Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
ZOMA
I wound my arm around Nova’s as we strolled down Mill Avenue, just off the ASU campus in Tempe. I loved it here, and having my bestie with me from Colorado Springs made it even better.
“So, what jumps are you working on this week?”
My gaze landed on my reflection in a store window, my light-brown hair perfectly mussed with gel and dark eyeliner with a hint of shadow making my blue eyes pop. I’d worn a slick vest with form-fitting black slacks. Yeah, I was ready for a hookup.
“I think I need to work on my lutz. I haven’t been landing it very well lately.” Nova twisted her lips and flashed her hazel eyes surrounded by fake lashes at me. Her high ponytail of dark hair bounced along her shoulders. “Brrr, it’s starting to get cold out at night.”
“Well, it’s October.” I wrapped my arm around her bare shoulders. I’d told her to wear a jacket, but she hadn’t wanted to cover up her outfit. She hardly had any more body fat than I did. A low-cut sequined top showed off her bare, flat stomach over her short skirt.
“Thanks, Zoma.”
She leaned into me, dipping her head to my shoulder for a beat. She was so small, even when compared to me, but it helped make her a great figure skater. Bigger skaters tended to fall harder and were prone to injuries. I bit my lip. Then what was my excuse ? As my chest pinched, I tossed the negative thought away. Not tonight. I was going to have fun tonight.
I looked up and down the street at the far-off “A” Mountain rising behind glass high-rises and the quaint older brick-and-mortar buildings of our little downtown. The old flour mill rose up at the end of the street, it’s white cylindrical buildings a throwback to how this street got its name. A steady stream of cars crawled along the pavement while students and bar patrons laughed and chatted, walking along with us on the brick sidewalk. “How are your classes this year?”
“Not bad, so far. You?” She flicked her gaze to mine, snuggling into my side as we strolled.
“So far, I can’t complain. Now that I’m starting my master’s, the coursework is really interesting.” I was doing the thing I loved second best, learning how to properly coach young figure skaters with a degree in physical education.
“Yeah? And is it helping with the kids you’ve taken on at the Ice Den?” She stopped at the stairs to The Club on Mill and looked up. “This place looks crazy tonight. There’s a line out the door.”
I snapped my gaze to the line of mostly men waiting to get in, a few of them damn hot. “Good. More to choose from.” With a chuckle, I squeezed her into my side. “Only a few ladies though.”
“I hope they’re not straight.” She pursed her lips. “I haven’t been with a chick in, like, forever.”
“Maybe they’re bi-curious?” I freed my arm from her shoulders, grabbed her hand, and led her up the stairs. “Won’t know unless we check it out.” The last time we were here, she struck out, but I didn’t.
“I can hope. I wish there were some good lesbian bars around here.” She followed me up the stairs. “Don’t get me wrong, I like a good dick, but I’m not in the mood for it tonight.”
And that’s why I loved her so much. No filter. She was the most honest person I’d ever met. “I don’t think you’re going to find dick here either.”
I clomped up the stairs. I’d paired my slacks with a kick-ass set of comfortable boots. After years of skating, my feet didn’t need to be harassed by painful shoes.
“You never know. Some of these guys might be bi, like me.” She stuck her tongue out at me. “You can’t have them all , Zoma.”
“Uh-huh.” I freed a soft laugh as we stood at the end of the line. Crossing my arms over my chest, I said, “What’s your first assignment in your advanced finance class?” When she graduated, I was sure she’d end up the VP of some company. That was if she didn’t get a job with a touring ice show. She would make a good ice princess.
She breathed in deeply. “I’m doing a paper on the revenue streams of Desert Solar.” She arched a brow. “Kind of boring, but the solar panel industry gets a ton of government subsidies. Did you know that?”
“I, uh, no, I didn’t know that.” It made sense, though, if the country was going to do something to combat global warming. “You know what I can’t understand?” I stepped closer to the bouncer as the line of people moved.
“What’s that?” She eyed me.
“Why every parking lot in Arizona doesn’t have solar panels. I mean, it’s hot as fuck out here, sunny nearly every day, and we need shade to park under, or grabbing the steering wheel of your car could give you third-degree burns.” I scoffed. I’d moved here to start teaching kids to skate over their summer break. It sucked.
