Chapter 16 #2
Grey takes a deep breath. “His name is Rome Acciari, the so-called bad boy of hockey. He’s a fucking asshole.”
“Isn’t the whole game rough, though?” He looks at me. “I’m not saying you deserved it. Sorry. I just mean. Hockey is rough, right? I’m sorry.”
He chuckles. “It’s okay. I know how you meant it, and you’re right.
” He turns a little toward me. “The thing is, yes, this is a rough sport. We knock into each other, scrums break out, gloves are thrown, but at the end of the day you have respect. No cheap shots. No injuring for the sake of injuring.” He settles back against his pillows.
“For example, years back, there was this player . . . he played for the Minnesota Wolves. Karl Hunt. He liked to injure the goalies. You never fuck with the goalies. It was a well-known dirty as fuck thing he did. He’d hit them in the back.
And that’s the thing. You don’t hit people from behind. That’s coward shit.”
“Wow, that’s terrible.”
Grey nods. “He uh, he hit a goalie for Vermont. The way he did it and the force of it paralyzed him. He’s since regained some of his movement but .
. .” He shakes his head. “He hasn’t been the same since.
” He looks at me. “That’s not hockey. That’s not sportsmanship.
That’s criminal. He was suspended indefinitely, but no criminal charges, even though there should have been. He was doing that shit on purpose.”
“Can I ask what happened to you?”
Grey looks ahead at the TV. Players are filing out onto the ice.
“I was headed for their goal. Rome came up behind me with a force I’ve never felt before and barreled into me.
I tripped over my skate and went up a little in the air, then I came down really hard on my knee.
Thought I’d shattered it. I’ve never felt pain like that in my life. ”
“That must have been awful.” He smiles sadly, and I watch the black and lime-green jerseys skating around their half of the rink. “What’s his number?”
“Forty-one.” I look for him out in the chaos and find him. You can’t see anything, but I notice him by himself while they warm up.
“I guess the only consolation is that no one likes that asshole, not even his own team. He’s notorious. Serial cheater. I don’t know why his wife stays with him.He’s always drinking and getting into fights. More arrests than anyone knows what to do with. He’s just a dick.”
“Why do they keep him?”
Grey shrugs. “He’s good at playing. Unfortunately. It’s what the GMs like to see. He’s a brawler. Most of us think he’s a coward.”
“So, we’re rooting for the Reapers, then?”
Grey chuckles, putting his arm around me and pulling me against his body.
“We can, but I think the Vipers have this one. Last game before the finals, they’re going to leave it all out on the ice.
Playoff hockey isn’t regular hockey. This is where all that blunt force gets to run wild.
I know Atlas is dying for it. He loves fighting on the ice.
He’s the sweetest mess off it, but my boy likes to fight. ”
“Your boy?” Something strange fills my stomach. “You guys are close, huh?”
He nods. “He’s my best friend.”
I don’t want to ask, but I have to. “Have you two ever like, hooked up?”
Grey barks out a laugh so sharp and loud it startles me. “Oh no.” He continues to laugh. “God no.”
“Why is that funny?” Atlas’s reactions to Grey make me think otherwise. Maybe he is just suspicious of me after all. Which is fair, with Grey’s past and the things he’s been through.
“Well, first of all he’s too young.”
“I’m younger than you.”
Something dances behind his eyes when he looks at me.
Something I can’t place. “Yeah, but five years and almost thirty is a hell of a lot different than twenty-four with nearly nine years between us. Honestly, that’s not even it.
Atlas is a young twenty-four, which is not his fault at all.
He’s been through so much shit.” I’m curious but I hold my questions.
“Atlas and I roomed together the first year he got drafted. Before that I had a room to myself. It’s how I liked it.
Coach put him with me, though, and I was pissed at first.”
“Were you?”
He nods. “Then, after we’d roomed together a few times, I was grateful. He needed someone to look out for him, and I became happy to be that someone. I love him to death, don’t get me wrong, but he’s a lot to handle.”
