9. Rayne

Rayne

The walkfrom the restaurant on Pearl Street to Nick's quaint little heritage bungalow on Spruce Street was less than five minutes, but it felt like an eternity to Rayne. The atmosphere surrounding them was electric, like a living, breathing thing. If he narrowed his eyes just so, he imagined he'd be able to see lightning crackling around them.

They didn't talk the whole way, but Nick had reached for his hand, threading their fingers together, and warmth filled Rayne at the gesture.

Rayne resisted asking ‘are we there yet' a hundred times before Nick steered him onto a stone walkway shrouded with live oaks that hid the house from the quiet tree-lined street.

Nick let go of his hand when he climbed the two steps onto the covered porch, and fumbled for his key, dropping it twice before he got it in the lock and opened the door. He fisted a handful of Rayne's jacket, the supple leather squeaking in complaint, and hauled him inside. Fire raced through Rayne and desire swirled to life in his belly. There wasn't much he loved more than a man who took charge—except for hockey. Nick backed him up against the wall, molding his body to Rayne's as he attacked Rayne's mouth.

The kiss was intense and all-consuming, stealing Rayne's ability to think. He melted into Nick. Pure putty in his sure hands. He'd thought the kiss after the barbecue at Capmany's house had been life-altering, but this one . . . this one was like flying down the ice on a short-handed breakaway, getting a natural hat trick while scoring the winning goal, and taking home the Cup. All in the same game.

Nick shoved Rayne's coat off his shoulders where it fell to the floor, and Nick's hands roamed Rayne's torso until he found the hem of his shirt and shoved his hands under the fabric. Nick's palms left a searing path on his skin as they explored the curve of his back, the cage of his ribs, and the grooves of his abs.

Rayne moaned into Nick's mouth and ground his aching erection against Nick's hard length. He desperately wanted to get his jeans off. And all of Nick's clothing. For them both to be naked and preferably in a bed.

A sharp bark pierced Rayne's erotic bubble, his mind unable to make sense of the noise, or the sudden loss of Nick's body and the cool air that ghosted over his kiss-wet lips. Nick stood a foot away, but it was too far. Rayne's breathing was reedy and shallow, his chest heaving. Roo bounced around at their feet, whacking Rayne sharply in the shins with her wagging tail, completely oblivious to the cockblock she'd just delivered.

"Hey, Roo," Rayne croaked, not at all surprised at the rough and gravelly sound of his voice.

Nick chuckled and shot Rayne an apologetic look before he turned to close the front door.

"You can say hi later," he said to Roo, as he toed off his shoes and slipped out of his jacket. "Come on. I'll get you a chew stick."

He tipped his head in a ‘follow me' gesture and then he strode down the hall. Light flicked on in what had to be the kitchen, Rayne guessed, and the sound of foil packaging opening echoed on the edges of his awareness. He hung back for a minute, letting his head fall against the wall while he caught his breath. He removed his shoes and picked his jacket up off the floor, hanging it on the doorknob before heading deeper into the house to find Nick.

"Let's take this somewhere more comfortable," Nick said as he rounded the corner and reached for Rayne. "Without a canine audience."

"I'm so down with that," Rayne replied, his body all keyed up and vibrating from the inside out after that kiss.

He didn't pay any attention to his surroundings as Nick led him across the open kitchen and dining room, his gaze locked on Nick's firm glutes, and through a door into a large bedroom. The second Rayne cleared the frame, Nick shut the door behind him and plastered his mouth to Rayne's, picking up right where they left off on Pearl Street. And somehow, yet again, this kiss felt better than the one before it. Rayne could happily get addicted to kissing Nick Seavers.

Rayne hadn't kissed a lot of guys in his past. Constant travel for games and changing cities after trades made it hard for anything more lasting than a hook up or two, but he'd shared enough kisses to know that these, with Nick, were the best he'd experienced in his entire life. Maybe that had something to do with Nick himself. But whatever the reason, all he knew was that he didn't want to kiss anyone other than Nick Seavers. Nick had unknowingly ruined him because no one would ever match up after this.

