Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ZOMA
A fter unpacking our things in our respective bedrooms on the lower level of the house, I met Ace in the hallway, and we walked upstairs to find Mary still at work in her kitchen. I still couldn’t believe the size of the place or how homey it was. I felt like I’d walked onto a Hallmark movie set.
Ace kissed my cheek and whispered, “I’ll come to you tonight.”
With a coy grin, I nodded. No way we were missing out on spending time alone.
“Hey, Ma, we’re done. What did you have in mind?” Ace pulled me toward her.
She stood at the stove and turned off a kettle. “How does hot buttered rum on the back porch with cookies sound?” She gave me a warm smile.
“That sounds delicious.” I peeked at the kettle on the stovetop. Everyone here had been so welcoming, but things were so different here and from my own family. Would I fit in?
“You boys go out on the porch, and I’ll bring them out.” She took a few mugs down from a top cupboard. “Ace, your father is already out there. He showered and everything.” She giggled and gave him a pointed look.
Focusing on me, Ace said, “Dad loves working the ranch, so he’s usually pretty dirty and smells like cattle.” He chuckled.
“Oh.” I glanced at Mary, now pouring hot water into the mugs. “Are you sure I can’t help you with any of this?”
“No, I’m almost done here anyway, darlin’.” She set the mugs on a tray. “Go on. I’m right behind you.”
Ace led me through the cozy-looking room and some French doors leading to a second-level porch spanning the home. The sun hung low in the sky, with puffy clouds threatening to cover it and rolling hills sprawled in all directions. “This place is so peaceful.”
“Yeah, it was a sanctuary of sorts for me after I came out to my family.” He dipped his head. “Well, after they accepted me.”
A man stood from a patio couch made of wood and thick cushions and stepped toward us, his cowboy boots clomping along the planks. As he came close, he took off his hat, exposing short dark hair sprinkled with gray. His blue eyes crinkled in the corners as he smiled at me. “Zoma? Pleased to meet you, son.” He held out a calloused hand. “I’m Henry McAdams.”
“The pleasure is mine.” I gave his hand a firm shake. He was solid-looking in the way Ace was and a handsome man in his own right. And damn, in his Wrangler jeans and thick flannel jacket, he was the stereotype of a rancher.
“Let’s have a seat. We have some blankets over here if you’re cold.” He led us to the couch, which was flanked by two matching chairs and a coffee table.
I dropped onto the end of the couch while Ace sank in next to me. How much touching was Ace comfortable with around his father? He’d kissed my cheek in front of Mary, but I wasn’t getting a reading on Henry.
Mary stepped onto the porch. “All right, boys, hot buttered rum here to wash down our cookies.” She set the tray on the table and handed out the mugs. “Zoma, Ace told me how your parents broke the ice with him by having drinks at the kitchen table, so I thought I’d recreate it here.” She sat in the chair next to mine. “I wanted to do whatever I could to make you feel more comfortable.”
Emotions swelled in my heart. God, this woman was special. I could see how Ace turned out the way he had. “Thank you, Mary. That’s really sweet of you.”
With a grunt, Henry took the chair next to Ace and sipped his drink. Smacking his lips, he said, “Oh, Mary, this is good. How come you never made this before?”
“I don’t know. I saw a recipe, and it looked good.” She blew over her buttered rum and drank some. “I’ll tell you what, I’m going to make this every Christmas from now on.”
“Sounds like we’ve got a new tradition.” Ace wagged his brows and sipped his drink.
“Ace, tell us more about the contract you signed with the Coyotes.” Shifting in his chair, Henry faced his son.
“My salary isn’t as good as Detroit offered me, but I get to play alongside Archer and Mason, and I know the organization is solid for queer players. I think the fans are going to love that they’ll have three of their players still in town who won the NCAA Championship for them.” He glanced at me. “The money is good enough that I was thinking of helping Zoma start a formal figure skating program in Arizona.”
With my heart flipping in my chest, I said, “What?” He hadn’t mentioned this before. I stared at him.
