Chapter 4
Vin
Keeping an eye and ear out for the boys, Vin unloaded the groceries that he had delivered. Aries and Nix were standing on the back deck, looking at their ocean view, but the giggles coming from both concerned him.
“What are they doing?” Evan asked as he folded a paper sack and placed it in a drawer.
“I’m not sure yet,” Vin admitted. “Up to no good, I’m sure.”
“It will be all Nix can think about until he finds trouble,” Evan said.
“You’re going to have your hands full.” Vin liked Nix. He truly did. A brat just wasn’t something that Vin craved in his life. He liked his sweet boy. Aries could be cocky when he was on the ice but at home he was Vin’s little one.
“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Evan replied with a grin. “Besides, I have a few tricks up my sleeves that he still hasn’t seen.”
Chuckling, Vin loved to hear it. “I’m glad we’re on separate ends of the house.”
“This is a beautiful house,” Evan said.
It really was. Four large bedrooms, three and a half baths, and an open concept living-dining-kitchen combo.
The porch wrapped around the house, leading to a massive deck.
A gate connected them to the small patch of private beach.
The house that Gem rented was right next door, with white pavers that made getting back and forth easy.
Aries screeched before chasing Nix down the steps to the gate.
“I’ll get them,” Vin said as he put away the last of the canned goods.
“I need to finish setting up our room, if you could keep Nix busy for half an hour or so I’d appreciate it.”
“No problem.” Vin picked up the sand tools that he’d purchased with the groceries. “I’ll just make them both believe that the other can make a better sandcastle.”
“Evil genius,” Evan praised.
“Have fun getting things ready for your boy,” Vin said. He might not know what exactly Evan had planned but he was certain it would be what Nix needed.
“Have fun dealing with all the sand,” Evan retorted. “Better you than me.”
Vin gave his own smirk. “After sand comes the bath.” He loved bathing Aries and taking care of his boy.
Evan laughed as he exited the kitchen to head toward the room at the back of the house.
Following the giggles that seemed to be getting farther away, Vin picked up his pace. Carrying the toys, he stopped to grab a couple of beach towels then hurried.
He found Aries and Nix on the beach close to the water but still within sight of the house. Aries had tackled his brother and was currently sitting on Nix’s chest as Nix kicked his feet, trying to get free.
Vin tossed the packages of sand toys beside the boys.
Aries immediately stopped bouncing on Nix’s chest. “Toys?”
Nix grunted. “Get him off me. He’s heavy!”
“You pushed me,” Aries replied to his brother. He even bounced again, making Nix whine.
“How much weight have you gained?” Nix complained.
“It’s muscle,” Aries responded proudly.
“Look, toys!” Nix pointed in the direction of the packages.
Aries turned his head again.
“Evan said that he thought Nix could build a better sandcastle,” Vin said. “I told him there was no way. My boy would be best.”
Aries scrambled off his brother and over to the toys.
Squatting down, Vin opened the first package, handing the blue plastic shovel, rakes, bucket, and molds to his boy as Nix attempted to roll back over. After Aries had all his toys, he scampered off toward the ocean, bucket at the ready to collect some water.
Vin started to open the second package as Nix dragged himself closer.
“Are you distracting me, or Aries?”
“What do you mean?” Vin handed Nix a yellow plastic shovel.
“Evan hates the sand. He never would have come up with this challenge.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Vin lied.
Nix nodded. “So me. That means that my Daddy is planning something good. He just needs me away from the house to set it up.”
Vin hummed. He would not confirm or deny. “Does that mean that you’re going to let Aries win?”
Nix hissed. “Never!”
“You better get started”—Vin nodded in Aries’s direction—“He’s already building a wall.”
“Cheater!” Nix yelled and rushed off.
“Play nice!” Vin called back. He settled onto his ass to watch over the boys.
The sun shone down on him and Vin was glad that all the myths and rumors about vampires were wrong.
How awful would life be if Vin could never sit on a beach in the sun as two sweet young men laughed and teased each other.
Last summer Vin spent the time alone. He’d known that new hotshot rookie was headed to his team but Vin had no idea how much Aries would change his life. Vin had found his beloved. The person that would forever be his.
A wave crashed onto the beach, covering the mounds of sand Nix had formed as Nix was too close to the water.
Aries laughed and cheered as Nix smacked at his ruined attempt.
Vin found himself smiling. The grumpy vampire he was a year ago nowhere to be seen. He wasn’t a new man or some ridiculous bullshit like that. Vin was just a man in love with a boy that made living such a long life worth everything.
Luka
The house was gorgeous.