“Is that why you were afraid to tell him?”
He nods. “Oli told me he’s rooming with Ryker now.
One of our friends on the team. Which is good.
I like Ryker, and he’s about as patient as they come.
That’s what Atlas needs—patience, and a firm hand to tell him no.
He’s a brat.” He laughs. “He’s also my brother.
Maybe not by blood, but he’s my family.”
Some of me eases but the other part of me wonders if Atlas realizes any of this. “So, nothing romantic going on, then?” I smile.
Grey looks at me. “No. Not one bit. I don’t even think he’s queer. I shouldn’t assume, but I think he’d tell me. He tells me everything.” He looks at me, his eyes going to my mouth. “Why the sudden interest in my love life?”
I blush. “I just wondered. You two are close, so I wanted to ask.” I swallow.
“I’m not seeing anyone right now. No one beyond what’s currently happening in this bed.”
“And what is happening?”
He lets out a soft breath, sinking back deeper into his pillows. “What do you want to happen?”
My fingers drag across his chest hair. “I’m not sure.
All I know is that I like this.” His palm cups my cheek, his thumb brushing my bottom lip, and the soft touches make my chest hum.
I love the slow way he touches me. The gentle way his hands land on my cheeks.
The soft breaths and slight tilt of his lips as his eyes lazily search my face. “I like whatever’s happening.”
Grey smiles, his brilliant, stormy blue-green eyes hooded on me. “Then we’ll keep letting it happen, until you don’t want it to happen.”
“Oh, I don’t see that happening. I—” I can do this. I know what I want. “I want a kiss?”
“Then take it like you own me.”
The words make my cock ache. I’m not used to making moves or feeling like this.
I swallow, leaning down to press my lips to his, and sparks fly in my stomach.
A soft heat flickers to life inside me. I feel it in my fingers, my toes, my balls.
I feel like I’m flying when he’s touching me.
Adrenaline and soft heat caress every inch of my skin.
I don’t want this to end. I’m afraid it might.
The thing is, Grey doesn’t seem like the type to discard people easily. Or let them in easily either. He deepens the kiss. Soft lips and eager tongue. His deep moan makes me shiver. His tongue sweeps across mine and I melt against him.
His hands roam down my back, stopping right before my waistband, and I pull back. I’m losing my mind. I blink at him. Beautiful blue-green eyes. It hits me then what I see in them. No anger. No ill intent. Just carnal want.
Grey wants me.
He doesn’t want to hurt me or use me. He wants me to feel good. He wants us to feel good together.
I dive back in and take my time tasting him.
I don’t have to hurry. I don’t have to rush and make sure he finishes before he gets impatient.
I get to explore him. My hands roam down his hairy chest, and I love how masculine he feels under my fingers.
My hips roll against his thigh. I can’t help grinding against him.
My erection is straining inside my boxers.
It’s not enough. I need more. With his hands firmly on my back, I move to straddle his waist, and with one roll of my hips I see fucking stars. My cock jerks. I want his hands on me.
“Felix.”
I can feel his bulge as I slowly grind my cock against him. He’s aching just as much as I am.
“Lower,” he breathes. I move down lower, and when I do, I’m shocked at the contact. His thick cock rubs against mine. These boxers are so thin I can feel everything. “Ungh, fuck.”
I snap back. Shit. His leg. What am I doing? “I’m sorry.”
“What?” He cups my face, thumbing along my jawline. “What’s wrong?”
“I just, I got carried away. Your leg, and I just—” He tugs me down, and his lips mash against mine as he kisses me quietly. I moan against his lips as he lifts a little, rubbing against my cock.
“I’m okay,” he breathes.
“Your knee. I shouldn’t have.”
His large hands land on my hips. “Felix, it’s not my knee that’s aching right now.”
A storm rages in his blue eyes.
“You sure?”
