Chapter Five #2
The flight would only take a couple of hours and Gem didn’t sleep well on planes.
Instead, he picked up the e-reader on his lap and powered the small device on.
He freaking loved his e-reader. Gem could relax with a book without any of his teammates any the wiser that his story was filled two men fucking on every flat surface available until the little omega ended knocked up.
Thank fuck that male-male pregnancy was a thing in fiction and only in fiction. Gem might like reading about the alpha and omegas but he didn’t want to live it. That sounded horrifying.
This author that Gem had found was amazing at writing sexy scenes while pulling the reader in with likable characters and a side of comedy.
Gem settled back in his chair as he started to lose himself in the story that would hopefully serve as the perfect distraction to the flight, his half-hard cock, thoughts of Ty and Luka, and the ache in his side.
* * * * *
Luka
Gem was hurt and no one else seemed to realize it. From across the visiting team locker room, Luka watched his goalie as Gem suited up. This was bullshit! Why was no one checking on Gem?
“Hey!” Luka lifted his chin at Tomas. “Gem okay?”
Tomas frowned before looking over Luka’s shoulder to where Gem was. “Yeah. He’s always quiet, especially before a game. You know goalies. They’re all a little weird.”
“Maybe.” Luka knew that wasn’t it. He’d been paying close attention to Gem all damn day. Even on the plane Gem appeared unable to get comfortable or find rest. Luka could tell that Gem’s ribs were still bothering him. How did no one else see?
“Gather around!” Coach Grimes shouted as he entered the locker room.
Luka turned his head toward the coach. He should give his attention to where it needed to be.
Protectiveness throbbed down Luka’s spine.
It was ingrained in his very soul to safeguard the man in front of the net.
Add in the fact that Gem was most likely the very man, the Dom, that Luka had feelings for made the protective instincts as his shifter side push up to the surface.
Even his tiger needed to insure Gem’s safety.
As the coach gave the customary before-game speech, Luka couldn’t help that his gaze returned to Gem. Looking for a sign, any tell, that Gem was going to mention not being at one hundred percent.
Gem caught him looking and frowned back before looking back at their coach.
Luka had to give Gem credit. Other than the one time in the showers, Gem hadn’t shown him any kind of interest. No, Gem was still holding on to Luka’s other persona.
The needy sub. That wasn’t all Luka was all.
That might be who he was off the ice, but Luka had worked hard to hide his insecurities. He didn’t have to hide from his Dom.
What was Gem hiding? Who was he under the mask, both the Dom mask and the goalie mask, that hid Gem from the world?
Luka knew he was the oldest triplet, known as the calm and levelheaded one.
Gem worked hard every time he was on the ice or in the weight room.
The team loved him. They didn’t know him like Luka did though.
Except now Luka was worried that he didn’t know his Dom as well as he thought.
He’d known that his Dom was younger than him. Luka just didn’t realize how young. Gem was barely out of college and yet he had the ability to make Luka fall to his knees. Luka had never questioned that Beelz could handle whatever Luka needed.
How?
All the months of advice that Beelz had been giving Luka came from someone who hadn’t been alive half the years that Luka had. Still, Luka trusted what Gem had to say. It was just now he wondered if what little Luka had to return would be enough.
Since he hadn’t figured out how to broach the subject with Gem or Beelz, it was a constant worry in Luka’s head. Added to that now was Gem’s injury.
Grimes clapped his hands as Luka’s teammates hooted and hollered around him.
Luka was jerked out of his thoughts as everyone started to move around. It was time to get out on the ice.
* * * * *
Fuck! Even injured, Gem was the best goalie in the league. Over the years bigger goalies that guarded the net allowing very few pucks through were the go-to for teams. Gem might be small but no other goalie moved like he did.
Proven by the way Gem had just done the splits to block one puck and threw up a gloved hand to catch the rebound.
Luka skated by and hit his stick against Gem’s leg pad. “Good catch.”
Gem tossed the puck in the air before catching it again. “Fuckers aren’t getting anything past me tonight.”
Smacking his stick against the ice in agreement, Luka skated away.
The Dallas Hawks were determined to show why they were the team that had lifted the Iron Cup the year before. Luka and the Boston Beans were there to show that this was a new year. If Boston won this game, they were that much closer to clinching their spot in the playoffs.
It still hurt that Luka was making this push for the cup with a new team, yet as he settled on the bench beside Tomas, it felt like he belonged there.
Gem made another awe-inspiring save before the team headed back down the ice toward the opposing goal.
Luka glanced at the time clock.