“Sorry, it’s been on my mind and with our schedules, I didn’t get a chance to talk to you about it yet.” He offered a coy grin. “But that’s what I’ve been thinking about.” He patted me on the knee. “Your kids at the Ice Den deserve a proper program. Especially Darla.”
What a time to bring it up. With a stuttered laugh, I said, “Yeah, she sure does.” I drank my buttered rum, and it warmed my insides even more. Was there anything I couldn’t do with this man by my side?
“Who’s Darla?” Mary gazed at me with the edges of her lips twitching into an almost grin.
“Darla is one of my students. I teach figure skating to kids at the Ice Den. It’s a rink in Arizona where the Coyotes practice, so it’s a top-notch facility.” I thought of all the people I knew in the figure skating world back in Colorado. “Who knows, maybe I can talk some of the trainers and coaches in Colorado into coming down. Maybe they’d want a break from the cold winters and snow.”
“I’m sure you could work something out. Maybe a winter rotation?” Ace eyed me and turned his gaze on his father. “I know Ma probably told you, but Zoma is getting his master’s degree in physical education.” He tapped his index finger on his mug. “He’s great with kids. You should see him.” His gaze met mine. “Seeing him with his kids made him so irresistible, I had to ask him out.”
“Yeah? That was why you invited me to coffee?”
With emotion flooding my chest, I gazed at him, my man, looking every bit the cowboy in his wranglers and flannel jacket as the rest of his family. He was home, and he’d brought me here to see his world.
“It is.” Ace snickered. “Even though you ghosted me after the gay bar.”
“He did what?” Barking out a laugh, Mary covered her mouth.
Did he have to bring that up in front of his parents? I gaped at him. “Ace…”
“Figures you two would meet at a gay bar.” Dad huffed a chuckle.
I focused on Henry, drinking from his mug. I had no idea what to say right now.
Ace threw an arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side. “Yeah, turns out me being a hockey player triggered him. His ex left him for the NHL and broke his heart.” Ace kissed my cheek. “But I proved to him how a real man in the NHL behaves. Right, Zoma?”
I edged into his side. “Yes, you did.” I shifted my gaze to Henry. “Ace here never gave up on me or on us. I can’t tell you how important he is to me.”
“That’s my boy. We didn’t raise any cowards. Relationships take work and gumption. Right, Mary?” Henry smiled at his wife.
“That’s right.” She nodded once.
Later that night, I’d gone to bed in the guest room suite, all dressed up with Christmas bedding and fancy toiletries in the en suite bathroom. Ace’s whole family had done so much to make me feel welcome. I could see how he thought of this place as an oasis. I stared at the ceiling in the dark. Ambient light filtered in through the window. We were out in the middle of nowhere, so why draw the shades?
The door creaked open, and Ace stepped inside, wearing only a pair of pajama bottoms. “Shh.” He shut the door behind him and locked it.
With a goofy grin, he strode to me, threw the covers open, and slid in, resting on his side. “Hi.” He propped on an elbow, setting his head in his palm. “Want to fool around?”
I rolled to mirror him, my cock waking. “Hell yes.” I traced his abs with my finger and brushed over the outline of his hard dick, stretching to the waistband of his pajamas. “You’re already primed.”
“I am. Been thinking about it all night. I thought my family was never going to bed, which is rare for them. They all get up at the crack of dawn.” He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on my lips, brushing his tongue along the seam. “Zoma, let’s suck each other off.” He curled the edge of his lips.
“At the same time?” I quirked a brow. We hadn’t tried that yet. “I’m game.”
Climbing over me, he claimed me in heated kisses, darting his tongue across mine and rocking his hips, his hot cock rubbing against mine.
I clutched his ass, the hard muscle flexing under my fingers. Slanting my mouth over his, I kissed him harder. As tension coiled in my gut, I moaned softly. I was so wound up. It had felt like forever since we’d been together like this.
After a few minutes, he broke the kisses and lifted, gazing deeply into my eyes and brushing his thumb over my cheek. “Zoma, I love you so much. You know I’m serious about the skating program.”
He wanted to bring this up now? “I know you are, and it makes me love you even more.” I kissed the tip of his nose. “But right now, I’d like you to use that mouth of yours for something besides talking.”