Nick pulled away, drawing a keening sound of complaint from Rayne, and tugged Rayne's shirt over his head. Rayne barely had time to catch his breath before Nick's mouth locked onto one of his nipples and sucked. His brain glitched out and his whole body trembled at the sensory overload.

"Damn, Nick," he growled and rocked his hips into him.

But it wasn't enough. He needed more friction. More skin on skin. He pushed Nick back so he could get Nick's shirt off, and paused for a second to admire the smattering of dark hair that graced his nicely defined pecs. Nick's olive skin was smooth and the gentle rise and fall of his abs begged for Rayne's tongue to trace every valley and hill. He licked his lips.

"You like," Nick said, but it wasn't a question. The man knew damned-well Rayne liked.

Rayne nodded, a quick sharp bob of his head. "So far. But I need to see more."

A devilish grin spread across Nick's face, somehow making him incredibly more handsome. In a blink, he'd unbuttoned his pants and shoved both them and his boxer briefs down in one swift motion, where they pooled around his ankles like some sort of pedestal. Nick stood still, his arms at his side, while Rayne took his fill of all that gorgeous man before him. Nick was lean, like a runner, his muscles sinewy. The faint outline of his v-line framed a fine treasure trail that pointed to his beautifully proud cock. Rayne couldn't wait to test the weight of it in his hands, to savor the taste of it in his mouth, and revel in the pure pleasure of it rocking inside of him.

"Better?" Nick asked, the tenor of his voice as smooth as sex.

Rayne's mouth filled with saliva while molten desire burned through his veins. Sound came out of his mouth, but he had no idea if he was forming actual words.

"I'll take that as a yes," Nick preened as he stepped out of his clothes and prowled closer, his eyes locked on Rayne.

Nick slowly tugged the zipper of Rayne's jeans down, then he stood back. Waiting. Rayne stepped out of his jeans and briefs while Nick watched, his gaze burning a path over every inch of Rayne's body, and for a brief second, Rayne's nerves poked at him. Of course he'd been fully naked with other men, but never so . . . exposed and vulnerable as he was right now with Nick. He desperately hoped Nick also liked what he saw, too. No, needed Nick to like what he saw.

"Oh my god," Nick breathed. "You are glorious."

Nick placed his hands on Rayne's hips, and with a gentle nudge, guided him backwards toward the bed. When his hamstrings connected with the firm mattress, he fell more than sat on the edge, staring up at Nick in anticipation. A seductive grin graced Nick's face as he dropped to his knees and spread Rayne's thighs.

Rayne watched intently as Nick's earthy hazel eyes smoldered and the gold flecks within them glinted like tiny diamonds. Nick licked his lips, leaving them glistening in the wake of his pink tongue. Then he lowered his head and swallowed Rayne all the way to the back of his throat in one smooth motion.

"Holy fuck, yes!" Rayne shouted. He shoved his fingers into Nick's hair and gripped tight, needing something, anything, to hold on to. Nick hummed deliciously around him, and the vibrations in his throat radiated throughout Rayne's body. Nick pulled back slowly, leaving Rayne's cock shiny with his saliva, his gaze not leaving Rayne's as his tongue swirled around the tip before he dove back down.

Rayne wasn't going to last under Nick's masterful ministrations. He wanted this to last longer than two seconds. He was young, after all—an athlete in his prime with the stamina to go all night long. But with Nick, it was like he was fifteen years old again, when all it took to blow his load was a stiff breeze.

His abdominal muscles tensed. "Stop, stop, stop."

Nick obeyed immediately, sliding off Rayne's length with a pop. Nick looked up at him with concern circling in his eyes, dimming the fire within them. But Rayne didn't want that.

"I'm way too close already," he explained, tracing the corner of Nick's mouth with his thumb. "I don't want this to be over the second you touch me."

"Is that so?" Nick sat back on his heels, his chest puffing out at the intended ego stroke, and his smile luminous. His voice was husky from his throat being stuffed with Rayne. "How about we call this round one? Fast and furious like." Nick caressed the sensitive skin near Rayne's groin, sending charges of electricity ping-ponging through him. "And then we can take our time with round two."

