Page 55 of Tough Call

I was extremely fortunate. I’d broken into professional hockey, and I was doing what I loved for a living. The fact that I couldn’t get back into the NAL was disappointing, but I could live with it because I was still getting paid to play hockey.

In the bathroom, the shower shut off. I turned my head toward the wall separating us, and something settled in my chest.

If I continued playing in Europe, I could do the long-distance thing with Connor. If I scored an NAL contract… well, that could complicate things. Like… significantly. Especially with all the officials being under a microscope after the recent scandals, there was no way in hell anyone would tolerate a player dating a referee. They were just barely tolerating queer players in the League at all.

So not being able to sign with the NAL had the very, very bright silver lining of being able to be with Connor. Whatever that looked like—dating, fuck buddies, friends with benefits.

Something more serious than I’d ever had with anyone.

I swallowed. That was a thought, wasn’t it? With only one of us tied to the NAL, there was nothing stopping us from seeing how far this thing could go.

As consolation prizes went… I mean, Fuck. I could live without signing another NAL contract if it meant I had a shot—a real, honest to God shot—with Connor.

The man in question stepped out of the bathroom in a pair of gym shorts and nothing else, his hair wet and finger-combed, and oh, yeah, I could definitely live with this. Playing in the NAL was every hockey player’s dream, but Connor? He was something else entirely.

I pushed myself up and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. “Feel better?”

“Oh my God, yes.” He ran his hand through his hair, mussing it further. “There is nothing better than a shower after a long flight.”

“So true.” I stepped closer and slid my hands over his waist. He met my gaze with sleepy eyes and a soft smile.

Fuck. You are so much prettier than a hockey contract will ever be.

I didn’t say that, though. I just drew him all the way in and finally claimed that long kiss we hadn’t dared at the airport. Connor moaned as he wrapped his arms around my neck. Through the thin fabric of his shorts, he couldn’t hide that he was quickly getting hard, but I doubted he’d be up for much. Not until he’d actually slept.

I didn’t care. Sex could wait. I just wanted to hold him and taste him.

You’re here. You’re really here.

When he broke away, a ragged sigh slipped past his lips. “I’ve been looking forward to that for months.”

“Me too.”

He grinned, but then he let his eyes slid shut and his shoulders slump. Touching his forehead to my shoulder, he swore. “I wish we could do more right now. I know I’m terrible company.”

“You’re not. You’re exhausted.” I kissed his temple as I stroked a hand down his back. “You’ll be fine in a day or two, and then we’ll have an amazing time together.”

“But I want to fuck. And do… God, I want to do everything.”

“Me too.” I gently nudged him to lift his head, and when he did, I cupped his chin and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “And we will. Probably multiple times.”

A grin cracked through the fatigue. “Think we’ll be able to skate?”

“Maybe not at full speed, but we’ll manage.”

Connor chuckled. “We will. Just… after I’ve had some sleep.”

I turned him and steered him toward the bed. “Sleep, then. You need it.”

“What about you?” As he pulled back the covers, he glanced at me. “I don’t want you to just sit here in the dark.”

“I won’t. I’m going to go down to the bar so I don’t bother you.” I kissed the back of his shoulder. “When you wake up, text me or come find me.”

He nodded, a sleepy smile on his lips. “Okay.”

We shared another kiss, and then he burrowed down into the pillows. He was out cold in minutes.

I thought about staying there. There were worse ways to spend an afternoon than stretched out on the bed beside him and listening to him breathe. In that moment, I didn’t even mind that we hadn’t fucked yet. I was just so happy and relieved to be in the same space as Connor. Once he’d shaken off the jetlag and the long flight, we had a ton of time to do anything and everything we wanted.