“I’m sure I don’t want you to stop. Just as I’m sure that I want you to fuck me.
I want to feel your thick cock deep inside me.
” His large hands land on my hips, guiding them to roll, and his head drops back with a moan.
“Another time.” He lifts up kissing the corner of my mouth.
“For now, keep kissing me.” I lean in and feel his hands on my hips, urging me to grind against him.
This is unreal. It feels better than I thought it could. Frantic fucking with our clothes on. We grind together. Pinpricks of power and pleasure combine into a high I want to bottle and keep with me.
Grey’s head drops back, his fingertips biting into my hips.
“Oh, that’s it, baby,” he purrs, guiding my hips.
Heat pools in my belly. His fingers on me tighten.
I grind slowly, rubbing myself over his erection.
I want to undress him but I’m too scared to push further.
“You like this?” His husky tone sends shivers up my spine.
A whimper crawls up my throat. I’m so lost. I’ve never felt like this. “Feels so good, Greyson.”
“I can’t wait to feel you inside me,” he says and I stutter to a halt. “Not now. This is perfect.” His head drops back down on the pillow. “Go ahead, Felix. Take us home.”
With determination, I roll and grind over him.
It feels so good. I throw my head back, letting his fingers guide my hips.
He’s thick and long. I feel desperate for this.
The images his words conjure take hold. I’ve never fucked anyone, and fucking Grey .
. . What would he feel like? Hot and tight.
Him begging. Desperate and needy. I want him to beg.
I want him to beg me now.
I’m not sure where it comes from or even what I’m doing. I let instinct and want guide me. “What do you want, Grey?” I kiss him hard, plunging my tongue inside his mouth. “Tell me,” I whisper, then I give his lips a playful lick before sitting back up.
“I want to come.” I roll my hips, teasing, pressing harder against his head. “Felix. Please.”
He’s squirming under me, my own orgasm close. “Please what, Greyson? What do you want?” I give him another teasing roll. “Fuck, you feel so good. So damn good for me.”
“Felix, please, baby. I need to come.”
“You need to come?” He nods fast, groaning when I pick up the pace.
“Please make me come.”
“You’re so polite, huh?” I smile, kissing his jaw. “You’re going to be good for me.” The pressure of his fingers on my hips tightens. “Aren’t you, Greyson?”
“So good,” he pants, trying so hard to keep himself still and let me have control. He’s nearly vibrating, panting heavily as impatience whines from his lips. “Please. Please, I need it.”
“How bad?”
“So fucking bad.” His eyes open, the desperation in them unreal. “Please.”
“Just because you said please.” I give him what he needs—what we both need—his constant moans the sweetest backing track to the pleasure coiling ready to snap. “Grey, I’m close,” I moan. My boxers are soaked through with precum.
Peering down, I see Grey’s eyes flutter open. Soft and blue. Want bright inside them. He wants me. More than that, he wants me to feel just as good. My pleasure matters.
I matter.
My hips lose rhythm, both of us desperately hurtling toward the edge. “More, Felix.” Fuck, his desperation is the sweetest sound. “Keep going,” he groans.
“Grey—” I bury my face in his neck as I moan, coming inside my sleep pants. He groans, holding me close. I’m wrapped in his scent, and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.
Kisses land on my neck. He smoothes his fingers through my hair as I lift my head up and stare down at him. This gentle giant of a man. I’m trying so hard to remind myself that sweet words are a mask and behind it there might be danger.
I don’t think Grey wears one, though.
Everything he is is written right there on his face, inside those stormy eyes.
Sweet and kind. A little gruff and jaded, but kind in a way I don’t think I’ve ever experienced.
His thumb pads along my cheek before he kisses me gently.
The rough and sweet tug and pull makes my stomach dip. “You were so good for me.”
Grey’s eyes heat before he drags me in for a scorching kiss. “Just wait, Felix. I’m going to be the best for you.”