Page 109 of Play Maker

Close call.

Dane being aware of what was going on was one thing, he was one of Jace’s best friends. But Finn? I didn’t know him that well or how he’d react to finding out me and Jace were fucking. Would he rat us out to Coach? Not that he, or anyone on the team, seemed to have an issue with Kayden and Maddox being a couple and playing together.

The irony wasn’t lost on me given my first reaction to them and regret lingered like a nagging headache.

Trying to shake it off, I turned around and reached for the shower nozzle, turning it on full blast. Steam began to fill the room. Instead of waiting for Jace, I stepped into the shower and grabbed the tiny, white bar of soap, scrubbing myself vigorously, the water washing away the cum and sweat, and my good mood along with it.

Regret, however, still clung to me.

Not about Jace, not that. It was just me. One day I would get things right.

Jace entered the bathroom as I finished lathering up. He grabbed a towel, wet it, and headed back out. A few minutes later, he stalked back into the bathroom, threw the towel on the floor, and joined me in the shower.

“I got most of the cum off the window,” he announced with a grin. “Hopefully.”

“Good, because we don’t want to explainthatto housekeeping.”

I leaned back against the tiled wall and watched the water sluice down Jace’s body, memorizing every curve and ridge, hypnotized by him. He gave me a heated look in return.

“You alright?” he asked, running one hand through his wet hair, the other reaching for the soap. “You look like you know a secret.”

“I’m more than alright,” I insisted. “And there’s no secret. Like I said earlier, I want to tell the team.”

The bar squirted out of his grip and hit the shower floor with a resounding bang.

Lots of that going on tonight, and soap was the least of it.

CHAPTER 32

JACE

Iwasn’t sure I’d ever walk steady again. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

I thought I was experienced when it came to sex, but it turned out, I didn’t know anything. All my smooth moves vanished around Axel. We were as real, insatiable, and messy as it could get. No holds barred. We fucked the way we played—all in.

And what made it even better? My heart was all in, too.

And because of that, I had to protect him. From me, as it turned out.

“Don’t you want to think about this a bit more?” I replied when the shock of Axel’s statement wore off. I reached down and picked up the soap. What was left of it. “You should only come out when you’re ready. It’s going to be a lot.”

Axel pulled me into his arms, his wet, slick chest bumping mine.

“I told you, I can handle it,” he replied and gave me a long kiss.

“I know,” I whispered. “But you don’t need to come out for us to be together. I’m not going to pressure you. And trust me when I say it’s easier said than done. Everything is going to change.And not everyone is going to like the fact that you’re queer. Are you ready for that? The stares and comments when you hold my hand in public? The trolls on social media?”

“I think I am,” Axel replied. “Yes. If I can deal with the sharks back in Redgewick, I can deal with this.”

“This is different, Ax. And there’s hockey to consider, your future, going pro. You know how insular the hockey world is. And queer players still aren’t well-represented.”

“Things are changing. And it’s your future too.”

I nodded. “I know, but I’ve talked to my therapist about it, so I feel like I’m prepared. Or, as prepared as I can be. But this is all new for you. You need to consider how coming out will affect your entire life; not just hockey but most importantly, your mental health. You’ve gotta protect that.”

“I’m dealing with my depression. And I know what I want.” Axel let out a frustrated growl. “And I want us, you and me, more than I want to protect myself.”

“I want us too,” I offered, cupping his neck, needing to reassure him. “But I don’t want you to have regrets.”

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