Chapter Ten
Gem
“I silenced my phone. That will probably drive Nix crazy, but his messages are getting out of hand. He even added Aries to the chat, so now both my brothers know I’m dating a teammate and are throwing my previous words to them back in my direction,” Gem said, entering the bathroom with the tray that he’d prepared.
Luka lifted his head from where he was soaking in the hot bath. “Just think if they knew what was happening under the table.”
“I know!” Gem cackled. “Evan is a real friend not giving us away.”
Luka’s scowl was impressive. “We’re just lucky it wasn’t Vin. He would have totally called us out. And why are you walking around naked? Get in here.”
“I brought us snacks!” Gem announced as he fitted the tray that slotted into the side of the tub. “Is the water still hot?” Like he couldn’t tell from the steam rising or the pink in Luka’s cheeks.
“Yes! Get in here,” Luka ordered.
“I’m coming! I’m coming!” Gem said as he hovered his foot over the water.
“Not yet but you will be. I still can’t believe you jerked me off at dinner.”
“You could have stopped me, boy,” Gem said. “One word.”
“I didn’t say that I wanted to stop you.”
Gem hissed as his toes hit the water. When Luka had suggested a hot bath together once they’d returned from dinner, Gem had mistakenly thought they’d be making the bath hot. No, Luka had insisted on boiling both of them.
“It’s not that bad.” Luka swished a foot in the water.
Sucking it up, Gem lowered himself into the water. It really was too hot but how could he complain when Luka’s smile was wide and bright? He just looked happy. Gem stared at his boy.
He hadn’t thought ahead to little moments like this. The intimacy of relaxing together in a hot bath.
Reaching over, Luka picked up one of the flutes of sparkling grape juice and passed it over to Gem before picking up his own. He held it out to Gem. “Here’s to making the playoffs and hopefully raising the Iron Cup.”
“And to new beginnings,” Gem added.
They gently touched rims before sipping.
Crisp grape flavor exploded in his mouth and Gem drank deeper. He finished the glass quickly.
Luka offered Gem his half-full flute.
“You don’t want it?” Gem asked, already reaching for the flute.
“I know it’s your favorite. I’ll stick to water.” He grabbed one of the water bottles that Gem had also placed on the tray.
Gem downed the remainder of the juice. As he pulled the glass away, Luka held a plump purple grape out to him.
Sucking the fruit into his mouth, Gem made sure to run his tongue around Luka’s fingers.
Luka’s dark eyes flashed.
Mmm, Gem loved that he could read his boy so well. That Luka didn’t hide his reactions, desires, anything from him. He pushed off his side of the tub as Luka reached for another grape.
“Are you getting out?” Luka asked, sounding disappointed.
“Of course not. You’re just too far away,” Gem replied. He climbed right onto Luka’s lap, forcing their cocks firmly together.
“Oh!” Luka grinned. “I like this position.” He cupped Gem’s ass with his left palm while plucking up several grapes to feed Gem with his right.
Gem wrapped his fingers around both their cocks. “I do too.”
He didn’t have an issue climbing into his bigger lover’s lap. There was a reason that Gem liked his boy big and strong. Gem had no doubt that in any position he would be the one in charge. Luka didn’t crave the same control that Gem needed. That was why they were perfect for each other.
Luka fed him the entire bowl of grapes as Gem stroked them off. By the time the bowl was empty, Gem was ready to empty himself all over his boy’s wide chest. They needed to get a little dirty before they got clean again.
Leaning forward, Gem captured Luka’s mouth and kissed him deeply.
Luka lifted his hips, riding Gem’s cock and hand and straining to find release. Gem peppered more kisses down Luka’s lips to nibble on his chin.
“Gem! Sir!” Luka panted.
“Do you want to come for me, baby?” Gem teased.
“Together. Let’s come together,” Luka pleaded.
“I like that,” Gem praised. “Wait for me.” Arching back, Gem stroked them faster and harder until he was as close as his boy.
Luka’s eyes were hooded as he watched Gem’s hand move.
“Ready, baby?” Gem asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“Almost there,” Gem told him.
Luka was splashing water as he continued to thrust his hips up. Gem tightened his fingers around their cocks.
“Now, baby,” Gem ordered. “Come for me now!”
They climaxed together. Both cocks erupting and making a mess on their chests and stomachs. It was probably a good thing they were in the tub already. A quick rinse, then bed. Gem was exhausted.
He jerked until they both were panting and wrung out.
“I love taking baths with my boy,” Gem said.