“Yeah, I’m with you on that.” She looked me up and down. “Does that mean after graduation you’ll come back to Colorado with me and not stay here?”
“Don’t know yet.” I walked to the bouncer and showed him my ID as Nova did the same, and then we strolled into the flashing lights and loud music of the bar. I knew she wanted me to go home with her after graduation. But I needed to do what was right for me. And home had a lot of memories, some not so good. Like of fucking Brody. My chest heated. Nope, not going there tonight.
As we waltzed across the floor to the bar, my gaze caught on a man standing with a group of guys looking very jock-like. As his gaze found mine, my heart stuttered. The guy was fucking gorgeous. Big as a house in a tight sheer shirt, messy almost-black hair, and smoky eyes. Damn, those eyes. Not only were they sexy, they were…kind? I dropped my jaw open.
He stared back at me, his thick lips parting between a tantalizing scruff of dark stubble.
Who the fuck was that and why hadn’t I seen him in here before? I stood still, my gaze raking over his thick biceps, a tattoo running its length, and down to his jeans, stretched across his thigh muscles. My dick perked up. I’d found my hookup. Unless he was here with one of those guys. Fuck. I had to find out.
A sting across my arm shook me free, and I focused on Nova.
“Hey, Zoma. What the fuck. I’m talking to you.” She huffed and her gaze softened. “Who are you checking out?”
I ticked my head in Big Guy’s direction. Holy hell, he was just my type. Did he bottom? Would he bottom for me?
She flipped her gaze across the bar. “Who?” A smirk worked over her lips. “That tall dude. You always go for the big ones.” She giggled. “Maybe he’s bi and looking for a chick.”
“Oh, hell no.” Grabbing her by the elbow, I led her to the bar and squeezed us between two guys ordering drinks. “I saw him first, and you said you weren’t looking for dick tonight.”
“I can change my mind. I’m a girl, you know.” She twisted a lock of her hair around her finger, jutting her hip out.
“Don’t stereotype yourself, and it doesn’t matter. I saw him first.” I lifted my chin. We had a code, and she had to stick to it, dammit.
As a smile broke out, she said, “I’m just messing with you. Settle down.” She pinched my cheek. “Look at you. You’ve got it bad for a stranger.”
“No, I don’t.” I shoved her hand off me. “Let’s get a drink.” I faced the tall chalkboard full of shots. “What are we starting with?”
“I’m getting the Single Betty. Because I have a feeling that’s how this night is going to go down for me.” She huffed a laugh. “You should get the?—”
“Picking a shot?” Big Guy stood behind us, his dark gaze finding mine.
My pulse kicked. He’d noticed me too. Why else would he be here? “Yeah, you got any suggestions?” I flicked my tongue over my lips and crept my gaze over the muscles of his chest, his nipples peeking through. Fuck, that was hot. Tingling woke my dick.
“I had an I’m Fucked earlier, but I’m hoping my luck has changed and you’re more of a Dirty Boy.” He waggled his brows at me.
I stared at him for a second. Was he serious? That might have been the most ridiculous pickup line I’d ever heard. But whatever, I’d go with it. “Sure, I’ll have a Dirty Boy.”
“I see how it is.” Nova sighed a huff. “Single Betty for me.”
Big Guy flagged down the bartender since he stood over most of the crowd, and we ordered our drinks. “So, what’s your name?” His gaze trailed over me.
“Zoma.” Here it came, the question about where the hell my name came from. I waited.
“Oh. That’s unusual.” He tilted his head, studying me. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard?—”
“His parents are creative types up in Colorado, and his mother made the name up. She wanted something that started with the last letter of the alphabet and ended with the first. So…Zoma,” she said as the bartender set down our shots, along with a white wine for Nova and a beer for me.
“Really.” A smirk crept over Big Guy’s mouth. “That’s pretty cool. I’m Ace.” He held his hand out, and I shook it.
“Nice to meet you, Ace.” I picked up my shot and downed it, the sweetness overtaking the alcohol. With a smack of my lips, I planted the glass on the bar top. “Damn.”
“Sweet?” Ace edged into my side, wound an arm around my back, and set his hand on the edge of the bar.
“Very.” I picked up my beer, his body heat warming me. I looked into his stunning eyes. “How tall are you, Ace?”
