24. Jacques
twenty-four
Jacques
“G o, baby!” Carina shouted, her voice echoing through the rink.
Hux and I were playing around, trying to score on each other as a cooldown after our latest skating session. I was soaking with sweat, and my muscles had an ache that spoke of a good workout. We were working on speed, but it wasn’t done in isolation. Gym sessions as well as skills training were a must, but we’d refine all those things under the supervision of our coaches come preseason training. For now, our goal was to build up our stamina again so that we didn’t puke too much during our first few sessions back.
I snatched the puck off him, our sticks clacking together as I shot off on a breakaway. The ozone scent that permeated the cold air in the rink filled my lungs as I powered forward, my skates cutting tracks into the ice. I didn’t risk looking back—I didn’t need to. I could hear Hux. He was gaining on me. Fast.
I shot off the puck, aiming for the net. Without a goalie to defend it, it sailed inside, and the buzzer went off.
A whistle pierced the air, and I shot my gaze over to the walkway around the rink. Carina stood there, bundled up in a toque and scarf with the heaviest jacket Travis owned. Bracketing her were Travis and Rusty. I grinned and sprayed an arc of ice at them as I came to a stop a couple of feet short of the plexiglass they were standing behind. It was enough to sail over the barrier and rain down on them. Carina wouldn’t have even felt it through all her clothes, but she was the only one to react, tugging the jacket tighter around her and shivering.
I blew them a kiss, and Trav batted his eyes and held his hands to his heart. I barked out a laugh, my chest warm as I floated. I’d been happy before Carina joined us, but now it was like we were complete. It was so much more than I’d expected. Life was perfect. I didn’t want a single thing to change.
“Lucky break,” Hux muttered playfully as he finished skating a lap and stopped next to me. He looked at the digital clock mounted on the wall and added, “I need to wrap it up for today. I have a call with a certain silver fox and hottie I want to be home to take.”
“Do they have everything sorted for the move?” I asked. They were only a week away from leaving.
“They do.” His smile matched what I imagined mine looked like when I thought of my girl and guys—soft and utterly content. “The boxes they’re bringing over were shipped off a couple of weeks ago, so they only have their luggage with them now. Roe’s sold off everything, and his house is empty. He’s just waiting for the buyers to close on it. He and Cara are staying with his daughter so they can all spend time together before they leave.”
I held out my hand for a fist bump, and when his knuckles met mine, I said, “I’m happy for you, Hux. After everything that went down with Minns, I’m glad you found your happy.”
He cast his gaze to the three people gathered there and nudged me with his elbow. “Aw, thanks, Dad.”
Before I could react, he was off, skating toward the edge of the ice.
“Get over here, you young whippersnapper,” I shouted, laughing at him.
“Come and get me,” he teased. “Hey, Mom, did you see how I let Dad score? Had to make him look good in front of you.”
“Don’t underestimate your dad, Alec. He can score anytime,” she teased back.
“Ew!” He shuddered and covered his ears with his gloved hands. “Lalalalalalala. Don’t want to know about my parents having sex.”
“Get out of here, dickhead,” I joked. “Go speak to your partners, then let me know what time I’m picking you up to go to the airport.”
The smile dropped off his face, and his eyes widened. It was as if no one ever did anything nice for him. I wondered sometimes just how alone in the world he’d been. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know.” I stepped off the ice onto the rubber mats that lined the walkway around the rink and came face-to-face with Hux. “But your little EV won’t fit their luggage if they have more than one suitcase each, and you don’t want to be driving when you can be a passenger in a spacious SUV with blacked-out windows.”
He launched himself forward and hugged me, one of those back-slapping hugs that lasted a moment longer than I expected. When Hux pulled back, he blinked and shot me a small smile. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“Anytime, son. Go take your call.”
He barked out a laugh and gave me the finger as he turned to Carina and kissed her on the cheek. He whispered something to her, and she beamed at him. She cupped his face in both gloved hands, then said something in reply. My heart soared, and the butterflies in my belly did loop-de-loops at the sight of our woman caring for my friend.
