Spinning to the Goal (Desert Ice Hockey #4)

Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

ACE

I unpacked my gear at the squad house and sighed. I was tired as fuck. I glanced at my window, droplets of rain pecking against the panes. We were finally getting a decent storm. Picking up my phone from the bed, I tapped my text messages open. Still nothing from Zoma. That was odd. Usually, he’d say something back by now. My eyes popped open as my heart sparked with heat. He’d met up with his fucking ex. Were they still together? Were they having such a good time that Zoma wasn’t checking his messages?

I read my last message again. It said he’d read it. So, he’d seen it, but…I threw my empty duffel on the floor and raked my fingers through my hair. I didn’t like this. Not at all. God, how I wished I had Nova’s number.

Pounding thudded through the house.

“Who the hell is that?” Tyler called from his room.

“Don’t know.” I ambled through the hallway and into the main room. “I got it. You guys go to sleep.” Probably a drunk or something. Who else would be around this late at night?

The pounding started up again.

“Jesus Christ, hold on.” I popped the door open. “Holy fuck.” I gaped, slack-jawed.

Zoma stood just off the entryway, rain pelting his small frame, his hair drenched and dripping into his face. He held a wet plastic garbage bag out in front of him.

“You’re going to Detroit for Thanksgiving.” He dropped the bag in front of him. “You can take your shit back. I don’t want it at my place. In fact, I don’t want?—”

“Oh, hell no.” As my heart battered inside me, I clenched my jaw. Through my teeth, I said, “You are not doing this. This is not going to happen.”

As he made to turn, I lunged at him, scooped him up and threw him over my shoulder, then grabbed the garbage bag. “Don’t you say another word, Zoma.” How the hell had he found out? From his ex? But Roth was with Buffalo?

As he kicked his legs and punched at my back, he shouted, “Put me the fuck down right now!”

Myles peeked his head out of his bedroom doorway. “Dude, what the fuck?”

“Go back to bed, Cummings.” I carried Zoma’s flailing body into my room, kicked the door shut, and tossed him on my bed, throwing the bag down. It looked like it held the clothes I’d left at his place. He was going to break up with me? Pain crawled through my chest.

He scrambled to right himself, his face red and eyes swollen. “Ace?—”

“Shut. Up.” With my gut clenching, I pointed at him and stomped to him, jabbing him in the chest. “I love you, Zoma Martin, and I’m not going anywhere without you.” I huffed. “Yeah, I took an offer to visit with the Red Wings. But I didn’t want to fucking tell you until the plans were solidified and until I had…” I stared at him, his eyes brimming with tears. I choked back a swallow. “Until I had something here with the Coyotes too.”

His lower lip quivered.

“I wanted to talk to you about this tomorrow. I also wanted to tell you, hell, that I, um…” Jesus, I’d already said it, hadn’t I? So what. I scowled. “That I love the shit out of you. I wanted to tell you that on Halloween, but?—”

“But I wouldn’t let you.” He sniffled. “I was too scared.” In a wavering voice, he said, “I love you too, Ace.”

I barreled over him, flattening him to the bed, and kissed him so hard I saw stars. “Jesus fuck, Zoma. You have no idea how happy I am to hear that.” I pressed my forehead to his and rubbed my thumbs over his cheeks. “I’m not letting you go. Ever. You are not allowed to walk out on me.”

With a soft snort, he said, “Yes, sir.”

“We are going to talk through all this shit in the morning and tonight? Tonight, you’re staying here and drowning in my clothes since you went and got yours all wet.” I pressed a drawn-out kiss on his mouth, savoring the taste of him, the softness of his lips. God, I couldn’t live without him in my life, and I refused to. “You good with that?”

He nodded and, with a pout, said, “Are you really seeing them over Thanksgiving?”

“Yeah, I’m really sorry about that. But my agent worked out for me to leave on Friday afternoon, then return to Colorado on Sunday, so we can spend turkey day together and drive home together.” I gazed deeply into his blue eyes, surrounded by thick, wet lashes. He still looked so sad. “Zoma, you have no idea how much this has messed with me. I don’t actually want to go to Detroit. I want to stay here. I want to play with Archer and Mason. I want to be close to my friends and…and to you. I don’t want to leave you or make you leave Nova and everything you’ve got going here.” I kissed the tip of his nose and his lips. I hated to see him hurt, especially because of me. “What can I do to make it up to you?”

