17. Donovan

If his first weeks as an Ice Bear were a taster for what was ahead, Donovan couldn't have been blamed for having second thoughts about his choice of club. But while Donovan might not have wanted this kind of drama to happen too often, he couldn't help but feel like he had found his home.

In no small part, this was of course down to Taine.

In Taine, Donovan had found the perfect Daddy for him. Taine didn't care that Donovan was big, strong, and full of macho energy. Unlike many so-called Daddies in the past, Taine could see the Little inside Donovan and loved him for the whole package.

After what happened at the candy store, Donovan had made his way home and waited for Taine to come and see him. And Taine duly did arrive after wrapping everything up with Jack Steel. They spent the rest of the day together, and after a nice long soak in the tub together, they both had the deepest, longest sleep imaginable.

But now, the following morning, both Donovan and Taine had been called for a meeting with Danilo. Except this time, it wasn't at the academy's secret building in the forest. This time, they had been summoned to Pine Rise, the Ice Bears official training complex.

As they arrived at the famous gates to Pine Rise in one of the Doni family's SUVs, Donovan looked across to Taine.

‘Daddy, do you think we're in trouble?' Donovan asked, not entirely convinced that this was going to be good news.

‘Well you never know with Danilo,' Taine replied, a wry grin on his face. ‘But I don't think you've got too much to worry about.'

Donovan smiled and felt the butterflies in his stomach settle down a little bit.

Having Taine with him was a great support, but nonetheless his nerves weren't going anywhere until he finally found out what the meeting was all about.

As Donovan and Taine entered the building, Donovan had a quick look at his cellphone and saw that Joshua had messaged him…

JOSHUA: See you soon, D ;)

Donovan was about to type a reply, unsure as to whether he might have forgotten about a playdate later that day. But Donovan didn't have any time to consider whether he'd done the unthinkable and forgotten about a playdate, as no sooner than he and Taine had entered the Pine Rise lobby, the pair of them were instructed to head directly to Danilo's office.

‘Welcome,' Danilo said, standing up from his large, sleek desk and Donovan and Taine entered the large but minimally furnished office. ‘I'm glad to see both of you looking so well.'

Donovan watched as Taine and Danilo shook hands.

So far, so good.

‘Now, please take a seat,' Danilo said, guiding Donovan and Taine over toward the long, low couch in front of the floor to ceiling window that overlooked the Pine Rise complex below. ‘I'll put you both out of your misery, shall I?'

‘Hell yeah,' Taine replied, clearly far more comfortable in Danilo's company than Donovan was. ‘I'm a busy guy. I've got three boys to train.'

‘Well, that's the thing,' Danilo replied. ‘You don't. Not anymore. You've got two.'

Donovan's heart was racing at this point. Despite desperately hoping that he knew where Danilo was going with this, Donovan couldn't quite bring himself to believe it until Danilo actually spoke the words out loud.

Donovan shot a look over to Taine and could see that his Daddy had a big smile on his face. And try as he might, Donovan couldn't stop himself from smiling either.

‘That's right,' Danilo said, clearly noting that the message had been received. ‘You're officially the academy's first graduate, Donovan. You've impressed me. In fact, you've impressed the family's senior bosses too. And don't think that we won't repay your loyalty to the cause when the time is right. The Doni's are an honorable family.'

‘Does that mean I can join the squad now?' Donovan said, his voice trembling with excitement as the reality of the situation hit home. ‘Can I get back onto the ice?'

‘That's the plan,' Danilo said, pouring himself a glass of whisky and one for Taine too. ‘I'd offer you a glass, but you've got a full-on training session with Coach Tremaine to get to.'

‘And the boy really hates whisky too,' Taine added, evidently recalling what happened on that first night in the hotel together.

‘Hey!' Donovan interjected. ‘I mean, you're right… but…'

And with that, Donovan got up from the couch and made his way out of the office. It felt like an iconic moment in his life. After a far from typical start to life as an Ice Bear, Donovan knew that it was now all systems go. He might have proven himself off the ice to Danilo and the family, but now it was time to show his new coach and teammates that when it came to matters on the ice, Donovan Pitt was every bit the dominant player they had faced over the years – and a whole ton on top of that too.

The next couple of weeks were like a whirlwind.

Donovan was thrown right into the action and each and every practice session with his new teammates was a brilliantly positive challenge. And despite being the new player amongst a host of established stars, Donovan was quick to make a great impression.

But it was Coach Tremaine's assessment that was most important. After all, if Tremaine didn't rate Donovan as a player, then it wouldn't matter what the rest of the squad thought of him.

However through a combination of his own hard work and determination, Donovan found himself selected to make his first appearance against The Lightening Lizards. But as game day arrived and Donovan found himself in the locker room ahead of the first buzzer, he found himself feeling a lot less relaxed than he would have liked.

With the squad in good spirits, the energy in the locker room was high. For some players, it was all about ramping up their machismo as if they were preparing for battle. For others, it was a case of wanting to laugh and joke and let go some of the nervous energy that had been building up.

Donovan was used to the pregame locker room environment. But somehow, today was hitting differently – and not in a good way either.

‘Everything okay?' Alex Rebrov enquired, his usual ice cold demeanor giving way to a more caring side. ‘First game nerves, huh?'

