Chapter 13 Kamirah
thirteen
Kamirah
Itook a photo of the stack of new collars, vests, bowls, and harnesses we’d had delivered.
Warrior Pups’ office occupied a small space in an old building adjacent to the caretaker’s house.
The kennels were set on five acres of land with fenced-in training yards of different sizes and kennel buildings that resembled barns.
The priorities were the dogs, their training, and our warrior clients, and the donation V had made was being put to good use.
We’d finally invested in some minor but essential building upgrades to keep the dogs warm during colder winter nights, repainted the drab meeting rooms where pups were introduced to their new owners, stocked up on equipment, and increased the hours of our fabulous trainers so that we could partner up more dogs with their furever humans.
I sent the photo I’d just taken to V together with the pictures of the three new dogs we’d received that morning.
I’d already sent him a photo of a retired Master Chief with an acquired TBI meeting her pup for the first time.
The response to that image was a crying emoji.
The message I got back this time made me smile.
If I donate more can I come in and pet them all?
I hear if you know someone they can pull some strings
Then another message came through a moment later, and I frowned, reading it.
And what would that someone need me to do to get them to pull those strings?
I hoped he didn’t think he needed to do anything. If he wanted to come and visit the facilities, I’d give him a tour. Hell, I’d put all the pups in a playpen for him to play with if that’s what he wanted. He’d already done so much; my friendship and gratitude were not conditional on anything.
For you, nothing. V, I hope you know how many lives you’ve changed with this donation. It’s huge
Please don’t ever think you need to “do” anything for Chris and I for our friendship, time, and sex with us. We’re so lucky to have you in our lives. The things we don’t know about you don’t matter to us. We know enough
Dots appeared and disappeared over and over again as if he didn’t know what to say, so I let him off the hook.
Plus, you have a really nice dick
His response was simple.
Thank you. To both. But mostly for the latter ??
We kept going like that, V sending me a picture of the beach in the background, perfect waves curling as they crashed onto the shore, and a coffee in the foreground.
From earlier this morning
What coffee do you drink?
Chris asked, the first thing he’d said all day. Chris was on an away trip with the team. He’d been gone for four days, and it would be another three before he was back. He’d been transitioning between cities today, getting settled into a new hotel and having a pre-game warmup.
I never got used to the away games, no matter how many years he’d played.
The different time zones, the time apart, sleeping alone, then sleeping together again when he was back, but I’d put up with them for as long as Chris chose to play.
He loved the game, and it was a small sacrifice on my part for him to be able to do the only thing he’d ever dreamed of.
V's text response had me cringing.
I’m a simple kind of guy. A long black with milk, not creamer, or a caramel latte if I want something sweeter
Weirdo
Who doesn’t drink creamer?
Chris’s picture came through a moment later—a plate of grilled chicken and vegetables, a bowl of pasta with what looked like a bolognaise sauce with crusty garlic bread, and a chocolate protein shake.
That was his lunch. Dinner would be a light snack before he hit the ice, then something more substantial when they finished.
You eat more in each meal than I do in a day
V was right, Chris did eat like a machine. But he’d burn off every one of those calories before the night was out.
Means I can go all night
V responded.
You’re a regular Energizer Bunny
Chris messaged back instantly.
I have a few hours to kill between now and the game. I should be resting but I can’t sit still. What should I do? What are you doing now? I’ll do that too
Paperwork
Urgh. No thanks. V?
An image of a white jacket, crossed over at the chest with a black belt tied around his waist came through. There was just a hint of a curve from his pecs and the top of his six-pack visible from the angle of the camera. I wanted to run my tongue over all that golden skin.
Training. I’m about to do a karate lesson, then I have a sparring session with my sensei lined up
I swallowed hard. Seeing him run was hot, but watching him fight? Damn, I’d do almost anything to see that.
Gulp. Thinking about you in that… uniform—is that what’s it’s called?—and fighting… damn sexy
A laughing emoji came through.
The uniform’s a gi, and it’s really not sexy watching me fight. It’s mostly just me getting sweaty and trying to stop my sensei from dropping me like a sack of potatoes
Chris, you should start karate
Don’t think I’m allowed
Stupid hockey rules. I’d love to watch the two of you get sweaty together and fight. Can we do it naked though?