“See you, Dad. Have fun tonight,” Hux called out and the doors whooshed closed after him.
“As ridiculous as the whole mom and dad thing is, I think Hux secretly loves it,” Rusty said contemplatively.
I nodded. I really thought he did. I slipped off my glove and slid my hand into the back pocket of Rusty’s jeans, bringing him closer to me.
“You know, we haven’t taught Carina how to skate yet,” Travis pointed out as he gestured to the box sitting on the bench seat that ran along the wall.
“We haven’t,” I agreed. “Looks like she’s out of excuses, though.”
“She is,” Rusty agreed.
I shot him a smile, and he met my gaze, his eyes darkening as we stared at each other.
I hooked my finger under Rusty’s chin and tipped it higher as I stepped closer to him. I brought my mouth down onto his, a tender brush of lips at first. Rusty groaned, and I deepened the kiss, my tongue caressing his. He tasted of something sweet and addictive. I moaned, and it was as if lightning struck. Rusty reacted instantaneously, gripping my nape and pressing our bodies flush. He tangled his other hand in my hair as I gripped his ass and held him close. He owned my mouth, controlling the kiss as he tasted and teased me. My legs turned to jelly, and I gripped him harder, leaning into him as he devoured me. My dick was being strangled by the cup I was wearing; I was regretting my life choices right about then, especially when I could feel Rusty’s hardening cock against my leg.
Travis stepped up behind me and enveloped me in a hug. We were the same height when I was in skates, and he made use of it, kissing a line over my shoulder and up the side of my neck.
When Rusty finally pulled back, I leaned my head against Travis’s and sucked in a breath. My hands shook and my cock pulsed, my cup no longer containing it. I moaned despite the discomfort.
“Fuck me,” I groaned and blinked open my eyes. The lights in the rink were bright, so I directed my gaze back down at my guy.
“So hot,” he murmured and slid his hand up and under my shirt to flick my nipple.
Travis turned my face to his and ran his nose along my jaw. He nipped my lobe, then licked up a drop of sweat running down my neck.
“Hold that thought,” Travis said, stopping Rusty’s wandering hands. “We need to reacquaint Carina with having fun.”
They let me go, and I groaned, then adjusted myself, trying to stop the cup from cutting off circulation in my dick. I picked up the box from the bench seat and grinned at Carina. She was leaning against the plexiglass, her legs crossed and her arms wrapped around herself. My smile slipped.
“Are you really cold?” I asked as I went to her, then wrapped my arms around her and rubbed her back, trying to warm her up.
It had been a hot summer, and the cold air in here was a shock to the system, but I was used to moving between the two. It was second nature to me. But Carina struggled with anything under seventy-seven.
“We were going to teach you how to skate, beautiful. But are you up for it?” I asked.
“I am,” she agreed with a smile. “And I’m not cold.” She fanned herself and pumped her brows. “I could stand here all day watching the three of you, so feel free to continue.”
I hummed and tilted Carina’s face up to meet mine, then pressed a soft kiss on her lips, teasing her with a barely there touch. She gasped and rose onto her tiptoes, shifting closer to me.
But I pulled back and tugged her toque lower so her ears were fully covered. “Let’s get your skates on.”
Trav helped her into them, then tightened her laces with care, making sure her ankles were fully supported. The way she looked down at him while he did it stole my breath. It was as if he’d hung the moon and stars for her. I knew exactly how she felt. Travis loved life. He was happy and carefree. But he had a quiet competence about him too. When he concentrated on something, focusing to make sure it was done right, I couldn’t help but stare. He was breathtaking.
When Travis lifted his gaze up and their eyes met, his smile softened and his cheeks flushed. I reached for Rusty’s hand and squeezed tight, loving how we could bear witness to the two of them falling in love with each other.
Once she was standing, I walked backward to the edge of the rink. We pushed through the boards, and Rusty and Travis positioned themselves on each side of her so they could help her balance if she needed them.