"As long as round two is slow and steady, with lots of exploration and teasing." Rayne slipped his finger into Nick's mouth, watching as it disappeared. "Not faster and furiouser."

Nick let go of Rayne's digit and laughed, full and free. "Pretty sure furiouser isn't a word."

"Whatever. You know what I mean." Rayne reached for Nick's hand and tugged. "Come up here."

"I want to finish what I started," Nick said as he straddled Rayne, grinding their groins together deliciously and nipping the end of Rayne's nose with his teeth.

"Oh, I'm definitely not going to stop you," Rayne managed to say.

The roguish glint in Nick's eyes was the only warning Rayne had before he was once again fully encased in the gloriously hot wet cavern of Nick's mouth. Nick wasted no time as he worked Rayne to the edge of restraint over and over.

Rayne was so helpless against Nick's magic that it only took an embarrassingly quick minute for his balls to tighten and his mind to explode. His orgasm pulsed in powerful waves that seemed endless, his whole body taut, and his lungs frozen mid-breath. And as fast as he came, his whole body released. He had the sensation of falling, even though he was lying on his back.

"Holy fucking biscuits, Batman," Rayne gasped, thoroughly and completely spent while imaginary cartoon stars circled his head.

Nick started laughing as he dropped beside him, and Rayne shot him an incredulous look.

"‘Biscuits'?" Nick repeated.

"Biscuits," Rayne said like it was obvious, but then, to a non-hockey person, it probably wasn't. "We call hockey pucks biscuits."

"Oh." Nick frowned like that still didn't make sense. "Can't say I've ever heard that one before. Granted, my experience is limited, but . . ."

"Yeah, well, what can I say?" Rayne preened. "I'm special like that."

"You certainly are," Nick said, his soft voice reverent.

Rayne's heart skipped and warmth infused his insides, more by the way the words were spoken than what was said.

"Give me a second here to catch my breath." Rayne wiped at the sweat that coated his chest. "And then I'm going to rock your world, too."

"Oh? I rocked your world, did I?" Nick teased with a playful note of pride in his voice.

Rayne snorted and cast a sideways glance at him. "As if you couldn't tell."

Nick moved to get up off the bed, but Rayne grabbed him around the wrist before he could get too far. "Where do you think you're going? We're not done here."

Nick leaned down and kissed him. It was quick and sweaty, and Rayne's heart took off again, skipping gleefully.

"Just running to the kitchen to get us some water," Nick said softly.

Rayne closed his eyes and followed the sounds of Nick padding down the hall with bare feet on wood flooring, the creak of an opening cupboard, clinking glasses and running water. A moment later he sauntered back into the room like he didn't have a care in the world. His beautiful cock was half hard, swinging lazily between his lean thighs as he walked.

Rayne sat up on his elbows and accepted the glass, the cold liquid quenching his throat that was dry from groaning and growling and shouting through his orgasm.

"Okay," Rayne said as he put his glass on the night table. "I can't even tell you how badly I need to taste you right now."

Nick grinned. "So, show me."

And Rayne did.

He didn't have a good gag reflex so he couldn't deep throat as far as Nick had taken him, but he made up for it with his hands. He squeezed and twisted his way up Nick's length from the base, while working down with his mouth and tongue.

An intoxicating mix of musk and citrus filled his nostrils as he drove Nick closer and closer to the edge. Nick trembled under his touch, so beautifully responsive, and the rosy blush that spread over his chest was as captivating as when it bloomed in his cheeks.

A litany of strained curses flew from Nick's mouth as his hands fisted in Rayne's hair, his grip growing tighter and tighter, until Nick bucked up into him. He froze, suspended for a heartbeat, the veins in his neck standing out in stark relief as hot, thick liquid shot down Rayne's throat. He swallowed every bitter, salty, beautiful drop until Nick was spent and soft.

Rayne flopped down on the bed beside Nick, and Nick reached blindly for his hand, threading their fingers together as his harsh breathing echoed in the room.

