Stick By Me: A Nerd Jock Hockey MM Romance (Desert Ice Hockey Book 1)

Chapter 8

Aweek of practices, studying and texting Leo had gone by, and we were in Fairbanks, Alaska, with a second win against the Nanooks in our sights. As I sat on the bench, waiting for another turn on the ice, I focused on the puck, on Hopkins running it down the ice and into the Nanook defensive zone. Hopkins passed the puck to Jonah, and he shot.

The goalie dropped, catching the puck with his shin pad. “You need to do better than that.” With a quick laugh, he passed it to his left winger.

The winger flung the puck down the ice, missing his center, the puck heading all the way into our defensive zone and the ref blew a whistle for icing.

“Go on.” Coach Hammett touched my shoulder, and I high tailed it off the bench, jumping over the boards, my skates hitting hard, then took off toward the Nanook defensive zone and the impending faceoff.

Barrett skated past me, the guy I replaced. “Just own the puck and play out the clock.”

I nodded at him. I knew that, but whatever.

We prepared for the faceoff, everyone taking positions in case Hopkins got the puck.

Hopkins placed his stick on the ice, facing the other center, bending down low.

Dropping the puck, the ref skated back and out of the way.

The scratch of blades on ice filled my senses and Hopkins pulled out, looked straight at me, and flicked his stick. We’d practiced this a million times. Sending it to a D-man wouldn’t necessarily be expected.

I grabbed the puck, skated it closer to the net, then my gaze caught Jonah in perfect position. I shot the puck his way.

As the puck ricocheted off Jonah’s stick, the goalie reacted, throwing his body every which way.

The puck slid in, just under the goalie’s ass and the buzzer went off, the red light flashing above the net.

“Holy fuck! Nice one, Carlson!” Hopkins barreled into me and wrapped me up in a hug. “That’s how it’s done.” He freed me.

I flashed a glance at Coach Hammett, the hint of a smile on his lips.

Taking up my position in the defensive zone, my heart warmed. Dad was wrong, I might play in the NHL someday after all. I could hope. I glanced at a camera sitting on top of the glass. Was Leo watching the Livestream of the game? He’d watched last night’s game, so maybe. I hoped he’d seen that shot. Now I had someone to play for.

After winningthe game two to one, showering, eating with the team, and making our way to our hotel room, I collapsed onto my back on one bed with Jonah sitting on the other. I’d had a few text messages from Leo, but wanted to wait to read through them until I got to the room. I wanted to savor them. Crawling to my headboard, I leaned my back against it and opened my screen.

Leo

You guys are playing great tonight. I’m watching with Remy.

Leo

Oh my God, great assist! It doesn’t get any better than that.

Leo

Miss you. I hope you’re enjoying your wins. Ended up going to a Knot Me show last night. It would have been better with you.

Miss you. God damn, I missed him, too. I missed the way his mouth felt on mine, the give of his lips. I tilted the phone, re-reading all the messages. Was it too late there to call him? It was Saturday night, so fuck no.

I scrolled up on my phone, rereading all the other messages we’d sent each other over the past week.

Leo

How was your day? Did you get your studying done?

Archer

It was great and yes. How was yours?

Leo

Same old stuff. Work, dinner and bed. Have a great practice tomorrow. Goodnight.

Archer

Goodnight.

Then I scrolled to another set, the day I’d left on my trip.

Leo

Have a safe flight and text me when you land, so I know you’re safe.

Archer

Just landed. All is good.

Leo

Stay warm up there. And play your heart out. I’ll be watching from home. I know you’ll be great.

Warmth threaded through my chest, and I bit my thumbnail. God, he made me feel so…loved. Loved? Yeah, that was it. It was way too soon to think on those terms, but it was true.

“What are you doing?” Jonah, focusing on me, raised his brow.

“Reading a few text messages and trying to decide if I should text back or start a FaceTime call.” I bit my lower lip. I should call.

“Dude, if you’re going to sext Leo, don’t do it with me in the room, okay? Have some decency and use the bathroom for that.” He scoffed, shaking his head.

“I’m not sexting him. We’re just friends.” I tsked. I hadn’t told Jonah about the date yet and I wouldn’t tell him anything unless or until there was something to tell.

“I call bullshit, but whatever.” He stood up, then walked to the door. “I’m going to go see Ace for a bit, so you can call your boyfriend in peace.” He opened the door.

“He’s not my boyfriend.” I grabbed a pillow from beside me and chucked it at him.

