Page 58 of Breaking Away

58

KAVI

Dmitri and Mayo nap on the couch in our hotel room. The play-offs have started. As the Wings’ social media manager, I follow them to every city. The schedule is exhausting, but I’m so happy it has to be contagious.

Dmitri doesn’t know this, but he’s started to sleep with a small smile on his face. I can see it right now.

He told the rest of the team and his coach about his knee.

The night after it happened, I held him in my arms. The dam he’s protected out of fear for so long has broken. There will be an impact, especially with his contract up for renewal, but way more people are standing behind him than he imagined. He’s playing less, there are doctors involved, and different plays on the ice being strategized. His agent is working overtime. The General Manager of the franchise is upset, but still negotiating.

Through all of that, Dmitri is focusing on playing great hockey for however many minutes he’s on the ice. The Wings are pushing for the Cup hard, hungry to win this year. I document it all, my heart in my throat for every game as I pick up my camera.

The nights are different. Dmitri and I curl up and watch reality tv. That’s how it starts.

It ends with us stripping naked. He’s always so hard, and I’m always so wet. Ready. No matter how many times we come together, it’s not enough. Every night he’s inside me, more than once. He eats me like I’m his sustenance. I’m not allowed to go to my knees unless I beg for it. There’s such an orgasm disparity. I come so many times compared to him as if my pleasure directly fuels him.

It goes on like this until the last series of the play-offs begins.

The Blades versus the Wings.

Another moment of déjà vu. Last time I was on the other side and everything was completely different.

Right before the first game, Tyler sends Dmitri a text, apparently like he always does. My stomach plummets hard when I read it. I feel like throwing up.

SMITH:

Break a leg.

Does he know? About the knee?

Does his message mean he’s going after it?!