In all the years that Luka had played in the NHL and the PAHL, he’d never had a true offseason vacation. His parents expected him home when he wasn’t playing. They needed, no wanted, updates to the house, or to show Luka what they’d done during his season.
Luka ignored the photos of his family on vacations that he’d paid for but hadn’t been invited to. They told Luka it was because it was cheaper to go during hockey season. Since when had they ever cared about how much of Luka’s money that they spent? Only when it came to leaving him out.
It had been remembering those photos placed around his parents’ house with all of Luka’s siblings and not one with him that had helped Luka tell his mom that he was not going home for the summer. Even when she’d called as Luka was already at the airport.
His mom was still upset. His father angry. And Luka hadn’t heard a word from any of his siblings. Not that he’d expected to. For the first time his mom’s guilt trip hadn’t worked.
On bare feet, Luka walked through the house that Gem had rented for them. The sounds of the waves could be heard through the open windows. It was nice and cool inside the house. Everything would be perfect if he could just find his damn man.
Luka had been checking out the gym when his sir had disappeared. With the open concept of the place, Gem shouldn’t be too damn difficult to see. Since Luka could see all around except the bedrooms, he headed toward the back where their bedroom was located.
He froze in the doorway as he spotted Gem sitting in a chair that he must have moved into the corner. From his position, Gem could see Luka arrive, as well as having the prefect view of the king-size bed.
“What’s going on?” Luka asked as excitement lit his nerves.
“Undress,” Gem ordered quietly. “I need to check your cage.”
A hard shudder rocked his body. Luka slammed his palms on the doorframe.
“I’m waiting,” Gem said.
Luka had to force his legs to move. He toed off his shoes and socks, leaving them by the door. His hands were already on the waistband of his pants and he pushed them to his knees.
“Stop,” Gem commanded.
He froze.
“Shirt first,” Gem said.
Luka whipped his shirt off in a rush.
“Flex.”
Gem did like Luka’s muscles. Spending a few moments showing off was not a hardship. Gem was never shy about praising him. Luka had never had that before. “Good boy.”
With his cock still caged, the pain from getting erect was slowly growing.
“Go ahead,” Gem said. “Finish.”
He didn’t waste any time shucking his pants. “How do you want me, sir?”
“Bed, face up.”
Luka hurried to get into position. He spread his arms and legs out, giving Gem total access to him. Then he could do nothing but wait.
Gem didn’t move.
Even though the windows were open, letting the cool ocean air in, Luka started to sweat.
Still Gem sat in the chair, just watching him.
It was a form of torture so of course Luka’s cock was still trying to get hard, the pain intensifying as the cock cage kept him from getting fully erect.
“You are gorgeous,” Gem told him.
Luka wanted to hide his face, still getting embarrassed when Gem said those words. Instead, he pushed a deep breath from his lungs. “Thank you, sir.”
“Affirmations,” Gem ordered.
That calmed him instantly. Gem had never relaxed the rules of Luka saying the affirmations daily. Sometimes more than once a day when Gem felt Luka needed them.
“I am strong, both physically and mentally.” His words came out clear.
“Good,” Gem murmured.
“I am resilient and can overcome any challenge. I can handle tough situations. I stand tall in my beliefs and values. I don’t have to be perfect to be valuable. I am enough just as I am.”
“More than enough,” Gem said.
“I honor my feelings and emotions, and I allow myself to experience them fully. It’s okay to ask for help when I need it. My vulnerability is a strength.”
“You are so strong.” Gem rose as he spoke. “I love you.”
Luka closed his eyes briefly. When he reopened them, he could see his man clearly. Everything else fell away. It didn’t matter what Luka’s family thought or said about him. Gem loved him. Gem would do anything for him. “I love you too.”
Gem placed one knee on the mattress.
Luka licked his lips. Even though Gem was still dressed, Luka knew that Gem would keep the promises that had been made on the plane.
“I’m going to unlock this pretty cock cage,” Gem said.
“Thank you, sir,” Luka said sincerely.
“I know you want to come,” Gem said. “Be a good boy for me. Hold off.”
“I’ll try.” Luka didn’t want to make a promise that he couldn’t keep.
“I believe in you.”
Those words alone meant everything. Gem’s hands were gentle as he took the key from the chain around his neck and used it to unlock the cock cage.
As his shaft was released, Luka sucked in a sharp breath.
“I wanted you from the first time I saw you,” Gem said. “I hadn’t even seen your face and I knew that you belonged to me.”
Luka knew it.
“You don’t know how brave you are,” Gem said.
“I’m not brave.” Luka was a coward.