Page 59 of Broken Ice, Mended Hearts

“Open your eyes and look down.”

A ball of semen floated in the water between our legs, tendrils branching out from the edges, and I laughed. “Even our cum likes to be together. Nobody’s ever separating that.”

Using a finger, he tilted my chin upward until our eyes met. “If I have anything to say about it, no one’s separating us, either.”

Sven and I pulled into the parking lot at the Iron Club, a private golf course near Bethesda, fifteen minutes late. Nick Johnson—the Cudas’ captain, known as Stick—had called the night beforeto ask me to join him and Kev Moore for a game. They’d both been in Europe for most of the summer, and I hadn’t seen them since June—before Sven and I started dating. When I mentioned that Sven and I had been hanging out, Stick told me to bring him along.

“Do they know about us?” Sven asked as I pulled into a shady spot. It was the third time he’d asked since we accepted the invitation.

“I haven’t told them or their husbands, but knowing Blake and his big mouth…”

“What should we do, then? Just bring it up?” He had on his pouty face. Like his happy face, it included a protruding lower lip, and was every bit as adorable as his smile.

“Why not? I told Stick we’ve been hanging out. He and Kev are two of my best buddies, and they’ll be good friends to you too. If they haven’t heard, we’ll tell them.”

“That’s fine. I just want to know how to act.”

He’d been antsy all the way to the club. Wringing his hands and twisting his watch, you’d think he was on his way to meet a girlfriend’s family. All at once, it hit me, and I turned my head to the side. “You’re nervous about seeing them, but it isn’t because you wonder if they know about us. You’re afraid they won’t approve of you.”

“That, and wondering what they’ll think of the whole thing. They’ve never known you like guys, have they?”

I reached for his hand and shook my head.

“That will be a big surprise if they don’t know about us. But I’m not a hot, young stud like Blanton or Eckhart. Don’t you think they’d rather have someone like that for one of their best friends?”

Feeling like I’d been kicked in the gut, I searched for my voice. I wanted to reassure him, but I needed to be careful. Sven was a proud man and hated being patronized. “You are thehottest man I’ve ever known. You’re only thirty-three, so you arenotold. And since they care about me, they want me to be happy. If they don’t, fuck them, but I promise they do. There’s nothing about you not to like. Be yourself.”

His eyes glimmered. “Thanks.”

Releasing his hand, I leaned across the console and kissed him. As soon as we broke for air, he asked, “Am I allowed to touch you during the game? Kiss you out there?”

My stomach twisted. What a thing for my partner to have to ask, but we were sports celebrities. I wouldn’t mind if Stick and Kev saw us getting ready to strip down and fuck, but in public, we’d be outing our relationship.And outing me.

I didn’t have time to think it through, so I smiled. “You can kiss me if I get a hole in one.”

He snorted, looking happier. “And you can kiss my ass.”

I cocked my head. “I’ll be glad to.”

“Din jävla idiot!”

“What does that mean?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know? Fucking idiot.”

Still troubled by what I’d just been thinking, it took me too long to come up with a retort.

He sighed. “You’re giving me the silent treatment? Finally.”

“Trou de cul.”I beamed, certain he wouldn’t know what that meant.

“Don’t call me an asshole. And I believe I know what you’re thinking. I promise to behave.”

“Thanks.” I reached for the door handle but stopped before I got out. “Fuck that. Touch me anytime you want. I’m not ashamed of who I am, and I’m sure as hell not ashamed of you. If word gets out, it gets out. We’ll go public eventually, and I don’t want either of us having to hide.”

He placed a hand on my arm and squeezed. “Never doubt how brave you are.” After a glance at his watch, he said, “We should go in. We’re very late.”

We found Stick and Kev in The 19th Hole, the club’s bar, having a beer. They both stood as we approached, and after a round of handshakes, hugs, and reintroductions—they’d both met Sven before—Stick said, “I’d ask if you want a drink, but it’s tee time.”

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