“Oh yeah.” He tossed the covers off us, twisted around, and shucked off his pajama bottoms as I did the same. Positioning his head over my firm cock, he fisted it and licked his lips. “You have the best dick, Zoma.”
After lapping at the crown of his cock, I said, “If mine’s the best, yours is a close second.” I wrapped my fingers around him, and his dick pulsed in my hand. Heat shivered over my skin. This was going to be so damn good.
He swallowed me whole, taking me to the back of his tight, hot throat while fondling my balls.
“Oh fuck,” I whispered as stars lit up behind my eyes. I had to keep quiet. As pleasure tingled through me, I sucked him in deeply and milked him with my mouth.
Goosebumps broke out over his thighs, and he rocked his hips, thrusting between my lips.
He quickened his pace, flicking his tongue against my shaft and swirling over the head. As a moan rippled out of him, the vibration shot right to my balls.
A surge of sensation pulsed my dick, and I groaned. Tightening my grip on him, I sucked harder, my cheeks hollowing. It was like we were in a contest to see who could make who come first. His dick jerked in my mouth and precum leaked onto my tongue. His thighs trembled. He was close.
As he swallowed over my cock, he freed a long, low moan and his dick swelled further. He pulled off me. “Fuck, Zoma, gonna come.” He sucked me down again.
“Me too.” As my climax rushed to the surface, my balls drew up, and a shudder rolled over my body. There it was. I surrendered to it, the force of my orgasm spurting cum down Ace’s throat and curling my toes, my whole body tingling and shivering. As it calmed, I kept up a steady rhythm on his cock, drawing his climax out of him.
He freed sharp gasps as his cock pulsed and shot hot cum down my throat. “Oh my fucking God,” he hissed. He thrust his hips, fucking my mouth.
I swallowed it all down, licking the salty cum from him.
As he relaxed, he gave my waning cock one final lick.
A tickling sensation played up my spine, and I shifted my hips away. With a chuckle, I said, “Don’t do that. It’s too sensitive now.” I pulled on his arm. “Get up here.”
He swirled around on the bed, lay on his back, and lifted me into his side.
With my head resting on his chest, I said, “What’s on the agenda for tomorrow?”
Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and I wanted to give him one of his presents in private. I had the little vase I’d made with Mom at Thanksgiving. I’d give him the vase on Christmas Day. But I’d also gotten a bracelet I wanted to give to him in private.
“Tomorrow, I have to get up early and help with chores. Then I thought we’d go horseback riding. What do you think?” He skimmed his fingers across my arm.
“Sounds like fun. Should I get up and help with chores too? I’m sure I could shovel shit or something.” I freed a soft laugh.
“No, you sleep in. Mom would kill me if I let her favorite guest shovel shit.” He kissed my head. “I’ll saddle the horses and come get you.”
“Sounds like a plan.” My eyelids grew heavy. “Are you sleeping with me tonight?” And if he was, what would his parents say?
“No, I should get back to my own room.” He kissed my cheek and climbed off the bed. “I’ll see you in the morning. Love you.” With a soft grin, he ruffled my hair and left.
The next day, after cooking a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs, and hashbrowns with Mary, we fed the siblings and sent them on their way to do chores with Henry. Then, I had a nice conversation with Mary over coffee, learning all I could about Ace as a child. He appeared in the kitchen all done up with cowboy boots and a hat. “Excuse me, mister, but do you want to come with me to the barn?” he asked in a forced drawl.
“Oh my, Zoma, he is putting on quite a show for you.” Mary shook her head and giggled. “Go on now, don’t keep him waiting.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I stood and followed Ace outside, grabbing my peacoat on the way. I’d shoved the bracelet into the pocket of my jeans earlier. We strolled along a wide path in the snow, the morning sunshine sparkling off it. Birds chirped around us, but the air was still. “Just so you know, I have ridden a horse before, even had lessons when I was a kid, but it was a long time ago.”
“Good, then you know the basics.” He snuck a peek at me and snatched my hand. “I did give you an old nag, so I won’t have to worry about her running off with you.” He sniggered.
