Chapter Six
Gem
It had to be the drugs. Gem didn’t usually take anything stronger than over-the-counter shifter pain relief but the doctor had insisted and Gem had been too tired to fight any longer. It had been stupid to play with injured ribs. Gem sort of figured he deserved some of the pain.
That didn’t explain why his newest teammate was on his knees claiming to be Gem’s boy.
He yanked his hands away from Luka. “What the fuck!” Like what the actual fuck? Had Luka hacked into Gem’s phone or something? But how would Luka know the exact way to kneel and the perfect position to present himself to Gem?
Luka blinked up at him. “It’s true. You know it’s true.”
Gem shook his head. It couldn’t be. He’d have known. This had to be some sick joke that Luka had cooked up with the help of others. Betrayal burned in his chest.
Tomas was the one that had first given Gem the card to the exclusive BDSM community, so Gem didn’t think he’d be involved. Gem wasn’t sure about his other teammates though. They were friendly enough but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t think fucking with Gem wouldn’t be funny.
“You came on your vest,” Luka said. “I’d seen the tattoo over your heart in the locker room earlier that day but that night after you came, you scratched at your chest, revealing the tattoo.”
Had he? Of course, Gem remembered coming on his leather vest. Luka shouldn’t know that. Even if this was a joke, Luka shouldn’t know that. Unless Ty was mixed up in this? Had his boy been in on the betrayal? That was even worse to consider.
Gem’s legs shook. Maybe he should sit down.
“You know what I’m talking about.” Luka sounded so sure of himself.
“That was days ago.” Gem’s voice came out accusatory as he struggled to put the pieces together.
“I…” Luka swallowed hard.
Gem wanted to wrap his hands around Luka’s throat. To feel Luka’s throat work against his palm. He couldn’t, wouldn’t, when Gem was in this state. Even if he was curious to see how dedicated Luka was to this lie.
“I was scared,” Luka said. “I needed to be sure.”
“We’ve spoken.” Gem reminded him. How many of his and Ty’s messages had Luka seen? “We’ve spoken as Beelz and Ty since then.”
“Yeah.”
“And still you didn’t say anything,” Gem pushed. What would Luka’s excuse be? Gem hated that Luka was using Ty against him. The sweet sub that shared so much with Gem and no one else. The messaging app was supposed to be private. When would Luka have gotten his phone?
Gem pulled the phone out of his pocket. The only time it had been away from him was when he was on the ice or working out. Had Bryan helped Luka plan this? The trainer could have taken Gem’s phone during the game. Luka had been waiting in the lobby when Bryan brought Gem back.
“Why are you looking at your phone like that?” Luka asked. “You have to believe me. Ask me anything!”
“The messages on the plane? That was you?” Gem accused. Ty had been more flirty than usual.
“Yes. I was watching you,” Luka admitted.
Watching him. Luka had been watching Gem as Gem had thought he was talking to his sweet little sub. “Get out,” Gem ordered carefully. His anger was so bright that Gem feared he’d lose his temper and hurt Luka.
Luka jerked back like Gem had slapped him.
Gem wouldn’t even if he wanted to. “Get the fuck out of my hotel room.”
“But—” Luka scrambled up from his knees.
Gem strode away. He needed to get away from Luka. To get Luka out of his room so he could think. This was fucked up. Gem knew hockey players could be assholes. He’d been dealing with it all his life. But this…Gem would never forgive Luka for this.
“Wait! Please!” Luka rushed after him and grabbed his arm.
Whirling around, Gem yanked himself away from Luka. “This is cruel,” he said quietly. “I don’t know who helped you or how you found out about Ty but this whole thing is cruel.”
“I am Ty!” Luka insisted again. “It’s my middle name. My father is a junior, his father senior, and I’m the third. Check my stats! It is my middle name!”
“Stay away from me,” Gem demanded. “I want you to stay away from me. If you try to pull this shit again, I swear on everything that I love that I will make you pay. You took something personal and intimate and tried to turn it into a joke.”
“I didn’t!” Luka shook his head as tears welled up in his eyes. “I wouldn’t!”
“Get the fuck out!” Gem shouted as he pointed to the door. Luka should have been an actor. If Gem didn’t know better, he might believe him. But Luka being Ty was too far beyond belief.
“I’ll prove it to you,” Luka said softly.
At least he was shuffling toward the door.
“Stay away from me,” Gem said again. He never wanted to see the other man’s face.
It was a shame that Luka played on the same team now.
That they’d be forced together, but at least now Gem knew what kind of man Luka was.
