Page 33 of Scoring in Cedarwood

“No.”

Then what? He tried to process what was happening. “You’re worried you won’t be able to handle the baggage I’ve got?” His anger bubbled within him. “Or you don’t want me to mess up your ordered life?” He needed to keep his frustration in check. “Tell me.”

“I never said that. Any of it.”

“I don’t understand.” Tanner sighed. “Help me.”

Dane sagged in his seat. “I don’t open up to many people. If Devlin hadn’t conned me into sponsoring you, I’d still be in my little self-imposed prison.”

“We haven’t done much.” But his fears quieted and hope blossomed in his chest. Dane sure seemed to be melting. “Go on.”

“But I want to do more. I haven’t gone out since I split from Phillip.” Dane paused. “I want to do a lot of things and most involve you.”

“Sounds good to me.” The hope grew bigger. Giddiness swarmed him. “I’m home when I’m with you.” He had to get his mood swings in check, though. “I am.”

“What’re you going to do when you get traded?”

Tanner shrugged. “I just got here. I’d like to stay.” With the way the sport progressed and his age being a factor, he’d probably end up being with Cedarwood for another year before being forced to retire.

“What about next season? Don’t you get new sponsors every year?” Dane asked.

“I guess.” He’d never been with a team long enough to find out what happened with his sponsorship from one year to the next. “What does it matter?”

“You might find someone hotter and better than me,” Dane said. His voice cracked and pain resonated in his eyes.

Fuck.Now he understood and had come to the wrong conclusions. He hated himself for being wrong. “That’s what Phillip did, isn’t it?” He wanted to hold Dane.Jesus.The man was handsome, strong, sweet and a doctor, too. He was a bona fide catch. Tanner would’ve fallen for him, no matter what Dane did for a living. The connection between them was deep, even after a short time. He cared more than he’d ever imagined. He wanted to kick Phillip for his callousness. “I’m not like him.”

“No, you’re not.” Dane drew into himself. “You’re young, handsome, popular and I’m lucky to know you.”

“I only want one guy,” Tanner said.

“For now.”

Tanner scooted as close as possible until he was a whisper away from Dane’s mouth. He didn’t want Dane to misunderstand him. “I don’t care about being popular. Handsome fades and strength goes away when you stop working out. Stop trying to push me away. You think you’re safer when you’re alone. You might be insulated from the world, but you’re not happy.”

“Tanner.” His breath warmed Tanner’s cheeks.

“I understand. I’ve been in your shoes. I tried to keep anyone who wasn’t part of the team out of my life so I could focus on the game. I thought if I had a force field around me, letting only a few fans in, I’d be okay. I wasn’t. I came off as a big jerk. Yeah, the fans liked me because I was cute, but the team hated me. I couldn’t get a guy and I wasn’t playing for shit. I’d lost my sponsorship situation and was being traded. I thought, fuck me, this is low. Then I came here. Trust me. On the road to Cedarwood, I thought I’d hate it here. Then I met you and I couldn’t help but open up. You brought me out of myself.”

Dane’s eyes widened. He toyed with the front of Tanner’s shirt.

“Let’s go home. I’ll show you how I feel and how much I want to stay open. I don’t want to go back to how I was. I’m truly happy.” He kissed Dane. Passion ignited within him. His dick hardened behind his zipper and he slid his palm over Dane’s thigh. He’d thought the adrenaline from the game had dissipated, but he’d been wrong. Every cell in his body screamed to go back to the house and fuck until they both collapsed. “I want you inside me.”

“Yeah?” Dane panted.

“Yes.” He caressed the bulge in Dane’s pants. “I want to see you out of those clothes, naked and perfect in my bed. I want to lick you everywhere, then feel you stretch me. Maybe a nice shower together and to nibble whipped cream off your abs.”

Dane groaned. “Then what are we talking for?”

“My sentiments exactly. Drive.” He squeezed Dane’s thigh. “Take me home.”

Dane drove across town, and any thoughts of the coalition disappeared. The only thing on his mind was Tanner. He barely remembered speeding through Cedarwood or pulling into the driveway. He’d parked and shut down the engine, despite not realizing how he’d gotten there. The second he stood in the kitchen with Tanner, he knew where he was and what he wanted to do. He threw his bag on the counter and abandoned his jacket. Tanner left his duffel on the floor then laced his arms around Dane.

Dane grunted. His back connected with the counter and dug into his skin. The momentary pain didn’t bother him. He’d rather have Tanner. He feasted on Tanner’s mouth, tangling his tongue with his lover’s. Heat shimmered within him.

Tanner slid his hands along Dane’s chest, then sides. Within seconds, he opened Dane’s shirt. Buttons from the garment shot across the room and landed on the tile floor. The sound of tearing fabric seemed more like a roar. Cool air kissed Dane’s chest.

Dane panted. “Fuck.”

---