“Six four.” He leaned into me and whispered in my ear. “I like smaller guys. You’re perfect.”
He wasn’t mincing words. Again, something I liked. “Where are you from?” I gazed at him from over the lip of my glass as I sipped my drink. Nova didn’t stand a chance with him.
“Montana.” He bit his lower lip as his hand dropped to my hip. “This okay?”
“Very okay.” I edged in closer to him. Yeah, this was happening. I glanced at Nova, who was chatting up a woman next to her. When had that happened? Maybe we’d both get lucky tonight. “Do you dance, Ace?”
“Sure, I can boogie.” He gave a soft snort.
“I’d like to see that.” Most big guys were a little awkward, and I was a trained dancer. This would be interesting. I tapped Nova’s shoulder. “Hey, we’re heading to the dancefloor. Watch our beers for us?” I moved our drinks next to hers.
“See ya.” She waved behind her, keeping her gaze on the woman in front of her, who fluttered her lashes and played with her hair.
Yeah, she’d found someone all right. “Let’s go.” I grabbed Ace’s sizable hand and guided him through the crowd to the flashing lights of the dancefloor. As we wedged ourselves between the other people, gyrating to the steady beat of the music, I asked. “So, what do you do up there in Montana?” Was he a student here, or was he visiting?
“My family has a cattle ranch. I help them out when I’m there. I’m pretty good on a horse.” He gave me a coy grin.
“Yeah?” Was that a reference to bottoming and bareback, maybe? I could only hope. So, he was a cowboy, but he sure wasn’t dressed like one, and his dancing wasn’t half-bad. With a smirk, I moved my hips to the music and swung my arms. “Are you a student here?”
He hopped and clapped in time with the rhythm, moving back and forth as he danced. “I am. I’m in my senior year, studying finance.” He dropped his hand to my hip and pulled me in, pushing his leg between both of mine. Leaning in, he brushed his lips over the shell of my ear. “This okay?” As his head moved away, he fixated on me, his gaze dropping to my lips.
Holy fuck, I wanted him. “Yeah, more than okay.” I closed the gap, grabbing his hips and grinding my swelling cock against his through our pants as we swayed. Pleasure shivered over my skin. Hell yeah, this was what I wanted. As my breath quickened, I fought to think straight. “S-so, um, finance, huh? My friend Nova over at the bar is taking a class like that for her MBA.”
“Is she?” He glanced away and back before wrapping his hand around my nape and pressing his forehead to mine. “And what are you studying?”
“Physical education. I want to be a coach or…or something. Getting, uh, my master’s now.” Fuck, I couldn’t think with his hot dick pressed to mine like this. I lifted my head and fixated on his plump lips, the faint scruff surrounding them. What would it feel like to kiss him? Was it too soon? We were in a gay bar, for fuck’s sake. Was anything too soon?
He flicked his tongue over my lower lip. “How old are you, Zoma?” As he slipped his hand to my ass and squeezed, his brows tensed.
“I’m, uh…” Fuck, how old was I? “Oh, I’m twenty-four.”
He’d made me a babbling idiot. My balls ached and my dick throbbed. I rocked against him. What was he doing to me? I didn’t think I’d ever wanted someone so much so quickly.
“Oh, a year older than me.” His gaze flicked up over my head. “Fuck, watch out.” His strong arms yanked me into his chest.
Turning my head, my gaze caught on a man stumbling across the floor, laughing and bumping into dancers, who were throwing him glares as he went.
Ace held up his arm behind me. “Dude, take it somewhere else.” Holding me tightly, he shoved the guy with his forearm.
“What’s with you? Can’t a guy be a little happy?” The man chortled, puffed out his chest, and stepped closer to Ace.
“Go be happy on the other side of the bar. You’re pissing people off.” Ace moved me to the side and turned, putting himself between me and the man. “I’m serious. You don’t want to start shit with me.”
Was Ace protecting me from this guy? I peered at him, his gaze hard as he faced the other man. Hell yes, he was. Warmth filtered through my chest. No one had ever protected me from anything. Well, outside of my parents. Fucking Brody sure as hell never— Don’t go there.
The man looked Ace up and down. “I think you’re right.” With a flourish, he sauntered off, plowing into another man, who scowled and pushed him away.
“Fucking moron.” Ace’s gaze snapped to mine. “You okay?” He held me in front of him, scanning me.