Luka chuckled. “Me too, sir.”
Gem rinsed his hand in the water before cupping Luka’s face.
Luka’s smile was sweet.
“And I love you.”
“What?” Luka jerked, nearly pulling away from Gem’s hold. “What?”
He was quite aware that his boy had heard him. Luka’s heart was throbbing hard and fast in his chest.
“I said.” Gem spoke clearly. “That I love you, Luka Ty Kotov.”
Luka’s eyes filled with tears. “I love you too.”
Gem knew. He’d known for a while. There had been times when it looked like Luka had wanted to say the words. The boy had held back. Now he didn’t have to. Kissing him gently, Gem repeated the words that Luka needed to hear more often.
“I love you.” Kiss. “I love you, Luka.” Kiss. “I love my boy.” Kiss.
Luka sniffed but the tears still fell. “I love you, Gem.”
They repeated the words until the water ran cold.
* * * * *
Luka
‘Congratulations my friend,’ Evan sent. ‘I’m happy for you.’
‘About making the playoffs or getting a man?’ Vin questioned.
‘The man of course,’ Evan replied. ‘Gem had our friend firmly in hand.’
‘That sounds like an innuendo,’ Vin sent. ‘Do I really want to know?’
‘It was quite impressive actually. There is no way that Nix wouldn’t have given us away. Luka was very quiet,’ Evan responded.
‘I don’t need to know that!’ Vin wrote. ‘Seriously though. Welcome to the family.’
‘It’s full of craziness but you kind of get addicted to it,’ Evan sent.
‘It’s full of love,’ Vin sent. ‘And love. Cherry is going to want to eat you up. She’s a riot. You’ll like her.’
‘Thanks for the welcome, guys. I’m glad to be a part of the craziness.’ Truly Luka would take Gem’s family over his every single time.
‘And Hawaii will be fun,’ Evan wrote. ‘I’ll have someone else to help me keep Nix out of trouble.’
‘Good luck with that,’ Vin replied. ‘Your boy is a menace.’
‘Your boy is not exactly innocent,’ Evan responded.
Luka chuckled. He didn’t even need to be in this conversation.
The three of them had been friends for many years.
Back when Luka had joined the NHL that both Vin and Evan had already been a part of.
They’d welcomed him, knowing that he was a shifter, even though it was a secret they’d kept until the decision had been taken away from them.
Through the years, trades, and championships, the three of them had remained close.
Until everything had changed when their shifter statuses had been revealed.
Evan had retreated to his cabin in Colorado.
Luka had been dealing with his family’s bullshit.
Once word about the PAHL forming had reached Vin, he’d pulled Luka in before they’d tracked Evan down.
The end of the sixth season of the PAHL was bringing changes for each of them again.
All because of the fruit bat shifter triplets that had come into the league with a fresh outlook and love to share.
Vin and Aries, Evan and Nix, and now Luka and Gem.
The three newest members of the league had somehow connected with three of the oldest players that Luka believed needed them the most.
Knowing that Gem was the masked Dom that he’d connected with still was a shock for Luka. Maybe it had been fate or something magical. Luka just knew he would never question Gem’s place in his life. Or the love that he had for the younger man.
“What are you doing?” Gem asked as he rolled over in bed to snuggle into Luka’s bigger body.
“Evan and Vin were welcoming me to the family,” Luka shared. “Until they started to argue over whose boy was the biggest menace.”
Gem chuckled before kissing Luka’s chest. “They’re both menaces. Whatever you do, don’t go off on any adventures with Nix in Hawaii. You’ll end up getting caught in a mudslide.” Gem yawned as he closed his eyes.
“I’ll stay right by your side,” Luka promised softly.
“Good boy.” Gem patted his chest before falling back to sleep.
Luka was a good boy. He was strong, both physically and mentally.
He was resilient and could overcome any challenge.
He could handle tough situations. Luka would stand tall in his beliefs and values.
He didn’t have to be perfect to be valuable.
Luka was enough just as he was. He would continue to honor his feelings and emotions and allow himself to experience them fully.
It was okay to ask for help when he needed it.
Luka’s vulnerability was a strength. So was the love of a good man, partner, and Dom.
Closing his eyes, Luka basked in the vibration of his phone as his brothers of choice not blood argued and the man Luka loved snored lightly in his ear.
Life didn’t get better than this.
Only winning the Iron Cup would make everything perfect. Oh! Who was he kidding. Even if they were knocked out in the first round, everything was already perfect.