He shrugged his shoulders and shivered. “Show me how much you love me.” A small smirk crept over his mouth.

“Gladly.” I lifted off him, onto my knees, and held my hand out. “Let’s get you out of the wet clothes first.” After I got him properly comfortable, we’d talk some more. I needed to know exactly how he found out about the Detroit visit.

He grabbed my hand, and I helped him stand at the foot of my bed. He wrapped his arms around his waist.

“Okay, strip.” I rummaged through my dresser and pulled out a pair of my smaller sweatpants along with a hoodie. When I turned around, my gaze caught on his bare body and his chattering teeth. “Fuck, you are cold.”

Going to him, I dropped the hoodie over his head and arms and then held the sweats at his ankles.

He stepped into them and rubbed his palms together.

Sliding the sweats up his legs, I pulled them over his plumping cock. As my mouth watered, I swallowed hard, my own dick thickening. God, what I’d give to suck it into my mouth, but now was not the time. I straightened and cupped his cheeks in my hands. “Are you still cold?”

He nodded.

I looked down. The bottom of the sweats covered his feet. “Wait a minute.” Crouching, I rolled the sweatpant legs up around his ankles. “Too long for you.” My heart flooded with warmth. What was it about him in my too-big clothes that got to me like this?

“Thank you,” he said.

Standing, I wound my arms around him and hugged him to my chest, holding him, pressing soft kisses into his damp hair. My chest pinched. Fuck, I’d almost lost him. It was only hitting me now. But instead of ghosting me this time, he’d come straight to me. That said something, right? “Zoma, I learned a hard lesson today.”

“Yeah?” He hooked his arms around my waist and nuzzled into my neck. “What was that?”

“I should have talked to you from the beginning. Fuck, even Tyler and Myles were surprised I didn’t. I was just so…scared.” Skimming a hand down the back of his hair, I kissed his cheek. “I was afraid of losing you. Turns out I almost did.”

“I…I have to admit I was only half-convinced I should end things with you over this.” He sighed and relaxed into my arms. “I was fucking pissed off though.” He lifted his head, his gaze finding mine. “I’d been waiting for you to get a contract and leave me, for you to be just like Brody. So when he told me?—”

“How the hell did he know?” I swayed him in my arms. How awful for Zoma to find out from that bastard and not from me.

Pursing his lips, he said, “He told me he has a friend on the defensive line of the team and heard it from him.” His gaze drifted from mine and came back. “I pretended like I knew all about it. But fuck, Ace. It hurt.” His eyes grew glossy.

“I’ll never, ever put you in that situation again. I promise.” I pressed my forehead to his. “I was afraid you’d freak out on me and wouldn’t want to see me again. Especially after what happened the night of Halloween. I didn’t think we were on the same page.”

“I know. I’m sorry about that. Guess both of us were cowards, huh?” The edge of his lips raised.

“Yeah, guess so.” I squeezed him to me. He wasn’t shivering anymore. In a soft voice, I said, “Hey, how about we go grab a beer and just chill for a little bit?” After all that, I needed to unwind and was sure he did too.

“That sounds pretty good right now.” He stepped away from me and snatched my hand.

I kissed his knuckles, still chilled. “Come on.” I walked to the door and swung it open.

Tyler and Myles tumbled into the room, righted themselves, and stood in front of me. Tyler said, “Shit,” and offered me a sheepish grin.

“What the hell, guys? Were you listening to us?” I glared at each of them in turn. Why was I not all that surprised?

With a choked chuckle and a flash of his eyes at me, Myles said, “We had to, Ace. You can’t not watch a train wreck, eh?”

“A dumpster fire, more like.” Tyler let out a soft snort and faced Zoma. “Hey, man, like Ace said, we were on your side. We told him.”

I flicked Tyler in the head, a lock of his blond hair flying. “Seriously?” Though, they’d probably made Zoma feel better.

