Chapter Nine #3
Gem nodded. “Me too.” He really was. It had been a hard game.
Gem might tease Nix and Evan, but Florida had put up a hard fight.
That one goal had pushed Boston to the playoffs.
His team had just wanted it more, but that didn’t mean Florida gave them the win easily.
Plus, Nix had been an absolute pest in front of Gem’s net.
There would be payback for that. And that would start with some teasing over Nix’s old crush.
Gem hooked Nix’s elbow with his, dragging his brother up to the steps of the steak house they’d chosen for dinner. He’d promised his boy a juicy steak for playing so well. And without a fight. Although Luka and Marlin were close a few times to dropping their gloves.
Marlin really needed a keeper.
Luka had managed to rein in his temper, making Gem proud.
“How have you been, Luka?” Evan asked quietly as Gem and Nix walked ahead of him.
“I can’t believe you.” Nix bumped his shoulder hard.
“What? I can’t lie to my new BFF,” Gem responded. “He should know what a weirdo you are.”
“And in front of him and Evan,” Nix whisper-shouted. “I’m telling Mom!”
“That threat is getting old. One, you never follow through. Second, what is Mom going to do from Texas? And third, you know Evan is going to tie you down if you keep acting like a brat tonight.”
Nix waggled his brows while sticking out his tongue. “I might have gotten a very long lecture about being on my best behavior tonight so he can enjoy dinner with an old friend.”
“And you have no intention of being on your best behavior,” Gem guessed.
Nix winked. “He bought new rope! New rope! I can’t wait to feel it around me. It’s like silk. And it’s orange! Isn’t that the best color ever?”
“Whatever you say,” Gem replied. He might be partial to purple himself. However, it was nice to see how happy Nix was even when Nix was trying to figure out how best to get the punishment he wanted. Surely Nix was aware that he could just ask Evan.
Not that it was really Gem’s business. He tried not to think about what his brothers did with their partners. Gem might have given them both a hard time for getting involved with a teammate and look at him now.
When they’d all been drafted to different teams, Gem had been worried about both his brothers but for very different reasons.
Aries, quiet and introverted, loved hockey more than anything in life.
Well, that was until he met Vin. But Aries was also sort of naive.
Gem had worried about him fitting in on a new team without Gem and Nix being there to make sure no one took advantage of Aries’s kindness.
Oh, Aries was cocky as hell when it came to hockey but off the ice, Aries was just too sweet. Saw the best in everyone.
Luckily a college teammate of theirs, Shawn, had been drafted along with Aries to Vegas, which made Gem feel a little better. And yes he’d talked to Shawn just as much as Aries those first few months as Gem worried about his youngest brother.
Then Vin was suddenly in Aries’s life, where his little brother didn’t talk about anyone but Vin. Gem wasn’t surprised when he found out that Vin and Aries were together. They just fit.
Aries exploring age play had been shocking. Yet seeing Aries and Vin together over Christmas had cemented how perfect regressing was for Aries. And Vin was the best Daddy for Gem’s little brother.
Nix might not realize that Gem actually worried about him more than Gem did Aries.
To the outside world, it appeared that Nix was the happiest guy on the planet.
Nix’s reputation for being a clown was formed by people that didn’t know the real him.
In his soul, Nix wanted everyone to be happy and if they weren’t it was Nix’s job to make them that way. Or so Nix had always believed.
Every time Nix’s kindness was thrown back in his face or when someone thought he was a joke because Nix loved making people laugh, it had killed Nix a little.
Gem had watched the light in Nix slowly fade during those last months of college when a bad breakup had derailed Nix. Luckily, Nix bounced back fast.
Just thinking about it made Gem’s heart ache. He threw his arm over Nix’s neck and squeezed as they climbed the steps together.
“Dude!” Nix smacked Gem’s arms. “Don’t choke me. You already won!”
“Hell yeah we did.” He glanced over his shoulder and winked at Luka before returning his attention to his brother.
Evan and Luka were still talking quietly, catching up. But Luka caught Gem’s eye, smiling back.
“The team owes me a pumpkin blizzard,” Nix said. “I told them we had to win.”
