15. Bennett

Bennett

Being with Xander felt right in ways I couldn't even put into words, but navigating this new dynamic of transitioning from teammates to boyfriends was challenging. It seemed like I wanted to be near him, touch him, taste him at every moment. He was mine, damn it. I had every right to be everything to him both in public and in private. Keeping my hands to myself was like telling me I had to give up skating, stat. I wouldn't be able to exist either way. But things between us were still new, and I didn't want to make any rash decisions.

The day of the auction and game arrived, and the air was electric with anticipation. It wasn't just any game day; it was a day where our team, the community, and the cause of breast cancer research and treatment came together in a vibrant, unified effort. The rink was a hive of activity well before the puck drop, with the hum of voices, the clatter of equipment, and the buzz of excitement filling every corner.

As soon as we walked into the arena, the energy hit us. Fans of all ages, decked out in Grizzlies gear, milled about, their faces alight. The auction and social media selfie challenge were kicking off, and the atmosphere was one of joyous chaos. Laughter and chatter filled the air, mingling with the music that played over the speakers.

"Alright, everyone, let's get those selfies going!" the announcer's voice boomed, crackling slightly over the PA system. "And don't forget to use the hashtag #SkateForACure!"

The organizers had gone all out. Booths lined the edges of the rink, displaying auction items ranging from signed jerseys to one-of-a-kind memorabilia. Overhead, banners in pink and white fluttered, proudly displaying messages of hope and solidarity.

Xander and I and the rest of the team eagerly dove into the fray. We moved from group to group, smiling for cameras and posing with fans. The flash of phones and the murmur of excitement surrounded us. Each click of a camera was a tiny connection, a moment shared between us and the people supporting our cause.

"Hey, can I get a selfie with you guys?" a young girl asked, her eyes wide with excitement. She was wearing a pink Grizzlies cap that looked a size too big for her head.

"Of course!" Xander replied, his smile bright. We leaned in, and the girl beamed at the screen. She snapped the picture. I swelled with pride. Moments like this one made all the hard work worth it.

Navigating the crowd, I was constantly aware of Xander's presence, even in the busiest moments. There were times when our pinkie fingers would lock surreptitiously, a silent connection amid the chaos. Sometimes, while I was talking with fans or signing autographs, I could feel his eyes on me, and we'd share a secret smile that made my heart race.

We continued to make our way through the crowd, stopping for more photos and chatting with fans. Their warmth and enthusiasm were infectious. Xander and I even managed a few playful shots together, making goofy faces and laughing. Each photo was a little reminder of why we were doing this, why it was important.

"Smile, Sunshine," I teased as another fan aimed their phone at us.

"Shouldn't that be my line?" he shot back, his eyes twinkling with mischief. The camera clicked, capturing our moment of banter.

At one point, Xander brushed past me, deliberately grazing his hand against mine. He slipped something into my back pocket with a mischievous grin. A few beats after he moved away, I reached back and pulled out a small, folded note. Glancing around to make sure no one was watching too closely, I opened it.

So proud to be your boyfriend. We haven"t

won our game tonight yet, but I already feel

like a winner.

I smiled and my heart swelled with affection. So he's putting a label on it, huh? I definitely can roll with that.

I caught Xander"s eye across the room, and he winked at me. God, this man gives me butterflies.

This was our world, chaotic and beautiful, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The auction got underway, and the crowd's excitement grew. We took our places on stage, ready to present our donated items to the highest bidders. The first item up for auction was Maestro's jersey. It was a special one, adorned with signatures from the entire team and featuring the Grizzlies logo prominently.

"Do I hear $100 for Maestro's signed jersey?" the auctioneer's voice rang out, clear and commanding.

Hands shot up immediately, and the bids kept coming, higher and higher.

"$150!"

"$200!"

Finally, the hammer fell at $250, and Maestro's jersey was sold to an enthusiastic bidder in the front row. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, celebrating the success of the auction and the generosity of those who had participated.

Besides the players" jerseys, other items were auctioned, including autographed player sticks, a private meet and greet with the team, customized team gear for pets, a pair of season tickets for next season, and an exclusive dinner with Coach Mack, which sparked a lively bidding war among the fans.

Then came the highlight of the event – the announcement of the Game Day Captain contest winner. The excitement was palpable as the announcer took the stage again.

"And now, the moment we"ve all been waiting for! The winner of our Game Day Captain contest, who will lead the team onto the ice tonight, is... Emma Berkley!"

A spotlight found a ten-year-old girl in the crowd, her eyes wide with shock and excitement. She wore a Grizzlies jersey that looked a size too big, and a huge smile lit up her face. The crowd cheered wildly as she made her way to the stage.

The announcer continued, "Emma submitted a heartfelt essay explaining why she loves the Grizzlies and what being the Game Day Captain would mean to her. Here's a little excerpt: ‘I love the Grizzlies because they never give up, no matter how tough the game gets. Being the Game Day Captain would be a dream come true because I want to show everyone that no matter how small you are, you can still be a leader and make a difference.'"

The crowd"s applause grew louder, and Emma's eyes sparkled with tears of joy. Xander and I joined the applause, watching as Emma was handed a special captain"s jersey.

Emma led the team onto the ice, participating in the pre-game ceremony with a confidence and enthusiasm that warmed everyone"s hearts. Seeing her joy and excitement was a powerful reminder of the impact we could have beyond the rink.

With the ceremony over, we headed back to the locker room. The energy from the day's event still buzzing through us. Tank, Maestro, and Jester were already hyping each other up.