Three minutes left with Boston leading one to zero. They only had to hold on for three more minutes.
The assistant coach hit Tomas’s and then Luka’s shoulders. “Get ready, boys. Defend like your life depends on it.”
Luka nodded while never taking his eyes off the puck heading back toward their goalie.
As the defensemen on ice returned to the bench, both Tomas and Luka jumped over the boards and raced to protect their one–zero lead.
The puck was in the hands of the Hawks’ center, a fast young skater that had almost scored several times that night already.
Two minutes to go.
Luka slammed the center into the glass as Tomas stole the puck, sending it toward their left winger.
Dallas pulled their goalie.
This was it.
One minute to go.
As his teammates raced toward the empty net, one of the Hawk’s defensemen slammed into Luka’s center. Luka roared, heading for the defenseman, but it was too late as Dallas got the puck back.
Luka turned, pushing hard off his right skate to follow behind the Dallas players.
He wouldn’t make it in time. Luka might be fast but not as fast as Dallas’s center.
In front of his goal, Gem skated from side to side as the Hawks barreled toward him.
The center drew his stick back before letting a ripper of a hit.
Stretching out his glove, Gem caught the puck just as the buzzer blared.
They won.
They fucking won!
Luka threw his arms up and yelled, “Yes!”
Gem tossed the puck toward the nearest ref before slowly making his way toward the locker room. He didn’t make it far before their teammates were hitting his helmet in congratulations for the shutout.
Skating closer, Luka saw Gem’s wince as one of their players knocked into his side.
Luka had known that Gem was hurt! He’d played an amazing game but obviously not everything was all right.
“Are you okay?” Luka questioned while smacking Gem’s shoulder.
“Fine,” Gem said through gritted teeth.
“You’re not fine,” Luka argued.
Pulling off his helmet, Gem glared at him. “I said I was fine.”
“Bullshit.” Luka wasn’t an idiot. He’d been watching Gem all night.
Gem snorted before he began to skate away. “Don’t worry your pretty little head about it.”
That made Luka grin. He skated after Gem. “You think I’m pretty?”
Gem glanced back momentarily. “No.”
He laughed. That was a lie. Since Gem was moving more slowly than usual, Luka easily caught up with him. “I think you do.”
“I do not,” Gem shot back. “Leave me alone.”
Nah, that wasn’t any fun. Normally Luka wasn’t much of a brat. That wasn’t his thing. He thrived on being a good boy. Yet, he couldn’t help but try to push Gem’s buttons. “Are you going to make me?”
Gem paused with one foot off the ice. “Excuse me?”
“Are you going to make me?” Luka asked, pulling off his own helmet. He met Gem’s violet gaze with a challenging one of his own. He guessed the decision was made. Or he was making it in the heat of the moment. It was time that Gem knew the truth.
“Whatever,” Gem muttered as he shook his head.
Not good enough. Luka followed behind Gem as they stalked down the tunnel toward the locker room. “What are you doing later?” Luka asked.
“Sleeping,” Gem responded shortly.
“That’s boring. We’re headed to the hotel but we should get a drink once we get there.” Maybe a drink would help Luka’s nerves before revealing the big secret to Gem.
“No thanks,” Gem replied. They reached the locker room and Gem pushed the door open hard. A little too hard in Luka’s opinion. Was Luka annoying the goalie? Would that get him a punishment? His blood was pumping in anticipation, the high from the win, and being so close to Gem.
“Why not?” Luka asked. It was a solid plan.
“I don’t drink,” Gem said.
Oh! Luka hadn’t thought about that. Gem was old enough to drink so it had to be a personal choice. “What about food? You have to eat, don’t you.”
Reaching his cubbie, Gem turned. “I’ll order room service.”
Luka waggled his brows. “For two?”
“Dude,” Gem drawled. “Not interested. Go bother someone else.”
“I don’t want to.” He wanted Gem’s attention on him. Only on him.
Pressing his lips together, Gem shook his head. “Listen, Luka—”
“Gem!” Coach Hartley shouted. “Trainer! I want him to look over your ribs.”
Gem winced as he turned toward the coach. “I’m fine, coach—”
“Now!” Coach Hartley yelled.
“Fuck!” Gem spat as he headed away from Luka.
That was okay. Luka had all night. They were staying in the same hotel. And Luka was pretty sure Tomas would know what room that Gem was staying in even if the goalie managed to sneak past Luka.
Going to his cubbie, Luka began to undress. He was glad that he wasn’t on the rotation to do media after the game. Luka’s mind really wasn’t on anything but Gem.