Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
RHODES
Forcing my body to relax into the physical therapist’s hands, I wince as he helps my shoulder release its tension. I’ve been sleeping like shit lately, and it would figure that my body would rebel for things done off the ice.
“Better?” Bobby asks as I blow out a breath.
“Yeah, it is. Thank you. I think it’s time to move to get a better bed sooner rather than later,” I groan, standing.
I’m wearing a towel and nothing else because I was headed to the showers to get ready for drinks after the game tonight when Bobby noticed that I was rubbing my shoulder.
“You’re at the hotel right? Those beds aren’t great to sleep on long term,” he says, wincing. “How is the house hunt going?”
It’s not a secret that Skylar and I have been looking for a place to buy. The four bedroom Tracey found us is perfect, and we’re already working on the paperwork together.
There’s so much fucking red tape to cut through even though we’re paying cash for the property, but I know it’ll be worth it.
“We found a place,” I confirm. “Now, we’re just waiting to close next week. It’ll be so nice to move into a permanent place with a decent mattress. Thanks for helping me. I really appreciate it.”
“It’s my job,” Bobby says, grinning. His eyes are already moving over the players as I head into the locker area and drop my towel.
The team owner hasn’t spared any money on taking care of his players. We’re well taken care of as far as exercise machines, cool down areas, great assistant coaches, and good people. So far, I’m happy with our choice to change teams.
My muscles need the hot shower, and Koen glances at me as I pass him. He’s dressed, and appears to be on his way out. I know that the press wanted to talk to him about our win, but it looks an awful lot like he’s getting ready to run.
My lips twist in disapproval as I stalk toward the open shower, twisting the knob a little harder than I usually would.
I’ve tried to strike up conversations with him, but he shoots me down.
It’s beginning to get embarrassing at this point.
Almost two weeks of being completely ignored chafe worse than my thick thighs on a summer’s day.
The hot water rains down on my body, the temperature punishing, yet exactly what I need.
“God, how are you not a lobster right now?” Olsson asks, trying to stay out of the scalding spray of my shower.
“Hmmm. Hot water helps the muscle aches,” I mutter, washing my hair. “I’ll sleep like a baby tonight.”
“You should sleep well because you’re a fucking beast, not because you’re trying to boil yourself alive,” Olsson snorts. “You were amazing out there tonight.”
“Oh. Thanks,” I say in surprise. It’s no secret that he’s not been happy about Sky and I being on his team. “Guess I’m just finding my stride. It always takes me a second to get used to change.”
“We haven’t been the best about welcoming you,” Olsson says, wincing as he shuts off his water. “We’re going to change that now. I’m going to make the rounds to ensure that we’re all at the bar tonight to catch a drink with you.”
I’m not proud of this, but blame the constant disappointment I’ve been feeling on my pettiness.
“Better hurry, Jeffries is making a beeline out of here,” I say, rinsing the soap off my body. I even make sure to wash my knot, cock, and asshole because I might need Sky to fuck me into the mattress later.
Sometimes, I need a little violence to calm me down after a game.
“Oh fuck no he’s not. He just finished talking to fucking press,” Olsson growls, making me chuckle under my breath.
I actually didn’t know that. Koen is as quiet as a mouse when he wants to be.
I guess I was with the physical therapist for longer than I initially thought.
“I’ll make sure our captain is there. Fucking introverted asshole. ”
“So it’s not personal?” I tease him as he begins to walk away.
Turning quickly, he flashes me without meaning to as he shrugs. “He’s been weird since you came onto the team, but he despises change. I wouldn’t take that seriously. Koen hangs out periodically with the team, it just hasn’t been all that recent. He’s due for a little socializing.”
Taking that at face value, I let him go as I turn off the water and grab a towel to dry off. The team is all in various stages of getting dressed as I grab a pair of silky black panties from my cubby. Stepping into them, I sigh at how soft they feel on my skin as I pull them up.
My suit is hung up inside my cubby, and I grab my pants next. The league insists on us looking sharp after a game, which I don’t mind. I’ll still throw my spin on things. What I wear underneath my clothes is no one's business but mine.
“Your panties don’t look like they should fit,” Jaxson says, shaking his head as he looks away. I’m getting better at learning names, so I understand what Olsson meant about change being difficult for Koen.
Unfortunately for my little omega, there’s going to be a lot of changes in his life if I have anything to say about it.
