9. Harper

9 /

harper

Luca froze, the color draining from his cheeks. He clenched his jaw so hard the tendons stood out on his throat, and his trembling lips made me wonder if he might cry. Telling someone what you did for a living wasn't usually a big deal. It was different for me, considering guys' reactions when they learned I played hockey, which is why I'd asked Luca the question. I wanted to get the big reveal over with, and I assumed he'd ask about my job after telling me about his. Instead, he might be having a panic attack.

His voice shook when he finally said, "I play lacrosse."

"That's cool." I thought about it to be sure I hadn't missed something, and nope, he said he played lacrosse. When in doubt, go with it. "I played lax in high school. It's a fun game."

The frenzied look in his eyes made me wonder if he was about to pull over and run. He took a few quick breaths before glancing at me. "You don't understand. I play professionally. I'm a goalie for the Buffalo Steamrollers. National Lacrosse League?"

I knew next to nothing about professional lacrosse, but I'd heard about the Steamrollers somewhere. It took a moment to remember it had been at the shinny game we had last week. Logan told me the Steamrollers practiced at our facility.

"It's no big deal, Harper. I'm just a normal guy, I promise. Lacrosse is a lot different from other professional sports, and I don't even like all that?—"

I started laughing. The cold dread that had weighed me down for days began to lift. I'd been terrified to tell him I played in the NHL, only to learn he was part of the big-time as well.

"The fuck?" he snapped. "What's so funny?"

I held up my hand and tried to cut the laughter. "It isn't funny. Listen, you may not believe what I'm about to tell you, but it's true."

He looked over again, blinking hard. "Okay."

"I play hockey. I just got traded from the Barracudas to the Warriors. I've been afraid to tell you because guys don't always take it well."

"You're serious?" He twisted his head, glancing between me and the road. "You are serious."

"As serious as that worried look on your face."

"Wait." He turned on his signal and started braking. "Hold. The. Fuck. Up." When we were safely in the emergency lane with the hazards flashing, he met my eyes. "You're the new player everyone is so excited about? The guy who's supposed to turn Buffalo hockey around? I heard about the trade, but I guess I didn't remember your name. Holy shit. Do you know the Steamrollers play in Warrior Arena?"

"No, but I know you practice at our facility in Amherst."

His booming laughter was contagious, and I couldn't resist joining in. Bathed in the warm glow of the sunlight, his bronzed skin had a captivating, sensuous quality that made me ache to climb across the console and straddle him.

As our laughter faded to soft chuckles, he shook his head. "I've been scared shitless to tell you. Guys can be brutal about it."

"You're telling me. You really don't mind? Still want to take me to the arcade?"

"Are you for real? I'm out with a guy who's not only hot as a firecracker, but is also the biggest player the Warriors have had in years. This date is totally going down." He paused, then lost a little of his smile. "Unless you… Are you okay with me being a jock, too?"

"Like I'd tell you to take me home?" I grinned while I trailed a finger over his hand. "Come to think of it, I might, but only to show you how you're affecting me right now."

He put on the smirk I remembered from the night we met. "Just give the word, and I'll turn this baby around. What do you say for now? On to Cheektowaga?"

"You bet." He nodded, and on a lark, I held out a hand. "I'm Harper Blanton, for the record."

"Luca Moretti." He looked into my eyes while we shook. His smile was a weapon of mass seduction, and I could only imagine the effect he had on fans.

When I caught my breath, I winked. "This is a slick ride, Moretti. Want to show me what it can do?"

"Wait—you were a Barracuda? You stayed with a guy named Nick in D.C. Was that Nick Johnson ?"

"Yeah, with him and his husband, Jacob."

"Fucking hell." He chuckled. "I can't tell you how many Barracudas games I've watched. I must have seen you play, too."

"Probably."

"Too bad those padded shorts hid your ass, or I'd have been jerking off to a hockey game."

We laughed again as he pulled onto the highway, and while he drove, we learned some interesting facts about each other. He was a year older than me. We'd both gone to great schools; Luca had been the starting goalie at Marlowe, and I was the team captain at Mohegan. In one of those stranger- than-fiction things, Marlowe had originally recruited me to play hockey there, and Luca was a day away from committing to Mohegan when Marlowe made him a better offer. We'd also both represented the U.S. in international competitions—him in the World Lacrosse Box Championship, me in the Ice Hockey World Juniors. My stomach relaxed. Since we were both athletes, whatever was happening between us just might work.