The kind that should be avoided at all costs.
“I’m sorry, sir,” Luka said.
The door closed behind Luka after he finally left. Gem stayed where he was, waiting for Luka to knock while laughing or threatening to tell the team. Hell, maybe the entire league. Instead, Gem ended up staring at his closed door for a good five minutes.
He stomped forward to check out the peephole. Luka was gone. Well thank fuck!
Maybe it wasn’t as much fun since Gem hadn’t been caught up in the lies and bullshit. Gem bolted the dead bolt into place before heading back to the seating area of his suite.
He turned off the lights as he went, only stopping to pick up the water bottle that Luka had dropped. His ribs ached as Gem bent but he snatched up the bottle, then headed toward the bedroom.
Gem didn’t bother to collect his bags. He needed a hot shower to wash the entire fucked-up night away.
Pulling out his phone, Gem stared at the screen.
There were messages waiting for him from his brothers and mom, congratulating Gem on the shutout. Damn, the game seemed so far away now.
Gem swiped away the text messages until only one notification remained.
Ty had messaged him. Now Gem couldn’t be certain that it had been Ty. He opened the app.
‘Are you okay?’
So the message wasn’t from Ty. There was no reason for his boy to question Gem’s health. Plus, Luka had admitted to being the one that Gem had been messaging on the plane.
Gem closed out of the app. His finger hovered above the icon as he considered deleting the entire thing. There was no other way for him to connect with his boy. And Gem didn’t know if Ty was involved in this little joke. How would Luka have known?
Tossing the phone onto the mattress, Gem closed his eyes.
How had everything gotten so fucked-up so fast?
Just hours before, Gem’s life had order and he was in total control. Exactly how Gem liked it.
He would not show weakness. Gem would not show how hurt he was. His gaze found the suitcase that Gem had packed that morning. Inside were his leather pants and vest along with his mask. That fucking mask. He always packed his Dom gear when he traveled just in case his boy needed him.
No. Gem would not cry. He was stronger than this.
Once he was home in Boston, Gem would go to the club and see if they could check his account for any hacking or unauthorized use.
He’d try to find Ty again, the real Ty, and see if they could fix things.
Gem had no idea when his last real communication with Ty had been.
It was okay. Everything would be okay. Gem would get control again. He would.
Pushing off the mattress, Gem headed for the shower.
The team was flying home in the morning. It was just one night. One night and he could start to fix things.
* * * * *
Luka
He’d fucked up. Luka had fucked up so royally that he couldn’t sleep the night before. Luka had tossed and turned all night, replaying what had happened in Gem’s suite.
Of course Gem didn’t believe him!
What were the chances of the two of them both being hockey players and meeting at a masquerade party for kinky men? Then Luka was traded to Gem’s team. And Luka figured out that Gem and Beelz were the same person. Yeah, he couldn’t have even written that chain of events if he tried.
Yet that was exactly what happened.
“Thank you,” Luka said to the barista who passed him the two coffees that he had ordered and paid for. The hotel had a fancy coffee shop inside but Luka had gone with two large black coffees with an extra shot of espresso.
“Have a great day,” the barista told him with a bright smile.
Luka nodded once more. He placed both coffees in his right hand before turning and grabbing the handle of his suitcase with his left. Luka’s hockey gear was already at the shuttle that would take them to the airplane.
In the line, several of his teammates were waiting to order. Luka nodded at them but didn’t engage. They looked as tired as he felt. Most had chosen to go out for food and drinks while Luka had been waiting for Gem in the lobby.
He hadn’t seen Gem yet. Hopefully the goalie’s ribs weren’t bothering him this morning. Luka still couldn’t believe that Gem had played and gotten a shutout with such severely injured ribs. Fucking stubborn asshole. But Gem was Luka’s stubborn asshole.
Luka hadn’t worked out how he was going to convince Gem who he was, but he was determined. Hey! He could be a stubborn asshole too.
Striding through the hotel lobby, Luka spotted several of his teammates gathered around the entrance.
There was his beautiful Dom.
Gem was standing with Tomas, wearing an oversize hoodie and holding a cup of coffee with the same shop logo that Luka was carrying. Gem must have left the shop right before Luka had arrived.
With the way Gem was sucking down that coffee, he was definitely going to need another. And Luka was there to provide.
“Hey!” Luka said as he joined Gem and Tomas.
Gem immediately looked away but at least Tomas smiled back at him. “Need an extra jolt this morning?”
Luka offered the cup to Gem. “I thought Gem might need it. How’s the ribs?”