He ducked, the pillow bouncing off the door and landing at his feet. “Sure.” He left, the door clicking behind him as it closed.

“Fuck yeah.” I dialed a FaceTime call with Leo and settled into my remaining pillows.

The call picked up and Leo’s gorgeous face filled the screen. “Hang on.”

“Who’s that?” Axel’s voice came through the phone.

“No one. Mind your own business.” The phone went dark, and shuffling sounded, then Leo came into frame, closing a door. “Okay, I’m alone in my bedroom.” A grin crept over his lips. “It’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you.” My heart pattered in my chest. This time away from each other was making me like him even more. Was that supposed to happen?

“How are you feeling after your win? You looked like you had a lot of ice time tonight.” Leo moved his phone, and his bare chest, hard nipples and all, came into view, then his face reappeared.

My cock twitched in my joggers. Damn it, the guy was built in a way that lit me up inside. “Yeah, I’m feeling pretty good about it. The Nanooks aren’t very good this year, so I think Coach wanted me to get some ice time to get my confidence back up.”

“Did it work?” Leo’s tongue circled his lips, and he bit the bottom one.

God, I wanted that tongue on my dick. I palmed my swelling cock. Was I beating off after this call? Maybe. I glanced at the door. How long would Jonah be out? “Yeah, I think it did work. I’m feeling pretty good about things right now.”

“Has your dad called at all?” Leo knitted his brows.

“No, he hasn’t.” Way to kill a good boner. I shifted up higher against the headboard. “Let’s not talk about him, okay?”

With a faint smile, Leo said, “Okay. How about we talk about our date? Where do you want to go?” He tongued the corner of his mouth.

God, he was killing me with his tongue. Was it possible to get off on a guy’s tongue through the phone? My dick ached and I gave it a quick stroke through my joggers. “How about a sushi place? Do you like sushi?” It was tasty and healthy.

“Yeah, I love sushi. We could go to Kabuki over at Tempe Marketplace.” He snuck his lower lip between his teeth.

I circled the head of my dick with my palm and my breath caught as sensation flared up my spine. Fuck, I was jacking off with him on the phone. Too late now to stop it. “What um…what night can you go? I have games on Friday and Saturday so um…” I rubbed down my shaft and my balls tingled. My breath quickened and I fought to slow it down.

“Thursday? Can you go on Thursday?” His tongue swiped over his upper lip and his eyes darkened.

“Yeah, Thursday works.” I slid my hand under the band of my joggers and into my briefs, stroking slowly up and down my hard-as-fuck dick, and it pulsed in my hand, precum slicking the head. I had to watch it. He’d probably think I was a freak if he knew what I was doing. But I needed to see that tongue of his again. “S-so what are you doing?” Shit, what sort of a question was that?

“Uh, lying on my bed in my room. You?” He lifted the edge of his plump mouth.

“Just um, lying on the bed in my hotel room.” I stroked a little faster, the edge of climax tightening my balls, a shiver working up my spine. I wasn’t going to come with him on the phone. That would be obvious.

“Yeah? Who are you rooming with?” He flicked his tongue over his lower lip.

Fuck yeah, that’s it. My cock jerked in my hand and pleasure pulsed through me. I was close, too fucking close. “I’m rooming with um, with um…” What the fuck was his name? Oh. “Jonah. I’m rooming with?—”

“Jonah. You okay? You look flushed.” He twisted his lips, then brought the phone closer to his face, his mouth opening.

I wanted to fuck his mouth. Oh God, I wanted to fill him right up. As pleasure threatened to crest, I squeezed my cock. “Um, I-I need to get going. I’m fine, really. I’ll text you when I get back.” I was going to come and make a fool of myself.

“Okay, see you soon.” He smiled into the phone.

“Yeah, see you.” Hanging up the call, I dropped my phone to my side and pumped my cock, thrusting my hips. As my climax surged, sensation wove through every fiber of my body, curling my toes. I tipped my head back and groaned, over and over as each wave shuddered through me and my dick spurted cum over my hand and into my underwear. As it slowed, I fought to catch my breath.

“Holy shit.” I relaxed into the bed. I had a mess to clean up and probably some explaining to do the next time I saw Leo. But fuck, that had been one of the best jerk off sessions ever.

Thursday,after a day of classes, studying and practice, I showered up at home, then opened my closet door and slid my best jeans up my legs, the ones that made my ass look good. I was set to meet Leo for dinner at six. Perusing the closet for a shirt, I tapped my finger to my lips. Should I go with a button down, a thin sweater or something else?

