Chapter 8
DEVON
Sweat poured down my face as I tore down the ice for the fiftieth time.
Or so it felt like.
Tori taking us through video this morning had been a nightmare. Coach wanted us to see all our fuckups in glorious HD. So you’ll know why I’m going to work you so hard.
In that moment, I’d wanted to work him so hard. Like in a bed. Or against a wall. In the shower would be nice. All that steaming water and—
“Devs! Pay attention, for fuck’s sake.” Gards smacked my arm. “Focus, right? That’s what Coach said. That we were all over the place and not focused on each other. Or the puck. Obviously.”
I blinked. “Right.”
“One more time. I want to see the D-men put some effort into it,” Crums, one of the assistant coaches, yelled at us. Well, shouted nicely. He was so polite he was almost Canadian.
Effort into it? Christ. My thighs burned. My arms ached. My head throbbed. I’d stayed up way too late last night. First edging Coach and then, after I’d let him come, staring at my blank phone screen and questioning all my life choices.
I tore down the ice again.
This time, we had the puck and were shooting it back and forth as we headed toward Saffron. He lowered himself into position.
I passed the puck to Gards.
It went wide, and he had to chase after it.
By the time he caught it, we’d flown past the net.
Goddammit.
Another miss.
Saffron grinned. “That was easy.”
Crums waved his hand. “Again.”
Right.
An hour later, as the hot water cascaded down my back, I tried to stretch my sore muscles. That had been the longest practice in the history of practices. Exaggerating much? Maybe. But certainly, one of the longest I’d ever endured.
I couldn’t stand under the spray all day—much as I wanted to. In the end I didn’t, though, and I got out and trudged to my locker with a towel around my waist.
After a team meeting, we reviewed film and discussed some strategies for our next game. Then, finally, the day was over.
“You did good out there.” Claus smacked me on the shoulder as we headed out of the facility. Our second line center was looking way too cheerful.
“But—”
“You worked your ass off.”
“Yeah, but—”
“More than some others, I’d say.”
“Sure, but—”
“No buts.” He grinned. “Look, why don’t I drive you back to your hotel? Your car should be arriving in the next day or so, right?”
Here, I figured I could get a word in edgewise. “Port of Delta tomorrow. Someone from the front office offered to retrieve it for me.”
“Great. Well, I’ve got you tonight. Maybe we can eat in the hotel restaurant or in your room.”
I blinked. “Uh, sure.” I had no idea why Claus would want to come up to my room.
But if he came up, then I wouldn’t be tempted to Facetime Coach again.
Or, worse, show up in his room and kiss him again.
Edge him again. Return the favor on that blowjob he’d so spectacularly bestowed upon me. “Give me a minute.”
“Yeah. I’ll meet you out front. I’ll let Coach know you don’t need a ride.”
“Oh, I don’t even know—”
“Well, this way we’ll be sure.” He tossed his keys in the air, caught them, then strode out of the locker room.
Instead of trying to sort through what was going on, I dressed as quickly as I could, deciding damp hair wasn’t a big deal.
Knowing my luck, it’d be pouring rain anyway.
I had an aversion to umbrellas because I was always leaving them somewhere, but I was rethinking that.
At the very least, I needed to wear hoodies any time I wasn’t required to wear a suit.
About five minutes later, I emerged into the parking lot.
Claus stood by Coach’s SUV.
Talking to him.
When he spotted me, though, he waved.
I thought he was beckoning me over, and I locked gazes with Coach, but Claus made it clear he wanted me to follow him straight to his car. I shrugged to Coach and slid into the passenger seat.
Claus didn’t speak. He secured his seat belt, started the engine, and pulled out of his parking space.
We were about halfway to the hotel before I ventured to speak.
“This is really nice of you. I appreciate it. I could’ve walked, though.
I can’t believe it’s not raining.” The dark clouds portended rain, though.
“Well, not far out of my way.” He signaled and pulled into the parking lot. “I think a little bonding time is a good thing.”
“Uh, sure.” I injected as much enthusiasm as I could. What the fuck is going on?
He parked and cut the engine. “Let’s go.” He was out of the car before I even had my seat belt off.
Okay. Whatever’s with this. I exited the car and strode along with him to the front of the hotel.
The doors swished open and, again, a blast of hot air hit me.
I hadn’t realized just how cold the temperature was.
I made a mental note to check the weather forecast. Abbotsford didn’t get a ton of snow.
I had my snow tires on my car but more importantly, I’d learned most people in southwest British Columbia didn’t bother with snow tires and driving was hazardous as much for those crazy people as any treacherous road conditions.
Claus hit the up button on the elevator, and the door opened.
We stepped inside and I hit the button for three. I cast a surreptitious glance as the elevator rose.
He didn’t seem to notice.
The floor arrived, and we stepped out. I gestured for him to follow me down the hall. Soon enough I swiped my card, and we entered my room.
My mother had impressed on me the importance of an organized room to control my focus.
If everything was in its place, I couldn’t be distracted.
Since I’d managed to get through school without issues, I figured she must be right.
Obviously housekeeping had made my bed, but the rest of the room was neat and tidy because of my mother’s wise words.
I closed the door. “So, do you want food?”
He nodded. “Yeah. They make a mean tuna poke bowl.” He snagged the phone. “What do you want?”
