Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
TYLER
I f I played my cards right, I might be able to drive him wild enough to want my cock inside him. My dick pulsed and dribbled more precum. But for that to happen, I’d have to control myself. As my gaze crept up his ripped body to meet with his, I sat on my tucked legs between his raised knees and squirted lube on my fingers. First, something easy. “I’m going to suck you off a little.”
“Yeah?” He tucked his hands between his head and the pillows, looking down at me, and flicked his tongue over his lips. “At some point, I want you to kiss me.”
“I will.” Warmth floated through my chest. He wanted closeness again, and I loved it. As I wrapped my fist around his firm dick, I lowered and slid my fingers along his crack.
“Uh…” His brows tensed and his hole twitched under my fingers.
He was so wound up right now. I lapped his crown and sucked it into my mouth, the salty taste of him flooding my tongue. “Damn, you taste good.” As I circled his hole with my finger, he grunted.
“Fuck, put it in. I just want to know what it feels like.” He rolled his hips, pressing his hole against my finger .
“Okay. Relax for me.” As I sucked him down to the back of my throat, I waited until he bore down and slipped my finger inside, then slowly pushed it in.
He wiggled under me and his thighs trembled. “Holy fuck,” he rasped and slapped his hands to the back of my head. “More.” His breaths came in quick pants.
I pumped my finger inside him, angling it to rub his prostate, I hadn’t even hit it yet, and he was?—
“Oh God!” He shuddered and his hips jerked, his hole spasming around my finger and his dick twitching in my mouth. Precum spilled from the tip, and I lapped it up. He stared at me. “Was that?”
“Yep.” I pulled off his dick with a slurp and gave him a sly grin. “Like it?”
“Holy hell, do I.” His lips quirked into a lazy smile. “Do that again and again and again…” He chuckled.
“Now, do you see why I like to bottom?” I snapped up a brow and flicked my tongue at his shaft.
“Hell yes.” He shifted lower on the bed as if getting his ass closer to me. “How about a plug?”
“I’ve only put one finger in you so far.” I might have created a bottom monster. With a soft grin, I worked a second finger inside him and worshipped his dick with my mouth and tongue, swirling and licking, rubbing my fingers over his internal bundle of nerves.
With a groan, he shut his eyes, and his mouth dropped open while he squirmed below me. “Fuck, babe, this feels so good, but I want more.” His heavy eyelids opened, and his breath hitched as I fluttered my tongue over his slit.
“More?” I glanced at the plugs while my cock throbbed. Should I start with the smaller one, or was he ready for the medium-sized one? “Let’s try this.” As I stroked myself with my slick hand, I picked up the medium-sized plug and then squirted lube over it. “Okay, since you’re enjoying this so much, we’ll try this one. It might burn a little bit. ”
With one of my hands sliding up and down his hard cock, I slowly pushed the plug inside him.
“Oh fuck.” His eyes grew wide, and he panted.
“Too much?” I stopped and fondled his balls. Had I hurt him?
“No, hell no. It’s fan-fucking-tastic. Keep going.” He widened his legs as goosebumps broke out over his thighs.
With a soft grin, I pushed the plug all the way to the flared end. “How’s that feel?” Leaving his dick, I crawled over him and lowered until our chests and hot cocks pressed together. Sensation sparked inside my gut and up my spine. Brushing a lock of hair off his brow, I kissed him deeply. “You okay?” I whispered over his cheek, nibbling at his stubble and chin.
“I’m good. Feels weird, but good.” He rocked his hips, rutting his dick against mine. “Oh yeah…” Throwing his arms around me, he grabbed my cheeks and planted heated kisses on my mouth, his tongue diving between my lips. Soft grunts rumbled from his chest as our dicks glided against each other. Pleasure tingled my balls, and they drew up. Would he let me fuck him now? “Rowan,” I said against his mouth.
“Turn it on.” He panted, biting my lower lip. “I want to feel it.”
As I continued placing heated kisses over his mouth, I felt for the remote beside us and hit a button.
He jerked and thrust his hips, pulling his mouth off mine. “Goddamn, that’s wicked.”
The vibration carried through all the way from his dick to mine. “Shit, think I turned it on full blast.”