Gem laughed. “At least you get a sweet treat.” He opened the door while releasing Nix. Evan and Luka followed Nix inside, with Luka running a discreet hand down the front of Gem’s button-down shirt.
They’d left their suit jackets and ties in the car, going for more of a casual look to enjoy dinner.
Nix was talking animatedly to the hostess, who was already laughing and nodding along with him. As Gem joined them, she waved for the four of them to follow her.
“She’ll put us in the back where we won’t be disturbed,” Nix said over his shoulder. His orange eyes gleamed with what Gem knew was anticipation.
Damn, Nix really did plan to push Evan’s buttons.
Evan caught Nix by the back of his neck and whispered something into Nix’s ear that was too low for Gem to hear. Nix’s wicked grin grew.
Dinner and a show! Awesome.
“Your brother is a riot,” Luka said quietly.
Gem caught Luka’s fingers for a brief moment and squeezed. “He really is a good guy. Loves to make people happy.”
“I can tell,” Luka replied. “And it’s been a long time since I’ve seen Evan so settled. Nix brings out the best in my old friend.”
“I’m glad,” Gem said sincerely.
Nix slid into the end of a booth and Gem followed suit across from him, leaving Evan and Luka on the outside. The snug fit was perfect for Gem to have a little fun. He slid his palm down Luka’s thigh while listening to the hostess tell them about the night’s specials.
Beside him, Luka had stiffened but slowly relaxed as Gem didn’t do more than hold his thigh tight.
It was too early to really torture his sub.
Gem had all night, after all.
He settled into the booth, noting how the long tablecloth nearly touched his knees. Gem unwrapped his silverware and set the cloth napkin on his lap as Luka did the same.
Nice!
They spent the first few minutes ordering drinks and appetizers before the waitress returned, dropping off the glasses. They’d all gone for water, with Nix also getting a lemonade.
“Are you ready to order?” the waitress asked.
Luka nodded. “A T-bone steak, rare, please. With a loaded baked potato. Thank you.”
Gem pinched Luka’s thigh.
“Oh! Could I add on a side of green beans, please,” Luka added.
Gem pinched Luka harder.
“And a Caesar salad!” Luka’s voice jumped.
“Of course.” The waitress wrote down Luka’s order.
Gem ordered, then Evan, then it was finally Nix’s turn.
“Chicken tenders and French fries, please,” Nix said with a smile.
Gem groaned. “Really?”
“What?” Nix asked, pushing out his bottom lip. “I’m sad from the loss. Chicken tenders will make me feel better.”
Luka laughed while attempting to cover it up with a cough.
Evan rolled his eyes but snatched the menu from Nix and handed it over to the waitress. “That’s fine.”
Gem was surprised and had to bite his tongue. He might have been ordering food for Luka, but Gem had picked only the best and healthiest options.
“I’ll have your food right out, guys.” The waitress turned away as Evan bent close to Nix’s ear.
“This is your one cheat meal,” Evan said. “You better enjoy it.”
“But, Daddy!” Nix batted his eyelashes. “I’m sad.”
Gem snorted. His brother was such a brat.
Evan hummed but didn’t respond further.
“So, Kotov,” Nix said. “How are you liking Boston?”
“You can call me Luka,” Luka replied giving Nix a blinding smile.
Nix nearly dropped the glass of lemonade that he’d been picking up as he blinked slowly at Luka.
Evan sighed, removing the glass out of Nix’s hand.
“Yeah.” Nix cleared his throat. He glanced from Evan to Luka and back. “Yeah.”
“And I like Boston just fine. Luckily the team put me in Gem’s old apartment until I get everything in order back in Seattle,” Luka said.
“Gem’s?” Nix frowned at his brother.
Gem shrugged. “I bought a townhouse.”
Nix threw his hands up in the air. “What? When? Why doesn’t anyone tell me anything!”
Leaning forward, Gem grinned. “It’s only been a couple of weeks.” He slid the palm he still had on Luka’s thigh closer to Luka’s crotch.
Luka’s eyes widened as he grabbed the water in front of him. His hand shook slightly. Poor boy.
“Does Mom know?” Nix demanded.
Gem ran his fingers up and down the zipper of Luka’s pants.
Luka slammed his free hand on top of Gem’s.