She was like a newborn foal, wobbling and overbalancing with every move. But the smile on her face took my breath away. She was slowly getting the hang of it, but I was too scared to let her go. We were barely going faster than a snail, but it still felt too fast—I didn’t want her to hurt herself. I loved that she was rediscovering herself and experiencing so many new things, but I was freaking the fuck out. I knew Travis wanted to take her skydiving and bungee jumping, but I honestly wasn’t sure whether I could handle the nerves that went with it. She would probably jump at the opportunity, and I’d be a nervous wreck.
Travis was playing around with remote controls, and the lights dimmed and music started playing through the speakers—disco, of course—and Rusty skated up to us. “May I have this dance?”
“Sure,” Carina said with a smile and let go of my hands, then looked around to see where the edge was.
Rusty hip checked me, and I stumbled, trying not to get our skates tangled. I huffed out a laugh when he reached for Carina, who was standing there frozen, her eyes wide.
“Way to make a guy feel wanted,” I joked. “You wound me.”
“Hush, you big baby,” he teased. “I want to skate with the pretty lady.”
Carina choked out a laugh, and a pretty pink flush stained her cheeks. “I thought you wanted to skate with Jacques.”
“Not when you’re here,” he murmured and took her into his arms like they were about to start dancing the waltz.
He pushed off, skating backward a little faster than we’d been going, then spun them around. Carina squealed with delight, and Travis slid in behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I leaned back against him and turned to kiss his throat.
I heard a bark that was far closer than it should have been, and I pulled back, frowning. “What’s Zeus doing down here?” I asked.
“He was inside when we came downstairs. He’s probably bored of sitting upstairs by himself.”
“You should never have taught him how to open doors,” I chastised.
Travis raised a brow at me and replied, “He knows how to open the door so he can get you or Rusty out if there’s a fire and you’re unconscious.”
“I love you too.” I smiled and kissed him on the throat again.
“So you should. I’m fabulous.”
He let me go, and I skated to the edge of the rink as the automatic doors opened. Zeus just walked straight on through like he owned the place, which, let’s face it, he did. When he saw me, he broke out in that Staffy grin and started wagging his tail so hard that it was spinning in circles. I snorted out a laugh and opened the barrier gate. But before I could step through and usher him into the yard, Zeus launched himself past me, skidding on the ice straight toward Travis.
My guy was there in an instant, picking up our wayward mutt and protecting his paws from the cold. Zeus twisted in his arms, and right before my eyes, he wrapped his front legs around Travis’s shoulders, spreading his hips wide enough that he could hold on like a koala. I chuckled and shrugged when Travis looked at me, bewildered.
“Aw, Zeus,” Carina cooed. “You’re gonna get cold, puppy dog.”
She pulled away from Rusty and wobbled over to Trav, who was slowly gliding backward into the middle of the rink. She was overbalancing, then correcting too much, her arms circling as she stuck her ass out, then bent the other way. She was barely moving and at this rate would end up on her ass in less than a minute.
I skated to her, but she wouldn’t let me take her hand.
“Got to learn this sometime. Can’t have your fake wife be the most useless skater on the planet.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “You also don’t need to learn it in five minutes. But you do need to go a little faster than you are. It’ll be easier to stop yourself from falling.”
Carina unwound her scarf and held it between both hands. With her arms out wide and her knees bent, she pushed off slowly and started gliding over to Travis.
“Yes!” she shouted and lifted her hands up to cheer.
Oh shit.
She wiggled her butt in a cute little dance.
Fuck.
Then she was falling.
My heart hammered in my chest. My throat tightened and chest squeezed tight. Fear raced down my spine. Damn it, I should have insisted she wear padding and a helmet. I fucking had them here. Why didn’t I put them on her?
I powered over, chasing her faster than I’d ever chased a puck before.
Carina shrieked.
She fell backward, her arms flailing. The scarf fluttered to the ice in slow motion.