"That was…" Nick made a sound that was a cross between a hum and a moan, and goosebumps broke out over Rayne's forearms. "No words."

"No words in a good way?" Rayne asked lightly, but a small part of him worried maybe it had only been good in his own mind, because he'd loved every second of giving Nick as much pleasure as he knew how.

Nick turned his head to look at him, and the sincerity in his eyes humbled Rayne. "In an amazing way."

Nick drew Rayne's hand to his mouth, and kissed Rayne's knuckles before tucking their joined hands under his chin. Rayne could feel Nick's pounding pulse, the rhythmic beat steady and soothing.

"Do you need a minute before round two, old man?" Rayne joked, and Nick laughed.

"Apparently, you're an old man, too." Nick quipped in return.

Sure, within the frame of professional hockey, Rayne was reaching the upper age of prime, closer to retirement than people in their fifties, but there was nothing old about Nick.

"We should get a cloth," Rayne said, but couldn't for the life of him will his body move to do so.

"Sure." Nick yanked at the bedsheets they'd made a mess of and draped them over their cooling skin. "Just as soon as my brain reconnects to my limbs."

Rayne chuckled as he snuggled closer, his eyelids drifting shut as he skated on a rink made of bliss. For the first time in his life, other than when he was on the ice, he felt a sense of peace. He didn't know what his future held, if he would get another offer to play for the Blitz or a new offer on yet another team, but if the hockey gods deigned to shine on him, he would get to stay in Boulder.

Rayne coasted on fantasies of a life with Nick—playing hockey or fighting fires; he didn't care so long as he was with Nick—and the next thing he knew, he was blinking the sun out of his eyes.

Rayne wokeup alone in yet another strange bed, which was nothing new since he spent half the year on the road during hockey season, but this time, it was Nick's bed and not another hotel room. Nick's bed. He grinned as he stretched. They never made it to round two, having fallen asleep after their mutual blowjobs, but he was feeling all kinds of sated this morning, regardless.

The muted clanking and clattering sounds of someone moving about the kitchen filtered into his awareness. He rolled out of bed and yanked on his jeans to go search for Nick, taking in the spacious bedroom as he zipped up. The white sheets were rumpled and twisted, and the light blue-gray linen duvet had been kicked back, hanging off a corner of the mattress. Two dark blue-gray pillows were scrunched up against the natural wood headboard, each with impressions revealing where their heads had rested.

Rayne couldn't tell if the watercolor mountain range on the wall behind the bed was wallpaper or a mural, but the effect was calming. Shades of slate blue, from darkest along the floor and fading to light outlines toward the ceiling, gave the illusion of distance and added depth to the room.

It was what was hanging on the wall that piqued his attention—a collection of photos that told the story of Nick's life. Rayne moved closer to study them. He recognized the people in some, like Lieutenant Verlice and her wife Jenny, Firefighter Capmany and his wife Raquel, and a few others he'd met at the barbecue but couldn't put names to. Another scattering of photos had to be family, going by the resemblances between Nick and the older couple who had to be his parents. He had a sister, too, but younger or older, Rayne couldn't tell.

But most of the photos featured Nick with an attractive blue-eyed brunet who he knew had to be Nick's husband. The photos spanned a lifetime of friendship and love in frozen moments of joy: Nick and Geoff as kids in their soccer uniforms; jumping off a dock into a crystal-clear lake; smiling brightly in their graduation gowns; making silly faces at college parties; Nick in his firefighter turnout gear looking sexy as all get out. Wedding and honeymoon photos where the happiness they shared was palpable. All the things Rayne had wanted, but that had been withheld from him for whatever reason. Without warning, the backs of his eyes stung, and his throat constricted. A pang of envy mixed with longing gripped him as he spun away and . . . found Nick leaning in the doorway, watching him.

Rayne turned back to the wall, not wanting Nick to see him getting all emotional over some photos. A moment later, Nick appeared in his peripheral.

"He would have liked you," Nick said, his voice soft.

