CHAPTER TWENTY
A few nights later, Connor’s heart beat double-time as he slipped out of his room and down the hall to Jesse’s door. The hallway was quiet, with guys playing cards or video games in small groups, or already bedded down for the night.
Because the team was fairly young and unattached, Connor had expected them to get a little rowdier on this trip, but they were surprisingly well-behaved. He was relieved. It made it much easier to visit Jesse’s room whenever he wanted.
Like the previous nights, Jesse’s door was propped open a crack and Connor slipped inside, closing it quietly behind him then locking it.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey yourself.” Jesse looked up from his phone, smiling.
He was dressed in pajama pants and no shirt. Lube sat on the nightstand and Connor’s stomach tightened with anticipation.
They’d had an afternoon game in Edmonton today—they’d lost in regulation—and they’d flown to Calgary and had the day off tomorrow before they played the night after, then headed home.
Jesse had sent him increasingly dirty texts all day and all evening, telling him what he wanted to do to Connor, and Connor was already half-hard under his sweats thinking about it.
“C’mere,” Jesse coaxed, crooking a finger.
Connor came.
He kicked off his slides and settled onto the bed beside Jesse. The only light in the room was on the nightstand, glowing warmly as it spilled across the bed, making his skin look especially golden.
Without another word, Connor leaned in and kissed Jesse, sliding his hand into his hair and tugging just the way he knew he liked. He responded instantly, meeting Connor’s tongue with equal hunger as he wound a leg around his hip.
Connor rolled them onto their sides so he could get his hands on Jesse’s skin, tracing his long, lean muscles, then teasing beneath the waistband of his pajamas. There was nothing underneath, no matter how far Connor wandered, and he groaned, squeezing Jesse’s bare ass cheek.
Laughing softly, Jesse pulled back. “Not expecting that, huh?”
“With you, I probably should.” Connor reached out, tracing his gaze across the sharp ridge of Jesse’s collarbone, especially prominent because of the way he lay. His body was so fucking sculpted, the shadow of his ab muscles visible under his skin.
“Well, I have been teasing you all day. I wanted to make it easy for you to get what you want.”
“Yeah?” Without conscious thought, Connor’s hips hitched, pressing against Jesse’s groin.
“Mm-hmm.” Jesse tugged at Connor’s tee. “Take this off.”
Connor rolled away long enough to strip it off and toss it to the floor, then settled back in, body snug against Jesse’s. “What do you want tonight?”
“How do you feel about ditching the condoms?”
Connor blinked. “Really?”
Jesse bit his lip, looking oddly shy. “I mean, no pressure. But I’ve always wondered what it was like.”
“You’ve never?—”
“No.” Jesse shrugged. “But like I told you a few weeks ago, I’m on PrEP, both our tests came back all clear, and we’re—we’re going to keep doing this for a while, yeah?”
“That’s the plan,” Connor agreed. Since it was going this well between them, why the fuck not? He hadn’t had this much sex since he was a newlywed. And honestly, even then, Viv hadn’t been as adventurous, or on the road with him.
Jesse was right here .
“So … no biggie if you don’t want to. But I’m in if you are.” Jesse dragged a hand down Connor’s chest, idly playing with the hair there.
“I’m in,” Connor said firmly, because he didn’t need a lot of persuading.
“Really had to twist your arm there, eh?”
“Yeah, for sure.”
Jesse leaned in to kiss him again. “I hadn’t even gotten to the part where I cleaned myself out very thoroughly in the shower. Shaved too.”
“What exactly did you shave?” Connor asked with a lift of his eyebrows. He could guess what else Jesse was hinting at.
“What do you think?” Jesse rolled away, flipping onto his stomach. He shoved his pajamas down to mid-thigh.
Connor would have helped him get them off entirely, but there was something crazy hot about seeing the smooth, round curve of Jesse’s ass up against the bunched dark blue fabric.
“Hmm,” Connor said, shifting a little closer. He reached out, gliding his hand over the mounds. “You feel smooth here, but no more than usual.”
Compared to Connor, Jesse didn’t have much body hair, except for his underarms and groin and a very sparse dusting on his arms and legs.
Jesse shifted on the mattress, cheeks flexing like he was encouraging Connor to keep going.
“Guess I better keep searching,” Connor said, pressing his lips to Jesse’s shoulder.
“Guess so.” It sounded like Jesse was still smiling.
