24. Epilogue - Kade

T he Whistleport Grand Hotel was a far cry from grand, its faded glory a perfect metaphor for the town I'd once dismissed. Tacky tinsel garlands draped the lobby, and the scent of artificial pine air freshener battled with the musty carpet.

Yet, as I paced my room, a winter break retreat where Ziggy and I could have some privacy, I found it more welcoming than my family's sterile mansion ever was.

While I waited, I watched British people on TV try to outdo each other in baking meat and pastry creations they called pies. Meanwhile, the ancient heating unit wheezed and rattled.

I caught my reflection in the streaky mirror—hair disheveled, eyes bright with anticipation. Who was this person Whistleport molded and shaped into someone new?

A rapid succession of knocks startled me out of my thoughts. As soon as I turned the knob, the door burst open, revealing a snow-dusted Ziggy Knickerbocker, grinning like he'd just scored a hat trick.

"Penalty for too many men on the ice!" Ziggy shouted, launching himself at me with all the force of a body check.

We tumbled onto the bed, springs creaking in protest. Ziggy pinned me down, his green eyes sparkling with mischief. "Looks like I've got you in the sin bin."

I smirked up at him. "Pretty sure that's not how that works, Zig. But if this is your idea of a penalty, I might have to break some more rules."

"Oh yeah?" Ziggy quirked an eyebrow. "You gonna argue with the ref?"

I flexed, easily flipping our positions. Now looming over him, I grinned and pulled my sweater off over my head. "Depends. Is the ref as cute as you?"

Ziggy's laugh filled the room. "Flattery will get you everywhere. But I've got moves you haven't seen yet."

"Bring it on, Knickerbocker," I challenged, my fingers slipping under his sweater and T-shirt, finding that spot on his ribs that always made him squirm.

Ziggy yelped, then retaliated by pulling open a pair of buttons and going after my abs. We wrestled playfully, a tangle of limbs and laughter.

"Foul!" Ziggy gasped between giggles. "Unsportsmanlike conduct!"

I paused, hovering inches from his face. "You started it. What are you gonna do about it?"

Ziggy's eyes darkened, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "I've got a few ideas."

He pulled me down, and our lips met in a kiss that sent electricity sparking throughout my body. When we parted, both breathless, I smiled from ear to ear.

"You know," I murmured, "I think I like your kind of penalty box better than the real thing."

Ziggy's answering smile was equal parts tender and mischievous. "Just wait till you see what I've got planned for overtime. God, I missed you, Kade. Like, write-bad-poetry missed you."

Our lips met, and suddenly, the months apart melted away like snow in summer. We tugged each other's clothes off, somehow never separating our lips along the way.

When we were finally naked, Ziggy pulled back from the kiss with a serious expression on his face. "Are we ready?"

"Born that way, Zig."

"Condom?"

"Check."

"Lube?"

"Check."

"Then what the hell are we waiting for?"

After helping sheath Ziggy's beautiful cock, I straddled him and rode him like a cowboy. Before he could cum, we flipped around so he had a better angle to drive deeper inside me.

"Aww, damn, someday this will be every day."

Ziggy growled. "You can fuckin' bet on that."

We moved together in sync like longtime hockey linemates, anticipating each other's moves.

"I love you," I grunted breathlessly as I gripped my cock and stroked while Ziggy drove deep inside me.

"Love you, too," he moaned.

It didn't take long for us to reach the edge. "Double penalty if we score!" declared Ziggy.

"What the hell does that… oh f… fuck."

"A score… damn… come less than twenty seconds apart."

"And double penalty?"

Ziggy laughed wickedly. "We do it again in the morning."

"Incentive enough, Coach."

It didn't take much longer. Ziggy's breathing changed, and I knew he was riding the edge. "Come with me, Kade, please. I need another goal in my stats."

We both laughed. "Yeah, well… ohh, edge… ready!"

Seconds later, the room rocked with the feral sounds of two hockey players heading over the edge. Ziggy immediately smothered me in kisses until I could barely breathe.