“Yeah, I’m great.” I’d just met the guy, and he’d made me feel safer than anyone I’d ever known. Damn. “So, where were we?” I left him and twirled around, lifting a leg in an almost pirouette, before stopping and gazing at him with a wide smile.
“Nice, where’d you learn to do that?” He grabbed my hand, pulled me in, lifted our arms, and spun me. He had some moves.
“Dance classes.” Okay, ballet, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to go there yet. We stepped toward each other, swinging our hips. “Look at you move.” He was agile for a larger man.
“Yeah, I can two-step.” He took charge, moving me around the dancefloor, back and forth, together and apart, with the occasional spin, his smile reaching his eyes.
My heart soared, and I giggled as I danced. Dancing with Ace was fun. It wasn’t the same old swaying, jumping, and grinding all the other guys did.
After a few minutes, he tugged me to his chest, my back against him as he held my crossed arms. Leaning down, he said, “I like this, like you.” He nuzzled my neck, breathing me in, his hard cock pressing against my ass.
A shudder rolled down my spine and lodged in my balls, lengthening my dick behind my zipper. It was time to get out of here. “Let’s go somewhere more private.”
As he freed one of my arms, he slid his hand down my vest and rested it at the top of my slacks, his fingers grazing my solid cock. “You’re as hard as I am.” He pressed his lips to my neck and nibbled on the soft skin. “Hell yes.”
My breath caught and my dick pulsed. “Restroom?” I’d had hookups there before. It wasn’t half-bad, and they kept it clean.
“Follow me.” He freed me, grabbed my hand, and guided me through the throng of moving bodies.
As we cleared the dancefloor, my gaze landed on Nova, still at the bar with the woman she’d met and was now kissing.
Ace ticked his head in the direction of the men I’d seen him with earlier. They were all muscled and had fantastic bodies. Maybe they were all gym buddies?
“You and your friends must work out a lot.” I strolled behind him on our way to the dark hallway leading to the restroom. Some guys only made it to the hallway before they started things.
“Yeah, we work out a lot. A few hours a day, actually.” With an arch of his brow, he glanced at me with a smirk.
“Really.” I watched the sway of his rounded ass in his tight jeans as we walked, his wide shoulders and narrow waist. Fuck, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on him.
He shoved the restroom door open, pulled me inside, and pushed me into the accessible stall and against the cool gray tiles on the wall. “Fuck, I want you.” Cupping my cheek, he palmed my dick and pressed hungry kisses on my mouth.
My body lit up with sparks, tingling over my skin. Melting against the wall, I thrust my dick into his palm and moaned, slanting my mouth over his and deepening our kiss, flicking my tongue at his.
“Oh fuck.” Breaking our kisses, he nibbled down my neck, unfastened my fly, and snuck his hand inside to stroke me over my silk briefs. With a smile against my skin, he said, “Soft. I like soft underwear like this on a guy.” He bit his lip and dropped to his knees, then shoved my slacks down and mouthed my balls, sucking one and then the other into his mouth.
“Oh, fuck me.” As pleasure surged through my gut, I slapped my hands to his shoulders and pushed, writhing against the wall.
“If we weren’t in this restroom, believe me, I’d love to fuck you.” He peeked up at me. “Next time, my place or yours?” Skimming my briefs down my thighs, he freed my cock, and it bobbed in his face. He ran his tongue around his lips. “What a nice cock you have. It’s big for a slender guy.” Lifting the edge of his mouth, he groaned and stroked me. “I’m so lucky to have found you tonight.”
“Yeah?” My voice shook as sensation wound up my spine. His touch was electric. I’d never felt anything like it. Wait, what had he said? My place or yours? “Next time, my place.” What the hell, I lived alone.
“Good.” He plunged his hot, wet mouth over my cock, fisting the base, and pumped me with his mouth.
With a loud moan, I threaded my fingers into his messy dark hair and pulled as pleasure shot through me, jerking my dick in his mouth. “That’s it,” I gritted out. I didn’t want to be too loud, but guys getting blowjobs in this place was pretty common.
He quickened his pace over me, flicking his tongue at my shaft and swirling it over my crown, and then he moaned over me.