A wave of sound and flashing lights hit me as we stepped through the sliding doors of Gameopolis. It was enormous, easily the biggest arcade I'd ever seen. Hundreds of games beckoned with their glowing displays and sound effects. Beyond the video games were air hockey and ping-pong tables, virtual reality pods, and pinball machines. A room for board games offered a quieter time, while the distant thump of bowling balls and faint glow of laser tag offered more fun than anyone could have in an entire day.

I looked around in amazement while we decided where to start. "How the hell did I not know about this place when I was at Mohegan?"

"It may not have been here." Luca placed a hand on my back. "It was still new when I moved to Buffalo."

"That must be it. We used to come up here a lot, and I know we'd have been all over this place."

The scent of Luca's leathery cologne intensified as he stepped closer. "Why don't we start with some video games? Tonight's my treat, and we'll do anything you want."

"You don't have to do that. I can pay."

He shook his head. "This was my idea, so I insist. Let me show you how happy I am to be with you."

Emotion welled up, forming a lump in my throat. Guys didn't do things like this for me. On the road, my teammates and I took turns picking up the tab, but that was different—practical and convenient. Luca's offer made me feel more special than I had for years, so I swallowed hard and nodded. "Thank you. I'll get it next time, though."

Luca was too much fun for me to stay emotional. We moved from game to game, giving each other shit and laughing our asses off as we took turns celebrating victories. It was obvious we'd both spent a lot of time playing electronic games, and we were both competitive as hell. It was like playing with my teammates, but better. This was Luca, and his wide smiles and contagious laughter swept me away into our own private world.

We spent a lot of time lost in each other's eyes. Acting like kids at a carnival was one thing, but there was nothing childlike about Luca's lingering gazes or the arousal building inside me.

We were thrilled to find the arcade had Knights of the Round . He let me pick my character first, and I chose Lancelot. The glow of the monitor bathed Luca's face in light as his fingers danced across the controls. He was a natural, racking up an incredible number of points, his Arthur a whirlwind of sword slashes and fancy footwork.

Once, when he misjudged a lunge, I saved him with a quick jumping kick and nudged him with my shoulder. "Don't get too cocky, lax boy. Without Arthur, we're dead."

"Fuck off, hockey dude. I've got us covered. You want to be Guinevere?"

A jolt of excitement shot from my balls up my spine. Did he understand how much I wanted to be his Guinevere tonight? Instead of asking that, I drew on my years of experience as an athlete and shot back, "Eat shit, Moretti. You'd be toast without Lancelot."

My Lancelot was a blur of elegant swordsmanship, loyal to his Arthur and protective to a fault. Together, we weaved through a crowd of goblins and ogres, our laughter ringing out in the noisy arcade. All at once, a sobering realization struck. This wasn't a text message or FaceTime call; it was real. Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinevere were digital stand-ins for Luca and me. Could we make things work for a while? My body tingled as I considered the possibility.

When Arthur and Lancelot inevitably bit the dust, we made our way into the Vintage Room and lost ourselves in an old game we both loved, Galaga . We took turns streaking through space in our starfighters, calling out shrill warnings and loud cheers as we struggled to save Earth from the aliens.

"How did you get so fucking good at this game?" Luca watched intently as I repelled another wave of attacking ships.

"My brother and I had one of these in our basement." I twisted in place as I manned the controls. "Parents bought it… when a… place went out of business."

I gyrated wildly, grunting and yelling as if I were actually piloting a starfighter. I could feel Luca's gaze on me, and a rush of heat left me breathless. I didn't want to blow it if he was impressed by my skills, so I focused, holding out for several minutes before the alien fighters finally got me. "Goddamn fucking aliens," I said. "They'll kill us all."

It was Luca's turn to play, but instead of taking the joystick, he leaned so close his breath tickled my ear. His lips made contact as he trailed feathery kisses along my jawline, then nuzzled my neck, making me shudder. My thoughts exploded into a fireworks display as I imagined his playful kisses were a way to claim me. Reality mixed with imagination, making me unsure of what was happening.

He rubbed his stiff cock against the side of my thigh, grunting as he sucked my throat. We were in a corner where no one could see us behind the machine, and nearby conversations covered our soft sounds. Right then, I was his as surely as Guinevere ever belonged to Arthur.

I groaned when he pressed against my thigh again, and then nibbled my ear before covering my lips with his. Fire shot through me when he licked into my mouth. Drawing away, he whispered, "You are the hottest thing God ever made. I can't wait to get you home because I'm going to fuck you all night. You in?"

A wave of euphoria made me lightheaded. "Fuck yeah."

"Let's go find something to eat then, because we'll need all the strength we can get."