Face Offs & Cheap Shots (CU Hockey Book 2) Read online

  “It only took us three years.”

  “And multiple orgasms.”

  He laughs. “And hopefully many more.” He lifts his drink like a toast, and I knock my glass against his.

  “Many, many more.”

  We take a drink, and as I lean back against the booth, I give in to my urge from earlier and set my hand on his thigh. We’re far enough away from campus that I don’t have to worry about being seen. No one’s bothering us even though we’re not being subtle about being here together. Some of my tension eases.

  “So what are your plans after we graduate?” I ask.

  “You’re full of questions tonight, aren’t you?”

  “And you’re full of diversion tactics.”

  His lips twitch. I want to kiss him again. “I think I’ve talked about myself enough.”

  “You’ve told me one thing.”

  “It’s more than I was planning.”

  “Beck …”

  “Look, my future is pretty much set, that’s why I don’t talk about it. All it does is depress me, and I prefer to focus on the fun things.”

  “I’m guessing that future doesn’t include hockey.”

  “No.” He hesitates. “I know for you and Grant hockey means a lot, but I can’t think that way.”

  “So you dick around?”

  “Exactly.” Beck’s voice dips a little lower. “There’s no point taking things seriously and getting attached when I know in a year, I’ll have to give it all up anyway.”

  I shake my head. “I don’t understand.”

  His hand briefly squeezes mine. “Does your family expect you to take over the farm one day?”

  I frown at the sudden subject change, but I let it happen. I want to see where he’s going with this. “To them, it would probably be ideal. It’s expected one of us will, but luckily, I have three younger brothers and Tony already works on the farm full-time. He didn’t even apply to college. He’s been learning the management side of things since he left high school.”

  “Now imagine you had no brothers.”

  It becomes clear really fast what he’s getting at. “Okay, yeah. If I had no brothers, I’d feel obligated to take over. That farm has been in our family for generations. I wouldn’t be able to sell it.”

  “Now imagine the farm is the business world, and you’re looking at my future. My father never even asked if I wanted it, you know? It’s expected. And it sucks.”

  “What about Baby?”

  “She is lacking the very thing every businessman needs according to our father.”

  “Business sense?”

  Beck scoffs. “A penis. She’s ten times smarter than I am, but he doesn’t want to hear it.”

  “That’s …”

  “You’re allowed to say it. It’s toxic masculinity at its finest. Women can’t be CEOs. They can’t be anything but pretty housewives.”

  Our dinner comes out, and we have to separate briefly to eat, but we don’t stop talking. It’s surprisingly easy when we’re not at each other’s throats … or filling each other’s throats.

  Beck seems determined to drive the conversation away from his home life, but I manage to get little pieces out of him.

  It sucks that after this year, hockey’s over for him. And it’s not that he doesn’t have the talent because I know Coach has spoken to him about scouts.

  I do understand obligation though. Hockey ends for me because I’m too financially and family motivated to go for it. Schlepping it out for a few years on an AHL team trying to make it to the big show, abandoning the family farm completely, it doesn’t sit right with me. I might not want to be a full-time farmer, but I still want to help. With labor and with money.

  For Beck, I can hear the pain when he talks about this being his final season, and I’m insanely curious to know why he doesn’t go for it. He’s never had a problem doing whatever he wants before.

  It’s dark by the time we finally leave, and I grab his hand for the short walk from the doors to his car.

  He doesn’t mention it, and neither do I.

  My dick starts getting interested on the drive back as I watch his large hand change gears, and his strong thighs flex with every movement. I can’t wait until we’re in my room so I can strip him naked and feel those muscles under me. And yet, I’m kinda nervous too. I’m not used to so many conflicting emotions.

  I mean, it’s not like we haven’t seen each other naked before.

  But I dunno, with one dinner, something’s changed.

  Once he’s parked, we jump out and set a fast pace back to our dorms. My cock is aching.

  We pass a few people in the foyer of the dorm, but thankfully the elevator is empty. As soon as the doors close, Beck pulls me in and kisses me slow and deep.

  I moan, and my hands find his ass. Maybe tonight I’ll have the balls to bring up fucking him again.

  The elevator stops, and we quickly part from each other, but my hall is clear. I step out, then slow when I realize he hasn’t followed me. He’s still inside, hand stopping the doors from closing.

  “Are you coming?”

  “Nope.”

  My eyes almost jump out of my head. “Wait, what?”

  He has the balls to smile at me. “Sorry, Topher. I don’t put out on first dates.”

  “Are you shitting me right now?”

  “Not one bit.”

  My head drops back on a groan, and I cup my erection. “So what am I meant to do with this?”

  “Not really my problem.”

  I check back over my shoulder before stalking closer. “And does this sudden modesty extend to second dates?”

  “I guess you’ll have to take me on one to find out.”

  Even knowing I don’t get to touch him tonight, I can’t help smiling at that.

  A second date.

  With Beck.

  Damn how things have changed.

  I cup his strong jaw and steal one last kiss.

  “Someone’s getting brave,” he says.

