Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
TYLER
The hotel lobby is bustling with activity when we arrive in Manchester. It seems we’re not the only team staying here this weekend either, so it’s like swimming against a tide of people as we try to check in.
This is a big weekend for us. We need to win both games to claim our spot in the Frozen Four in two weeks’ time, and while I’m excited for the tournament, there’s also this knot of melancholy sitting in my chest.
This is ultimately the countdown to the end of my hockey-playing career.
Sure, I told Liam I’d try and find a beer league team when I’m back home in Arizona, but it isn’t really the same. The stakes aren’t as high.
So if we lose this weekend, that’ll be it for me. Game over.
I want to make it to the Frozen Four, not only because it’s what we’ve worked so hard all season long for, but on a selfish level too. Because I don’t think I’m ready to let go of being Tyler Beckmann, NCAA Division I athlete.
Needing to distract myself from the bad mood I can feel myself falling into, I search the busy lobby for the face I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.
It took everything in me to leave Colby’s room when I did last night.
I didn’t want to scare him by coming on too strong, especially now I know how inexperienced he is.
But the taste of his sweet mouth and the sound of his soft whimpers seem to have ignited something in me that I wasn’t prepared for.
The possessive streak I’ve always seemed to hold for him? It’s like someone has lit a match under it, and now it’s burning brighter than ever.
I’m desperate to do it again because damn, I underestimated how good it would be to kiss Colby, and I don’t want to wait until we’re back on campus to taste his lips again.
I spot Nelson, Colby’s usual roommate on the road, near the team’s travel coordinator. He’s waiting as she hands out the room keys, and an idea forms in my mind.
Pushing through the crowd, I sidle up next to him and give him my most charming smile.
“Hey, Nelson.” I tip my chin in an up-nod and knock his fist with mine. “I’ve got a favor to ask you.”
“Yeah? What’s up, Becksy?”
“Don’t suppose you want to trade rooms for the weekend? I’m kinda sick of looking at his handsome mug.” I hook a thumb over my shoulder toward Liam. “I spend enough time with him already. I need a break.”
Nelson glances over my shoulder at Liam, then back to me. He gives an unbothered shrug and hands over his key card. No questions asked.
“Sure. Just to warn you, McKay is pretty quiet though. You probably won’t even notice he’s there.”
Oh, trust me, I will.
It’s hard not to notice everything about Colby.
I don’t say that though. I accept the key card with a smile and a promise to buy him a six-pack of beer when we get back to campus, and then I scan the crowded lobby for a mop of messy blond curls.
I find Colby on his own in the corner, sitting in a wingback armchair, partially hidden by a huge-ass plant. He’s scowling down at his phone, pulling idly on the side of his lip.
Something’s bothering him.
With the urge to launch whatever is causing his brows to furrow to the moon, I weave through the swarm of people and stop in front of him.
He must be so engrossed in whatever is causing that pissed-off look on his face because he doesn’t notice me until I nudge his foot.
“Guess what?” I say, loud enough for him to hear me over the raucous lobby.
He jumps in his seat, his phone flipping through the air before landing in his lap, and he shoots me an unimpressed look.
“What?”
“I managed to sweet-talk Nelson into trading rooms with me.” I waggle the slipcase containing the room keys. “We get to be roomies for the weekend.”
Maybe we can make out and maybe get started on your list, I silently suggest with a wiggle of my brows.
Luckily, he seems to pick up on my unspoken words. He bites down on the inside of his cheek and asks, “Really?”
“Really. Now, come on, let’s get out of here before we’re dragged into playing a game of ping-pong or some other shit.”
“I like ping-pong,” he says, picking his bag up from the floor.
“Of course you do. Because you’re good at it,” I tease, flashing him a wry grin over my shoulder. “Because you’re good at everything.”
He huffs out a breath. “If you say so.”
I lead him toward the bank of elevators and press the call button.
He seems… distracted. The muscle in his jaw ticks, eyes darting around the lobby like he’s expecting someone to jump out on him.
I follow the direction of his glare, but nothing looks unusual.
Aside from our team, the other team staying here, and some family members, nothing jumps out as being suspicious.
I hate that the actions of other people who are unable to respect boundaries have caused him to be so on edge everywhere we go, but it can only mean whatever has caused the heavy rain cloud to hang over his head must have come from his phone.