Zeus barked a high-pitched yip, and I watched as he curled his claws, digging them into Travis’s shoulders and getting ready to launch himself to try to help.
Travis watched in horror, his arms full of a dog that was clawing at him to let go. He held tight to a barking Zeus and pushed off, trying to get to Carina. He stretched his arm out but was too far to reach.
Rusty’s “Fuck” was from well behind me. I was the only one who could get to Carina.
I pushed harder.
The few yards between us stretched out as wide as the Gulf.
Time slowed, each split second stretching out to an eternity.
It was as if I was skating through treacle, that old nursery rhyme deciding now was the moment to pop into my mind.
Carina’s hair was touching the ice, her whole body only a split second away from hitting it.
But I was there.
I scooped my hands under her arms and lifted her until I could slide my skates under her butt. I deposited her on my feet so she was sitting down and rasped, “I’ve got you, beautiful.”
My hands shook. The shot of adrenaline I’d been pumped full of waned. The band around my chest loosened, and I sucked in a breath. I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly, forcing my panic into submission.
Travis and Rusty were by our sides in barely a second.
Zeus stopped barking, and “I Will Survive” was the only noise in the rink. The irony wasn’t lost on me.
Carina choked out a noise somewhere between a laugh and a sob, and I brought us to a stop. “I’m going to stand you up, beautiful.”
She nodded, and I helped her up, then turned her around. Her eyes were filled with unshed tears, and her lip quivered.
She threw her arms around my shoulders, and I pulled her close, steadying her. “You saved me,” she cried. “I survived.”
I snorted out a laugh and held her tighter. “I’ll never let you fall.”
The irony wasn’t lost on me. She might not be falling, but I was a goner. I’d dived in headfirst without checking the depth. I was completely and utterly in love with her.
I breathed her in, her solid presence in my arms a reassurance that she was okay.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered against my chest. Her voice wavered, and my heart broke. “I should have let you hold my hand.”
“ I’m sorry. I should have insisted you wear all the protective gear instead of taking shortcuts with your safety.”
Rusty passed Carina her scarf and ran his hand down her hair. He pressed his lips into a forced smile. “Are you okay?”
“I am.” Her smile wobbled, and she wiped the tear that spilled down her cheek with the heel of her hand. “Thank you.”
Zeus barked his attention-seeking yip, and Carina twisted in my arms to get to him. She wrapped her scarf around his neck, and he wagged his tail so hard, it was going in circles again.
“Fuck, dog. Nuts,” Travis grunted.
But Zeus didn’t give a shit. He clawed Travis’s shoulders again, trying to get closer to Carina. She leaned in and petted him. He licked her face, headbutting her with his overzealous nudges.
“I’m okay, beautiful boy.” She scratched his ears and hit the spot that always got his leg going. One touch, and he always kicked out.
Travis doubled over and groaned. “That’s it, Zeus. You’re done. Upstairs,” he wheezed and skated over to the boards. He put Zeus down and pointed to the double doors. “Out.”
Carina covered her mouth, and I bit my lip, trying to stop myself from laughing.
“Trav, you okay there, hon?” she asked from behind her hand.
“Don’t all rush to my aid,” Trav gasped. “Fuck me, that hurt. Jesus, he nutted me.”
I couldn’t help the laughter bubbling up my chest. As soon as she felt it, Carina lost the battle to stop herself from giggling. I chanced a look at Rusty, and he was faring no better than us.
We all skated over to the boards, and Carina clambered off the ice.
“Take your skates off, then come here, beautiful,” I gently ordered.
She did and then eyed me warily when I held my hands out to her.
“Stand on my feet.”
“No way!”
“Fine, I’ll carry you then.” I stepped off the ice and lifted her into my arms so she was wrapped around me like Zeus had been Travis.
“Why do you get the pretty, nice-smelling one who won’t kick you in the nuts?” Travis groused as I stepped back onto the ice and pushed off.
