22. Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Shane

Sixteen Years of Age

A frozen lake was like treasure to a hockey player. I stood at the edge and took in a breath, inhaling the crisp, winter air. Every hockey player had a ritual before they got on the ice, whether it was stretching, tapping their stick a number of times, or saying a prayer—there was always a ritual. Mine though? My ritual was watching Elias Michaels step onto the ice first. The moment his blades hit that ice he was a force of strong legs and nimble limbs. If he weren’t such a talented hockey player, he had a future as a figure skater. He looked up to the light flurry of snow that whispered in the air, his breath dancing along with his feet. There was never a time in our life where we were apart from the ice. He was always the one to jump in first, but I took a moment to drink him in. It was like he brought life to my limbs, giving me the energy to move myself. He looked at me and smiled wide, making my breath hitch. “Don’t make me do this alone!” he yelled over the ice.

I glided to join him, because as long as I was alive, he would never be alone.

Present

We settled in bed, and I put on a movie, the soft glow from the TV casting flickering shadows across the room. Eli remained glued to my side, his warmth seeping into my skin. Every now and then, he would roll his head to press a kiss to my pec, a small gesture of affection that didn’t fail to make my heart skip a beat. I'd always known him to be affectionate but experiencing it that way—it was perfect in a way words couldn't capture.

Halfway through the movie, Eli shot up in his seat, startling me. He fixed me with a serious gaze.

“What?”

“You never got to come!” he cried, as if it were some kind of crime.

I wasn't going to complain. Having Eli come down my throat was enough. Fuck having him fall apart on my fingers was enough, so responsive to my touch. I didn't come, but I was pretty fucking close.

“Oh, but I still thoroughly enjoyed myself, little Mouse.” I lifted my eyebrows suggestively and he scoffed.

“Nope, doesn't count. What kind of boyfriend gives his man blue balls?”

"Boyfriend?" I echoed, the word lingering in the air as my mind tried to process it.

Eli bit his lip, a nervous habit I found utterly endearing, and shrugged one shoulder. He was a vision of adorableness, with his deep blue eyes and tousled hair, his lips and cheeks still flushed from orgasm. I couldn't help but admire how effortlessly attractive he was—even in simple moments like that.

"Well, I thought... I thought that's where we were heading, you know?" Eli's words tumbled out in a rush, stumbling over his own insecurity. It was such a classic Eli thing to do, reminiscent of our days back in school.

He went on to express his fears of being cheated on again but despite his jumbled words, it was clear that he wanted me—wanted us to be exclusive. I wished I could capture that moment forever, his passion engrained in my memory.

I pushed up onto my elbows, silencing him with my lips. It was something I'd fantasized about countless times before—kissing him, quieting his mind—even though I secretly loved his rambling.

Eli melted into the kiss, his tongue pressing and seeking entry into my mouth. Anytime, sweetheart; anytime. In that moment, I knew there was nowhere else I'd rather be than right there, with him.

We explored each other’s mouths until he was slack in my arms once more. Only then did I pull back to the gorgeous, dazed look in his eyes. “Fuck, yes; I'll be your boyfriend.”

That smile could light the darkest room. “Good, now let me make you come. I can't promise I’ll be any good but…” Eli kissed his way down my body, tongue tracing the contours of my muscles. He got to my waist, his thumbs tracing the deep ridges guiding his way to my dick

“These are so hot.”

“Come gutters,” I murmured and at the realization of what that meant, his eyes went wide.

“Fuck, that’s so crass and I love it.”

I huffed and my dick jumped with every inch Mouse gained. Just before he lowered my briefs, nerves flickered across his eyes.

I was about to tell him he didn’t have to do anything he didn’t want to, but before I could say anything, my cock was freed, and he was tracing the veins with his tongue. I sighed his name, and he hummed in return. Then his pretty lips sealed over my cockhead and gave a gentle suck—and it was too good. He took his time, sucking down a little more of me with each pass of his mouth. My hand went to his hair, and I hoped he'd grow it out again—if for no other reason than for me to see my fingers speared through those golden locks.

“That's it, Mouse. Fuck, sweetheart, your mouth is a dream.” I learned something then about my Eli—he was a little praise slut. He preened under the positive feedback, so I kept it going. “Goodboy, hollow those cheeks. Fuck .”

I tapped the back of his throat, making him gag. “Take me as far as you can, you're doing amazing.”

He moaned around me, the vibrations making my balls hitch higher.

“Use your hand too, that's it sweetheart. Such a fucking good boy.”

His face was flush, his sparkling, watery eyes looked up at me, full of heat. God damn, he was the most beautiful man in the world. He dipped his free hand down to cup my balls and that was enough. “Coming, pull off.”

He shook his head, only sucking me harder as I came, drinking down every drop like he was thirsty for it.

My mouth was agape as he pulled off and thumbed the rivulets of come streaking his chin, sucking that finger into his mouth.

“Fuck, you’re hot,” I panted.

His cheeks flushed and eyes shone. He crawled back to me, his face hovering just above mine. “I really want to kiss you…”

“What's stopping you?”

“I, I just…”

Laughter was a commodity that came easy with my sweet, sweet Eli. “Come here.”

And so, he did, kissing me until we were gasping for air. “Happy New Year, babe.”

And happy I was.