“That sounds like a loaded statement. I like the panties that remind me of silky boy shorts so my knot has some room, in the case that you’re looking for advice on where to find well fitting panties,” I drawl.
“Or, are you saying that my ass is fat? Because if you are, I know it’s serving cunt.
If you’re insinuating that I need a bigger pair, kindly fuck off. ”
Glancing over myself as I finish speaking, I check to make sure my pants look good once they’re over my ass.
“I…I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man wear women’s underwear with as much confidence as you do,” Jaxson admits. His dark skin contrasts starkly with his abashed grin, making me shrug with a laugh.
“Then I’m flattered that I’m your first,” I tease him.
“Babe, quit flirting!” Skylar calls out from across the room. He’s ready to get going and I’m not surprised. I’m moving slowly tonight.
“He was appreciative of my good taste in lingerie,” I tell him, my hands making quick work of buttoning up my white dress shirt. “Stop playing the jilted lover and help me into my corset.”
“There’s a corset?” Jaxson hisses, gobsmacked.
No one usually notices my vests because it doesn’t always look like a corset to people. Today, I’m leaning into my flair for the dramatic.
“There’s always a corset,” Skylar grumbles, coming over to help me. “This is one of the reasons that we need to move out of that hotel room. He’s grumpy when he doesn’t have access to his clothing. It’s all in storage.”
“How do you travel so well? I’d think that the press would have a field day with your clothing choices,” someone says. I can’t see his face, but I wince in advance as Skylar shoves the man face first into the locker.
“I still have access to my closet when I’m packing for away games,” I reply. “The reason that no one bothers me about my clothing choices comes in the form of a very possessive Daddy.”
“I see that now,” he grunts.
Oh, look. I can see a face now, though it’s a little busted up. Julian Londyn may be a touch homophobic. I understand that everyone has different upbringings, yet I’m not even pushing how flamboyant I can get. Leaving my corset vest semi open, I put on my shoes with a sigh.
“Maybe getting drinks is a bad idea,” I mutter. “We’re not in LA anymore, and I’m not in the mood to get in a fight because of this stupid thing.”
I begin to pop open the fastenings of my corset vest angrily, and ignore the burning behind my eyes. Fuck, it’s been a long goddamned time since I’ve let anyone make me feel small about my clothing choices. Purring and growls begin to build in the locker room and someone grabs my hands.
“Woah, Julian fucked up,” Jaxson says. “I also didn’t mean anything by my observation.
That was more a small town boy issue on my part.
I grew up very sheltered, and it’s refreshing that you give zero fucks about what the world thinks.
You’re making it easier for others to be themselves in the league.
We also can’t have our goalie cry. We’ll have to all beat the shit out of Julian and then he’ll have to ride the bench the rest of the season. ”
“Fuck,” Julian groans. “I’m sorry, man. I don’t have the sense my mama gave me.”
Julian’s words make my lips curl up and I blow out a cleansing breath.
“Alright, we’ll see how one drink treats me,” I sigh. “Where are we going anyway, Skylar?”
I honestly haven’t been paying attention to the plan he made. I typically have my calendar managed by Skylar because I’ll forget things otherwise.
“Somewhere not homophobic,” he grumbles, fixing my corset vest and pulling the cords to my specifications. “There’s a sports bar not far away that the guys like to go to. It seems to be pretty chill. I’ve been told no one bats an eye at how well dressed they are after a game.”
“The people there like to chat about the game after. There are some puck chasers, but Skylar’s snarl will make anyone think twice about approaching you, man or woman,” Olsson says, popping his head into the room. “Are we almost ready?”
There’s a bunch of nods of agreement as we hustle out, and Olsson walks beside me.
“A few guys went ahead to grab tables, including our captain,” he explains nonchalantly.
I find myself smiling as I push away the unpleasantness from earlier. Olsson shakes his head as we walk, and I know I look insane. I just want to be able to talk to Koen without him running out like the buttplug in his asshole is on fire.
It’s enough to give me a complex and make me think I smell bad. I even sniff myself as I get into the jeep with Skylar, my heavy coat wrapped around me.
“You don’t smell bad,” he teases me. “What was all that in the locker room?”
“Ugh, I don’t know. It just hit me in the face all of a sudden that not everyone is tolerant about who I am,” I sigh. “We moved without thinking about how intolerant people can be of my special brand of gay.”