Skating to Him (Desert Ice Hockey #5)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

TYLER

I slipped my black slacks up my legs, fastened them, and tagged Myles Cummings, my best friend from Chicago and one of our right-wingers, on the shoulder. “Hey, you played well out there today.”

I glanced at Ace, our goalie, stepping into his shoes. All the guys in the locker room were almost dressed and getting ready for a little celly after our win.

“Thanks, man.” Cummings beamed at me, a lock of his curly blond bangs falling over his large brown eyes.

“Ace, you sure you’re not going to join us?” I sat on the bench and slipped into my black loafers. We had plans to hit the gay bar just off campus, but Ace had a new man.

“Naw, I promised Zoma we’d spend a nice evening together. You two can find trouble all by yourselves tonight.” He chuckled and shook his head of messy dark hair.

The man was built like a house and had at least one scout chasing him already. He was probably the best goalie in the NCAA right now. I glanced at Rowan Mackenzie, his muscled back to me, wearing only his briefs, his rounded ass a sight to behold. God, the guy was put together so well. I wet my lips. But he was straight as they came and a cocky bastard. He’d only started playing with us this year.

Mackenzie turned around and his gaze caught mine, his normally poofy blond hair wet and falling around his face.

I flashed him a grin. The guy had the deepest blue eyes I’d ever seen. And the freckles spattered across the bridge of his nose? Yeah, they did something to me. Coach had us playing together tonight. Did it mean?—

“Hey, Hodge and Mackenzie, I need to see you both in my office once you’re decent.” Coach Hammett, our defensive line coach, stood at the end of the locker room and up-nodded at me.

“Sure, be right in.” I threw a glance at Cummings, who smiled and bumped his elbow on mine. I was pretty sure I’d be paired with Mackenzie now.

“Dude, more scouts?” Cummings lifted his brows.

Mackenzie, now dressed in gray slacks, stepped to us. “Not both of us. I think we’re going to be official D-line partners as of tonight. What do you think, Hodge?” He slapped my shoulder.

“You play well together.” Ace, fully dressed in his suit, picked up his duffel and slung it over his shoulder.

“I think you might be right.” I nodded. I could think of worse things than pairing with Mackenzie on the ice. He’d earned my respect from day one at camp. Plus, we had geology class together, and he’d helped me a few times with assignments. I knew I could count on him.

Mackenzie shrugged his suit jacket on and shook his hair off his forehead. “You ready?”

“Just a minute.” I slipped my arms into my jacket and checked myself in the mirror I’d hung in my stall, swiping my dirty-blond bangs off my cheekbones and catching my brown-eyed gaze in my reflection.

“Seriously?” Myles freed a sharp laugh and pushed at my ribs. “You look fine, Hodge. You’re only going in to talk to the coach.”

“Yeah, but I need to have good flow for the bar later. There might be puck boys.” With a quick chuckle, I glanced at Mackenzie.

Blinking a few times, Mackenzie said, “Puck boys? Is there such a thing?”

I shrugged. “Sure, why not?” I squeezed Mackenzie’s shoulder. “Come on.” I strolled with him through the emptying locker room and into Coach’s office.

Mackenzie dropped into the chair by the wall opposite Coach’s desk.

With my gaze catching on Coach tenting his hands over his closed laptop, I sat in the chair next to Mackenzie. Yeah, we were going to be paired for the season. My pulse picked up. Which meant I’d probably be rooming with him on the road. My gaze slid to Mackenzie loosely crossing his legs and leaning back in his chair. Shit, I’d have to keep my eyes to myself from now on and quit eye-fucking him when he wasn’t looking.

“You both played well out there tonight.” Coach arched a brow. “You have chemistry.”

Chemistry? I shifted in my seat and cleared my throat. “So you’re pairing us up for good?” Might as well cut to the chase.

“I am. How do you both feel about that?” He eyed me and then Mackenzie.