With a start, Tyler said, “Dammit, dude.” He rubbed his head and quirked a grin at me. “I’m just glad you two are going to work it out. You should have seen what a moody bastard Ace has been the last few weeks.”

“Really?” Zoma edged into my side and wound his arm around mine. “Serves you right.”

“Yeah, whatever. Are we getting a beer? I really need it now.” I flicked a glance at Tyler. He had a shit-eating grin.

“Beers? Oh, hell yes. I’ll go get ’em.” Tyler high-stepped out of the room.

“I’ll, uh, go and help him.” Myles left.

“Nobody actually invited you to have a beer with us.” I scoffed, pulling Zoma out of my room and down the hallway. But they seemed to be lightening Zoma’s mood.

“Ace, let them join us. I like your friends.” Zoma ambled alongside me, my sweatshirt falling to mid-thigh on him. Too bad I couldn’t see his glorious unbound package inside my sweats. But I’d take a peek later. No way I was missing out on that. I was tired, but not that tired.

After rounding the couch, I dropped into the corner of it and pulled Zoma in beside me. I wasn’t letting him get more than a few inches away from me the rest of the night.

Tyler passed out beers to us all and sank in beside Myles, both of them on the other end of the sofa. Tyler snicked his can open. “So, you were ready to give Ace all his shit back and tell him to fuck off? He sniggered.

“Uh…” With a dip of his head, a slow grin worked over Zoma’s mouth. “Yeah, guess so.” He snuck a peek at me. “Maybe it was rash, but I was triggered after what had happened with Brody.”

“You don’t have to explain yourself, Zoma.” I opened my beer and sipped it, winding my arm around his shoulders and hugging him to my side. “What matters now is it’s out in the open, and we can talk through it like the adults we are.” And I’d never make this mistake again. I should have given Zoma more credit than I had.

Leaning into my side, Zoma drank his beer and said, “I never should have doubted you.”

“Aw, aren’t you two sweet?” Tyler held up his beer. “Let’s have a toast to sweet boyfriends.”

Myles tapped his beer on Tyler’s. “Hell yes. I hope I find someone to be sweet with someday.”

Tyler smirked at Myles, shook his head, and drank more beer.

“So, let’s get off this topic, shall we? How was the game tonight?” Zoma gave each of us a broad smile. “Ace got a shutout, right?”

“I did.” I thought back to the call with Archer and Mason. “I heard from Archer right before the game that their—” I popped my eyes open. Shit, I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone.

“Their what?” Tyler grabbed the throw pillow next to him and tucked it into his stomach.

“Oh, fuck it. You’ll all know soon enough. Just don’t say anything.” I huffed a breath. “Sampson, the Coyotes goalie, has some sort of hip injury, and they’re thinking of trading him. Archer put a bug in his dad’s ear over there, and something might happen. The second isn’t nearly as good as me.” I puffed my chest out. I was only telling the truth.

“Yeah? Fuck…that’s awesome, Ace.” Tyler leaned forward. “Then we’ll have you, Mason, and Archer all on the same team. I wonder if there’s a hope in hell I can get an offer from them?”

“Doesn’t hurt to try and with the other guys there, we all have an in.” I fingered the pull tab on my beer. “It’s all about who you know.” And Tyler was a great player in his own right.

“I don’t think I’ll end up in the NHL.” Myles sighed.

“Don’t say that.” Tyler slapped Myles’s thigh. “You’ll make it. I’m sure of it.”

“Yeah, anyway…” I drank my beer down. It was time to be alone with Zoma.

After finishing off our beers with the guys and talking more hockey, I finally had Zoma alone in my bedroom. I shut the door and stepped toward him, pushing him against the wall. I rested one hand on his cheek and cupped his balls with the other, fondling them. “You too tired for?—”

“No.” With a quick shake of his head, he gazed at me and raked his teeth over his lower lip. “It’s like everything that happened tonight lit a fire inside me for you. A crazy, out-of-control fire.” His gaze fell to my lips. “I want to fuck you, Ace. I want to know you’re really all mine.” He brushed his mouth against my own, flicked his tongue at my lower lip, and bit, scraping his teeth along the soft flesh.