Rayne swallowed hard and cleared his throat. He needed to snap himself out of his sudden bout of melancholy.

"Enough for a threesome?" he deadpanned.

A shocked burst of laughter broke from Nick. "We weren't into that, but for you?" He turned to face Rayne. "I'm sure we'd have made an exception."

Rayne looked into Nick's captivating eyes and smiled, his equilibrium settling back into place as he admired this man that he hadn't been looking for but now never wanted to be apart from. Nick was beautiful, not just in looks but in heart and mind too.

"Sorry if I woke you," Nick said after the moment stretched into surprisingly comfortable silence. "You looked like a little cherub sleeping so soundly. I didn't want to disturb you."

Rayne laughed. "That's the first time anybody's ever called me a cherub." He narrowed his eyes. "Don't you dare let any of my teammates hear you say that. Ever."

Nick chuckled as he bent to pick up Rayne's shirt from the floor. "Promise."

After Rayne slipped his shirt over his head, Nick clasped his hand. He leaned in for a kiss, a soft press of mouths that made Rayne's toes curl even still.

"Come on." Nick gave his hand a little squeeze. "I made us breakfast."

Rayne's stomach growled on cue, loud enough he was sure half of Boulder would have heard it. Nick only flashed a knowing grin at him.

"We missed around two," Rayne said as he sat at the already set table and Nick headed for the kitchen.

Roo padded over and put her paw on Rayne's thigh, her tail sweeping the floor as it wagged back and forth. "Good morning, sweetheart."

"Hmm." Nick dropped a couple slices of bread into a toaster. "How about we spend the day together? That way, we'll have plenty of time for round two, even if we need a power nap first."

"Yes, please."

Like Rayne even needed to think about it. With it still being early in the off season, his teammates all out of town, and the kids' hockey club not practicing again until the weekend, his schedule was his own. He couldn't think of anything better to fill it with than quality Nick Seavers time.

"Good." Nick flashed a smile and began plating their meals. "It's been a long time since I've cooked for anybody. I've missed it."

That pretty blush crept into his cheeks again, calling to Rayne. He rose and walked over to Nick, pulled him into his arms and kissed him slow and languid. Nick sank into him. His hand slid up to grip the back of Rayne's neck. A moan vibrated between them, but Rayne couldn't be sure if it had come from him or Nick.

The toast popped and Nick stepped back, his eyes a little unfocused.

"Sit," he said, and for a second, Rayne didn't know if Nick was speaking to him or Roo, who was once again watching them.

"You're a little peeper, aren't you?" Rayne teased, scrubbing behind her ears as he went back to the table.

Breakfast was an incredible vegetable omelet, with sourdough toast and fresh orange slices on the side. Rayne took a bite, and it was like his mouth had a flavor orgasm.

"Oh my god," he said after he swallowed. "This is amazing."

Nick ducked his head, but Rayne didn't miss the pleased smile tugging at corners of his mouth. "Thank you."

Conversation was easy, bouncing from topic to topic as they ate, and all the while Roo watched intently for any treats that might fall to the floor.

"I want to show you something," Nick said when they were finished.

"Oh, yeah?" Rayne stretched his leg under the table until his foot found Nick, and he toe-walked up and into Nick's groin, teasing the treasure beneath his jeans. "Does it look something like this?"

Nick wrapped his hand around Rayne's foot, thumb stroking the sole. "No, not exactly."

"I don't need to see it then," Rayne said, dropping his foot and crossing his arms over his chest.

Nick laughed, the full-bodied sound filling the house in a way Rayne had a feeling it hadn't had in a long time. He loved that sound and wanted to hear more of it—wanted to be the one to bring it out of Nick.

"I promise you'll love it," Nick said as he rose to collect their empty plates. He scraped them off before loading them into the dishwasher.

After Rayne took a quick shower—alone, because Nick had showered earlier—and tugged on one of Nick's smidge-too-small T-shirts, they climbed into Nick's truck. Roo hopped into the backseat with excitement in her amber eyes.