  Or maybe he’s getting way too addictive.

  “Careful. You’re giving off the impression you might like me a teeny tiny bit.”

  I smile against his mouth. “Ridiculous.”

  “Completely crazy.”

  I kiss him again before pulling myself away. Before the elevator doors can close again, I throw back over my shoulder, “I think I like you a little bit more than that.”

  20

  Beck

  It’s insane how hard it is to wipe the smile from my face. Even when I try, I fail. Something my sister definitely notices and gives me hell for when I get back to my dorm.

  “I was right,” she sings, and I don’t even care.

  I don’t think I’ve ever had a date where I could be me. The real me. Not the clown. Not the one who has to be fun all the time, who never takes anything seriously.

  Telling Jacobs even half the shit I did is the first time I’ve talked about it to anyone other than my sister.

  I expected him to judge me for complaining about being guaranteed a high-paying job once I graduate, but he didn’t. He seemed to understand, and I think it’s the same for him.

  He’d love to chase a career in hockey if it was a guarantee, but it’s not. And while he’s talented and could make it, he’s not Foster Grant. Neither of us have agents fighting over us like he did. Hell, Grant turned down agents until he could find the perfect one. Jacobs and I would have to take whatever we could get.

  But it’s not only playing I don’t want to say goodbye to. I don’t want to say goodbye to the game, and Jacobs gets that.

  The next day at practice, it’s harder than ever to keep up this pretense of our rivalry. Turns out, I like nice Jacobs as much as angry Jacobs, and being nice takes a hell of a lot less energy than being a smart-ass.

  Coach tells us to gather and take a knee on the ice.

  I skate up next to Jacobs, and when we take our helmets off, I’m so fucking tempted to run my hand through his l
ong, sweaty hair.

  Yeah, don’t do that.

  My hand reaches for it when he smiles at me, and I have to pull it back.

  As much as I love his scowls, I can’t help loving the way his face lights up when he’s not mad.

  And now I’m being ridiculous. It’s technically only been one date. I’m getting ahead of myself.

  He took my sister finding out well, but I doubt it will be the same when the guys catch on. Surely, they’re not that dumb, are they? There has never been a time in the last three years where Jacobs and I haven’t been getting under each other’s skin.

  Who knew it was foreplay?

  “We’re in our second-last week,” Coach says, bringing me out of my endless thoughts about Jacobs.

  And since when do we only have two weeks left?

  I want to scream no and try to figure out a way to extend camp, but everyone has families to visit in the few remaining weeks before college and school starts up again.

  “I just want to tell each and every one of you how proud we are of the talent this year,” Coach continues. “You’ve all shown what teamwork is truly like, and I’d be happy to have any of you on this team’s roster after you graduate high school. And to those already on the team …” He looks pointedly at me and Jacobs. “I’ve never seen you all gel together like you have been—some of you more than others—and I’m excited for the upcoming season.”

  Okay, so maybe the team is too dumb to notice, but Coach isn’t.

  Jacobs and I side-eye each other.

  “Now hit the showers early and take the rest of the day off,” Coach says. “Us coaches will pack this down.”

  The rest of the guys shoot up to their skates and off the ice basically before Coach has finished his sentence.

  Jacobs and I aren’t in a rush.

  He smiles at me while we skate toward the chute. “A whole afternoon and night off. What could we possibly get up to?”

  “If that’s your way of asking me on that second date, your delivery needs some work.”

  “Oh, and the way you asked was so romantic. The only reason I knew it was a date was because you told me to change my shirt.”

  I shove him. “Ask me out properly, dick.”

  He laughs. “Hey, asshole, wanna go out tonight?”

  “With such sweet pet names like that, it’s amazing we’re not totally in love yet. But yes. I will go out with you tonight.”

  The kids up ahead go into the visitors’ locker room while we’re the last into ours. The guys are already in the showers, and part of my wickedly horny mind wonders how long it’ll take for them all to shower and get out of here.

  I tell myself not to make eyes at Jacobs while we enter the showers. We take stalls next to each other, and the partitions mean I can’t see anything good, but I can’t even look at his face without my body responding.

  The others are talking about plans for the rest of the day seeing as we’re getting out early. They mention going to the movies, so that’s out for us unless we want to be found out or make this a group date.

  “Beck, what are you doing?” Cohen asks.

  “I’ll probably hang out with my sister. We haven’t spent much time together since she showed up.”

  “Bring her out with us.”

  “She’s nineteen,” I growl. “I ain’t letting her near any of you.”

  There’s a round of snickers.

  “Jacobs?” Cohen asks.

  I turn to him, but he ducks his head under the water.

  When they call him again, he screws up his face. “What? I can’t hear you.” He disappears under the spray again.

  I can’t help laughing.

  It doesn’t take long for the showers to clear out and for the sound of talking in the locker room to die down.

  I think they’re all gone.

  “Nice diversion,” I say.

  He ducks his head under the water again, and I laugh more.

  When he faces me, I say, “Hey, Jacobs? I’m naked over here.”

  He cocks his head. “Are you? I shower with my underwear on.”