“S-stop. Stop it. I’m going to come. Turn it off.” He rolled me off him and squeezed the head of his dick, clenching his ass cheeks. “Oh God, I’m so fucking close. I don’t wanna come yet.”
I scrambled for the remote and shut it off, then covered my grin with the back of my hand. We were quite a pair. “You okay?” I fought to keep from smiling.
A smirk wavered over his mouth. “You think this is funny. ”
“I…” Turning my head, I forced my smile away. “No, I?—”
“It’s funny.” He freed a soft snort. “Fuck, you almost killed me with this thing. Lifting his knees higher, he reached down and slowly pulled the plug out, grimacing. “My balls were about to be drained until I was shooting dust.”
“Yeah, it can be a powerful orgasm.” I threw the plug on the floor, my gaze finding his hole, prepped perfectly for me if he’d let me. “Rowan?”
“Do it, Tyler. I want you, not some toy, to get me off.” He pulled his knees to his armpits.
A wave of desire surged over me and my aching dick pulsed. “You sure?” Why was I asking again? It’s what he’d said he wanted. I quickly lubed my dick.
“I’m absolutely sure.” With his darkened gaze fixed on mine, he grabbed my arm and led me between his legs. “I want this, want you.”
With a nod, emotion fluttered in my chest. There was no turning back for either of us. I nudged my cockhead to his hole and then fell over him on a straight arm. As I slowly pushed inside him, I focused on his face, the stunning man I’d fallen so deeply in love with.
His brows and mouth tensed, and then he released a long, deep moan, his eyes rolling back in his head as his eyelids closed. “Oh fuck. The plug was good, but this is a hundred times better.” He wrapped his ankles around my hips. In a soft, husky voice, he said, “Fuck me, babe.”
With my hips rolling and my dick pulling out and pushing inside him, his insides cradled me in heat and sensation. “I love you, Rowan.” Finding his mouth with mine, I kissed him with abandon. Finally, I had all of him.
“Love you, so much.” He dug his fingers into my ass cheeks and urged me on. “I never knew love could be like this.” He groaned and tipped his head back.
I kissed and nibbled his chin to the hinge of his jaw and then sucked his earlobe into my mouth, shivers of pleasure shooting through my body. The world melted away and there was only me and him and this slow and constant connection and desire between us.
His body shuddered. “Fuck, I think I’m going to come.” He grabbed me tighter. “Can I come without you touching my dick?” His brows wrinkled.
“Yes, some guys do.” I smiled against the warm skin of his cheek, my release skyrocketing to the edge. Picking up my pace, I snapped my hips, my body slapping against his.
“Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck.” He panted. “Keep that up, right fucking there.” He tightened the grip of his legs around me, and as he cried out, hot cum spurted between us.
Dropping my head to his shoulder, I hammered into him, chasing my own climax, his hole clenching around me with the force of his orgasm. As I fell over the edge, my body tingled from my cock out to my fingers and toes with each spurt of my release. Each spasm was more and more intense, shuddering pleasure through my body.
As it all slowed, my body gave out, and I slumped over him. “Holy hell, Rowan. I sure hope you’ll let me do this again.” It might have been the best I’d ever had topping. Was it because we loved each other? Probably.
“I sure as fuck am going to let you do this again.” As a chuckle rumbled in his chest, he said, “I might want it all the time now.”
I smiled against his neck. “Good, we can switch things up.” As my waning dick slipped out of him, a tickle shivered over me. “We should probably get cleaned up.” I shifted off him and sat up, raking my fingers through my bangs.
“Yep.” As he climbed off the bed, he sniggered. “Here it comes.” He stood, and my cum dripped down his thigh. “A little help here?”
“Oh yeah.” I grabbed a tissue from a box on my nightstand and swiped up the blob. With a slap on his ass, I stood and said, “ Wanna shower?” I threw the tissue into a garbage bin under my desk in the corner.
“Hell yeah.” He grabbed my hand. “Myles is sleeping, right?”
“He is. We can make a run for it.” I wagged my brows.
Friday, we slept in and hit the gym with Myles, attempting to work off some of our Thanksgiving meal, and the rest of the day was spent relaxing at home. On Saturday, we worked ahead on our studying and decided to go to The Pavilion car show. Rowan wanted to show off his Mustang.
