PUCKING VALENTINES (PART 2)
RILEY
The morning light filters through the curtains, casting a soft golden glow over the hotel room. Shawn is lying next to me, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. His face is relaxed in sleep, all the cocky grins and sharp edges smoothed into something tender and vulnerable.
I prop myself up on one elbow, careful not to wake him while I study him. His messy hair falls over his forehead, and his hand, big and rough from years of holding a goalie stick, rests lightly on my hip. The corners of his mouth seem on the cusp of smiling. Even in sleep, there’s something magnetic about Shawn.
This trip has reminded me how much I love each of the Draytons and how each fills a space in my life that no one else ever could. Jacob’s fierce protectiveness, Hayes’ steady calm, and Shawn’s vibrant, playful energy—they’re all part of this strange, beautiful thing we’ve built together.
But the trip has also brought some hard truths into focus. Being apart from Shawn is harder than I ever imagined. I miss his goofy jokes, his quick wit, and the way he makes me feel like the most important person in the room. Seeing him thrive in his new team environment is fantastic, but it also highlights just how little time we have together.
College is demanding, and the travel schedule for his games makes spontaneous trips like this rare. But watching him sleep, I make a vow to myself: I’ll find a way to make it work. Even if it means taking late-night buses or cramming assignments into weekends, I’ll be there for him. And I’ll savor every second of having him back when the off-season comes.
Shawn stirs beside me, his lashes fluttering as he slowly wakes. I smile and lean down, my lips brushing his ear. “Shawn,” I whisper.
He grumbles something unintelligible, turning his face into the pillow.
“Shawn,” I try again, my voice soft but insistent. “Come to the bathroom with me.”
His eye cracks open, one blue iris peeking out. “Bathroom?”
“Bathroom,” I confirm, tugging lightly at his hand.
Now, both eyes are open, and a lazy grin spreads across his face. “Still greedy for more cock, Riley Johnstone?”
“Always.”
We scramble out of bed, trying not to wake Hayes and Jacob. The bathroom is small, but the steam from the shower fills it quickly, turning the mirrors foggy and the air warm. Shawn’s body looms large in the tight space, and my heart races as he tugs off his boxers, revealing the lean, muscular frame and thick cock I’ve missed so much.
He rubs his chest, his eyes devouring me as I slide my nightdress from my shoulders. “I feel like I’m still dreaming,” he says, his voice low and teasing as he steps into the shower.
“No dreaming today.” I take his outstretched hand and follow him in.
The water is hot, cascading over our skin as Shawn turns to face me. His hands find my waist, sliding over my wet skin, and his eyes darken as they trace the curves of my body.
“I’ve missed you,” he murmurs, his voice thick with desire.
I step closer, my hands trailing over his chest and up to his shoulders. “And I’ve missed you.”
He dips his head, capturing my lips in a kiss that’s slow and deep, the kind that makes the world outside this tiny bathroom fade away.
Shawn’s hands are everywhere—on my waist, my back, tangling in my hair as the water streams around us. His mouth moves from my lips to my jaw, then to the sensitive spot below my ear that makes me shiver.
“Riley,” he breathes, his voice husky. “You have no idea what you do to me.”
“Show me,” I whisper, pressing my body against his.
His groan vibrates through me as he lifts me, pinning me against the cool tile wall. He’s so big and strong that my weight doesn’t seem to bother him at all. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I can feel him hard and ready against me.
The contrast of the hot water and the cool tiles sends a thrill through my body as Shawn takes his time, his movements deliberate and controlled. He kisses me deeply, his hands steadying me as he enters me slowly, inch by inch. Being on birth control means there’s no need to fumble with condoms every time. It’s still good to be doubly protected, particularly as three men are filling me with their swimmers on the regular. These days, I’d probably come out as one-third Drayton if I did a DNA test!
And this way, I get to feel Shawn bare, skin to skin, pulsing heat, and throbbing hardness; pure connection. The feeling is overwhelming in the best way, a mix of pleasure and emotion that leaves me breathless. Shawn moves with a rhythm that’s both unhurried and intense, his eyes locked on mine as if he’s memorizing every expression I make.
“Riley,” he murmurs, his voice rough. “You feel so fucking good.”
My hands grip his shoulders as the tension builds between us. The sound of the water, the heat of his body, and the way he’s looking at me—it’s too much. I taste the metallic burn of unshed tears, already imagining the pain I’ll feel when we leave. I kiss his face, tasting his cheeks and his eyelids, peppering him with my love. When the moment crests, I bury my face in his neck, muffling my cry as he holds me close, his movements slowing as we come down together.