"Ohh, man, college? What's that? Let's shack up on a lobster boat and forget the rest of the world exists."

Ziggy laughed. "If only it were quite that romantic."

We lay tangled in the hotel sheets, with Ziggy's head resting on my bare chest. As the silent minutes passed, I realized we were rarely quiet when we yammered through phone calls and shared minute-by-minute recaps of our lives over video chat. The silence was a luxury.

Finally, I spoke up. "How's our little slice of coastal paradise? You were here two weekends ago. Is it still standing after a Kade-less fall?"

"Oh man, where do I start? Remember the heatwaves over the summer? Dottie Perkins is now convinced they were a government conspiracy to test some new weather control device. She's got half the Curl Up and Dye crowd wearing tinfoil hats."

I laughed, and the sound rumbled through my chest. "Seriously? I thought you all believed the city slickers were the ones bringing strange ideas to town."

"Oh, you've got nothing on Dottie," Ziggy chuckled. "You know what's really wild? Dad's actually asked about you. Twice. He never asks about anyone. I think he'd forget he has a brother if Mom didn't make him sign the Christmas cards every year."

"Knick Knickerbocker asking about me? That's sweet… in a way."

Ziggy poked my ribs. "Hey, it's progress. Even though one of the times he followed it with a five-minute rant about those f'in wildcats."

We settled into more comfortable silence and listened to the distant sound of carolers on the street in front of the hotel. Ziggy propped himself up on his elbow when they finished and looked at me.

"Are you okay? You've got that 'I'm thinking deep thoughts' furrow in your brow.'"

I smiled. "I'm just thinking about us. You know, we have officially survived our first extended time apart, and I'm crazier about you than ever."

"Oh, damn, me, too. I've got a special Kade folder of photos on my phone, and I can't get enough of scrolling through it."

I sighed. "I have to admit, though, it hasn't been easy. We've had a few rough moments."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Like after that UNH-Maine game?" I winced, remembering the brutal hit I'd laid on Ziggy's linemate. The look of betrayal on Ziggy's face haunted me for weeks.

"Yeah," Ziggy nodded, "but then you called, and we talked it out. No yelling and no fake excuses. That's when I knew we were gonna make it."

I imitated Dr. Fellows and pretended to push glasses down my nose. "Kade, you showed a great deal of maturity in your handling of that crisis."

Ziggy laughed and kissed me while lightly tweaking a nipple.

"Ouch! Seriously, though, you make me better than I would be without you, Zig. Both as a player and as a person."

"Right back at you. You've opened my eyes to a world beyond the port and helped me appreciate what I have here."

Ziggy's stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, breaking our tender moment. We burst into laughter, the sound filling the small room with joy.

"Alright, alright," I said, sitting up and running a hand through my messy hair. "Let's get some food in you before you start gnawing on the furniture. I don't think my wallet could handle the damage charges."

Ziggy's eyes lit up, a boyish excitement replacing the earlier intensity. "Ooh, let's go to Tidal Grounds! Silas has this new gingerbread latte that's to die for. If he doesn't have any food, we can order pizza delivery. Plus, I might have told a few people we'd stop by..."

I raised an eyebrow. "A few people? Should I be worried?"

Ziggy had the grace to look slightly sheepish. "Maybe just Rory and Brooks. And Silas, obviously. And possibly my mom. Oh, and Eric might swing by. Then there's Em and her new boyfriend. But that's it, I swear!"

I shook my head, but I couldn't stop myself from smiling. "You're lucky I love you."

We dressed, and when Ziggy finished lacing up his boots, he stood and extended his hand to me. "Ready to face the Whistleport winter, city boy?"

I took his hand in mine, marveling at how perfectly they fit. "With you? I'm ready for anything."

We stepped out into the swirling snow, the cold air nipping at our cheeks. But with Ziggy by my side, all I felt was warmth. And possibility. And home.

***

Thank you for reading Hometown Heat .