As we pulled into the parking lot for the strip of shops and big-box stores lining a huge parking lot, my phone buzzed in my pocket. “Shit, give me a minute.” I fished it out and looked at my phone. It was Dean. “Hello?”
“Hey, Tyler. Dean Wilson here.”
“Hi, Dean.” I flashed a glance at Rowan, parking the car at the end of a long line of pristine cars and trucks, old and new, some with their hoods raised and people milling about.
“Did you have a good Thanksgiving?” Dean asked.
“I did. I spent it with the squad and Rowan.” I pinched my lips. I hadn’t told him we were boyfriends. Did it matter though? “How was yours?”
“Great. My wife outdid herself this year with the turkey, and we had both families over.” He chuckled. “It was a little hectic.”
I nodded. When would he cut the small talk? “I’m guessing you have news?”
“I do. I’ve got some firmer dates on the meet and greet with the Blackhawks.”
“Whenever they want me, I’ll be there.” I peeked at Rowan, resting his wrist on the steering wheel of the car, watching me. I did want to make some sort of plans with him for the holiday, but we hadn’t discussed it yet. “Let me get back to you on dates.”
“Sure. They have a home game before their three days off, so maybe the week before would be best?” Dean asked.
With a nod, I said, “Yes, I can swing that.” It would leave me with time for New Year’s with Rowan if we could make it work.
“Okay, let me know your exact dates, and I’ll work on the logistics,” he said. “And, Tyler? Congratulations.”
“Thanks, Dean. Talk to you soon.” I glanced around me at the rows of gleaming cars under the parking lot lights. “Bye.”
“Bye.” Dean hung up the call.
“So, you’ve got a visit lined up with Chicago?” Rowan lifted his brows and faced me.
“Yes, looks like it. They want to meet with me in Chicago the week before Christmas.” I grabbed his hand from the steering wheel and held it on the center console. “Would you want to come to Chicago for New Year’s Eve?”
His eyes grew wide. “Uh…I was sort of hoping you could come with me to Boston.”
“Oh, really?” My heart pattered against my ribcage. Did that mean…?
“I want to come out to my family over Christmas, and I want you to meet everyone.” He kissed the back of my hand. “You’re the love of my life, Tyler. I’ve been thinking the last few days, and I need to do this.” His gaze dipped and came back. “Especially after talking with Leo.”
I swallowed through a lump in my throat. I am the love of his life . This was serious, and who knew where we’d be off to this summer for camps? “We have to make this work, Rowan.” I stared into his gorgeous face, his thick, unruly hair framing it.
“I know we do. I don’t know what that looks like yet, but we’ll find a way.” He choked out a chuckle. “Even if I end up on the East Coast somewhere and you’re in the Midwest.” He dipped his head. “Or, heaven forbid, I end up on the West Coast.” He brushed his thumb over my knuckles while he stared at our hands, his grin waning.
“All we can do now is enjoy the rest of our season and the days we have left here in college.” I leaned into him and wrapped my arm around his shoulders, pressing the side of my head to his as my heart ached. “I’ll come to Boston for New Year’s Eve. You can take me to a place that makes those drinks you like so much.” I kissed his cheek. “I want to meet your family and your friend Teddy, and I want to learn everything about you.”
He lifted his head, his gaze locking onto mine, and he sniffled. “I can’t wait to show it all to you. And at some point, I’ll make it to Chicago, and I’ll get to meet your family.”
“I’d like that.” It was time I told my family about him. I’d been so busy the last few days I hadn’t even spoken to them. And my mom…was I avoiding it because of her illness? “I’m going to call my family tomorrow and tell them about you.”
“Yeah?” His lips twitched with the hint of a smile. “Do you want me there?”
Shit, I hadn’t thought of that. He could meet them over FaceTime. “Yes, I’ll FaceTime them and you can virtually meet them.”
“Good, I’m ready.” He squeezed my hand. “Now, let’s go take a look at some of these cars.”
“Sure.” I planted a hard kiss on his mouth and then released him and climbed out of the car. As I stood in the parking lot, my gaze ran over the packs of guys, some with girlfriends, strolling around, inspecting engines, and chatting with the car’s owners.
