Page 74 of Heart Taker

“It’s true, Damien. I told you before, no one has ever pushed me harder or made me want to prove myself more.”

Guilt made my stomach clench hard.

“I wasn’t completely convinced you belonged with the Cougars at first,” I admitted. “It wasn’t personal. I make calls based on what I see and my experience.”

“I know that. I was coming back after a year off, and yeah, I was pissed that you didn’t have faith in me, but you didn’tknow me. I had to earn your trust over time, and vice versa.” He paused. “Although, sometimes it still feels like you’re unsure about my potential.”

One thing I admired about Silas, he didn’t evade the tough conversations.

“It’s not that. You’re a great defenseman, and you’re getting better with every game. But you’re also dealing with a lot of family responsibility. And you’re twenty-two. The odds of you being drafted at this age, or later, aren’t great. I don’t want to see you make the same mistake I did, putting all your hopes in making it pro. What if it doesn’t happen? What then?”

“I know all that, Damien,” Silas replied and nudged my shoulder with his. “I do. And your worry is appreciated but not required. I’ve already told you that no one and nothing will stop me from trying.”

If Silas did make it, and I made it back to coaching in the league, where would that leave us? Jesus, I was getting way ahead of myself. But the fact that I was thinking about a future with him made me pause. What would be the point in starting something that already had a deadline? Then again, I knew that life was short, and you had to grab your happiness wherever you could find it. No one was promised tomorrow.

“How are we going to do this?” I whispered.

“What?”

“We have to step back into that rink for training and this—” I paused and pointed between us with my free hand. “This interplay is not happening when we return to campus. We go back to our strict roles; I’m the uptight coach and you’re the smart-mouthed player.”

“So, nothing’s changed. You’re still gonna ride my ass hard,” he added with a smirk. “Only, in addition to doing it on the ice, you get to do it naked. And maybe I can return the favor.”

I let out another laugh. God, I was doing a lot of that around him.

“Fuck me, I’m in so much trouble,” I replied and took a long pull of beer to cool myself off.

“That is, if you’re interested in riding my ass. Or having me ride yours. Is anal something you want to explore?”

I choked on my beer and nearly showered the deck.

Silas lifted my hand and kissed the knuckles. “Too blunt?”

“No.” I cleared my throat and stared at him. “I like your forthright attitude. It’s honest and that’s important to me. But I don’t know how we went from a discussion about hockey practice to?—”

“Anal.”

“Yes.”

My face was on fire. Silas leaned over to kiss me. This man incinerated my normally icy control and turned it into dust. I couldn’t help but smile against his lips.

“That was quite the change in topic.”

“Not really. I can’t help but think of sex anytime I’m near my smoking hot hockey coach,” Silas quipped and waggled his eyebrows.

“Seriously, are you going to be able to concentrate on the ice?” I asked. “Am I?”

“We can compartmentalize. We’re professionals.”

“I’m a professional,” I corrected. “You’re a student.”

Goddamn it, Banning, you’re fucking your student.

“I’m the oldest one on the team, and I’ve got more maturity than the rest of the guys combined.”

“True.” I chuckled at that comment.

“I have faith in us,” he stated.

---