Chapter 12 #2
My shoulders lower with relief. At least Eden has acted to look after his health and will be seeing a physio.
“But why didn’t you tell us?” I demand.
Eden cocks his head. “When?”
I open my mouth and then close it.
Should he have told me during the tension of the game? Afterward when D’Angelo and Shay were on a high from finally winning? When we were negotiating the first Pucking Them Position fantasy, which we acted out this morning? After all, I have just woken up.
“From one master of deflection to another,” D’Angelo says, dryly, “good try. When we asked you outright the pain level, you lied about it. So, the new rule is that the moment your pain level becomes above three, you tell one of us. It’s for your safety.
If Robyn or your twin were in pain, wouldn’t you want to know?
Wouldn’t you want to be sure that you could care for them and meet their needs? ”
Eden nods, looking confused. “But this is me.”
My heart aches.
D’Angelo grabs Eden by the bow tie, making sure that he has his full attention. “I am talking about you. You may not understand or believe it, but we care about your pain as much as you care about ours. Let someone look after you occasionally.”
“Please, Phoenix,” I whisper.
Eden’s gaze snaps to mine.
He nods.
I smile. “Thank you.”
“Now, how are you, my good boy?” D’Angelo turns to lean over me and brush a strand of hair out of Shay’s face. “How was this morning with our Robyn for you? Is there anything that you’d change?”
When D’Angelo traces his thumb over Shay’s plush lips, as if he’s rewarding them for their work on my pussy, Shay hurriedly turns his head and kisses D’Angelo’s palm.
D’Angelo sucks in a breath.
“It was amazing to feel Robyn give me that much trust and then bring her out of sleep with pleasure,” Shay replies, and I flush.
His look is unexpectedly shy, as he drags his knees up to his chest. “She wrote that she’d like to be fucked awake.
We could try that too, yeah? I could be the Shay kinky alarm clock. ”
My pulse speeds up. “I can’t think of a better way to be woken up.”
I’m pleased when the shyness fades from his expression, and he smiles brightly.
“I do have a brilliant cock and tongue.” He leans to licks down my throat, sucking my collarbone to prove it. “They do have top spot in Robyn’s favorite things.”
D’Angelo rolls his eyes. “There are plenty of other positions in the Guide we have yet to try. Don’t you remember my helpful stickmen drawings?”
“How could I forget?” I mutter.
“Hmm?”
“Nothing.”
Eden leans over to the nightstand and picks up a silver tray, which is laden with a plate of freshly baked muffins and a champagne flute.
I sigh happily at the sweet and fruity scents.
They truly are spoiling me this morning.
Shay is still sucking hickies along my collarbone.
I laughingly bat him away. “Sorry, but you’ve been beaten to top spot by chocolate chip muffins.”
Shay gasps in mock outrage. “But I’m cute and delicious too.”
If D’Angelo keeps rolling his eyes like that, will it be bad for his health?
“Tough luck,” I reply. “Chocolate muffins and champagne together trump sex. It’s a simple fact.”
To be fair, chocolate by itself does. I don’t admit that.
Eden looks smug. He balances the tray on the bed.
D’Angelo snatches up the champagne flute, before lifting it to my lips.
Then Eden breaks off a piece of gooey, chocolate muffin and holds it up.
Two naked butlers handfeeding me…? I could get used to this.
I sprawl back, opening my mouth obediently.
D’Angelo rests the lip of the glass against my mouth, and I swallow. As soon as he pulls away the champagne flute, Eden presses the muffin to my mouth, and I bite happily. I munch on the sweet, delicious cake.
I lick over Eden’s sticky fingers in thanks.
I sense that both D’Angelo and Eden are getting as much out of caring for me like this, as I am from giving up control and being cared for.
My men feeding me small bites and sips of drink, is peaceful.
I feel contented. This isn’t a scene, but simply our life and dynamic.
It works for us.
When Shay opens his mouth hopefully, D’Angelo moves the champagne glass like he’s about to tip some into his mouth. Then at the last moment, he swerves the glass away.
D’Angelo returns the champagne to me. “We have practice later. No alcohol for you, remember?”
Shay pouts. “You’re bloody strict. What happened to the wild, partying captain who once infamously turned up to practice in a full furry wolf suit, declaring that the Bay Rebels were his pack, while his new name was Alpha Icefang?”
“Alpha Icefang?” I am never letting him forget that. My eyes widen. “How have I not heard this?”
Shay grins. “Because you don’t hang around in the lockers with Lucas and Grayson. They know the gossip on everyone. Also, the rule is normally what happens in the locker room stays in the locker room. But I was saving the furry bomb for just the right moment…like now.”
D’Angelo’s cheeks redden, but to my surprise, he only grins back cockily. “I make a handsome Alpha. What? Do you think Eden and you are the only ones who know about the omegaverse? Also, in my defense, I was very drunk.”
“And accidentally fell into a furry suit?” I splutter with laughter.
“That you just happened to have…?” Shay adds.
“Furrysuiters are amongst the sweetest and funniest people I’ve met,” D’Angelo says, casually.
“Also, most of them can fix any IT problem you have. Garcia’s top hacker contact is one.
Don’t be so quick to dismiss it. You’d make an adorable Omega, cucciolo, bent over taking my knot in your defenseless little hole. ”
Shay swallows; his cock hardens. “You’re not playing fair, darlin’.”