Vibration pulsated into my balls, tightening them, and goosebumps rose on my thighs. “Fuck, close.” I thrust into his mouth and shuddered as pleasure surged to the edge. I didn’t want it to end, but…
He sucked me in harder, his cheeks hollowing, his tongue pressed to my glans, and then he pulled on my balls, his saliva leaking out of his mouth. With a groan, he palmed his own cock through his jeans.
That was it. A surge of pleasure shuddered over me, and I spilled, spurting cum into his pumping mouth, over and over, ravaging me and curling my toes in my boots. “Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck…”
He lapped my cum and swallowed it down, taking me farther into his throat. As it slowed, he pulled off me with a pop. “Fuck, you taste good.” He stroked my slick cock with his hand, milking me, tilting his head as if admiring my dick. “So damn nice.”
Yep, he was admiring it. As I fought through my post-climax haze, I said, “Now let me see what you’ve got.” As he stood to his full height, I palmed his balls and brushed my fingers over his rock-hard cock. Yeah, his dick was as big as the rest of him. Heat swept over my skin.
With a grunt, his eyes rolled back, and he bit his lower lip. “Have at it.”
I quirked the corner of my mouth, grabbed his arms, and twisted him until his back hit the wall. Tucking my spent cock away, I fastened my slacks and dropped to my knees.
“Gonna warn you now, it’s been a while, so I probably won’t last.” He freed his thick cock and held it out for me.
As my mouth salivated, I whimpered softly. His dick was a thing of beauty, all purplish with a big head and a bead of precum leaking from the tip. Okay, if we fucked, I might let him top. That thing would feel so good inside me.
“You going to do something about my predicament or just stare at it?” A deep chuckle rumbled in his throat.
“Oh, sorry.” Biting through a grin, I wrapped my fingers around the base and sucked him down, the salty taste flooding my mouth. I moaned over his hard shaft and my cock thickened again. If we were in a bed, I might stay and play with him all night. I looked up at him while I worked my mouth over his shaft, fluttering my tongue over the gorgeous tip.
“Oh shit, yeah, that’s good.” He tipped his head, scraping his teeth over his lower lip and groaning.
I sucked faster, harder, playing with his heavy balls. Precum flooded my mouth and his balls drew up. He was already close. I was going to give him the best few minutes I could.
“Oh God,” he rasped. “Fast, go faster.” He thrust his hips and threw his hands on the back of my head, fucking my mouth.
Taking him into my throat, I swallowed over the head. I was good at blowjobs. No gag reflex whatsoever.
“Jesus fuck.” With a deep growl, he bucked his hips, and his thighs quivered. “Coming. Coming so hard. Holy hell.”
As hot cum spurted down my throat, I gulped it all down and licked every drop, slurping him in, my fist pumping the base of his shaft. As everything calmed, I pulled off and laved his dick.
His body shuddered and he sighed with a moan. “That was so fucking good. You know how to deep-throat.” Leaning down, he lifted me by my armpits, slipped his cock inside his briefs, and fastened his jeans.
Moans floated through the air.
I hadn’t even noticed anyone come in. Ace was that good. It had been like we were the only two people in the world. “Oops, guess we have company.” My gaze found his dark eyes, the hint of eyeliner around the thick lashes. I hadn’t noticed it in the flashing lights of The Club. With a smirk, I said, “You’re wearing eyeliner. I thought you were a cowboy?”
With a dip of his head, he chuckled and shifted against the wall. “I’m not really a cowboy. I mean, I’m from ranching people, and I know how to do ranching shit, but I’m not really a cowboy.” He tilted his head, brushing his knuckles over my cheek, and placed a lingering kiss on my lips. “I don’t normally dress like this either. My buddy did this to me. He’s very, uh…” He eyed me. “More gay than me.”
“Are there various levels of being gay? I always thought you either were or weren’t.” But wait, where did that leave Nova? I twisted my lips. Thank God she didn’t hear me say that.
Wrapping his hand around the side of my head, he skimmed his thumb over my cheek, the ghost of a smile teasing his lips. “You know what I mean. Maybe he’s more into gay culture than me. I guess I hide it a little bit because of where I was raised. Being gay in cattle-country Montana isn’t always received very well.” His gaze searched my face. “How about you? I assume Colorado Springs wasn’t so bad.”