Mackenzie dropped his lifted leg to the floor and came forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. “I think it’s a great idea. I don’t know about him…” He pointed his thumb at me. “But it’s like I can read his mind, and we’ve only played on the same line a few times.”

Read my mind? Oh, if only he knew what had really been going through it. A soft smirk floated over my mouth. He’d be shocked as fuck to know how much I’d been drooling over his fine ass. I threaded my fingers together over my lap. Wait, I had to say something. “Yeah, I think we play well together.”

“Okay, then it’s a done deal. You’ll be formally working together starting on Monday. See you at the morning skate.” He opened his laptop and typed .

“See you, Coach.” Mackenzie rose and patted my shoulder. “Come on. Time for a little celly, right?”

“Not too much. Behave yourselves.” Coach peeked up from his screen.

“Don’t you worry about us.” I stood and followed Mackenzie out of the room. We stopped in the hallway, painted in the school colors of maroon and gold.

Mackenzie faced me. “Well, Hodge, guess it’s you and me now. Where is this bar you and Cummings were going to tonight?”

With a stuttered chuckle, I brushed my hand over the back of my hair. “Oh, it’s a gay bar down on Mill Avenue. The Club on Mill?” My gaze flicked to his.

He peered at me. “A gay bar? There’s one that close to campus?” He planted his hands on his hips.

No fucking way he’d want to go there. With a smirk, I said, “Yeah, you know I’m?—”

“I know you and Myles are gay.” He twisted his lips. “It’s not like I’ve never been to a place like that.”

I stared at him for a beat. Was he queer? “You’ve been to a gay bar before?”

“Sure. I’m a pretty open guy. I have a friend back home in Boston who’s gay.” He pressed his lips together. “So yeah, I’ve been to them with him.”

Ticking my brows, I said, “Okay, well, if you want to join us, you’re more than welcome.” I lifted the corner of my mouth. “Just know you might get hit on.”

“By a puck boy?” A grin spread over his generous lips. “I can handle that. In fact, I’d find it flattering considering how picky some of you gay men are.”

“Yeah?” He was sort of right. Shit, I’d be at The Club with him? My heart skipped a beat. It’d be fine. There’d be plenty of men to keep my mind off him. “Okay then, let’s meet outside the club in half an hour? ”

“Okay, see you there.” He tapped his knuckles on my chest and headed for the locker room.

I parked my Tacoma in the driveway at the squad house, set my wrist on the steering wheel, and turned to Myles in the passenger seat. “How weird will it be having a straight dude with us at the gay bar?” I’d told him about Mackenzie joining us on the way home, but he hadn’t said much. He’d probably been mulling it over the whole way here.

“I don’t know. I’ve never taken a straight friend there.” He opened his door and climbed out as I did the same.

Meeting him at the walkway, I followed him to the front door, covered by a small portico. “Are you pissed off at me for letting him come with us?” The Canadian in Myles was too nice to come out and say he didn’t want him there.

He unlocked the door and stepped inside, flicking on the lamps on our side tables next to our well-worn green sectional. “No, I’m not pissed off.” He set his duffel on the floor by the kitchen island.

This year, we’d found a house with an upgraded kitchen, all done up in white shaker cabinets.

“But you’re pretty quiet.” Walking behind him, I set my duffel next to his. We had to get out of these suits and into our club clothes. Shit, what was I going to wear?

He twisted around, his gaze meeting mine. “I think it’ll be weird, but if he knows what he’s in for and is cool with guys hitting on him like he says, then I’m okay with it.”

“I have to get to know him better.” I hung my head, running my fingers along the smooth edge of our dark countertop. “I’m sure Coach will have us rooming together too.” I had to stop worrying about that. Our next away game was a week from now.

“Yeah?” He narrowed his eyes at me. “He’s a damn good- looking guy, Tyler. How are you going to keep your dick in your pants on the road, eh?” He snickered.

