25. Killian
Killian
A s our bus rolls to a stop in front of our home rink, I abruptly get up. I stumble, grasping at a seat and earning me a glare from Rhys from a few rows ahead.
“Schultz!” Coach roars from the front. “Will you relax!? What are you, a child!?”
Nope, I can’t relax, because I’m so looking forward to heading to Maddox’s. I plan to spend my entire weekend with him. A few of my teammates snicker when I give Coach a salute to placate him, though he only glowers at me in return.
The team files out of the bus, everyone taking extra care when getting close to Rhys.
He insisted on riding with us even if Coach said he could ride with his brother, and he’s been getting furtive glances from everyone the entire morning.
He ignores them, though, and the unusual silence on him is worrisome.
Shit. I really want to head for Maddox, but I think Rhys needs me more right now.
“Morgan,” I say as I hop out of the bus. He glances at me from where he’s standing by the underfloor compartment where our bags are. “Give me your car keys. You can hitch with Sandoval, and I’ll drive your car back.”
“And your car?” he mumbles.
“I’ll head back for it! ”
Rhys gives me a suspicious look but thankfully doesn’t argue and gives me his keys. He also doesn’t say anything when Caleb grabs both their bags from the compartment, heaving them over his shoulders.
“I’ll drop Rhys off and drive you back here so you can get your car,” Nick says to me, and I nod at him.
As we’re trying to figure out the logistics, I notice that Rhys stays silent, listening in on Walters and Vega who are talking about apartment hunting. They’re going to share a lease because it’s more affordable for both of them, but they can’t seem to stop arguing about everything this early on.
“I don’t want to share a bathroom with you,” Vega says.
Walters raises his hands and groans. “But it’s cheaper!”
Their debate is boring as hell, but Rhys seems oddly invested in it. He stares at them, his frown deepening by the second.
“Morgan?” I ask. “You good?”
He snaps out of it and gives me a startled look, then lets out a clipped laugh. “Yeah. Shit. Just thinking about how I should probably start looking for an apartment, too. And a job while I’m at it.”
Nick frowns at him. “But you’re holding off on all that until Minnesota’s camp this September. You’re not sure where you’ll be in a few months, so it doesn’t make sense for you to look for an apartment right now.”
Rhys scoffs, pointing at his sling. “Don’t think that’s happening anymore.”
“You should be fine by then.”
“Fine enough to excel against players who won’t be off the ice for at least a few weeks?”
“Rhys…” Nick gets a pained look on his face.
“Anyway,” Rhys says, turning away from Nick. He meets my eyes. “What about you, Schultz? Have you finally decided what you’re going to be up to after graduation?”
I finger-gun at him. “Nope!”
While Caleb snorts, unfortunately, my captain’s unamused by nonchalance. Rhys asks, “And Maddox is okay with this? ”
“He wants me to interview for the camp job that Isaac’s recruiting for.”
Oops. Wrong answer. The moment he hears Isaac’s name, Rhys clams up immediately, mouth snapping shut and his shoulders dropping. Nick shoots me a hopeless look before putting his hand on Rhys’s back, nudging him toward the parking lot.
I watch Rhys and Nick walk off, Caleb trailing behind them.
Though… Maddox is right. I think that coaching job will be a good fit for me. Isaac’s already scheduled the interview, and while Dad will probably be surprised, it’s not as if he can say anything now that no scout will want me.
Walters and Vega’s arguing catches my attention, and I roll my eyes at them. God, I can already see their living situation turning into a nightmare. They’re great as teammates, but I can tell they’re going to be incompatible roommates.
Hmm… I wonder how Maddox and I would be living together.
If it weren’t too early on in the relationship, I’d bounce the idea off him.
Besides, he wants to move into graduate housing and he’s very excited about it.
I can’t spring such a heavy question on him—it’d be unfair to put him under the pressure.
Even if I really, really like the idea of us living together.
I shake those thoughts away from my head and, as if summoned by my daydreaming, I get a text from him.
Maddox: Back in my dorm.
Me: Just arrived at the rink!! I have to help Rhys with his car, but I can come see you right after.
Maddox: Okay. We can work on your classes and your interview.
Me: Awww? No! Let’s go out tonight instead!
Maddox: We’re studying first.
Unfortunately, when Maddox said we’d double our tutoring time, I guess he meant it. After our debacle of an away game, I thought I’d have an excuse to take the weekend off, but Maddox has other ideas.