“Are you serious?” I kicked at a rock along the path, my gaze following it to a picturesque red barn with two horses tied to the fencing of a corral. “You have a red barn. Like a real red barn.”
“Of course we do. What other color would you paint a barn?” Shaking his head, he scoffed a chuckle.
As we approached the horses, I looked mine over. She was all brown with white socks and a white patch on her head. “What’s her name?” I rubbed her neck, she turned her head and whinnied.
“Oh, hello to you too, Willow.” Ace grabbed my head and planted a hard kiss on my mouth. “He’s mine, girl, so don’t get any ideas.”
“Ace.” Dipping my head, I freed a soft snort.
Ace grabbed the reins of the black horse standing next to mine and said, “By the way, she’s not a nag, but she’s the gentlest horse we have.” Hopping up, he threw his leg over the saddle on his horse. “This here is Scout. He used to be mine when I lived at home, but Eli rides him the most now.” He patted Scout’s neck, and the horse blew air out of his nose. “I know, boy, you want to get going.”
Taking the reins, I mounted my horse. So far, so good. “Okay, where are we off to?”
“There’s a path down by the river. We can go along the bank and maybe sit for a while.” He clicked his tongue and turned his horse onto the path.
“Sure.” I pulled my reins to the side and gave Willow a soft kick. My lessons were coming back to me. You didn’t grow up in Colorado and never get on a horse.
After walking along the river and talking for a while, we stopped, let the horses drink, and then hitched them to a tree. Ace brought me to a large boulder along the edge, the sun shining on us.
As I sat next to him on the boulder, he said, “Zoma, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Sure.” My side brushed his and the sun warmed my head. The trees along the bank had lost their leaves, but the pines shivered in a soft breeze.
He picked up a rock and threw it into the rippling waves of the river. “I’m planning on staying in the squad house over the summer, and I want you to move in with me. Your lease will be up in June, won’t it?”
With my heart stammering, I dropped my jaw open and stared at him for a beat. I wasn’t expecting that. “Uh, yeah, yes. It’s up in June and, holy fuck, Ace.”
“Is that a yes?” He hooked an arm around me and kissed my cheek.
“It’s a yes.” I giggled like a schoolgirl. How the hell was it even possible I’d gotten this lucky? First, the skating program, and now this?
“I already talked to Myles, and he’s on board. We can take the primary bedroom, and when Myles comes back in the fall, we can all live together. Are you cool with that?” He hung his head. “I’m just not ready to totally break up the squad, you know? And with Tyler getting signed, well…”
God, how he loved his friends. But his heart was big enough for all of us, and it made him even more endearing to me. “Yes, I know. I think it’ll be fun hanging out with him for the year.” I thought a moment. “Then, when you’re on the road, I won’t be so lonely.”
“Plus, Myles will still be a student, so you’ll have a study buddy.” Ace tugged me closer to his side, dipped a hand into a pocket of his jacket, and took off his hat, holding it to his chest. “Zoma, I got a little something for you.” He held out a thick silver bracelet.
Shaking my head, I barked out a laugh. “Dammit, Ace. I got you a bracelet too.” I slipped a beaded bracelet of lava rock out of my jeans pocket. “Here.” I held it up to him. “I found this in a boutique on Mill Avenue.”
“It fits me. Just like this fancy one fits you.” With a broad smile, he said, “Here, let me put this on you, and you put yours on me.”
I held out my arm, and he clasped the bracelet on my wrist. It shined in the sunlight. “It’s beautiful, Ace, and you’re right. It fits me.” I loved it.
As Ace held out his wrist to me, I wound his bracelet on him and fastened it. “There. This one is rugged like you.” With warmth spreading through my heart, I said, “I’m fancy, and you’re rugged, and we fit perfectly together, don’t we?”
“We sure as hell do. I love you so much, Zoma. I hope you know this is the best Christmas of my life.”
“Mine too.” I pressed a lingering kiss on his lips. I’d learned so much about him on this trip, and my love for him had grown to immeasurable levels. “We’re going to be together a long time, Ace. Because if something happens, I’ll be the one chasing you down.”
“Don’t be silly. Nothing could ever happen where I’d leave you anyway.” He rubbed his nose on mine.