“Shut up. I’ll be fine. He’s straight, remember?” I worried my lower lip. Maybe if I got to know Rowan better, his hotness would fade, and I’d start seeing him like any other guy on the team. Fuck me, I was doomed.

After parking my truck, I strolled with Myles down Mill Avenue’s busy sidewalk. It was finally cooling down at night now that it was October. I glanced around us at the light spilling out of the two-story brick buildings housing shops, bars, and restaurants, and then up at “A” Mountain looming in the distance behind glass high-rises. Traffic crawled along the street beside us. The place was bustling as usual. I tapped Myles with the back of my hand as we strolled under a tree poking out of the sidewalk. “Hey, what shot are we getting tonight?” I gave him a quick smile. It was customary to get shots at the start of the night.

“The Fuck U of A, what else?” He stuffed his hands into the front pockets of his jeans and ticked his head. “There’s Rowan, eh?”

I did a double-take of Rowan standing at the foot of the stairs, his black shirt pulling tight across the muscles of his arms and shoulders. His jeans left nothing to the imagination, including the faint outline of his dick.

My balls tingled. Goddamn, he looked good. I breathed through my racing heartbeat. Settle the fuck down. He was straight. But I would have to fight the guys off him dressed like that. Because at some point, he might get annoyed with the whole thing if I didn’t.

A woman with bouncing blonde curls strutted to him, stopped, and hugged him, kicking a strappy high heel behind her .

“Did he bring a date and not tell us?” Myles furrowed his brows. “I thought it was just us out for the celly?”

“I, uh…” Tightness crawled through my chest. Not cool. “I don’t know. Maybe.” Did he have a girlfriend I didn’t know about?

As we approached, Rowan chatted up the woman and looked over her well-endowed chest. She might have the longest legs I’d ever seen on a woman, or was it the cut of her yoga pants?

“Hey.” I stopped at Rowan and the woman. “Who’s this?” I threw a quick, pointed look at her, noting her fake eyelashes. She was too done up. I hadn’t met her, but I already didn’t like her.

“Oh hey, Tyler. This is, ah…” Rowan cocked his head and scratched his neck. “Shit, I’m sorry. What was your name again, honey?”

She giggled, throwing her head back. “Bella.” Her smile faded. “We met at karaoke at Four One Four Pizza a few weekends ago, remember? I was singing Flowers by Miley Cyrus.” She pushed her index finger to her lips. “Hey, you were supposed to call me.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Rowan straightened his spine and smirked at me. “Anyway, Bella, this is Tyler.” He motioned at me. “And Myles.” He sucked in a breath. “They’re on the hockey team with me.”

“Oh, so pleased to meet you both.” She gave each of us a quick side hug.

She was a hugger and definitely not a girlfriend. “Nice to meet you.” Was he going to invite her to join us? I snuck a peek at Myles, who was frowning and looking around us. Myles felt the same way I did about the situation.

“Where are you boys off to?” She slid her phone out of a side pocket on her yoga pants and held it to her face. “I can text my friends to meet us if you want?”

With a glance at me, he pushed her phone down. “No, that’s all right. It’s just the boys tonight, right guys?” Rowan raised his brows.

“Yeah, right.” Myles perked up, his attention drawing to Bella. “Sorry, but we’re celebrating a win tonight. It’s a…thing we do.”

“Oh, and no girls are allowed?” She hooked a brow.

“Um…” Rowan clicked his tongue. “No, not tonight.” He leaned close to her, wrapping his arm around her tiny waist. “Hey, I’ll text you later, okay?”

Her face lit up and she nodded. “Yeah, okay.” Her phone buzzed in her hand. “Oh, that’s my friends. They’re waiting for me.”

“Okay, better go then.” Rowan freed her, then pushed on her lower back. “Talk to you later.”

As she scurried off, she waved behind her. “Bye. It was nice meeting you all.”

Tipping his head back, Rowan blew out a long breath. “Shit, sorry about that. I barely remember that girl.”