“When do I?”
To my surprise, Shay suddenly looks anxious. “You know that honesty thing?”
Suddenly, D’Angelo’s gaze sharpens. “You better know it too.”
“It’s just that several times while I’ve been with Atlas in the buddy system, I’ve felt like I was being watched.
I thought that I was being paranoid or maybe, imagining things because I was overtired.
Since we’re sharing things, however, even about past escapades in furry suits, then I thought that I should tell you. It’s probably nothing.”
“But what if it’s not?” I turn to him, vibrating with dread. “What if it’s Wilder. What if it’s…?”
Honesty.
The word sits as heavy as a stone in my stomach.
Eden pushes away the tray, watching me closely.
“What, principessa?” D’Angelo narrows his eyes.
“What if it’s to do with the death threats?
” I duck my head. “There have been haters, since we went public about our relationship. Eden and I have been screening them. It’s our job to shield Shay and you, so that you can play your best game on the ice.
Dad and security know. It’s another reason that they’ve been increased. ”
D’Angelo’s expression is tight. “You should still have told us.”
I tilt up my chin. “As PR Director, it was my decision to make. You may be in charge with your team but don’t forget that you don’t control me.”
Shay whistles. “You tell him, love.”
When D’Angelo glares at him, he shrinks back.
“She did the right thing,” Eden says. “What if it’s the Webbs who are watching my brother?”
Shay goes unnaturally still. The color drains from his cheeks.
Shit.
Suddenly, my phone rings on my nightstand. I jump, as it sounds loud in the silence.
“I’m sorry. I need to answer.” I reach over Shay to snatch my phone.
To my shock, I can feel that he is trembling.
Determined to help, I drape myself on Shay’s lap to try and pull him back into the present, where he has me warm and heavy on his knee, rather than leave him alone in his dark past, where he is hungry and cold.
Shay blinks, as if coming back to himself. His expression clears.
He smiles, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
“Hey, Dad,” I answer the answer, trying not to make it sound like I am sitting naked in Dad’s star player’s lap.
“Pass me onto D’Angelo,” Dad barks. “I can only reach his voicemail.”
I wince.
I should have known that it would be Dad calling first thing in the morning, before any of us are dressed.
He doesn’t allow D’Angelo to fucking breathe.
Why didn’t I realize before just how much control Dad holds over D’Angelo?
He barely allows his captain more than a couple of hours away from work.
Even when we tried to have a single weekend in the last eight months together, Dad still interrupted it.
Over Christmas, he insisted that D’Angelo work on hockey strategy.
When we were meant to be spending New Year’s Day together, Dad called D’Angelo into his study, after we’d shared dinner together with Dad, to talk to him one-to-one.
Has Dad been treating D’Angelo the same as he does Cody? Abusing him, only D’Angelo never realized it because of his own traumatic background?
D’Angelo views his coach as a father figure. Seeing him fall from his pedestal as the man who took him into the team and saved him, is almost as hard as it is for me to see my own dad fall.
Reluctantly, D’Angelo takes the phone.
Then he listens with a stony expression.
I can hear Dad’s tinny voice on the other end but not make out the words.
“I don’t need that,” D’Angelo replies, coldly. “I like my current therapist. They’ve helped me a lot, coach.” Then he grimaces, holding the phone away from his ear. “I’ll be there.”
Finally, he turns off the phone and passes it back to me.
“What did he want?” Eden clenches his hands on his lap. “You don’t have to go anywhere you don’t want to.”
I am surprised by the vehemence in his tone.
D’Angelo pats Eden’s knee. “He’s not calling me in front of the firing squad or another ambush like happened with Anderson.
At least, I hope not. He’s hired this new mental skills coach, Dr. Olivia FitzGerald.
He’s been pressuring the staff to see her.
He’s insisting that I get my ass out of bed and have my first session with her. ”
“No bloody way,” Shay snarls, far louder than I’m expecting. “She’s a bully. Don’t you remember how she treated Noah at the rink? If that’s her idea of how to motivate staff, then how do you think she’ll act with players? We’re in a good place. We don’t need anyone else messing with our heads.”
“Can I tell you how hot I find your protectiveness, cucciolo?” D’Angelo is fiddling compulsively with his bow tie, however, and I watch him with growing concern.
Shay is right.
Whoever this new staff member is, meeting her now is a mistake.
“I have a PA emergency,” Eden suddenly says like he’s thinking the same thing. “You can’t go.”
D’Angelo pushes himself off the bed, however, stretching to hide how his hands are shaking. “What type of PA emergency?”
“Whatever stops you meeting this mysterious woman.”
D’Angelo throws open the closet, rifling through his racks of immaculate suits.
A heavy fear settles in my stomach.
This new staff member being a bully is on brand for Dad.
D’Angelo glances over his shoulder at the three of us on the bed, giving us a reassuring smile.
“I don’t have a choice but to leave, even if the emergency is that you’ve run out of sticky notes.
This new mental skills coach is also a psychiatrist, and as coach informed me, she will oversee prescribing my OCD meds.
I’ll find a way to contact my old therapist. I can’t lose him like that with no closure, when he’s helped me such a lot for years.
Don’t worry, I’m used to being passed between professionals.
I can handle this new staff member. What’s the worse she can do? ”