Chapter Nine
Evan
New York was a tough team. Evan’s entire body ached from the many pucks that he’d had to throw himself in front of to stop them from scoring.
“Are you okay?” Nix skated up beside the net.
Evan had to shake his head to clear his vision. “Fine.”
“Four more minutes,” Nix told him.
They were tied zero to zero. Neither team had scored even with it being a fierce battle. “Go score a goal,” Evan demanded. He needed his boy to concentrate on the game, not on him.
“I’m trying!” Nix banged his stick against the ice.
“Try harder,” Evan ordered.
Nix glared at him.
“Go!” Evan ordered.
Nix huffed and skated off as the ref blew his whistle.
Evan wasn’t purposely being a dick but he’d noticed that Nix had been very different during this game.
Their bond thrummed with Nix’s worry for him.
The dragon side preened, loving that Nix’s focus was on him, but Evan knew that wasn’t going to work.
They were professional hockey players playing in the top league in the world.
Their relationship had to come second when they were on the ice.
The two teams faced each other, waiting for the puck drop. Nix was back on the bench but Evan’s boy was bouncing impatiently.
Taking his own advice, Evan smacked his stick against the ice and the pipes he stood between before crouching.
The puck dropped.
Laney won the faceoff, taking off in the opposite direction.
The New York goalie, Ivan Petrov, a big bear of a man—literally; he was a brown bear shifter—and faster than such a large man should be crouched in preparation. He was a force in the net. Evan liked the guy. Loved putting his skills up against Ivan’s.
Four minutes remaining.
Evan needed to keep his head in the game for just another four minutes.
Ivan caught Laney’s puck even as hard as he’d hit it. Ivan passed the puck to one of his defensemen and the game was back on. And they were headed toward him. Evan waited, anticipated, as the players piled up in front of him.
He managed to use his stick to knock the first attempt away but the rebound was scooped up. Evan missed the next attempt. The goal light flashed behind him.
“Fuck!” He slammed his stick on the ice as the New York players celebrated in front of Evan’s net.
“Shake it off,” Laney said as he smacked Evan’s padded leg before skating off.
Back on the bench, Nix was standing and yelling at their opponents.
Evan turned back to his net to grab his water bottle. He squirted three mouthfuls, always three, then tossed the bottle back into the holder.
He spun and crouched as the teams met up on center ice.
Sweat dripped down the back of his neck and into his eyes as Evan spent the next several minutes fighting to keep his team down only by one goal. Once the final buzzer sounded, Evan headed directly to the tunnel.
The rest of the team followed behind him.
Slamming both hands on the locker room door, he forced it to swing open with too much force. The door crashed into the wall, cracking the plaster, but Evan didn’t give a damn! They could take the repairs from his fucking paycheck.
He stalked to his locker, throwing his gloves down.
The locker room was quiet as the team filed in. No one approached him but Evan could feel them close. Too close. Heat started to burn from his stomach up to his neck. The dragon inside rippled, wanting to break the surface.
Gritting his teeth, Evan clamped down on his other half.
No turning.
Evan could not let the dragon take control. Last time that happened, Evan had been locked away for three years.
A small hand touched his lower back.
The dragon stopped pushing.
“Get showered and we’ll head to the plane,” Nix whispered.
Evan gave a small nod. Just the boy’s touch was calming to him. He hated losing. It infuriated him to get beat. It was part of the game, Evan knew that, but it didn’t make letting that one goal in any easier.
Silently he began to undress.
He dropped his uniform onto the bench until he was naked. Evan gathered his clothes and dropped them in the large wheeled hamper as he passed, heading toward the showers.
It was impossible to meet his teammates’ gazes.
They knew to leave him alone after a bad game.
Evan scrubbed his body furiously until his skin felt as raw as his insides.
When he shut off the water, only Nix, who leaned against the wall just outside the showers, was visible.
He’d dressed in thick sweatpants and an oversized hoodie.
As a matter of fact, Evan was pretty sure that it was his hoodie.
He shook his hair from his eyes. “Stealing my clothes now?”
Nix smirked. “I figured it was fine. The team already knows about us anyway.”
“Come here,” Evan demanded.
Without wasting time, Nix stalked forward, ignoring the water sloshing under his shoes. As soon as Nix was within reach, Evan grabbed him by the neck.
Nix’s gaze met his.
“I’m not in a good place,” Evan warned. “You need to give me some space.”
“No,” Nix whispered. “I’ve seen you do this before. Cut all of us off as you sit and stew. It was a loss. It sucks. But I’m not going to let you suffer alone.”