Connor dipped his fingers into the space between Jesse’s thighs, the soft cotton of his pajamas brushing the back of Connor’s hand. He tugged them down a little so Jesse could widen his thighs and when Connor caressed higher, all he encountered was warm, smooth skin.
“Fuck,” he whispered, gently playing with Jesse’s balls. “That feels nice.”
“It does for me too.”
Connor took that as a hint to keep going, so he toyed with the soft sac for a minute until Jesse made an impatient little noise.
“That’s not the only spot,” he muttered into the pillow.
“Good to know.” Connor shifted forward, grazing his teeth across Jesse’s shoulder, feeling the ripples in his body when he reacted.
Slowly, Connor traced his fingers up, skimming between Jesse’s ass cheeks. He was smooth there too.
Connor breathed shallowly, his gut tightening as ideas whirled in his head. “Is this a hint?”
Jesse turned his head. “A hint of what?”
“Where you want me.”
Jesse snorted quietly. “Well, I always want your fingers or dick in my ass.”
Connor laughed, nipping at his skin again. “I meant my mouth .”
Jesse jerked, lifting his head off the pillow. “You want to rim me? Connor O’Shea, I had no idea you had it in you.”
“Hey, careful. Keep your voice down,” Connor reminded him, though he wasn’t actually upset.
“How do you even know about rimming?” Jesse sounded genuinely shocked.
“I have Google on my phone, you know,” Connor shot back, shifting to rest on his heels.
Viv had been uptight in bed, and sure, maybe he hadn’t exactly known a lot about sex with men when he and Jesse started this, but he felt like he’d gotten up to speed quickly. His first blowjob had been awkward and the second not a whole lot better, but he’d enjoyed it enough to keep trying, especially when Jesse seemed to enjoy it so much.
He wanted Jesse to feel good. He liked making Jesse feel good.
“Yeah?” Jesse gave him a slow smile. He kicked off his pajamas, then shifted, lifting his hips up and back before dropping his head. “Show me what you learned, Captain.”
Connor groaned. “Just for that, I should say no.”
“You should’ve said no last summer, and yet, you seem to keep saying yes ,” Jesse said with that quicksilver grin of his.
Connor huffed out a laugh. “You’re not wrong.”
He shifted until he knelt between Jesse’s feet. “You’ll tell me what you like?”
“Do you want feedback or me to be quiet? Because I’m no good at doing both.”
“Quiet then. But tell me if you don’t like something.”
“That I can do.”
Reassured, Connor ran a hand across Jesse’s cheek and tugged. He felt a little dizzy when he stared down at Jesse’s hole. He had no idea what he was doing but people online raved about it and he might as well give it a shot.
He dropped his head, pressing a kiss to the tight opening, then flicking his tongue across it.
Jesse let out a shaky laugh. “Oh fuck, your beard …”
“Bad?” Connor asked, lifting his head.
“Uhh, no.”
“Thought you were gonna be quiet unless you didn’t like something,” Connor reminded him.
“Told you I’m no good at that,” Jesse muttered.
Oh, Jesse. “Well, try,” he said aloud.
He pressed a kiss to Jesse’s ass cheek, making him shiver. So, Jesse liked the feel of his beard, huh? Connor let it brush across Jesse’s skin as he kissed his way over to Jesse’s hole again. He used both thumbs to press Jesse’s cheeks apart, then licked again.
A slow, broad swipe of the flat of his tongue had Jesse squirming under him. So he did it again. And again. He traced the tip of his tongue around Jesse’s hole, then flicked it. Jesse moaned.
Chuckling, Connor kept it up, trying to figure out what Jesse seemed to like best. When he dipped the tip of his tongue inside, Jesse made a strangled noise and Connor shifted, stretching out over Jesse’s back.
“I really am gonna have to get you a gag, aren’t I?” he teased, pressing a kiss to the side of Jesse’s neck.
Jesse whimpered, his face mashed into the pillow.
Okay, so maybe Jesse liked that thought. Inspired, Connor coaxed Jesse to lift his head. “Hey, look at me.”
Jesse blinked, staring. Connor tapped two fingers against Jesse’s lower lip. “Suck my fingers.”
Jesse’s mouth dropped open, surprise clearly written across his face, before he nodded. He took Connor’s fingers in his mouth, wetting them with his tongue before he began to suck. His eyes were wide, gaze needy, and Connor grinned because he was pretty sure he’d unlocked something Jesse was super, super into.