‘I… I… think so,' Donovan replied, a sense of anxiety coming over him that he hadn't experienced in many, many years.

Clearly his debut for the Ice Bears was weighing heavier on him than Donovan could have anticipated.

‘Hey, just try and relax,' Connor Valley added, his gruff appearance and dark sense of humor probably not what Donovan needed in that moment. ‘What's the worst that could happen? You fuck up and lose us the game?'

Donovan let out a little laugh. He had quickly grown accustomed to Connor's sense of humor over the last couple of weeks. But Donovan needed something else to help him through this difficult moment, that much was clear.

And fortunately for Donovan, Jack had just the right thing for him…

‘Come with me, Donovan,' Jack said, looking smart in his official Ice Bears blazer. ‘I might not be a player anymore, but I think I know better than most what you need.'

Donovan wasn't sure what Jack had in mind, but as he stood up from the bench in the locker room, Donovan knew that he needed something to get his mindset back on track.

This isn't good.

I need to try and figure this out.

Hopefully Jack can help me…

Donovan followed Jack out of the locker room and into a smaller room just down the corridor. With its calm pastel colored walls and cozy furnishings, the room actually kind of looked like a playroom or nursery.

‘Wait… is this a…' Donovan said, intrigued but still puzzled.

‘I'll leave you and your Daddy alone for a moment,' Jack said, stepping aside at the door and letting Taine enter. ‘You've got thirty minutes. Just relax and know that you're a true Ice Bear, Donovan. You've got this. And you've got a great Daddy behind you too.'

Donovan saw that Taine was holding a milk bottle in one hand and Cap, his stuffie, in the other.

‘Come on, boy, we've got no time to waste,' Taine said, a warm smile on his face. ‘Come with Daddy and we'll settle those nerves.'

With that, Donovan and Taine walked over toward the enormous pink and blue beanbag in the corner of the room. Taine removed his shirt and promptly took a seat on the comfortable beanbag. To say that he looked like any Little's dream Daddy would have been an understatement.

Shirtless and with his sexiest well-worn blue jeans, Taine looked every inch the gruff Daddy that Donovan knew he could be. But there was a nurturing kindness in his eyes too. Taine didn't think any less of Donovan for having pre-game jitters, all he cared about was making his Little feel better.

‘Down you come,' Taine said. ‘Come and snuggle with Daddy and let me give you some good luck milk.'

Donovan quickly whipped his Ice Bears jersey off and eagerly took Cap and brought the snuggly capybara in close to his body.

‘He's all warm,' Donovan said, immediately feeling a sense of ease come over him. ‘I love you, Cap.'

As Donovan settled down in Taine's lap with Cap close to him, he looked up and saw the milk bottle's brown teat move closer toward his mouth.

‘Milkies, milkies,' Donovan said, giggling as he opened his mouth and then began to suckle down and feel the sweet, perfectly warm milk hit his taste buds and then slide all the way down toward his tummy.

‘That's a good boy,' Taine said, his voice full of encouragement. ‘While you drink, just remember one thing. You're Donovan Pitt. On the ice, no one can match you. You're big. You're powerful. You're fast. You might be my perfect Little, but when you're out there on the ice… boy, I don't think even I'd want to mess with you.'

Donovan listened to Taine's words as he sucked the milk down.

And before he knew it, Donovan was feeling perfectly serene. The pre-game nerves were gone, and he felt ready to take on the opposition with all his usual ferocity.

‘Daddy, I think I'm ready,' Donovan said, finishing off the final drop of milk.

‘You've still got some time to spare,' Taine said, checking his watch. ‘There's no rush.'

‘No, I'm good,' Donovan replied. ‘And it's all down to you. And Jack too. I'm ready to be a real Ice Bear. I'm ready to show everyone what I'm made of.'

With that, Donovan stood up and felt ten feet tall.

And not only was he ready to make his mark on the ice, but Donovan felt a whole heap of pain from his past evaporate too. For so long, Donovan had been rejected by Daddies for being too big and muscular. It had played on his mind and made him feel bad about himself. But that was all gone now. Not only did Donovan have the perfect Daddy who loved him for who he was, but he was playing for a team that could support him perfectly and make him feel like part of the family.

It might have taken him until he was twenty-eight years old, but Donovan was ready to live out the prime years of his career to the absolute best of his ability. Life was good, and alongside Taine he felt like anything was possible.

The Ice Bears might already have been a successful team before his arrival, but Donovan felt ready to make them an even better team. And with his newly discovered prowess for matters off the ice too, Donovan knew that he would be one asset that the Doni family would never want to see leave the team.

‘Okay, Cap,' Donovan said, his voice full of confidence. ‘I'll see you after the game. I've got some assess to kick out there.'

‘You get ‘em, boy,' Taine said, leaning over Donovan's shoulder and planting a kiss on his cheek. ‘You go out there and show the world why I think you're the best damned boy that's ever lived. I love you, Donovan.'

‘And I love you too, Daddy,' Donovan replied, his voice steely but full of love.

Donovan was primed.

It was time.

And with Taine and Cap cheering him on from the VIP box, Donovan just knew that he couldn't fail.