“Yeah?” Was he a player? I placed a hand on my hip. “So, did you two hook up, or…?” Why did I even ask? I didn’t want to know.

With a shake of his head, Rowan chuckled and said, “She got me off in my car.”

“Dude, right on.” A faint smile curled the edges of Myles’s lips. “Blowjob or jerk off?”

I backhanded Myles’s shoulder. “What’s wrong with you?” I seriously didn’t need to know that. Fuck, this night was messed up already.

“What?” Myles held his palms up.

“Jerk off. I don’t think she swallows, let alone deep throats.” Rowan sniggered, then looked me up and down. “Damn, Tyler, you go all out for this place. Look at those duds.” He fingered the edge of my sheer white crop top. “Where do you find stuff like this? Is there a gay clothing store around here somewhere?”

“No, Amazon.” His touch tickled my stomach, and my balls prickled with heat. Shit, now was not a good time for a boner, especially with how tight my jeans were. I stepped back, freeing myself from him.

Myles eyed me. “Let’s go. There’s already a line forming.” He pointed to a line of men all done up for a night in the club. It wound halfway down the metal stairs.

“Okay, I’ll follow you.” Rowan placed a hand on my shoulder and turned to walk with me.

I glanced at his profile, lit by the old-timey streetlamps, the sprinkling of freckles across his smaller nose and the pout of his plump lips. His cheeks and chin were freshly shaved, and his hair was in its usual wild state of fluffy waves, his bangs reaching almost to his chin and the hair in the back falling over the collar of his shirt. He was so well put together, an interesting mix of unruly blended with flair.

After showing our IDs and entering the bar, we wound through the crowd of mostly men and bellied up to the bar. A slew of bare-chested bartenders made drinks in front of a chalkboard with the signature shots written in neon.

Rowan stood between Myles and me, scanning around us, the flickering lights shimmering on his blond hair. “So, lots of men here.”

“It’s a gay bar, remember?” I bounced a little to the beat of the house dance music, letting it calm the fluttering of my stomach. The DJ had yet to start. “We usually start off with rounds of the Fuck U of A shots.” I laid my forearms on the bar top and peered across Rowan at Myles. He was quiet tonight.

“Sounds good.” Rowan held up his hand, flagging down a bartender. “What else besides the shots? Do you guys drink beer?”

“Of course we drink beer.” Throwing me a look, Myles arched a brow .

Rowan ordered our drinks. “So, you guys cruise this place?” He twisted, putting his back to the bar.

“Sometimes.” This was weird and a little awkward. I watched the bartender set our drinks down.

Rowan turned back around and paid. “You guys get the next round.” He held up his shot. “So, we didn’t play U of A today, but?—”

“Fuck U of A.” With a broad grin, Myles held up his shot, tapped it against Rowan’s, and waited.

“Fuck U of A.” I hit my shot against each of theirs, and we downed them, the sugary fruit juice and alcohol mixture gliding down my throat.

Rowan wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Fuck, that’s good, but a few of those and I might start cruising this place myself.” He chuckled.

“Right on.” Myles laughed. “I’d like to see that, eh?”

We picked up our beers and put our backs to the bar, looking out over the crowd.

Rowan leaned closer to me, his breath whispering over my cheek. “So, what sort of guys do you like?”

A shiver played over my skin. Guys like you? Can’t say that . Shrugging a shoulder, I said, “I don’t know. That guy’s hot.” I lifted my chin at a man across the bar, leaning on a pole, his wavy blond hair falling to his bare and muscled shoulders.

“Looks sort of like Rowan.” Myles cackled and drank his beer.

I winced. He was right. “Does not, Cummings. Maybe you need to get your eyes examined.”

“I did.” Leaning over Rowan, Myles said, “And they’re fine.” He straightened, keeping his eyes on the man across the bar. “He is hot though. Do you want him, or can I check him out?”