Rowan strutted to the front of his car and lifted the hood. “There she is.”
I stepped to him and peered inside, the chrome parts gleaming under the lights. I had no idea what I was looking at. The engine was clean. I could say that much about it.
A couple of guys our age strolled toward us, all bundled in hoodies and jeans and wearing baseball hats. One with straight brown hair peeking from under his cap said, “Damn, nice car, man. I love that year.”
“Thanks. It’s my favorite too.” Rowan offered a grin at the two young men. “The mods I put on gave her an extra forty horsepower.”
“Cool. You ever take her to the races up around loop three-oh-three?” The man smirked at Rowan and then eyed a tire. “How about drifting?”
I stared at Rowan. Did he do shit like that? He’d said he had a few tickets back in Boston. A shiver rolled down my spine. I didn’t like that shit. It’s what got Michael, back in high school, killed. But he’d been on a bike. Still, the news was filled with people who’d been killed in street races.
“I haven’t taken her out for racing since I’ve been in the valley. I’ve done some in Boston though. In the summers.” He peeked at me and pursed his lips.
“Cool, you should try it sometime.” The young man held up his fist. “Have a good evening.”
Rowan fist-bumped him. “You too.” He turned to me as the two young men walked off.
“I don’t want you racing or, or drifting. It’s dangerous.” Taking a deep inhale, I raised my chin. He had to hear me on this.
“I know it is.” Chewing his bottom lip, he hung his head. “I…won’t.” His gaze met mine. “It was some shit I did when I was a teenager in Boston. I’m over it now.” He looked around us. “I don’t even know where the loop three-oh-three is.” He snickered, hooking an arm over my shoulders. “I don’t suppose you want to tell me?”
“Nope.” I dipped my head to his shoulder and smiled. That seemed easier than I thought, but I’d take it. “You want to go around and look at the other cars?” I lifted my head, studying him.
“I do. Let’s go.” He dropped his arm and took my hand. “You think the guys around here are cool with this?” He held up our entwined hands.
“I think so. If they’re not, fuck them.” I was done kowtowing to homophobic people. It’s one of the reasons I was here, playing at ASU with the squad. “We’re hockey players. We don’t take shit from anyone.”
“You know what? You’re absolutely right.” He kissed my knuckles, and we strolled along.
As we strolled through the front door of the house from the car show, I held Rowan’s hand and led him into the main room. I hadn’t seen Myles’s car in the garage, so I guessed he was out somewhere. Maybe he was sensing how nice it was for us to have the house to ourselves. Of course, we could have gone to Rowan’s, but this place was bigger.
Rowan left me and strolled into our kitchen. “I’m parched. Want a beer?” He opened the refrigerator door.
“Sure.” We’d gotten some quick food at the car show from a street truck vendor but hadn’t had any beer yet. And it was Saturday night.
He pulled out two beers and made his way to me.
Buzzing sounded in the pocket of my hoodie, and I slid the phone out. Did Dean already have dates lined up? It was a holiday weekend. Did the guy ever not work? I looked at my phone. Mom scrolled across the top. “Oh shit.”
“What?” Rowan stepped to me and peered into my phone. “Take the call.”
“Yeah, but…” I scratched my forehead. I’d wanted to tell her about Rowan the next time we talked. “Can I tell her about us now?”
As his lips parted, he set a beer can on the coffee table and then opened his own. “Yeah, I’m ready.” He took a few gulps of beer and wiped his mouth. “Even more now.” With a stuttered laugh, he smiled at me.
“Okay.” My pulse quickened and I answered the call. “Hey, Mom. How are you?” Wasn’t it a little late for them? I glanced at the clock on the stove. It was nine here, so…ten there?
“Hey, honey. I’m glad you answered. Are you getting ready to go out with your friends tonight?” she asked.
Throwing a glance at Rowan, I said, “No, I’m not.” I sank into the corner of the couch as Rowan handed me an open beer. “I’m, uh, just enjoying a quiet time at home with a frie—” Fuck, not a friend. “Mom, I have something to tell you.”
“You do?” Clanking and running water filtered through the phone.