My dick swelled in an instant. “Oh, hell yes. Do whatever you want to me. I’m definitely all yours, body and soul.” I stroked his now hard cock through his sweats, a shiver of desire lighting up my spine. Everything felt so different between us now. There was no more insecurity.

Pressing his lips to mine with hungry kisses, he rocked his hips and moaned deeply. With his hands skimming around my sides, he clutched the globes of my ass and squeezed, and then nibbled down my chin and bit at my neck, his breath coming in deep draws. “Fuck, I want you more than ever.” He slipped his hands up my sweatshirt and teased my nipple into a hard nub while sucking a hickey onto my neck.

A shudder rolled through my body, pulsing my dick and dribbling precum into my underwear.

“Oh fuck.” I ground my aching cock on his hip and tipped my head back, giving him better access. Goosebumps broke out over my skin. “You want to fuck me against the wall or on my bed?” It might be fun to recreate the awesome sex we’d had on Halloween.

“On your bed. I have plans.” He left my neck and peered up at me, his blue eyes dark and his lips red and swollen. He shoved me backward. “Get undressed.”

As my cock twitched and with a smirk, I said, “Yes, sir.” I shucked my sweats off in an instant and crawled onto my bed. “How do you want me?”

“On your back.” Throwing my hoodie off, he stood in only my sweatpants, his thick, long cock outlined perfectly in the fabric, a wet spot seeping through at the tip.

“Damn, you are turned on for me, aren’t you?” I slowly stroked my solid dick as I enjoyed the view.

“Especially now. Knowing you’re not leaving me…” He shrugged as he stepped to the bed and crawled up. “And knowing that you love me. It makes it all different. Better.” He sucked his upper lip between his teeth. “I haven’t given my heart to anyone in a long time, Ace.”

He dropped the band of the sweats down and his cock bobbed in front of him. A bead of precum shined at the slit.

“I’ll take good care of it. I promise. And you know us cowboys keep our promises.” Holding my arms out, I let a low chuckle rumble from my chest. Fuck, I didn’t know if cowboys did that, but he seemed to like thinking I was a cowboy, so…

“I love you, Ace.” He slid off the sweats, fell into me, and lowered himself between my legs, our hot cocks slotting together. Wrapping his forearms around my head, he said, “I want this to be slow and deliberate. I want to feel every part of you.” Lowering his head, he claimed me in needful kisses, slipping his tongue between my lips and rolling his hips.

As our dicks slid against each other, pleasure knotted inside me. This was a dream come true. I wound my ankles around his and met his thrusts with my own, diving my tongue inside his mouth and dancing it along his. Skimming my hands down his slender body, I dug my fingers into the hard muscles of his ass, flexing with the pump of his hips. Yeah, this was going to be amazing tonight. A night to remember.

As his kisses became frantic with lust, he broke away, panting, and said, “Lube?”

“Hell yeah.” I threw my arm to the side, swiped my drawer open, and handed it to him, my cock twitching against his stomach. My dick was totally on board. I lifted my knees toward my armpits.

Flipping off the cap, he squirted lube on his fingers and rolled to his side, a sexy smirk gracing his lips. As he slipped his slick fingers into my crack, he groaned, nuzzled my neck, and sucked a new hickey onto it.

With his fingers circling my hole, my ass clenched, and I groaned. “Yeah, that’s it.” I hooked my ankles around his hips, urging him on. I wanted this. Now. Fuck waiting.

As he lifted his head, he snuck a finger inside me and pumped, rubbing over my prostate, watching me.

After the initial burn, a spark of heat tingled through my body. Arching my head back, a throaty moan worked free from my chest. “Right there, Zoma. More.”

He pushed a second finger inside me and thrust his leaking cock against my stomach, slick with his precum. “Fuck, Ace, I’m so hot for you.”

“Yeah? Show me.” As a grin flickered over my mouth, I grabbed his nape and crushed my lips against his. I needed another taste of him.

Slanting his mouth over mine, he kissed me again and again as if starving for me and then slipped his fingers out and nudged his cock to my hole. “You ready?” His gaze met mine and his lips parted.

