Chapter 12
After dinner, we all helped with the cleanup and surprisingly no one gave Leo any more shit. Maybe they didn’t know him well enough yet. Or maybe the way Leo had handled it calmed them down.
Leo dried the last pan and set it in the cupboard.
With a sharp slap to his ass, I said, “Follow me.” It was time to take things a little further if he’d let me.
“Sure.” He folded the towel and hung it on the oven door handle. “Lead the way.”
I snatched Leo’s hand and led him toward the hallway leading to my bedroom, my dick waking. I couldn’t wait to have him in my bed again.
The guys hooted at us with Mason calling out, “Enjoy yourselves, boys.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I waved behind me, my cheeks heating. “They can be so juvenile sometimes.” I guided Leo into my bedroom, then shut the door and flicked on my nightstand lamp.
Leo strolled across my room toward my closet, then picked up my old hockey stick from when I was a kid. My first one. My lucky charm. “What’s this?” He turned to me. “It’s a little short, isn’t it?”
Holding back a grin and cupping my chin, I stepped to him. “Yes, it was my first stick.” I took it from him and set it inside my closet in the corner. I must have forgotten to put it away earlier. “My mom bought it for me.” I puffed out a breath. Might as well tell him all about it. “I keep it for good luck. I kiss it before every game and most of the time, it gives us a win.”
“You’ve got to be shitting me.” The corners of Leo’s lips twitched, then he full on smiled and poked me in the ribs. “You have a superstition.”
“I do. We all have something.” I shrugged. “I wouldn’t be a proper hockey player without it.” Leo had to know about hockey players and superstition.
“So, what happens if you don’t kiss it?” He eyed me, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Bad shit happens.” With tightness creeping through my gut, I said, “One week when I was in juniors, I decided to give it a test. It was the worst week of hockey in my life. My team lost every game, and I broke my arm.” A shiver raced up my spine. “So, she stays with me, and I kiss her before every game.”
“But you got hurt tonight.” He brushed his hand down my arm.
“Yeah, but we won, and we always get bruised up during a game. That’s normal. Breaking an arm and being out for a few weeks is not.” I peered at him. Didn’t he believe me? “Doesn’t matter. Come here.” I dragged him by the elbow to my bed. “Kiss me.”
With a smirk, he cupped his hand around the back of my neck and drew our lips together, brushing his mouth over mine, then nibbling at my lower lip.
My dick hardened in an instant, pushing up against the band of my joggers. I wrapped my arm around his waist and pressed against him, pleasure pulsing my cock.
He moaned and bit his way down my neck, raising goosebumps on my skin. “You smell nice.” He palmed my aching dick through the thin fabric of my joggers, then snuck inside to place lazy strokes over my shaft.
“Fuck.” I tipped my head back as sensation flared up my spine. I wanted him to fuck me tonight. Would he be ready for that? It would probably be the best way to introduce him to anal sex.
He pulled at the hem of my shirt, then lifted it up and over my head, his eyes dark and lids hooding. After throwing the shirt on the floor, he palmed my chest, rubbing over the grooves of my muscles. “You have such a nice body, Archer.” Bending over, he sucked in a nipple and flicked his tongue over the sensitive nub.
“Oh, God.” I clutched his hair with one hand and rubbed his hard dick through his jeans with the other. “How about we take these clothes off and get in my bed?”
“Yeah.” He flung his shirt off, then shimmied his jeans down, kicking them from his feet. His hard dick stood tall, almost reaching his navel.
As I stepped out of my underwear and joggers, I bent over, my mouth watering, and sucked his flared head into my mouth, fluttering my tongue at his slit.
With a sharp gasp and his breath quickening, he jerked his hips. “Fuck, I need more of that.”
I let a smile curl my lips and I pushed him onto my bed, then climbed on top of him, my legs spread around his, our hot cocks slotting together. Propping up on my elbows, I gazed into his dark eyes and brushed my thumb over his high cheekbone. “Leo, what are you ready for? Is there anything new you’d like to try?”
“Um…” He looked to the side and his cock twitched against mine. “Do you have any toys?” He came back to focus on me.
“Toys?” My brows snapped up. Now that was unexpected. “I do have a few things. Like what did you have in mind?” I rocked my hips, rubbing my cock on his, the friction sending sensation threading through my body.
He snuck his lower lip under his teeth. “Don’t laugh, but I know my brother has all sorts of anal plugs and shit. I guess I was thinking about that.”
“You want to try one?” Oh sweet Jesus, if he said yes, he might just kill me. “I have a smaller dildo.”
“A…a dildo?” He blinked. “Okay, so can I use it on you?” Trailing his hands down my back, he cupped my ass, then squeezed. “Or do you only top?”
