Chapter 6 #2
“What, do you use an app?” I found it hard to believe he could hide who he was, but then, not everyone was a hockey fan. Hell, I hadn’t known who he was the first time I’d seen him. I studied him.
“Sometimes.” He blew out a long breath. “Fuck, this shouldn’t have happened.”
Freak out time. “But it did, and I’m not sorry.” We’d been two consenting adults, and it had…felt right. Nice. Hot. Special even? Maybe I shouldn’t go that far. “Why aren’t you out with the team when so many queer players are?”
His gaze swept to mine. “Because my parents wouldn’t understand.
” He creased his brows. “They’re Russian Orthodox, both born and raised in St. Petersburg.
They believe homosexuality is a sin and a lifestyle choice.
” He worried his lower lip. “I’ve been with women.
I can…someday I’ll find a woman to settle down with. ”
“How many girlfriends have you had, Alex? Margot and who else?” Had he been fooling himself all this time? It sounded like he might believe it was a lifestyle choice, too. Maybe it was my turn to mentor him. I shifted closer to him and grabbed his hand. “Talk to me.”
“There’ve been no others but her.” He lowered his knees to the side and threaded his fingers through mine. “My schedule leaves little time to date. I’m always traveling, or at practice, or in the gym, or—”
“Excuses.” Goddamn, he really had a problem with this.
I ran my gaze across the strawberry-blond waves in his hair, falling across his face while he focused on our entwined hands.
“You even admitted that the sex with Margot wasn’t great.
Have you ever considered that maybe you’re gay and fighting it? ”
With his mouth dropping open, he stared at me. “No, I can get it up with a woman.”
“Okay, okay.” He still wasn’t ready to admit it. Brushing my thumb across his knuckles, I said, “Do you want me to sleep on the couch now?” My gaze met his.
He furrowed his brows. “Do you want to? I thought—”
“If it makes you more comfortable, I will.” I held my breath. After what we’d done, I’d prefer cuddling with him all night, but who knew where that would lead us? I should be careful. He wasn’t a guy I could send home in the morning.
Squeezing my hand and drawing me closer, he gazed into my eyes and said, “I’d rather we slept in the same bed.”
“Okay. Good.” I chuckled. “I really don’t want to sleep on that couch-bed thing.
” Tentatively, I tucked myself into his side, pulling his arm around my shoulders.
My heart pattered against my ribcage. As I rested my cheek on his shoulder and my hand on his chest, my pulse slowed. This felt good, maybe too good.
He kissed the top of my head. “Julian? I don’t know what to do here. You’re the owner’s son and I’m…I can’t be out.”
“It’s a bit of a clusterfuck, then, isn’t it?
” I brushed my fingertips along the grooves of his pecs.
God, he had an amazing body. It had only been a matter of time before something happened between us.
All the signs were there. The corner of my lip twitched.
And my senses had been correct about him.
“Let’s sleep on this. Maybe it’ll be clearer in the morning.” He shifted and threw the covers down.
“So much for our movie.” I moved, getting under the covers and repositioning myself at his side with his arm under my neck.
Peeking up at him, I let my gaze roam the contours of his face—the high cheekbones, not too prominent, the smallish nose, and his lips, not thin, but not overly plump either. His face was perfectly formed.
“Hey, turn over. I can’t sleep on my back.” He turned onto his side, holding his arm out.
“You want to spoon with me?” I arched a brow as I twisted onto my side. The last man I spooned was…fuck, it was Ian.
“Yeah, why not.” He pushed the front of his body against my back and wrapped his arm around my waist. “I’m not thinking about this tonight. We’re just two people sharing a bed and enjoying it. Okay?”
“Whatever you say, Daddy.” With a soft chuckle, I snuggled into him, grabbing his arm and pulling it tighter around me.
“Stop with the daddy shit. I’m not that much older than you. Only four years.” He play-bit the back of my neck.
“Oh, if you start that, we may need another round.” My cock perked up. Damn it, what had he done to me?
“Julian?” He nuzzled where my shoulder met my neck. “You smell nice.”
A shiver played across my back as his lips teased my skin. “Thanks.” I closed my eyes. “But seriously, if you don’t stop whatever you’re doing back there…”
“What, you’ll suck my dick? I can think of worse things.” He brushed his fingers across my pecs, hardening my nipples as he passed over them. “Okay, fuck, that’s enough. We should sleep.”
As my cock swelled, I said, “Why, are you getting hard again?” I shoved my ass into his semi-stiff dick.
He gasped. “Fuck, yes.” He held me tighter. “We really need to stop and sleep on this.”
“Or we’ll spend the entire night doing wicked things to each other.” I was on board. No more thinking. I kissed the back of his hand.
“Julian. I have a game tomorrow. I’m supposed to get a full night’s sleep.” He kissed the side of my neck. “But you’re fucking intoxicating.”
Intoxicating? Another thing no man had ever told me before. He knew all my buttons. With a sigh, I settled in and closed my eyes, enjoying his warmth and strength.
The next morning, I woke to the pattering of the shower. I rolled onto my back and opened my eyes. When had Alex woken up and what time was it? We had breakfast and meetings before the game. I grabbed his phone, resting on the nightstand.
A text message from Margot popped up under the time. It was after eight, but there was plenty of time to dress and go to breakfast. But fuck, why was Margot texting him? Heat prickled across my chest. It didn’t matter. They were over, and she was just staying at his house.
The shower shut off, and a few minutes later, Alex appeared at the bathroom doorway, his hair damp and a towel wrapped around his hips. “I thought I’d shower first and let you sleep. Coach will expect me down at breakfast early.”
I rose on my elbows. “Oh, okay.” Didn’t he want to talk about what happened? “Margot, uh, texted you.”
“Oh, she did?” He strode to the phone, plucked it off the nightstand, and then tapped it. “Shit.”
“What’s wrong?” I sat up, letting the covers pool around my waist. I still wore my joggers from last night. Hell, maybe we wouldn’t talk. Maybe we’d pretend it never happened? My gut grew tight. He didn’t seem like that kind of guy.
“My water heater burst in the garage.” He paced the main room. “Hold on, I have to send her the name of my plumber.” He tapped furiously on his phone.
“At least it’s in the garage.” Mine was in a closet in the condo, but it was tankless. I climbed out of bed, raked my fingers through the curls in my long bangs and let them fall across my forehead. Normally I had them tamed for work.
He stopped tapping and stared at me, his lips parting.
“What?” I quirked the corners of my mouth. Did I have something on my face? Fudge from last night’s sundae?
“Nothing, you just, uh, look different with your hair down and not gelled on top of your head, like you’ve been doing for work.
” He stepped to me, grabbed the back of my neck and tugged our mouths together, claiming me in a dizzying kiss.
As he broke it, he scratched the back of his head and dropped his gaze to the floor. “Um, sorry. Couldn’t help myself.”
As I returned to my senses, I said, “No apology necessary. You can kiss me like that anytime. I don’t mind.” I focused on the growing tent in his towel. Did he really need to attend breakfast early? “Alex.”
“Listen, we’ll talk later. I really have to go.” With a quick grin, he squeezed my hand. “Please don’t tell anyone about this.”
“I would never out someone.” I watched him scurry around the room, slipping into his team sweats. Our game was at two and we were flying out tonight. When would we talk?
After tying his sneakers while sitting on the couch, he strode toward the door, stopped, and then rushed back to me. “Bye.” He planted a quick kiss on my lips.
“Bye.” I waved as the door closed behind him. Damn it, I was confused, and there was no one I could talk to. Ian and Chad would both know who he was, and I couldn’t out Alex to them.