Page 136 of Off-Ice Misconduct
What he was saying isn’t that much different than how I feel about McKinnon, except I know I love him.
So, is it true that he doesn’t love Ryan? Or is he in denial?
Or even worse—is it something darker?
I wasn’t sure yet. But his desires were connected to something deep and dangerous.
“Where does Ryan stand in all this? I’m not doing anything unless I’m sure he’s consenting, and I hope you wouldn’t either.”
“I’m not that kind of monster, Luke. But clearly, you think I am,” he muttered under his breath. “He’s agreed.”
“Why?”
“He wants out from under his father’s thumb, but he needs money and hockey connections. I have the connections; I just need the money.”
“So, you’re using each other. Great.”
“We both get something we want, what’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing’s wrong with it, I guess.” Nothing’s right with it either.
“I could never have what I want—what I need—any other way, Luke. I know you want me to fall in love, especially now that you’re fucking heart eyes for McKinnon. But I’m different than you are.”
From everything he told me, we’re more the same than I ever hoped we’d be.
I sit forward to get a better look at the ice, but Ace isn’t out there. He’s behind the bench, dumping water into his mouth and then into the mouth of his friend before he squirts him in the face. It turns into a behind-the-bench water war that Tate has to end by confiscating the bottle.
My lips crack a half smile. Whatever happened in the past few days has eased the tension that was weighing him down. Tate sends Ace out, and as soon as he steps onto the ice, he owns it, born to make it bend to his will. The puck obeys him. His teammates orbit him. The crowd worships him.
He’s not soft or fragile. He chose me not in spite of the way I dominate him, but because of it. I don’t need to rein myself in for Ace; he wants the full force of me. He loves it. My strictness doesn’t cage him in; it lifts him up.
Some of us are just built differently.
I don’t know what Tate’s doing with Ryan, but I’ve got a feeling it’s not just about hockey. Whatever it is, he’s keeping it close.
I turn back to the ice just as Ace scores again. Fuck, he’s wild, brilliant, relentless.
Let Tate keep his secrets, for now. I’ve got everything I want, standing right in front of me.
“What do you fucking mean Coach is marrying Ryan Savage?” Ace whisper yells.
“Language McKinnon.” I tug off his shirt. I’ve finally got him all to myself in my hotel room. In hindsight, having two ofhis friends in on our secret has made it easier for us to sneak around.
Once I have him naked, I check him over for cuts and bruises. There’s always something, but the severity changes. Tonight, it’s a purple bruise over his right shoulder and one up his left calf.
“Sit.” I point to the bed and rub arnica into his bruises while we catch up. I tell him about Tate, and he tells me about the frat-boy content machine. “You joined forces with who? They shot you in the face.”
“Look, I didn’t have many options available, and we were running out of time. Plus, I actually believe this could work.”
“You really think it’ll work?” Now that I’ve got the arnica melted into his skin, I make him hold an ice pack over the swelling on his shoulder.
“I do. And this is really unsexy, just sayin’. Can we fuck now, Daddy?”
I check my phone. “Five more minutes of icing.”
There’s none of the expected complaining about that. I think he’s getting used to me and my overbearing ways. He might even love them.
“Oh, by the way, can you let Tate know I gave Beta Sigma a box seat for life? Figure it’s best if you break that news to him.”