“You go ahead.” I didn’t want to leave Rowan unattended. I sipped my beer.

“Okay, your loss.” Myles sauntered to the man and struck up a conversation .

Rowan faced me, leaning his hip against the bar. “You and Myles are pretty close. Was there ever any interest?” He studied me as he held his beer to his lips.

“No, we’ve always just been friends.” My gaze dipped to his mouth and up again. “Just because two guys are gay doesn’t mean they automatically want to hook up.” I tsked. I’d heard things like that before.

“Yeah, but Myles is a good-looking guy. If I were gay…” He ticked his head to the side and drank his beer.

Heat filtered through my chest, and I wrinkled my nose. Did that mean he was attracted to Myles in some way and not me? Should I go there? “And what about me?” I popped my eyes open. Fuckin’ A, why did I have to say it out loud?

He bumped off the bar and looked me up and down, nodding and rubbing his chin. “Yeah, I’d say you’re hot.”

My cheeks warmed. He called me hot. He called me hot? “Uh, thank you.” My pulse fluttered as I downed a few gulps of beer. It didn’t mean anything, and we should talk about something else. I ran my gaze over the club, and it landed on an open high-top table tucked away in a corner. “Hey, how about we go grab that table?”

“Sure. But we should do another shot before we grab it.” He waved down the bartender and ordered another round of shots. “Ace isn’t here, and we should have a drink for him, don’t you think?”

“Guess so.” After the bartender dropped off the shots, I paid for them, and we made our way through the growing crowd and then climbed into our chairs.

The DJ took to the stand across the room with neon lips and butterflies spray painted on it, put his headphones on, and started playing louder music.

Thankfully we were far enough away we could still talk. I needed to get to know Rowan better. “So, you’re from Boston?” I picked up my shot .

“Yep, went to Boston College until this year.” He held his shot to me. “Fuck U of A.” A wide smile spread over his mouth.

“Fuck U of A.” With a soft snort, I tapped my shot against his and downed it, then hissed. “If we do more shots, it has to be something else.” All the sugar was a morning headache in the making.

“Okay, maybe we should order a Ward 8 instead of beer.” He drank the rest of his beer down.

“What the hell is that?” This was about to get dangerous, I could tell. I flicked my gaze to Myles, now grinding on the dancefloor with the man he’d been hitting on. It looked like we would have barely-had-a-drink Myles and not fall-down-drunk Myles tonight. So I could probably have a few and not worry too much about it.

“Drink up, and I’ll order us one. Hopefully, they know how to make it here.” Looking around, he found a waiter in a Speedo and ordered. As he hitched into his seat, he pointed his thumb at the back of the waiter. “Nice guy. Really knows how to fill out a Speedo.” Throwing his head back, he cackled and focused on me. “But really, this place has got to be heaven for a guy like you.”

Nodding, I said, “Yeah, sure is a lot of eye candy.” My traitorous gaze trailed over Rowan’s body and my dick twitched in my jeans. Shit, calm the fuck down, Ty. “Anyway, you still haven’t told me what a Ward 8 is.”

“It’s a popular cocktail in Boston. It has whiskey, lemon juice, orange juice, and some grenadine shit in it. It’s good, you’ll like it.” His eyes sparkled and he raked his teeth over his lower lip.

The waiter dropped off our new drink and Rowan paid.

I looked at my glass. The drink was an orangish color and had a maraschino cherry sitting at the bottom. “Looks good.” I picked it up. “Is this what you drink back home?”

“When I’m out having a celly, yeah.” He held his glass up. “To new partners.”

“New partners.” I tapped my glass against his and sipped. The drink wasn’t overly sweet like the shot. “This is pretty good.”

With a nod, he drank his and set it down.

Was he evading my questions about him? Sure seemed like it. Setting my forearm on the table, I leaned in. “So why did you come to Arizona? You only had one year left, right?” Rowan was a senior, like me, and studying mechanical engineering. They had decent schools for that out East.