“No, and my parents are both very supportive.” I looked around us. It was a little weird having this conversation in the restroom while two dudes got it on in the stall next to us. “Let’s go back out there and get our beers.”
“And talk some more?” He gave me a warm smile.
“Yeah, talk some more.” I snatched his hand and led him out of the room and into the club, the lights almost blinding. Even more people had come in since we’d left the dancefloor.
We strolled through the crowd to Nova, fully enthralled with her woman, and picked up our beers.
“So, that’s Nova? Your friend?” He ticked his head at her and sipped his beer. “She doesn’t even know you’re here.”
“Yeah, she gets like that with someone new she’s interested in.” I poked Nova in the shoulder. “Hey, we’re back.” Picking up my drink, I gulped some down. It had gotten warm, but whatever. I wasn’t going to waste it.
“Oh.” Giggling with her fingers covering her mouth, she turned. “Hi, boys. Have a good time out there?”
“We did. And who’s this?” I opened my palm to the woman. It was only polite to introduce us all.
“This is Lori.” With another giggle, she said, “Lori, meet my best friend Zoma and…” She furrowed her brow.
“Ace. Pleased to meet you.” After everyone shook hands in greeting, Ace flicked his gaze across the room.
His blonder friend waved at him, grinned, and gave him the thumbs-up.
“Oh brother.” He leaned into my ear and said, “Come on, I’ll introduce you to my friends.”
“Sure.” Patting Nova on the back, I said, “Text me if you leave.”
“I will, and same.” She hooked her brow at me and sipped her wine.
I followed Ace across the room to a tall table against the wall where his friends sat. We’d only just met, and I was meeting his friends already? Whatever, I liked him. Maybe this could go somewhere. We’d already agreed to meet up at my place for more. I stopped behind Ace at his friends’ table.
“Tyler and Myles, meet Zoma.” With a wide grin, Ace planted his hand on the small of my back and pushed me forward.
“Hey, dude.” Myles, the blonder one, held out his fist. “How’s it going, eh?”
I fist-bumped him. Were these guys jocks? And what was with the obvious Canadian accent? “You from Canada?”
“Yeah, Vancouver, but I moved to Chicago during high school.” Myles’s brown eyes twinkled at me.
“I’m from Chicago too. We met there in juniors.” Tyler sipped from a straw in his clear drink.
“Juniors?” My heart stung. Holy fuck. Hockey players? Like Brody? No, no, no, no… “Wait, so you’re all?—”
“Hockey players. We play for ASU. Ace here is our star goalie.” Tyler patted Ace’s shoulder. “He’s quite a catch, isn’t he? I mean, the guy is big, has quick reflexes, and is flexible as hell.” He wagged his brows. “If you know what I mean.”
Ace’s cheeks pinked. “Aw, come on.” He toed the concrete floor and peeked at me from under his brows.
No, holy fuck, no. Not again. How did this always happen to me? “Star goalie, huh?” My stomach tumbled. I narrowed my eyes at Ace. “I suppose you’ve got a contract already with an NHL team?” And would be moving out of state and leaving everyone behind come May. He did say he was a senior.
“No, they don’t sign goalies until they’re more seasoned. I’m expecting to be picked up sometime this season.”
Myles tagged my shoulder. “Your man Ace here was the star goalie for ASU’s big championship win last year.” He chuckled. “He’ll probably go to the fucking Bruins or something.”
“No, I want to play for the Coyotes with Archer and Mason.” He huffed and drank some beer.
“And if the Bruins come around with a huge money bag, then what?” Tyler eyed Ace.
“I don’t know.” Ace looked into his beer and cut his gaze to mine. “It’s all a long way off. We have to get through this season first.”
“And put U of A out of their misery next week.” Tyler chortled and held up his glass. “Here’s to a shutout.”
They each tapped their glasses on Tyler’s and drank.
I stared at Ace, my heart aching. This wasn’t going to work. I wasn’t going to go through having a fucking hockey player love me and leave me again. No fucking way.
“Dude, you a U of A fan?” Tyler held his glass out to me. “Toast.”
“Oh yeah.” I tapped my glass on his, then on the others as they held up their drinks, and then chugged my beer. Should I make an excuse and leave? I looked Ace over. But shit, he was so sexy and such a nice guy. As I looked around the bar for Nova, I stepped away from them all.