Page 140 of On Thin Ice

“Come on,” Jacob said, patting Morgan on the arm. “Let’s show Finn what you can do.”

“Aren’t I supposed to be seeing whathe’smade of?” Morgan questioned.

Jacob grinned. “Oh, whathe’scapable of was never in question. But you’re old now.”

Morgan spluttered. “You fucking asshole. Ihateyou.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jacob said, laughing, and he was pretty damn sure what Morgan meant was actually the opposite.

Finn took a breath in and then let it out slowly, watching as his dad skated towards him.

“You got this,” Jacob called out, but Finn didn’t look over.

Instead, he kept his gaze glued to where Morgan was coming in hard, his speed still strong even though he was old.

But that would be the first mistake he’d make, if he underestimated how good his dad still was, even three years after retirement.

He’d watched a little of Morgan versus Jacob, on the other side of the rink, mostly because it was impossible not to, with their level of skill on display. They were both so ridiculously good still and still had each other’s number.

But watching had given Finn a good refresher course on Morgan’s habits.

He liked to skate not just with his body, but with his mind, to outmaneuver the goalie. To turn it into a game of chess, not just a game of hockey.

The first move of Morgan’s wouldn’t be his last, and Finn needed to prepare for that.

Morgan came in hot, wiggling the puck around on the tape of his stick like he was trying to deflect Finn’s attention, but Finn didn’t let himself be shook.

He also didn’t let himself think of the last time they’d done this—last summer, they’d only done it once, and Finn had ended up breaking his stick afterwards.

Not his finest moment.

But today, he wasn’t going to let Morgan get to him.

Maybe his dad was Morgan Reynolds, but he wasFinn Reynolds.

Morgan streaked around the right of the goal and then circled back, swooping past the dot. Finn nearly went to the ice, sure Morgan would try to flick the puck into the five hole, but he held for a second longer, listening to his instincts, instead of the fear that had always screamed louder, that always screamed that he had to dosomethingbefore someone scored on him. Before an opposing player—or even worse,his dad—humiliated him.

But the only person who could humiliate him washim.

Finn held for another breathless moment and then, as Morgan changed direction, sliding to the right and shooting the puck high, he lifted his pad and knocked the puck away.

Jacob crowed on the other side of the ice, and there was no denying that felt damn good, but it felt even better when Morgan came to a stop in front of him and lifted his chin.

“Great save,” he said.

But it felt evenmoreamazing when Finn could respond, “Yeah, I know,” and for the first time in a very long time when faced with his dad,believedit.

Chapter 19

“Ihadnoideathey planned podcasts out so thoroughly ahead of time,” Finn said, staring at the sheet of questions in his hands.

They were in Jacob’s bed—Jacob was hard-pressed these days to not think of it astheirs—and already naked. Finn had surprised him with a mind-blowing blowjob on the couch and then Jacob had returned the favor after he’d pulled him to bed. Fingering him nice and slow, dragging the pads of his fingers over his prostate until Finn was squirming and begging for it.

Jacob felt a pulse of heat spike inside him, just thinking of how good it had been.

Of how good Finn looked, propped up against his pillows.

Howright.

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