“I’m vers. I like it all.” I rolled my hips, my dick thrusting against his, then crushed his mouth with penetrating kisses.
He groaned and clutched my ass, spreading my cheeks apart.
“Want to fuck me, Leo?” I bit over his chin and licked at his clavicle. Shit, I was going for it. I wanted him too badly, wanted that connection with him. “I’d let you fuck me.”
Squirming below me, his cock pulsed and dribbled precum between us. “Yeah?” His breath caught and he pushed on my shoulders. “I-I do…want to fuck you,” he said in a rasp.
“It’s settled then.” I licked and bit my way down to his chest, flicked and sucked each nipple, then settled between his thighs, fisting his swollen dick. “Want me to suck you first?”
With a stuttered nod, he tensed his brows, his lips parting.
I plunged my mouth over him, bobbing my head and taking him to the back of my throat while humping the mattress below me. Fuck, he turned me on like no one else. And to think I’d be his first guy? Icing on the cake.
“Oh, shit, oh, fuck, oh shit,” he mumbled, arching his back off the bed.
As his balls drew up, I pulled them back down and slid my tongue over his slit, moaning on his solid cock.
He hissed and whimpered. “D-don’t make me come.”
I lifted off him. “What, and lose the chance to have you fuck me? No way.” Though, I was sure he’d be able to go again in no time. Sitting up, I slapped my nightstand drawer open, then grabbed my lube and the dildo.
He rose onto his elbows, chewing his lower lip. “I assume you’re pretty practiced at this?”
“I am. Nothing to worry about.” I leaned over and grabbed a condom, then handed it to him. “Gotta be safe.” I was all in now. I didn’t want him to think about it too long and change his mind. I lubed the toy, then shifted onto my back with my knees up. “You want to do the honors?”
As his pupils flared, he rolled to his side and propped up on an elbow, then licked his lips. “I want to watch you first.” He grabbed the toy a moment, slicking up his hand, then stroked my sensitive cock.
My eyes rolled back in my head for a beat as a wave of pleasure consumed me. “Fuck, Leo, that’s perfect.”
“Yeah?” He shimmied closer to me and pressed his hot dick on my hip, then rutted against me. “You’re making me so fucking horny right now. Do it.”
“Okay.” I pulled my ass cheek to the side and nudged the dildo into my hole, then relaxed. I’d used this thing a million times. Slipping it in should be easy. I glanced at Leo, fixated on what I was doing. He was getting off on this. Sensation heated my skin.
He leaned in and licked at my nipple, keeping his gaze downward.
I slipped the toy slowly inside me, the initial burn lighting me up. I let out a ragged groan and my dick leaked precum into Leo’s palm. “Fuck, that’s good.” Tensing my face, I positioned the dildo just so and rubbed over my prostate. My stomach clenched as sparks flickered behind my eyes.
“Does it feel good?” Leo sucked my nipple into his mouth, then released it, thrusting against my hip.
“It does.” I worked the toy into and out of my hole in pace with his pumping hand for a few good minutes. Tension coiled inside me. I needed him, all of him. Now. “Leo, fuck me.”
He lifted his head from my nipple and gave me a fierce and hungry kiss. “Yeah.” He crawled between my thighs, then, sitting on tucked legs, unwrapped the condom and rolled it over his shaft. His gaze rose to meet mine. “I’m not going to hurt you, right?”
“Nope.” I winced, peeking at the girth of his cock. “Okay, maybe a little. You’re a lot bigger than the toy.” I glided the toy out and tossed it to the floor, then lifted my knees into my armpits. “But it’s going to hurt in such a good way.”
Biting his lower lip, he squirted lube over his cock, then lined it up to my hole, his breath coming in heavy draws. “Just um, stick it in?”
“Yeah, but go slow. Don’t pound me right away.” I gave a soft snort. But I did want a pounding eventually.
With a quick nod, he slid inside me, slowly working himself in. A low moan rumbled from him, and he fluttered his eyelids closed. “Holy shit, tight.” Grunting, he pushed all the way in until his balls met my ass, then fell over me, holding himself up on his elbows. “This is amazing. You’re amazing.” He devoured my mouth in hungry kisses, then rocked his hips.
As his dick slid inside me, pleasure tingled through my body and curled my toes. It was like he had a magic dick. Who knew? I tangled my tongue with his, whimpering into his mouth, and hooked my ankles around his waist, grabbing his ass.
Breaking the kisses, his breath whispered over my cheek, and he said, “This is the best I’ve ever had.” He nibbled on my earlobe, then groaned and ducked his head into my neck. “Fuck, going to come.” His body tensed.
I reached between us and fisted my cock, pumping it. It would only take a second and I’d be right there with him. “Come for me, Leo. Fill me up.”