Gem pressed his shoulder to Luka’s discreetly and Luka moved his hand. “I need to fix a few things in the house. That should keep me busy during the off-season and then I’ll fly Mom and Dad out to see.”
“But she’ll want to help,” Nix told him.
Slowly, Gem unzipped Luka’s pants as he spoke. “This is something that I would really like to do on my own. Not only will it keep me busy during the break, but it’s something just for me.” And his boy. Luka had offered to help.
“I get that,” Nix said. “I should probably tell you that after the season—by that I mean after we win the Iron Cup—I’ll be moving in with Evan. Although we’ll be in Colorado except for the month in Hawaii.”
Gem nodded. He’d expected that. Rubbing Luka’s cock over his underwear, Luka hardened for him. “Vin already put his apartment up for lease. He’s not even pretending to wait to move in with Aries.”
Nix laughed. “We stayed in Vin’s place the last time we had a game there. It’s nice but Aries’s apartment is already comfortable to them.”
“What are you going to do with your house in Seattle?” Evan asked Luka.
“Sell it,” Luka replied quietly. He was trying so hard to be good and not lift his hips as Gem rubbed him.
“Really? You could keep it,” Evan said.
“I thought about it,” Luka admitted. “Seattle hasn’t felt like home in the last few years. I think I’m ready for a new start.”
“You’re closer to your family here,” Evan pointed out. “They’re in New York, right?”
Luka nodded. He’d dropped both hands from the table, clenching his fists, but wasn’t stopping Gem. “I don’t go home often. I don’t really have any plans to do so during the summer.”
“I can understand that,” Evan said. “Family is complicated.”
“Family is great!” Nix said cheerfully. “You have my family now, Daddy! And they love you.”
Gem had to agree. He’d be lost without his brothers and parents.
Luka laughed. “I’ve heard stories about your mom. Robbs is a big fan.”
“Robbs loves our mom,” Nix said. “She even calls him before games to wish him luck. She’s sort of adopted Marlin too. He needs a calming female presence in his life. His sister is a monster.”
“Nix,” Evan warned.
“Sorry!” Nix held his hands up. “Not my story to tell. It’s just that Marlin isn’t as bad as he comes off.”
Gem fished Luka’s cock out from his briefs. “He was an absolute menace tonight.”
Luka coughed. He was gripping his own knees tight. “Ran his mouth all game.”
“Yeah,” Nix said on a sigh. “He does that. I promise he’s not a bad guy.”
Shoulder to shoulder with Luka allowed Gem to get a good fast rhythm to jerk his boy’s dick. “We know he’s not a bad guy.”
“I invited him to Hawaii,” Nix said. “He needs a break too.”
In his palm, Luka’s cock was hot and throbbing. It wouldn’t be long now. “That’s fine. Aries invited Zany and Robbs too.”
“He told me,” Nix said.
“And of course my new BFF is coming,” Gem shared.
Nix’s eyes widened as he looked over at Luka. “You’re coming?”
“I’m coming!” Luka grunted out as he filled Gem’s hand with his release.
Gem kept stroking. “Of course he’s coming. I can’t leave my BFF behind.”
“Cool. Yeah. Awesome. It’s going to be fun,” Nix said.
Gem slowed his hand before using his cloth napkin to clean his boy and his palm off. He tucked Luka back into his pants before giving his crotch a pat.
Luka downed his entire glass of water just as the waitress returned with a tray holding their plates.
She passed out the plates and Gem was pretty proud of his timing.
“I’ll get you some more water,” the waitress said.
“Oh! I dropped my napkin. Will you bring me another?” Gem requested. He slipped the soiled napkin into the pocket of his pants. He was not leaving that behind for some poor employee to find.
“Of course! I’ll be right back.”
Gem leaned over his plate of salmon and rice. He’d worked up an appetite.
“So…” Evan drawled.
Gem glanced up.
“How long have the two of you been dating?” Evan questioned with a smirk after taking a sip of his water.
Gem glanced over at his boy. “Around seven months or so?”
Luka nodded. “That sounds about right.”
Nix’s spit-take would have been comical if it hadn’t been Gem sitting across from him getting drenched in the water that Nix spewed.