I should tell her about the Blackhawks too. Well, both her and Dad. Shit. “Is Dad around?”
“He is. Want me to get him?” she asked.
“Yes.” I drank some beer as I waited for her. With a glance at Rowan, who’d dropped in next to me, I whispered, “I’m going to tell them about the Blackhawks first.”
“Sure.” With a wink and a nod, he sipped his beer.
“Okay, I’ve got your father here, and you’re on speaker,” Mom said.
“Hey, son. I’m assuming this is good news?” Dad asked.
I swallowed thickly. “It is. I’m being scouted by the Blackhawks. They want me to visit the facilities over the Christmas holiday.” As my gaze fell to my beer, I tapped the top of it. This was the easy part.
“Fuckin’ A, Tyler. That’s some good news.” Dad chuckled.
“Frank, language.” Mom tsked.
“He’s a hockey player, Cheri. It’s not like he hasn’t heard it a million times.” Dad snickered. “Who’ve they got scouting now, Brian Tucker, is it?”
Of course, Dad knew him. “It is.” I nodded, knitting my brows. I had to get to the part about Rowan. “So, I’ll be seeing them in the days before Christmas, then I’m going to head out to Boston afterward.”
“Holy shit, the Bruins are coming around too?” The cheer in Dad’s voice was palpable.
“No, well, I heard they might be looking at me too.” I cut my gaze to Rowan’s. Had I told him about this yet?
Rowan’s eyes grew big. “What?”
Holding my index finger up to Rowan, I said, “I haven’t heard anything solid from them yet, just Chicago.” This was going off topic.
“Well, it’ll be great to have your home base here in Chicago while you start your NHL career. We hardly see your brother anymore.” Mom sighed.
My mind flew back to Rowan’s words about his family dynamic with his mom having MS. Did this mean I’d be the one who’d help Mom out when she needed it? It didn’t matter. I wanted to be there for her, and if I could find a way to have Rowan by my side… “Yes, I’d like to be in Chicago.”
“Wait, so what’s this you said about Boston?” Mom asked.
As usual, she was on it and not getting bogged down by hockey talk. “So, I’m going to Boston for New Year’s Eve.” I tucked my beer between my thighs and snatched Rowan’s hand.
“Why is that?” she asked.
I inhaled deeply, willing the knot in my stomach to unravel. “Mom, Dad, I have a boyfriend and he’s from Boston.” There, I’d said it. Would Dad put it together?
“Wait, the other D-man they have you playing with this year is from Boston, right?” Dad asked.
“Yes, and he’s right here with me.” My gaze caught on his. “We, um…well, we started dating, and we’re in love.” Holy fuck, my mouth was on fire tonight. I had to get it to stop.
With a soft squeal, Mom said, “Oh, honey, I’m so happy to hear that. Can we meet him if he’s there with you? I mean, over the phone, you know. ”
“Yes, in fact, he’d like to meet you both. Can I call you back on FaceTime?” I bit my thumbnail. At least Mom was happy about it. I wasn’t sure what Dad’s deal was.
“Sure. Let’s do that.” She hung up the phone.
I grinned at Rowan. “You ready? Mom’s happy as hell, at least.”
“Yeah, I’m sure your dad is wondering how two hockey players on the same team are going to make shit work.” He drank some beer. “I know if my kid was in this situation, I’d be thinking that.” He lifted the edge of his mouth. “We have to convince him it’s good for our game, and I’m sure he’ll be cool with it.”
“I think you’re right.” I shifted closer to Rowan and FaceTimed Mom. When the call picked up, Mom’s face came onto the screen, her dark bobbed hair framing her face and her eyes a bright blue. “Mom, good to see you. This is Rowan.” I turned the phone’s camera onto him.
With a wave and a charming smile, he said, “Hi, Mrs. Hodge. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Oh my, what a handsome young man. It’s so nice to meet you, Rowan. And you can call me Cheri.”
The screen cut to Dad, plastering a thin-lipped smile on his face, his salt-and-pepper hair cut shorter than the last time I’d seen him. “Hello, Rowan. Pleased to meet you.”
“Likewise. You know, it’s an honor playing with your son here. The Hodge family is well known, even all the way in Boston.” His smile widened.