“I’ll kiss them better later,” Carina promised with a laugh as I sped up.
We weren’t going fast, but Carina reveled in it, her fear gone. She held out one of her hands, and her weight shifted as she stretched her leg out. I spun us around, and she whooped happily.
Abba’s “Dancing Queen” started playing, and Travis and Rusty swept in beside us. We skated around the rink, Carina joining in with something we’d done countless times just as seamlessly as she did everything else.
Carina sang—badly—and Travis mimicked John Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever.” Rusty matched his moves with something equally ridiculous, and I spun us around so Carina could watch them. She giggled and cheered, and I held her tight. This was happiness. This was perfection. Right here, the four of us.
I slid my hand up her back under her coat, and she shivered in my arms. Her skin was warm and soft, her curves supple as I found her bra strap. Her legs tightened around my waist, and I licked her throat, flicking my tongue over her jaw.
Her breath caught, and I sucked a mark onto her skin at her pulse point. I kissed my way to her mouth keeping one eye on where we were going, and she shifted her hands to cup my cheeks and take over our kiss. She thrust her tongue in alongside mine and we parried, touching and retreating before taking another taste. Our lips never parted as we glided to a stop on the ice, and she tangled her hands in my hair, deepening our kiss and grinding against me.
We broke apart, breathless, and I rasped, “Upstairs.”
“We’re a step ahead, Jacques,” Travis called out. “Get your ass here.” He held open the gate to the ice, and I didn’t waste any time skating there.
Carina slid down my body, and I deposited her gently on the rubber mats before I unlaced my skates and tossed them aside. It was a race up the stairs, all of us in socks as we dashed up them while trying not to slip on the polished timber.
I kicked the door to our bedroom closed. Seeing the four of us in that room was still strange. We weren’t often all in here at once. We still slept in separate rooms, Travis and I taking turns between the two. I wanted us to be one unit even if Rusty and Carina weren’t sexual with each other. Fuck, there was nothing else I wanted more—not a contract renewal, not the captaincy, not even the NHL.
Carina stood between Travis and Rusty, her chest heaving. Rusty nudged off her toque, and Travis lowered the zipper on her coat. I stepped forward and eased it off her shoulders, then tossed it aside.
Her floral shirt was soft to the touch and was trimmed with lace. It was so feminine and soft, perfect for how Carina felt under my hands. I hooked my finger on the top button and used it to tug her forward into my arms. I kissed her and flicked open one button after another.
She broke our kiss and licked her lip, then bit down on it. “I need you,” she whispered.
Travis tangled his hand in her hair and turned her face to him. He kissed her like a summer storm, all lightning and thunder. She arched into his touch and wrapped her arms around his waist, moaning as he explored her mouth.
I stripped off my training shirt and reached for Rusty. I eased his Henley up and over his head, then tugged off his sweats so he was left in nothing but the dark boxer briefs that just did it for me. They cupped his package and framed his ass spectacularly. He peeled his socks off and tossed them sideways while I shamelessly watched him. Then we turned to strip Carina and Travis out of their clothes.
But I wasn’t fast enough to reach Carina. Rusty shocked me, and not because he interacted with her—their friendship was strengthening every time I saw them together—but it was the way he did it.
It was intimate and gentle.
He trailed his fingers over her palm, letting them hover there so only their fingertips touched. Then with his other hand, he stroked his thumb over her cheek, his touch so gentle that she gasped. I watched in awe as Rusty gazed at Carina with wonder in his eyes.
She tentatively reached up and touched his chest, the brush of her fingertips as featherlight as his.
This was really happening.
Rusty was feeling something more than friendship. He was attracted to Carina.
My breath caught and my belly swooped. It was every dream come true.
I thought I hadn’t wanted anything to change between us. I was wrong. This was revelatory. This changed everything, and it was perfection.
“Can I kiss you?” he rumbled, a deep rasp in his voice.
“God, yes,” she breathed and trailed her hands lower, down to his hips.