My door shook with a hard knock. “Archer, can I come in?” Jonah’s deep voice filtered through the door.

“Yeah.” I removed a thin gray sweater from a hanger and slipped it over my head.

Jonah swung the door open and stepped inside. “My, you look nice. Date?” He cocked his head, looking me over from head to toe.

With a choked laugh, I said, “No, just dinner with Leo.” Was he going to buy it? It was sort of the truth.

“Uh-huh. Your new friend.” He planted his hand on my shoulder. “Mason said he overheard Coach Patterson after practice today on the phone talking about you with someone. Maybe a scout?” He squeezed my shoulder, then dropped his arm. “You’ve been playing really well this year—” he huffed a laugh “—Except for that stupid faceoff you lost.”

“Are you sure it wasn’t my dad Coach was talking to?” I pulled the hem of my sweater over my jeans, then tucked the front into the waistband.

“Does your dad talk to Coach?” He placed his hand high up on the wall, then leaned on it. “No, he doesn’t. Face it, you might get lucky and get picked up if you go free agent at the end of this year. It happens.”

“Yeah, I’ll believe it when I see it.” I slid the closet door shut. I wasn’t good enough for the NHL, was I? Fuck, that was my dad’s voice talking. “Anyways, where did I put my phone?” I looked over my dark wood bed frame and ran my hand through the crumpled blue comforter. Had I left it on the bed?

He strolled to my dresser and picked my phone up. “Here, it’s right here.” He held it out, then picked up the framed photo of me and Mom, back when I was in high school. “You know she’d be proud of you either way.”

An ache wound through my chest. “Yeah, I know.” I plucked the phone out of his hand and stuffed it in my pocket.

“Hey, has your dad called you at all?” He peered at me.

“No, he hasn’t.” I pursed my lips. In fact, he hadn’t called since the night I’d hung up on him. A knot formed in my gut. But maybe it was for the best, so he couldn’t fuck with my head anymore. My skating and focus seemed to have gotten better without his bullshit remarks. “I have to get going or I’ll be late.” As I made to pass Jonah, he planted his hand on my chest, stopping me.

“Archer.” His lips quirked with an almost grin. “Have a good time on your date. He’s a keeper, I can tell.”

“Stop it.” Warmth flooded my cheeks, and I dipped my head, sidestepping by him. I wasn’t fooling him.

After parking my SUV,I strolled to the outdoor mall’s walkway through the cooler evening air and stuffed my hands into my front pockets. Tall palm trees rose up in a pattern around the modern, squared-off buildings and fountains bubbled amongst colorful lantana in tall planters. Families and teenagers milled about, giggling girls and moms pushing strollers. My gaze snagged a metal awning under a sign in red and black, saying, Kabuki.

Underneath the sign, Leo stood, his black button-down shirt tucked into his designer jeans. As his gaze found mine, a wide smile broke out over his face, and he jogged to me. “Archer.” Winding his arms around me, he hauled me against his chest for a warm embrace. “Fuck, I missed you.” He nuzzled the side of my head.

I hooked my arms around his waist and swooned. I’d almost forgotten how much being in his arms calmed me. “Missed you, too.”

He freed me and swiped his hand over the back of his hair, scanning around us. “So, um, should we go inside?”

“Yeah.” I snatched up his hand and led him inside the heavy wooden door of the restaurant. This was a date, after all.

A hostess met us at a stand and led us to a booth toward the back of the place, everything bathed in a soft glow coming from oval rice paper lanterns overhead.

Leo tucked himself into a brown, tufted bench seat at our table while I slid into the other side.

After setting down menus, the hostess left.

I gazed out the window to our left, over a view of an open plaza with red patio tables and globed street lamps. There was still the hint of a sunset in the sky. I shifted in my seat. “So, this is nice.” I perused the menu.

“It is.” He scratched his head. “You know what? I think my brother brought Remy here on one of their first dates.”

“Yeah?” I set my menu down. I already knew what I wanted. “And how are Axel and Remy?”

“They’re doing great, as usual. They’re staying in tonight to watch a movie, or as Axel says, Netflix and chill.” Shaking his head, he chuckled.

“Good for them.” I bit my lower lip. And we were hooking up tonight, too. Maybe I’d get to see what it felt like to put my dick in his?—

“How are your classes going?” He set his menu down.

“Classes?” I raised my brows. His mind wasn’t going anywhere near where mine was. “They’re going well. I have some midterms next week, but I’m prepared.” In fact tonight would usually be a study night, but I’d gotten it out of the way earlier.