Less than ten minutes later, Nick turned onto Flagstaff Road and Rayne thought they were going to Chautauqua Park. He loved running trails there even though the reservoir trails were closer to home, but Nick kept going up the winding road before pulling into a small parking lot. A trailhead sign read Welcome to Panorama Point. Roo stayed close as they hiked the short trail to a lookout point, which was less than a thousand feet above Boulder. They sat on a bench over-looking an amazing vista that stretched east as far as his eyes could see. The north and south views were obstructed by ponderosa pines and the Front Range mountains.

"Wow," Rayne said. "I've never been up here before."

"This is one of my favorite spots. I started coming up here after . . ." Nick's voice going distant before he continued. "There's something peaceful about sitting here surrounded by nature, and at night there's a sense of magic as the city lights twinkle."

Rayne was quiet, but when Nick looked at him, he had a soft smile on his face.

"It means a lot that you brought me here," Rayne said. "Thank you."

Nick threaded his fingers with Rayne's and rested their joined hands on his thigh. They sat in silence, gazing out over the city of Boulder and the plains beyond, while Roo sniffed and explored the surroundings.

A vibrant orange and black butterfly with white spots along the edges of its wings fluttered around them before landing on Rayne's knee.

"That's a monarch," Nick whispered, with a note of awe in his voice.

Rayne's breath caught as he shared a wide-eyed glance with Nick. He held still, not wanting to disturb the beautiful winged insect. After a few moments, it took flight again. When it was out of sight, Rayne said, "I've never experienced anything like that in my life."

"It was a sign," Nick replied.

"What kind of sign?" Rayne asked, hoping maybe it was finally time for him to have the things he'd wanted most his whole life. Roots. Home. Love.

"Butterflies are a symbol of hope and transformation." Nick turned to study him and added, "New beginnings."

There was a weight to the last two words that Rayne was afraid to read too much into, but he couldn't deny he liked the sound of it. He leaned forward and kissed Nick, his lips warm from the heat of the sun. "I like that."

"Butterfly symbolism or the kiss?" Nick asked with a cheeky grin.

"Both."

Nick let go of Rayne's hand and draped his arm around Rayne's waist as they sat and stared out over the city. A light breeze ruffled through the pines, birds called to each other, and the buzz of insects rounded out nature's chorus.

"How are hockey and firefighting going to work?" Nick asked, breaking the peaceful quiet.

He sounded a little hesitant, as though he was worried about how Rayne might answer.

Rayne shrugged. "Depends on what offers I get. If the Denver Mustangs offer me another prospect contract, then I'll stay here and keep playing hockey with the Blitz and hope for the call up. Or the Blitz could offer a contract directly. But if they don't and I get an offer with another PHL team . . ." He sighed. He didn't want to move again, but until now, he'd never had a reason not to move. "I'm not sure yet if I'll take it. If I don't, then my hockey career is effectively over, and I'll become a full-time firefighter."

"Do you want to keep playing hockey professionally?" Nick asked, his voice quiet.

Rayne let himself get lost in the changeable depths of Nick's eyes for a moment. The way the breeze toyed with his hair and how the sun hit his face just right, highlighting the small cleft in his chin. The answer was as clear as it was fanciful.

Not if it takes me away from you.

"Depends," he said, the word spoken as quietly as Nick's question.

"On?"

"What happens between us."

Because it really was that simple. If there was the possibility of a future with Nick, then he was going to take it. Hockey or not. But without Nick, hockey was the only thing he had—until it was time to hang up the skates. The plan then, was to get hired on at a fire station somewhere.

Nick whispered. "What do you want to happen?"

It was too soon for Rayne to get ahead of himself and say things that might freak Nick out—hell, they were kind of freaking him out a little—but Rayne had gone from lusting over the hot instructor at the beginning of firefighter training to falling halfway in love with the man before the course had even ended. And now, with their first official date bleeding into a second, and maybe even a third, he knew he was barreling past halfway and skating full tilt toward all the way there.

But that wasn't a conversation for today, so he changed gears and slanted a come hither look at Nick. "Round two!"