This boy. Nix, his sweet but misguided boy, amazed him. “I’ll be fine. I just need to process.”
Nix swallowed, his Adam’s apple rubbing against Evan’s hand. “What do you need?”
“I want to tie you up. I need to dominate you,” Evan warned.
“Then do it.” Nix managed to lift his chin even as Evan held him by the neck. “Get dressed. We’ll head to the plane and you can dominate me all you want.”
Evan nodded. “Are your bags packed?” He released Nix although his fingers twitch to hold on to him again.
“Yes, sitting on the bench.”
“Follow me into the locker room,” Evan ordered. “Stay beside me, where I can see you, while I get dressed. We’ll walk to the plane together.”
“Yes,” Nix said simply.
“Good boy,” Evan praised. Leaning forward, he brushed his lips across Nix’s. Nix tried to deepen the kiss, but Evan knew they didn’t have much time. They had a flight ahead of them before Evan could get back home. Take Nix home.
He drew away from the kiss to push Nix back. Evan made his way to the locker room with Nix close on his heels. The boy was perfectly submissive. Just what Evan needed at the moment.
Laney caught his eye as Evan reached for his clothes.
Evan nodded.
His captain’s eyes widened then flickered over to Nix. A knowing look appeared and he smiled. Yeah, they wouldn’t be disturbed during the plane ride.
By the time they were sitting on the comfortable lush seats in the team’s private jet, Evan was nearly bouncing the way that Nix normally did. Once they were up in the air, their teammates put on headphones or closed their eyes or whatever it was what they did after a game.
He leaned closer to Nix’s ear. Nix sat by the window with Evan in the aisle seat. Nix’s position would keep him hidden in the darkened interior of the plane if anyone got up from their seat.
“Hands in your lap,” Evan ordered softly.
Nix complied, allowing Evan to wrap his hands around the boy’s thin wrists.
With his free hand, Evan pulled the short coiled rope from where he’d stuffed it in his pocket after dressing. With quick efficient movements, Evan had the rope wrapped tightly around Nix’s wrists.
Turning his head, Nix kissed Evan’s neck. “Anything else, Daddy?”
Evan tugged the hem of Nix’s hoodie over his bound hands. “Just be a good boy.”
Nix nipped his flesh. “Always?”
He chuckled as he opened a bottle of water he snagged earlier. Evan twisted off the top before placing the bottle to Nix’s lips. “Drink.”
Such a beautiful boy following his orders.
“Good,” Evan whispered as he screwed the lid back on. “Now rest. You’re going to need your strength for when we get home.”
“Okay, Daddy.” Nix laid his head back against the seat and closed his eyes.
Perfect. His dragon rumbled an agreement.
* * * * *
Nix
Stretching his back out, Nix did his best to position himself more comfortably. His hands were still bound to the bedframe that Evan had tied him to when they’d gotten to Evan’s condo. His ass had a wonderful ache, along with most of his body.
Evan had fucked Nix like a man possessed. If that was what Nix had to look forward to anytime they lost a game, Nix was really considering how important winning was. Not that he’d ever do anything to sabotage the team but damn it was tempting.
He must have finally dozed off after the fifth or sixth round. The shower was running in the attached bathroom, so Evan was awake, if he’d slept at all. Turning his head, Nix caught the time. Okay, he’d been asleep close to six hours so Evan might have gotten some shut-eye with him.
The water turned off and Nix waited.
As the bathroom door opened, steam escaped, filling the bedroom before evaporating. Evan was dressed in silk lounge pants and nothing else as he used a towel to dry his hair.
“Good, you’re awake. I ordered us some food,” Evan said.
Nix licked his lips while running his gaze up and down Evan’s body.
“I would think you’ve had enough of me after spending hours with my cock inside you.”
Nix huffed. “I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.
” That was the pure truth. It was like an obsession festering inside.
It was getting ridiculous how much Nix craved Evan and his constant attention.
Not that Nix worried about being an attention slut.
He just didn’t want Evan to grow tired of him even if Evan promised that wouldn’t happen.
Evan smiled as he crossed the room. He sat on the mattress beside Nix. “It’s the bond with my dragon side.”
“Bond?” What the hell? Wait, this might not be the first time Evan had said something like that. Nix really needed to pay closer attention to Evan’s dragon stories.
“The dragon chose you,” Evan said. “I chose you. You are mine.”
Nix rolled on his side. Well at least as best he could. “This isn’t a paranormal romance. We don’t have fated mates.”