  I peek over the stall to see his cock on its way to hard. “Liar.”

  “Shame you don’t put out until the second date.”

  “Well, technically it’s the start of our second date.”

  His eyes fill with heat, but he hesitates.

  “Go make sure they’re all gone,” I say.

  He nods and turns his water off, wrapping his towel around his waist as he wanders into the locker room.

  Jacobs’s blinding smile reappears seconds later. “All gone.”

  He drops his towel and enters my stall.

  His muscular arms box me in as my back hits the cool tile.

  He whispers, “What do you want?”

  “You. On your knees.”

  He leans in and kisses a path up my neck. “You like my mouth on you.”

  I like you, I want to say but don’t. “Anywhere you’re willing to put it.”

  He chuckles against me. “I’ll remember that.”

  My hips thrust forward, grinding our cocks together.

  “Okay, okay. Impatient much?” Jacobs sinks to his knees.

  Damn, he looks good down there.

  He teases my head, his tongue darting out to lightly lick along the tip.

  “Shit.” My hand flies to his hair, pulling on the long strands until they’re wrapped around my fingers.

  Jacobs’s gray eyes meet mine as he closes his mouth over my cock and sucks me deep.

  I’m willing to give him the BJ king title because holy shit, even after countless times doing this to him, I haven’t quite mastered it like he has.

  I can make him come no problem, but getting him there takes a while. He has me teetering on the edge within seconds of touching me.

  It feels like forever since he’s had his mouth on my dick when it’s only been days.

  Whose idea was it to not put out last night again? Because they’re a dumbass. It couldn’t have been me. Nope. Not when Jacobs makes me feel the way I do right now.

  I grunt and thrust into his mouth. He takes it without issue.

  He pulls off my cock. “Fuck my mouth.”

  My hand tightens in his hair. “Are you sure?”

  “I can take it.”

  I have no doubt he can. The other times he’s blown me, we’ve been horizontal because he loves playing with my ass while he does it.

  This is … different.

  His hand grips the base of my cock. “Failsafe. Just in case.”

  I release his hair and run my thumb over his cheek. “Are you really sure? I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You won’t.”

  This might be the most trust he’s put in me ever, and for some reason, that feels better than the blowjob.

  My hands go to either side of his head, and I guide it toward my needy cock.

  He opens his mouth, and I tentatively thrust inside, not hard. Jacobs gives me a nod of encouragement.

  When I do it again, holy hell, this is what heaven must feel like.

  Heat surrounds my cock, and I groan, guttural and deep.

  I push into his mouth over and over again, loving the way his lips look wrapped around my tight skin.

  His hand stays at the base until he gains some confidence and cups my ass. He controls my speed, encouraging me to go faster.

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I chant but don’t stop.

  His fingers bite into my ass cheeks before he pulls a hand away and reaches between his legs.

  I falter because the sight of him jerking off while sucking my cock is possibly the best thing I’ve ever seen.

  I go at a slower pace so I can watch, but when he moans around me, sending a vibration right to my balls, I can’t hold back and fuck into his mouth at a speed I worry he won’t be able to keep up with.

  He pulls off my cock, breathing heavy. I assume I’ve gone too far, but when he glances up at me with hooded eyes and a familiar look, I
know it’s because he’s about to come.

  I grip my cock and stroke myself. “Open up.”

  His mouth drops open, and I keep jerking off. My balls draw up tight, and I know it won’t take long to push me over.

  My whole body stiffens as I come on a shout. I aim for his mouth, but only some cum makes it in there. The rest lands on his cheek, his chin, and nose.

  I stare down at him while I come, drawing out my orgasm and seemingly triggering his own.

  He wrenches his eyes closed and comes on the ground, while I pull back.

  I sag against the wall and try to get control of my breathing.

  When Jacobs stands, I wipe my cum from his cheek before he ducks his head under the water to wash it off properly.

  Once he’s clean, he pulls back and smiles. “The rest of our second date has a lot to live up to.”

  I grin. “I’ll say.”

  21

  Jacobs

  Hands down, dumbest thing I’ve ever done. And sure, I checked the locker room to make sure no one was hanging around, but anyone could have forgotten something or Coach could have walked in. What the hell would they have said to finding me on my knees?

  It’s a lingering worry, but it’s getting quieter the longer this goes on. Because when I have my hands on Beck, I struggle to think of anything else.

  Do I want the team to know? No, but it’s less about us and more about them. They’re a bunch of morons. All I need is to remember how they behaved with that bite mark to know that if they find out we’re fooling around, I’ll never hear the end of it.

  I’m self-conscious as we leave the arena and head for Beck’s car, but no one’s around.

  “Did you see how proud Coach is of us?” Beck asks when we get on the road. The asshole wouldn’t let me drive his car, so he has to deal with me directing him. I haven’t told him where we’re going in case he thinks it’s dumb.

  But what does Beck love more than friendly competition?

  “Maybe we should have been blowing each other sooner,” he says.

  “Look, if we need to keep fucking for the rest of the year, I’m happy to make that sacrifice.”