We stay under the water for a while, his arms still around me as the spray washes over us. My head rests on his chest, and I can feel the steadily decreasing beat of his heart beneath my cheek.
“I don’t want to leave,” I whisper, the words slipping out before I can stop them.
“I know. It’s hard. Harder than I thought it’d be. But we’ve got these memories to keep us going until next time,” Shawn says firmly, tilting my chin up so I have to meet his gaze. “We’ll make it work, Riley. Whatever it takes.”
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat as he kisses my forehead. I wrap my arms tightly around his chest, needing him close, knowing that letting him go is going to break my heart. He smiles against my temple as I lose the fight against tears. “Maybe we can have secret phone shower sex tomorrow morning… make that every morning.”
I sputter with emotional laughter, already envisioning his slick naked body arching as he jerks off with me on his mind.
“Now let me wash you,” he says, “before the others wonder what the fuck is going on.”
***
When we finally step out of the shower, the room is filled with steam, and our laughter echoes as we dry off and stumble back into the bedroom. Jacob is awake, his raised eyebrow a clear sign he heard more than we intended, but Hayes just smirks, throwing an extra pillow at us before rolling over.
I curl up beside Shawn, his arm draped over me as the morning sun filters through the curtains, reminding me that we’re on borrowed time. For now, I let myself bask in the moment, safe and content with Jacob, Shawn, and Hayes keeping me close.
HAYES
The journey down in the elevator is quiet, the weight of our departure settling over us. When we reach the reception and the doors open, spilling light and noise into the enclosed space, the reality of our separation hits me again.
It’s hard to be away from my brother. Harder than I thought it would be. For the first month, I’d open my mouth to tell him something and then feel like the floor was dropping out from under my feet when I realized he wasn’t at my side.
We lumber to the parking lot, Riley with her arm wrapped around Shawns waist and Jacob carrying our bag. At the truck, Shawn embraces Riley first, wiping her tears away with his thumbs and kissing her lips with so much tenderness I have to look away and rub my hand over my face.
Then, sensing the emotion in the air, in true Shawn style, he grabs me and Jacob and pulls us all into a tight group hug.
“Don’t miss me too much,” he says, his usual bravado replaced by genuine emotion.
“Don’t let the fame go to your head,” Jacob retorts, clapping him on the back.
I pull him in for one last hug. “Stay focused. You’ve got this.”
When it’s Riley’s turn for a final goodbye, Shawn wraps his arms around her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Take care of these two reprobates while I’m gone, okay?”
She nods. “Always.”
“And don’t let them sign any autographs on my behalf,” he says with a grin. “I keep seeing posts on social media of ‘me’ and strangers I’ve never met.”
“Jacob has to get his kicks somehow,” I laugh.
“You’d rather we disappoint all your adoring fans,” Jacob grins.
“Nah,” Shawn says, punching him lightly on the shoulder. “No point having two identical brothers if they can’t benefit from resembling all this stardom.”
We all watch his retreating form with a shared longing, and I reach for Riley’s hand, overwhelmed by the sadness twisting around my heart but also the swell of pride I feel for my brother. Shawn is chasing his dreams, and we’ll be here, ready to celebrate with him when he achieves them.
RILEY
Later that night, back in my apartment, I set up my camera for a new episode of Icing the Cake. The kitchen is warm and cozy, the scent of chocolate and vanilla filling the air as I arrange heart-shaped cookies on a tray.
“This episode is special,” I say into the camera, smiling as I sprinkle red and white sugar over the cookies. “It’s about love. Not just the romantic kind, but the love that supports us, challenges us, and makes us better.”
As I work, I think about the Draytons. About Hayes and Jacob and their newfound purpose. I think about Shawn’s relentless drive and how much they’ve taught me in the time we’ve been together. Love isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth fighting for.
When the cookies are finished, I hold one up to the camera—a perfect little heart with the word Love piped in icing.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” I say, my smile widening. “Here’s to love in all its messy, beautiful, and perfectly imperfect forms.”
As I turn off the camera and pack the cookies into tins to send to Shawn, I feel a deep sense of peace and hope. There was a time when I couldn’t imagine being happy, when I didn’t believe I’d ever find the kind of love that I craved deep in my bones. The Draytons were an ugly blip in my past, but they’ve become the beacon of shining light, ushering me into a future I can’t wait to experience.
(C) Stephanie Brother 2024
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