With a sharp gasp, he pushed inside me and held it, his body taut over mine. “Holy shit.” He pulled out and thrust in a few more times.
As pleasure surged inside me, my insides pinched and my cock pulsed in my hand, spurting hot cum between us, painting our chests. Tipping my head back, I cried out with the force of it all.
As it slowed, he slipped out of me and lay on my chest, his fast breathing slowing, his fingers curling in my hair. “Archer, we are doing that more.”
“Yeah? You into anal now?” Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, glowing in a post climax haze, I kissed the side of his head.
“I’m into you.” He chuckled. “And your ass, apparently.” He gave a playful bite to my shoulder. “I guess I’m officially queer.”
“Like you weren’t before?” Rubbing over his back, I kneaded a knot at the top of his shoulder. Having trainers working on you all the time had taught me just how to do it.
“God, that feels good.” He melted into me. “What were you saying?”
“Something about being officially queer.” Did that mean he was going to go home tonight and come clean to Axel and Remy? I didn’t want to push him, so I wasn’t going to ask. I kissed his hair. “Hey, we should clean up.” I did have another game tomorrow and needed my sleep.
“Yeah. Think your roommates are still out there?” He rolled off me, then climbed from the bed and removed the condom, tying it off. “And where do you want this?
“Trash can under the desk.” I pointed to my black and white desk at the foot of my bed.
With a nod, he tossed the condom in and slid his underwear up his legs.
“I think they’re all in bed already. Game tomorrow.” I stepped out of my bed and stood next to him. “Come on.” I’d show him to the bathroom just in case someone was still up. And it wasn’t like my roommates didn’t see me naked in the locker room every day.
After cleaning up,we returned to my room and dressed. I tugged a pair of plaid pajama bottoms out of my dresser and shimmied them up my legs. When could I see him again? “So…I want to get my studying done after the game tomorrow. Then I could see you on Sunday?”
He pulled his shirt down over his washboard abs. “Sure. You have Sundays off, right?”
“Yep. No practice, no classes, and no workouts. We get to lie around and be slobs if we want.”
Leo stepped to me and placed a quick kiss on my mouth. “Want to go pay a visit to Goliath if he’s still there?”
“And risk bringing him home? Absolutely.” I kissed him again. “But let’s leave the cage cleaning to whoever is volunteering.” Though I’d loved volunteering that day, I really wanted to spend time doing something fun with Leo. Showing him off even.
“Sure. I’ll call the shelter tomorrow and see how he’s doing.” He grabbed my hand, then kissed my knuckles. “Walk me out?”
“Of course.” I followed him out of my bedroom, down the hallway and to my front door. “You’ll be watching the game tomorrow, right?”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” Wrapping me up tightly, he kissed my cheek. “See you Sunday.”
“See you.” I watched him leave, an ache filtering through my chest. I missed him already.
The next night,Denver had beaten us, one to zip. We hadn’t gotten a single goal on the bastards. The locker room was quieter than usual as everyone took off their gear.
“Carlson, can I see you in my office before you leave?” Coach Patterson stood next to my stall with his hands planted on his hips, his steely blue gaze running over me.
“Yeah, sure.” My pulse quickened. Had I done something wrong? Why did he want to see me? I had played a good game, despite the loss.
With his brows wrinkling, Jonah leaned in. “What do you think that’s about?” He bumped his elbow to mine.
“No idea.” I set my gear down for the equipment manager to take. The guy was a miracle worker in keeping us mostly stink-free.
After showering and dressing into my sweats, I made my way to Coach’s office, down a stark white hallway from the locker room.
The door was open, and I knocked on it, then stepped inside.
A man with short, brown hair and dark eyes, wearing a suit, stood opposite Coach, beside his desk.
Coach brushed his hand over the top of his graying hair. “Carlson, this is Richard Dupont, the new defensive coach for the?—”
“Coyotes. I know who he is.” I stared at him. What the hell was going on?
Richard held out his hand. “Nice to meet you.” He gave me a thin-lipped smile.
“Nice to meet you.” I shook his hand, my pulse kicking up. This was weird. NHL coaches didn’t pay visits to college hockey players. They had people for that. Plus, I wasn’t exactly the star player on my team. But I hadn’t been drafted either. I would have had to put in for that, but Dad’s voice had kept me out of it.
“Archer, I’m here because I’m interested in where you’re going after college.” He quirked the corner of his mouth. “See, I knew your mother. We competed together once upon a time.” He eyed me.
My stomach did a flip, and my mouth went dry. “Y-you knew my mom?” I dropped my mouth open. “Were you in the Olympics together?”
