybe...suicide prevention?”
Shane was looking away, as if he were embarrassed, but Ilya held his chin and guided his face toward him.
“It was just an idea,” Shane said quietly.
And Ilya wasnotgoing to cry right now.
“Shane,” he said, “I love that idea.”
“Yeah?” Shane smiled.
“Yes. It’s very...” Fuck. What was the right word?Wasthere a right word for everything Ilya was feeling in that moment? He couldn’t think of one, so instead he said, “She would have loved you.”
“I wish I could have met her.”
“Yes. Me too.”
Shane yawned and snuggled against Ilya’s chest. “Sorry. I’m exhausted.”
“My fault, I suppose.”
“Absolutely your fault. But I forgive you,” Shane said with another yawn.
“Good night, Hollander.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Mm. Can you say it in Russian again?”
Ilya pulled Shane’s hand to his lips and kissed his fingers.“Ya lyublyu tebya.”
“Ya-loo-blue-tee-baa,” Shane murmured back.
Ilya laughed, and turned off the lamp.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ilya bounced on the balls of his feet and felt the dock bob in the water beneath him.
“Is this the dock that you do yoga on?” he asked.
“No, I don’t do yoga on here. This was just where the camera crew asked me to...wait. Did youwatchthat thing?”
“Yes. Was great. I needed help sleeping.”
“You’re an asshole.”