"Let's crush it tonight!" Tank bellowed.

As team captain, I stepped forward, addressing everyone in the locker room with a confident grin. "Alright, guys, we've got a full house out there and a great cause we're playing for. Let"s show them the true strength of the Grizzlies, like a bear defending its territory."

The team roared in agreement, the atmosphere charged with excitement and determination. One by one, the players began filing out of the locker room, ready to hit the ice.

I glanced at Xander, our eyes locking with an unspoken agreement. We lingered behind, allowing the others to head out first. Once the room was clear, I grabbed his wrist and pulled him into a corner.

"Nervous?" I asked, my voice low.

"A little," he admitted. "But I'm ready."

"Me too," I said, brushing my lips against his. "We've got this, Sunshine."

"Yeah, we do," he whispered back, his breath warm against my skin.

We shared a brief, intense kiss. The electricity between us was palpable, but we knew we had to be careful. And we had a game to win.

We pulled away just as the door opened, and Jester poked his head in. "Come on, you two, time to hit the ice!"

"Yeah, yeah, we're coming," I grumbled, giving Xander one last look before heading out.

On the ice, it was all business. We were playing the Omaha Spartans, the first game in a series of five. I had to focus, but damn, it was hard when all I wanted was to be close to him. Every time we scored, I had to fight the urge to pull him into a celebratory kiss. Instead, I settled for high fives and pats on the back like the rest of the guys. The normal stuff teammates did.

We won 4-1.

The day had been a huge success on and off the ice.

The locker room was buzzing with post-victory energy. The guys were all high-fiving, shouting, and clapping each other on the back.

The communal showers were the next stop, and normally, this part of the routine was automatic for me. Stripping down, hitting the showers with the rest of the team, joking around, and letting the hot water wash away the sweat and strain of the game. But tonight things were different.

Of course I'd seen naked bodies during my career. I simply acknowledged their existence and moved right along, not even giving them a second thought. But now, one of those naked bodies belonged to my boyfriend, and it took every ounce of willpower not to stare, not to touch. Not to be tempted to taste.

I don't want to rush into sex with him. He wasn't a potential hookup. I planned to let him lead when it came to sex, not that I was assuming because he'd never kissed anyone before – the thought still made me giddy with excitement that he'd reserved his first kiss for me – that it automatically meant he was a virgin. I once had a teammate who was a self-professed man whore and he swore he'd never kissed anyone romantically; it wasn't his cup of tea.

Xander was there, and as much as I tried to keep my eyes on the tile walls or the water streaming down, they kept drifting back to him. We'd seen each other naked before, of course. Hell, we'd been teammates for a while now. But I wanted him, and it was fucking hard to keep my mind in check and my dick from plumping up.

"Hey, Ry, you coming out to The Crossbar after?" Tank's voice broke through my thoughts.

"Yeah, I'll be there," I replied, trying to sound casual. "Just need a minute."

Tank nodded, clapping me on the back before heading out with the others. Xander and I lingered, our movements slow and deliberate as we rinsed off, the air thick with steam and tension. The sound of the water cascading from the shower heads was loud in the empty space.

Before I knew it, Xander's soapy body collided with mine from behind, the firmness of his arousal nestling between my ass cheeks, nudging my taint. The heat of his body seeped into mine and his body ground into me with a rhythm that sparked a shudder up my spine. My dick hardened in response.

"Missed you," he muttered between kisses to my shoulders, causing goosebumps to rise across my skin.

"Missed… missed you too."

"You did good out there."

"You did better." My voice was breathless. "Sunshine…?"

"Mm?"

"This could end badly."

He grinned against my shoulder; it felt like mischief and promise. "Since when do we play it safe?"

My heart hammered out a fierce beat and my dick throbbed. I reached down to stroke myself. The pleasure was sharp and sweet, coiling tight within me until it spilled out in soft moans that filled the steamy air.

On the ice, Xander was all aggression – an unstoppable force – but away from it, he channeled his power differently. His aggression morphed into passion; every touch deliberate, every movement calculated to draw out maximum pleasure.

The man was a fucking pro at this.

"You're beautiful, Ry… so beautiful."

Those words touched something inside me. I'd never been called beautiful before. Dickhead? Yeah. Standoffish? Hell yeah. But never beautiful.

A sound ripped from my throat – louder than intended. Xander's hand clamped over my mouth, silencing my moans as his lips trailed along the back of my neck. His palm was damp and rough, the callouses from years of gripping his hockey stick a unique texture against my skin. The warmth of his hand contrasted sharply with the cool water cascading down around us. The pressure was firm but gentle, a silent command to keep quiet. Even in the dim, steamy shower, I could feel the strength in his fingers, each line and ridge a reminder of the dedication and hard work we both shared. His touch was grounding, a perfect balance of tenderness and control that made it impossible to think about anything else but him.

Out of nowhere, I came. Ribbons of cum spilled over my fist, leaving me breathless and shaking. Xander wasn't too far behind, his dick pulsing between my legs. We weathered the aftershocks together, making me wish we could do this all over again. But reality intruded. We had to join the team, had to keep up appearances. Plus,we'd already taken a risk doing this; we shouldn't press our luck.

I turned to face him, wrapping my arms around his waist.

"We should go," I whispered, resting my forehead on his.

"Yeah." He sighed, reluctantly pulling away. "We really should."

"Coming back to my place after?"

His smile slowly built, making me breathless. "There you go again, making another wish coming true."

We quickly finished our showers, got dressed, and headed out to The Crossbar.