“Thank you, Rowan.” Dad’s smile grew genuine.
Way to lay it on thick. I moved the phone so both of us showed on the screen. “Dad, we play well together. I don’t think I’ve ever had a partner I gelled so well with.”
“I’ve seen it. You two are unstoppable when you’re in sync. I guess the biggest question I have is, does your coach know?” Dad’s brows ticked .
“He does not.” I huffed. “We only have the second half of the season left and I’m not sure what good it would do to tell him if it’s not noticeable on the ice.” Of course Dad would go there. He was a coach. I winced.
Dad narrowed his eyes. “Did you ever date anyone on my juniors team?”
“No.” I freed a nervous chuckle. “And if I had, I wouldn’t have told you.” I glanced at Rowan. “There aren’t many people who know about us.” I wanted to get off this topic.
“Mr. Hodge, I just met Jett Jarvis and Mason Hopkins, who, as you know, are living and playing together for the Coyotes. I think they’ve set a precedent for the rest of us, don’t you think?” Rowan lifted a brow.
Twisting his lips, Dad said, “You have a point. I suppose no matter if you were in an off-ice relationship or not, if your game suffered, your coach would mix things up.”
“Frank, enough of that talk.” Mom’s face came into view. “Tell us about your family, Rowan. What does your father do?”
“Oh, my dad’s a lawyer, and my mom used to do paralegal work for his firm, but now…” He threw a quick peek at me. “Now my mom is on disability. She has, um, she has MS.”
Mom’s eyes popped open. “Oh my. How long has she had it?”
“She was diagnosed, I don’t know, ten years ago? She has a rarer kind, one where the disease progresses pretty fast. She doesn’t necessarily go into a full remission in between flare-ups.” He pressed his lips together.
“I’m sorry, Rowan.” Mom’s gaze softened. “That’s got to be rough for you and your family.”
“It is, but my brothers are both still living at home, so they help out a lot.” He swallowed and scratched his nose.
“He was there with me when you called to tell me about your diagnosis.” I leaned into Rowan’s side, enjoying his warmth. “He helped me a lot that day.” I gave him a warm grin .
“Oh…” Mom’s lips tugged up in the corners. “Is that when you two fell for each other?”
I focused on Rowan.
“Yep, pretty much. At least, that’s when I figured out I liked him more than a friend.” Rowan gave me a charming smile. “This is new for me, but I’ve fallen head over heels for Tyler here.” He choked out a laugh. “I mean, how could you not? Look at him.” He held his hand up to me.
“Stop it.” As my cheeks flamed, I dipped my gaze and then turned my attention to the phone, catching Dad rolling his eyes. He was not amused, but Mom seemed to love it. “Anyway, I’ll be home for Christmas and will be meeting with the Blackhawks, then I plan on visiting Rowan in Boston.” It was time to wrap this up.
“And you’ll be meeting his family. Oh, how sweet. I’m so happy for you both.” Mom beamed into the phone, clasping her hands over her chest.
“Yeah, I’m happy for you too, son. Rowan here seems like a standup guy, and I like what I’ve seen of him on the ice.” Dad smirked into the phone.
“Thank you, sir.” Rowan squeezed my thigh.
Lifting his chin, Dad said, “Maybe I can put a word in with Brian and get him to take a look at Rowan.”
My heart lifted. “Yeah? I wouldn’t complain about it.” I snuck a glance at Rowan. “I think Dean is working on it too.” How perfect would that be?
“I, uh, I signed with Dean too.” Biting his lip, Rowan arched a brow.
“Good, I’ll definitely put a word in.” A wide smile swept over Dad’s lips. “I know a winning defensive pair when I see one.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Holy shit. “Anyway, we should get going.” I glanced at my beer in my lap. We had more celebrating to do.
“See you soon. Bye.” Mom waved into the phone.
“Bye, boys,” Dad said .
In unison, Rowan and I said, “Bye.” I stopped the call, scrubbed my face, and then looked at Rowan. “That went amazingly well.”
“Sure did.” He lifted his beer can to me. “To a winning defensive pair.”
“Hell yes.” I tapped my beer on his and drank it down.