Page 27 of Dirty Dare

I lean down and kiss him on the mouth. Not jamming my tongue down his throat, but for a lingering beat… like he’s fucking mine.

It ought to be enough. But in for a penny, in for a pound. So I add, “Almost as good as the one you gave me last night.”

He coughs, blue eyes going wide as they search mine like they’re wondering who the hell took over my body.

From behind me, I hear the ex mutter a curse. And then, “Jesus Christ, you’re… the goddamn swimmer?”

Huh?

Surprise more than anything turns me around. The prick is staring at me, sizing me up. Whatever. Crossing my arms, I step in beside Trevor… who’s also still watching me, the slightest hitch at the corner of his mouth.

Gonna take that as a good sign. I turn back to the ex. “Guess so. Cam Dorsey.”

“Yeah. Leo.” He shifts uncomfortably, but then gives it up. “Leo Rossi. I’m uhh… Trevor’s roommate. We play for the same team.”

And now I get why even when Trevor was telling me about this relationship, he was so careful with the details. Nothing to indicate who this man was. No dots to connect.

This fucker has no idea the respect Trevor has given his privacy.

“Do you play for the Slayers too?”

He blinks, and a flash of jealousy drifts over his face before he wipes it away. “No, I’m down in Springfield with the Orators. Hey, man, you want to give us a minute here?”

That would be a hard no. I really don’t. But I turn to Trevor, and the corner of his mouth is hitched even higher. “Is that what you want?”

For him, I would. But Trevor shakes his head and threads our fingers together. “Nope. You belong here. If Leo’s got something to say, he can say it in front of you. Or he can go. Either way, it isn’t going to change anything.”

I swallow past a surge of emotion, nodding with a smile I’ll give him the words to match when we’re alone.

Leo ducks his head. “Come on, T. You know it’s not over. Not because of this guy.”

“It is over.”

I raise a brow, but Leo just grinds his molars together and blows out a breath. “Fine. You want to get yours? Okay. I deserve it after how I hurt you. You’ve got another week. Screw everyone in the state if you like. Get it out of your system, and I’ll see you at training camp.” He bites his lip and flexes his chest. “Just like last year.”

I feel Trevor’s hand tense in mine, and my blood starts to boil. In twenty-two years I’ve never been in a fight. Never even thought about taking a swing at someone, but those careless, condescending words have me finally understanding the urge to do violence.

“Wow, quite the offer.” Trevor shakes his head in disgust. “But there’s nothing to figure out, Leo. It’s over. If you’ve worked your shit out, I’m happy for you. If you haven’t… not my problem. But yeah, I’ll see you at camp. I’ll be the ‘out’ hockey player fighting for a spot on the Slayers’ roster. And you’ll be just another player on the ice.”

Leo pales, hands coming up. “Hold on. Out? You can’t do that to me, man. We were roommates. We lived together. What will people think?”

Trevor shrugs. “They’ll think you had a roommate who dates men. And I guess it’s up to you if you want to be someone who didn’t care or someone who did. Or even someone who dated me but made mistakes, learned from them, and is in a better place now. Whatever you do, Leo, it’s up to you and it’s on you. And… honestly, I wish you the best. But I’m ready to cook some chicken and spend the night with the guy I love.”

I’ve been listening, offering my quiet support to this point, but now—

Did he just say—

I turn to him, pulling his hand close to my pounding heart. He loves me?

Trevor ducks to kiss my knuckles as Leo rounds his SUV in a huff and slams the door. Neither of us look as he drives away. Because what matters is this. Now.

“Love, huh?” I ask in a voice choked with emotion.

“From that first night, Cam. All those years ago. I loved you then, and I love you now. And even though I understand the kind of life I have to offer you can never compete with the life you have here, I just… I want you to know that if it could… I’d love you forever.”

My heart cracks open right then and there. Pulling Trevor into my arms, I kiss him hard and deep and with everything I have. I kiss him like I love him because the truth of it is that simple. I do. And when I break away, it’s just enough to whisper against his lips, “I never stopped. I love you too.”

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