He shifted, feeling the stretch in his shoulder when he settled back, face level with Jesse’s ass again. It was an awkward position, keeping his fingers in Jesse’s mouth as he licked him, but he had a long reach and it definitely quieted Jesse’s moans.
And Jesse clearly loved it.
He sucked harder every time Connor did something he liked, little shivers rippling up and down his spine. Connor lost track of everything but the feel of Jesse’s reactions when he dipped his tongue into Jesse’s hole, using his free hand to keep Jesse’s ass cheeks apart.
Jesse’s skin was warm against his arm, sheened with sweat, and he moved restlessly, seeking more. With every lap of Connor’s tongue, he whimpered around Connor’s fingers in his mouth. Connor stretched, pushing them in a little deeper at the same time he pushed his tongue in.
He tongue-fucked Jesse’s hole until his mouth ached and his beard and mustache were damp with spit. By the time he pulled back, he had to suck in a ragged breath, like he’d skated a hard shift. Connor dove in again, lapping and sucking at Jesse’s hole, loving the way he trembled and pushed back.
Connor’s own cock pulsed with need and he vaguely remembered Jesse had also asked him to fuck him raw. Connor shivered. If that was what Jesse wanted … who was Connor to deny him?
He eased away, Jesse reluctantly letting Connor’s fingers slide from his mouth.
“Why’d you stop?” he said breathlessly, his fingers clenched in the tangled sheets. “It was just getting good.”
“Do you wanna come like that or do you wanna get fucked raw?”
“Fuck me,” Jesse said immediately, craning his neck to look at Connor. “ Please . Fuck me.”
Connor reached for the lube. He smeared some on his cock, hissing at the slick pressure of his hand. God, he was so ready for this.
He slicked two fingers, dragging them across Jesse’s hole. “How much prep do you need?”
“Not much. Just a little lube.”
Connor dipped his fingers inside, taking a moment to graze Jesse’s prostate.
“I’m good,” he said in a strangled voice and Connor did it again because he could. Because he liked the way Jesse swore and shook.
Jesse’s knuckles went white as he gripped the sheets tighter. “Get your dick inside me, Connor,” he hissed.
Chuckling, Connor eased his fingers out. He rose to his knees, pressing the tip of his cock against Jesse’s hole. “You want this?”
“Connor …”
Still chuckling, Connor pushed forward, his lube-slick fingers sliding a little on Jesse’s hip.
Without the usual fingering, he felt extra snug, or maybe that was the way everything felt magnified without the condom on. Connor could feel every slick inch and his head swam with the overwhelming pleasure of it when he bottomed out.
Jesse moaned into the pillow again and Connor leaned forward, wrapping an arm around his waist. He hauled Jesse upright, then pressed his clean fingers to his lips again. Jesse swallowed them greedily, sucking hard while Connor used his free hand to encourage Jesse to rise and fall over his cock. His back was warm and a little sweaty against Connor’s chest, and he shivered in Connor’s arms, like he was completely overwhelmed.
Connor kissed his shoulder, smiling, nibbling a little at the skin, tasting the faint traces of salt there. That only seemed to spur Jesse on and he rose and fell faster over him, the slick sounds of their bodies slapping together heating Connor’s blood more.
Connor wanted to get a hand on him, wanted to stroke his cock until he came apart, but it appeared he didn’t need to because a moment later, Jesse clenched around Connor so tight he went lightheaded. He trembled and shivered in Connor’s arms, then slumped back against him.
“You want me to stop or keep going?” Connor whispered in his ear.
He didn’t answer verbally, but he rose over Connor’s cock, then slid back down. He whimpered around Connor’s fingers like it was a lot—maybe too much—and Connor expected him to stop.
But he kept going.
Kept fucking himself over Connor’s dick, every muscle taut as he rode him. Connor closed his eyes and buried his face against the curve of Jesse’s neck. Everything narrowed to the scent of Jesse’s skin, the warmth of him in Connor’s arms, and the slick glide of their bodies together. It was all so good, and urgency gathered low in his belly, winding him tighter and tighter until he could no longer fight his release.
Connor bit down on Jesse’s shoulder, muffling the roar threatening to escape him. He came inside Jesse, heart pounding, body shaking, everything going white while he held on for dear life.