“We’re on the fourth floor,” I tell him. “Coach wants us down in the lobby at five for a strategy meeting before dinner.”
He doesn’t reply, his attention snagging to the phone as it vibrates in his hand. His shoulders tense at whatever is on the screen, and then he lets out a grunt and shoves his phone into the pocket of his sweatpants with an air of irritation.
What the fuck has happened in the last twenty minutes since we got off the bus?
“Is everything okay?” I ask cautiously.
“Yeah,” he answers, but his clipped tone says otherwise. “Just the same shit.”
“Seriously? They’re hounding you already?”
His nod is heavy and tired. “Yeah. I don’t know how they got my student email though, which is a first. Coach made sure it didn’t go on the directory when I started.”
“Block them.”
“I have, but they keep sending it under different emails.”
“Assholes,” I hiss. “Want me to sign them up to one of those annoying e-card sites that sends those really loud, obnoxious emails every day? Or the spammy newsletters where they send you eighty thousand emails?”
That earns me a chuckle. “Nah. They don’t deserve the time.”
Before I can argue that I’d happily do anything for him if it meant people would back the fuck off, the elevator doors open. We step inside the car, and I quickly press the button to close the doors before anyone else can join us.
As soon as the doors slide closed, I decide it’s time to distract Colby in the only way I know how.
I lean in, crowding him against the shiny wall, and lower my voice. “Being roommates for the weekend means we have plenty of time to strategize our next move of play. Maybe even get a few practice drills in.”
The hitch in his breath goes straight to my groin. His eyes lock with mine, and his Adam’s apple bobs when he swallows.
“It, uh… only makes sense to utilize the time to improve our skill.”
My lips tip in a slow, wicked smirk. “Exactly.”
We’re silent for the rest of our ascent to the fourth floor.
The air between us is becoming more charged the closer we get to the privacy of our room.
We’ll still need to be quiet, no matter what we get up to.
In the four years I’ve been at Whilton U, I’ve heard no end of my teammates hooking up with random people they’ve met that night, and I don’t want us to be the topic of conversation over breakfast.
When we reach our room, I scan the key card and push the door when it flashes green, holding it open for Colby to walk inside first. There are two double beds, a small desk and chair, a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall, and a mini fridge containing a few overpriced sodas and candy bars.
Dropping my bag on the bed nearest the window, I turn to look at Colby. He’s standing at the end of the other bed, staring at his bag like he’s never seen it before.
Need to get rid of the tension that’s consuming him.
Understatement of the year.
Without a word, I take a step forward, then another. I close the distance between us in a few easy strides and cradle his jaw with my palms. Tilting his head up with my thumb, the moment his hazel eyes lock with mine, I lose myself in them.
There’s a hint of worry mixed with anticipation, but there’s also a fire burning in them. A want that’s hopefully going to grow stronger the more confident he gets.
“Can I kiss you?” I ask, my voice coming out like gravel.
Wordlessly, he nods, and I slide my mouth over his.
I kiss him soft and slow, cataloging every hitch of his breath when I swipe my tongue along his lips.
He parts his lips, peeking his tongue out slightly, but I don’t dive right in.
I give his tongue a gentle caress with mine and let him take control.
It only takes a few seconds before his tongue slips into my mouth.
This kiss is nothing like the one we shared last night. He was eager to the point that our kiss was clumsy and desperate. Though today, I can tell he’s holding back. Nervous, almost.
His hands remain at his sides, like he’s not sure what to do with them.
“Put your hands on me, Colbs,” I murmur against his lips. “Touch me. Feel me. Explore me in every way you want to. Think of my body as your personal adventure playground. I’m here for your pleasure.”
A few seconds pass before Colby finally places his hands on my ribs. His touch is tentative and unsure, gliding over my sides like he’s checking if I’m real or whether I’ll magically combust at any moment.
Sensing he needs some encouragement, I continue to kiss him, but I let him take control of everything else. His hands roam up my chest, smoothing over hard muscle until he reaches my pecs. Thumbs graze over my nipples, and I gasp, pleasure shooting down my spine from that single touch.
“Do that again.”
And he does.
Colby brushes his thumbs over my nipples again, then traces circles around them. A low moan rumbles in the back of my throat. His hands trail further down my torso, over my stomach to my hips. Thumbs dip into the grooves of my V, slipping down behind the elastic of my boxer briefs.