I could be persuaded if it was naked wrestling. The team doesn’t need to know about that
Sigh. You’re too far away. You’re probably both too far away
There was a momentary pause and a message popped up from V.
Are you okay, sweet thing?
I sighed out loud this time. I was usually better at not letting it get to me, but I wanted to share my time with one of them tonight.
I just miss both of you. Chris has only been gone for four days, but he won’t be back until after the weekend, and you’re under my skin. I love what we have, but I’d love it even more if we could see each other more often
Where are you?
I probably shouldn’t have added the question. I didn’t want to put him on the spot. It wasn’t like I wanted to guilt him into seeing me. But I was lonely.
LA
Fuck. That made it even harder. He was only a couple of hours away. I could go and see him. Or…
I wish I could leave a key under the front mat so you can let yourself in. It’s not even for sex, although I wouldn’t complain. I just want someone to cuddle with in front of the television
I wasn’t sure whether Chris’s message was a warning or empathy.
Baby…
I bit back another frustrated sigh and shook my head.
It’s okay. I’m not going to risk another media shitstorm
My breath caught at V’s response.
I wish you could leave a key for me too
Then a moment later, he sent another message.
What happened that night? I know Kam didn’t cheat
I closed my eyes. Chris could take the reins on this one. It was his story to tell, not mine.
No, she didn’t. I was with Hux that night.
We were both seeing him, kind of like we are with you, but minus the mask.
He came over, we spent some time together, and he left.
Neither of us realized Kam was nearly home.
It looked far worse than it was. But I was stupid.
I always asked Hux to park in the lane behind our house.
I didn’t think anyone would see him. Turned out his leaving from the mudroom door then jumping the fence into an alley because our gate squeaked made for juicy headlines
You’re not out at all, are you? That’s why you didn’t comment
You, Kam, Hux, and a couple of other people know. That’s it. No, I’m not out at all
Did you use condoms with him?
I answered his question easily, but I had no idea why he was asking.
Always. Why?
Because your cum is mine. And I’m the only one who’ll leave my load inside you both
You have a part of me that no one else has had before
Say it
I could just imagine the growl in his voice when he ordered Chris to speak. It always got me going.
You’re the only person who’s had my ass. You’re my first and only
I swallowed, my belly flip-flopping at the thought of the two of them together.
So hot. I always liked watching Chris with another man, but with you it’s different. The way he takes your cock, the way he begs for it, and that time you made him come hands-free were as hot as the sun
Next time we’re together, I want to watch the two of you together without me. I’ll have Stan to keep me company
Who. The. Fuck. Is. Stan?
I laughed at V’s response.
Stan is a very lovely black vibrating dildo that I was gifted by a certain possessive masked man
Well, in that case…
***
I was curled up in front of the muted television, reading a book Cara had given me.
The fire crackled in the fireplace, the flames licking at the log I had in there.
It wasn’t cold enough to warrant one, but I wanted warm and cozy.
My empty wine glass sat on the table with my half-eaten platter of cheese, crackers, and salami.
It was late. I was waiting for Chris to get back to his hotel.
The game had finished ninety minutes ago, so he should be there soon.
He’d played so well. I was so damn proud of him.
He was a solid wall on the ice, he and Mironov back to their best together.
I had no doubt they’d be on the first line again soon.
Cohen and Agosta were doing well enough, but I was biased and wanted my hubby back in the position he was born for.
A noise had me pausing. It sounded like the snick of a door handle latching closed. But the doors were all locked.
A lump formed in my throat, and dread pooled in my belly.
Silently, I put my book down and tiptoed across the hardwood floor, carefully picking up one of Chris’s hockey sticks to make sure I made no noise.
Holding it like a baseball bat, I crept through the living room, then went down the corridor toward the mudroom.
Darkness surrounded me. The only light was a faint glow from the fireplace.
I wasn’t scared. I was angry.
This was my house, and if someone thought they could fuck around, that bastard would soon find out what it was like for their face to be on the receiving end of a hockey stick.