“Uh…a burger?” I liked tuna, but I wasn’t certain what form it would take in this bowl. I’d observe, and if it looked edible, I’d order it another time.
“Great.” He placed the order. After he hung up, he tossed thirty bucks onto the desk.
“Oh, I’m happy to pay—”
“I invited myself. And I might’ve ordered a beer and a slice of cheesecake. For both of us. You’ve had a rough day.”
“Not going to argue.” The shower had only done so much.
I was going to have to talk to the workout coach tomorrow.
I thought I was in shape, but not up to the level Coach expected, apparently.
I needed to up my game. Only I had no idea how to do that.
Until now, I’d thought I could take anything.
I almost hadn’t survived today. That said, Kulie actually puked.
Whether from being pushed so hard or being hungover from last night, I had no idea.
I was damn glad I wasn’t on his line—but Claus was.
Speaking of.
He turned to face me. “What’s going on?”
I blinked. “I’m sorry? You’re here, we’ve ordered food, and we’re going to hang out. I don’t know—”
“Between you and Coach.”
Again, I blinked. “I don’t know—”
“Bullshit.” He glared, his intense blue eyes boring into me in a way I’d never encountered before. At least not in a guy I was interested in dominating. I might’ve read the situation wrong, but Claus didn’t have a submissive bone in his body.
I didn’t even get the sense he was hiding anything. He was vanilla. Nothing wrong with that. Lovely flavor. Not who I was looking for in a partner. “I have no idea—”
“I saw you last night.”
Being ticked off at having been cut off for the millionth time tonight paled in comparison to the panic I felt. Still, I was going to brazen through it. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Last night. Coach’s SUV. Far corner of the parking lot. Away from the lights. You. Getting out. Three minutes later, Coach did. Adjusting himself. So did he not get off? Did—”
“We were talking. We’re both new to the city, you know? And we’d had a shit awful game and—”
“I’m not an idiot, Devon. Honest to God.
What the fuck do you think you’re doing?
I mean, I hope you’re not doing the coach.
Because that’s against every fucking rule there is.
If you were straight and dating a female coach, I’d be saying the same thing.
” He sliced his hand through the air. “This is wrong. You’re risking your career.
Because I promise you, if word gets out, you’ll get turfed.
Good coaches are hard to find. D-men who can handle a puck are far more common.
The Grizzlies need you more than you need to get your rocks off with Coach. ”
I dropped into the desk chair. “Did anyone else…?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so. If I hadn’t been leaving out the side door at that exact moment, I never would’ve seen either of you.
I doubt anyone from the hotel could see.
The rain was coming down like fucking cats and dogs—which is a super weird expression.
But whatever. I’m saying you were fucking lucky I was the one who saw you.
Because I’m not going to tell management.
Coach is the best goddamn hope we have of climbing out of the hole we dug for ourselves.
Right now? Completely out of contention.
We’re the laughingstock of the League. And you’ve seen why. ”
I ran my hand through my hair. “Yeah. There isn’t the cohesion I’ve seen with other teams. Certain players aren’t…team players.”
“Right. Exactly. And if one of our newest and best prospects were fucking—or being fucked by—the coach, that would screw things up royally. Don’t you think?”
A knock sounded at the door.
Claus strode over to answer it.
My head spun. The food had arrived super quick, right? Or had Claus and I been talking for a long while? Time has an odd elastic quality to it, as he placed the food on the table.
“Come eat. You need food.” He used the bottle cap remover to remove the caps from both bottles.
Since not joining him would be rude, I rose from the desk chair and headed over to the table where he sat.
The burger’s scent enticed me, even as my stomach was tied in knots. I plopped into the chair. “It’s not what you think.”
Claus speared a piece of tuna. “Oh, I don’t know. I have a very creative imagination—and I’m quite certain I know what’s going on.”
He can’t. Know everything. He’s guessing. He’s making assumptions.
Yeah, but those assumptions are mostly correct. “You can’t say anything.”
He forked a slice of avocado. “That’s a given. But something tells me last night wasn’t the first time.”
The image of slamming into Coach so hard that he hit the headboard flashed in my mind. Or when he’d gone to his knees with a strange gracefulness. How he’d offered complete submission. How, given half a chance, I’d be in his hotel room and commanding him to bend to my will.
I pulled the lettuce out of the burger and put it on the side of the plate. I contemplated the burger for a long moment.
“Devon?”
“No.” Instead of biting into the mammoth burger, I ate a fry.
Not nearly as satisfying.
“No what? What are you not saying?” Claus took a long drag from his beer.
I didn’t recognize the name of the brand. I assumed it was a local brewery. “No, last night wasn’t the first night. No, I didn’t see you when I got out of the SUV. No, it won’t happen again.”
Claus held my gaze.
For what felt like an eternity.
Finally, he broke the silence. “You swear?”
“I swear.”
My phone buzzed with an incoming message.
On autopilot, I checked.
Coach.
Claus snatched the phone before I realized what he was doing. He arched an eyebrow when he saw who was messaging me.
I snatched the phone back. “It’s probably about the practice.”
“Bullshit.” He tapped his beer. “Do I have to stay here all night to ensure you don’t respond?”
“No.” I put the phone down with the screen facing the table. “I’ll see him tomorrow at practice.”
The phone buzzed four more times before I went to bed.
I never answered.