“So fucking ready.” I fixated on him, savoring the moment. My heart burst with emotion. “Love you so much.”

His eyes glistened in the low light from my nightstand, and he gave me a curt nod, swallowing thickly. “I know.” He slowly pushed inside me, filling me with pressure and friction.

I relaxed for him and wound my legs tighter over his hips. “Zoma, I’ll never leave you.”

His breath caught just as his balls rested against my ass. “You’re damn right you won’t because I won’t let you.” He planted a hard kiss on my lips.

Goddamn, I liked it when he was forceful with me. “You know all the right things to say.” We were in a new and fantastic place together. Who knew?

“I do.” With a ragged breath, he pulled out, thrust in, and whimpered. “Fuck, you’re so perfect for me, Ace.” He licked the shell of my ear and bit my earlobe, pushing his dick into me at an agonizingly slow pace.

“Oh, fucking hell, Zoma.” As jolts of sensation swirled inside me, my toes curled at his back, and I dug my fingers into his ass. If I had to stay here forever, like this, I’d be a happy man.

He quickened his pace and pressed his mouth to mine with slow, sensual kisses.

We kissed and fucked for a few long minutes, our bodies moving in a carnal dance, both of us chasing our pleasure. With each thrust of his hips, his cockhead rubbed my prostate, sparking tingles through my balls. As the tension built inside me, release taunted me. We were connected in every way.

His body quivered and his pace faltered. “Ace, I’m close.” With deep breaths, he nibbled my neck, snuck a hand between us, fisted my sensitive cock, and then stroked.

“Oh, holy fuck.” With a gasp, my climax roared to the edge. I bit my lower lip and held on as long as I could. In a ragged voice, I said, “Come with me, Zoma.”

He thrust inside me in quick, hard rocks of his hips, his hand working me faster. “Oh fuck.” His face tensed and his mouth dropped open. “Coming, oh God…”

His hot release filled me, and I tumbled into bliss, my ass spasming around his pulsing dick, my own cock spurting cum between us. I moaned as each shudder sparked up my spine and out to my fingers and toes.

As it slowed, he crumpled over me, panting. “I’ve never ever felt so close to someone in my life.”

Emotion bloomed in my heart. Not even Brody? I wasn’t going to say it, but damn, it felt good to know we had something he’d never had with his ex. I wrapped my arms around his torso, held on tightly, and kissed his hair.

“Same. Zoma, we’ve got something special here, and whatever comes our way, I’m pretty sure we’ll get through it together.” There’d be a lot to figure out in the coming months, especially if Detroit wanted me and things didn’t work out with the Coyotes.

He nodded against my chest. “Ace, I’ll follow you anywhere. I want you to know that.” He lifted his head, his gaze finding mine. “Any place you can play hockey, I can coach figure skaters. It’s a no-brainer.” He rubbed his hand over my stomach before bringing it up and licking the rest of my cum off his fingers. “I mean, there’s online school.”

I lifted my brows. “You’d finish your degree online if we had to move?” Oh damn, my brain had naturally gone to we, and it also meant living together. Yeah, I wanted that.

“I’d think about it. Nova’s been saying shit like that.” He pressed a soft kiss on my lips. “Nova really likes you.”

“So much so, she’s willing to lose you to me and let you move across the country?” I quirked the edge of my lips. That was saying a lot.

“Yep.” With a sigh, he snuggled into me. “I’m tired, Ace. Let’s clean up and talk more in the morning.”

“What about your lessons?” I brushed my fingers across his back and goosebumps rose on his skin. I loved the feel of his skin.

“I’m letting Judy handle them. I knew I’d be too worn out to get up early and deal with it. I’ve never called in sick before. So I texted her and let her know I wouldn’t be there.” He brushed his cheek against my chest. “I deserve one Sunday off, don’t you think?”

“Hell yes.” I hugged him even closer to me and stared at my ceiling. “I’m going to make you the best breakfast you’ve ever had.” We’d finally have time to spend a morning and even a whole day together.

“Okay.” With a soft smile, he kissed my neck. “Now, let’s clean up and get back in bed.”