When it was over, Jesse slumped back, clearly exhausted. But Connor’s knees were beginning to ache so he reluctantly tapped his hip. “Hey. We should …”
He didn’t finish the thought, but clearly Jesse worked out what he meant because he lifted off Connor, falling forward onto his hands and knees, still breathing a little raggedly.
Connor shuffled back, thighs protesting, but he froze when he saw a trickle of his cum slide from Jesse’s hole. “Jesus Christ,” he muttered thickly because that was inexplicably hot.
He reached out, intending to push it back in, but Jesse let out a quiet yelp. “Too much.”
“Sorry.” Connor pulled his hand away.
Jesse shot him a tired grin, then fell onto his stomach, nearly kicking Connor in the nuts in the process. “S’okay,” Jesse slurred. “Some other time. Too sensitive right now.”
“That’s fine,” Connor assured him, rubbing his back, his skin beginning to grow clammy from the sweat.
When Jesse was up for it, Connor definitely didn’t hate the thought of fingering him after he’d come inside him …
Apparently, they’d both discovered some kinks tonight.
Connor staggered out of bed, legs not working quite right. In the bathroom, he winced at the sight of his reflection. Gross . He was a mess.
Rather than bother with a washcloth, he flipped on the shower. The water was hot almost immediately, so he stepped inside, groaning as it hit his body. He was gonna be feeling the extra exertion tomorrow and he had no idea how to explain that to the trainers.
Whoops .
Connor lingered in the shower for a bit, enjoying the heat and steam, before he finally soaped up and cleaned the stickiness from his skin.
Dressed in a towel, with another one draped across his shoulders, he walked into the bedroom and found Jesse exactly where he’d left him, sprawled out on his stomach, skin still glistening with Connor’s cum and shoulder purpling with the bruise Connor had left.
Connor’s gut tightened and he let out a shaky laugh. Shit . Somehow that made this all seem very, very real. He took a seat at the foot of the bed, towel drying his hair with the spare.
“What?” Jesse muttered.
“Nothing,” Connor said, clearing his throat. “You should probably go clean up though.”
Jesse let out an inarticulate noise Connor took to mean, “fuck no.”
“C’mon, up and at ’em,” Connor said, reaching out to swat at the meat of his ass. “You’re gross.”
“You made me gross,” Jesse muttered but he did lurch into an upright position.
His hair stuck out in every direction and he only had one eye open. He was a mess but he was a cute mess and a sudden warmth bloomed in Connor’s chest.
Damn it, Jesse was growing on him.
Jesse stumbled to his feet, knocking into the nightstand, which sent the lamp tumbling onto its side with a crash.
“Shit, keep it down,” Connor hissed but he had to laugh at Jesse’s alarmed look and he couldn’t deny the thought of getting caught almost made it hotter, sent a little thrill through him.
Connor grabbed Jesse around the waist and kissed him, loving the way Jesse melted into him, winding his arms around Connor’s neck.
They both jerked at the sharp rap on the door. “Hey, everything okay in there?” a man called out. It sounded like Graham.
“Get in there.” Connor tapped Jesse’s hip, nodding in the direction of the bathroom.
“Yeah, it’s okay,” Connor called out, tightening the towel around his waist while Jesse scooted toward the bathroom.
“What happened?” Graham called again.
Connor raised his eyes skyward. Damn his alternate for being such a fucking concerned citizen. He checked to make sure the bathroom door was tightly shut, then opened the door. “Uhh, nothing. Just tripped and bumped into the lamp.”
“Oh.” Graham squinted. “Wait, I thought this was Jesse’s room.”
Fuck me, Connor thought wildly. “Uhh, we switched rooms. Said the room didn’t feel right to him. Goalie thing. They’re superstitious, you know.”
“Right.” Graham nodded. “I suppose that makes sense.”
“Anyway, nothing to worry about. Everything’s fine in here,” Connor assured him.
“Cool.”
They stared at each other for a moment.
“Do you need something else?” Connor asked.
“Oh. No. I was playing video games with the guys and heading back to my room when I heard the crash.”
“Just a lamp,” Connor assured him. “And it didn’t break, so we’re fine. I’m fine.”
“Great.” Graham ruffled a hand through his hair. “Well, have a good night.”
“Yeah, you too. Thanks for checking up on me.”
“Sure. No prob. G’night.”
Graham disappeared down the hall and Connor shut the door behind him, letting his forehead thunk gently against it.
Wow, he was bad at this lying thing.