Page 96 of Pucking My Grumpy Roommate
The team condo had been temporary. This? This wasours.
His trophies still lined the shelves, but now they shared space with my scattered research papers, a framed lab photo Angel sent us as a joke, and a fridge covered in sarcastic magnets, sticky notes featuring our favorite inside jokes, and very unofficial rankings of takeout spots.
For a long time, I believed that if anyone saw all of me—my chaos, my ambition, the parts I tried to hide—they’d decide I was too much to love.
But Austin never flinched. He stayed and made space forallof me. He challenged me, supported me, and loved me without asking me to be anything less than exactly who I am. And in that space, something unexpected happened.
I let go.
And somehow, I fell into the safest, most extraordinary kind of love.
“Welcome home, Chaos,” he called down the hall. “Come kiss me hello and save me from this tie situation—I think I’ve accidentally invented a new knot that defies both physics and fashion.”
I grinned, dropping my bag on our designated "dump spot" by the door. Once upon a time, he would have twitched if I'd left anything out of place. Now we have an actual area dedicated to my tendency to drop things.
"Coming, Mr. Can't-Tie-A-Tie-Without-Me," I teased, walking into our bedroom.
Austin stood in front of the mirror, his broad shoulders filling out his tailored tux like temptation in fabric form, the tie loosely slung from his neck. My body responded immediately to the sight of him, a Pavlovian reaction that hadn't diminished one bit since we'd been together.
"I can tie a tie just fine," he smirked, his blue eyes finding mine in the mirror. "I just wanted an excuse to get your hands on me."
"Smooth talker." I moved in front of him, taking the black silk tie from his hands. "Nervous about tonight?"
He exhaled heavily. "A little. Public speaking isn't exactly in my comfort zone, especially to a room full of scientists and doctors."
"Says the man who gives post-game interviews to millions of viewers." I looped the tie around his neck, my fingers brushing against his warm skin.
"That's different. I know what to say after a game. 'We gave 110%' and 'It was a team effort' pretty much covers it."
I laughed, finishing the perfect Windsor knot. "You're going to be amazing. These people already admire you—the hockey star who helped fund a research wing for sports medicine."
Austin captured my hands before I could step away. "They admireus. This MedEdge campaign has your name on it too, Dr. Ellis."
The reminder sent a warm flush through me. Six months since we'd signed the joint endorsement deal, and I still couldn't believe how perfectly it had worked out. The research funding had allowed me to finally get approval for my own lab, while Austin had returned to the ice better than ever, now wearing an 'A' on his jersey as alternate captain.
"Speaking of which," I said, smoothing my hands down his chest, "I got the final numbers today. Our bacterial resistance research grant has been fully funded for the next three years."
His face lit up. "Kate, that's incredible!"
"I know!" I squealed, momentarily forgetting my sophisticated gala attire as I jumped up and down. "Three years of uninterrupted research funding! Do you know how rare that is?"
Austin lifted me off my feet in a bear hug, spinning me around once before setting me down. "I'm so fucking proud of you."
His lips found mine in a kiss that started sweet but quickly turned hungry. His hands slid down my back, cupping my ass through the silky, backless black gown that had earned me his undivided attention from the second I walked in.
"Austin," I gasped against his mouth. "We have thirty minutes before the car arrives."
"I only need ten," he growled, nipping at my lower lip.
"Cocky bastard," I laughed, but I was already reaching for his belt.
"You love it." His fingers found the zipper of my dress, slowly lowering it. "And if I remember correctly, you specifically requested a quickie before public appearances to help with your anxiety."
"I did not phrase it like that," I protested weakly as his lips trailed down my neck.
"Something about endorphins and stress reduction?" His hand slipped inside my now loosened dress, finding my breast. "I'm just being a supportive boyfriend."
"Such sacrifice," I moaned as his thumb brushed over my nipple. "But if you mess up my hair, I swear to god?—"
