Page 12 of Game Winner
“When we left the club the other night, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see you again.” Bax tangles his hand with mine. “And now, here you are. Must be fate. Or Christmas coming early.”
“One of the two,” Soren says, wise as a sage, resting his hand on my hip. “Could be both.”
Being in their presence, I feel buzzed on more than alcohol. They light me up, like the colorful flashing bulbs on a Christmas tree. “Maybe it is.”
Heat glinting in hazel eyes that appear more brown than green in the lights, Bax cups my cheek in his other hand. His thumb traces the corner of my lips. “I’d like it if you two were my presents.”
Soren’s chest presses against my back as he slides his free hand up Bax’s arm, trapping me between them. Our position reminds me of when Soren was between Bax and me during our kisses on the dance floor last week.
Giving in to the pulsing current wrapping around us, dragging us closer together, I raise my head, turning so I catch Bax’s kiss and Soren’s at the same time. I feel their smiles before I see them and while this isn’t the most effective way to explore each other’s mouths, I like it for the simple fact that it joins us at the same time.
Soren traces kisses across my cheek then moves to my neck while Bax claims my mouth. He tilts my head to get a better angle and his tongue traces my bottom lip before lapping at the seam and demanding entrance. On a groan, falling against Soren, I open for Bax, grasping the hand holding mine. The music pulsing around us matches the beat in my blood.
Soren’s fingers flex on my hip and he groans in my ear. “My turn.”
Bax’s hand slides away from its place on my cheek. And when we raise our heads, he leans over my shoulder in a smooth move and meets Soren in a sexy, heated kiss.
The hold they have on each other and on me keeps us connected.
Soren’s hand on my chin urges me to turn my head. His eyes glittering, he lowers his head and kisses me. Soft and slow shifts into hard and deep while Bax’s hands trace over us.
Their kisses make my head spin in the best way.
I’m not sure what might happen next with us. Soren told me what he wants. Bax hasn’t. But it’s too soon to ask. I don’t wantto do anything that might mess things up. I’m already anxious enough about what this next chapter in my hockey career could bring.
But for tonight, kissing and touching them, I’m happy to lose myself in the good feelings they bring out in me, and for once, just focus on right here, right now, and enjoying the presence of the two men with me.
CHAPTER FOUR
BAX
The scent of Layne’s lemon-infused tea wafts through our practice room. Strains from Everett’s guitar cradle Layne’s heart-wrenching lyrics and wistful tone.
Seated behind my drum kit, I close my eyes as I listen to the chorus. We’re nearly there with the melody. The goosebumps breaking out on my skin are an assurance that what we’re creating here is something special.
The acoustics of this room, in the basement of the house Everett and Gavin share, are good, but I can’t wait until we’re at the point to get into a studio and record the song.
Layne’s voice fades away with the last note. I open my eyes. Everett grins as he tucks away the guitar pic. He came to practice straight from his shift at the coffeehouse, and the faint scent of coffee drifts my way. Gavin nods, murmuring to himself from his perch on a stool by the new black and purple sound-absorbing panels he and I replaced on the far wall before practice.
With a shaky breath and unsteady hand, Layne grabs his tea.
Concern bleeds into my curiosity. As open as Layne is about everything, he’s tight-lipped about who inspired the song, brushing it off as just something that came to him out of nowhere. But I’ve known him for far too long. Someone inspiredit. And my heart hurts with the thought that someone could have broken his.
I set my drumsticks aside and stand. “Hey.”
He sends me a sidelong glance as he sips. “Hmmm?”
“You okay?”
The rings on his fingers glint in the overhead lights as he waves away my question. “Thoughts on the melody?”
Gavin pushes up the slipping sleeve of his oversized hoodie, revealing lines of new ink, and finishes scratching notes on a pad. “What if we added a violin somewhere in there?”
Frowning, Everett sets the guitar in its stand and swipes at the blond strands that escaped his messy bun over the course of the hour we’ve been playing. “I don’t know, I like it with just the guitar.”
“But a violin could give it a more haunting vibe.” Gavin tucks his pencil behind his ear. “Bax, what do you think?”
“We can give it a try. You want to dust off your violin? When’s the last time you played?”