The waiter stopped at our table, dropped off some water, and we each ordered warm sake.

Leo sipped his water. “What classes are you taking?”

I ran my fingers up and down my water glass. “My most interesting ones are probably my nutrition class and muscle physiology.” And easy, since I’d been an athlete my whole life and lived this shit. “I have to construct a performance training program this semester.” I smirked. “You can guess who I’m designing it for.”

“A hockey player?” He smirked at me.

“You got it.” I straightened in my seat as the waiter dropped off our sake. “Order whatever you want, and we’ll share. I’ll eat pretty much anything.” But I’d really like to eat him.

“Sure.” Leo ordered a few rolls off the menu and some salmon sashimi.

When the waiter focused on me, I mixed in some nigiri with Leo’s rolls and yellowtail sashimi.

The waiter left.

As I poured sake into the tiny ceramic cup they served it with, I said, “So, I take it we’re going to my place after this?” Might as well get the logistics out of the way.

“Yeah, we can do that. Do your roommates know what’s going on?” Leo sipped his sake, his gaze on me.

“They know I’m out with you, but I haven’t told them we’re on a date.” Shit, how would this work? “I suppose I can sneak you into my room.” I sniggered. That was some high school level shit.

“I suppose we could get a hotel room.” Furrowing his brows, he twisted his cup on the table. “Do you care if your roommates know?”

“Do you?” I leaned in. He wasn’t having second thoughts, was he?

With a shake of his head, he said, “No, I mean, Jonah already knows I’m not straight, right?” His gaze snapped to mine.

“Yeah, he knows. He also knows you’re not out.” I pursed my lips. Funny that me, the hockey player, was out and Leo was not.

“Okay.” He chewed his thumbnail, then sucked in a breath and patted the cushion next to him. “Come over here and sit with me. This is a date, right?”

“Yeah?” I shimmied out of my seat, then joined him on his, gliding my drinks to the other side of the table.

“There, that’s better, isn’t it?” He slid his arm over the back of the seat, behind me.

I edged into his side, his body heat shivering over me and waking my cock. “Yeah, this is much better.”

The waiter did a double take of us, then dropped off our food and left.

“Do you suppose the waiter was a little shocked?” Leo tore open his chop sticks, then poured soy sauce into a small bowl.

“Maybe, but do we care?” I mixed wasabi into my soy sauce with my wooden chopsticks. Leo probably wasn’t used to the odd looks you sometimes got with a gay date.

“No, I don’t care.” He chuckled. “Maybe he had his eye on you and was disappointed to see we were together.” He dunked a slice of salmon into his soy sauce mixture. “I know my brother was bullied some in high school, but he never let that shit get to him.” He ate his sashimi.

“Then don’t let it get to you.” Leaning in, I kissed his cheek. I should start showing him how great a real date with a guy could be.

“I won’t.” He ticked his head, then drank some sake. “This is nice, Archer.” He hugged me to his side. “I have to admit, being with you like this…well, it feels right.”

Turning my head, I gazed deeply into his brown eyes, the overhead lamp lighting up gold flecks in them. Warmth wrapped around my heart. “It feels right for me, too.”

Dunking a colorful roll into his soy sauce mixture, he said, “Truthfully, I thought about you a lot the last two weeks.” He popped the roll into his mouth.

“You did?” I fought to keep a smile from erupting over my lips. This date thing must be working.

“Yeah, I kept wondering what you were doing, and if you were thinking about me.” He held a roll to his face, turning it in his chopsticks.

“I was probably studying or practicing and yes, I was thinking about you.” I turned to face him and cupped his cheek with my hand. “In fact, I thought about you a lot.” Maybe more than was good for me. Leaning in, I pressed my mouth to his.

He parted his lips and snuck his tongue out to tangle with mine, slanting his mouth and deepening the kiss.

My cock tingled and my jeans grew tight. We shouldn’t make out in the restaurant. I broke the kiss.

He locked his gaze to mine. “You’re doing a number on me, Archer.” He put his forehead on mine and shut his eyes for a beat. “I want you to know that.”

My heart bloomed with emotion. Right now, none of the other bullshit mattered. I had him and maybe we could figure this out. “Good, because, well…same.” I lifted my head.

“Let’s eat up and go back to your place.” He drank down some sake. “I don’t care what your roommates think.” He adjusted his jeans.

I peeked down at his crotch. He was as hard as I was. Even better.