I can’t help but smile, though. This is how he shows he cares.
***
“Killiaaaan,” Maddox whines. “Focus, please. Tell me what you’d say to this economics problem.”
I lie back against his bed’s headboard and groan, my economics book spread open on the mattress beside me.
Mimicking his tone, I say, “Maddooox. You’re only supposed to tutor me in statistics, not this too.
Plus, we’ve been going at it for half an hour now.
I thought you said I should take breaks now and then? What happened to that?”
Maddox sighs and folds his arms, leaning back on his study chair. He gives me a stern look that only goes straight to my dick, so I rearrange my legs and pull his pillow over my lap. He says, “You said you wanted to go out tonight, so we’re not doing breaks.”
Outside, in the hallway of his dorm, I can hear several students chatting and laughing. It makes me pout—why can’t we be having fun, too? This is torture. Why’s he even so far from me? He insisted I stay on the bed at least a foot away from him.
He shakes his head. “This is my fault. I wasn’t aware you were also struggling in economics. I blame myself for not asking earlier.”
I nod. “Yes, I hope you learn from this.”
The corner of his lip quirks and he rolls his eyes, and I watch with amusement as he reaches over to shut my book.
“Brilliant choice,” I say. “Time to make out.”
“Let’s work on your interview skills instead.”
“What? No!”
Laughing, Maddox pulls out his phone. I’m assuming he’s looking for sample questions or whatever, and I collapse on his bed and roll around. I press my face against his pillow and inhale his scent, humming and feeling myself relax.
He asks, “Why are you applying to be a coach at a hockey camp?”
“My boyfriend told me to.”
“Killian!” he reprimands, making me grin .
“I’ve been in love with hockey since I was a kid, and I enjoy teaching the same skills to others. It’s going to be a wonderful experience for me and matches my Sports Management degree.”
Maddox blinks at me, probably surprised that I actually took it seriously. He lowers his phone to cock his head at me. “Very good.”
My dick thickens at his praise. Fuck this thing, really. It really does have a mind of its own. I can’t help pressing down on my semi, though, to calm it down, and Maddox’s eyes flicker to the movement.
“Seriously?” he asks. “Is sex all you think about?”
“You can’t praise me like that and think I won’t react,” I mutter. “I want to be in you literally all the time.”
Maddox’s cheeks redden, and I don’t miss the way his throat bobs when he shifts in his seat.
“You’re horny, too, aren’t you?” I accuse.
“Yeah,” he says without hesitance. “But we’re prioritizing.”
His blunt admission only makes my cock harder, and I turn my head to groan into his pillow. He gives me a moment, not saying anything, and when I peer at him he’s giving me a look I can’t decipher.
“Actually, I have an idea that’s probably going to help you focus.
” Maddox’s voice is hoarse and the dark way he’s gazing at me stops my breath.
He puts his phone aside and, slowly, gets up.
He unbuttons his jeans and the sound of him pulling his zipper is enough for all my thoughts to come to a screeching halt.
My heart thumping, I lift my head to watch as he pulls his jeans off, along with his underwear.
“What are you doing?” I rasp out.
Maddox, unfortunately, doesn’t pull his shirt off—but he lifts it a bit, giving me a tease of the unblemished skin of his flat stomach. He strokes his dick slowly, from the root to the tip, and my mouth drops open.
I want to put my mouth on him. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more.
Maddox murmurs, “Pants off, Killian. ”
Suffice to say, I obey at an alarming speed. I kick off my pants and my underwear at the same time that he rummages through his desk, pulling out a bottle of lube and a condom.
“Lie back,” he says. “I’m going to help you focus.”
I obey too eagerly.
I have no idea what he has in mind, but I’m all in for whatever this is. Maddox climbs on top of me and pulls my shirt up to my chest. Smiling, he rakes his nails down my torso, and I arch up to his touch.
I can’t even tell if he’s moving in slow motion or if it’s simply my brain playing tricks on me. Either way, I think my universe is coming to a halt because the way Maddox is staring at me like he’d devour me is doing things to me.
Maddox holds me by the dick and my heart stutters. Then, he asks, “How would you handle a player who refuses to listen to you during practice?”
“What the—what the fuck, Maddox?”
“Answer me.”
Oh, this goddamn little devil. I stare at him with wide eyes and buck up into his fist, but he doesn’t budge. Maddox gives me a sly grin that, honestly, is way too hot to even make me angry.