“We were. She was a good friend.” Richard glanced at Coach. “We kept in touch, all the way up until the day…” He pursed his lips. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to attend the funeral. I was with Chicago at the time, and we were traveling for a game.”
“Oh.” I gazed at his shiny black shoes. What did he want with me? Surely not to talk about my hockey skills.
Clasping his hands in front of him, he said, “I always kept an eye on your hockey career.” Dipping his head, he chuckled, then drew his attention to me. “Well, your mom always kept me up to date on your career. She loved to talk about you.”
Nodding, I swallowed thickly. “Yeah, she was proud that I played hockey. She was at every game, always made sure I ate right, trained right, you know.” I scratched at my neck as a pit formed in my stomach.
“I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m here.” He stepped toward me. “I see something in your playing style. You’d make a good depth player.”
I snapped my gaze to his. No fucking way. Was this really happening?
“I see a spark in your play at most games, but then at other games, it’s gone.” He pressed his lips together.
My fucking father. The voice. Every time he fucks with me, I lose my focus and my game suffers. “Yeah, I know.” I wrangled my hands in front of me. He wasn’t here to offer me anything with his team. It couldn’t be that simple. He was here as a favor to Mom for whatever reason.
“I think if you could harness that spark and keep it, we should be able work something out and bring you into tryouts with the Coyotes development camp after you graduate this summer.” He stepped closer to me. “What do you think?”
“If, if I can get myself together the rest of the year, you’re offering me a spot in development camp this summer?” I stared at him. Okay, maybe I was wrong. It was something.
“I am.” He wrinkled his brows. “I want to give you something to work for, something to focus on. I know your mom would have wanted that from me at this point in your career.” He patted my shoulder. “I know how your dad feels. She told me about him, too.”
My stare widened. How much did this coach know about me and my fucked up family dynamic?
“It can’t be easy.” He slipped a card out of an inside pocket of his suit jacket. “Here, call me if you want to talk. About this, or…anything.”
I took the card, glanced at it, then stuffed it into the pocket of my sweats. Would I ever have the balls to call him? Probably not. “Yeah, sure.”
“Okay, I’ll leave you to it, then.” Flashing a smile and waving, at Coach, then me, he walked out the door.
I stood there, blinking. What just happened?
“Well, Carlson, I’d say you are one lucky son of a bitch.” He walked around his desk and to me. “I’ve never seen that happen before.”
“I…I had no idea my mom knew him.” Or did I? There was a man friend she’d yap at on the phone back in Minnesota, but I never asked any questions. I figured it was a cousin or something and none of my business. My gaze snapped to Coach. “I uh, better get home.” I had studying to do, so I could spend the day with Leo tomorrow.
“Sure, and we’ll work on some new things with you this week in practice.” He gave me a rare grin. “I want to see you succeed in hockey, Carlson. I think you can do it.”
My heart soared. That was a million-dollar statement coming from him. “Yeah? Thanks.” I nodded once, then strode out the door. Holy shit, I had a chance. I might not be a star player with a multi-million dollar contract, but I could play in the NHL. As I strolled down the hallway and into the empty locker room, I tipped my gaze up, held my palms together over my chest and whispered, “Thank you, Mom.” My eyes stung and my vision blurred.
After getting backto the house, I strutted through the door from the garage into the kitchen. I knew the guys were going to question the shit out of me.
Mason looked up from his laptop, bouncing a mechanical pencil on the side of his head and sitting at the dinette. “So, are you still on the team?”
“Yes, I’m still on the team. Fuck, you’ll never guess what happened.” I opened the refrigerator and pulled out a water.
“What?” Jonah and Ace said in unison, playing a video game from our couch.
Tyler and Myles strode out of the hallway and halted at the kitchen table, Myles asking. “So?”
I sipped my water. “Turns out, my mom was friends with the new defensive coach the Coyotes hired this season. He came to see me.” That was the basics of it.
Cocking his head and planting his hands on his hips, Tyler said, “That’s all? He came to see you?”
“And tell me that if I play well the rest of the season, he’s inviting me to development camp this summer.” I arched a brow, watching their mouths drop open, one by one. Some of these guys were shoe-ins for the NHL, like Mason, who’d already been drafted by the Coyotes before he even started college.
“Guess we’ll be playing together at camp this summer, eh, Carlson?” Mason stood up, jogged to me, then wrapped me up in a bear hug, lifting me from the floor and spinning me around. “Fuck, that’s great.” He dropped me down.
“Yeah, well, I’ve got to keep my game up first.” With a giggle, I shifted my stance. This was too good to be true. I had hope now, real solid hope that I could make it in hockey.
“Group hug.” Ace said, standing from the couch. One by one, the guys stepped to me and hugged me, each one wrapping their arms around me and the others.